USWNT Back to World #1 🌎🇺🇸

oIt’s August 19th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.

Happy Monday, TWG readers! As we return to a more regular cadence of content after the Olympics, I’m still relishing in the USWNT’s gold medal victory. Speaking with my friends over the past week, I’ve been struck by their overwhelming positivity and optimism in the wake of the tournament. I would have imagined they would be totally spent, exhausted both mentally and physically, and I’m sure in many ways they are– but they also are looking to the future with such hope and brightness. This tournament under Emma Hayes’ management really feels like the beginning of something special.

I took a few days off this weekend to go to Montreal with my husband, Pat. We enjoyed dinner at Atwater’s Le Vin Papillon and bagels at Mile End’s St. Viateur. We rode bikes to the Botanical Garden and spent a lot of time just walking and seeing Old Montreal. It was one of those brief trips that really takes you to a new space and we loved it. And the best part, as it always is with traveling, was coming home to see Finn and sleep in our own bed!

The USL Super League kicked off this weekend, and the NWSL saw a few international friendly games, like the one between Arsenal and the Spirit in which Arsenal won 2-1 thanks to 2 goals from Alessia Russo. A bunch of our Friendlies guests were at that game… including last week’s guest Esme Morgan, this week’s guest Leah Williamson, and next week’s guest Alessia Russo. Stay tuned to our podcast feed for Leah dropping on Thursday!

Good Vibes with Becky Sauerbrunn will drop Tuesday, recapping the Olympics, the Summer Cup, and getting us back on track for the rest of the NWSL season. Then I’m heading to New York on Wednesday for a live show with Chelsea. It’s going to be a great week and I’m so glad you’re here to follow along. Make sure you’re following on our socials as well — @womensgamemib on IG, X, TikTok, and Threads. 

Love,
Sam

I. USWNT back at number one after gold medal 🥇

a. Emma Hayes said she’d milk the USWNT’s gold medal for a week, and so, we will too. In the days following the program’s fifth gold medal and the first for this generation, the squad celebrated in Paris with beret-clad parties that featured everything from bus-ride Cheetah Girls singalongs, visits to see their fellow Team USA Olympians, and Lynn Williams already breaking her gold medal. Trinity Rodman said so-long to her iconic pink braids, posting: “your work here is done”. And as of Friday’s FIFA ranking update, the USWNT are back in first place. 

The team’s return to FIFA’s top-spot comes after a historically poor World Cup in 2023, igniting a series of dips in their ranking that took them to a record low of fifth. Now back in first place, the world is on notice. Hayes and her team remain focused on reaching their potential. Hayes, after the final in Paris: “We are so looking forward to the things we can do together… we want so much more for ourselves because we’re competitors. But we’re just at the beginning. About 75 days in, baby.” 

b. Elsewhere in the rankings, the Olympic hosts France (who fell short in the quarter-final once again) slid significantly from 2nd to 10th, Spain fell from first to third as they placed fourth in Paris, while England’s Lionesses moved into number two behind the USA. That makes their newly announced November 30th friendly at Wembley (the USWNT’s third visit to Wembley and the first of two European-based friendly tests) a battle of women’s football’s first and second place teams. 

More: ‘Hayes’ Olympic victory with USWNT is story woven with love and loss’

Also: ICYMI, check out Sam’s team of the tournament. 

II. USL Super League sets off to a strong start ✴️

a. The USA’s second top flight women’s football league is officially off to a strong start. This past weekend, the USL Super League played three inaugural weekend matches before sold-out crowds in Spokane, Tampa and Charlotte. That includes 5,000 women’s footy fans watching their new home teams, Spokane-based Zephyr FC and Tampa Bay Sun FC, as well as 10,553 to see Charlotte-based Carolina Ascent, setting a new statewide record for any single professional women’s soccer game in the Carolinas. Coming just a week after the Paris ‘24 gold medal match brought in 9 million viewers on NBC and Peacock (the most since 2004), the evidence is clear: EVERYONE WATCHES WOMEN’S SOCCER. 

b. The USL Super League is the second top division professional women’s football league in the United States as officially sanctioned by USSF. With eight clubs spread across seven states and Washington D.C., and hopes for further expansion, the league hopes to provide more robust opportunities for players to turn professional and provide top flight women’s football to more markets across the U.S. So far, so good. 

More: A special moment: 30-year-old Cornelius, North Carolina native (and former Bristol City player) Vicky Bruce scored the first goal for Carolina Ascent, and the USL Super League. History made for the local footballer in a brand new league. 

Also: “Now there are other options to invest and to build”: check out Sam’s interview with USL Super League President Amanda Vandevoort. YouTube.

WE ARE DOING A LIVE SHOW WITH CHELSEA WOMEN: GET YOUR TICKETS HERE 🗽💙

We are humbled to present A Night With the Champions Chelsea Women FC x The Women's Game LIVE in New York City. Reigning Barclays Women's Super League Champions Chelsea will join Sam Mewis and Roger Bennett for a live taping at the start of an exciting new era for one of the most dominant teams in English women's football.

