So far this season, the FAWSL title race has been firmly between four teams: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United.

With City and Arsenal occupying the third and fourth spots in the table, this weekend’s matchup was huge in deciding which of the teams would stay within touching distance of the top two, and which would effectively be out of the title race. With Manchester City winning, they now have 30 points, two behind both United and Chelsea. Arsenal, on the other hand, remain in fourth with 23 points.

Here’s a look at how the game unfolded and what the result means for the title race.

 

MANCHESTER CITY IS CLICKING INTO GEAR

Going into this match, City were in superb form, scoring 18 goals in their last three league matches. Arsenal, on the contrary, had not played a match since January 17th, a 1-1 draw with Reading.

It was no surprise that early in the game, City seemed to be in much better shape, with their earliest chance coming at the sixth minute when Manuela Zinsberger made a mistake that Ellen White could not capitalize on. Nearing the 20-minute mark, it seemed that Arsenal grew into the game, but as soon as they started gaining momentum, White was able to convert a half-volley chance into a goal.

???????????? https://t.co/dU0MSlvvL6

— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) February 7, 2021

With the goal, White became the FAWSL’s all-time top goal-scorer in the FAWSL, overtaking Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema at the top spot.

???? @ellsbells89 ????

Ellen White's goal against @ArsenalWFC put her back to the top of the all-time #BarclaysFAWSL top goalscorers list ⭐️#BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/GkEvhsOGko

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) February 7, 2021

ARSENAL HAD THEIR CHANCES

Despite going 0-1 down early, Arsenal didn’t lose their heads, and they constantly threatened Manchester City in the minutes after conceding. They had several chances that either lacked a good final pass, or were saved by Ellie Roebuck. With ten minutes before the half, Jill Roord finally managed to score, but the goal was called for off-side.

Roord got her opportunity to shine early in the second half, as she assisted Arsenal’s equalizer, which came in the 57th minute, courtesy of Caitlin Foord.

Roord ➡️ Foord

Well worked goal from @ArsenalWFC! ????#BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/CpazOcwlOO

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) February 7, 2021

After the goal, Arsenal appeared to find their groove, and it looked like they were going to pull off the win, with Vivianne Miedema finally getting a few half-chances in front of goal. However, they failed to score, and City managed to grow back into the game.

By the 70th minute, it seemed to be an even contest and anyone’s game. But with a little over ten minutes to go, it was Manchester City who came out on top, with a fantastic diving header from Lauren Hemp.

What a header by Lauren Hemp! ????@Chloe_Kelly98 puts in a pinpoint cross and that's a HUGE goal in the #BarclaysFAWSL title race! ???? pic.twitter.com/jaG1iJBRz4

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) February 7, 2021

For the last ten minutes, it was all City, with Arsenal barely getting out of their own half. It remained that way until the final whistle.

 

ARSENAL LIKELY OUT OF TITLE RACE

Arsenal are now nine points off the top of the table. While they have a game in hand, it’s hard to see how they come back from this.

In fact, they’re quite lucky to only be nine points behind given that both Manchester United and Chelsea lost this week as well, losing to Reading and Brighton respectively.

While manager Joe Montemurro still has faith in his squad. for Arsenal to win this title, it’ll take an insane run of games, as well as well as a few key losses from the other three teams on top.

Asked Joe Montemurro if he thinks Arsenal are still in the WSL title race. He says: "I wouldn’t count us out just yet. I believe in the squad. We’re going to keep fighting." #AFC

— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) February 7, 2021

As of right now, I think they need to focus on sneaking into the top three to secure a Champions League spot for next season, or they risk losing quite a few of their stars come the summer transfer window.

 

MANCHESTER CITY CAN CONTINUE TO CLIMB

As for City, the win is huge for them, and their form over the past month or so should give them great confidence going into next week when they face United in the Manchester Derby.

A win against their rivals, and they’ll securely be in second place and in the thick of title contention.

Behind a string of stellar performances, PWHL standouts Marie-Philip Poulin (Montréal), Corinne Schroeder (New York), and Sidney Morin (Boston) emerged as Monday's Stars of the Week.

After scoring two goals — including the superhero-style game-winner — in Wednesday's sold-out Takeover Tour win, Victoire captain Poulin registered an assist in front a record-breaking Denver crowd on Sunday to claim a three-point week.

