First things first – we have a new baby in the TWG family! Last week, Lynn and her husband Marley introduced baby Lucky to the world. I’ve been chatting with Lynn and everyone is doing so great. I cannot wait to meet the little guy, and I am so happy for my friends who are already the most incredible parents. 👶

On the soccer front, we had such a busy weekend! I loved watching the UWCL semifinals and am excited to see TWG friend and podcast host, Lindsey Heaps, in the Champions League final on May 23! I also was over the moon to see my hometown NWSL team, the Boston Legacy, get their first win in club history. Check out the game winner from Bianca St-Georges. We’re covering all the soccer news from over the weekend in today’s episode of “Good Vibes.” 🙌

We’ve got plenty more podcasts on the way this week! A brand-new “Teaming Up” with USWNT defender Naomi Girma just dropped, Arsenal centerback Steph Catley joins “Friendlies” on Thursday, and Friday caps things off with a new “Mewis Squared” with Kristie before we head into the weekend. 📺

Thank you all so much for being here! 🫶   

Love,
Sam

P.S. Uncle Naeher with the future of the USWNT team in her hands. (No pressure!) 👶

“We played like Lyon, and that’s what we set out to do this entire week. I’m very, very proud of the team.” – USWNT captain and Lyonnes midfielder Lindsey Heaps

 🦁 Olympique Lyonnes Complete 3-1 Comeback Over Arsenal ❤️

At Stade Gerland on Saturday, Lyonnes dashed the Gunners’ hopes of back-to-back Champions League trophies to finish the semifinal 4-3 on aggregate. With USWNT players Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes bossing the midfield and left-back Selma Bacha and former CONCACAF Player of the Year Melchie Dumornay returning to the starting XI, the French side delivered a more confident, commanding performance worthy of eight UWCL titles.

In the 21st minute, Lyonnes captain Wendie Renard scored a penalty to draw the tie level, before Kadidiatou Diani put Lyonnes in front off a corner. Arsenal forward and tournament top scorer Alessia Russo (tied with Barça’s Ewa Pajor) provided late hope to the visitors with a clinical header off a cross from Smilla Holmberg, but it was not to be. In the 75th-minute, rising star Jule Brand, who scored the opening goal in the first leg, fittingly delivered the third and final goal off an assist from Dumornay to send her team to the final.

🇪🇸 Barcelona Fend Off Bayern 4-2 at Camp Nou 🇩🇪

In front of a sold-out crowd, the Blaugrana punched their ticket to a sixth-straight Champions League final, while Bayern bowed out after exhibiting extraordinary grit and determination. The German side may have been without Franziska Kett due to a red card from the previous match, but they made the most of their limited chances with goals from captain Pernille Harder and defender Linda Dallmann.

However, Barça’s attack kept coming wave after wave, with an opening goal from Salma Paralluelo off a wonder-cross from Caroline Graham Hansen, a brace from captain Alexia Putellas, and a sharp header from Ewa Pajor. The Spanish side also showcased their formidable depth with three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí welcomed back for her first appearance since breaking her leg in November to help Barça clinch the win and send her side to the final against Olympique Lyonnes on May 23. 

“Everybody knows that this city wants to win. This city wants a legacy…This is why I’m here, because I know this project is ambitious.” – Boston coach Filipa Patão

💚 Boston Makes History: This week, NWSL’s 15th team pulled off a 3–2 comeback win against fellow expansion side Denver Summit with a spate of last-gasp heroics. With goals from longtime league veterans, Nichelle Prince and Bianca St-Georges, and a spectacular stoppage-time volley from NWSL rookie Aïssata Traoré, Boston secured an emotional victory in Foxborough, their first in franchise history. 

🌹 Portland Stay on Top: The three-time NWSL champions strengthened their hold on first place with back-to-back 2-0 wins, starting with a midweek victory at home over San Diego – which ended the Wave’s five-game winning streak – before beating the Stars away in Chicago. At Providence Park, Portland widened the gap at the top of the table, with a beautiful strike from Marie Müller, who scored her first NWSL goal, and Sophia Wilson, who notched her second of the season. On Sunday, Thorns’ midfielder Olivia Moultrie’s stock continued to rise as she celebrated becoming the youngest player to reach 100 NWSL appearances with a goal and an assist. 

📈 The Spirit’s Rise Runs Through Rodman: Trinity Rodman is on a tear. On Wednesday, she hit the winner in the Washington Spirit’s 1-0 midweek victory over Racing Louisville, then made it three straight games with a goal in a wild 4-2 win against Orlando, where Barbra Banda scored her second brace of the season. Rodman’s teammate, Sofia Cantore, also impressed, clocking the fastest two goals after kickoff in NWSL history. Whether it’s form, fate, some USWNT energy, or Jose the Coyote, the Spirit suddenly look recharged. 

🛡️ Kansas City Comeback Loading… 2025’s record-setting Shield winners have finally shown signs of turning a corner. After winning their opening game against Utah, the Current lost three-straight matches while adjusting to a new manager and coping without two-time NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga and midfield anchor Claire Hutton, who was traded to Bay FC in February. But Saturday’s 2-1 win in North Carolina (their second in three games) showed the team’s creative spark, as Croix Bethune struck early to tally her second goal of the year with a smooth first touch and volley, before forward Michelle Cooper doubled the lead in the 23rd minute. 

