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Savannah DeMelo spoke to reporters today: "The biggest thing I learned from my injury is that life is very fragile, and it can be taken like that [snaps fingers], but also your sport can be taken away from you." She said she could not address pending litigation or specific health questions. #NWSL

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#NWSL NEWS: #USWNT defender Jordyn Bugg has signed a new contract with Seattle Reign FC through 2030. Bugg told ESPN that she is happy with how she is developing in Seattle and "found a family here." Insight from Reign GM Lesle Gallimore on the new deal and why Bugg is a "high-ceiling player." 👇

USWNT's Jordyn Bugg signs new Seattle Reign contract through 2030

United States international defender Jordyn Bugg has signed a new contract with Seattle Reign FC to stay at the club through the 2030 NWSL season.

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U.S. Soccer announces that Naomi Girma is out for #USWNT vs. Spain matches after getting injured with Chelsea: "Chelsea FC defender Naomi Girma has been ruled out of the upcoming USWNT matches vs Spain due to a muscle injury. A roster replacement will be named at a later date."

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Sonia Bompastor explains McCabe and Girma absences and discusses Lyon return

Naomi Girma update from Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor after Wednesday's 0-0 #UWCL draw in Lyon: "Naomi got a knock in training. So I think she will be unavailable for maybe a few weeks." Girma w/ #USWNT v Spain sounds unlikely, as Emma Hayes alluded.

chelseafc.com

After coming through a tough match with a 0-0 draw against her former side Lyon, Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor explained why Katie McCabe and Naomi Girma were missing from the side on Wednesday e...

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#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.

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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Brutal few days for Arsenal. Paris FC comes back from 2-0 down with goals in the 72' + 87' (PK) under some of the most bizarre circumstances you'll see for the late penalty. #UWCL

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I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW #UWCL moment Arsenal gives up an 87th minute equalizer to Paris FC on a penalty that is awarded because the ref deemed that Leah Williamson handled a ball in play. Williamson thought GK Misa Rodriguez was giving her the ball to take a goal kick.😳

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Defender Savy King will join the U-23 #USWNT next week, her first call-up at any level since her cardiac event in an #NWSL game and subsequent heart surgery in May 2025. NWSL players make up the entire U-23 roster, a who's who of rising stars (and some senior team regulars).

Savy King to join USWNT U23s, first international call-up since 2025 cardiac incident

Defender Savy King will join the U23 United States women's national team next week, marking her first international call-up at any level since recovering from a cardiac event that took place in May 2025.

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Alyssa Thompson is a BIG GAME player! Her goal lifts Chelsea past Arsenal

Alyssa Thompson's goal lifted Chelsea past Arsenal over the weekend. A major #UWCL match awaits today. Thompson has been building into a big-game player in plain sight for the past 18 months. Expect her to play a major role for the #USWNT at the World Cup. From Futbol W (back in the big studio!) 👇

youtube.com

YouTube video by Jeff Kassouf

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Reposted by Jeff Kassouf

Meg Linehan @meglinehan.com · 30/09/2026

Five years ago in the middle of a reckoning over abuse and misconduct, the players of the NWSL were debating if they should save the league or burn it down. They picked both. On the last five years, free to read at @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

nytimes.com

Five years ago, the NWSL was in crisis. Thanks to its players, it’s flourishing (Gift Article)

Amidst a reckoning over sexual misconduct in the NWSL, players faced a difficult choice. The action and change they forced saved the league.

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#USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said it is her "hope" that forward Catarina Macario will be at the January training camp. That is the most definitive timeline there has been for Macario's return. She last played for club or country in December 2025. That could be good news for the 2027 World Cup.

Hayes hopes Macario back for U.S. in January with eye on World Cup

Forward Catarina Macario could return for the United States in January, head coach Emma Hayes said on Tuesday, offering the most definitive timeline and details on her return since she was injured in December.

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Emma Hayes sets the record straight that Evelyn Shores is indeed a left fullback, even for the #USWNT (listed as midfielder on this initial roster release).

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Emma Hayes: "Do I expect that Caterina Macario will be available for the January camp? That's my hope. Do I think she could be back sooner? At what cost would be the question. She also has to respond to everything that goes well within that. She's on the grass. She's training."

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Emma Hayes: "Naomi Girma, she did take a knock in training today. I'm not entirely sure if Naomi will be on the roster, but I'm sure we will report something if that is the case. That might be the only change that we have to make." Girma is on this #USWNT roster as of now.

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Emma Hayes says Jaedyn Shaw and Ally Sentnor are "still central to our plans" and will join the #USWNT U-23s, training on the same fields in Atlanta. U-23s are part of the "prescribed journey." Hayes said she doesn't want players sitting on the bench when they could get minutes.

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Gotham officially announces Rose Lavelle's contract extension through 2029. They are using the #NWSL's High Impact Player rule, as previously reported on @espn. Lavelle: "This club has challenged me to keep growing and has given me the opportunity to compete for championships."

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The NWSL also announced that it will bring back its December youth combine in Florida, this time focusing exclusively on "bringing together players ages 13-17 for a focused evaluation environment in front of NWSL clubs." Relevant reporting from last week on a new player development rule:

Sources: NWSL launches new player development rule for clubs

The NWSL has launched a new player development mechanism that will allow teams to identify youth players who they could sign in the future to contracts that would not fully count against the salary cap, multiple sources told ESPN.

