#NWSL FT: Boston 1, Seattle 2 The Reign snapped a 500-plus-minute scoring drought and added a second goal. Aïssata Traoré got one back for Boston in stoppage time, but the Reign take 3 pts. in the first Rhode Island game, and they jump above the playoff line for now.

🚨 The Seattle Reign have scored a goal. 🚨 Their first goal in 511 minutes -- ending a drought of over five full matches. Sofia Huerta buries the kick from the penalty spot. #NWSL

Mallory Swanson is back, which is amazing news after she gave birth in November. It's big news for the #USWNT a year from a World Cup. It's also some silver lining for a last-place Chicago Stars team. Now, what's the plan to build around her? She should not be asked to do it all (again). #NWSL

One to watch Saturday: OL Lyonnes is in the #UWCL final and the Washington Spirit in the Concacaf final. Both owned by Michele Kang. Each would qualify for 2027 FIFA Champions Cup + 2028 Club World Cup wins. FIFA regulations for 2026 edition didn't allow two clubs with same owner to each compete.

Lately in #NWSL I kept thinking, 'That fixture again?' By the summer break, 11 season series (home+away) will have been completed with less than half the season played. Zero same time last year. Another scheduling quirk w/ Men's World Cup venue challenges. (h/t @keepernotes.bsky.social w/research!)

NEWS: Tim Bezbatchenko has been named the President of Global Soccer for Haslam Sports Group. He will oversee "all sporting elements" of MLS' Crew, the 2028 #NWSL expansion team and "HSG's future investments." He will "spearhead" staff and roster construction for #NWSL team.

#NWSL DisCo news: Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina has been handed an additional one-match suspension for her hair-pull red card. Boston Legacy FC defender Bianca St-Georges has been issued an additional two matches for her high studs-up tackle red card (her second of the season).

A Gotham FC spokesperson says Berger been discharged from the hospital in Pachuca. Awaiting further updates on the nature of the injury. #NWSL

Will Barcelona or OL Lyonnes win the UEFA Women's Champions League final on Saturday? ESPN analyst Natalia Astrain brings her UEFA *AND* USSF PRO license knowledge to preview the game on Futbol W. #UWCL

Statement from Gotham FC on Ann-Katrin Berger: "Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger suffered an abdomen injury during last night’s Concacaf W Champions Cup semifinal. She is under evaluation and receiving care from medical professionals and team physicians in Mexico."

If Emma Hayes had to name her #USWNT World Cup roster TODAY, what would it look like? That's (again) the premise of our Big Board, which forces us to replicate decisions around injuries, recent returns, fitness concerns and form. It'll look different in a year. And she will have to factor the above.

From Tuesday's Futbol W (before Wednesday matches): Is San Diego the best team in the #NWSL? With only 41% possession in a win over fellow contender Washington Spirit, the Wave showed multi-dimensional solutions that they lacked last year.

Club America, recently crowned champions of Mexico, crushed reigning Concacaf + #NWSL champs Gotham in Wednesday's semifinal. Of wider concern for Gotham is that Ann-Katrin Berger went to the hospital with an unspecified injury. It's America vs. Washington Spirit in Saturday's Concacaf final.

FT: Pachuca 0, Washington Spirit 1 Claudia Martínez comes off the bench to score the lone goal and continue her strong start for the Spirit. Washington is headed to Saturday's Concacaf W Champions Cup final, representing the #NWSL vs. Liga MX Femenil's Club America.

Pachuca just lived three or four lives in first-half stoppage time. Kouassi touches just too wide for an open net after having a close-range shot saved, Rodman off the post. Spirit and Pachuca are scoreless at the half.

QUE GOLAZO M.A. Vignola!

#NWSL FT: Houston 2, San Diego 2 Dash end a 3-game skid, still winless in six. Wave equalized within the 13 minutes of stoppage time through Trinity Byars, who had a red card rescinded by VAR. Byars could've/should've had the winner a few minutes later, too.

Campbell's head is wrapped up and she walks to the cart under her own power, with some smiles and high fives to teammates, before being driven off the field. VAR steps in and Byars is back on the field, no red card. Accidental contact.

Back in #NWSL action, Houston has equalized vs Wave and Jane Campbell has significant blood coming out of her head after taking a knee to the face from Trinity Byars. Campbell is completely surrounded by stadium workers as medics tend to her. Byars has been sent off. Looked accidental.

‼️FT: Club America 4, Gotham 1 Scarlett Camberos hat trick. Geyse with three assists. Recently crowned Mexico champions America steamroll the reigning #NWSL and Concacaf champs in this year's semifinal. There will be a new Concacaf champ. A night to forget for Gotham.

No VAR in a Concacaf competition...What could possibly go wrong? (To be clear this game was over before that moment. Gotham was really poor defensively.)

Gotham will be seeing Geyse in their nightmares. Three assists on the night. Club America leads Gotham 3-1 with 20 minutes to play in this Concacaf semifinal.

Scarlett Camberos has a brace, Geyse has another assist, and Gotham has been getting exposed in transition by Club America. Geyse helped Gotham defeat America in last year's semifinal.

WELP, Esther bags an equalizer three minutes into the second half, with Shelby Hogan now in goal for Gotham. Spectacular first-time through ball from Jaedyn Shaw. 1-1.

Dudinha keeps Dudinha-ing, Dash keep Dashing so far. Cool and casual finish from one of the best players in the #NWSL thus far this season.

