New Zealand’s Olympic soccer preparations were handed a blow a couple weeks before the tournament kicks off, and Football Ferns coach Tom Sermanni is not happy about it. Team captain Ali Riley and defensive star Abby Erceg were not allowed to join up with their national team until after this weekend’s NWSL games, leading Sermanni to excoriate the Orlando Pride and N.C. Courage.
Olivia Moultrie is finally, officially, a professional footballer — and the youngest NWSL player ever too.
Moultrie, 15, moved to Portland at the age of 13 from California to begin training with the Portland Thorns of the NWSL, which had a strict age requirement of 18. After suing the National Women’s Soccer League over age restrictions, she’s been given a chance to sign a professional contract with the Thorns, agreeing to a three-year deal, the max allowable in NWSL.
After three months of bold predictions, shifting power rankings and in-depth sleuthing on who could possibly make the final 18-player USWNT Olympic roster, it’s safe to say that was all a waste of time.
In a YouTube video with a former Japan teammate, Washington Spirit forward Kumi Yokoyama revealed they are transgender.
Kumi uses they/them pronouns...and don't forget it!
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) June 19, 2021
Brazil’s 18-woman roster for the Olympics was announced on Friday and included Orlando Pride ace and one of the greatest players of all-time, Marta. The 35-year-old’s reaction to hearing her name called to represent her country in Tokyo is what this sport is all about.
The moment Marta found out she made Brazil's Olympic roster for the fifth time
Jessica McDonald led North Carolina to a 2-1 win over OL Reign, but Jessica Fishlock provided the moment of the week with a magical goal for a late consolation on Saturday. The Jess Fishlock lob was in my opinion the best goal of the day, even with Euro 2020 going on.
The National Women’s Soccer League announced plans on Tuesday for San Diego to become home to the league’s 12th expansion team. The new SoCal club is set to begin play in Spring of 2022.
A Big West Coast Welcome @SanDiegoNWSL makes it official
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) June 8, 2021
Watch out NWSL: Alex Morgan is on fire and the league’s long-dormant potential powerhouse is awakening. There might be no stopping the Pride — at least until the Olympics roll around.
Before the NWSL match between N.C. Courage and Orlando Pride on Saturday, Courage coach Paul Riley said his Pride counterpart was still adjusting to the American league. Marc Skinner arrived in Orlando from England, where Riley said the pace is far slower.
Olivia Moultrie is a 15-year-old soccer phenom who has been training with the Portland Thorns since 2019 after Nike signed her to a nine-year endorsement deal. Moultrie has been denied from signing with a team due to the National Women’s Soccer League’s age rules, but that could soon change.
Paul Riley is the most successful head coach in National Women’s Soccer League history. With three championships and three more NWSL Shields, the opinion of the Liverpool native carries a lot of weight in women’s soccer. And his opinion on the differences between his current league and the top flight in England highlight how far the FA Women’s Super League still has to go.