NWSL

The World Cup Is All-Consuming, So You’ve Missed Some Club Bangers This Past Week

We get it. The World Cup is eight-straight hours a day of otherworldly goodness that you dare not miss. We’re not asking you to watch anything else (we also know that you’ve got to carve out some time to eat, sleep and potentially bathe in your life), but we’ve witnessed some bangers in the U.S. Open Cup, NWSL and USL over the past week that’ve been hugely overlooked because of the world’s greatest sporting event.

Here’s a little roundup of seven sensational goals that’ve been buried deep in the news cycle by the blitz of footie action over in Russia.

Watch Sydney Leroux Savagely Slide Tackle Her Toddler Son

It’s been made well aware to soccer and non-soccer folks alike that Orlando husband and wife soccer stars Sydney Leroux and Dom Dwyer have an adorable son named Cassius. When they are not banging in goals for their respective teams and taking ridiculous adorable family pics, these parents are known to joke around and pull pranks on each other.

LGBTQ Jersey Prevented Jaelene Hinkle From Taking USWNT Opportunity Last Year

USWNT players are typically cheered wherever they take the field for a NWSL match. But on Wednesday, North Carolina Courage defender Jaelene Hinkle, who has eight U.S. caps to her name, was roundly booed as her name was announced ahead of an away match against the Portland Thorns.

Move Over Zach and Julie Ertz, There’s Another USWNT-NFL Power Couple On The Scene

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt spent his Saturday watching a different kind of football than what he's typically used to at the scenic Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. The four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection was taking in an NWSL match between the Houston Dash and Utah Royals.

Defiant In The Face Of Injury, Chelsea Cabarcas Embodies The Spirit Of The Women’s World Cup

“The football I grew up playing is no longer there. Today, all players care about are their cars, their shoes with their names on, and their image. While for me, the only thing that counted was football. Nothing else.” -Miroslav Klose

Football is under attack. It’s a sentiment that, regardless of how much it resonates with you, is often expressed and passionately argued. Whatever the reason, be it the influx of money, the unsporting concentration of talent or the diminished draw of the international game, there’s cause for cynicism. 

Teenage Sensation Mal Pugh Strikes Following A Blistering Run From Midfield

After falling to a Megan Rapinoe-inspired Seattle Reign FC in Week 1, the Washington Spirit recorded a 2-0 win over the Orlando Pride in their home opener at Maryland SoccerPlex on Saturday. 

Nearly 5,000 were on hand to watch 19-year-old USWNT forward Mallory Pugh open the scoring in the 80th minute with a blistering run that started just inside the halfway line. Pugh finished the move by nutmegging international compatriot Ashlyn Harris in goal.

Who’s To Blame For Houston Dash Getting The Shaft A Second Time?

The Houston Dash cannot catch a break. For the second time in the club’s short history, the Dash acquired a star USWNT player who doesn’t want to play for them. After putting up with an unhappy and unproductive Carli Lloyd for a couple seasons, Houston traded for Christen Press, who refused to report to the squad. The 29-year-old forward instead signed with Göteborg FC in Sweden on Monday. 

Megan Rapinoe Kicks Off The 2018 NWSL Season With An Unstoppable Free Kick

The sixth season of the National Women’s Soccer League kicked off yesterday with the Seattle Reign hosting the Washington Spirit as one of three matches on opening day. The Reign defeated the Spirit 2-1 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle thanks to goals from USWNT star Megan Rapinoe and new signing Jodie Taylor, an English international.

Rapinoe’s goal came in the 7th minute — a wonderfully struck free kick from over 25 yards out that left Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe, an offseason acquisition from Orlando, no chance.  

Complete NWSL Schedule, Match Of The Week List Released

The 2018 NWSL season will kick off on March 24 with a 2017 NWSL Championship rematch between the Portland Thorns and the North Carolina Courage.

The league released its full 2018 schedule Tuesday, including the games of the week, to be shown on the Lifetime network. Matches that aren't on Lifetime will be streamed via the go90 app and website.

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