Coming up for water after today's flurry of NBA trades to link my story on how the WNBA salary cap has evolved over time and how NBA and NWSL history put the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement proposal in context: www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

PSA: Taking some time off in February to recharge for the year/season ahead. Posting this in case you haven't already heard from me or you (whoever you are) come looking here. I'll be around intermittently with news but won't be back to the full grind until March 1. Stay warm 🥶✌️

Manchester City defeats Chelsea 5-1 ‼️ behind a hat trick from Kerolin. It's an eye-popping result that obviously doesn't clinch the WSL title, but certainly eliminates any true doubt.

Crystal Dunn has announced her retirement at 33. She won the 2019 World Cup + 2024 Olympics w/ the #USWNT. #NWSL: 3 championships, 3 Shields, 2015 MVP + Golden Boot NCAA title w/UNC, U-20 World Cup title 160 USWNT caps, uniquely oscillated between fullback, midfielder, forward for club/country

Strong analysis as always from @secondball.bsky.social that analyzes the tactics and the team but also steps back to evaluate the wider moment in history. Exactly why you should subscribe to The Equalizer 😉

Gabi Zanotti, near 41, scored the goal to lift Corinthians past Gotham and into the FIFA Women's Champions Cup final. Zanotti played NCAA D2 at Franklin Pierce + amateur USL W-League in the US (we briefly crossed paths) then 15 years of mostly domestic play in Brazil w/o many caps. Incredible story.

CONMEBOL champions Corinthians have defeated Concacaf champions Gotham FC in the semifinals of the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup, a precursor to the Club World Cup. Captain Gabi Zanotti scored the late winner. Arsenal or ASFAR await in the final. Video from X: x.com/DAZNWFootbal...

Come for the Trinity Rodman goal, stay for the Trinity Rodman x Emma Hayes celly 😂 🎥 USWNT

The #USWNT closed out its first set of 2026 friendlies with a dominant 5-0 victory over Chile Tuesday night. Ayo Oke earned her first cap while Croix Bethune, Jameese Joseph and Emily Sams each scored their first senior international goal!

US Soccer might be onto something here. It'll always be case by case, especially with venues—this one required USWNTPA approval—but plenty of markets are yet to ever host a game, and would welcome the opportunity regardless of the opponent and names on (or off) of the US roster.

Since the NWSL hasn't posted on this site...the new ball is basically an asterisk on a soccer ball.

NEWS: #NWSL + Concacaf champions Gotham FC have signed forward Jordynn Dudley, a 2-time NCAA champ + 3-time All-American at Florida State — and a rising #USWNT prospect. Dudley is already with the team in London ahead of FIFA's Champions Cup. www.espn.com/soccer/story...

The official slogan of the 2027 World Cup in Brazil is "Go Epic." Here's the official branding:

#USWNT midfielder Sam Coffey made her debut for Manchester City on Sunday in a 2-1 win over London City. Coffey, after her $875K move from Thorns, came on in the 76th minute. Bunny Shaw scored the winner in the 86th minute. Man City leads the WSL by 9 pts over Chelsea, who've won the last 6 titles.

Starting off 2026 strong with a big W 💪

Trinity Rodman ends the week as #USWNT captain for the day.

The #USWNT announced it will play three friendlies against Japan during the April FIFA Window. The trio of games will kick off April 11 at PayPal Park, then April 14 at Lumen Field for the team's first match in Seattle since 2017, and conclude April 17 at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park.

#NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman on the HIP rule (instead of just a higher cap): "It's our job at the league to create policy that influences behavior. It is also our job at the league to make sure that capital and resources are being deployed strategically to grow the business for the long term."

I spoke with #NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman about recent events around Trinity Rodman, the High Impact Player rule, NWSLPA grievances. Also includes some news on how the HIP $ increases YOY. www.espn.com/soccer/story...

The North Carolina Courage have announced Mak Lind as head coach (decided ~2 months ago as I understand). Lind says he is "obsessed with scoring goals." That's been an ongoing problem to solve for NC. #NWSL season underway. Only the Portland Thorns still need a coach. www.espn.com/soccer/story...

ARSENAL STUN CHELSEA AT STAMFORD BRIDGE! The London Derby resulted in a 2-0 win for the Gunners, marking the first time in 7 years they’ve beaten Chelsea on the road in league play. A BIG statement win 😤 📷: @boodlepim / Izzy Gilligan

I spoke with #NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman about recent events around Trinity Rodman, the High Impact Player rule, NWSLPA grievances. Also includes some news on how the HIP $ increases YOY. www.espn.com/soccer/story...

FIFA announces that the winner of the inaugural Women's Champions Cup will receive a $2.3M prize. 2nd: $1M Semifinal losers: $200K each $100K each to Auckland United FC and Wuhan Chegu Jiangda from early rounds Arsenal, ASFAR, Corinthians and Gotham are in the semis on Wednesday.

Trinity Rodman is staying with the Washington Spirit and in the #NWSL. What's it mean for everyone? How did this all play out? A look back and a look forward on @espn.com:

Roughly sketching out *how* for Spirit w/a $2M+ annual deal for Rodman in the #NWSL's salary cap: Adjusted 2026 cap is expected to be ~$3.7M per league source. Rodman: $1M HIP, then roughly a $1M+ cap hit. The Spirit also have allocation money that they can use to offset the cap for any player.

