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  • Big Love Kelley O’Hara ❤️; Orlando Pride STILL Undefeated 🦁💜

Big Love Kelley O’Hara ❤️; Orlando Pride STILL Undefeated 🦁💜

September 23, 2024

It’s September 23rd. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.

Happy Monday, TWG readers! 

With the first day of fall came a full weekend of soccer. I was so excited to watch Man City vs. Arsenal on Sunday morning as the Women’s Super League in England kicked off this weekend. And I was not disappointed — it was a 2-2 draw in a packed Emirates stadium with a goal from Viv Miedema and an absolute BANGER from Jess Park for City, plus a goal apiece for Frida Maanum and Beth Mead for Arsenal. It was such a great reminder of the talent on display in the WSL and the competitiveness between the top sides. I can’t wait for more!

Last week, we dropped a WSL preview pod on a new show called Sammy Banana Phone where you all called in to help me talk about the upcoming season. If you haven’t listened yet, it’s not too late to get caught up! Find it wherever you get your podcasts.

Meanwhile, the NWSL streaks toward playoffs with Gotham clinching a playoff spot despite the sad news of Kelley O’Hara being added to the season-ending-injury list… meaning, she’s already played her last game. I wrote a short message to Kelley on Instagram and look forward to celebrating my friend on October 20th at the Gotham game.

Tomorrow we are dropping an episode of Good Vibes with Lynn Williams, who got an assist this weekend in Gotham’s win over Utah. Then on Thursday, we’ll hear from Chelsea’s Guro Reiten on her approach to the season ahead with new manager, Sonia Bompastor. I’m excited for you all to hear it!

Thanks for being here with us!

Love,
Sam

I. NWSL Matchday 21: Orlando stays undefeated; Temwa Chawinga scores again for Kansas City as she leads the Golden Boot race with five weeks to go 

a. Orlando Pride are still undefeated after Zambian forward Barbra Banda led them to a 1-0 win over Bay FC in California Friday evening. Banda’s 13th goal of the season came in the 84th minute of a closely contested battle, which saw both teams register 13 shots and both keepers clock six saves (including this one from Orlando keeper Anna Moorhouse). 

b. Kansas City Current collected a statement 3-0 win over second-place Washington Spirit at CPKC Stadium on Friday, and confirmed their playoff spot in the process. Malawi’s first NWSL player, forward Temwa Chawinga, scored her 16th goal of the year in the 69th minute, maintaining her lead on the golden boot race. Chawinga has three more goals than her nearest challenger, Barbra Banda (who also scored Friday evening), with five games to go in the season. The Spirit have had a formidable run of form this year, but injuries could haunt them. A few weeks back, their record-breaking rookie midfielder, Croix Bethune, (who became the first NWSL player to receive back-to-back Rookie of the Month accolades when she claimed three in a row earlier this year, and tied Tobin Heath’s assists-in-one-season record after notching 10 assists in the regular season) picked up a season-ending injury.

c. In Friday’s loss, USWNT star forward Trinity Rodman (who’s clocked three goals and two assists since the season resumed in August) left the field in a wheelchair after suffering an “intense back spasm”, though Rodman’s agent reported to the Washington Post he hoped it was not serious. 

d. NWSL reigning champions, Gotham FC, picked up a 1-0 win over Utah Royals Sunday in New Jersey as they wrapped up a busy week by clinching their NWSL Playoff position. TWG co-host Lynn Williams is encroaching on the NWSL assist record, after setting up teammate Yazmeen Ryan for the game’s lone goal. But that’s not the only bit of excitement for the fourth team to confirm their playoff berth. Gotham visited the White House this morning, where the 2023 NWSL Champions became the first NWSL team to be honored with a White House visit. 

More: Angel City and Portland wrap up Matchday 21 this evening in Los Angeles. Both teams will be keen to get the points, as the Thorns are just inside the league’s eight playoffs positions in seventh place. And ACFC is just below them in 10th place, with only five matchdays to go after their test in California. (Monday, September 23, 10 PM ET, CBS Sports Network)

And this: USWNT veteran and Gotham defender Kelley O’Hara confirmed a season ending injury this past week, marking the end of an incredible professional career, as the fullback previously announced she’d retire at the end of the 2024 season. O’Hara is a two-time World Cup champion, and leaves an incredible legacy in her wake. A message from Sam. 🇺🇲❣️

II. England’s top-flight Women’s Super League (WSL) starts a new year 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

a. The much-anticipated match-up between England WSL titans, Manchester City and Arsenal, finished 2-2 in London this Sunday. The WSL’s record goalscorer, Vivianne Miedema, received a warm welcome from her former home crowd at Emirates Stadium, as the former Arsenal striker made her WSL league debut for new club, Manchester City. Norwegian midfielder Frida Manuum opened Arsenal’s account in the eighth minute, but Miedema brought City level 1-1 against her former club in the 42nd-minute, marking the 16th WSL team the Dutch phenom has scored on. City’s Jess Park scored a stunning goal to take an initial 2-1 lead for the visitors, but England Lioness and Arsenal forward Beth Mead made it 2-2 to call it a draw. 

b. Chelsea started their new era with a 1-0 win at home over Aston Villa, as French manager and former Lyon boss, Sonia Bompastor, takes the helm from Emma Hayes. Swedish midfielder Johanna Rytting Kaneryd notched the lone goal in the Blues’ win. The USWNT’s creative attacking force, Catarina Macario, made the bench but did not appear as the versatile midfielder/forward continues to work back to full fitness after a knee injury forced her to miss the Olympics.

c. Manchester United, who finished a disappointing fifth last season, started strong with a 3-0 win over West Ham at home. US midfielder Kristie Mewis came off the bench for West Ham in the loss. 

