Women's Soccer

When the USWNT plays New Zealand in a friendly Tuesday night at Sky Stadium in Wellington, they'll do so in front of a record crowd that foreshadows how the Americans will become the locals' second-favorite team once the World Cup kicks off in July.

Over 10,000 people are expected for tonight's friendly, the first of a two-game series between the Stars and Stripes and Football Ferns with the second match scheduled Friday at Eden Park in Auckland. 

LONDON - Sam Kerr scored an 89th-minute equalizer to snatch a point for Chelsea as they drew 1-1 with Arsenal in the Women's Super League on Sunday to maintain their three-point lead over the Gunners at the top of the table.

With 46,811 tickets sold for the clash at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, Chelsea's Zećira Mušović was the busier of the two goalkeepers, pulling off a string of superb reflex saves to keep her team in it as the home side dominated.

53' Mušović with TWO OUTSTANDING SAVES!!!

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

After filing a federal lawsuit against Virginia Tech women's soccer coach Charles "Chugger" Adair back in 2021 for an alleged benching stemming from a refusal to kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before a match the previous year, former Hokies player Kiersten Hening received a $100,000 payout from the school to drop the suit.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will become a part owner of a third sports franchise in Kansas City.

Mahomes is joining his wife, Brittany, as part of the ownership group of the Kansas City Current, the National Women's Soccer League team announced Tuesday. Brittany Mahomes already was part of the ownership group alongside Angie and Chris Long.

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