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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 12h

If a draw feels like a win, you're still the underdog. The USWNT deployed a legion of hungry subs to claw back a result in Chester, but Spain's standing on top of the world stands firm, for now. defector.com/spain-remind...

defector.com

Spain Reminds The USWNT Where They Stand | Defector

CHESTER, Penn. — For decades, the U.S. Women’s National Team stood at the top of the mountain, where the air is thinnest. They defended their position with ferocity. They didn’t win every major tourna...

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Ashley Sanchez is appearing in her first USWNT match since 2024. Of the possibility, she told me: “I think a lot of people, and maybe even myself, kind of counted me out. I think it would just be a testament to going through a little bit of a tough time and still being able to find your way back."

theguardian.com

‘A lot of people counted me out’: Ashley Sanchez on goal records, grit and potential USWNT return

After playing zero minutes at the 2023 World Cup, Sanchez embraced a new club and a new position. Now she’s making NWSL history in North Carolina

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Frankie de la Cretaz @thefrankiedlc.news · 06/10/2026

For @us.theguardian.com, I spoke to Native WNBA fans about the loss of the Connecticut Sun. “For a tribe that fought long and hard to be granted tribal sovereignty, the [sale] decision being taken out of their hands can feel like a violation of that sovereignty.”

theguardian.com

‘I will not be moving on’: sale of WNBA’s Connecticut Sun leaves Native fans facing cultural loss

The Mohegan Tribe made the Sun the first Native-owned franchise in pro sports. Fans say the team’s move echoes centuries of erasure and displacement

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The Montreal Victoire's schedule announcement video, featuring Laura Stacey at Maxi, perfects the form. In this essay I will

youtube.com

Dévoilement du calendrier 2026-2027

YouTube video by Victoire de Montréal

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

#NWSL NEWS: Savannah DeMelo has signed a new contract with Racing Louisville FC through 2027 (club option for 2028). She is available to play Saturday for the first time in a year after an on-field cardiac event. DeMelo is also suing UofL Health for failure to diagnose the condition.

espn.com

DeMelo re-signs with Racing amid lawsuit over cardiac event

Midfielder Savannah DeMelo has signed a new contract with Racing Louisville FC through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, ahead of her expected return to the field on Saturday for the first time in over a year.

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Ella Brockway @ellabrockway.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

USWNT roster day = a good day to read @abigailsegel.bsky.social's chat with Ashley Sanchez on @us.theguardian.com! "A lot of people, and maybe even myself, kind of counted me out. It would just be a testament to going through a little bit of a tough time and still being able to find your way back."

theguardian.com

‘A lot of people counted me out’: Ashley Sanchez on goal records, grit and potential USWNT return

After playing zero minutes at the 2023 World Cup, Sanchez embraced a new club and a new position. Now she’s making NWSL history in North Carolina

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Lesley Ryder @lesleyryder.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Abigail’s on an absolute heater this week

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

INTERVIEW: I spoke with the undeniable Ashley Sanchez, who is on the precipice of tying the NWSL all-time single season goalscoring record. The North Carolina Courage winger talked about how she looks back on challenges she’s faced, why her new position works, and what a USWNT call-up would mean:

theguardian.com

‘A lot of people counted me out’: Ashley Sanchez on goal records, grit and potential USWNT return

After playing zero minutes at the 2023 World Cup, Sanchez embraced a new club and a new position. Now she’s making NWSL history in North Carolina

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

theguardian.com

‘A lot of people counted me out’: Ashley Sanchez on goal records, grit and potential USWNT return

After playing zero minutes at the 2023 World Cup, Sanchez embraced a new club and a new position. Now she’s making NWSL history in North Carolina

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Gal Pal Sports @galpalsports.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

but the parityyyyyyyyy

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Justin Horneker @hornekerjustin.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Statement from the Black Women Player Collective regarding the commentary towards Jordynn Dudley this weekend in North Carolina vs Gotham.