Nightmarish first half for reigning Concacaf champs Gotham in the semifinals of this edition. Club America leads 1-0 thanks to Scarlett Camberos (Geyse assist). The half ends with Gotham exposed looking for an equalizer, America counters, and GK Ann-Katrin Berger gets hurt and is stretchered off.

NEWS: Spokane Zephyr FC is folding after two seasons in the USL Super League. Ownership informed players on Monday, per multiple sources. Zephyr was the league's only team in the Pacific Time Zone. A statement from a USL spokesperson:

Here's Tuesday's Futbol W episode in podcast format, looking at the biggest #NWSL trends and previewing both the #UWCL final and the Concacaf W Champions Cup semis/final:

Concacaf W Champions Cup finals week. It will be the last final for ~18 months as the competition resets. I've have convos across the industry: The only certainty is that there is NO '26-27 edition; all shifts to late 2027. Now, who qualifies since there was an edition scrapped? Still TBD. (1/3)

The Utah Royals? The UTAH ROYALS! How are they in second place in the #NWSL? Collective attacking cohesion and solid defending, among a few things. To the telestrator! Watch Futbol W every Tuesday at 1 pm ET on ESPN+: www.espn.com/watch/catalo...

Futbol W is LIVE at 1 pm ET on ESPN+! We're talking all things #NWSL and #UWCL. To the tactical touchscreen, Batman! Tune in 👇 www.espn.com/watch/catalo...

San Diego Wave coach Jonas Eidevall said there are no updates or details to share right now on a timeline for a potential debut for Catarina Macario, who signed in March. Macario has been listed as out with a heel injury since arriving in San Diego. #NWSL #USWNT

San Diego Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall on the team's play thus far (1st in #NWSL): Happy with progress + culture. At 1/3 mark: "Where is good enough? You never know. It's the same thing as when we prepare for a game, to say that the price is always paid in advance, but you never know how much."

Mexican sports papers this morning celebrating Club America's Liga MX Femenil title

My latest, for ESPN: #NWSL Week 8 Power Rankings! The Spirit top this week's rankings, because a game's scoreline shouldn't (always!) dictate how we think about team performance 👀 How do these rankings vibe with yours? www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Yet again, and one-third of the way through the #NWSL season now: ladies and gentleman, the *second-place* Utah Royals.

Club America wins 3-0 at home in Leg 2 to defeat Monterrey 3-1 on aggregate and win the Liga MX Femenil Clausura title. Incredible crowd and energy -- the benefits of a final in front of home fans.

Mallory Swanson returned to the field on Saturday for the first time in 18 months: "I'm such a feeler, so every opportunity that I get, just continuing to feel better and better, and just continuing the progression and continuing to try and make an impact on the field. Just enjoying the journey."

After an #NWSL record 63,004 at Mile High, Denver Summit has gone back-to-back announced sellouts at DSG of ~17,000. NC Courage also just had back-to-back sellouts of ~10,000 — marked, needed progress after years of trying to grow crowds in Cary. (Still need long-term facility upgrades.)

#NWSL FT: Denver 3, Orlando 1 First home win in Denver's history. Janine Sonis scores a 2nd straight brace (as fullback!). Angelina was sent off in the 63rd minute for a hair pull (Pride down 2-0 at time). Barbra Banda scores a league-leading 9th goal of the season.

Mallory Swanson returned to the field on Saturday for the first time in 18 months: "I'm such a feeler, so every opportunity that I get, just continuing to feel better and better, and just continuing the progression and continuing to try and make an impact on the field. Just enjoying the journey."

My word, we have ANOTHER hair-pulling red card in the #NWSL this season. Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina is sent off in the 63rd minute after video review for pulling Delanie Sheehan's hair.

Drama on the final day of the USL Super League regular season: Lexington scores a 90th minute PK to beat Tampa Bay (last year's champ), and then Sporting Jax loses in Carolina... so Lexington wins the Shield on goal difference over Sporting Jax. And last year, Lexington finished last. 🤯

Denver will be very happy with that first half...but they've said that a few times before and dropped points. #NWSL

Chicago Stars head coach Martin Sjögren says he doesn't have full clarity on Alyssa Naeher's injury yet postgame, but he believes it is hamstring related. Severity of it/details still unclear. #NWSL

#NWSL FT: NC Courage 4, Chicago 0 Manaka and Ashley Sanchez on another level 📈 Great combination play and individual technique. All 4 goals in 2nd half. Mallory Swanson returned for the Stars, which is a silver lining. Chicago's goal difference is now -18 after 10 games📉

And Mallory Swanson is officially back on the field, for the first time in 18 months. She comes on for Chicago (trailing North Carolina 3-0) in the 76th minute. #NWSL #USWNT

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has left the game for the Chicago Stars in the 21st minute due to injury. Unclear what exactly as she walked off. She initially had her hands on her right hamstring. Halle Mackiewicz comes on in her place. Goalkeeper Katie Atkinson is already out with a thigh injury. #NWSL

#NWSL FT: San Diego 2, Washington 1 Kimmi Ascanio scores a late winner to send the Wave to the top of the table in an early Shield contender matchup. It's the Spirit's first loss since opening day, ending a five-game winning streak. Wave had a season-low 42% possession, won on a set piece.

#NWSL FT: Seattle 0, Gotham 2 The Reign have not scored a goal in their last five full matches -- 500 minutes total (plus all that stoppage time, of course) without scoring. Dire.