If the Challenge Cup was any indication, the 2021 NWSL season will be one to watch. As celebrity investment continues pouring into the league and superstar players fight for Olympic-inclusion, fireworks are expected from start to finish. In advance of this weekend’s kick off, here are four of the biggest stories we’ll have an eye on this year.

Olympic Roster Battle

USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski has said on numerous occasions that he will be using NWSL games to evaluate players for the Olympic roster, imbuing the upcoming season with heightened significance.

League games will be crucial for players who currently sit on the bubble of the UWSNT roster. Kristie Mewis recently made a case for her place on the Olympic squad with a memorable Challenge Cup outing. Mal Pugh and Sophia Smith have put on impressive performances for their respective clubs as well. Will a Challenge Cup final appearance put Midge Purce in contention for a slot on the 18-player roster? Expect Olympic talk to dominate the first half of the 2021 season.

Are the Thorns too big to fail?

The Portland Thorns are overflowing with talent. The team’s back line is anchored by USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn and Thorn’s veteran Meghan Klingenberg. Opponents have the likes of Lindsay Horan and Crystal Dunn to contend with in the midfield. Then up top, Canadian legend Christine Sinclair is joined by 20-year-old phenom Sophia Smith. Not to mention Adrianna Franch, who towers in goal.

With the whole field stacked, it’s no wonder the Thorns steamrolled their way to the Challenge Cup final, banking three wins in a row and a draw in their final group stage match, before winning the championship in PKs against Gotham. The hurdle Portland now faces is building up enough momentum before the squad loses key players to the Olympics this summer.

Summer Absences

There will be no break in the 2021 NWSL season for the Tokyo Olympics. The games are set to span from July 23-Aug. 8, meaning Olympic-bound players will miss a substantial chunk of NWSL games. Teams will have to contend without players like Marta, Crystal Dunn, Christine Sinclair and Julie Ertz. The Olympic gap will impact clubs across the league, but could prove especially painful for squads like the Portland Thorns and Orlando Pride, who have a large number of national team players.

Can a new group of international players revitalize OL Reign?

In early April, it was officially announced that French international goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi and German international midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsán were heading to the NWSL. The Olympic Lyonnais players are set to join OL Reign in June, on loan until the end of the year. It’s been speculated that French forward Eugénie Le Sommer will be joining her Lyon teammates in Tacoma this summer as well.

The move is a byproduct of Lyon’s OL group acquiring Reign FC back in 2020. The wave of international talent will be joining the likes of Tziarra King, who put on a dazzling performance for the Reign in the Challenge Cup. Will the injection of experienced international players be enough to push OL Reign atop the standings after a handful of middling years?

For die-hard Serena Williams fans, the desire to see her win her 24th Grand Slam is equally understandable and unrelenting. We want it so badly we can barely stand to watch, and some of us don’t watch out of fear that we’ve been jinxing her.

Despite having seen her win 23 before, we’re now totally enthralled with the prospect of just one more. It may seem unreasonable, but at this point, we’re past logic. No championship matters more than Serena getting 24.

If we were rational, we would be appeased by the fact that No. 24 is only a meaningless technicality. Serena is already the GOAT. And yet… she’s not the current record holder for individual Grand Slam titles. That claim belongs to Margaret Court and her 24.

Now, there is a stack of SCOTUS-worthy arguments as to why Court’s career is in no way comparable to our 21st century queen. For starters, the bulk of Court’s career occurred before the Open Era (when the Grand Slams were only open to amateurs), and almost half of her titles were earned at the Australian Open during the 60s and early 70s, when the tournament wasn’t nearly as prestigious and didn’t draw many of the world’s top players.

Nearly all tennis analysts, historians, and commentators agree that it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison. And while no one is trying to diminish the still-very-impressive career of Margaret Court, her personal beliefs have increasingly tainted her historical record. A born-again Christian Minister, Court has been very vocal about her anti-LGBTQ views. If Serena caught her (asterisk-marked) record, there would be an extra layer of icing on that cake for progressive-minded fans.

One of the main reasons the quest for No. 24 has become an obsession for many isn’t that it would be number 24, but that it would actually be No. 1—Serena’s first Grand Slam title since becoming a mom.

After winning the 2017 Australian Open while eight weeks pregnant, Serena gave birth to her now three-year-old daughter, Olympia, in September of that year. Her emergency cesarean, followed by a near-fatal pulmonary embolism, forced her into a long, slow recovery, one whose difficulties Serena has openly discussed.

Any athlete or sports fan who is also a parent knows that Serena’s quest to return to the highest pinnacle of her sport is a whole new endeavor, one that is a thousand times more challenging than anything she’s attempted before. And the insanely impressive thing is how close she has repeatedly come to reaching it.

Ten months (ten months!) after the harrowing birth of her daughter, Serena fought her way to the finals of Wimbledon in 2018 only to lose to Angelique Kerber. A few months later, she reached the finals of the US Open, losing that time to the then up-and-coming Naomi Osaka.

In 2019, she reached the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open once again but didn’t come away with either title. In 2020, the cursed year that it was, Serena didn’t reach a Grand Slam finals match for the first time since 2006. (Granted, Wimbledon wasn’t held so the chances were fewer.) In the last two Grand Slam events Serena has lost in the semi-finals. The latest defeat came a couple weeks ago at the Australian Open, once again at the hands of the now established and dominant Osaka.

It’s easy to look at Serena’s finishes since 2017 and see a picture of a champion who came so incredibly close to that No. 24, but who’s chances get slimmer with each passing month as she approaches her 40th birthday (gasp). But what we’re really looking at is evidence of a mind-boggling accomplishment. Reaching four Grand Slam finals in the first two years after Olympia was born at the ages of 37 and 38 may be a more impressive achievement than any single title of her career.

