FA WSL

The Washington Spirit will host English soccer powers Arsenal and Chelsea F.C. for a pair of international friendlies in August.

The club announced the inaugural Washington Spirit International Friendlies on Monday.

Washington Spirit friendlies announced

Arsenal and Chelsea are set to compete in the Washington Spirit International Friendlies at Audi Field this August!

Arsenal makes their USA debut facing Washington Spirit on August 18th and Chelsea on August 25th.

MANCHESTER — Chelsea coach Emma Hayes has always done things her own way, but not even she could have predicted how her side would come back in her final game in charge to snatch the Women's Super League title that she had conceded two weeks ago.

After a glittering 12 years in charge, Hayes, who is leaving to take over the U.S. women's national team, looked set to depart without winning a trophy in her final season before a remarkable turnaround brought her seventh WSL crown.

Emma Hayes league title

Chelsea and United States women’s national team forward Catarina Macario returned from an ACL injury this month and has already bagged two goals and an assist for her club.

Macario, who had been out injured since summer 2022, made her long-awaited Chelsea debut on March 3 in the FA Women’s Super League, scoring a late goal. She then found the back of the net again with the winner vs. Everton on March 10.

On Tuesday she provided her first assist for her new club as Chelsea defeated Ajax 3-0 in the Women’s Champions League.

Player-to-player relationships within the same squad are inappropriate and can lead to significant challenges for managers, Chelsea coach Emma Hayes said.

Reports in British media this week said Leicester coach Willie Kirk is under investigation by the club amid allegations of a player-coach relationship.

Asked about the need to safeguard players, Hayes told reporters: "Player-coach relationships - they're inappropriate, player-to-player relationships are inappropriate."

Emma Hayes relationships quote

Chelsea forward Sam Kerr has the Women's Super League club's "full support", manager Emma Hayes said with the Australia captain set to face trial in the UK having been accused of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer last year.

Kerr was charged on Jan. 21, almost a year after the incident in London was alleged to have occurred. The 30-year-old pleaded not guilty via video link at Kingston Crown Court on Monday.

MELBOURNE — Australia captain Sam Kerr will face trial in the UK accused of the racially aggravated harassment of a police officer in London over a year ago.

Chelsea forward Kerr, one of the world's most recognizable women footballers and a sporting idol in her home nation, was charged on Jan. 21, almost a year after the incident was alleged to have occurred.

"The charge relates to an incident involving a police officer who was responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare on 30 January 2023 in Twickenham," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

Arsenal netted three first-half goals in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in front of a record Women's Super League crowd of 60,160 on Saturday that keeps them in the race for the title after Chelsea's 1-0 loss to Manchester City.

Chelsea remain top of the table, level on 34 points with Manchester City following their loss to them on Friday night, and a sold-out Emirates Stadium saw the Gunners close the gap to the top two to three points after an easy win over United.

FA WSL attendance record

United States women’s national team right back Emily Fox is the latest American player to make the switch from NWSL to Europe. Fox left the North Carolina Courage to join Women’s Super League side Arsenal.

Welcome to The Arsenal, Emily Fox ✍️

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) January 11, 2024

United States women’s national team midfielder and 2023 NWSL Champion Kristie Mewis is taking her talents to London as she leaves Gotham FC to join Women’s Super League (WSL) side West Ham United.

Mewis and Gotham FC mutually parted ways as the 32-year-old will face an entirely new challenge with West Ham who face a relegation battle. The Hammers sit second from last in the WSL table, have one win from 10 games and have the fewest goals scored in the league with eight.

Kristie Mewis West Ham transfer