Fun matches this weekend!

Haitian immigrant Daphy Michel was found dead of heart attack at a Pittsburgh bus stop after being released from ICE custody. Daphy had suffered a mental health breakdown as Trump attacked her Haitian community in Charleroi name & died paydayreport.com/after-death-...

The NWSL has an impressive rookie class this year. @stephaniekaloi.bsky.social has the story on how Elise Evans, Jordynn Dudley, and Kat Rader are adjusting to the league: www.theixsports.com/the-ix-socce...

Ahead of a big international window, Naomi Girma spoke with the press about playing in her native Northern California, life in London, and more. Subscribers can catch up at the link🔒 ✍️ @abigailsegel.bsky.social equalizersoccer.com/2026/03/30/n...

Catarina Macario's thoughts on the HIP Rule, the healing powers of California sunshine, and playing for her hometown team ⤵️

A lot has changed since #CANWNT and @nsl.ca star Quinn publicly came out as nonbinary more than five years ago - for better and for worse. www.cbc.ca/sports/olymp...

Sporting bodies like the IOC and World Athletics are reacting to public pressure from a small but very vocal group of people who demand the world be simpler than it actually is. It takes time and resources away from real problems in sports, and it harms women more than it helps them.

I loved this game!!!

Revel in the chaos with me defector.com/the-cascadia...

Savy King made her long-awaited return to the NWSL in Angel City's 4-0 win over the Chicago Stars. Amidst all the emotion of her journey, there's signs that King's return could be the start of a breakthrough season for ACFC. 📝 @abigailsegel.bsky.social www.thecutback.com/p/savy-king-...

A few months ago, NWSLPA Executive Director Meghann Burke told me, “Whatever wins [the WNBPA] are able to secure in their next CBA, we’ll be looking to that when we’re in negotiations next.”

"Our voice collectively is so strong and so influential, and it’s important to use it for good even in a time—and especially in a time—when there’s a lot of hate and vitriol in our environment.” - Tierna Davidson on the USWNT's responsibility to speak out on social issues

Our 2026 NWSL predictions are live at @us.theguardian.com! Full of storylines, superlatives, stars, playoff qualifiers, and award winners. Can Gotham go dynastic? With @ellabrockway.bsky.social, @tomjgarry.bsky.social, and @abigailsegel.bsky.social: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

INTERVIEW: I spoke with Gotham FC captain Tierna Davidson about returning from her second ACL tear in 3 years, if Gotham has what it takes to succeed in both the regular season and the playoffs, and the USWNT's 'strong and influential' voice: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

A few days ago, I wrote about tennis media, aggregators, and politics in sports:

Alyssa Thompson’s goal was sweeter for the struggle. My report from the USWNT’s 1-0 win over Colombia in the final day of the SheBelieves Cup: www.theixsports.com/the-ix-socce...

My report from Canada and Argentina's scoreless draw and odd penalty shootout on the final day of the SheBelieves Cup: www.theixsports.com/the-ix-socce...

NWSL preview time? NWSL preview time! There's been plenty of wheeling and dealing heading into the 2026 season, so I tried to make some sense of it: defector.com/the-nwsl-off...

Soccer racismo sounds the same every time: defector.com/soccer-racis...

very worth reading Georgia Cloepfil on Lindsey Vonn, St. Teresa of Avila, and the interiority of pain

USWNT manager Emma Hayes revealed her roster for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup on Tuesday. Our @abigailsegel.bsky.social broke down the selections by position group and talked through some recent contributors who did not make the cut:

Chromosome testing will take sports back to the dark ages: defector.com/chromosome-t...

We’ve now heard from Croix Bethune and Claire Hutton about their blockbuster moves. @abigailsegel.bsky.social broke down their reaction, motivations and where they might fit in with their new clubs.

Siri, play "Comeback" by Carly Rae Jepsen ft. Bleachers

What we loved about Dan McQuade:

For The IX Soccer, @catabush.com dug into just how much the recent loss of advanced stats on FBref hurts accessibility of women's soccer data. (Turns out, a lot.) Come for the stylish bar graphs, stay for the overview of the new women's soccer data landscape:

Did that one time when Manchester City and Chelsea played each other four times in a row swap their fates, Freaky Friday style? An investigation:

Sixers hold a moment of silence for Dan McQuade.