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JASON HEIDRICH/GETTY IMAGES

Logically and rationally, we know she doesn’t need No. 24. Serena is already the GOAT, full stop.

Unfortunately, we are not fully logical and rational beings. (We’re sports fans, after all.) And so we still want to see her reach that pinnacle again. And at this point, we don’t even care how she gets it. We don’t care if the field is stacked in her favor, if her opponent drops out mid-match due to injury, if a stomach bug ravages the entire tournament and she is the only one left standing. She doesn’t need to earn it, because in our mind, she already has.

Now we just want the hardware to prove it. We want it wrapped up in a velvet box and tied with a silky ribbon. Throw in a token of appreciation handed to her on a silver platter, with a note that reads, “Here you go Serena. You deserve to have this. Thank you for all you are and all you have done.” Throw in a second velvet box with No. 25 in it, and maybe, just maybe, her devoted supporters will finally have some peace of mind.

For the second offseason in a row, the WNBA’s new CBA has fostered a free agency period chock-full of star-studded moves and major franchise shake ups. As the dust finally settles, three big unknowns stand out in the league’s new landscape.

ARE THE SEATTLE STORM STILL TITLE FAVORITES?

The defending 2020 champions appear to be shifting their focus toward the future as opposed to maximizing their chances for a 2021 title. Since free agency began, the Storm have said goodbye to two key pillars of their recent dominance: Alysha Clark and Natasha Howard. Clark, a defensive menace who was the only unanimous selection to the 2020 WNBA All-Defensive First Team, was the cornerstone of the Storm’s stifling defense for both their 2018 and 2020 Championship runs. An extremely efficient three-point shooter on the opposite end, Clark signed with the Washington Mystics for 2021 as a free agent.

Days later, Howard was traded by the Storm to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal. An inside-the-paint version of Clark on defense and a stretch five on the opposite end, Howard was the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and is a three-time WNBA Champion (2017 with the Lynx, 2018 and 2020 with the Storm).

The latest goodbye was to Sami Whitcomb, a valuable bench contributor and proficient 3-point shooter, who was also traded to the NY Liberty.

So, what did the Storm receive on the intake side of the ledger?

As part of the Howard trade, the Storm briefly held the 2021 #1 draft pick, but quickly used it to acquire Katie Lou Samuelson from the Dallas Wings. Samuelson, a sharp-shooter from UConn and the fourth overall pick of the 2019 draft, has yet to match her collegiate level of production in the pros. A former teammate of Breanna Stewart, it appears the Storm are hoping that reunion will bring out her shooting magic and fill part of the gap left by Clark.

The Storm also acquired an even younger newbie in Mikiah Herbert Harrigan. The sixth overall pick from 2020, Herbert Harrigan got her feet wet with the Lynx in the Wubble last season, coming off the bench for limited minutes. She flashed promise as a rookie, but in a crowded Minnesota front court, had the potential to spend much of 2021 on the bench.

To offset that collective inexperience, the Storm signed unrestricted free agent Candice Dupree, a fifteen-year veteran and seven-time All-Star who is tied for fifth all-time in WNBA total career points and eighth in rebounds.

With Clark, Howard, and Whitcomb off the books and Samuelson, Herbert Harrigan, and Dupree added on, Seattle is a bit less intimidating than they were last season, especially on the defensive end. But with returners like Jewell Loyd, Jordin Canada, and (ahem) Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart, Seattle is still a 2021 title front runner until proven otherwise.

How will the Los Angeles Sparks fill the voids?

Yes, voids, as in multiple. Granted, Candace Parker’s void is ginormous and covers every inch of the court, but Chelsea Gray’s is a gaping one to boot. In a franchise-altering week, the Sparks said goodbye to both a living legend in Parker, who signed as a free agent with the Chicago Sky, and Point Gawd Chelsea Gray, who signed with the Las Vegas Aces. The enormity of these losses for the Sparks’ stat sheet, attractive style of play, and overall identity cannot be overstated. Add in the departure of Riquna Williams, who also opted to sign with the Aces, and the gaps start feeling insurmountable.

The new roster additions are Amanda Zahui B, a 6’5” center who posted the best stats of her six-year career last season with the Liberty, and Erica Wheeler, the 2016 undrafted free agent who has since established herself as a capable scorer. Needless to say, these new additions don’t come close to filling the shoes left behind, and no one is making the case they were ever intended to. It will really be up to the returning personnel to lead the way on forging a new identity both on the court and off.

The bulk of this responsibility now falls to Nneka Ogwumike. If anyone has the poise and skills necessary to usher the Sparks into the next era, it is “Madame President.” The current WNBPA President showed up in the league with a bang as the number one overall draft pick and Rookie of the Year in 2012. After nine years, she’s now a six-time All-Star, 2016 WNBA Champion, and 2016 League MVP.

Luckily, she’ll have some strong supporting cast members in returners Seimone Augustus, Sydney Wiese, and Brittney Sykes. But the x-factors for the Sparks getting off to the right start in 2021 will be getting Kristi Toliver and Chiney Ogwumike back into the groove and back to high production numbers.

Both Toliver and the younger Ogwumike sister opted out of the 2020 Wubble season due to physical wellness concerns. Toliver is a three-time All-Star and two-time WNBA Champion point guard. A Sparks alum, she spent the previous three years playing for the Washington Mystics and took them all the way to the 2019 WNBA title before transferring back to the Sparks.

