USWNT Start their Summer with a W 🇺🇸

Plus, Lo’eau LaBonta's record-setting appearance.

June 03, 2025

Happy Tuesday, TWG readers!

Seeing the USWNT win is just the best, isn’t it? Saturday’s 3-0 victory over China saw both veterans and newbies perform well, and it’s clear that Emma Hayes’ squad is taking positive steps forward. I was so happy to react to the game with former USWNT defender, Meghan Klingenberg, and get her take on where this team is at in the cycle. If you missed that, be sure to catch up before tonight’s USWNT game against Jamaica (watch it here). After that, we’re back! We’ll be live on TWG’s YouTube channel again, this time with Ali Riley, immediately after the whistle.

Breakout USWNT star and Women’s Super League Golden Glove winner, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, is our Friendlies guest this week. And surprise, it’s here early! You can listen to my conversation with Phallon where we discuss marine biology, her up-and-down club journey, and her perspective on potentially becoming the USWNT’s No 1 goalkeeper in the wake of Alyssa Naeher’s retirement. I truly LOVED chatting with Phallon, aka Octaphallon. (Listen to the interview if you’re curious about that one.)

I was able to get out and celebrate Pat’s birthday this weekend with some Vermont friends, and we had such a great time. Vermont spring/summer really is the most magical time, and seeing how our community has grown since we moved here a little over a year ago has been really rewarding. I’m so happy to get to share more about my time here in Vermont this Friday at The Women’s Game LIVE at Higher Ground. Renowned women’s soccer journalist Meg Linehan and key members of Vermont Green will be joining me onstage for a conversation about soccer in our home state. Tickets are still available, so come and be with us!

Finally, I’ve joined up with Playing for Pride this Pride Month to raise money for Athlete Ally. For every podcast we release in June, I’ll be donating, and I hope you’ll join me! Visit my campaign page to learn more about Playing for Pride. You can even join your own team and track a metric of your choosing to participate. Huge shoutout to Becky Sauerbrunn for connecting me with the organization and encouraging me to join!

Thank you all so much for being here with us!

Love,

Sam

PS: I know we said we’d tell you when the hats and tote bags from our Good Vibes FC Live show in Seattle were in… WELL, THEY’RE BACK! You can grab yours right here and be ready for a Good Vibes summer. ☀️

The USWNT’s Big Week Back Starts Off Strong 🇺🇸 

USWNT 3-0 China 🇺🇲🇨🇳

After losing two of their last three games in 2025, the USWNT started the summer strong with a convincing 3-0 win against China on Saturday. The squad’s first friendly of the window unfurled a fun performance that skillfully maneuvered China’s initial high press and proactive play on a night full of steady progress, elated returns, and hard-earned milestones. 

For the first time in 2025, the team’s defender-in-chief and freshly minted WSL champion, Naomi Girma, returned to her inimitable role on the U.S. backline and wore the captain’s armband. Girma’s fellow WSL footballer, Manchester United keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, clocked her second cap, second start and second clean sheet in a two-save performance. Soon-to-be 18-year-old Ajax midfielder Lily Yohannes collected her fourth career start (and seventh cap) in the same place she made her debut almost a year ago. Catarina Macario continued to show her quality as she opened the scoring and notched an assist to Thorns midfielder Sam Coffey (Are you not entertained?). The 25-year-old Stanford grad and Chelsea striker now has eight goals and five assists in her last nine starts for the USWNT and three goals in 2025.

  • Sam’s Take 🗣️: This was my favorite goal of the day. Alyssa Thompson's hustle and precision, Cat Macario's calmness and deft touch, Sam Coffey's clean finish... it was really special to see this come together with such perfect execution.

Kansas City Current’s 22-year-old forward Michelle Cooper was commendable on the right wing, where she played a key role in the team’s attack and assisted Lindsey Heaps for the final goal of the evening, which she scored from the air, because of course she did. And 32-year-old Kansas City Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta became the oldest player to debut for the USWNT in its entire 40-year history. 