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NEWS: The #NWSL has hired Meghan Frey, former sporting director of the Girls Academy, as the NWSL's new senior director of pathways and development. The role's remit is to "strengthen the pathways for prospective players and coaching staff into the professional game."

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Futbol W is LIVE talking all things #NWSL and beyond. Join us at 8:30 pm ET on ESPN+ 👇 www.espn.com/watch/catalo...

Stream Futbol W Videos on Watch ESPN - ESPN

Stream the latest Futbol W videos on Watch ESPN.

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NWSL Beginnings – Equalizer Soccer

If you want to go down a rabbit hole on how early #NWSL teams—and the league itself—got their names and logos, I did a series on it years ago on @equalizersoccer.bsky.social. Start with the Seattle Reign story. I promise you the NWSL logo silhouette is not who you think it is.

equalizersoccer.com

The No. 1 Source for Women's Professional Soccer News

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Borrowing Wiki graphic to save time: #NWSL launched with mostly "nickname" nomenclature in 2013. I think we will still see that in some form (Summit/Legacy) but literally all but one launch/rebrand the last 5 years has been "FC". Don't think that's changing. Over to you, Columbus.

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The ACFC acronym matches Angel City FC, already an #NWSL team, but Atlanta won't use it. They will use ATL CTY for short. I assume "ATL" would be their TV code (I asked but that is not decided; Angel City uses "LA" anyway). Angel City is ACFC: "They own that equity."

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Atlanta City FC is the name of the 2026 #NWSL expansion team. The crest is a red phoenix with peach accents. They did not consider Atlanta Beat, FWIW. More updates on the club as launch approaches 👇 www.espn.com/soccer/story...

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#NWSL FT: Utah 2, NC 1 Utah takes hold of 4th with an imperative win. Great defensive effort, especially Miyabi in 1v1s with Ashley Sanchez, who scored her record-tying 20th goal from the penalty spot. The Courage end Round 26 outside the playoff picture—with a defining trip to Seattle on tap.

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Mina Tanaka just played the most perfectly weighted through ball you'll see. Outstanding. Utah leads again with a simple, effective buildout and a precise final ball. Cece Delzer finishes. #NWSL

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North Carolina Courage forward Ashley Sanchez has tied Temwa Chawinga's record with 20 goals in an #NWSL season. Sanchez steps up and buries a shot from the penalty spot to equalize in Utah. Historic season for Sanchez.

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The year of Cloé Lacasse continues.

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Haley McCLUTCHeon can sense it's autumn. 🎯 #NWSL

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Spain wins the U-20 Women's World Cup, defeating North Korea 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw. North Korea won the 2024 tournament, Spain the 2022 edition. North Korea returns to the senior WC in 2027 for the first time since 2011 (initially banned) as a total wild card.

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#USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson scored the lone goal as Chelsea defeated Arsenal, 1-0. Thunderous celebration at Stamford Bridge at fulltime. #USWNT defender Naomi Girma was an unused sub, hasn't played in the league yet this season. Arsenal has just 5 points (1 win) from their opening 4 games.

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#NWSL FT: Portland 1, Houston 1 Marie Müller scores a late equalizer for the Thorns to take a point at home against the Dash. One point is better than none for Portland, as Müller just said postgame, but three straight at home without a win now. Thorns back into 4th, for now.

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Kat Rader scores her 10th goal this season, one off Diana Ordóñez's rookie record. Remarkable individual season. Houston has had ups and down because they're so young. Plenty of talent. Thought Gautrat would get more time w/the group. Next coach has foundation.

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Angel City interim coach Leif Smerud on Angel City winning in the pouring rain conditions in DC: "I haven't seen rain since I came to LA." 😅 #NWSL

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The Maiara Niehues goal in question. The definition of precision.

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#NWSL FT: Spirit 0, Angel City 1 Maiara Niehues scores a stunning goal in the 88th minute, two minutes after checking in, and Angel City is now in 4th place for now. Unbeaten in six. Washington's shocking home form continues. Forget the Shield; they have to get on track to play at Audi on Nov. 21.

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Maiara Niehues 🎯 Two minutes after entering. Perfect hit. She can be a top player in the #NWSL. Nine goals this year now.

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Angel City's initial line of confrontation has Washington's back four searching for answers in possession. Some visible frustration (and turnovers) as they try to build out. Spirit have found a couple moments of joy in transition, but sloppy moments in the pouring rain, too. #NWSL

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#NWSL FT: Kansas City 4, Denver 1 KC jumps from 9th to 6th, for now. Denver is stuck in 10th and playoffs look unlikely now. The Summit led early and then unraveled defensively. KC unbeaten at home in 30 straight (reg season). North Carolina now heads into their kickoff below the playoff line.

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VAR overrules the offside, and Temwa Chawinga has Kansas City's fourth goal -- which also means Vanessa DiBernardo's brilliant backheel is rewarded with an assist. The Current woke up from a slow start to run rampant. Denver's playoff hopes are mighty slim now.

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Haley Hopkins hat trick. How about that! Classic counterattack. Chawinga makes Gaetino pay. Hopkins rewarded for the run. Self-inflicted wounds here for Denver. 3-1 Current. Blown leads are a theme for Denver, and it will cost them the playoffs.

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