Saturday belonged to Fleet defender Morin, who recorded a career-high five shots and notched both goals in Boston's 2-1 overtime win over Ottawa, doubling her single-goal scoring record last season.

The puck stops with Sirens goalie Corinne Schroeder

Sirens goaltender Schroeder made PWHL history on Sunday, becoming the first-ever goalie to record back-to-back regular-season shutouts.

New York's 1-0 victory over Toronto also made a mark, becoming the PWHL's first-ever scoreless game in regulation before New York's Jessie Eldridge found the back of the net in overtime.

Schroeder, who tops the league in average goals against (1.86) while sharing the lead in wins (5) and save percentage (0.935), hasn't conceded a goal in over 156 minutes of play.

"I think Schroeder has been our number one goalie for a long time," said Sirens coach Greg Fargo after the game. "She's been demonstrating the level of her play since day one, but there's a calmness to her game and a competitiveness that we really like right now."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

How to watch PWHL games this week

While teams jockey for points one-third of the way through the PWHL's second season, individual athletes are separating themselves from the pack by tearing up the stat sheet.

The PWHL's stars are back on the ice in midweek action. First, the Toronto Sceptres visit the Ottawa Charge on Tuesday at 7 PM ET.

Then, Schroeder will try to add a third shutout to her record-setting goaltending streak when the New York Sirens host the league-leading Minnesota Frost at 7 PM ET on Wednesday.

Both games will stream live on YouTube.

An unfazed No. 2 South Carolina isn't letting injury​ slow them down, earning their season's first Top 5 NCAA basketball win with a dominant 67-50 victory over No. 5 Texas on Sunday.

The Gamecocks' trademark lock-down defense was in full force, holding the Longhorns to a field goal percentage of 27.8 despite Texas's 22 forced turnovers.

"I would say with our team, they seem to really focus in when there's a number beside our opponent, they practice a little better," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said of her squad's tough ranked schedule. "They’re more focused, they talk less. They knew the intangibles of this game would play a huge role in us winning or losing."

Coming off an undefeated championship season, South Carolina has taken their knocks while also proving just how capable they are of a repeat win.

The Gamecocks saw their 43-game winning streak snapped by No. 1 UCLA in November before losing key contributor Ashlyn Watkins to an ACL tear earlier this month.

At the same time, South Carolina has now tallied five ranked wins on the season — four of them over Top 10 teams. The Gamecocks are looking comfortable as they enter a particularly grueling stretch of conference play, with No. 19 Alabama and No. 13 Oklahoma waiting to try and topple the current champs later this week.

Ranked losses fuel AP basketball poll movement

Today's AP poll update saw significant shifts throughout Division I basketball's Top 25, with elite teams cooling off as the NCAA season heats up.

While No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 South Carolina, No. 3 Notre Dame, and No. 4 USC held steady, the Longhorns' loss to the Gamecocks earned them a two-spot dip to No. 7.

Elsewhere in the Top 10, LSU's still-undefeated campaign saw the Tigers rise one notch into the No. 5 position, as UConn also capitalized on Texas's misfortune, coming in one spot higher than last week at No. 6.

Deeper into the Top 25, Georgia Tech and Iowa suffered some of the week's biggest tumbles. After adding Sunday defeats to their Thursday losses, the once-unbeaten Yellow Jackets fell four spots to No. 17, while Iowa joined fellow Big Ten member Michigan in being ousted from Monday's rankings entirely.

Snagging the largest leaps in Monday's poll were No. 14 UNC and No. 18 Cal, whose ranked upset wins boosted them five and six spots, respectively.

Two teams also joined the AP party, as two-loss Oklahoma State and one-loss Minnesota enter tied at No. 24. Both teams are making their poll debuts for the first time in years: The last time the Cowgirls were ranked was in 2018, and the Golden Gophers's last Top 25 appearance was in 2019.