Next Up: USWNT vs. Jamaica (TONIGHT, 8 p.m. ET, TNT/Peacock) 🇺🇸 🇯🇲

June is officially upon us, and the reigning gold medalists are celebrating by closing out their Midwestern tour in STL against the Reggae Girlz. The 2023 World Cup quarter-finalists are the highest-ranked Concacaf squad behind the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and although they’ll be without 28-year-old Manchester City star striker Bunny Shaw (who finished the season tied with Arsenal forward Alessia Russo for most goals in WSL despite ending it early with injury), they should provide an interesting test for the U.S. as Hayes continues to refine her team’s ability to break down the opposition. This evening’s friendly also honors USWNT veteran defender, World Cup champion, friend to all books and TWG co-host extraordinaire, Becky Sauerbrunn, in her hometown of St. Louis. ♥️

  • Sam’s Take 🗣️: I am SO happy for Becky to be honored in this way tonight. She deserves all of the praise and attention, even though she'll hate receiving it! And to make it even more special, Becky's in her hometown and gets to share this moment with so many friends and family. We're all crying here at TWG and sending her so much love. <3

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Football Competitions Around the World 🌍

UEFA Nations League Group Stage: Matchday Five of Six 🇪🇺

England 6-0 Portugal 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇵🇹

The Lionesses sunk Portugal by six goals at Wembley while battling to top Group 3 in the Nations League and preparing for a title-defending summer at EURO ‘25. Chelsea’s burgeoning 21-year-old star forward Aggie Beever-Jones (who collected nine regular season goals as the top-scorer in a triple-trophy season for the Blues) scored the first hat-trick of her career within the first 33 minutes. Newly-crowned Champions League winner Chloe Kelly, who’s been left off the England squad in the recent past and worked her way back following a move to Arsenal, scored the team’s sixth goal just four minutes after subbing on.

Belgium 1-5 Spain 🇧🇪 🇪🇸

La Roja remain in the top spot of Group 3 after beating Belgium by four goals (including one from Gotham striker Esther González). They’ll head home to host the Lionesses this evening with a two-point lead in the group. With a win or a draw, they’ll clinch the top spot and move on to the finals.  

Germany 4-0 Netherlands 🇩🇪 🇳🇱

Die Nationalelf became the second team after France to seal their spot in the UEFA Women's Nations League finals after trouncing the Dutch 4-0 in Bremen, Germany. Gotham's 2024 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year Ann-Katrin Berger started in net and made two saves for the home side, who celebrated the victory in front of a sold out crowd of over 32,000.

Denmark 1-0 Wales 🇩🇰 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Pernille Harder made the difference (and unleashed the dab celly) in Denmark’s essential 1-0 win over Wales. The Red and White are still sitting in second place behind Sweden, but are level on points after Sweden’s 0-0 draw with Italy. The two face one another in a decisive final test of Group 4, with the result confirming the group winner, who progresses to the final round of Nations League. 

International Friendlies

Brazil 3-1 Japan 🇧🇷 🇯🇵

The reigning silver medalists bested a formidable Japan squad (who recently beat the U.S. in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup final) 3-1 in the first of back-to-back friendlies. São Paolo’s 19-year-old attacking midfielder Dudinha scored a brace in the win, with former NWSL champion and current Manchester City midfielder Kerolin providing the team’s third. Brighton & Hove Albion forward Kiko Seike provided a late, 88th-minute goal to pull one back for Nadeshiko. 

Canada 4-1 Haiti 🇨🇦 🇭🇹

San Diego Wave forward Adriana Leon (their joint top-scorer with three goals) scored twice within the first 10 minutes of Canada’s 4-1 rout of fellow Concacaf side Haiti. The first of back-to-back friendlies celebrated 37-year-old Canadian veteran Desiree Scott’s 188th and final cap in front of just under 10,000 fans in her hometown of Winnipeg. 

🥤 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.

Upcoming Matches Worth Setting Reminders for 📺

UEFA Nations League 🇪🇺

Spain vs. England (TODAY, 1 p.m. ET, CBS Sports) 🇪🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

The top two teams in Group 3 go head-to-head in the final matchday of the group. Spain lead by two points in the standings and have home advantage, but the Lionesses could leapfrog them to a first-place finish with a win.

Sweden vs. Denmark (TODAY, 1:30 p.m. ET, Vix/Fubo) 🇸🇪 🇩🇰

Group 4 could also be settled by this test between the top two teams on the final matchday. They enter the fray neck and neck: Sweden and Denmark are tied on points with just a two-goal differential between them ahead of Tuesday’s decisive test. 

