Sydney Leroux has a history of going after trolls on the internet. Whether she’s making fun of former high school soccer boys on Instagram or responding directly to haters, she doesn’t let much slide.
LOS ANGELES — Angel City FC on Thursday selected 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson with the first pick of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) draft, making the Los Angeles native the first player in league history drafted directly out of high school.
"Alyssa Thompson, for us, is a phenom and generational player," said Angel City general manager Angela Hucles Mangano.
"She's a player who can make an immediate impact, but she's also young and can develop and look to be a player that we're building a future off of, too."
OL Reign re-signed captain and USWNT icon Megan Rapinoe through the 2023 NWSL season.
The deal was announced Wednesday, the 10th anniversary of her joining the club as an original member in 2013. Financial terms were not disclosed.
OL Reign Re-Signs Forward Megan Rapinoe Through 2023 Season
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has handed lifetime bans to four former coaches and fined the Chicago Red Stars and Portland Thorns $1.5 million and $1 million respectively, part of sweeping sanctions from a misconduct inquiry.
An independent investigator brought in by U.S. Soccer found last year that abuse and misconduct "had become systemic" in the NWSL.
National Women's Soccer League MVP Sophia Smith was voted the 2022 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, the sport's governing body said on Friday, after scoring 11 goals for the national team last year.
TFW @beckysauerbrunn crashes your Zoom to break the Player of the Year news
Congrats @sophsssmith! pic.twitter.com/YzdbEUPm4O
Pelé.
The mere mention of the name conjures grainy, black-and-white footage of a bright-eyed young man announcing his arrival on the world stage in Sweden. Of a triumphant, shirtless star carried off the pitch at the Azteca. Of a smiling veteran bringing the beautiful game to a new audience. Of a septuagenarian snacking on a Subway sandwich with swimming stud Michael Phelps.
Of the greatest footballer to ever walk the earth.
Pelé.
FBref.com last week published a map of its most-viewed soccer teams by state in 2022 and the results show the incredibly varied interests across the United States.
Across the 50 states there were teams represented from the English Premier League, MLS, La Liga, USL, NWSL, the EFL Championship, the English fifth-tier National League – and the U.S. national team.
“There were definitely some surprises,” Jonah Gardner, product marketing manager for FBref, told The18 in an email.
The National Women's Soccer League intends to add a team and is looking at finalists Boston, Tampa and San Francisco as prospective expansion cities, Sportico reported.
The highest bidder has placed a bid for "well over $40 million" to secure a franchise, per the report.
Olivia Moultrie is the youngest NWSL champion in history. The 17-year-old phenom and the Portland Thorns defeated the KC Current 2-0 on Sunday to win the club’s third NWSL Championship.
Moultrie came into the game as a substitute in the final minute to become the youngest ever player to appear in the NWSL Championship.
The Portland Thorns defeated the KC Current 2-0 in front of 17,624 fans at Audi Field in the nation’s capital on Saturday to win the club’s third NWSL Championship. Sophia Smith, the National Women’s Soccer League MVP, led her team to victory scoring the first and being involved in the second.
It was a momentous game for the league as the Championship game was CBS showed the game on national television during primetime for the first time in history.
2022 is the year of Sophia Smith.