A rule change on the NWSL salary cap is imminent from the NWSL board of governors that could help pay top players like Trinity Rodman. No new contract yet though — and Congress has taken interest, too 👀 New at @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

Big news out of Chicago this morning: Alyssa Naeher has re-signed with the Stars through 2026. In announcing the move, she says, "I feel like I still have more to give." www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...

The NWSLPA has filed a grievance with the NWSL on behalf of Trinity Rodman, arguing the league violated at least five different sections of the current collective bargaining agreement when it vetoed a proposed four-year, multi-million dollar deal between Rodman and the Washington Spirit.

NEW: Players union says NWSL engaged in ‘flagrant’ violation of Trinity Rodman’s free agent rights www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...

"It's just come too soon, to be honest." Emma Hayes on why Trinity Rodman didn't make this #USWNT roster, in response to @melanieanzidei.bsky.social's question:

A news conference started well for Gianni Infantino. Then Trump reiterated threats to relocate World Cup games from LA and Seattle. And then the likely recipient of FIFA’s peace prize didn’t rule out launching strikes on World Cup co hosts Mexico. www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

BREAKING: MLS owners officially voted to flip to a "summer-spring" format beginning in mid-July and running through the end of May. Will start in 2027. Also voted on the regular season format. Details and quotes here from Palm Beach. www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Sources: MLS owners are expected to vote on flipping to fall-spring calendar at Thursday's BOG meeting. Could happen as soon as 2027. Also: Changes to competition format expected too, including single league table + divisions. w/ @paultenorio.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

The NWSL's silence on its gender eligibility approach has invited harassment of players — and now, an op-ed from a current player calling for "a clear standard" to address a problem that doesn't exist. Statements from NWSL, NWSLPA & thoughts from me @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

The United States Soccer Federation formally shared its plans to co-host the 2031 women’s World Cup with Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica, the federation announced on Monday. ✍️ @melanieanzidei.bsky.social & @henrybushnell.bsky.social

The beginning, the middle, the end. Christen Press has announced her retirement. The USWNT star reflects on her career with three letters addressed to Little Christen, football and fans. Read them exclusively at The Athletic ⤵️ http://dlvr.it/TNhSW5

🌎 Happy Hispanic heritage month — this week’s Full Time proper especial sees the brilliant @melanieanzidei.bsky.social sit down with Rocky Rodriguez, Aisha Solorzano + Reyna Reyes to talk culture, footy and family! #NWSL 🇨🇷 🇬🇹 🇲🇽 Listen now ⤵️ podfollow.com/full-time-wi...

Inside the deal of Alyssa Thompson's move from Angel City to Chelsea. With @melanieanzidei.bsky.social &@tamerra-griffin.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

EXCLUSIVE: New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is calling on FIFA to end dynamic pricing on World Cup tickets. His petition “Game Over Greed” also demands that FIFA reinstates a cap on ticket resales and sets aside 15 percent of tickets for local residents at a discount.

The North Carolina Courage have agreed to trade U.S. midfielder Jaedyn Shaw to NJ/NY Gotham FC for a record $1.25 million transfer fee. This more than doubles the previous intra-league record set last month. ✍️ @melanieanzidei.bsky.social

NEWS: Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Angel City to sign United States international Alyssa Thompson, sources tell The Athletic. The Women's Super League club will pay just under £1 million for Thompson, who has already agreed a five-year contract. www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman threatened to fine the Kansas City Current after a disagreement over extreme heat procedures that delayed a match against Orlando Pride roughly three and a half hours, sources told The Athletic.

Full Time pod goes full Concacaf this week, diving into the past, present + future of the W Champions Cup. Chat with Concacaf general secretary Philippe Moggio, and the crew @jilliansakovits.bsky.social + @tamerra-griffin.bsky.social + @melanieanzidei.bsky.social podfollow.com/full-time-wi...

The Orlando Pride are finalising a deal to sign Mexican international Lizbeth Ovalle from Tigres in a deal that would represent a world-record transfer fee in women’s soccer. More from @tamerra-griffin.bsky.social & @melanieanzidei.bsky.social ⤵️

NEW: La Liga want to play Villarreal v Barcelona in Miami in December. To be discussed at Spanish FA meeting on Monday. US Soccer will not oppose following settlement with (promoter) Relevent this year. www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

NEW: Ally Sentnor is joining the Kansas City Current, sources tell @meganferinga.bsky.social, @meglinehan.com and me. Unclear what Utah Royals are getting in return. The reigning USWNT Young Player of the Year joins the Shield frontrunner. Get your popcorn ready. www.nytimes.com/athletic/653...

