One of the NWSL’s budding stars hobbled off after a shocking challenge that went unpunished. A USWNT keeper’s head clanged awkwardly off the post. A fan favorite appeared to have a seizure on the pitch.
The North Carolina Courage edged the Washington Spirit 2-1 to claim the NWSL Challenge Cup trophy on Saturday in Cary, North Carolina, but the final score was one of the last things anyone was talking about after the match.
When the Houston Dash won the 2020 Challenge Cup, it was a landmark moment for the National Women’s Soccer League. As the first professional team sport to return to play in the U.S. after Covid-19 shut the sports world down, the NWSL set the example for how leagues like MLS and the NBA could resume during a pandemic. For the players, however, there wasn’t much incentive to win beyond a bunch of Budweiser.
Defending NWSL champion Washington Spirit opened its 2022 season Sunday with a thrilling 2-1 victory over OL Reign at Audi Field.
The attacking trifecta of Ashley Hatch, Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez picked up right where it left off last campaign, but the Spirit had goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury to thank early.
In the ninth-minute, the Reign were awarded a penalty that Rose Lavelle couldn't convert.
The 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup isn’t over yet, but the 2022 NWSL regular season is upon us. While four teams still compete for the first trophy of the season, expansion club Angel City FC hosts the N.C. Courage at 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday night (live on CBSSN) to open what is sure to be an enthralling campaign. That means it’s time for some NWSL predictions.
To say 2021 was a bad year for women’s soccer in the U.S. would be an understatement of epic proportions. In October, The Athletic detailed horrifying allegations of verbal abuse and sexual coercion by N.C. Courage coach Paul Riley, sending shockwaves through the NWSL.
Fresh off her mini Twitter feud with Ashlyn Harris — nothing wrong with adding a little spice to the NWSL Challenge Cup group stage — USWNT and Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman had a goal and two assists in her side's 4-1 victory over the Orlando Pride at Audi Field (not some amateur shit high school field) on Sunday.
The Spirit opened the scoring in the 43rd minute after Ashley Hatch left Rodman's low cross into the area for Ashley Sanchez.
Social media is often a horrible place, I think we can all agree. But sometimes it gives us wonderful moments of schadenfreude, moments when we can step back from an argument and be oh so happy we’re not involved. There was one such popcorn-grabbing moment this weekend when Ashlyn Harris and Trinity Rodman got into a Twitter feud after their respective clubs played on Friday.
Editor’s Note: See update at bottom.
The Orlando Pride are, by their very name, a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community. Many of the Pride’s most prominent players have been gay, and Exploria Stadium includes 49 rainbow-colored seats as a memorial to the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub mass shooting. But apparently, the word “gay” is too political for the team.
March Madness is finally here. No, not that silly basketball tournament that once again left your school out (what, just me?). I’m talking real madness: The 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup. If it’s anything like the start of last year’s edition, you won’t want to miss a minute.
The USWNT bounced back from a poor performance against the Czech Republic by crushing New Zealand 5-0 on Sunday. It helped to have Football Ferns defender Meikayla Moore score a perfect hat trick of own goals, but the Americans were far more adventurous on offense, creating better scoring opportunities than in the stunning 0-0 draw a few days earlier.
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