Dan was the sweetest guy, and a damn good writer and designer. I’ll always appreciate how much thought he put into the cover art for my first big blog as an intern (below). Thinking of his wife and their son. May his memory be a blessing to all who love him.

The signing of Claudia Martínez, the first Paraguayan player in NWSL history, highlights the Washington Spirit's increasingly global roster. @kgier.bsky.social spoke to Gift Monday, Rosemonde Kouassi, Gabby Carle, and more about their team's embrace of international talent:

NEW: Reflections on a soccer Saturday, from a state under siege by the FIFA Peace Prize winner. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Did that one time when Manchester City and Chelsea played each other four times in a row swap their fates, Freaky Friday style? An investigation:

Once the NWSL flew the nest of U.S. Soccer, it had an opportunity to embrace some of the freedom the rest of the world enjoys. Recent events show the league hasn't caught up to the reality that it is in charge of its own destiny. My latest for the Guardian: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Thrilled to be joining @kgier.bsky.social, Julie Schreiber, and the rest of the incredible @theixsports.bsky.social team as an editor of the newly launched The IX Soccer 🎉 📬 Have a women's soccer story you want to write? Email us your pitch at [email protected]

First, stories about NWSL culture, safety, and labor issues: Berman's priorities defector.com/jessica-berm... Heat policy theguardian.com/football/202... Players' unions theguardian.com/football/202... Transphobia & racism defector.com/the-anti-tra...

Now that my final bylines of December have been published, here's a thread of my favorite stories I wrote in 2025. My first months of freelancing full time have been an adventure, to say the least—one that has gone better than I dared to hope when I graduated from college in June. The stories:

Now that my final bylines of December have been published, here's a thread of my favorite stories I wrote in 2025. My first months of freelancing full time have been an adventure, to say the least—one that has gone better than I dared to hope when I graduated from college in June. The stories:

A couple weeks after going to their live podcast taping in San Jose, I spoke with Tobin Heath and Christen Press about their ever-shifting relationship with the public, covering a generation of stars with a quieter approach to politics and labor issues, the NWSL salary cap, and more:

⚽️ Trinity Rodman scored in her return 🏆 The #NWSL Championship served as a fitting conclusion to the league's 12th season 🌎 Summer continental tournaments brought the fireworks Check out the final Part 3️⃣ of The Equalizer's Year in Review!

A couple weeks after going to their live podcast taping in San Jose, I spoke with Tobin Heath and Christen Press about their ever-shifting relationship with the public, covering a generation of stars with a quieter approach to politics and labor issues, the NWSL salary cap, and more:

💰 Atlanta paid BIG for #NWSL Expansion 👏 The legend Lu Barnes announces her retirement 👶 Pregnant players shows NWSL's progress 🇺🇸 16 Players debut for the #USWNT Part 2️⃣ of The Equalizer's Year in Review is here! equalizersoccer.com/2025/12/29/t...

Michelle Agyemang, Vicky López, & Aggie Beever-Jones join the list of HIP-eligible players from ESPN's top players of 2025, released this morning. Their additions only shift the balance further towards Europe. My story for @equalizersoccer.bsky.social has been updated:

99 players qualify for NWSL's new HIP money. Only 16 aren't American or European. I made a list of all the players who are eligible to take advantage of the league's new rule that the NWSLPA seems to hate. (I also made a list of players who don't qualify, but probably, definitely should):

reposting this for no reason at all

Everyone who’s eligible should throw their hat into the ring! Coolest job in the world

Gotham smashed the Washington Spirit's hopes and won their second NWSL championship in three years, as questions about the league's future loom large. My dispatch from San Jose, where I saw the human drama of the final up close:

Gotham smashed the Washington Spirit's hopes and won their second NWSL championship in three years, as questions about the league's future loom large. My dispatch from San Jose, where I saw the human drama of the final up close:

On Media Day, I spoke to former Pitt Panthers Sarah Schupansky and Deborah Abiodun, whose teams face each other in the NWSL final tomorrow. The rookies talked about how proud they are of each other, and how grateful they are for their time in Pittsburgh:

Washington Spirit players were upbeat at their last training before the final. There was almost as much stretching as there was dancing 🎶