Barcelona are Back-To-Back Champions of Europe 🇪🇸🏆

It’s May 28, 2024. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.

Good afternoon TWG readers! I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable long weekend. We had family in town and had the BEST weather. We put that homemade fire pit to good use and had s’mores… the official marker of summer. 

As some of you know, I’ve also been training for my aquabike (triathlon without the running) and I did my first lake swim, wetsuit and all. Pic NOT incoming. But it’s been great to train for something again. I just got a new bike for the race and I’m really enjoying having some structure to my workouts. 

We had a full slate of NWSL this weekend, plus the Champions League final on Saturday in which Barcelona took home their second title in a row, thanks to goals from Aitana Bonmatí and Alèxia Putellas. Rog and I went live after the final whistle and that show has been posted as a podcast on our feed HERE.

A little schedule change this week — Friendlies with Ashley Sanchez dropped TODAY. It’s such a fun interview — I think it is actually the first time I “cry-laughed” during one of these shows. Good Vibes with Lynn Williams will drop on Thursday, during which we will preview the USWNT friendly this weekend against South Korea. That will be Emma Hayes’ first game on the sidelines with the USWNT and I cannot wait to watch.

Our first live show EVER is next week in Kansas City. Rog and I are coming into town June 6th to explore the story of everything that is being built in that city, and I’m so excited to see some of you in person and raise an Olipop with you! TICKETS ARE SUPER LOW and there are only a few left — grab them now while you can! We have some very special guests joining us at the show. Don’t worry — if you aren’t coming, the show will be recorded and posted live on our podcast feed! So make sure you’re subscribed and you won’t miss anything.

In the meantime, if you have questions for the show, send me an email at [email protected].

Thank you all for being here!

Love,

Sam

I. Barcelona are back-to-back Champions of Europe 🇪🇸🏆

Saturday’s Champions League final, which crowned Barcelona as back-to-back Champions of Europe, was a celebration of the women’s game and a dazzling display of its elite quality. With 50,827 raucous fans packed into the sold-out San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, a new record attendance for the UWCL final is officially in the books. With supporters of eight-time champions Lyon sprinkled in, the atmosphere was dominated by a joyous Catalan crowd, who filled the streets with a celebratory atmosphere throughout the day. 

The opening was cagey as both teams attempted to enforce their will, perpetually aware of their opponent’s threat. But the world’s greatest players find a way, and in the 63rd minute, Spain’s reigning Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí gave Barcelona the 1-0 lead with a deflected shot past Lyon’s keeper Cristiane Endler. Later, subbing into the match after the 90 minute mark, Spain’s two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alèxia Putellas put a stoppage-time dagger into the hearts of Lyon fans, as her left-footed strike sealed Barca’s victory 2-0. 

Lyon put up a fight until the end (with US co-captain Lindsey Horan in their ranks just one day short of her 30th birthday), but Barcelona were deserved victors of their third UWCL trophy in just four years. Game respects game: Lyon/Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang was definitely trying to sign Alèxia Putellas to the Spirit post-game. 🤣

More: ‘Barcelona is making history after UWCL win’

Also: Nigerian forward and former Barcelona star Asisat Oshoala, who now plays for NWSL expansion side Bay FC, won recognition for UWCL Goal of the Season, for this stunning bicycle kick goal against Benfica back on Matchday 1. 

II. NWSL Week 11: Orlando Pride continue record-breaking win streak as Barbra Banda 🇿🇲 soars

a. The Orlando Pride set a new NWSL record as they collected their 8TH STRAIGHT WIN (!) against Portland Thorns Friday night, ending Portland’s six game win streak in the process. The Pride are now top of NWSL with the longest-running win streak in league history. It was a team victory for the Floridians as they beat Portland 2-1 at home, but pride of Lusaka, Zambia, Barbra Banda, was particularly exceptional, scoring a brace to bring her league-leading goal-per-game tally to a remarkable 8 goals in 7 games. 

b. Washington Spirit’s rookie sensation Croix Bethune has also set a new NWSL record, as the Georgia Bulldogs alum collected her 8th career assist in her first 11 matches this weekend, making her the fastest rookie in history to reach that milestone. Bethune’s history making assist set up teammate Ouleymata Sarr for the third goal in a 3-2 victory over Seattle Reign. Bethune also scored her fourth goal of the year to start the game.   

