USWNT

The work never ends when you’re a women’s footballer, as the 2019 USWNT victory tour makes abundantly clear. 

After a 10-match pre-World Cup schedule and seven grueling games at the Women’s World Cup in France, the USWNT will be trotted out five more times in 2019. U.S. Soccer has announced all five dates on a moneymaking USWNT victory tour, including stops in Philadelphia, St. Paul, Minnesota, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Cincinatti, Ohio. 

The celebration continues

Jill Ellis announced on Monday that she'll be stepping down as head coach of the USWNT at the end of the victory tour in October, and rumors of potential replacements have already begun to swirl.

As was anticipated following the success of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a special FIFA Council vote has unanimously approved the expansion of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to a 32-team field. 

USWNT coach Jill Ellis will step down from her role following the U.S. Victory Tour that ends in October. She led the U.S. to two consecutive Women's World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, the first coach in history to do so.

For everything she has done and everything she has meant to this program we say, THANK YOU

This week, USWNT star and World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe inked a book deal with Penguin Publishing.

Megan Rapinoe, a captain of the United States women’s soccer team, has scored a book deal. “I hope this book will inspire people to find what they can do, and in turn inspire other people around them to do the same,” she said. https://t.co/zlZY2r6v3k

The North Carolina Courage kept pace with the league-leading Portland Thorns on Saturday after recording an impressive 2-1 road victory over the Utah Royals at Rio Tinto Stadium. 

An announced crowd of 10,545 was on its feet in the 13th minute following a sensational opener from World Cup-winner Christen Press. The 30-year-old attacker now has two goals in two games since returning from France, including a strike last week that was voted the NWSL’s Goal of the Week.

The USWNT will begin mediation soon with the U.S. Soccer Federation regarding the team’s equal pay lawsuit. Hope Solo has filed a motion to the court that is managing the lawsuit requesting to join in on and aid in the mediation process, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Last night in Bridgeview, Illinois, a crowd of 17,388 turned up at SeatGeek Stadium to watch the Chicago Red Stars defeat the North Carolina Courage 2-1 in NWSL play. For a bit of perspective, the Chicago Fire has averaged a gate of 11,209 throughout the 2019 MLS season. According to ESPN’s Sarah Spain, it was the first-ever sellout for a Chicago women’s professional soccer team.

Before, during and after the USWNT’s run to its fourth Women’s World Cup title this summer, the American players have been outspoken about their social activism. 

The undeniable leader of those efforts has been Megan Rapinoe, who has drawn considerable ire (but equal parts praise) from many across the globe for speaking up.

Rapinoe appears to be inspiring the next generation of USWNT leaders, her younger U.S. teammates.