$Instagram post reading: During Saturday's September 19th Gotham FC vs. NC Courage match, commentary following an incident where Jordynn Dudley's hair was pulled in the 53rd minute crossed a line into unfair critique. Hair pulling is an objective foul, regardless of intent. Yet instead of addressing the infraction, commentators criticized Jordynn's hair length, framing the foul as a "consequence" of her style and a "risk" to opposition players. A player's hairstyle should not be used to shift responsibility for a foul onto the player who was fouled. Players should be able to wear their hair in a way that reflects who they are without it becoming justification for unfair criticism when an opponent commits an infraction. Congrats on the brace and cinching, Jordynn. Good luck in the playoffs.$

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Touting parity rings hollow when the same clubs wither each year. Million dollar salaries are bittersweet when the players who earn them have teammates who won’t make that amount in 15 years. The NWSL may have raised its ceiling, but its floor is still in hell: defector.com/the-nwsls-st...

defector.com

The NWSL's Struggling Teams Are Falling Behind | Defector

The 2026 NWSL season has provided some astonishingly fun soccer, and many off-field successes too: The league has boasted some record attendances, salaries, and goal-scoring this year, not to mention ...

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The IX Sports @theixsports.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Denver Summit's Saturday game had an unusual theme: a novel about dragons. "Fourth Wing" author Rebecca Yarros has begun a tour of collaborations with sports teams across the country, indicating a new direction for marketing in the NWSL and beyond. 🐉 ⚽ @catabush.com reports from Colorado:

theixsports.com

Dragons and soccer balls: Denver Summit host 'Fourth Wing' night | The IX Soccer

Rebecca Yarros's collaborations with sports teams indicate a new direction for marketing in the NWSL and beyond.

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The IX Sports @theixsports.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

We want to hear from YOU! Your feedback will help shape the future of The IX Sports. Click the link below to fill out the reader survey. We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with us! 🔗 forms.gle/aSz5u2g3aNUi...

Photo of an orange and white WNBA game ball with text overlay that reads "Help shape what comes next! Take the Reader Survey. Link in bio."

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

NEWS: Rory Dames, who is banned from coaching in the NWSL and has been accused of abuse by youth players, is no longer listed in SafeSport's centralized disciplinary database. Per a document reviewed by Defector, a one-year suspension has ended. Read for free: defector.com/rory-damess-...

defector.com

Rory Dames's SafeSport Suspension Has Ended | Defector

Rory Dames—the women’s soccer coach currently banned for life from the NWSL, and who has been accused of abuse by more than a dozen former youth players—is no longer listed in the U.S. Center for Safe...

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Defector @defector.com · 17/09/2026

defector.com

Rory Dames's SafeSport Suspension Has Ended | Defector

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Dames remains on probation and under a no-contact directive. It is unclear how much longer than probation will last. The legal battle between Dames and SafeSport remains unresolved.

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A person interviewed for SafeSport’s investigation was informed of the sanctions against Dames four months after Dames filed a suit against SafeSport. The interviewee was thus under the impression that the decision was not final, and that the suspension had not started yet.

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

defector.com

Rory Dames's SafeSport Suspension Has Ended | Defector

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Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 15/09/2026

.@racingloufc.com Racing Louisville star Savannah DeMelo has sued UofL Health & two physicians for negligence in failing to properly diagnose her heart condition before she suffered a cardiac arrest at a match in Seattle one year ago. UofL Health declined to comment on "pending litigation."

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The IX Sports @theixsports.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

This week in @anniempeterson.bsky.social's Soccer Insider for The IX Sports she explains why anti-trans activists have chosen to target the Portland Thorns FC and women's sports bar the Sports Bra. Read: www.theixsports.com/newsletter/inclusion-is-the-path-to-equity-in-womens-sports/

theixsports.com

Everyone Belongs | The IX Sports

Anti-trans activists have descended on Portland, targeting the Thorns and the Sports Bra. Why they chose Portland and what can be done.

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

One great season makes not a dynasty, but the possibility of the start of one. Ditching all the people that got you to that starting line will sabotage the race before it starts. Because brands don’t win trophies—people do. On the Kansas City Current: equalizersoccer.com/2026/09/11/t...

equalizersoccer.com

The Kansas City Current can’t rest on its laurels

The departure of former coach Vlatko Andonovski highlights doubts about the club's direction

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The IX Sports @theixsports.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Pietra Tordin's MVP-caliber year may look like it came out of nowhere, but as @melinae07.bsky.social writes, it was hiding in plain sight. On how the attacker went from struggling to get minutes last year to a critical player for the Portland Thorns in 2026: www.theixsports.com/the-ix-socce...

theixsports.com

Pietra Tordin's breakthrough season was hiding in plain sight | The IX Soccer

Thanks to her joy-oriented philosophy and having Sam Coffey as a role model, Pietra Tordin has had a fantastic sophomore season.

