Women's Soccer

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is currently the only professional women’s league in the United States, but not for long.

The United Women’s Soccer organization (UWS) is a pro-amateur women’s league that allows former and current college players to stay in top shape and continue to play competitively against the best of the best in the off-season. This past week, the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) announced its partnership with the UWS to advance the opportunities for top-level players.

Manchester City beat West Ham 4-0 on Sunday to keep pace with Chelsea and Manchester United at the top of the FA Women’s Super League. Rose Lavelle — making her first appearance since spending January with the USWNT — came off the bench in the 65th-minute and promptly scored her first league goal for City in the 71st.

It was a moment to forget for West Ham left back Mayumi Pacheco. The English defender showed for the pass, received it and then spontaneously combusted. Lavelle was free to take a couple touches towards goal before threatening to take Mackenzie Arnold’s head off. 

The USWNT will go for its first trophy of 2021 at the SheBelieves Cup in February. They’ll be without star winger Tobin Heath.

Manchester United ruled Heath out for 10-12 weeks with an ankle injury, manager Casey Stoney said on Friday. In addition to being a big blow to United’s title challenge, Heath will also miss the SheBelieves Cup, which is back in the U.S. from Feb. 18-24. 

Social media provides a wondrous, seemingly endless stream content. It also can be a horrible, toxic place for public figures, especially women in sports. A recent study on NWSL fans shows that could be changing.

The Premier League and Women's Super League will introduce concussion substitutions trials from Feb. 6, England's Football Association said on Friday.

The decision comes after the game's rule-making body IFAB last month gave the go-ahead for trials of additional "concussion subs."

Japan is out. Argentina is in. It’s all absurd.

Less than a month before the 2021 SheBelieves Cup, the tournament has been forced into major changes. The 2011 World Cup champions pulled out of the tournament citing Covid-19 issues and were replaced by the 31st-ranked team in the world, one that struggles mightily for respect from its own federation.

Japan's three-times Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka has invested in National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team North Carolina Courage to become a team owner, the U.S. top-flight club said on Thursday.

"The women who have invested in me growing up made me who I am today, I don't know where I would be without them," Osaka, the world number three, wrote on Twitter. "Throughout my career I've always received so much love from my fellow female athletes so that's why I am proud to share that I am now an owner of the NC Courage."

Sam Kerr signed with Chelsea in November of 2019. She’s yet to lose a league match with the Blues.

Kerr scored the opener as Chelsea eased past Aston Villa 4-0 on Tuesday. The win moved the Blues’ unbeaten streak in FA Women’s Super League action to 32, setting a new record and breaking a tie with Manchester City.

32 games unbeaten in the #BarclaysFAWSL.