Chiney Ogwumike, Nneka’s younger sister by two years, lived up to the family name by also going number one in the 2014 draft and backing it up with the Rookie of the Year award. Playing three of her first five seasons with the Connecticut Sun (the other two she missed due to injuries), she was reunited with Nneka upon being traded to the Sparks in 2019. A two-time All-Star herself, it’s yet to be seen how bright her star could shine if she could string together a few injury-free seasons. And while she is expected to re-sign with LA, the move hasn’t been made official.

The simple truth is there will be no filling of the voids in LA. There can only be change and transformation into something new. It’s not something that will happen easily or quickly, but hopefully Derek Fisher, the Sparks head coach and GM, can use 2021 to get the ball rolling in the right direction. With the high-profile location and big name support the Sparks enjoy, having a consistently strong team in LA isn’t just good for the franchise, it’s good for the league as a whole.

How will Dallas use their stacked deck of draft picks?

For the first time in WNBA history, one team holds the top two picks in a single draft. In the league-wide shuffling that took place last Wednesday, the number one draft pick started the day with the New York Liberty, then went to Seattle as part of the deal for Natasha Howard, only to be traded away from Seattle to Dallas in exchange for Katie Lou Samuelson and a 2022 second-round pick.

While many were surprised Samuelson garnered the number one pick, Dallas wasn’t going to question it. After all the dust settled, the Wings were left holding the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 13th overall picks for the 2021 draft. For a team that had the 2nd, 5th, and 7th picks in last year’s draft, it will be back-to-back years that the Dallas Wings are in a position to make franchise-altering decisions on draft day.

In the 2020 draft the Wings were able to snag Satou Sabally, Bella Alarie, and Ty Harris by not trading any of their picks prior to draft day. This left the Wings with an extremely young roster with a high potential payoff a few years down the road. Currently, their most veteran players have just five seasons in the league (Kayla Thornton and Astou Ndour).

Heading into the 2021 draft, it would be surprising if the Wings didn’t use some of their assets to add more veteran experience to support their young talent, especially seeing that they’ll need to clear some roster space to add more pieces on draft day. However, it will be hard for the Wings to pass on the chance to use their top overall pick to draft center Charli Collier from Texas and put some sure firepower into the paint. That is, if she opts to leave college a year early.

The downside for the Wings having so many high-ranking picks this year, as opposed to a different year, is the number of unknowns leading into the draft. With the chaos of the pandemic, the NCAA has granted all 2020-2021 senior student-athletes an extra year of eligibility. What the class will look like come draft day is very ambiguous. Even without the extra layer of fog, many consider this 2020-2021 class to be on the shallower end of the talent pool.

Even so, the Dallas Wings are sitting in an enviable position, and the franchise’s future looks bright. With Arike Ogunbowale, the league’s reigning top scorer, at the helm and Satou Sabally just scratching the surface of her dynamic skill set, as well as the loads of young talent in their supporting cast, the Wings have the chance to significantly fast forward their development in becoming a Championship contender.

The addition of Candace Parker is incredibly exciting, perhaps even monumental, for the future on-court success of the Chicago Sky. But beyond that, it also symbolizes a significant new era for a franchise that has suffered more than its share of big-name break-ups.

In 2015, Sky center Sylvia Fowles sat out the first half of the season in order to force the Sky’s hand in trading her to the Minnesota Lynx. At that point, the 2008 second overall draft pick was a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, and three-time Eastern Conference All-Star. After the Sky finally agreed to her trade in July 2015, Fowles and the Lynx went on to win the WNBA Championship with Fowles earning Finals MVP, adding an extra sting to the sore spot for Sky fans.

Just a couple years later, the Sky endured another heartbreaking departure when superstar Elena Della Donne decided she wanted out of Chicago. Della Donne, the 2013 second overall pick and WNBA Rookie of the Year, carried the torch in the wake of Fowles’ departure, earning league MVP in 2015. But after four seasons with the Sky, she made it clear she would no longer play in the Windy City. Della Donne followed in Fowles’ footsteps by forcing her own trade, in this case to the Washington Mystics, where her family lives nearby.

In addition to Della Donne and Fowles, the Sky have suffered a few other premature departures over the years: Candice Dupree after four seasons, Epiphanny Prince after five seasons, and Kristi Toliver after only a single season.

Needless to say, after Della Donne left in 2017, some changes needed to be made if the Sky were going to right the ship. Hiring James Wade as head coach in 2018, adding key draft picks in Diamond DeShields and Gabby Williams, and retaining veteran stars Allie Quigley, Courtney Vandersloot, and “Big Mama” Stef Dolson moved the Sky back into playoff contention for the past two seasons. With bench support from Kahleah Cooper, Azurá Stevens, and Ruthy Hebard, the Sky were already on track to be playoff contenders again in 2021.

And now in walks CP. The woman, the myth, the legend. Someone whose proven greatness is even more potent than what was lost in Fowles and Della Donne at the time of their departures.

Candace Parker is a WNBA Champion (2016), two-time league MVP (2008, 2013), Finals MVP (2016), five-time All-Star, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Oh and by the way, her 2008 league MVP was earned as a ROOKIE. Granted that was thirteen years ago, and as the 34-year-old Parker admits herself, the bulk of her career is behind her. But in 2020’s Wubble season, she shot a career high in 2-point field goal percentage, came in third in league MVP voting, and was awarded Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in her career. She oozes greatness, and that in and of itself will raise the bar in Chicago.

We’ll have to wait and see how she’ll be incorporated into the Sky’s on court system and if it’s enough to push them deep into the playoffs. For one thing, we’re excited to see the 6’4” center use her guard-level ball-handling skills to initiate the offense and give Vandersloot some needed breaks.