The NWSL returns after a month-long pause. But the cramped international calendar raises questions about players’ time off. Only six days ago, Jess Carter was playing in the Euro 2025 final. Now she is back with her team. Are soccer players getting enough rest? 📝 @melanieanzidei.bsky.social

Trinity Rodman spoke with press at Spirit training! Talked about her recovery, said Spirit trusted her a lot in process, & she’s been pain-free for a couple months. Said she had been “trying to gaslight herself” about the pain but now recognizes the difference. (Q via @jasondcsoccer.bsky.social)

the absence of VAR in this group stage has been so apparent and so disappointing

Brazil’s Lorena is shown a red card for a hand ball outside the box in the 24th minute! Brazil, who already qualified for semis, are now playing without their starting keeper and with only 10 players against Colombia, a favorite to dethrone the 8-time champions. What a time. #CopaAmericaFemenina

NEWS: MLS suspends Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for Saturday's match against FC Cincinnati after they skipped All-Star Game, enforcing rule that players must take part. I spoke with commissioner Don Garber about what he called a "very difficult decision." www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

Yasmim!!! The 28-year-old has scored a brace for Brazil with two nearly identical left-footed free kicks, 12 minutes apart ⚡️⚡️

It’s been 173 days since the NWSL awarded its 16th expansion club to Denver. Now that team has its name: Denver Summit FC. More on the reveal ⤵️ http://dlvr.it/TM3G4P

Age is but a number. Italy relied on a mix of youth and experience to hold off Norway to advance on Wednesday to their first semi-final appearance since 1997. More from @tamerra-griffin.bsky.social ⬇️ 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...

“It’s a strange thing to see a little girl score an overhead kick, let’s say she was already famous back in the day.” @theathleticfc.bsky.social spoke to Cristiana Girelli and her sister Nicole in 2022. Read their story here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/340...

Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump were united in their praise for the Club World Cup. But from storm delays to intense heat, and dynamic pricing to empty stadiums, there were plenty of concerns. With the World Cup just a year away, @adamcrafton.bsky.social looks at what FIFA can learn.

Excl: All agreements signed between Liverpool and Arsenal for world record £1.1m transfer of Canada forward Olivia Smith. Personal terms agreed. Deal set to be announced imminently. History in the making. Full story @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

A Club World Cup final between PSG & Chelsea seems to encapsulate the state of the game in 2025: a club owned by a Qatari sovereign wealth fund facing a club owned primarily by an American private equity firm. 📝 @OliverKay 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...

Eagle-eyed fans at MetLife Stadium may have noticed a stage being built in the sky. Is this where either Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain will be crowned champions? Or is this where the tournament’s halftime show will take place? Turns out, it’s the latter, as FIFA confirmed to The Athletic.

The first goal of Copa America comes from Uruguay, and what a stunning delivery it was by Belén Aquino! What a moment for her, and what a moment for this national team. #CopaAmerica

Enzo Fernandez has joined the voices who have called on FIFA to consider changes ahead of next summer’s men’s World Cup that will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. @melanieanzidei.bsky.social

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has said the heat during Club World Cup matches has been “very dangerous” to play in. Fernandez has described feeling dizzy in matches due to the heat and has outlined how it has a detrimental impact on the standard of matches.

Happy Copa America day to all who celebrate! The women's edition kicks off today in Quito, Ecuador, with the host nation taking on Uruguay at 8pm ET. There's so much to discuss, but here's The Athletic's extensive guide to get you started. www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...

“I thought I was literally going to be peeled off the field.” Tobin Heath has officially called it on her pro career, and I spoke with her on the emotions, the memories, and the worlds ahead to build. @theathletic.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...

NEW: On Saturday, the Uruguayan women's national team refused to train in protest for better conditions ahead of Copa America. Their union now tells me players have resumed training, and on Tuesday were on their way to Ecuador after a reaching a resolution with AUF. www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...

FIFA’s close relationship with Donald Trump is about to become even closer as the U.S. president is set to become its landlord, with world football’s governing body opening a New York office in Trump Tower. 📝 @mjslater.bsky.social

“Keep going, keep walking" Hard Rock Stadium in Miami has become a pedestrian and fan clusterf***. “I’ll never go to another game, especially not here." www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...

BREAKING: The WNBA announced it is adding three more expansion teams in the coming years that will be located in Cleveland, Philadelphia and Detroit.

Chelsea’s Club World Cup game against Benfica is the latest match at the tournament to be delayed by bad weather. Severe weather is par for the course for Americans during the summer months and will likely mirror what we’ll see at the men’s World Cup in 2026. @melanieanzidei.bsky.social

NEW: Gianni Infantino says soccer has the potential to soon be the “No. 1 sport here in America,” also calling for the incorporation of a promotion & relegation model. "I can tell you why (it'll be No. 1) — because now I’m here.” With @melanieanzidei.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Rose Lavelle's back, and FOUR new debuts with the break for the European players (minus Girma). @melanieanzidei.bsky.social has the roster at @theathletic.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Sabrina Ionescu's first language is Romanian. As a middle schooler, she scooped food onto the trays of her fellow students. My latest on the Liberty star guard. How her Romanian roots influence all that she does, and the global mark she's left: www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Exclusive FIFA has decided not to show videos or signage which explicitly mention challenging racism or discrimination in US Club World Cup venues FIFA point to statutes - "politically neutral" - when asked if US political climate played part in decision www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

The head coaches of both FC Porto and Palmeiras, as well as the Brazilian wonderkid Estevao, criticised the turf at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey following the draw between the two teams in the Club World Cup. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...

Definitely a men's sports centric read but many of the same fundamental issues are at play in women's sports, including the split of media rights and especially private equity investment (I'd argue more concerning on the women's side bc it's far earlier in a league's lifespan).