More: We dropped a special Women’s Super League Preview on Friday. Listen HERE to get all of Sam’s predictions on this season of WSL action, including who she thinks will take home the trophy. HINT: Sam Kerr isn’t happy about Sam’s pick. 

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III. European round-up 🌍

a. France’s top flight Premiére League started a new season this past weekend. Last year’s champions, Lyon, beat Fleury 6-2 in the league’s first match of the year Friday. US captain Lindsey Horan was stoic from the spot to score Lyon’s second goal, before making it a brace in the 57th minute. Paris FC recovered from a tough week in Champions League play by beating Guingamp 6-0 on the road. And their fellow Parisians, PSG, beat Montpellier 3-1 in a match featuring a goal from USWNT gold medalist Korbin Albert. 🇫🇷 

b. UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) will confirm the final group stage berths this week in Round 2, Leg 2 of the qualifying phase. The first leg took place last week across Europe, featuring 12 matchups between 24 teams. Manchester City trounced Paris FC 5-0 in Paris, with a debut club goal for former Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema at her new club. After losing in the qualifying round last season, Arsenal fell to Swedish side BK Häcken 1-0 in Sweden, but will head home for the second leg. The two-time UWCL Champions and four-time runners-up, German side VfL Wolfsburg (who also lost in last year’s qualifying round), started strong with a 7-0 win over Italian team Fiorentina. And PSG, who featured former Manchester United and England keeper Mary Earps in net, fell to Juventus 3-1 in Italy. 

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IV. US U20 team wins third at the 2024 U20 Women’s World Cup 🇺🇲

The USA’s U20 team placed third in the 2024 U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia. after falling to eventual winners North Korea 1-0 in the semi-final, they beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Saturday to secure bronze.

a. 17-year-old North Korean forward Choe Il-son scored the game-winning goal against the United States in the semi-final, then went on to score the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Japan in the U20 World Cup Final. Il-son’s six goals in North Korea’s undefeated run to the trophy won her the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in this year’s tournament. North Korea’s trophy brings them level with the United States and Germany for a world-leading three U20 World Cup trophies.  

b. The US beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the third-place contest this Sunday in Bogotá, thanks to an early goal from Utah Royals’ rookie, Ally Sentnor, and a 119th-minute own goal forced by US substitute, North Carolina Tar Heels forward Maddie Dahlien. Ally Sentnor won the Bronze Ball for her tournament-performance, which included three goals. The US’ top-scorer was 20-year-old Princeton Tigers midfielder Pietra Tordin with four goals. This year’s third-place finish is the team’s best since they won the tournament for the third time in 2012. 

V. News and Notes 📰

a. England’s WSL has agreed to a new 60 million dollar (45 million GBP) sponsorship deal with Barclays. The three-year agreement keeps Barclays as the title sponsor for both the top-flight WSL and second-division English Championship.

b. The inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup (a new club competition pitting the region’s elite club teams in tournament competition, with eventual qualification for the new FIFA Club World Cup on the line) continued the group stage last week. Mexican side Tigres picked up a resounding 7-1 win in Jamaica against Frazsiers Whip. Fellow Liga MX Femenil team Club América also picked up a big 5-0 win at home in Mexico City over Panamanian side Santa Fe. Reigning NWSL champions, Gotham FC, went toe-to-toe with Mexico team Monterrey in a 0-0 draw. And Mexico international María Sánchez scored a hat-trick at home for San Diego Wave in a 3-2 win over fellow NWSL team, Portland Thorns. Matchday 4 of this year’s 6-match group stage resumes next week.

c. Cleveland Soccer Group (CSG) has purchased nearly 14 acres of land intended for a future NWSL stadium, bolstering their bid to launch an NWSL team amid further league expansion. Should NWSL approve the bid, the group aims to fund a 12,500 person stadium with a spend of 150 million dollars. 🏟️

d. Former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry is poised to purchase a control stake in the North Carolina Courage for 108 million dollars. Per reports, Lasry’s purchase would grant him 60% ownership of the Courage, who are presently ranked fifth in NWSL. 

VI. Parting Shots 🥃

“ALYSSA NAEHER IS THE GREATEST GOALKEEPER IN THE WORLD” — US Soccer Hall of Famer, former Premier League keeper, pride of New Jersey Tim Howard welcomed USWNT gold medalist Alyssa Naeher to Chicago Fan Fest over the weekend and declared the Chicago Red Stars keeper the global GOAT. 🇺🇲🐐 

VII. Good Reads 📚

d. From Steph Yang in The Athletic, ‘Dash players express frustration amid coach’s extended absence’

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