The NWSL continues to break records weekend after weekend, and I am so happy to be along for the ride! This past weekend saw a new attendance record in Denver, Boston Legacy’s first club goal, and the long-awaited official announcement about Cat Macario to San Diego. Tons of good news, but some teams are struggling out of the gate. Keep reading for more on all the surprises in the NWSL. 🤯

Here at TWG, we are making our own moves! Our first episode of The Captain with Lindsey Heaps dropped last week, and I’m so happy to be doing this new show with my former teammate and friend. We also spoke with Gisele Thompson on Friendlies amidst Angel City’s perfect start to the season. 🎊

Coming up later this week, Mewis Squared is back with Kristie taking us through her journey at the Asian Cup cheering on Sam Kerr and Australia. 🇦🇺

If you haven’t got your hands on one of our custom New Balance kits, make sure to check those out here. If you do have yours already, send me a picture! I’d love to see them out in the real world. Those kits are so fun and so much love went into designing them. I still can’t believe they came out just the perfect shade of… shrimp. 😂

Thank you all so much for being here!

Love,
Sam

P.S. - Even legends get starstruck when Alex Morgan enters the room. 🤩

“A motto that should be branded across women’s sports [is] ‘build it and they’ll come.’” –Denver Summit Captain, Janine Sonis

Denver Summit Shatter NWSL Attendance Record 🏔️

What a homecoming! The Summit made history on Saturday in Colorado, kicking off their first-ever home match in front of 63,004 fans at Empower Field, breaking the NWSL attendance record. The highly anticipated game drew soccer royalty Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy, as well as Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. The match ended 0-0, but Denver’s stock is climbing: last week they celebrated their first-ever win against reigning champions Gotham FC, and have been bolstered by German forward Melissa Kössler’s scoring streak – three goals in three NWSL games! 

Angel City Takes Flight, Dashing Houston’s Run 😇

First-placed Angel City is off to an electric start after beating Houston 2-1 in Los Angeles, becoming just the eighth team in NWSL history to open a season with three straight wins. Friday’s clash between the league’s then top-ranked, undefeated underdogs saw the hosts come from behind to win with two goals in two minutes from Icelandic forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir and Jersey-born attacker Riley Tiernan, who buried her fourth game-winning goal for Angel City.

More: Defender Gisele Thompson opens up about the team’s renewed drive entering their fifth season.

Kansas City Current & Washington Spirit Stumble Out of the Gate 😱

For two teams with title ambitions, this is… not exactly the start anyone envisioned. The Current, who are 1-3-0, suffered two defeats on the road this week, falling 3-0 to Seattle and 2-0 Portland, as they struggle to adapt to head coach Chris Armas’ new system, while still missing their star forward, Temwa Chawinga. Just ahead of them in the standings, 12th-placed Washington Spirit are still searching for that elusive first win in 2026. The talent is there (cough, Trinity Rodman, cough), but without Croix Bethune’s Messi-like magic in the midfield, and goalkeeper Aubrey Kingbury’s steadying leadership at the back (she’s currently on maternity leave), the Spirit are still looking to find their footing.

“As a group, we know the quality that [Viv] has and, once she’s on the ball, we know she can make things happen.” –Manchester City striker, Bunny Shaw

North London is Red ❤️ and Manchester is Blue 🩵…

Manchester City is cruising toward the league title after beating their Mancunian rivals 3-0 with a brace from Vivianne Miedema, who became the first WSL player to register over 10 goals in five different seasons. That set the tone for a high-scoring weekend. Buoyed by their captain and club legend Kim Little signing a one-year contract extension (get a load of this tifo), Arsenal handed their rivals, Tottenham, a 5-2 loss (hat tip to a hat-trick in 27 minutes from Alessia Russo, who can’t seem to stop scoring).

With Stars’ Futures in Flux, Chelsea Fight Back to Topple Villa 💙

Not to be one-upped by the derby day drama, Chelsea mounted a masterful comeback, handing Aston Villa a 4-3 defeat, with Sam Kerr rifling in a left‑footed effort, USWNT star Naomi Girma rising for a glancing header, Lauren James firing a low, unstoppable shot into the corner, and Sjoeke Nüsken delivering a clutch looping shot to claim all three points.

Last year’s treble winners lifted the 2026 League Cup trophy this month, and are still competing for Champions League and the FA Cup, with the WSL title most likely out of reach. Sonia Bompastor’s side has endured an injury-riddled, transitional year, with multiple big names rumored to be leaving in the summer.

Is this the End of an Era for WSL Legends? ⏳

Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Millie Bright as well as Arsenal’s Katie McCabe have recently been linked with moves away from their respective clubs. And with opportunities in the U.S. and an advantageous schedule in which players hit their peak mid-season ahead of the 2027 World Cup, could we see them come (or return) to the NWSL?

More: With league legends on the move, former England international Karen Carney unpacks Guro Reiten departing Chelsea and the mindset behind leaving a club.

“We know the tie’s nowhere near done.” –Arsenal forward, Alessia Russo

Arsenal Land the First Punch with a 3–1 Win Over Chelsea at the Emirates 🥊

In Arsenal’s quarterfinal versus Chelsea, Alessia Russo officially became the highest-scoring English player in UWCL history. Following Stina Blackstenius’ clinical header and Chloe Kelly’s long-range finish, Russo’s 76-minute strike broke her own record with her eighth tally this campaign and sealed a 3-1 result. It was a compelling win for the Gunners, which came despite a wonder-goal from Blues phenom Lauren James, and a handful of controversial VAR decisions striking down two Chelsea goals.