“It was tough, but we knew if we continued with our game plan and continued to play that we’re good enough to score…We just had to keep going.” – Rebecca Knaak on scoring the winning header for City 

Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool 🪄

A diving header from City’s Rebecca Knaak at the death sent a wave of relief through Joie Stadium, securing all three points and putting the league leaders in pole position to secure their first WSL title in a decade. With one matchday to go, City lead second-place Chelsea by six points, but Arsenal, with three games in hand, could technically still challenge. City’s fate is still in their control: it is down to the final matchday, but if they beat West Ham, the title is theirs. 

Arsenal 7-0 Leicester City 🫨 

While City is inching closer to claiming the WSL trophy, the Gunners kept the pressure on in the midweek and delivered a decisive blow to last-placed Leicester City, officially sending them to a relegation playoff, where they’ll face WSL2’s Charlton to determine which side will compete in England’s top flight next season. 

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s seven-goal drubbing ensured the title race with City is alive and well with Gunners midfielder Frida Maanum cheekily observing, "We like to be in a hunting position," after the match where she celebrated her 100th WSL appearance by scoring the opening goal and notching two assists. Nineteen-year-old Smilla Holmberg also netted a brace – her first goals with the club – and became only the second teenager in WSL history to assist in three consecutive appearances after Georgia Stanway back in 2018.

Birmingham City & Crystal Palace Earn Promotion to the WSL 🔝

The final matchday of England’s second-division WSL2 ended in dramatic fashion with Birmingham City beating Charlton 2-0 to clinch automatic promotion and a first-placed finish, while Crystal Palace joined them after a commanding 6-1 win over Portsmouth. Charlton, who finished in third, now head to a promotion playoff against Leicester City on May 23 for a shot at going up.

Every week, TWG brings you the latest football news and in-depth interviews. Here are a few recent moments you won’t want to miss!

National Women’s Soccer League

Gotham FC 🦇 vs. Boston Legacy 💚 (Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET, ION)
In a rematch of the opening game of the season, the Bats will host Boston, who are coming off their first-ever win in franchise history. For the game, Gotham has partnered with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdami on an affordability initiative to offer thousands of $5 tickets to New York fans.

Angel City 🪽 vs. San Diego Wave 🌊 (Saturday, 8:45 p.m. ET, ION)
This SoCal derby promises to be charged as both teams chase a win. Angel City is coming off three straight losses, San Diego off two, and both will be without key figures after red cards were issued to ACFC’s Maiara Niehues and Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall over the weekend.

FA Cup Semifinals

Chelsea 💙 vs. Manchester City 🩵 (Sunday, 10:30 a.m. ET)
With the WSL title in reaching distance, City could claim another historic piece of silverware with a win against the Blues. However, Chelsea will look to add another trophy this year after winning the League Cup but falling short of their usual standards.

Liverpool ♥️ vs. Brighton 💙 (Sunday, 7:15 a.m. ET)
Liverpool, who are 11th in the WSL table, are the biggest underdogs left standing as they prepare to face Brighton, who are in formidable form and fresh off wins against Manchester City and Arsenal.

This week’s question: Barcelona and Lyonnes go head-to-head for their fourth UWCL final against each other on May 23. In their first match-up back in 2019, which players scored to secure Lyonnes a 4-1 win in Budapest?

Respond to this email (or reply here) for a chance to win a coveted TWG patch.

Last week’s answer: In last year’s Champions League semifinal, Arsenal beat Lyon 4-1 in France to progress to the final. Who scored Lyon’s only goal? That was none other than Melchie Dumornay, who was named UWCL’s Young Player of the Season two years in a row.

Congrats to Emily Foley, who was the first person to respond with the correct answer. Emily, the patch is on its way! 💌

Kate writes: Hi Sam, I love your podcast and am a big fan. Listen to almost everything but faves are “Mewis Squared,” so laugh-out-loud funny and also great advocacy for empathy in sibling relationships, and “Teaming Up” with Becky Sauerbrunn who must be the most thoughtful interviewer ever.

I'm particularly enjoying the latest interviews, and found Imani Dorsey and Jasmyne Spencer compelling and engaging speakers. It was clear how much they admire each other – and I will follow their inspiring work. Another inspiring black soccer player is the ‘99er Briana Scurry who I heard talk on the “Recap Show” and was left wanting to know more about. Such an incredible story and it would be wonderful to hear Briana interviewed by Becky.

Cheers,
Kate Reeves from Melbourne

Sam writes: Hi Kate, Thanks for tuning in all the way from Australia! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recent “Teaming Up” episode featuring Imani and Jasmyne and the Black Women’s Players Collective. We feel so lucky to have the platform to shine a spotlight on the amazing work they’re continuing to do collectively for Black athletes both on and off the field.

And thank you for suggesting ‘99er Briana Scurry for TWG. She’s had such an extraordinary impact not only as a legendary goalkeeper, but also as a powerful advocate for retired footballers, concussion safety and mental health. She’s someone we admire so much – the ‘99 World Cup truly made me and Kristie envision becoming pro athletes one day – and your note is a great reminder of how her voice and legacy continues to resonate. She is definitely on our wishlist to feature sometime on the show. Thanks for taking the time to write us! <3

Love,
Sam

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