This weekend was full of great games and big moments – we saw a Champions League comeback, Sophia Wilson’s first goal back since having a baby, a huge WSL upset from Brighton, and a Trinity Rodman performance that got Washington Spirit fans breathing a little easier. The rest of this newsletter will dive into all this, and more, so keep reading! 🌟

Last week was a marathon here at TWG with five podcast episodes dropping across five days. If you missed “Mewis Squared” on Friday, make sure to check that one out. Not for nothing, but Kristie and my singing talents were a big hit on social. 😂

Coming up this week we have a great interview with the powerhouse that is Gotham forward Midge Purce on Thursday where we explore her incredible football journey, and some off-field ventures, including her advocacy work and brand-new podcast that launches today. 🎙️

I enjoyed the first signs of spring this weekend… 60 degrees and sunny means bike rides, gardening, and long dog walks! I hope it’s sunny wherever you are – I needed this so bad. 🌱

Thank you all so much for being here!

Love,
Sam

P.S. In the true spirit of our immigration‑nation, this NWSL team is offering vital support to immigrant and refugee communities. 🤝

"It was definitely a long time coming. I tried not to put too much pressure on myself, but I needed a goal and once I get one I hope I get more.” – Sophia Wilson on her first goal since having a baby

📋 Wilson & Rodman Open Their NWSL Scoresheets for 2026

The NWSL returned from the international break with a weekend of emotional ‘firsts’ and poignant moments, including Sophia Wilson’s incredible left-footed strike in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win for the Portland Thorns against Angel City which will stay with us (at least) until next weekend. The goal marks her first for club or country since giving birth to her daughter Gigi.

Meanwhile, in D.C. at a sold out “rowdy Audi,” Trinity Rodman celebrated not only becoming the youngest player to reach 100 regular season games, but also her first goal (and assist) of 2026 in a 4-0 win against Kansas City after spending much of 2025 sidelined by injury.

Her teammate, Colombian talent Leicy Santos, notched a brace, while 18-year-old forward Claudia Martínez made history as the first Paraguayan to score in the NWSL, converting the fourth and final goal. Returning to Audi Field for the first time since her blockbuster trade to Kansas City in the offseason, 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year Croix Bethune looked dangerous, but was ultimately thwarted by Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver.

🗽 Chelsea Star Debuts for Gotham

The reigning NWSL Champions shook off their slow start to the season with a 3-0 win against Bay FC (hat tip to goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz who made 12 saves to keep this scoreline reasonable for the visitors). Guro Reiten also took to the field at left-back for her highly anticipated debut for the Bats, reuniting with former Chelsea teammates Jess Carter and Ann‑Katrin Berger. Gotham continued to look more like itself with centerback Tierna Davidson earning her first club start since returning from injury, while Rose Lavelle notched a goal (assisted by rookie Jordynn Dudley) to mark her first of the year. 

🌳 NWSL’s 18th Franchise Lands in Columbus, Ohio

Last week, in a record $205 million deal, it was announced that Columbus is set to become the NWSL’s next expansion team, with the club set to play at ScottsMiracle-Go Field beginning in 2028. The bid was placed by Haslam Sports Group, owners of the MLS’s Columbus Crew, NFL’s Cleveland Browns and NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. They also struck a deal with the Columbus City Council to build a training facility at McCoy Park, a move that quickly drew scrutiny with locals observing that the park was slated for renovation and sits near underserved communities. The city will next host the NWSL Challenge Cup between reigning champions Gotham FC and the reigning shield winners Kansas City Current on June 26.

More: Colorado’s governor just named April 27 “Denver Summit Day,” and the hype for USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps’ return is real. She recently sat down for her first official interview with her future club.

“With the second leg at home, we know what we have to do. We’re going to come out stronger, rest, recover and go again.” – Lindsey Heaps on Lyon’s first-leg defeat

📈 Arsenal Capitalize on Olympique Lyonnais’ Defensive Errors in 2-1 Win

In a repeat of last year’s semifinal at the Emirates, the Gunners conceded first on home turf thanks to an early goal from Lyon's rising German star, Jule Brand.

