Happy Monday TWG readers!

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the terrible fires happening in LA right now. My heart goes out to everyone affected and I’m sending all my love. I’d love to suggest visiting mutualaidla.org for a list of ways to donate, support, or access resources. Angel City is also part of a fundraiser with Fanatics that can be supported here.

I hope you enjoyed our episode with Croix Bethune last week — she is someone who I am really excited to see back on the field this year. Croix is one of the most talented young players in the US team, and speaking with her was incredible. We have some more episodes coming your way this week, with a rewind on some of our best international guests dropping on Tuesday AND another rookie spotlight, this time on Hal Hershfelt, dropping on Thursday. I can’t wait for you all to hear those. Hal especially was one of my favorite interviews we’ve done lately — she was so fun and we got a great cameo from her cat, Bobbi.

The WSL is finally coming back this weekend after some FA Cup action yesterday and the USWNT is about to be back together in a few days. 2025 better watch out because women’s soccer is back and ready to go!

As the year starts picking up speed, I want to thank you all for being on this ride with us. This newsletter, our podcast feed, our YouTube channel, and all of our social media platforms are growing and growing thanks to you. If you know someone who wants more women’s soccer content in their lives, feel free to forward them this email or suggest TWG’s podcasts. We’re so grateful for each and every one of you and I cannot wait to see what 2025 has in store.

Thank you all so much for being here.

Love,

Sam

The USWNT starts the year with January Camp in Florida 🇺🇲⛄🐊

Emma Hayes begins 2025 with a 26-player senior roster that trains from Jan.17-23 with no games. The NWSL-only camp features an exciting spate of young talents and newly called-in players, while providing multiple veterans rest. 

While training alongside the Young Futures Camp, Hayes hopes to broaden the net of experience for an emerging generation, while she whittles down her core team. Hayes told reporters last Tuesday: 

“When you consider how little programming some players have actually had, I almost feel like we’ve had a little bit of a lost generation that might not have had some of the exposures that…some of the top nations have. So, I’m desperate to look at ways to bridge that gap, because we can’t wholeheartedly just rely on domestic play to do that. We have to give international experiences to players.”

Here are some things to keep in mind with this roster: 

• NWSL only: January is not an official FIFA window, which would require clubs worldwide to release their players for international duty. Since the NWSL is in its offseason (while most leagues worldwide are midseason) this roster consists of 26 NWSL players. 

• European contingent: For comparison, Emma Hayes final roster of 2024 featured six players (out of 24) that play in Europe for five different clubs. That includes U.S. captain Lindsey Horan, who plays for Lyon in France, and starting right back Emily Fox, who plays for Arsenal in London. The European contingent won’t be in this camp, but are likely to be with the team for SheBelieves Cup next month.

• Resting some stars: At the end of a long year, Hayes is giving key starters more rest during their club offseason. That includes all three members of the “triple espresso” forward force: Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith. Rose Lavelle is also resting following ankle surgery. Lynn Williams was originally named to the roster, but was replaced by Duke University midfielder Hannah Bebar, due to hamstring soreness. Following William’s late scratch, the camp features 10 of 22 players from the Paris Olympics.

More: Our favorite moments with the “Triple Espresso” 

• Trialing talent: With two years to prepare for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, Hayes is making use of her time with the team to bring in new names and trial young talent. With Bebar’s addition, seven uncapped players appear in their first senior USWNT camp. 14 of 26 have three or less caps. 

More: USWNT coach Emma Hayes reveals plan for 2027 World Cup and beyond

Also: Per reports from Jeff Kassouf in The Equalizer, 20-year-old USWNT talent and Olympic gold medalist Jaedyn Shaw will be traded to North Carolina Courage. If confirmed, this would be a massive offseason move, as Shaw is among the preeminent young talents in NWSL. The Frisco-born forward was named U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year in 2022, and was named to NWSL’s Best XI in 2023. In 2024, Shaw won the Concacaf W Gold Cup Golden Ball and was likewise named to the inaugural tournament’s Best XI. 🇺🇲

Though originally scheduled to convene in Calif., this month’s camp will be held in Ft. Lauderdale due to the Los Angeles wildfires. We are holding everyone affected by the fires in our hearts.💙

🥤 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.

Young Futures Camp 🇺🇲

Emma Hayes has also re-introduced the Young Futures Camp, which allows an even larger pool of emerging talent to train alongside the senior team. Hayes’ 24-player roster includes 14 professional players and 10 collegiate athletes:

• Of 14 professionals, 13 play for NWSL teams. One of them, 21-year-old goalkeeper Neeku Purcell, plays for first-place Brooklyn FC in the newly launched USL Super League. 

• 2024 MAC Hermann trophy winner and NCAA Champion, UNC forward Kate Faasse, is featured in this roster alongside her Tar Heel teammate and fellow forward Maddie Dahlien. 

• 23 of the 24 have experience representing the U.S. at the youth international level. University of Georgia goalkeeper Jordan Brown is the only exception. 19-year-old Angel City right back Gisele Thompson (sister to USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson) is the only player that’s trained with the senior team (June 2024).

