Women's Soccer

Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, will be remembered as a dark, devastating day for women’s soccer in the U.S.

LISBON - Leaving her homeland Afghanistan was painful, says 15-year-old Sarah. But now safely in Portugal, she hopes to pursue her dream of playing soccer professionally — and perhaps meeting her idol, star striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sarah was one of several players from Afghanistan's national female youth soccer squad who fled their country in fear after the Taliban hardline Islamist movement seized power in August. Portugal has granted asylum to the young footballers.

The record for fastest goal in college soccer history has been broken, and what a hit it was. Jelena Sever, a junior midfielder for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers, ripped a shot straight from the opening whistle and into the back of the net in a mere 3.2 seconds, setting the Division I record for fastest goal in college soccer history on Saturday. 

Fastest Goal In College Soccer History (NCAA Division I)

This is what Reign fans were hoping for when Olympique Lyonnais became the NWSL club’s majority owner last year. This is what fans of all the other NWSL teams were afraid of when one of the league’s best-supported clubs joined together with the most dominant force in European women’s football.

OL Reign’s Lyon connection paid massive dividends in a 3-0 win over the Orlando Pride on Sunday. Two Lyon stars linked up for one of the prettiest goals you’ll see all year, an intricate piece of passing that highlighted the quality of Europe’s best footballers.

LONDON - Kim Little scored twice for Arsenal as they trounced an injury-depleted Manchester City 5-0 on Sunday with a classic counter-attacking display to climb to the top of the Women's Super League (WSL).

The Portland Thorns have already won two trophies this year and sit six points clear atop the NWSL standings. They are on fire on the pitch. Unfortunately, they’re catching fire off the pitch too.

The bus carrying Thorns players and staff while on a road trip to play the Chicago Red Stars caught fire on Thursday evening. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Hi everyone!

There was some good news and some bad news from UEFA on Thursday. The good: European football’s governing body announced it will double the prize money available for the 2022 Women’s Euros. The bad: The Women’s Euro prize money is a miniscule fraction of the men’s Euro prize money.

I finally got around to watching the “LFG” documentary on the USWNT’s fight for equal pay earlier this week. My delay was mostly justified, as there wasn’t really any new information for anyone who has been paying attention to the saga over the last five years, but it was a good opportunity to see some of the world’s best footballers off the pitch and a strong reminder of the ongoing struggles women’s soccer players face.