USWNT ARE INAUGURAL W GOLD CUP CHAMPS 🏆🇺🇸

It’s Monday, March 11th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.

Sam Mewis writes: 🫶

I am writing to you from sunny, warm San Diego. Being here is a reminder that “New England, you have my heart, but not my tan”. I loved being at Snapdragon Stadium last night for the USWNT big win. Watching the team and feeling the energy from the crowd brought back so many amazing memories…

MEMORIES OF WINNING! Yes, the US beat Brazil 1-0 in the W Gold Cup final last night. While the performance in the first half was a little subdued – Brazil were impressive – it was the United States who took their chances. Lindsey Horan gave us the lead right before halftime with a clinical header off an Emily Fox cross. We then held on and took home the trophy. A huge congratulations to the USWNT on winning the inaugural W Gold Cup – no small feat, especially considering the 2-0 loss to Mexico last week and the quality of the subsequent competition -- beating Colombia, Canada, and Brazil in the knockout round. We look ahead to SheBelieves on April 6th and 9th with renewed confidence and the Olympics are now just 137 days away. But keep in mind, these players will suit up again for their club teams in less than a week. No rest!

More: ‘USWNT wins W Gold Cup on the backs of two young midfielders once overlooked for World Cup’

b. Very little rest for us here at TWG as well, as we launch our new podcast this week. This week has been a long time coming, and I’m both frazzled and relieved that it is finally here. 🚨 The Women’s Game has a new show, Good Vibes FC 🚨 dropping every Tuesday starting TOMORROW. Good Vibes is hosted by Lynn Williams, my forever co-host and bestie, Becky Sauerbunn, our collective moral compass, and ME, old Cereal Mommy Mewis. I am so thrilled to be joined by these two -- they bring such intelligent insight into the game, and as current players, they’ll have their fingers on the pulse of the USWNT and the NWSL. 

🗣️ We also have OUR OWN PODCAST FEED. This is not a drill! This is such a huge step for us, but we really need your support. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe, like, or follow in your podcast app. Don’t worry, everything is linked here. You will find Good Vibes FC, my interviews and post-match podcasts, and on Wednesday: Our Big NWSL SEASON PREVIEW PODCAST in which Rog and I break down all that is to come.

c. I want to thank everyone for all of their support for The Women’s Game thus far. It has been quite the ride… and it’s only the beginning. Stay tuned for GVFC that drops tomorrow, and an all new episode of my interview show, the newly dubbed Friendlies with Sam Mewis, with none other than Megan Rapinoe drops on Thursday. I told you – we are pulling out all the stops this week. Email me at [email protected] with all your ideas or call me with questions I can use in my shows at 855-611-4050.

Thank you all so much for being a part of this. Here our are social links so you don’t miss a trick. As Rog would say, to more. 

Love,
Sam

CAT MACARIO RETURNS TO FOOTBALL WITH GOAL-SCORING GLORY: After taking six minutes to score in her return against Leicester after nearly two years away, Macario subbed in on Sunday to score the FA Cup match-winner against Everton, this time needing just three minutes to find the back of the net. 

PS: CATARINA CAKE. Emma Hayes told reporters that the USA’s newly returned striker, Cat Macario, brought a giant cake with her face on it to practice, thanking teammates for supporting her through a long injury. But Macario has also been thanking her teammates with goals. 🎂🇺🇲

I. NWSL SEASON BEGINS THIS WEEK 🏃

The twelfth regular season of NWSL sets off across the country this weekend. Following upon a record-breaking year for attendance, viewership, and investment, 2024 seems sure to break more ground. 

i. Already, seismic changes are shifting the scene: two expansion sides bring the league total to 14 (Utah Royals, Bay FC), a landmark broadcast deal expands the league’s reach, and a flow of record-breaking signings brings the world’s elite talent to US shores (Barbra Banda, Rachel Kundananji, Asisat Oshoala, and more). 📈 

ii. The magic kicks off Friday, with a one-off Challenge Cup contest featuring last year’s Supporters Shield winner, San Diego Wave, playing 2023’s Champions, Gotham FC, at the Red Bull Arena (Friday, March 15, 8 PM ET, Prime Video). Rog will be there, so make sure you say hi.  

iii. The first match of the NWSL regular season takes place the day following, as Kansas City Current hosts Portland Thorns in their brand new historic venue, marking the first women’s soccer-specific stadium in the US. (Saturday, March 16, 1 PM ET, ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+). 🏟️

MORE: ‘Is women’s football closing in on its first $1m transfer?’

Reminder: our big NWSL Season Preview podcast with Sam and Rog launches on WEDNESDAY… Subscribe here so you do not miss it 🍻

II. SPURS REACH FIRST-EVER FA CUP SEMI-FINALS 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

The 54th edition of England’s Women’s FA Cup confirmed its 2024 semifinalists this weekend with history-made for mid-table WSL side Tottenham Hotspur, and yet another goal for Cat Macario.

i. Tottenham’s heroics began in the sixth minute of stoppage time, as English striker Bethany England leveled the score at the death against three-time winners Manchester City. Scoreless after extra-time, Spurs goalkeeper Becky Spencer channeled her inner Alyssa Naeher, saving City’s first two penalties to set the early tone. With four penalties of their own put away, Tottenham secured their first-ever visit to the FA Cup semi final.🏆

ii. US Women’s coach of the future, Emma Hayes’ reigning champions Chelsea remain alive as well. In a close contest against Everton, the Blues sealed their semi-final ticket thanks to the USA’s Catarina Macario, who is back with a vengeance, scoring the match-winner three minutes after subbing in. 🇺🇲

More: Emma Hayes still chasing the Quadruple.

III. News and Notes 📰

i. Last Saturday, 31-year-old Mexican referee, Katia Itzel Garcia, (who oversaw the rainy W Gold Cup semi-final between the US and Canada) became the first woman to center referee a Liga MX match in 20 years (and the second-ever to do so), as she took charge of the Pachuca vs Querétaro clash. 🇲🇽

ii. Spain’s first Ballon d’Or Féminin winner, Alexia Putellas, returned to the field after months away from football following knee surgery this Sunday. Putellas wasted no time to collect a goal for Liga F giants, FC Barcelona Femeni. In the 1-7 victory over Real Sociedad, Barça forward Salma Paralluelo also notched a hat-trick, including this goal of the week contender. 🇪🇸

iii. The 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro Qualifying Groups are officially set. Starting April 5, 51 teams competing in three leagues (each with a different qualification process) set off to compete for 15 tournament berths, joining Switzerland (hosts) in next summer’s European Championship.🇨🇭

iv. It’s official! The Emma Hayes era starts in Colorado and Minnesota. US Soccer announced the pivotal pair of friendlies for June 1st (Commerce City, CO) and 4th (St. Paul, MN), both to be played against the Korean Republic. 🇺🇲🇰🇷

IV. Parting Shots 🥃

⚽🏀📈We are in for a huge month of women’s sports this March. That includes the return of the NWSL, as well as the dawn of March Madness. Records are breaking already: March 3rd’s Ohio State-Iowa game averaged 3.4 million viewers, the second highest CBB game ever, beating the Warriors vs Celtics game that day on ABC.

V. Good Reads 📚

i. Sam Mewis in Skimm (!!): Soccer Superstar Sam Mewis’ Advice for Bringing a Winning Attitude to Work

ii. From Marie-Christine Bouchier in The Guardian: It is time for the talk to stop and the action to start in women’s football

iii. From Suzy Wrack in The Guardian: Team sports helps majority of young girls feel more confident