The NWSL is on a hiatus while various levels of international friendlies and tournaments take place. With a large portion of the NWSL’s talent in camp with their national teams, the domestic league has a chance to rest and assess the first third of the year. Two sides currently sitting outside of the playoff positions decided to make coaching shifts.
Seattle Reign Add NWSL And USWNT Experience
Something rare came to light when the 40-man preliminary Gold Cup roster and the 21-woman friendly roster were released for the USMNT and USWNT this past week. No, it wasn’t the inclusion of NYCFC’s Tommy McNamara or the absence of Ali Krieger (although yes, those were surprises). Sydney Leroux Dwyer and Dom Dwyer, unstoppable goal-bangers for Kansas City’s NWSL and MLS teams, both got the nod.
Week eight in the NWSL saw the North Carolina Courage continue their run at the top of the table with a 2-0 victory over FC Kansas City. The Washington Spirit won the table’s toilet bowl against Houston 2-0, lifting them into ninth place. On Sunday, the Seattle Reign couldn’t break down the Chicago Red Stars, who held on for a 1-0 victory and their third straight win.
If all goes according to plan, Saturday will have marked the dawn of a new era in women's professional soccer in the United States. The Washington Spirit defeated the Houston Dash, 2-0, and one of the goals came courtesy of ultra-talented 19-year-old Mallory Pugh.
Last week’s NWSL results shortened the gap among the top six teams. The Courage still lead the league, but 6th place FC Kansas City is only four points back. The statement result from week seven was Chicago’s 3-2 victory over the NC Courage. The Red Stars have now won three of their last four and are up into second place in the table.
Meanwhile, the Washington Spirit continue to languish at the bottom of the table, after having made the 2016 NWSL Final. They’ve lost their last three games, and take on fellow bottom table side Houston Dash on Saturday.
FC Kansas City and Sydney Leroux hadn’t generated much on the attacking end entering Saturday’s match against the Washington Spirit, but a 3-2 victory for Leroux’s side - with the USWNT star scoring a brace - was the perfect remedy before a string of tough matches against the likes of North Carolina, Seattle and Portland.
Sydney Leroux made her first competitive appearance since June 30, 2015, and she opened the scoring for FC Kansas City against Boston. Leroux and husband Dom Dwyer, who plays for Sporting Kansas City, announced that they were expecting their first child back in January of 2016 and that Leroux would miss the 2016 NWSL as a result.
Cassius Cruz Dwyer was born on September 10, 2016, and Leroux made her highly anticipated FC Kansas City debut on Saturday and provided a great finish after a sensational pass from Becky Sauerbrunn.
Steph Catley has good career judgment. Right now, she's a defender for the Orlando Pride. If she wasn't, though, she says she'd be a Corgi breeder.
If you weren't a soccer player what would you be? @stephcatley: "I think I would be a Corgi breeder."
"They're like mythical animals." pic.twitter.com/3ojDEihFfI
Marta, the five-time FIFA World Player of the Year, has joined the Orlando Pride on a two-year contract with an option for a third year. With the possibility of Alex Morgan’s short-term loan deal at Lyon running through June (Lyon will have to navigate a Champions League semifinal against Carli Lloyd’s Manchester City to make that a reality) the Orlando Pride have moved quickly to add more star power.
U.S. Soccer and the U.S. women’s national team have come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement after months of uncertainty and advocacy. The five-year deal will cover both the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2020 Olympics.
U.S. Soccer and the USWNT Players Association ratify collective bargaining agreement through 2021.