As was anticipated following the success of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a special FIFA Council vote has unanimously approved the expansion of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to a 32-team field.
USWNT coach Jill Ellis will step down from her role following the U.S. Victory Tour that ends in October. She led the U.S. to two consecutive Women's World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, the first coach in history to do so.
This week, USWNT star and World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe inked a book deal with Penguin Publishing.
The North Carolina Courage kept pace with the league-leading Portland Thorns on Saturday after recording an impressive 2-1 road victory over the Utah Royals at Rio Tinto Stadium.
An announced crowd of 10,545 was on its feet in the 13th minute following a sensational opener from World Cup-winner Christen Press. The 30-year-old attacker now has two goals in two games since returning from France, including a strike last week that was voted the NWSL’s Goal of the Week.
The USWNT will begin mediation soon with the U.S. Soccer Federation regarding the team’s equal pay lawsuit. Hope Solo has filed a motion to the court that is managing the lawsuit requesting to join in on and aid in the mediation process, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Last night in Bridgeview, Illinois, a crowd of 17,388 turned up at SeatGeek Stadium to watch the Chicago Red Stars defeat the North Carolina Courage 2-1 in NWSL play. For a bit of perspective, the Chicago Fire has averaged a gate of 11,209 throughout the 2019 MLS season. According to ESPN’s Sarah Spain, it was the first-ever sellout for a Chicago women’s professional soccer team.
Throughout the 2019 Women's World Cup, starting from the first whistle of the opener against Thailand until the last whistle in the final, the USWNT was out in full force with its celebrations. Every one of the 13 goals in the first game were celebrated and every goal after that as well. This drew some scrutiny from pundits and fans around the world.
So, the question is: Was the USWNT doing too much with its celebrations and attitude throughout the World Cup?
Before, during and after the USWNT’s run to its fourth Women’s World Cup title this summer, the American players have been outspoken about their social activism.
The undeniable leader of those efforts has been Megan Rapinoe, who has drawn considerable ire (but equal parts praise) from many across the globe for speaking up.
Rapinoe appears to be inspiring the next generation of USWNT leaders, her younger U.S. teammates.
FIFA released its July 2019 rankings for women’s soccer and, obviously, the USWNT ranking remained No. 1. The Americans also set a new record in the process.
Allie Long, a veteran member of the Women’s World Cup-winning USWNT, had a rude awakening from the delirium of the team’s week-long celebration.