Week 11 AP college basketball poll

1. UCLA (16-0, Big Ten)
2. South Carolina (16-1, SEC)
3. Notre Dame (14-2, ACC)
4. USC (16-1, Big Ten)
5. LSU (19-0, SEC)
6. UConn (15-2, Big East)
7. Texas (16-2, SEC)
8. Maryland (15-1, Big Ten)
9. Ohio State (16-0, Big Ten)
10. TCU (17-1, Big 12)
11. Kansas State (17-1, Big 12)
12. Kentucky (15-1, SEC)
13. Oklahoma (14-3, SEC)
14. UNC (15-3, ACC)
15. Tennessee (14-2, SEC)
16. Duke (13-4, ACC)
17. Georgia Tech (15-2, ACC)
18. Cal (16-2, ACC)
19. Alabama (16-2, SEC)
20. West Virginia (13-3, Big 12)
21. NC State (12-4, ACC)
22. Michigan State (13-3, Big Ten)
23. Utah (13-3, Big 12)
T24. Minnesota (16-1, Big Ten)
T24. Oklahoma State (14-2, Big 12)

Ex-San Diego Wave boss Casey Stoney is taking over head coaching duties for the Canadian women's national soccer team, Canada Soccer confirmed on Monday morning.

Stoney replaces longtime coach Bev Priestman, who is currently serving a one-year suspension from FIFA for her role in the 2024 Paris Olympics drone-spying scandal.

Canada Soccer officially fired Priestman in November 2024, after an independent investigation into a drone spotted hovering over New Zealand's Olympic training session found Canada's coaching staff liable.

Immediately following the incident, Canada saw six points deducted from their Olympic group stage standing. The 2021 gold medalists eventually lost to Germany in the quarterfinals.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Stoney jumps from club to country

This will be Stoney's first time leading a national team, making the professional leap after San Diego abruptly fired the decorated former England defender and captain in June 2024.

Prior to her NWSL tenure, Stoney made her head coaching debut with Manchester United. She led the club to an FA Championship trophy in the team's inaugural 2018/19 season, earning the team promotion into the WSL.

After joining the NWSL's California expansion side in 2021, Stoney led the Wave to two playoff appearances and a career regular-season record of 24-15-18. San Diego's 2022 semifinals run made the club the first-ever franchise to make the NWSL Playoffs in their inaugural season. The campaign eventually earned Stoney the 2022 NWSL Coach of the Year award.

Stoney also helped the Wave snag the 2023 NWSL Shield and the 2024 Challenge Cup trophy — all behind Canadian starting goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.

With an eye on developing a strong Canadian roster to contend for the 2027 World Cup, Stoney's first task on the team's sideline is set for February, when Canada will compete in the annual Pinatar Cup in Spain.

"Casey's track record of successful leadership, her values and strength of character, and her lifelong dedication to the advancement of women's football make her the right person to lead our national team into its next chapter," said Canada Soccer CEO and general secretary Kevin Blue in today's statement.

Tennis's first Grand Slam of 2025 kicks off on Saturday, with the sport's heaviest hitters convening in Melbourne for the Australian Open.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka — the reigning back-to-back Australian Open champion — enters as the tournament's first overall seed for the first time. However, she'll see stiff competition by way of No. 2 Iga Świątek, No. 3 Coco Gauff, and No. 4 Jasmine Paolini.

"For me being the one to chase... I like that feeling," Sabalenka told reporters this morning. "That's what drives me and helps me to stay motivated because I know that I have a target on my back."

Tough roads to the trophy litter Australian Open draw

Each top contender faces a tricky tournament draw, with upset potential lurking in every quadrant.

Sabalenka could meet 2024 Olympic gold medalist and WTA Finals runner-up No. 5 Zheng Qinwen as early as the quarterfinals, as long as she survives a first-round matchup against 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens.

Reigning WTA Finals champion Gauff's quadrant is in Sabalenka's half of the field, setting up a possible rematch of last year's semifinal. As for the 20-year-old US star's path, earlier rounds could see Gauff contending with tough competitors like 2021 Australian Open champ Naomi Osaka, 2024 US Open semifinalist Karolína Muchová, and 2024 US Open finalist No. 7 Jessica Pegula.

Świątek and Paolini could also meet in a semifinal, though fellow top competitors No. 8 Emma Navarro and 2020 Australian Open winner Ons Jabeur stand in Świątek's way while No. 10 Danielle Collins and 2022 Wimbledon champion No. 6 Elena Rybakina have been drawn into Paolini's quadrant.

How to watch the 2025 Australian Open

The 2025 Australian Open's first round starts on Saturday at 7 PM ET, with Sabalenka's first-round match set for 3 AM ET on Sunday.

Live coverage for the tournament will air across ESPN platforms.