NWSL

Japan's three-times Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka has invested in National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team North Carolina Courage to become a team owner, the U.S. top-flight club said on Thursday.

"The women who have invested in me growing up made me who I am today, I don't know where I would be without them," Osaka, the world number three, wrote on Twitter. "Throughout my career I've always received so much love from my fellow female athletes so that's why I am proud to share that I am now an owner of the NC Courage."

After the myriad of alterations, postponements and cancellations that rocked the 2020 domestic calendar, we’re glad to see some normalcy return for both Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League in 2021 (although there’s little hope that stadiums will be at full capacity come April). 

The National Women’s Soccer League has grown tremendously even through a time of a world shut down. Not only does it supply the world with quality female footballers, but it also gives the people what they want. Flannels and masks have arrived in the NWSL shop and the fans are ecstatic. 

Canada's national women's soccer team return to action next month at the SheBelieves Cup after nearly a year idling on the sidelines because of the COVID-19 pandemic with new head coach Bev Priestman naming her first squad on Monday.

Priestman, who took over the post left vacant when Dane Kenneth Heiner-Moller stepped down last November, has chosen a mix of experience and youth for her first roster.

Manchester City’s transfer policy it quite transparent, but honestly it might be the smartest thing any club has ever done.

There is little doubt the two-time defending world champion USWNT is the best soccer team in the world, so it makes sense for Manchester City to throw all its money at World Cup-winning players. The Citizens signed their third American of the season on Saturday, making Abby Dahlkemper’s move official.

Another member of the Rodman family could be headed for the athletic spotlight.

The Washington Spirit selected forward Trinity Rodman with the No. 2 overall pick in the National Women's Soccer League draft on Wednesday. Rodman, 18, is the daughter of Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman.

The younger Rodman was due to play for Washington State before the last college soccer season was wiped out due to the coronavirus pandemic. She has played on the U.S. national under-20 women's team, and she helped lead that squad to the CONCACAF championship in March 2020.

The NWSL lost a chance to draft a generational talent when Stanford’s Catarina Macario skipped the NWSL draft to sign with Lyon on Tuesday. But Wednesday’s 2021 NWSL Draft will not be without its share of talent based on the list of eligible players the league released on Tuesday.

Catarina Macario, arguably the greatest college soccer player in a generation, will not stick around in the States to become the top overall pick in Wednesday’s NWSL draft. Instead, the Stanford standout — who announced her intentions to forgo her senior season and go pro last week — signed a free-agent contract with Lyon, the European powerhouse that has won seven Champions League titles since 2011. 

Catarina Macario is forgoing her senior year at Stanford to go pro. That sound you hear is Racing Louisville fans celebrating — but they need not get too excited just yet.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Stanford! pic.twitter.com/4gmOu0OPF2

— Catarina Macario (@catarinamacario) January 8, 2021

Six-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Marta and her Orlando Pride teammate Toni Pressley announced their engagement on Monday morning through Instagram.

Marta, who’s the all-time record goalscorer in FIFA Women’s World Cup history with 17 goals, posted a photo along with the caption, “This is another chapter of the story that we are writing together.”