Spain and Gotham FC striker Esther González had an amazing 2023 calendar year as she won the World Cup with Spain and scored the game-winning goal in the NWSL Championship on Saturday.
A bullet header from World Cup winner Esther González and Gotham FC lead the NWSL final once more
(via @NWSL)
Saturday’s NWSL Championship victory was a dream ending to Ali Krieger’s illustrious career. The cherry on top was a surprise from an old friend.
Gotham FC’s celebrations after defeating OL Reign 2-1 were full of joyous tears as the team that finished dead-last in 2022 rebounded in the greatest way possible. Krieger helped lead the team to her first NWSL Championship and received a litany of hugs and congratulations.
One of the best moments came when Krieger was told to turn around and her former teammate Sydney Leroux was standing there with her family.
Megan Rapinoe had the worst ending to one of the best USWNT stories.
Megan Rapinoe has officially put an end to her marvelous career at both the international and club level. The 38-year-old closed an 18-year career full of international and club trophies, awards and recognitions.
What a career for Megan Rapinoe
Women’s soccer icon Megan Rapinoe had her career end less than three minutes into the NWSL Championship on Saturday as she suffered a non-contact injury. The Rapinoe injury cast a shadow over Gotham FC’s 2-1 victory vs. OL Reign.
In a match that was highly advertised as Megan Rapinoe vs. Ali Krieger in both of their final games, Rapinoe’s unfortunate injury took all the headlines.
Rapinoe, 38, and Krieger, 39, entered Saturday’s NWSL Championship knowing it was their final professional game. What no one knew was that Rapinoe’s night would be over in the third minute.
The headline has been written soccer romance folks! Kristie Mewis engaged to Sam Kerr.
Two years ago, the USWNT midfielder and Australia’s superstar shared a touching moment on the field following the USA’s victory vs. Australia in the bronze medal game at the Tokyo Olympics. The pair confirmed they were dating following that moment.
Two-times Women's World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe has added one final stop on her farewell tour, with her OL Reign side beating the top-ranked San Diego Wave to reach the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Championship on Saturday.
The 2019 Ballon d'Or winner bid a bitter goodbye to the global stage as the United States crashed out in the last 16 of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in August.
Two of the biggest players in United States women’s national team history will face off in search of NWSL glory. Alex Morgan’s San Diego Wave FC will host Megan Rapinoe’s OL Reign in the NWSL semifinals at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium.
It could be Rapinoe’s final professional game.
Rapinoe has already retired from the USWNT and will hang up her boots at the end of the 2023 NWSL season. The 38-year-old forward has spent the last 10 years with OL Reign but has never won a championship.
While the United States women’s national team continues the head coach search, ex-manager Vlatko Andonovski has found his new gig with the Kansas City Current.
Prior to becoming USWNT head coach in 2019, Andonovski was coaching in the NWSL with FC Kansas City and OL Reign. During his four-year tenure with Kansas City, he led them to back-to-back NWSL Championship titles in 2014 and 2015.
Olivia Moultrie made history in 2021 when she filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NWSL and paved the way for players under 18 to play in the league. She made her debut with the Portland Thorns at just 15 years old and now she’s received her first United States women’s national team call-up.
On Wednesday interim USWNT head coach Twila Kilgore announced the 27-player roster for two friendlies vs. Colombia. The roster included several newer names like Moultrie, Jaedyn Shaw, Mia Fishel and M.A. Vignola.
Alex Morgan and San Diego Wave FC finished top of the NWSL table on Sunday in the club’s second-ever season. Morgan and the team were awarded the NWSL Shield trophy and to say the silverware was underwhelming is an understatement.
After 22 games San Diego Wave triumphed after a hotly contested season with just six points separating first and seventh.
Finishing top of the table is a remarkable reward and deserves a trophy that reflects that. The NWSL Shield is reflective alright, but that’s because it’s a pie platter… not a shield.