Multiple sources confirm to ESPN that Rodman's new contract is worth over $2 million annually all-in, a world record. 👇

Spirit owner Michele Kang and president of soccer ops Haley Carter confirm the #NWSL's new High Impact Player rule was utilized for this contract. Carter on whether the NWSLPA's grievance would alter the contract: "A contract's a contract." (In short, no. Grievance(s) are still pending.)

OFFICIAL: #USWNT forward Trinity Rodman has signed a new, 3-year contract with the Washington Spirit. Per Mike Senkowski, Rodman’s agent, her new multi-million dollar contract will make her the highest-paid female soccer player in the world. www.espn.com/soccer/story... #NWSL

Our first Futbol W show of 2026 led off with Ali Krieger interviewing #USWNT head coach Emma Hayes. We tackled the biggest #NWSL + #USWNT topics from the past month (a lot for one hour!). Full show: espn.com/watch/player... Watch Tuesdays, 8:30 pm ET, ESPN+

England's WSL says a Club World Cup in January 2028 could be "catastrophic" timing and I am just here thinking this is every NWSL summer dilemma since 2013. The NWSL finally instilled real summer breaks. They might flip the calendar one day. But nobody will ever agree on a global calendar.

Ex-MLS coach Adrian Heath thought the job interview might lead to the next part of the world football would take him. Instead, it turned into a nightmare. “I started thinking about all the good stuff about my life,” he said. “My wife. My children. My grandkids.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

How to sum up the last two months in the #NWSL? 😂 We are live in 10 minutes 👇

We are SO back! Futbol W returns for 2026 TONIGHT on ESPN+. We're your weekly home for in-studio #NWSL, #USWNT, #WSL, #UWCL news + analysis LIVE from Bristol on Tuesdays (8:30pm ET). Emma Hayes joins as a guest tonight to kick off the new season. LINK: www.espn.com/watch/catalo...

The Concacaf W Champions Cup semifinals and final will be played in Pachuca in May. The first edition's final four (won by Gotham) was played in Monterrey. On the line is continental bragging rights and another berth in FIFA's 2028 Club World Cup (and the scaled-down 2027 champions tournament).

#NWSL NEWS: The Washington Spirit have secured 18-year-old Paraguayan forward Claudia Martínez from Club Olimpia for a $950,000 transfer fee, per source. Fee spread over two years, includes sell-on %. A top-10 global transfer as of now.

Denver Summit FC has signed forward Olivia Thomas, who won a 2024 NCAA title with the University of North Carolina and was named the tournament's most outstanding offensive player. It's a three-year deal with a mutual option for the 2029 #NWSL season. www.denversummitfc.com/news/player-...

London City it is, on a 3.5-year deal... www.londoncitylionesses.com/post/delphin...

The San Diego Wave have mutually terminated the contract of winger Delphine Cascarino amid a recent L’Equipe report that she's joining London City. No transfer fee for a 2025 #NWSL MVP finalist. 🤔 "Due to personal considerations, the next step in my career needs to be closer to home at this time."

Lisa Cole received an important award on Saturday. She's done a lot of work behind the scenes in the women's game and continues to do that now with the #USWNT.

3x NWSL Shields*** (and yes, two Challenge Cups and that 2018 ICC title, which is worth mentioning)

Two different situations, but it sure was a tough week for the very specific subset of #NWSL teams with holding midfielders who are the captains and heart and souls of their teams transferring to clubs in England's WSL.

The North Carolina Courage have transferred captain Denise O'Sullivan to Liverpool. She's NC's all-time leader in appearances, a 2x #NWSL Shield + 2x Championship winner -- an incredible run that started when NC picked her up off waivers after the Houston Dash waived her in 2017.

Portland Thorns don't have a head coach to start preseason. Club spox: “We are taking a thoughtful and intentional approach to our head coach search. This is an important decision for the club and we are committed to conducting a thorough process that aligns with our values and long term vision.”

"It’s hard, if not completely impossible, to spin the deal as a positive for the NWSL, or for the Portland Thorns." But what does Sam Coffey's departure from the Thorns mean for Manchester City — and the #NWSL? @secondball.bsky.social breaks it down. equalizersoccer.com/2026/01/16/w...

The 2026 #NWSL schedule has 57 games on Victory+, which is a new media partner and not a traditional soccer streaming service. It seems the league is anticipating the predictable questions of 'What is this?' and 'How do I watch it?' 👇

However you watch — we’ve got you. Here’s where to catch the 2026 season. 📡📺

The 2026 #NWSL schedule is here. Lots of temp venue news, much of which was out there. KC-Gotham Challenge Cup is now June 26 in Columbus, OH. Gotham has a "TBD" venue on 7/15 + 7/18 game at Icahn in NYC (WC final is 7/19 in NJ). Decision Day is 11/1 on ESPN.

NWSLPA Executive Dr. @meghannburke1 discusses the PA’s decision to file a grievance challenging the new High Impact Player rule, whether the NWSL’s handling of recent issues is eroding trust in leadership, and the ongoing uncertainty over Trinity Rodman’s status. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...

Updated with #NWSL statement that reads, in part: "We disagree with the NWSLPA's assertions challenging the NWSL's ability to implement the HIP Rule. The NWSL has fully complied with the CBA and federal law and we will defend those positions in our collectively-bargained grievance process."

The #NWSL is in its Temporary Venue Era as it tries to plan around and play through part of the 2026 Men's World Cup.