• The roster represents players born from 2002-2007. While eight were born in 2002, and seven in 2004, just one (midfielder Ainsely McCammon, the youngest in camp) was born in 2007.

More: Gisele Thompson, Lexi Missimo and Kate Faase headline Emma Hayes’ 24-player roster for January Futures Camp

European Roundup 🌍

England Women’s FA Cup: England’s historic FA Cup commenced its fourth round this weekend. Seven of the games were postponed due to weather, but new dates are confirmed for this week and through the end of this month. The FA Cup is an annual cup competition featuring clubs from all levels of English women’s football. This past weekend saw the introduction of all 12 teams from the top flight Women’s Super League (WSL). 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

• Second-tier club London City Lionesses picked up a big 5-0 win over fellow London club, Fulham, who play in the fifth-tier of women’s football. First division WSL teams secured sizable victories over competition in lower divisions. Aston Villa beat Bristol Rovers 9-0. Manchester United beat West Bromwich Albion 7-0 (featuring a golazo from Ella Toone in her return after calf injury). Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema returned to the pitch in Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Ipswich Town. And Chelsea beat Charlton 4-0.  

More: Familiar story in Women’s FA Cup as lack of upsets shows gulf is getting bigger

In France, the Coupe de France Féminine, which is also a domestic cup competition featuring clubs at every level of the game, took place over the weekend. 🇫🇷

• Eight-time champions of Europe and first-place first division side Lyon were upset by fellow top-flight club Reims after penalties. The current title holders, PSG, beat third-division club Angers 3-0 to move on to the Round of 16.

• In the midweek, Lyon’s first game of the year featured an assist and a fire photo from U.S. captain Lindsey Horan in a 2-0 win over Dijon. 

Italy’s Serie A Femenina returned after the winter break with a few exciting matchups. 🇮🇹

• Inter Milan beat Roma 2-1 to claim 2nd place over 3rd place Roma.

• In a battle of fourth and fifth place, Como beat Fiorentina 2-0 with a brace of goals from 23-year-old Boston-born forward Alex Kerr. 🇺🇲

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News and Notes 📰🗞️

• Former San Diego manager and England captain Casey Stoney is the next manager of Canada’s Women’s National Team. Stoney takes up the reins of the 2020 Olympic gold medalists in the aftermath of ‘spygate’, which saw the team penalized in Paris for spying on New Zealand’s practice. Ensuing investigations revealed spying was a systemic issue in Canada Soccer, and led to former manager Bev Priestman’s dismissal. Stoney represented England’s Lionesses 130 times in an impressive international career. She was NWSL Coach of the Year in 2022 as she led San Diego in a laudable inaugural season, and secured the 2023 Supporters Shield in their second year. 🇨🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

• Swedish coach Jonas Eidevall is officially the next manager of San Diego Wave. The Former Arsenal boss will be the second permanent manager of the SoCal club expansion club (who made their NWSL debut in 2022) replacing inaugural manager Casey Stoney. 🇸🇪

• The 2025 NWSL schedule footprint is confirmed. The year begins with the annual Challenge Cup, which takes place Friday, March 7. The recently re-formatted Challenge Cup is meant to take place between the previous season’s Champion and Supporters Shield winner. Since Orlando Pride claimed both those titles in 2024, this year’s Challenge Cup goes down between Orlando Pride and second-place (in both the regular season and playoffs) Washington Spirit. The regular season starts Friday, March 14.

• After winning her first NWSL Championship with Orlando Pride, Brazil legend and Orlando veteran Marta announced she’s staying for two more years.

Parting Shots 💍

Beloved Angel City veteran and New Zealand Football Ferns captain Ali Riley got married over the weekend, despite the devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires, which burned Riley’s family home. In a message of love and joy, Riley wrote on her social media: “I’ve never felt love like this. We didn’t know if it would just be us at the wedding (and would’ve totally understood) but family, friends, neighbors and teammates showed up for us and each other. We hugged, cried, danced and laughed. My parents are incredible.” 🫶💍

More: ‘Lost so much: Football Ferns star’s home destroyed in Los Angeles wildfires’

Good Reads 📚

• From Emma Sanders for The BBC, ‘Lydia Bedford’s unique role in Canada's new women’s league’

• Sam Drury for The BBC, ‘Trial will allow fans to drink alcohol in stands at women’s games’

• From Inside FIFA, ‘Tarciane looking forward to FIFA World Cup in Brazil’ 

• From Jonathan Tannenwald in The Philadelphia Inquirer, ‘Emma Hayes used rival countries’ criticism to fuel USWNT Olympic gold’ (subscription required)

Moment of Joy ✨

Kimberly writes:

Just wanted to say that Keiko and I LOVE listening to the pod in the car. It's the best part of every drive. 

Thanks for making this such a year of fun drives. 

Kimberly 

Sam’s response:

Kimberly and Keiko! Thank you so much for writing in and listening to the pod. I love that you listen in the car and it sounds like Keiko has great taste in podcasts. Here’s to another year of TWG pods in the car!

✉️ Want your message to potentially appear in a future TWG newsletter? Send Sam an email at [email protected].

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