The Washington Spirit are off to a soaring start. After dropping their season opener in Seattle, they’ve gone on to decisively win four straight games. That includes Saturday’s 2-0 defeat over NJ/NY Gotham FC, the reigning NWSL champions. The strong stretch for the Spirit comes as somewhat of a surprise to fans who have followed the team for the past few years. After winning the NWSL championship in 2021, the Spirit endured two lackluster seasons, finishing in 11th place in 2022 and eighth place in 2023. But so far in 2024 — what was supposed to be a rebuilding year with an interim coach — the ..read more

Chelsea coach Emma Hayes may have just become the first manager in five years to guide a team to victory on Barcelona’s home turf, but you wouldn’t have known it from her post-match press conference. There was no sense of celebration. No poems. No interest in mulling over the records her team had just broken. No time for relaxing. Her thoughts had immediately turned to April 27, when Chelsea host Barcelona for the return leg at Stamford Bridge with a chance to earn a spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. She had no interest in talking about what this 1-0 victory meant. Instead, she ..read more

Late last week we were sitting on the news that Maria Sánchez had requested a trade less than a month into the first season of her multi-year contract with the Houston Dash. The wish was granted at the stroke of the National Women’s Soccer League closing its transfer window when the Dash shipped the Mexican star to the San Diego Wave. The trade was part of a flurry of moves that impacted six of the league’s 14 teams. In the interim, Sánchez acknowledged she had requested a trade a few weeks prior. This week she steps from a team in the throws of yet another roster retooling and into one that i ..read more

This weekend marks the first legs of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals. With a repeat of last season’s tie between Barcelona and Chelsea taking place in Spain and an all-French clash to look forward to as Lyon host Paris Saint-Germain, these are the biggest talking points dominating the buildup to Saturday’s matches. The managers steal the headlines Managerial flux is a major narrative affecting three of the four biggest clubs in Europe, as we approach the business end of the UWCL. Chelsea’s Emma Hayes is on her high-profile farewell tour. This Champions League marks one of just two ..read more

“Playing in Europe was always a dream of mine.” This statement could be attributed to several players over the years but moving to Europe as a young American is no easy task. For Eva Gaetino though, this was the dream move.  Gaetino’s professional career began in the French capital with Paris Saint-Germain, following in the footsteps of former United States women’s national team players such as Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe. And now, she is learning from some of the best players in her position. Already in her first season, she’s become the youngest American to score in the UEFA Women’s C ..read more

HARRISON, N.J. — Although the 2024 season is well underway, NJ/NY Gotham FC paid homage to its 2023 National Women’s Soccer League championship at the team’s home opener Sunday night.  Even before the match, all eyes were on celebrating Gotham’s historic championship. Fans could take photos not only with the league’s first-ever Tiffany-designed trophy, but with last year’s captain, Ali Krieger. The decorated defender, who retired after last season, greeted fans as they filed in for Gotham’s first home game of the season. During the match’s opening ceremony, Krieger personally walked the t ..read more

The Washington Spirit’s 3-1 comeback win over the Houston Dash on April 12 was a testament to why it’s important to have a productive offseason. It was also a statement about the value of veteran players.  Though the Spirit got off to an ugly start on Friday night, going down 1-0 within the first minute, the team’s three second-half goals – including two that came within two minutes of each other – were all scored by players acquired in January, in the lead-up to the 2024 season. Hal Hershfelt, who scored the Spirit’s first goal in the 52nd minute, and Croix Bethune, who scored the Spirit ..read more

Although the Houston Dash fell 3-1 against the Washington Spirit in their 10th anniversary celebration game on April 12, the National Women’s Soccer League club is on the horizon for more as they lock in a pivotal year in club history. The early days Being the new kids on the block in 2014, Dash players were used to showing up to practice with no locker room in sight and having to wash their own training uniforms.  “At the beginning, I remember girls were very much just appreciative to have a league,” said retired Dash forward Kealia Watt (née Ohai) to Theo Lloyd-Hughes at Squad Depth. “I ..read more

CARY, N.C. — When the North Carolina Courage lined up for their opening match of the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League season, an interesting name filled the central striker’s role at kickoff: Brianna Pinto. The 23-year-old had previously been a midfielder while a member of the Courage, albeit a versatile player who had been used in both defensive and attacking roles. But with North Carolina’s leading scorer from 2023 Kerolin sidelined with a torn ACL for the time being, as well as head coach Sean Nahas having a surplus of midfielders and a track history of playing players in various roles o ..read more

SEATTLE — As calendars turned to December, Emeri Adames was graduating high school and preparing for life playing college soccer at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The Dallas, Texas, native was not planning on going pro. She had committed to a Tarheels program that is consistently one of the best in the nation as one of the nation’s top recruits. Seemingly out of nowhere, Seattle Reign came calling. Discussions began in late December and an invite to preseason soon followed. Adames still wasn’t set on going pro but, time training with the Reign changed everything. “It was defini ..read more