Sam Mewis Joining MiB Network FULL-TIME 💙

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A Word from Sam Mewis upon joining MiB Network FULL-TIME 💙

Hey TWG subscribers! It's me, Sam Mewis, editor-in-chief of the newest vertical at the MiB Media Network: The Women's Game. As you may have seen, we launched this venture on Friday as I shared the news of my retirement from professional soccer. While this has been difficult and sad, I am really grateful that I have such an exciting opportunity to transition straight into. 

Our goal with this vertical is simple: to bring you access and insight into women's football from all over the world. We're covering the USWNT and NWSL, as well as European club soccer, the Champions League, and international tournaments like the upcoming Gold Cup and summer Olympics. We have some incredible interviews lined up, starting with USWNT captain Lindsey Horan on Thursday, with Lucy Bronze, Mal Swanson, and Crystal Dunn still to come. We dropped Episode #1 of our new podcast on Friday. To kick things off, I asked my old World Cup 2023 partner Rog Bennett to join me to talk through my career, my retirement announcement and what we are looking to build here at The Women’s Game. It was a really difficult but ultimately important conversation that I wanted to have about my decision to step away from the game and into this role here at MiB. As we grow, I can't wait to share more of these stories with you- stories of joy, competition, adversity, advocacy, and friendship. If you love women's football, you're in the right place at The Women's Game. 

You can follow all the updates on The Women’s Game on the new social handles on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. This new step forward, like everything we do here at MiB, is based on community and word of mouth and we are immensely grateful to you for helping grow it. It is such an honor to do what we do at MiB and to have Sam on board. Please, share this new step forward with anyone you think would enjoy our new The Women’s Game platform. Don’t forget to drop Sam a note at [email protected]: we love building this community.

You can watch the emotion-laded occasionally tearful first episode on our YouTube: “I’ll miss training on the grass, with my teammates in the sun”. 

More: A word from Rog on this moment, Sam’s arrival, and what it means in terms of the growth of the MiB Network 🍻

I. A note on Sam Mewis upon her retirement: A player who won wherever she went 🌏🏆🇺🇸

Rog writes: The Wall Street Journal got it right in their headline: Sam Mewis was the best player in the world. Sam is too modest and humble to say any of these things but it is important to remember her in her pomp: as a Tower of Power who could enforce her will on opponents and undo them with her brain, footwork, or physical supremacy. A midfielder who forced her way into the starting line-up in the road to glory at the 2019 World Cup, and for all the buzz and hype others received, it was her absence which could be pinpointed as the single most irreplaceable force in the disappointing 2023 cycle. Unfurling Sam Mewis was akin to playing with 12, which is why she won something on every team at every level, everywhere she went – from high school, through College, into the Pros, in the United States, in England and obviously, with the USWNT. 

I always loved interviewing Sam. She was so emotionally honest in conversation. I remember speaking to her in Manchester shortly after she had won the World Cup. I asked her why she had made the move, and she talked in detail about the aspects of her game in which she was disappointed and that she wanted to improve. This was a human being who had just become a World Champion. Yet, she was already obsessively honing in on new levels of ability which she could unlock. This was Sam. Someone who never coasted, preferring to challenge herself. All while understanding the enormity of what her teams were achieving. Her tears upon winning the Fourth Star on the US jersey were those of someone who realized her team had etched themselves into history. Upon her retirement – a retirement that was forced, and comes too soon – her place in that history as an individual should be remembered, honored, and articulated – as one of the most truly potent players ever to wear the shirt. And if you don’t take my word for it, listen to Leslie Jones.

To the future, with Sam. 💙

MORE: The Wall Street Journal remembers Sam Mewis’ brilliant career, and so does People

II. England’s WSL resumes after winter hiatus with USWNT debuts and a pair of hat-tricks 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇺🇸

Big Weekend in Mewis. Sam’s sister Kristie Mewis made her official debut for the WSL’s relegation-scrapping Hammers over the weekend. Entering the game in the 62nd minute, with her team down 3-1, the 2023 NWSL Champion charged straight into the fray of a frantic fight. Her impact was immediate. West Ham scored within minutes of her arrival, and just 8 minutes after coming on, Kristie placed a poem of a free kick onto the head of young Belgian Amber Tysiak, who completed the play to level the score and hand Mewis her debut assist. 

Alas, there is no romance in football, and Spurs conjured a late winner in a game more chaotic than Jason Kelce’s box at an NFL playoff. This though was the true highlight of the debut: Kristie’s introduction to what will undoubtedly be her greatest opponent in England: The Weather. British Wind remains Undefeated 💨🤣🇺🇸

b. Elsewhere, the pride of Ashburn, Virginia, Emily Fox continues to thrive upon her arrival at Arsenal, making her official WSL debut with a fine performance in a 2-1 victory against Everton which culminated a warm welcome from her coach and teammates (admittedly her high-fives may require practice.) High-fives aside, Fox told reporters in London she’s “amazed at how seamless it's been”, as she transitions to life with mighty Arsenal, who are chasing at Emma Hayes’ heels for the chance at a title this season. 