The fact Candace Parker chose the Chicago Sky out of many eager admirers does as much for them off the court as it does inside the lines. Her signing has put an end to the era in which Chicago was a place where players didn’t want to play, while also solidifying the franchise’s refreshed, cohesive, Championship-caliber identity.

When Manchester United announced that Tobin Heath would be sidelined for 10-12 weeks with an ankle injury sustained in training, a significant blow was dealt to both the Reds and the U.S. Women’s National Team.

With the forward now rendered out for the next three months of the FAWSL season and the SheBelieves Cup, replicating Heath’s impact will prove a daunting task for both teams. But what exactly makes Heath an irreplaceable asset, and how will her loss be felt around the league?

 

TOBIN HEATH HAS BEEN AN IMPACT PLAYER FROM THE BEGINNING

As early as her college days, Tobin Heath was a standout player. Committing to the University of North Carolina in her junior year of high school, the up-and-coming star would go on to leave a lasting mark on the college soccer world. In her freshman year alone, she made 23 appearances for the Tar Heels, scoring four goals and assisting nine. In her sophomore and junior year, she combined for ten goals and thirteen assists, before wrapping up her senior season with five goals and ten assists.

With Heath’s help, UNC won three NCAA Division I championships in 2006, 2008, and 2009, as well as four ACC titles. Throughout her four years in Chapel Hill, Heath played alongside several future USWNT teammates, including Allie Long, Ashlyn Harris, and Jessica McDonald. She was also named the first runner-up for the MAC Hermann Trophy, an award presented to college soccer’s top player.

Upon concluding her impressive college career, Heath was selected first overall in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) draft by the Atlanta Beat. Unfortunately, Heath suffered an ankle injury in her third appearance with the team and missed the remainder of the season. She was later traded to Sky Blue FC, where she appeared in twelve matches for the team.

Upon the folding of the WPS, Heath spent time with the New York Fury and Paris Saint-Germain before finally landing with the Portland Thorns in 2013, where she quickly established herself as a franchise cornerstone.

 

A DOMINANT PLAYER FOR BOTH CLUB AND COUNTRY

In 70 appearances for the Thorns, Heath netted 13 goals and assisted another 21, all while leading Portland to two NWSL championships in 2013 and 2017 and an NWSL Shield in 2016. She also earned her fair share of individual awards, being named the NWSL Championship MVP in 2013 and recognized as a member of the NWSL Best XI in 2016, 2018, and 2019.

After Heath was left unprotected in the NWSL’s latest expansion draft, her rights were taken by Racing Louisville FC. Should she choose to leave Manchester United and return to the NWSL, she’ll be suiting up for the upstart franchise after a legendary stint with the Thorns. But though her NWSL achievements are impressive, they still pale in comparison to her accolades with the USWNT.

The 32-year-old has appeared in 169 matches for her country, in which she has scored 33 goals and logged 40 assists. Since making her debut with the USWNT in 2008, Heath has won two Olympic gold medals and two World Cup trophies, as well as two championship titles in the SheBelieves Cup. As a result of her efforts, she was named the US Soccer Female Athlete of the Year in 2016.

Needless to say, Tobin Heath has proven to be a valuable asset to any team fortunate enough to have her on their roster. This was especially evident when she joined Manchester United in September, her impact nearly instantaneous as she has notched four goals and two assists in only eight matches played.

As one can imagine, the news of Tobin Heath’s ankle injury took the soccer world by storm, leaving many to wonder not only who would step up to fill the void in United’s offense, but whether Heath’s injury would cost the club a chance at competing for a title.

Hopefully, some of these fears can be laid to rest following United’s handling of Everton last weekend, with goals from Christen Press and Ella Toone securing the 2-0 victory.

 

WHAT TOBIN HEATH BRINGS TO MAN UTD

United has relied on Heath’s quick thinking on and off the ball, as well as her ability to execute passes that lead to scoring opportunities, a skill she has only sharpened over the years. In eight appearances with the Red Devils, Heath boasts a 72.7% passing completion rate overall, completing 173 of 238 attempted passes.

Despite her ability to set up her teammates, it’s Heath shot which remains her most potent weapon. This year alone, she’s scored multiple jaw-dropping goals in a United uniform, some from beyond the eighteen.

It is likely that fellow United teammates Jess Sigsworth, Lauren James, Leah Galton, and Christen Press will shoulder the responsibility of accounting for Heath’s absence up top. Likewise, Press, Lynn Williams, Megan Rapinoe, and Carli Lloyd will be expected to take on a similar task during the SheBelieves Cup. Though the USWNT is full of elite talent, there is no player quite like Tobin Heath, and the pressure is on for Vlatko Adonovski as he searches for a placeholder.

 

THE IMPACT OF TOBIN HEATH’S INJURY ON THE FAWSL TITLE RACE

The domino effect of Heath’s injury certainly doesn’t end with the USWNT. In order for Manchester United to remain competitive in the FAWSL title race, Casey Stoney will also need someone to rise to the occasion… and fast. With a long road to recovery ahead, Heath is not expected to return to the pitch until April at the earliest. And though Manchester United has held onto their winning ways for now, they were recently leapfrogged by Chelsea for the top-spot in the league.

As the regular season progresses, Heath’s absence has the potential to drop United even further. But if they can at least keep pace with the other top FAWSL squads, Heath’s return could power the team on a closing sprint for the title.

Chelsea 2, Manchester United 1

GOALS: Chelsea: Pernille Harder 29’, Fran Kirby 65’; Man Utd: Lauren James 61’

All eyes were on the FA Women’s Super League this week as Chelsea and Manchester United faced off with first place in the table at stake. Chelsea, who sat in second place with a 7-0-2 record and 23 points prior to Sunday’s contest, defeated the Reds, 2-1, to move in front thanks to goals from Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby. With the win, Chelsea is now the only undefeated team in the league, having knocked Manchester United from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Here’s what we learned from this weekend’s thrilling tilt between the league’s two best teams.