c. Gotham’s Ella Stevens has hit a hot streak just in time for summer, scoring the decisive brace (in the space of two minutes) in a 2-0 victory against Bay FC, marking her fourth goal in three games. (Also: Good Vibes FC listeners taking fan photos with Lynn’s grandmother ♥️) 

More: ‘Orlando Pride set highest winning streak in NWSL history’

III. FOUR DAYS FROM TODAY IN DENVER: Emma Hayes’ first match as USWNT Manager 🇺🇲 (Saturday, June 1, 5 PM ET, TNT) 

Mere days after lifting her fifth straight WSL title with Chelsea, Emma Hayes dropped her first official roster as manager of the USWNT. 19 of 23 players named were on April’s victorious SheBelieves Cup squad, with a few exciting additions including the return of Rose Lavelle and a first-ever call up for Washington Spirit rookie Hal Hershfelt. While competing for a coveted place on this summer’s 18-player Olympic roster, this team will represent the US in two friendlies against Korea Republic (accounting for two of four pre-Olympic tune ups), starting with this Saturday in Denver, which marks Emma’s first game in charge of Team USA. 

Across a busy week, Emma also hit the ground running with media appearances and press events, as the decorated English manager began to rally the country behind the USWNT. That includes an appearance on the Today show, where Emma told viewers: “I was born in England but made in America.”

In a statement put out by US Soccer, Emma said the following to fans: 

“I’m really looking forward to getting started,” said Hayes. “The preparations have been well underway and I can’t wait to get into camp. We know it’s a short turnaround and we have a lot of work to do, but I’m fully focused on making sure that the performances are at the levels that are required to compete. I want to build on the work that (former interim head coach and now assistant coach) Twila (Kilgore) has been implementing over the last six months. I expect complete commitment from everyone to absorb very quickly the things that I value as the most important so that we can compete this summer. I know they are a highly coachable group and I’m looking forward to challenging them. It’s time to go to work. I can’t wait to meet the fans and it’s really time to get behind the team as we get closer to putting a roster together for the Olympics.”

More: ‘USWNT coach Emma Hayes on Chelsea, Olympics, more’

Also: ‘How will Emma Hayes navigate switch from club game to USWNT?’

IV. News and Notes 📰🗞️

a. Ajax lifted the Dutch league title with Virginia native Lily Yohannes in their ranks, marking yet another milestone for the 16-year-old who was just named talent of the year for Ajax, and joins the US in camp this week in Colorado. (ICYMI: we spoke with Lily on a recent Friendlies pod. LISTEN HERE.) 🇳🇱

b. AS Roma collected their second ever Coppa d’Italia this weekend after overcoming Fiorentina on penalties. 🇮🇹

c. Craving pizza in the US capital? You may see some familiar faces. Multi-club women’s football club owner, investor and entrepreneur Michele Kang has made a splash in DC with Spirit advertisements all over the city: pizza boxes, public transportation, the train station and more. When visibility makes a difference and investment matters, it’s great to see investors like Kang ensure the team is getting the marketing they deserve. 

d. Speaking of investments in women’s football, WNBA rookie and former LSU star Angel Reese is now a part owner of DC Power FC, who will debut in the USL Super League this summer. 

e. Ahead of the upcoming international window, multiple Argentine footballers have quit the Argentina National Team (including Goalkeeper Laurina Oliveros, defender Julieta Cruz, and midfielder Lorena Benitez) citing lack of pay for upcoming friendlies and conditions in camp. 🇦🇷

f. Lifelong Arsenal fan Leah Williamson signed a new multi-year contract to stay with Arsenal, and released a touching video to highlight the 27-year-old’s commitment to the club she’s been with for 19 years, making 232 professional appearances. 

V. Parting Shots 🥃

The Chicago Red Stars will be playing at the historic Wrigley Field on June 8th. This past week, the club announced that 22,000 tickets have already been sold, and all sections of the stadium are now open in what looks to be a club record-setting crowd for the inimitable home of Swanson and Naeher. 

VI. Good Reads 📚

From Sophie Downey in The Guardian, ‘Jonatan Giraldez leaves Barcelona on highest of notes’ 

From Emily Keough in ESPN, ‘What USWNT fans can learn from Hayes’ final season at Chelsea’

From Tom Friend in Sports Business Journal, ‘NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman is first woman to win SBA for Executive of the Year’