More: Alessia Russo on Arsenal, England, and how USWNT icons Tobin Heath and Christen Press influenced her game.

Manchester United Fall to Bayern Munich 3-2 in a Hard‑Fought Match ⚔️

Despite missing the attacking presence of Klara Bühl, Bayern Munich came flying out of the gates at Old Trafford. In less than two minutes, Danish attacker Pernille Harder, who has the fourth-most goals in UWCL history, opened the scoring before netting a second in the 71st minute. Following a hand ball in the box, United Captain Maya Le Tissier converted from the spot and defender Hanna Lundqvist scored off a corner to draw their team level. However, Bayern’s Momoko Tanikawa – fresh from Japan’s Asian Cup victory in Australia, where she contributed two goals – delivered the match-winner off the bench.

Barcelona Easily Dispatch Real Madrid 6-2 🔥

Barcelona showed themselves to be clear contenders for their fourth UWCL title after thoroughly thrashing their Spanish rivals 6-2. While Polish striker Ewa Pajor only joined the Catalan side in 2024, she surpassed two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas as the all-time top-scorer in Women's El Clásico history, with 13 goals. Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo showed her individual brilliance by scoring a brace, including this banger which went top bins.

Wolfsburg Upset Eight-Time UWCL Title Holders, Lyon, 1-0 😳

OL Lyonnes were favorites heading into the first leg, but suffered defeat to their German rivals thanks to a deflected shot from Netherlands striker Lineth Beerensteyn, her fifth goal of the campaign. French talent Kadidiatou Diani and Norway’s all-time UWCL top-scorer Ada Hegerberg missed quality chances to equalize, but they’ll get their chance at redemption playing at home in the second leg of the campaign on Thursday.

Champions League (Second Leg)

Bayern Munich 🇩🇪 vs. Manchester United 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (3-2 Agg): Wednesday, 12:45 p.m. ET, Paramount+

Chelsea 💙 vs. Arsenal ❤️ (1-3 Agg): Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+

Barcelona 💫 vs. Real Madrid 🤍 (6-2 Agg): Thursday, 12:45 p.m. ET, Paramount+

Olympique Lyonnais 🦁 vs. Wolfsburg 🐺 (0-1 Agg): Thursday, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+

National Women’s Soccer League

Kansas City Current 🩵 vs. Gotham FC 🦇 (Saturday, 4 pm ET, CBS/Paramount+)

North Carolina Courage 💙 vs. Portland Thorns 🌹 (Saturday, 6:30 pm ET, ION)

❤️‍🩹 Resiliency in motion. Angel City’s Savy King opened up to ESPN about collapsing on the pitch due to a undiagnosed heart condition and fighting her way back to play soccer.

💸 Biggest deal ever: San Diego officially announced the signing of hometown hero Catarina Macario from Chelsea for a reported $8 million, the largest-known contract in women’s soccer thanks to the High Impact Player Rule.

🤩 Trinity Rodman reigns “supreme,” becoming the youngest player ever to hit 100 NWSL appearances.

🐐 Baby goat energy! Not to be outdone, 20-year-old Olivia Moultrie became the youngest NWSL player to reach 20 goals, cooly burying her shot after Sophia Wilson, making her first start since 2024, intercepted a pass and drew a penalty.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 How do you say “champions” in Welsh? Wrexham AFC lifted their first Adran Premier trophy in club history, defeating Cardiff City at the Racecourse.

🇲🇱 What a legacy to leave! Aïssata Traoré scored Boston’s debut goal and the first-ever for a Malian player in the NWSL.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Check out this jaw-dropper from Scottish and Celtic FC midfielder Maria McAneny who obliterated the Guinness World Record for the fastest goal in women’s soccer with a blistering strike just 4.1 seconds after kickoff.

This week’s question: While Alessia Russo holds the record for most goals in a single UWCL season as an English player, which English player has the all-time record for most UWCL goals in total?

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

Last week’s answer: If you guessed that European giants, OL Lyonnes and VfL Wolfsburg, have squared off four times in the Champions League final, then you were right!

Congrats to Jenny Vincent, who was the first person to respond with the correct answer. Jenny, your patch is on the way! 💌

Jenny Evans writes: I just love Lynn's pregnancy vibes and her appreciation of Sam on Tuesday's show. We don't always do a good enough job sharing with each other all the things we appreciate about each other and I just loved hearing that.

I moved cross country a few months ago and it's hard being away from friends and hard trying to connect with new people when you don't really know anyone in your new area so it has been an extra nice to have TWG as a bit of company and familiarity in a new place. Anyway, as always, love the show!

Go Seattle, go Bruins, go Hot Dogs!

Sam writes: It was so sweet hearing Lynn talk about how her baby shower made her reflect on our friendship. Through our playing days and now with this podcasting adventure, I honestly couldn’t ask for a better person to have by my side. She’s one of my closest friends, and watching her grow as a player and as a broadcaster has been so special, and I can’t wait to see her step into this latest role of becoming a mom.

Big life transitions, whether it’s becoming a parent or starting over somewhere new, always make you reflect on your circle. Soccer has kept me connected to my friends who are still playing, but it’s also allowed me to stretch myself and make new connections like when I moved to Vermont and coached Vermont Green. I’m so glad The Women’s Game has provided some joy and familiarity in this time of transition for you. Keep hanging in there – building community takes time, but keep putting yourself out there. Thanks for taking the time to write in! <3

Love,
Sam

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