 

1. Chelsea provides a level of competition that Manchester United is not yet accustomed to.

United’s most recent contest was a 6-1 blowout against Bristol City, the last-place team in the table. Prior to that match, many of Manchester United’s victories had been won by a margin of two goals or less. A win is a win, and each of these victories was certainly an achievement when considering the competition. Among their opponents were top-tier squads such as Everton, Reading, and Arsenal, all members of the top six in league standings, and during these tilts, Manchester United appeared comfortable and in control of the flow of each game.

The opposite was true from the opening whistle on Sunday, as Chelsea dominated the first 45 minutes of play, something no other team has done to United. At halftime, a goal by Pernille Harder saw Chelsea up with a 1-0 advantage, after the Blues booked 11 first-half shots, 4 of which were on target, whereas Manchester United had taken only 2 shots, none of which were on target.

If one thing was inherently clear following Sunday’s match, it’s this — Chelsea provides a level of competition that Manchester United is not yet accustomed to experiencing. Finding themselves on the defensive against elite talents such as Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby, and Pernille Harder, United appeared lackluster when threatened by a fellow top squad. Despite equalizing midway through the second half, United was unable to complete a comeback.

In just their second FAWSL season, United had surprised many by advancing to the top of the table. And while they’ve proven they belong with the best of the best, this loss will certainly sting, as it gave United a chance to prove themselves against a traditional power in Chelsea.

 

2. The absence of Lauren James and Tobin Heath was detrimental.

In an interesting decision from Manchester United manager Casey Stoney, both Tobin Heath and Lauren James were left out of the starting line-up and were instead available as substitutes. Heath has scored four goals and notched two assists for the Reds this season, and though Lauren James had yet to score ahead of today’s match, she booked 6 goals in 12 games for her squad during the 2019/2020 season.

Upon the announcement of the starting line-up, many United faithful were speculating that Stoney would utilize the offensive talents as impact substitutes during the second half.

With United down 1-0 at the beginning of the second half, Lauren James came off the bench and made an instant impact, scoring the equalizer in the 61st minute to deadlock the score at 1-1. Surprisingly, Heath never entered the match as a substitute, leaving observers puzzled as to if there were ulterior reasons for her exclusion from Sunday’s game.

It begs the question, would the inclusion of James and Heath (if she was truly available) in the starting line-up have resulted in a different outcome for Manchester United? After all, many of United’s scoring chances are a direct result of the efforts of these two players — and the first half alone indicates that their absence is detrimental to the Reds’ offense. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, as United has to be left wondering if they put their best foot forward in the biggest match of the year.

 

3. It’s Fran Kirby’s world, and we’re just living in it.

Following an outstanding four-goal performance in Chelsea’s last match against Reading FC, Fran Kirby was yet again the hero. After receiving a long ball from goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, Kirby beat three United defenders in a footrace and buried a shot past Mary Earps and into the far left corner of the net. Kirby’s goal would give the Blues the edge they needed to seal the 2-1 victory and surge into first place in the table.

In just two games, Kirby has notched five goals, bringing her season total to eight. She now ranks among the league’s top scorers, second to only Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema.

In an interview ahead of Sunday’s tilt, Kirby assured reporters that the Blues would be ready for Manchester United: “It’s going to be really tough. They are coming to our home. We’ve got to be ready and I’m sure after another good week of training we will be ready to go… Everyone’s excited for the game, we want to keep on playing and keep on winning.”

Keep on winning, indeed — and with Kirby playing at this level, Chelsea is nearly unstoppable given the surplus of superstar talent they have in support. Their undefeated streak has survived another day, and looks to be relatively safe with a game against last-place Bristol City scheduled for this weekend. A more interesting test should come this Wednesday in their FAWSL Cup quarter-final match against Manchester City, who recently signed USWNT player Abby Dahlkemper as they gear up for their own run at a FAWSL title.

In another blockbuster signing for the FA Women’s Super League, North Carolina Courage and U.S. Women’s National Team center back Abby Dahlkemper has inked a 2.5-year contract with Manchester City, as first reported by Meg Linehan of the Athletic. Dahlkemper joins USWNT teammates Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle in the move across the pond, in what is another stellar addition to City’s championship-caliber squad.

Dahlkemper is an elite talent in the prime of her career.  She’s appeared in 62 matches for the USWNT, notching three assists and one World Cup trophy for her country. During the 2019 World Cup, she was the only player aside from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to start every match of the tournament.

In four seasons with the North Carolina Courage, Dahlkemper has won three NWSL Shields, two NWSL Championships, was named the NWSL Defender of the Year in 2017, and thrice made the NWSL Best XI, in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Prior to the franchise’s move to North Carolina, Dahlkemper also won a NWSL Championship with the Western New York Flash as well as a NCAA Championship and the Honda Sports Award during her time at UCLA.

One look at Dahlkemper’s stats makes clear her outstanding consistency at center back. During the NWSL’s recent Fall Series, Dahlkemper started all four matches for the Courage, burying a penalty against the Houston Dash in the first match of the series. More impressive, however, were Dahlkemper’s passing abilities: in the defensive third, she maintained a 92% passing accuracy to go along with her 60.3% accuracy in the attacking third. 149 of her 193 attempted passes were successful, equating to a 77.2% passing success rate through 360 minutes of play.

During the Challenge Cup last spring, Dahlkemper had a 100% success rate in tackles, a 60% success rate in duels, and a 57.1% success rate in aerial duels. She also logged 15 clearances, three blocks, and two interceptions, while simultaneously maintaining an 85.1% passing success rate. That level of consistency and control will allow Dahlkemper to immediately slide into her role as a security blanket in City’s defensive third.