More: Emily Fox talks about what it has been like to hear fans unleash their personalized chant. “Go Team.” 

c. Speaking of Emma Hayes: after 11 games, Chelsea remain 3 points clear after their 3-1 victory over Manchester United this weekend. Powered by a Lauren James hat-trick before a crowd of 20,473 at Stamford Bridge. James used to play for United and responded to the boos of visiting fans from her former club by celebrating in front of them.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 San Diego’s Mia Fishel earned a start, filling in at striker in Sam Kerr’s absence and playing 54 minutes, a week after the glory of her pivotal goal for Hayes’ side in the FA Cup last week. 

d. Jamaica’s goal machine Bunny Shaw also scored a fine hattrick, using her right foot, head, and a left foot backheel to undo Liverpool in Manchester City’s 5-1 rout. Shaw’s latest feat of foot makes it an incredible three hat-tricks in four straight WSL appearances, to lead England’s WSL with twelve goals this season. CONCACAF THUNDER. 🇯🇲

MORE: Emma Hayes earned a celebration dinner worthy of her decorated, decade-long run with Chelsea as recipient of the Football Writers Association Tribute Award. It was an emotional night. You can watch her full acceptance speech here. 

III. UWCL group stage returns this week 🌍

The crown jewel of European competition resumes the group stage this week which will give way to the final 16 in knock-out format. 

Reigning champions Barcelona and most-time-ever champions Lyon lead comfortably in groups A and B respectively, both having secured their quarterfinal berth. But the battle to snatch second place behind them could be tight, as Eintracht Frankfurt and Slavia Praha hope to dislodge Benfica and Brann. The battle in Groups C and D is more closely fought. Just 3 points separate Ajax at the top of Group C from Roma in fourth, with PSG and Bayern sandwiched between them.

In Group D, US-manager-elect Emma Hayes dreams of winning the UWCL trophy which is the one major piece of silverware to elude her at club level. Chelsea play Real Madrid at 3 p.m. ET, but the real battle is between Paris FC and Swedish side Häcken at 12:45 p.m. ET, two Cinderella stories in their own right, who clash on Wednesday. All Women’s Champions League matches can be seen on DAZN and streaming for free on the DAZN YouTube channel (DAZN is removing the paywall for women’s football on their app and online).

MORE: As Lyon readies to meet the knockout phase of the competition they’ve won more than any other club, their resident Ballon d'Or winner (and former Men in Blazers guest) Ada Hegerberg, penned an op-ed for The Guardian. “Women’s football is ready for the next step”.

IV. News and Notes 📰

1. The 2024 SheBelieves Cup Final will be in Columbus this April, with the first round of games hosted in Atlanta. The US will play the same opponents from 2023, Brazil, Japan, and Canada. 

2. The youngest ever player in World Cup history, 16 year-old Casey Phair of Exeter, New Hampshire, has signed for Angel City F.C. Phair debuted on the world stage for South Korea this past summer.

3. Mallory Swanson signed a record four-year deal with the Chicago Red Stars, committing her free agency to stay in the windy city with the “richest and longest deal in NWSL history”. 

4. The FIFA Best XI awards unfurled last Monday, and Alex Morgan was still in the lineup. Elsewhere, Aitana Bonmati was named Women’s Player of the Year, now in possession of every award deservedly possible for 2023. 

5. Brazil’s inimitable legend, Marta, received a FIFA Special Award last week, alongside the launch of a new award for goal of the year, to be named the Marta Award, from 2024 forward. 

6. International players are signing with NWSL teams as the transfer window beats on. To name a few: Brazil’s Bia Zaneratto signed with Kansas City Current, and Germany’s Felicitas Rauch is heading to North Carolina Courage. 

7. FIFA coach of the year, Sarina Wiegman is staying put as manager of England’s Lionesses, signing a contract that extends all the way to 2027. Wiegman was also named Women’s Coach of the Year last Monday at the FIFA Best Awards. 

8. Despite rumors she might be wanted in London as Emma Hayes departs Chelsea, Casey Stoney will stay as manager of San Diego.

V. Parting Shots 🥃

ICYMI: Lindsey Horan will be Sam Mewis’ first guest. The USA captain is killing it with Lyon, bringing her American style to the south of France. Here she is celebrating with teammates in France after scoring one goal and assisting another as Lyon won 4-0 in a Coupe de France win last Sunday. STAY TUNED FOR HER IMPENDING CHAT WITH SAM.