I’m off today due to the quarterfinals but reading the quotes with great interest. My polite take is: promising concept with a Peak NWSL Approach.

my good friend jess needs some help with the ongoing complications from graft-vs-host disease, after her bone marrow transplant for acute myeloid leukemia she is a cool kid who enjoys soccer and books and f1 and lots of other cool things if you're able, her gfm is here: gofund.me/7acdc94a3

It's the Full Time playoff preview extravaganza, with @theolloydhughes.bsky.social leading me and @tamerra-griffin.bsky.social through the NWSL bracket... and bringing out our best elaborate food metaphors. 🍏 apple.co/4qOMH6k

"Reasonable people can disagree on this topic, but there’s no need to go to bullying or name calling because it doesn’t set a good example for anyone," Elizabeth Eddy says on Fox News this morning, after a week of inciting targeted transphobic and racist attacks on fellow NWSL players.

Calling it with 69% of the votes in: very nice.

the thing is… there’s a really uncharitable way to read this statement despite I’m sure the intent being the opposite.

a reminder of where this began ~11 months ago. the bad faith attacks and outside agitators (and inside!) are here for real. what happens next? www.nytimes.com/athletic/596...

A statement from the National Women's Soccer League.

and oh, look, another reason why men should probably stop embracing "girl dad" as it gets weaponized yet again

on the latest grifter/outside agitator to enter the nwsl space:

NWSL has been standing still and hoping no one notices, and in all likelihood a Black player who stood up for others — in the absence of proper moral leadership from the league — is going to have the right-wing rage machine aimed directly at her. And everyone saw it coming.

my good friend jess needs some help with the ongoing complications from graft-vs-host disease, after her bone marrow transplant for acute myeloid leukemia she is a cool kid who enjoys soccer and books and f1 and lots of other cool things if you're able, her gfm is here: gofund.me/7acdc94a3

The twist of Racing finishing seventh instead of eighth is actually a delightful one as they finally break the ninth place streak. I’m sure they also don’t mind avoiding the Current at home for the quarterfinals.

Manaka Matsukubo intercepts and sends it soaring over the keeper to double NC's lead 🚀

Manaka isn’t freaking real

nwsl decision day vibes 🥴

Did not expect one of the best paragraphs I’d read about baseball would come from an Irish newspaper www.irishexaminer.com/sport-column...

I did so much worrying about the time change for the baby that I made the ultimate mistake: forgetting the dog would be waking me up for food at 4 am.

No Temwa this weekend for the Current. Vlatko says she's day to day and unsure if she'll be ready for playoffs. But everyone else is healthy and good to go. #KCBaby

Imagine being such a loser you make an account on Bluesky to attack a single player with transphobic arguments!

perfect timing for back to back NWSL decision day games on espn 🙃

We're also joined on the pod by @meglinehan.com of The Athletic to discuss all things #NWSL. APPLE: tinyurl.com/5y7hmt8e SPOTIFY: tinyurl.com/yc6bkeht YOUTUBE: youtu.be/kJll8sbIgnA

Leadership and moral clarity.

My new Five Asides post drops soon, and won't hit social until morning. You can have it delivered to your inbox tonight by subscribing (for free!) here: jeffrueter.substack.com

CPKC stadium just crushed it when she entered, what a moment

that chant for LaBonta is so good lmao

Rose Lavelle this is butta

what a freaking hit on the half volley

So many runners in the box, you love to see it.

The official trailer for “Today You’re With Us” a new short film by Duane Peterson III & Patrick McCormack documenting the 24 hours leading up to the 2025 USL League Two Final in Burlington, VT. Vermont Green FC will host a free, ticketed screening & food drive on November 10. RSVP on our website.

Rose Lavelle as token old lady is so wild to me, a human at her first cap.

the gals in kc ✨ USWNT x Home Depot

Do you ever kinda curse out another writer bc a feature is so good and has so many good fkn sentences that you wish you could have written? Me with @bfquinn.bsky.social over this piece. www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

1/ In late October, Middlebury College announced that Lia Smith, a 21-year-old student and diver, had taken her own life. She was also a trans athlete in a country that often treats transgender participation in sports as a political controversy. 🧵

Finally saw these and I am cackling, always a good sign when players are roasting their head coach.

there is no gif that can convey the excitement i felt when i saw mirin pop up in slack

🎯🎯🎯

What a morning of posts on this here website to wake up to.

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 one true oped www.news-leader.com/story/opinio...

sam coffey can never develop a real goal celebration, just always has to be delightfully surprised shrug

That was very close and you can hear Lawson's reaction

olivia moultrie wow but that backheel assist from shaw woweeeeeeeeee

The USA scoring in the first minute against Portugal is the most dangerous scoreline in football

spicy game, lfg

And that one was onside!

“Just imagine Brazil winning the World Cup at home” me to my wife (not a soccer watcher) for the past 10 minutes

now that’s an airplane window view

"Ultimately tonight was just not acceptable, it was not our standard, I think we were really individual ... I don't think we did a good enough job honoring [wearing the crest] tonight" - Sam Coffey with an honest self assessment postgame.

Summer vacation hangover vibes tonight in basically all the ways.