Needless to say, City’s gain is the Courage’s loss, especially when coupled with North Carolina’s recent trade of fellow USWNT superstar Crystal Dunn to the Portland Thorns. Dahlkemper’s move is also another blow to the NWSL as a whole in its ongoing battle with the European leagues for the best soccer talent in the world.

When Tobin Heath, Christen Press, Mewis and Lavelle all decamped to the FAWSL in the fall, fans were forced to call into question whether the NWSL was doing enough to retain its biggest stars. Dahlkemper’s signing, along with Catarina Macario’s decision to forgo the 2021 NWSL draft in order to sign with Lyon, will only amplify the scrutiny.

While there’s much to be excited about in the NWSL’s future, including three new expansion teams in Louisville, Sacramento, and Los Angeles, the ongoing talent leak of household names is becoming a serious concern.

Hard not to think the #NWSL is on the ropes. Either that or they need a new marketing strategy so #USWNT players going to #WSL doesnu2019t affect their shine. Hope Iu2019m wrong! https://t.co/TpDl2TKqIo

— Annie O'Carroll (@OcarrollAnnie) January 14, 2021

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When Heath, Press, and Alex Morgan jumped to England, the narrative was that these veteran national team players were simply looking to get games in ahead of next summer’s Olympics. (Both Heath and Press’ contracts with Manchester United expire at the end of the 2020/2021 season, and Morgan has already returned to the Orlando Pride after playing for Tottenham in the fall.)

But with a younger generation signing long-term deals with European clubs, it’s hard not wonder if this is the beginning of a trend, and if in the future, we’ll continue to see more American players abandon the NWSL for better opportunities in Europe.

Whether the reasoning for these signings is to obtain better preparation for the Olympics, concern over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, or simply better compensation, the loss of this many high-profile players is becoming a critical issue, especially as the NWSL looks poised to rapidly expand its national profile in the coming years.

We’re still a few signings away from full-on panic mode, and in the meantime, it’s hard not to be excited at the prospect of seeing Dahlkemper, Mewis and Lavelle on one field together. Mewis in particular has thrived for City, who currently sit at 4th in the table. The club is well within the title hunt, and a talent like Dahlkemper could easily take them to the next level, whether that’s this season or in the two to follow.

The Football Association is under fire mere days after the second half of the season began due to lack of communication and consistency surrounding COVID-19 protocols. The FA is now facing quite a bit of criticism, and clubs and fans are awaiting answers.

It started when Arsenal confirmed that one of their players had tested positive for COVID-19 after three of their players took a trip to Dubai, UAE during the holiday break. According to the club, they were not aware that their players were traveling. Still, after an investigation by the club, Arsenal concluded that the trip was made for ‘business’ reasons, which means that the players will face no punishment.

Manchester City face similar problems as four of their players who also decided to take a trip to Dubai contacted COVID-19. Unlike Arsenal, the players apparently did inform the club prior to traveling. The club sanctioned the trip because at the time Manchester was a Tier 3 zone (Very High Alert zone), not a Tier 4 zone (Stay at Home zone).

Because of these turn of events, both Arsenal and Manchester City requested from the FA that they postpone their upcoming fixtures against Aston Villa and West Ham respectively, with City also asking their tie against Chelsea in the FAWSL League Cup be delayed as well. Both clubs informed the FA that they would be unable to field 14 players since they have players who did not travel isolating as a precaution.

According to The Times, more than ten players from the WSL (including the seven from Manchester City and Arsenal) travelled to Dubai for a holiday. Manchester United’s manager, Casey Stoney, confirmed that players from her team were permitted to go on the trip, but apologized for allowing them to travel.

The FA postponed Arsenal’s match against Aston Villa (despite Villa appealing the decision for the game to be called off — they now have had three games postponed due to COVID) as well as Manchester City’s two matches against Chelsea and West Ham. They’ve also postponed Manchester United’s match against Everton due to Everton not being able to field 14 players because of positive COVID tests and an abundance of injuries. This makes it all the more confusing when manager Willie Kirk confirmed that all of Everton’s latest round of testing came back negative.

That being said, the FA has appeared wildly inconsistent, with Birmingham City’s request to postpone their match against Tottenham this Sunday because they only have ten match-fit players denied.

Birmingham have one positive case, the same as Arsenal, but because they have a smaller squad than other teams, and are suffering an injury crisis, they are unable to even field a starting XI. Despite the FA denying the request, the match was called off, and the outcome of it will be determined by an independent tribunal.

Yes, Birmingham having a smaller squad is not the FA’s fault, but the club does not have the funds to strengthen its ranks like some of its counterparts in the league. And now they’re being punished for it, as the FA will not be rescheduling the fixture. The decision is hardly consistent with the decision made for the Manchester United vs Everton fixture given that Everton’s situation is not dissimilar to Birmingham’s.

With all these postponements, many are wondering why Birmingham have not been given the same courtesy, and why this situation was not handled the same back in November when Bristol City had five players test positive for COVID. The FA also denied their request to postpone the match, and Bristol were forced to play several academy players in their 8-1 loss against Manchester City.

Bristol have asked the FA for clarification about their rulings regarding what qualifies an outbreak within a club as early in the season; the FA informed clubs that if a team were unable to field a squad of 14 players, they would be granted permission to postpone the match — a luxury that Bristol City were denied in November. Their manager, Tanya Oxtoby, reiterated that she was not pleased, stating that the club “asked for clarification from the FA around the 14 player rule and what that looks like because we were given 90 minutes to find our players before we had to travel up to Manchester City [back in November]. The timing of the [FA’s] announcement and the amount of time clubs would have had to find 14 players from academies, have them registered and tested probably is the bit we’re looking for clarification on.”