However, the Gunners regrouped at half time, equalizing by putting pressure on the French side and punishing them for a defensive lapse from goalkeeper Christiane Endler during a set piece in the 58th minute. Then with less than 10 minutes remaining, Arsenal’s world-record signing Olivia Smith pounced on a loose back-pass to defender Ingrid Engen and coolly slotted it home to put the Gunners ahead, marking the first time Arsenal has ever defeated Lyon in London.

⚖️ Bayern Battle Barcelona to a 1-1 Stalemate

With 31,000 home fans behind them, Bayern astonishingly managed to hold three-time UWCL champions Barça to a draw in a marked improvement from the 7-1 result when they last met the Catalan giants. In what felt like an ominous sign, striker Ewa Pajor, who broke into the UWCL’s all‑time top‑10 scoring ranks this weekend, scored in the eighth-minute to give Barça the early lead. 

But Bayern responded bravely, securing the equalizer in the 69th minute with captain Pernille Harder, who is tied in fourth place for all-time UWCL goals with 48, assisting young defender Franziska Kett’s goal – her first in the competition and second this season. Unfortunately, only 10 minutes later Kett was shown a straight red card after pulling the hair of Barcelona’s Salma Paralluelo, further evidence of a worrisome trend of violent-conduct incidents this season.

“Leaving Kingsmeadow after nine years is bittersweet. It's where so many Chelsea greats built their legacies…This is a new chapter, but our ambition remains the same. We want to win. We want to lift more trophies. We want to create further history." – Chelsea’s players in an open letter to supporters

In a full-throated statement of intent that Chelsea is “Never Done,” the Blues have announced they will be the fourth WSL team (after Arsenal, Leicester City and Aston Villa) to use their club’s main stadium to host their home matches starting next season.

While a major move for the team, it comes during a period of transition, as the second-place WSL side navigates multiple player and personnel changes. For many, the end of a trophy-filled, near-decade stay at Kingsmeadow Stadium is rife with emotion, yet the shift to the Bridge, which boasts a 40,000+ capacity, signals Chelsea’s ambitions to grow its fanbase.

Meanwhile in other WSL news this weekend… 

🫨 Brighton stunned Manchester City 3-2, derailing City’s bid to wrap up their title race early. Twenty-seven-year-old Dallas native Madison Haley, who scored 20 goals in 76 appearances and won two national championships at Stanford, had a standout game, scoring a brace for the Seagulls, with 29-year-old Japanese forward Kiko Seike, completing the trifecta. The loss leaves City six points clear with two weekends remaining, Chelsea chasing in second, and Arsenal a dark-horse contender with three games still in hand.  

🧱 Manchester United ground out a 0–0 tie with fifth-placed Tottenham. With Spurs outshooting United 22–10, USWNT goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce delivered five crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet, although a draw puts a further dent in their Champions League push for next season. In more welcome news, midfielder Ella Toone made her first appearance for the Red Devils since enduring a hip injury in December 2025.

🎯 Chelsea defeated Everton 4-1 with Sam Kerr racking up a brace, becoming Chelsea’s joint top scorer of all time, alongside Fran Kirby. In a bit of controversy, a third goal by Kerr was ruled out, which appeared to have crossed the line and would have broken the record. The afternoon also marked Sjoeke Nüsken’s 100th appearance for the Blues.

More: Sonia Bompastor called for goal-line technology in the WSL after Sam Kerr’s hat-trick was denied.

National Women’s Soccer League

Portland Thorns 🌹 vs. San Diego Wave 🌊 (Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET, CBS) 

Fresh off her first NWSL goal following maternity leave, Sophia Wilson will no doubt be hoping to repeat that feat at Providence Park when second-placed Thorns welcome the league leaders, San Diego Wave. The Wave’s attack is clicking at just the right time, but the question on everyone’s mind remains: when will USWNT star Catarina Macario finally make her debut?

Boston Legacy 💚 vs. Denver Summit 🏔️ (Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, CBS)

In Foxborough, the NWSL’s two expansion sides go head-to-head for the first time in their debut seasons. The Legacy are still chasing their first win following five straight losses and will see if they can secure it against the North Carolina Courage midweek. Meanwhile, Denver look to bounce back after San Diego overcame a two-goal deficit to humble them 3-2 over the weekend.

