Arsenal and North Carolina Courage are in advanced talks to send star defender Emily Fox across the pond. 

Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall has hinted at adding more players this offseason, and Fox could be sent to Arsenal on a free transfer, according to a report from OneFootball. Fox may be moving in the January transfer window, per Arsenal reporter Tim Stillman. Fox is a restricted free agent, though, so nothing is certain yet.

“Ideally was hoping to say this after a win (!) but I understand that USWNT right-back Emily Fox to Arsenal in January is at an advanced stage,” Stillman wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 

The 25-year-old defender made 17 starts for the Courage in the 2023 season. She also started in all four matches for the U.S. women’s national team at the 2023 World Cup. She is versatile enough to play both left and right back and is a key target in the Gunners’ plans, according to the latest reports.

Phallon Tullis-Joyce has been hard at work with Manchester United after making the move to the English club earlier this year.

Tullis-Joyce started 2023 as the starting goalkeeper for OL Reign before making the move to the Women’s Super League. Now she’s the backup for England starter Mary Earps, who was named the best goalkeeper at the 2023 World Cup in August. Earps, though, could be on the move at conclusion of the 2023-24 WSL season, which would put Tullis-Joyce in line for the starting spot.

As Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner told Chris Brookes, he’s been happy with how the 27-year-old American (and U.S. women’s national team prospect) has adapted since her move from the NWSL.

“She’s having to adapt to shorter passes, medium, and obviously some longer-range to make sure we mix up the opponent – but I think it’s about the speed in which she does that,” Skinner said, noting the increased ball possession in the English compared to the U.S. league.

Skinner is no stranger to the NWSL, having coached the Orlando Pride from 2019 to 2021.

“I’ve been to the NWSL and there’s a lot of quality there, a lot of individual dribbling quality, a lot of high-speed energy,” he continued, noting that the WSL is “a little bit more tactically designed,” which Tullis-Joyce is learning.

Even still, it isn’t taking much for her to adjust. Skinner likened the process to “sharpening her tools.”

“I’ll be very clear: she has all of the foundations,” Skinner said. “I’ve never seen a goalkeeper make the saves that she makes, honestly. … She’s so athletic. I think it’s just making sure she can make those in big moments.

“She’s such an astute learner, she literally takes a notepad into everywhere she goes. So, you’re going to see a real character that, I think after this season once she’s had these kind of games, I think you’re going to see a world-class goalkeeper. I really do. She’s got all of the qualities she needs.”

Incoming U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes is among the three finalists for the FIFA Best Coach award.

Hayes was nominated for her work with English club Chelsea, marking her third time as a finalist for the award. With Hayes at the helm, Chelsea won the FA Women’s Super League for the fourth straight season and the FA Cup for the third straight season in 2023.

Upon the conclusion of Chelsea’s WSL season in May 2024, Hayes will join the USWNT as its manager.

Hayes is joined on the shortlist for the FIFA women’s coach award by England’s Sarina Wiegman, who led the Lionesses to a runner-up finish at this summer’s World Cup, and FC Barcelona’s Jonatan Giráldez. Under Giráldez, Barcelona won the Primera División, the Supercopa de España and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Among the 16 nominees for FIFA Best Player is Lindsey Horan, the lone contender from the USWNT. Spain and England each tied for the most nominees with four. Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí, who won the World Cup Golden Ball and Ballon d’Or, is among the nominees.

The award winners are set to be announced on Jan. 15 in London.

The problem with picking a starting goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s national team is this: There might not be a deeper or more talented position pool from which to choose.

Alyssa Naeher has held the starting spot since before the 2019 World Cup. But the 35-year-old was left off the national team roster for the last camp of 2023 in favor of giving other goalkeepers some looks. That’s not unusual and is in fact a good sign for the team, which will have the opportunity to evaluate its options as the coaching staff plans for the 2024 Olympics.

Still, Naeher’s absence does beg the question: Who is the future at goalkeeper? Just Women’s Sports is taking a look at who could be next in line.

One note: Left off this list is Aubrey Kingsbury. While the Washington Spirit starter has proved herself as a viable USWNT backup, the 32-year-old is only three years younger than Naeher. If the national team is looking for its next long-term starter, it is a little more difficult to make the argument for Kingsbury over the names on this list.

Casey Murphy

Murphy, 27, already is an experienced USWNT backup who now has one World Cup under her belt. She also has experience starting for the USWNT, having made 16 total appearances in goal, 12 of which were shutouts. She has not conceded a goal in her three starts so far in 2023.

