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.

Cameron Brink already has her rookie of the year pick for the upcoming WNBA season, and it’s Indiana-bound star Caitlin Clark. 

In the latest edition of Kelley on the Street, host Kelley O'Hara caught up with Brink in New York hours before the Stanford phenom went No. 2 overall to the Los Angeles Sparks at the 2024 WNBA Draft. When O’Hara asked who would win the WNBA's rookie of the year, she answered without pause.

"Caitlin Clark," she said, while a fan commented that she thought Brink would take home the award. Brink later added that the extra foul granted to WNBA players will be "good for me."

"I hope it’s me," Charisma Osborne, who was later drafted by the Phoenix Mercury, said when asked her ROY prediction. "But, I don’t know — we’ll see."

Watch more of Kelley on the Street:

Maria Sanchez issued a statement on Thursday, confirming recent reports that she has requested a trade from the Houston Dash. 

In it, she revealed that the club has been aware of the request "since late March."

"This has all taken a toll and isn’t an easy thing to talk about, but I want to confirm that I’ve requested an immediate trade," she wrote. "My expectations and reasons have been clear. I trust that my current club’s management will honor my decision in a timely manner and proceed with accepting a trade."

"I’m eager to refocus and dive back into what I love most: playing football," she concluded.

Thank you, everyone, for the outpouring of kindness and support. pic.twitter.com/gcnN7dhCJU

— Maria Sanchez (@Maria17_7) April 19, 2024

Reports of Sanchez's trade request first surfaced on ESPN last week, and were later confirmed by multiple sources. 

In December of last year, Sanchez signed a three-year contract with the Dash valued at $1.5 million including bonuses and an option year. It was the largest contract in NWSL history at the time — a figure that would be eclipsed by multiple contracts in the following months. 

Sanchez spent the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning that Houston could match any other team's offer to retain her rights. Should the Dash trade Sanchez, her current contract terms would remain intact, limiting potential buyers to teams able to afford to take on an inking of that size.

The Dash has yet to address the trade, instead reiterating to ESPN that Sanchez is "under contract, a choice she made in free agency at the end of 2023." 

Both the NWSL trade window and transfer window close tonight, April 19th, at 12 a.m. ET. The window will stay closed through the next 11 regular season games, reopening on August 1st, 2024.

The four-time league champion Seattle Storm unveiled their new practice facility on Thursday, with Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel dubbing Interbay's Seattle Storm Center for Basketball Performance the team’s "new home."

"It's just such a special space," Brummel told Fox 13 Seattle. "I think when the players get here, it's gonna be overwhelming."

The sprawling 50,000-square-foot, $64 million property is just the second designated practice facility to be designed and built expressly for a WNBA team, with the Storm further noting that 85% of all design and engineering team members involved in the project's construction were women and people of color. The finished product holds two professional indoor courts, two 3x3 outdoor courts, a state-of-the-art locker room, and players' lounge, plus designated areas for strength and conditioning, kitchen, dining, and nutrition, and recovery. 

"This facility reflects our commitment to providing our athletes an exceptional environment that supports their growth, health, and performance," said Storm co-owner Ginny Gilder in an official team release. "It’s built for women, by women, embodying our dedication to leading the way in professional women’s sports."

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For their part, the team can't wait to make the faciilty their own.

"It's amazing," Storm guard Jewell Loyd told Fox 13. "Not having to drive everywhere around, knowing you have access anytime of the day to get into the gym, to workout." 

Head coach Noelle Quinn said she predicts the team is "never going to leave this building."

"Which is a good thing for me," she continued. "You talk about having an edge in performance. We want our athletes to not only perform on the court, but get whatever they need."

All of the Storm's staff and operations will now live under one roof, and the team also has plans to launch a youth basketball program operating out of the building.

The Caitlin Clark effect is quickly making its mark on the big leagues, as WNBA host teams around the country rush to upgrade their Fever games to larger arenas in order to accommodate surging ticket sales.

With Clark mere weeks away from her Indiana Fever debut, both the Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have officially relocated their scheduled home games with head coach Christie Sides' squad. On Thursday, the Mystics became the latest to adjust their plans, moving their June 7th matchup from Entertainment & Sports Arena in Southwest DC to the more centrally located — and much larger — Capital One Arena "due to unprecedented demand."

The Mystics home court's capacity taps out at 4,200, while Capital One Arena — home to the Wizards, Capitals, and Georgetown Hoya's Men's Basketball — can fit nearly five times that crowd at some 20,000 spectators.

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"The move to Capital One Arena will allow for additional fans in the stands as well as premium hospitality options, including Suites and the all-new all-inclusive courtside Hennessy Lofts," the team announced via Thursday's press release.

The Aces were one of the first teams to switch venues, aiming to take on the Indiana Fever in front of as many as 20,000 fans inside T-Mobile Arena on July 2nd. That’s a sizable a boost from their home venue, which holds just 12,000.

For those still planning to face the Fever in their home arenas, ticket prices have skyrocketed. Previously scheduled construction has already forced the LA Sparks to relocate their first five games — including their May 24th clash with the Fever — to Long Beach State's Walter Pyramid. The temporary venue is quite the downsize, holding just 4,000 in comparison to Crypto.com Arena's near-19,000. As of Friday, the get-in price for that game started around $400.

Despite fans launching a Change.org petition urging relocation, the Chicago Sky say they're unable to move their June 23rd Fever meeting from Wintrust Arena's 10,000-seat facility to the 23,500-seat United Center due to a concert. Tickets for that game start around $325 as of Friday.