Oxtoby has every right to feel frustrated when the FA refuses to be transparent about why “bigger’ clubs are getting special treatment, especially since the clubs getting favour had players who acted incredibly irresponsibly by travelling over the break. Although Arsenal claim that the trip was for “business”, that’s hard to believe, given that the players’ job, the “business” they should actually be handling, requires they are healthy and available for matches in the UK. Not to mention, several players posted pictures on Instagram of beaches and parties during their time in Dubai.

Furthermore, it seems unlikely that clubs who only had a few players go to Dubai are not able to field a squad of 14. It then becomes a question as to whether the clubs just do not want to play the match without their best players. With the clubs having an out by the FA postponing matches rather than making the clubs forfeit and awarding the opponents with the win, and both the FA and the clubs letting off their players for acting irresponsible, Oxtoby is right to call out the apparent favoritism.

And she’s not the only one. After the FA’s decision, fans and reporters took to Twitter to voice their frustrations, using the hashtag #DubaiGate to criticize those who travelled.

Several FAWSL players also took to Twitter to voice their frustration with the decisions. Chelsea players Fran Kirby, Bethany England, and Carly Telford were clearly agitated with their match against City being postponed, with Kirby highlighting that their already packed schedule will give the FA little room to fit the game in down the line.

Reading’s Emma Mitchell was a bit more direct in voicing her frustrations on Twitter, tagging the FA directly regarding the Arsenal match being postponed came out. West Ham’s Gilly Flaherty stated that women footballers had worked too hard to be recognized as professionals to throw it away by not remaining humble.

The FA needs to step up and communicate to clubs and players what the proper procedure is for all teams, ensuring that the rule is applied equally to all.

And there needs to come a point where these clubs, regardless of how big they are or how successful they’ve been in the past, must be punished with points and wins being awarded to their opponents if they continue to act irresponsibly while failing to foresee to see the consequences of their actions.

As the FA Women’s Super League wrapped up their ninth gameweek of the season, Manchester United cemented their place atop the league standings, Chelsea added another big win over Brighton & Hove Albion, and Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema continued her reign as the league’s top scorer.

But beneath the biggest headlines, a small cohort of players likewise used the weekend to cement their status as among the most important footballers playing today. They may not win any end-of-year hardware, but that hasn’t stopped these four women from proving just how critical they are to their teams’ success.

 

CAROLINE WEIR, MANCHESTER CITY

Caroline Weir rightfully tops our list after having been a key player in Manchester City’s most recent wins over Everton and Arsenal. In eight appearances this season, Weir has booked three assists and a goal — her one score being the game-winner in Sunday’s contest against Arsenal, which she rocketed home in the final minutes of stoppage time. Though a quiet presence in her first few games with Manchester City, Weir has emerged as an asset in City’s midfield as of late, her excellent passing talent and ability to think quickly on the ball endearing the 25-year-old to both her teammates and the City faithful.

Following her standout performance, which lifted City to a needed victory over Arsenal, Weir said: “Our performances have grown as the season has gone on, and I think you can see how we want to play now. It takes a bit of time but the depth of quality in the squad means that we can rotate, and to go unbeaten for so long is obviously a positive thing, and that’s what we are going to need going forward,” she continued. “That was my first goal of the season, so I have been waiting a while for it. The team needed the three points and we’re delighted we came out on top in the end.”

After struggling with inconsistency as a team earlier on in the season, Weir’s presence in the midfield has helped steady the Blues, who are now firmly in position to compete for the title.

 

LEAH GALTON, MANCHESTER UNITED

Scoring her second goal in two games this weekend was Manchester United’s Leah Galton. Beating a defender up the left flank, the forward took a touch towards her left foot, burying a shot past Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney. Galton’s goal would be a contributing factor in United’s 2-1 win over Reading FC, keeping her squad undefeated through nine matches with a 7-2-0 record.

The young player has appeared in all nine of United’s games this season, notching three goals and two assists.

The forward’s stellar performance in Sunday’s match earned her the honor of Barclays Player of the Match, with fans and fellow teammates alike having high praise for her consistency and quality of play. As for Galton’s thoughts on the match, she acknowledged the importance of every contest moving forward should Manchester United want to remain atop the table in a post-game interview, not losing sight of what matters most to Casey Stoney’s team.

United’s dominance has been the biggest surprise this season, in what is only their second FAWSL campaign. But if Galton can maintain both her on-field play and her big-picture attitude, the Red Devils could be on track for a historic finish.

ALEX MORGAN, TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

A major recent storyline in the FA Women’s Super League has been the resurgence of Tottenham Hotspur since the hiring of new manager Rehanne Skinner. Now sitting at eighth place in the table, a major contributor to the Spurs’ surprising win streak has been USWNT forward Alex Morgan. In the Spurs’ match against Aston Villa, Morgan logged her second goal in two games, driving home yet another penalty kick to draw first blood for her team in the 13th minute, as Tottenham went on to defeat Aston Villa in a comfortable fashion, 3-1.

Not only did Morgan get on the scoresheet this weekend, but she logged valuable minutes of playing time — starting the match and playing the entire game, something she has not done since returning to the pitch since the birth of her daughter. Her performance also earned her a spot in the Barclays FAWSL Team of the Week, selected by Siobhan Chamberlain.

It’s worth noting that Tottenham has not lost a single match that Morgan has played in — in case her importance to the Spurs wasn’t already obvious.