On top of being a reliable option for the USWNT, Murphy also is the starting goalkeeper for the NWSL’s North Carolina Courage. She was among the league’s best goalkeepers in 2023, conceding just 20 goals in 20 starts and holding a 74.2 save percentage, good for seventh in the league. Her nine clean sheets in 2023 ranked first in the NWSL, her second time topping the league in clean sheets in three years.

Murphy also has some international experience, having played for Montpellier in France’s Division 1 Féminine. Murphy’s international experience, combined with her standout performance in club play, make her a compelling candidate for taking over the starting spot when Naeher eventually steps away.

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(Charlotte Tattersall/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Phallon Tullis-Joyce

If there is one player who could fit under the new-look USWNT squad led by new coach Emma Hayes, it’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

The 27-year-old departed OL Reign in 2023 for Manchester United, which is also home to World Cup Golden Glove winner Mary Earps. Earps is rumored to be departing Manchester United at the end of the Women’s Super League season, which could set up Tullis-Joyce to step into the starting spot for one of England’s best clubs.

Tullis-Joyce already is a top-notch keeper, having finished her time with OL Reign with 47 appearances, 135 saves and 15 clean sheets. She holds the club record for most clean sheets in regular season play with 13, and she ranks third on the club’s all-time regular-season saves list (110). In 2022, she ranked first in the NWSL in clean sheets (9), save percentage (81.3) and goals against per 90 (0.86). She also ranked fourth in saves and third in clean sheet percentage.

While she struggled to start the 2023 NW season relative to her 2022 performance, the move to Manchester United could prove beneficial for Tullis-Joyce and for the USWNT. Under Hayes, it’s likely that international club experience will be valued highly. After all, much has been made about the changes in the international game and how the USWNT’s players need to change with it.

A goalkeeper who has experience playing against some of the world’s best players in Europe (and keep in mind Tullis-Joyce also played professionally in France) could prove vital, especially as the 27-year-old takes this season to play under one of the best goalkeepers in the game in Earps.

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(Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Jane Campbell

The 2023 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, Campbell has been playing her way back into consideration for the USWNT. And she was given that chance this month, as she was named to the national team roster for the December friendlies against China.

Campbell’s NWSL season was an outstanding one for the Houston Dash, with the keeper making a league-leading 93 saves and recording eight shutouts all while boasting an astounding 0.83 goals against average in 22 games played. She also conceded the fewest goals (18), even though she ranked third in the league in shots on target faced (108).

With Campbell in net, the Dash came within one goal of the NWSL record for fewest goals conceded in a season. (The record of 17 was set by the North Carolina Courage in 2017 and matched by the Portland Thorns in 2021.)

Campbell has spent time in USWNT camp before, having bounced in and out of senior national team camp since 2013 and making her international debut in 2017. She also spent extensive time in U.S. Soccer’s youth development system. The 28-year-old has made seven international appearances, and she was on the USWNT roster for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where the team won bronze.

As a player in which the USWNT already has invested time, if Campbell continues the trend she started in 2023, she could find her way not just back onto the national team but into the starting spot.

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(Kiyoshi Mio/USA TODAY Sports)

Claudia Dickey

At just 23 years old, Claudia Dickey very well may be the goalkeeper of the future for the USWNT. A former UNC Tar Heel who was the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NWSL draft, Dickey took over the OL Reign starting spot from Phallon Tullis-Joyce during the 2023 Challenge Cup. She made three starts in the Challenge Cup, recording 12 saves and not allowing a single goal.

She then started in the remaining six games of the season as Tullis-Joyce departed for Manchester United. In the playoffs, she helped lead the team to an appearance in the NWSL championship final, setting the club record for shutouts in the NWSL playoffs with two. She also became just the fifth NWSL goalkeeper to earn a shutout in her postseason debut.

“My thing with her is just how much she’s improved since taking over the Reign starting job midseason, and she’s particularly fearless coming off her line,” Just Women’s Sports writer Claire Watkins says. “So I like her intangibles. She’s young, so the rest can be coached.”

While Dickey is inexperienced, she’s shown bright spots with a club that boasted big USWNT names such as Megan Rapinoe, Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett. While still young, she will continue to develop under head coach Laura Harvey after signing a contract extension through 2025. By the time that the 2027 World Cup rolls around, she could at the very least warrant a look for the backup position – if not the starting spot.

Gotham FC and USWNT midfielder Kristie Mewis is enjoying the offseason, spending part of it in London alongside her fiancée Sam Kerr, who plays for Chelsea.

