“GOOD VIBES” RETURNS TODAY! I am so happy to be back with Lynn and Becky on Tuesdays as I’ve missed them so much. We’ve got a ton in store for you all this year: soccer stories, reactions, chaos, inside jokes, giggles… I can’t wait for everyone to hear our first episode of 2026 - it’ll be available this afternoon wherever you get your podcasts! 📺

In other big news, tickets for our next live show went on sale yesterday. TWG is returning to Boston on March 10 to talk about the future of women’s soccer in the city, featuring some key figures from the Boston Legacy! We’ll be at the House of Blues thanks to our friends at New Balance and if you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, grab them here! ☘️

I’m heading to London for a sister/nephew visit that I cannot wait to tell you all about when I get back. While I’m out, check out our “Friendlies” interview with Matildas and London City Lionesses star, Alanna Kennedy, dropping on Thursday. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Lastly, Men in Blazers still has five different roles that we’re currently hiring for. We want to work with great people, come join us! 🙌

Thank you all so much for being here!

Love,
Sam

PS - Read Barcelona star Alexia Putellas’ moving letter to Mia Hamm that she sent the USWNT legend with a pair of her new signature football boots. 🥲

After another decisive victory in California (this time a 5-0 win against La Roja Femenina before a sold out crowd in Santa Barbara), Emma Hayes’ World Cup hopefuls are soaring into their penultimate prep year with all the vigor they ended the last. 

Against Chile, Hayes made 11 changes to the starting lineup, sending out a squad with an average of just 5.2 caps. That’s the least experienced XI in 25 years. In the win, Denver Summit defender Ayo Oke and North Carolina Courage midfielder Riley Jackson both clocked their first caps with a start and a debut assist, bringing Hayes to 32 debuts in 32 games in charge. 

January’s NWSL-only camp delivered on depth and dolled out debuts. But the year ahead will likely see the USWNT drill down on the core squad that will fight for a World Cup trophy in Brazil. 

First up: the 11th annual SheBelieves cup, with tests against Argentina, Canada and Colombia. After that, a trio of friendlies against Japan (who won last year’s SBC) in April. And later this year: official World Cup qualifying via the Concacaf W Championship in November. 

More: Emma Hayes declares job done for January and maps out path to World Cup qualification.

📬 Enjoying The Women’s Game? Check out our other MiB newsletters:

🐦‍⬛ The Raven: Our newsletter dedicated to the men’s game, where we preview the biggest matches from around the world (and tell you where/how to watch them) and recap our favorite football moments from throughout the week.

🔍 The Correspondent: Rory Smith’s thoughts on the world of soccer, culture, food, and how they all connect – every Thursday.

🇺🇸 USMNT Only: A regular update on the most important topics in the U.S. men’s game, all leading up to this summer’s World Cup.

Arsenal Claim the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup Trophy 🏆

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup wrapped up a riveting semi-final and final round this past week in England, with the reigning champions of Europe, Arsenal, becoming the first-ever club to claim the newly-minted global crown.

In Sunday’s final at Emirates Stadium in London, the Gunners beat Brazil’s Corinthians 3-2 with an extra-time goal from Caitlin Foord (a quick rally from Victória’s 96th-minute equalizer) to collect the biggest cash prize in women’s football.

The semi-final round saw NWSL reigning champions, Gotham, fall to the Brazilian giants with Gabi Zanotti’s 83rd-minute goal sealing the 1-0 win. That set up an exciting duel between the Brazilians (whose fans won hearts and minds across the tournament) and Arsenal, after the Gunners made light work of Moroccan side AS FAR in the penultimate round. 

WSL: Man City Can’t Be Stopped 🩵

Manchester City 5-1 Chelsea

Any dwindling title hopes held by last year’s treble winners deflated permanently on Sunday. Top-of-the-table Man City collected all three points with emphatic flair while playing at home, highlighted by a hat-trick from former NWSL MVP Kerolin and Bunny Shaw’s 14th WSL goal in 14 appearances. With the defeat, Chelsea fell to third in the standings, as they collected a second straight WSL defeat for the first time since 2015. Silver lining? We did get to see another goal from Alyssa Thompson. 

🥤 Olipop power everything we do here at The Women’s Game. You can use code TWG20 for 20% off your first order at drinkolipop.com/TWG20.

Arsenal vs. Manchester City (Sunday, 7 a.m. ET, ESPN+) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Arsenal are in fourth place in the WSL, but with a game in hand (their scheduled match against Leicester City last week was postponed due to their involvement in the Champions Cup final), they could still finish the season in second place. And with a positive result against first-placed City, they could chip away at the frontrunner’s lead.

🇺🇸 Crystal Dunn is officially retiring. The 33-year-old from Long Island proved capable of not just playing, but mastering the myriad positions she tackled over the course of her career. As a left-back for the USWNT, Dunn hangs up the boots with a FIFA World Cup trophy, the Olympic gold medal, a bronze medal, and so much more.

More: Crystal Dunn through the lens. 

💰 FIFA released its transfer spend report, with Chelsea topping the list. Of the top 10 teams, six were from the NWSL, and all three of Michele Kang’s clubs—England WSL side London City Lionesses, French giants OL Lyonnes, and the Washington Spirit—made the rankings.  

⭐️ Angel City’s 23-year-old striker Riley Tiernan was named 2026 Sportsperson of the Year by the LA Sports Awards (and her teammates showed up to support her). Tiernan joined the SoCal side as a non-rostered trial player in 2025, and went on to lead Angel City with eight goals and one assist in her debut professional season. 

🙌 TRIPLE ESPRESSO IS BACK. OK, not on the field just yet, but the trio of forward talents—Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson—did reunite last week ahead of an NWSL season that should feature all three. 

🎬 Zoey Deutch is officially set to lead the new Netflix drama depicting the USWNT’s 1999 World Cup champions. Deutch, who was fantastic in last year’s “Nouvelle Vague,” will play U.S. Soccer executive Marla Messing. 

🏆 The Gainbridge Women's Super League returned this weekend. A win for Lexington SC tightened the race at the top of the table, but a goal from Jade Pennock secured a win for Sporting JAX who remain league leaders.

This week’s question: Riley Tiernan’s award at the LA Sports Awards wasn’t the first time women’s soccer in the United States has been honored at the event. Which collective USWNT team previously won Sportsperson of the Year there?

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

Last week’s answer: “Beyond Greatness” was the official slogan of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Congrats to Ally Arismendi, who was the first person to respond with the correct answer. Ally, the patch will be on its way soon! 💌

To end things this week, we wanted to share the incredible story of Stanford soccer’s vice captain, Sammy Smith, the dual-sport athlete who will also be one of the 16 cross-country skiers representing the USA at this month’s Milano-Cortina Olympics. Make some coffee or tea, have a seat, and prepare to feel equal parts tired and inspired. Read the full piece here.

📝 Want to be featured in next week’s TWG newsletter? Send Sam an email! All your questions, comments, and roast chicken recipes can be sent to [email protected].

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