NWSL 🇺🇸

San Diego Wave vs. Seattle Reign (Friday, 10 p.m. ET, Prime Video)

San Diego are on a historic tear as they host sixth-place Seattle while sitting in second place, and are undefeated in their last six games. Seattle have been solid this season, but they head to SoCal with two wins and two losses in their last four games, with a tough challenge waiting. 

Gotham FC vs. Kansas City Current (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, Paramount+)

After collecting the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup trophy in Mexico, Gotham return to league play by hosting the top-placed Kansas City Current. This one looks set to be a thriller, and a challenge for the hosts as they face the most dominant team in 2025 amid some temperamental performances in league play. 

News and Notes 🗞️

  • MEXICO JOINS U.S. IN 2031 COHOST BID: the Mexican Football Federation confirmed their intent to co-host the 2031 World Cup alongside the United States. The U.S. and Mexico bid is the only one submitted for the 2031 World Cup, which is set to expand to 48 teams for the first time.  

  • In a move many didn't expect, former Barcelona boss and Washington Spirit manager Jonatan Giráldez is moving to France to lead eight-time UWCL champions OL Lyonnes (both teams are owned by Michele Kang). The 33-year-old Spanish coach took charge of the Spirit last summer and helped steer the team to the 2024 NWSL Championship, where they lost 1-0 to Orlando Pride. Washington's former interim manager Adrián González will take charge of the Spirit.

  • England’s FA has agreed to a record bonus of up to £1.7 million ($2.3 million) for the Lionesses if they win a second-straight EURO title this summer in Switzerland.

  • Kansas City Current owners Angie and Chris Long are officially multi-club investors, after acquiring Danish club HB Køge Women.

  • NWSL Denver (official name and branding TBD), which is set to join NWSL next season, has named Curt Johnson as their first GM. Johnson heads to Denver after years as an executive with North Carolina Courage.

It’s TWG Trivia Time 🤔

Welcome back to our weekly trivia game!

This week’s question: Earlier this month, 39-year-old Brazilian legend and Orlando pride veteran Marta came out of retirement from the international game. Nine months since announcing her departure, the six-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year made two more appearances for Brazil over the past week. How many total caps does the Brazilian GOAT have now?

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

Last week’s answer: Throughout its history, China has been one of the USWNT’s most frequent opponents. Many will remember the iconic penalty shootout in 1999, which saw the U.S. win their home World Cup against China in dramatic fashion. But a few years before, the USWNT also beat China (2-1) in the Olympic gold medal match in Atlanta. Who scored the USA’s game-winning goal? That would be the one and only Tiffeny Milbrett, of course.

This week’s winner is Tom Fraher, and thanks to everyone who responded.

Good Reads 👩‍💻

Moment of Joy 🤸

Rebecca writes: Good Afternoon TWG! Quick note to say thank you to Sam, Becky, and Lynn... and Rog! And, of course, all of your amazing guests. I am a religious listener and big soccer fan, USWNT above all. I lost my job last summer, and amongst my unenjoyment time, your pods through the Olympic tourney and otherwise seriously brightened my world. You guys are always good for a chuckle, some great analysis I can steal to impress people, and give a strong heads up on exciting matches to pay attention to. 

As a mountain girl (Edwards, CO... home of Mikaela Shiffrin) I am lucky enough to listen in some amazing places, and as a newly avid gardener, I custom paint gnomes and Becky got the honors for my soccer gnome this summer (started during COVID and has been inspired by Ertz, and Horan prior). Congrats on the incoming kiddo, and your retirement! And Sam, good luck swimming across the lake... I lived in Tahoe for eight years and brrrrrr, also watch out for Tahoe Tessie.

Anyway, thanks for all you do, we love you guys out here. Can't wait for the Denver team! 

Sam writes: Thank you for writing in Rebecca! This gnome is a masterpiece and I may have to get one for my garden. I love it so much! I also hadn’t heard of Tahoe Tessie and now I’m going to do a deep dive into that. Thanks for always listening to the pod!

Sam

📝 Want to be featured in next week’s TWG newsletter? Send Sam an email! All your questions, comments, and dog (or wedding) photos can be sent to [email protected]

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