New coach, the iconic Sonia Bompastor, and a number of Chelsea's title winning stars will talk about their ambitions as they prepare to defend their crown. It all takes place this Wednesday, August 21 in New York City.

WE HAVE SOME TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY to this very limited-seating event. If you can be sure you’ll be in New York City this Wednesday evening and would like the chance to attend, simply answer the question below. We’ll be in contact in the next few days so make sure that all eyes are on your inbox: we don’t want you to miss out.

III. Women’s Professional Leagues Limited marks historic shift in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

England’s two top-tier women’s leagues are no longer under the care of the English Football Association. For the first time ever, an independent organization dedicated to the care of top-flight women’s football has taken up the reins. That organization, Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (formerly known as NewCo), will oversee the top-flight WSL and second-division Championship as they begin their new season with an all-female leadership team. Every club in the WSL and Championship will act as shareholders in the WPLL. Together, they aim to build on the ever-rising popularity of the game in England. To quote WPLL CEO Nikki Doucet: “Women’s football in England has witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years, marked by increased fan engagement, rising attendance at matches, and a surge in participation at all levels. We are fiercely committed to building on this momentum by creating a thriving landscape which prioritises the welfare and development of players, fosters and excites a vibrant fan community, and nurtures the sport’s growth.” As they grow, England’s top men’s division, the Premier League, has given the WPLL a $25.7 million loan, which provides the Premier League with a spot on the WPLL board until it’s repaid. 

More: ‘New era for professional women’s soccer in England begins with WPLL’

IV. News and Notes 📰🗞️

a. As myriad European clubs make trips overseas for friendlies and other competitions, The Women’s Cup went down to great success in Kansas City this past weekend. The hosts secured the Cup victory 1-0 over Atlético de Madrid Saturday evening (with local other-kind-of-footballer Travis Kelce in attendance), thanks to a lone goal from Brazilian midfielder Debinha. Kansas City’s Cup victory rounds out an undefeated summer for the midwestern club, as the second-place NWSL side prepares for the regular season to pick up again next weekend.

b. In one of a few exciting tests between European superpowers and NWSL giants, Washington Spirit hosted Arsenal at Audi Field in Washington Sunday evening. With star powers like Spirit owner Michele Kang and Jason Sudeikis there to watch, the friendly ended 2-1 in Arsenal’s favor. English UNC grad Alessia Russo scored both goals for the Gunners, giving them the initial lead as well as the decisive goal after the Spirit drew level. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇲

c. San Diego Wave has named former USMNT forward Landon Donovan as interim head coach through the remainder of the season. Not all fans were pleased with the decision. Some feel former England captain and Wave manager Casey Stoney’s sacking was premature to begin with, and she has now been replaced with a men’s player showing little track record as a manager and zero experience managing in the women’s game. Immense USWNT talents still at the start of their career like 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw and 23-year-old Naomi Girma will be in his inexperienced care. Adding to critiques of the appointment is the fact that Donovan made comments in opposition to the fight for equal pay, once stating, “I’m not for equal pay, I’m for fair pay”. 🌊

d. More international talent is coming or returning to the NWSL. That includes Canada’s 31-year-old forward talent Cloé Lacasse, who joins last-place expansion side Utah Royals from Arsenal. Portugal’s 29-year-old attacking veteran Jessica Silva is leaving Benfica for Gotham. And former Manchester United captain and England midfielder Katie Zelem is on her way to Angel City. In last week’s episode of Friendlies, Esme Morgan told Sam one of the things that drew her to the NWSL was that, “No team is afraid of losing… Everyone goes for the win”. Morgan recently signed for Washington Spirit, joining a star-studded team led by former Barcelona manager Jonatan Giráldez. 📈(CHECK OUT OUR RECENT INTERVIEW WITH MORGAN HERE)

e. The Zambian Football Federation has long neglected the needs and safety of their players, forcing them to compete at the highest level while continuing to employ a manager accused of sexual assault against players and others in contact with the team. Now, Orlando Pride midfielder Grace Chanda has announced a season-ending injury incurred during the Olympics. Criticism has followed due to a belief that proper care was not given to Chanda, or other players’ health during the event. 🇿🇲

V. Parting Shots 🥃

“I want to be on the USA soccer team and win a gold medal”: If only we could all manifest our dreams as successfully as Mallory Swanson in her 6th grade yearbook. 🤲

VI. Good Reads 📚

a. From Tom Garry in The Guardian, ‘London City Lionesses’ owner Michele Kang: This is a serious investment’.

b. From Mike Henson in BBC Sport, ‘North Korea: women’s football’s sleeping giant’.

c. From Tom Garry in The Guardian, ‘Abby Hunt: ‘Stoke has ruined my belief in women’s football’.