Champions League (Second Leg)

Olympique Lyonnais 🇫🇷 vs. Arsenal 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (Saturday, 9 a.m. ET, Paramount+)

Despite opening the scoring in the first leg, the eight-time champions of Europe stumbled under pressure from the title-holders at the Emirates. To avoid semi-final elimination for the second straight year, the French giants will need to make better use of home advantage than in last season’s meeting, when the Gunners beat them 4-1 in Lyon to progress to the final. 

Barcelona 🇪🇸 vs. Bayern Munich 🇩🇪 (Sunday, 10:30 am ET, Paramount+) 

Barcelona’s return to Camp Nou for the second leg of this tie could be buoyed by none other than two-time Ballon d’Or winner, Aitana Bonmati. The Catalan game-changer recently returned to training after breaking her leg in November and is determined to compete after missing Barça’s 1-1 draw away against Bayern.

Women’s Super League

Manchester United 👹 vs. Brighton 💙 (Saturday, 7 am ET)

After a disappointing tie against Spurs over the weekend, Manchester United now face Brighton, riding high following wins against both City and Arsenal. The Red Devils are vying for a second-consecutive UWCL campaign, but have a precarious hold on third place as Arsenal sit below them with three games in hand. 

This week’s question: In last year’s Champions League semifinal, Arsenal beat Lyon 1-4 in Lyon to progress to the final. Who scored Lyon’s only goal?

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

Last week’s answer: We asked you all who were the two goal scorers in both legs when Bayern Munich and Barcelona faced off in the 2018/19 Champions League semi-final, and Barcelona narrowly won each contest 1-0. 

While some of you guessed one player correctly, no one came through with both players, who were none other than Kheira Hamraoui and Mariona Caldentey. Better luck this week!

Vicky writes: Hi Sam, 

I just watched your latest episode of “Good Vibes” with Becky. I am an inaugural Angel City season ticket holder and a huge fan of the U.S. Women's National Team, Angel City, and your podcast! 

After watching your latest episode, I'm writing to tell you that your relationship with your college teammates will last a lifetime. I'll be 67 in May. I played water polo on the U.S. Women’s National Team for a few years, but more importantly, on the first college women’s water polo team ever funded by a U.S. University - UCSD. All the other teams in my era were club teams. But UCSD provided uniforms. equipment, coaches (players from the men’s team), travel stipends, university vans for transportation, and even dedicated pool time so that we could practice. All the other college teams were club teams with no university support. We felt like we'd won the lottery at UCSD. 

I graduated in 1982. Yet my best friends over all of these years, through good times and some really tough times, are those same wonderful women that I played with a lifetime ago. When we get together the years fall away, we can still catch a glimpse of who we once were, and more importantly, those bonds formed so many years ago carry us through life. What you described about visiting your UCLA teammates is the magic that can happen on a women’s team. Your friends will be there forever. 

Your podcast is wonderful. My teammates are so proud of the women who came after us. Keep up the wonderful work! 

Best,
Vicky Barker

Sam writes: Dear Vicky, 

Thank you for watching “Good Vibes”! It sounds like such an incredible legacy you and your teammates left as part of the women’s water polo team at UCSD. I am always so appreciative of the athletes who came before me who paved the way, and I hope I’ve also been able to make it a little easier for the next generation coming up.

It was such a breath of fresh air to take a trip to the Bay Area and visit with my friends and former teammates from UCLA. It was like no time had passed – the jokes land the same, the years fall away, there’s just an ease and comfort around them, and we can still see the younger versions of each other in the room. Even though life has taken us in very different directions – between marriages, kids, retiring from soccer, and yes, even building Sammy Banana media empires – that special bond as Bruins hasn’t faded, and we’ve stayed connected through it all.

Some of the best friendships of my life have come from this sport, from youth camps to college to the NWSL and the USWNT, and I’m truly grateful for that. 

Thank you for writing in, listening to the pod, and sharing your story with everyone at TWG! <3

Love,
Sam

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