On Sunday, Mewis vlogged one of her London days, which included going to a Women’s Super League game to cheer on Kerr and the Blues.

“Going to Sam’s games is literally like my favorite thing in the entire world,” Mewis said in the TikTok video.

Mewis’ day included going to get a coffee before the game at her “favorite cafe.” She ordered an iced coffee, as well as what she called “best ham and cheese I’ve ever had,” before hopping into a cab to go watch Kerr play.

Kerr made the trip worthwhile, scoring a goal in Chelsea’s 5-2 win over Leicester City. The two then went and got food before heading home for the day.

“I love to share my relationship on social media,” Mewis told told soccer lifestyle magazine Gaffer earlier this year. “So I think if we can change the way one or two people feel about themselves, they can look at us and see that we’re happy and we’re trying to be as successful as we can and we’re an out gay couple. I think that that’s so important.”

@kmewis19

♬ original sound - Kristie mewis

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes is upset with the officiating in her club’s 2-2 draw against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Controversial decisions “robbed” the English club from a win in its first match of the Champions League group stage, Hayes said. In the second half, two key decisions went against the Blues, with a questionable penalty awarded to Madrid in the 78th minute and a would-be last-minute winner for Chelsea ruled offside.

“I think we’ve been robbed of what should have been a 3-1 game,” said Hayes, who has been named head coach of the U.S. women’s national team.

Video assistant referee (VAR) review was not available. After the match, UEFA released a statement on VAR is being rolled out gradually across its competitions, though it did not provide any timeline for when it might come to the Women’s Champions League group stage.

“UEFA already plans to implement VAR at the UEFA Women’s Nations League finals next year and will continuously evaluate the possibility to implement VAR in competitions or stages of competitions where it hasn’t been so far,” the statement read.

In the fifth and final minute of stoppage time of Wednesday’s draw, Chelsea scored on a close-range goal from Niamh Charles. But the flag was raised for offside, to the confusion of coaches and players alike. While Kerr was in an offside position, it was not in a way that impacted play, Hayes said.

“It’s embarrassing,” Hayes said. “I had to check because Niamh’s onside, but the reason the goal was ruled offside was because Sam [Kerr] was interfering with the goalkeeper.

“[Kerr is] about seven yards away from the goalkeeper, she’s nowhere near her, so I cannot understand the decision whatsoever.”

Following the draw, other players called out the lack of VAR, which isn’t set to be used in Champions League competition until the knockout rounds.

“I think it has to be used in the Champions League from minute one when the group stage starts,” Barcelona winger Caroline Graham Hansen said Thursday. “Every year we are doing things to improve [the game], but it’s clear that it should be utilised in the group phase as well as the knockouts.

“Like [this week], the games are intense, there are a lot of decisive situations and, at the end of the day, I think everyone just wants games to end with the result as it should end. If we can have help, that helps.”

Her teammate Salma Paralluelo echoed the calls for VAR.

“At the end of the day, VAR is a tool that makes things as fair as possible on the pitch because of the support it provides,” Paralluelo said. “Not having it can lead to wrong decisions. We need it both in the league and in the Champions League [group phase]. I think it is super necessary.”

The timeline for Catarina Macario’s return to soccer remains up in the air.

The 24-year-old midfielder has not played in the almost 18 months since she tore her ACL in a league match for Lyon in June 2022. She signed with Chelsea in the offseason but has yet to make her debut with the Blues.

And Macario has been left off the 24-player squad for the UEFA Champions League group stage. The 16-team group stage kicks off on Nov. 14 and runs through Jan. 31.

Led by soon-to-be U.S. coach Emma Hayes, Chelsea will face Real Madrid in their first of six group-stage matches at 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 15. Chelsea and Real Madrid are in Group D with Häcken and Paris FC.

Should Chelsea reach the knockout stage, which begins in March, the Blues could add Macario to the roster. But it remains unclear when Macario will return to the field.

U.S. women’s national team interim head coach provided an update on Macario’s status in October, saying that the midfielder is still in recovery.

 

“Cat is integrating at Chelsea, she’s just not ready for international minutes yet,” Kilgore said. “We’re collaborating with them in terms of keeping in touch and making sure she has everything she needs, but she’s just not ready for international minutes yet.

“She’s just continuing on her timeline there and we trust the people that she’s working with and that she’s entrusted herself to. Things seem to be moving along well.”

Chelsea were prepared to pay Emma Hayes a lot of money to stay put. But ultimately the Women’s Super League club could not match what the U.S. women’s national team could offer, the London Evening Standard reported.