 

SAM MEWIS, MANCHESTER CITY

Joining Caroline Weir on the scoresheet for Manchester City this weekend was none other than the “Tower of Power” herself, Sam Mewis. Down by a goal early on thanks to Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema, City was in desperate need of an equalizer. After 28 minutes of play, City would get their opportunity, as Chloe Kelly lofted a corner kick into the Arsenal box. The ball met the head of Mewis, who redirected a header into the lower 90 to notch her third (!) goal of the season for the Blues.

After heading in another goal in Man City’s FA Cup Final win over Everton in November, Mewis is starting to cement her reputation as a player who quite literally rises to the occasion.

Like Alex Morgan, Mewis was also named to the Barclays FAWSL Team of the Week as City handed Arsenal another loss to move into fourth place in the table. Now edging even closer to a top-three finish on the season, City will rely on players like Mewis to maintain a strong midfield and continue on with their winning ways.

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE FA WSL

December 20th

Manchester United vs. Bristol City @ 7:00 a.m. EST

Arsenal vs. Everton @ 7:30 a.m. EST

Birmingham City vs. Manchester City @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Chelsea vs. Tottenham @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Reading FC @ 9:30 a.m. EST

West Ham United vs. Aston Villa @ 10:00 a.m. EST

MATCH INFO:

Manchester City 2, Arsenal 1

Goals: Vivianne Miedema – 3’, Sam Mewis – 30’, Caroline Weir – 90+4’

The most anticipated matchup of the weekend saw Manchester City host Arsenal, two teams at the top of the FAWSL table battling it out to keep their title hopes alive.

In the media buildup to the match, Arsenal’s Jen Beattie spoke to the media for the first time about her breast cancer diagnosis.

The Arsenal defender was diagnosed back in October but has still been able to appear for the North London club and make her mark this season. She scored Arsenal’s third goal in their 0-5 win against Brighton Hove & Albion a few days after her diagnosis.

Beattie, who also played for Manchester City before becoming an Arsenal player, was celebrated by both teams during the match warm-up as all the players donned Beattie’s top.

Vivianne Miedema opened up the scoring early on, only for Sam Mewis to tie the game in the 30th minute. Heading into the 90th minute, it looked like the points would be shared at the Manchester City Academy Stadium, with the match still tied at 1-1. But after six minutes were added on, City managed to pull out a miraculous winner in the 94th minute.

City’s narrow victory revealed quite a bit about the state of both teams, as well as the trajectory of the FAWSL title race this season.

1. Arsenal needs to find a way to continue their press throughout a match, or they’ll continue dropping important games. 

From the first whistle, it was clear that Arsenal head coach Joe Montemurro had instructed his side to press a lot higher than they usually do. Manchester City are one of the best teams in the league when it comes to  high press, and it’s clear that Montemurro wanted his side to match their opponent. It’s also clear that Gareth Taylor did not expect Arsenal’s tactics to be as aggressive, as his side looked shell-shocked by Arsenal’s pressure, which led to Manchester City making silly errors and giving Vivianne Miedema a golden opportunity in just the third minute.

Despite Arsenal not having the best start to the season, Miedema is having a fantastic personal season, yet again. The top goalscorer in the league the past two seasons, Miedema’s goal against City was her 11th in the league this year, as she once again finds herself the top scorer in the WSL.

The hope was that the early goal would rejuvenate Arsenal and they’d continue with their pressing tactics to catch a stunned Manchester City off guard. Instead, their early lead made them more complacent, and the aggressiveness toned down after a mere ten minutes, allowing their opponents to grow into the game, with Manchester City racking up 18 shots (16 on target) compared to Arsenal’s two.

Post match, Montemurro admitted that his side faces a ‘mental block’ when playing big teams. Arsenal has yet to beat Manchester City, Chelsea, or Manchester United this season, in both league matches and the FA Cup.

The team has consistently started games with high intensity, only to drop off and allow the other team to then set the pace. It’s been disappointing to watch week after week, as the current roster is significantly better than their results would suggest.

It’ll be interesting to see how Arsenal fares against Everton next week. Everton may not be one of the traditional “big clubs,” but the team certainly looked like one earlier this season. Arsenal should be able to beat Everton, especially since they will be playing at home, but if they fall into the trap of dropping off early into the game, expect Everton to take advantage.

2. Caroline Weir (and her left foot) is crucial to Manchester City

Had this match ended in a 1-1 draw, Manchester City would have had 16 points, leaving them seven points behind league leaders Manchester United — a huge gap to make up. With the gap now at five, it makes things a bit easier on City. Simply put, Weir’s winning goal in the 94th minute has allowed Manchester City to stay within reach of the title race.

City has been excellent this season, both collectively and as individuals. Weir is someone who has been playing a crucial role at City since her arrival in 2018. The team is known for scoring in abundance, and while as a midfielder, it isn’t Weir’s job to actually score them, she continues to contribute by finding spaces to exploit, creating chances, and racking up assists.

City’s last league match, prior to hosting Arsenal, was away at Everton, which they won 3-0, with Weir assisting every one of their goals. Her fantastic performance in Liverpool is likely what got her the start against Arsenal, and she once again repaid her manager’s trust. Should she continue to start, Manchester City can go into matches with the confidence that they don’t even need their best goalscorers to find the back of the net in order to still score in abundance.

3. The top of the FAWSL table is as competitive as ever

With five points separating first and fourth place in the table, the teams at the top have continued to give fans a thrilling title race. The hope is that it continues right down to the wire, and we see the competitiveness remain until the final match weeks.

Four teams chasing a title is a treat, and the champions will likely be whoever can come out on top in the head to head matches, since the top four have consistently been able to beat the other eight teams. At this point, it is hard to gauge who that will be, which only makes it all the more exciting.