USWNT

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. 

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.

World Cup winning U.S. midfielder Megan Rapinoe said she would be "devastated" if this year's Tokyo Olympics are cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizers were forced to reiterate their commitment to holding the Olympics in July and August after a report on Friday said Japan's government had privately concluded the Games would have to be cancelled because of the pandemic.

IOC statement on media reports regarding Tokyo 2020 pic.twitter.com/647pj5mx9U

Within 13 seconds of her first international start she was setting up a teammate with a great chance. Inside three minutes she had her first goal. Catarina Macario has arrived.

The U.S. women’s national team is in the midst of a two-match friendly series with Colombia, having won 4-0 on Monday with another match slated for Friday. In between, a USWNT inauguration video helped celebrate Joe Biden becoming the 46th president of the United States.

The Mewis sisters, led by Samantha's three goals, did all the scoring as the U.S. women's national team opened its 2021 campaign with a 4-0 victory against Colombia on Monday in Orlando, Fla.

Manchester United’s surprise run at the top of the FA WSL was halted by Chelsea on Sunday with the Blues handing the Red Devils their first defeat of the season and taking their spot at the summit in the process.

The rise of United and legitimacy of its title challenge was highlighted this week by Tobin Heath’s decision to decline a call-up for the USWNT’s January camp in order to stay in Manchester for a couple crucial games, including today’s top-of-the-table clash.  

Manchester City’s transfer policy it quite transparent, but honestly it might be the smartest thing any club has ever done.

There is little doubt the two-time defending world champion USWNT is the best soccer team in the world, so it makes sense for Manchester City to throw all its money at World Cup-winning players. The Citizens signed their third American of the season on Saturday, making Abby Dahlkemper’s move official.