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Michelle Cooper's goal celebrations and Instagram posts have shone a public spotlight on the #NWSL's new footwear policy. The NWSL wants brands to pay players AND the league for exposure, or cover their logos. There's U.S. precedent, less in 🌎 soccer. What's the policy? And the tension points?

espn.com

NWSL, players and brands face off: Should league get a cut of cleat sponsorship money?

NWSL players can no longer freely sign shoe sponsorships: the league wants a cut of the money, and it's turning into a showdown between brands, players and the NWSL.

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

thanks to xOG for having me on as we tried to get to the bottom of Schrödinger's transfer saga

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

When the Portland Thorns visited Gotham last night, the players who weren’t there—Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, and Olivia Moultrie—loomed as large as those who were. How did the NWSL’s top teams adapt? www.theixsports.com/the-ix-socce...

theixsports.com

High-profile absences glare in Gotham, Portland draw | The IX Soccer

Injuries to Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, and Olivia Moultrie force the NWSL's top teams and USWNT to adapt.

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Alexander Abnos @anabnos.com · 28/08/2026

Extremely weird situation, with way more questions than answers right now. Abigail did a great job laying it all out.

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Jonathan Tannenwald @jtannenwald.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

This is very good.

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Chris VanOchten @greener105th.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

So much to unpack here. Well laid-out by @abigailsegel.bsky.social

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

There's a lot we don't know about Esther González's transfer saga, but the uncomfortable questions it raises say a lot about the state of women's soccer, anyway: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

theguardian.com

Esther González, Saudi Arabia and the questions around an unexpected transfer saga

The striker’s surprise signing for Al Qadsiah after leaving Gotham sparked questions of professionalism and raised concerns of LGBTQ+ fans

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Corey Atad @coreyatad.com · 25/08/2026

some words on Soraya Roberts, the best writer i ever knew

justatad.xyz

Soraya

I sat on the aisle at a movie the other day.

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Hats off to Tobin Heath, a singular player. I got to interview her & CP in December & it turned into one of my favorite stories I’ve ever written. “On the pitch, obviously, it was a really natural way for me to express myself ... creatively, emotionally, stylistically, kind of mentally as well."

defector.com

Christen Press And Tobin Heath Want To Keep Up The Fight | Defector

SAN JOSE, Calif. — When the podcasters arrived, they bypassed the wide talk-show armchairs. Instead they sat at the edge of the stage, heads barely above the crowd of adoring fans in front of them, an...

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Owen Lewis @owensports.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Was talking with a writer friend today about how freelancers can appear to be thriving from the list of great publications in their bio and the 2-3 things they put out every week, and in reality they're not only making ~$30k/year but writing so much that they don't really have a route to making more

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Lesley Ryder @lesleyryder.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Thanks to @theixsports.bsky.social for giving this pre-match chat with Jenna Bike a home. The Stars players are a resilient group, and they won’t be giving up anytime soon. www.theixsports.com/the-ix-socce...

theixsports.com

The Chicago Stars are sticking together through losing season | The IX Soccer

Veteran Jenna Bike spoke about the locker room's solidarity as the team seems doomed to finish last for the third time in four years.

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

(I was in the woods when this was published but I'm now out of said woods, albeit sadly; if you ever get a chance to go to Algonquin Provincial Park, do it.)

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

A thought experiment: If Emma Hayes decides to resist the sunk cost fallacy and call up new (to her) players to fill in the USWNT's injury-weakened depth chart, which in-form NWSL players might do the job?

theixsports.com

8 NWSL stars who could earn a USWNT call-up this year | The IX Sports

A positional breakdown of players who may be called into camp as the USWNT navigates injuries and prepares for the World Cup.

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Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Many of the same culprits of the NWSL's transphobia flare-up in November are gleefully stoking the WNBA's current crisis. There's a lot to learn from Sarah Gorden & Angelina Anderson's responses then, and Brianna Turner & Cheryl Reeve's responses now. Both leagues need to follow suit.

defector.com

The Anti-Trans Grifters Are Coming For The NWSL | Defector

In July, the Guardian reported that the NWSL had quietly allowed its policy on the participation of transgender players, established in 2021, to expire. The scrapped policy used the testosterone level...

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The Cutback @www.thecutback.com · 31/07/2026

Goalkeeping across the NWSL is changing. @abigailsegel.bsky.social spoke to former USWNT keeper Jill Loyden about the way quality keepers are making a difference for their teams across the league. www.thecutback.com/p/nwsl-goalk...

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