Crystal Dunn is one of America’s brightest stars. The 2015 NWSL MVP scored 15 goals in 21 matches that season and is an entrenched member of Jill Ellis’ national team. So why did Washington trade away her rights to North Carolina when she decided to return from a year abroad in England? The Crystal Dunn trade explains a lot about how the Spirit are planning to rebuild.
U.S. Women’s National Team star Julie Ertz is one of the best players in the country, even if she wasn’t named to the CONCACAF XI on Tuesday. Her goal-scoring exploits from her defensive position are impressive, but her home life may be even more notable.
The18.com knows you don't have time to waste when it comes to your soccer news. That's why we've created the fastest rundown in soccer. Greg Ellis takes you through 18 different soccer topics, and spends 18 seconds on each. This time he goes over the most iconic celebrations, the worst hairstyles, the best soccer movies, World Cup qualifiers, soccer robots and much more. If you liked this episode Watch Episode 2 of 18 Things in 18 Seconds.
In the end, Netherlands and FC Barcelona attacker Lieke Martens was the deserved recipient of 2017’s The Best FIFA Women’s Player award (an accolade presumably named by a toddler or Sepp Blatter). But the three-woman shortlist for the prize continues to flip the bird at anyone who wishes to try and make sense of it all.
Julie Ertz did it again Sunday. The USWNT defender scored in a 6-0 rout of South Korea, her fifth goal of 2017. She’s now tied with Alex Morgan for most goals scored for Team USA this year. Julie Ertz’s goal-scoring ability makes her the Sergio Ramos of women’s football.
Ertz headed in the United States’ fourth goal of the first half for her 13th goal in international play, most among active American defenders. It was her second goal in four days and fourth in her last four national-team appearances.
Lindsey Horan struck in the 50th minute to propel the Portland Thorns to their second NWSL championship, a 1-0 victory over the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL final on Saturday in Orlando, Florida.
A crowd of 8,124 watched the final at Orlando City Stadium.
Portland won the inaugural NWSL championship in 2013 and lost in the semifinals to North Carolina last year after winning the NWSL Shield. On Saturday, the Thorns edged the Courage, who themselves won the NWSL Shield this year as the league’s best regular-season team.
Earlier this month USWNT and Orlando City striker Alex Morgan was kicked out of Disney World after an incident at Epcot, resulting in Morgan being warned for trespassing.
The plot thickened as police body camera footage of officers questioning Morgan, who disagreed with police about the night's events.
Google AMP users can view the video here.
Much of the soccer world will be focused on the final World Cup qualifiers this weekend, with teams like the Netherlands, Argentina, Italy and the United States all in precarious positions with two matches to play. But hey, don’t forget about the NWSL playoffs, which begin this weekend.