U.S. Soccer has approved the deal to bring Hayes to the women’s national team with a salary rivaling that of men’s coach Gregg Berhalter, who earned $1.6 million as of the federation’s 2022 financial filings, the Washington Post reported. According to the same report, Hayes has agreed to a “long-term contract” with the USWNT.

Former USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski made approximately $450,000 per year, according to U.S. Soccer’s financial filings.

Hayes signed a long-term contract with Chelsea in 2021, though her salary was not made public. While the club reportedly offered to quadruple it to keep her in house, as she has led Chelsea to six WSL titles in 11 seasons, she will make the leap across the pond and up to the international level at the end of the current season.

Hayes, 47, also is seeking better work-life balance, with that reportedly being a key factor in her decision to make the move, the London Evening Standard reported.

Emma Hayes is set to become the next head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, according to multiple reports.

The 47-year-old from England is stepping down as Chelsea head coach at the end of the Women’s Super League season, the club said Saturday. That announcement coincided with a flurry of reports that she is in advanced discussions with U.S. Soccer to take the helm of the national team.

Hayes’ is the “first choice” for the USWNT job, The Telegraph’s Tom Garry reported. The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and David Ornstein, The Equalizer’s Jeff Kassouf and Backheeled’s Joseph Lowery also confirmed that Hayes is in line for the USWNT opening.

While the Women’s Super League season does not end until May 2024, Hayes could join the USWNT during international breaks over the next seven months before stepping into the role full-time at the conclusion of the season, Backheeled reported.

Since Vlatko Andonovksi stepped down as USWNT manager in August in the aftermath of a disappointing World Cup run, Twila Kilgore has served as interim head coach for the September and October training camps. U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker had set a target deadline of December for the hiring of Andonovski’s replacement.

Hayes joined Chelsea as head coach in 2012. In her 11 seasons with the club, not including the 2023-24 season, she has won six league titles, five FA Cups, two FA League Cups and one Community Shield. Through five matches this season, Chelsea sit atop the WSL standings with 13 points.

“Given everything she has contributed to Chelsea in over a decade with the club, and the legacy she leaves behind, we would never stand in her way when she felt it was the right time to pursue a new challenge,” Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said in a news release.

“We are pleased that she will remain with the club for the remainder of the season to give us the time to identify her successor.”

Before joining Chelsea, Hayes worked in the United States as part of the Women’s Professional Soccer league, a precursor to the NWSL. Hayes served as the head coach for the Chicago Red Stars from 2008 until 2010 and then as the technical director for the Western New York Flash in 2011.

Hayes’ hiring by the USWNT comes as something of a surprise, as the The Athletic had reported that U.S. Soccer had three names at the top of its shortlist — and Hayes was not among them. Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson, Juventus head coach Joe Montemurro and OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey were the three candidates identified at the time, though The Athletic also had noted that others remained in consideration.

While she had not been linked to the USWNT job before Saturday, she had long been considered a contender due to her strong résumé. And at Chelsea, she is coaching two up-and-coming USWNT stars in Catarina Macario and Mia Fishel.

Fans who wanted to purchase Arsenal’s designer kits will soon be out of luck.

The bespoke away kit, created by adidas Creative Director Stella McCartney, was nearly sold out on Arsenal’s team shop as of early Saturday morning.

The team will debit the kit for an away Women’s Super League game at Manchester United on Oct. 6, marking the first time Arsenal’s women’s team will wear a different kit than the men.

“It’s so special to be marking this with a collection as playful and bold as this one,” Arsenal star Alessia Russo said in a press release. “For me, football has always been about having fun and getting creative – it’s why I got into it as a young girl and it’s what inspires me today.

“I love that this collection represents that, and I can’t wait to wear the shirt with pride on match day.”

As of early Saturday morning, there was only one size of the youth kit available, and the regular fit had only large and smaller sizes left. The authentic women’s and men’s fits were both sold out.

The eight-piece collection includes a shirt made with AEROREADY technology, which combines sweat-wicking and absorbent materials to ensure a dry feel.

“I love that the away jersey taps into the exciting intersection of fashion and football through its elevated geometric print and captivating hues – with technical performance materials at the core,” McCartney said. “It’s important that both players and fans alike can playfully express themselves as they move on and off the pitch, and we hope this bold, new collection can play a part in that.”

The men’s Arsenal team will wear the jerseys as a pre-match warmup before its game against Manchester City on Oct. 8.