We're back in @BarclaysFAWSL action on Sunday! ???? pic.twitter.com/dJRcEX3eAS

— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) November 5, 2020

Chelsea currently sits in fourth place having played just four matches. They’ve won three and drawn once, tying 1-1 with Manchester United. Any other team might be satisfied with fourth at this point in the season, but for Chelsea, the perennial expectations are to be at the top of the league. Since Emma Hayes came in as manager back in 2012, they have won the league three times, including last season. The high profile additions of Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder have only heightened the sense that it’s championship-or-bust for Chelsea. Given that every team above them in the table has played an additional fifth match, a win against Everton would go a long way in squarely putting the club in the thick of the title chase.

Here's how the #BarclaysFAWSL table looks after gameweek 5️⃣ ???? pic.twitter.com/LRDARmefhy

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) October 18, 2020

Everton’s season, in contrast, has already exceeded expectations. They currently sit in second place, with five matches played, four wins, and one draw. Their 13 points are tied with Manchester United, but they lead on goal difference.

Willie Kirk, who has been in charge since 2018, has molded his side into a competitive team that have a chance of breaking the dominance that Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City have over the league. The last time a team outside of the three won a league title was back in 2014, when Liverpool won their second title. Although they lost the FA Cup final against Manchester City, Everton pushed the defending champions to extra time, and they will use this upcoming match against Chelsea as an opportunity to show that her hot start has been anything but a fluke.

???? @EvertonWomen in the 2020-21 #BarclaysFAWSL...

Four wins ✅
One draw ????

Their longest streak without defeat in the top-flight since September 2012! pic.twitter.com/bFWIe21u5a

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 6, 2020

A big blow for Chelsea will be the loss of Fran Kirby. Hayes announced before Chelsea’s match against Tottenham Hotspur in the Conti Cup that Kirby would be out for weeks following an ankle injury during a training match with England. So far this season, Kirby has been the most creative player in the league, along with her Chelsea teammate Sam Kerr and Arsenal forward Beth Mead, all of whom have created seven chances created thus far.

A new weekend of games is coming right at us, so let's review the leaders in some stats in various leagues in Europe

— NWSL Analitica (@NwslAnalitica) November 6, 2020

Not only is she a massive creator for her team, but Kirby also carries a significant defensive load. Chelsea managed to comfortably beat Tottenham 2-0 without Kirby, but Everton will likely be a more formidable opponent. Despite having depth, Hayes now has a tough decision to make in regards to who she sees is best fit to play in her front three and get the better of Everton’s backline.

Chelsea isn’t the only team with injury concerns, as Kirk confirmed in his pre-match press conference that both Valerie Gauvin and Lucy Graham will sit out against Chelsea due to injuries they sustained during the FA Cup Final.

Willie Kirk has confirmed Valerie Gauvin (knee) and Lucy Graham (ankle) will miss Everton's WSL fixture against Chelsea on Sunday due to knocks picked up in the FA Cup final.

Everton will know extent of Gauvin's injury in next 48 hours and have spoken to a specialist.

— Charlotte Harpur (@charlotteharpur) November 6, 2020

Gauvin will be a massive miss for Everton; she is the epitome of a poacher in front of the net, having scored three goals in five WSL matches, including Everton’s lone goal in the FA Cup Final.

EQUALISER!

It had to be @GauvinValerie!

The striker was close to being taken off due to injury, but she’s got @EvertonWomen back in it ????#WomensFACupFinal pic.twitter.com/nMrwbMAtai

— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) November 1, 2020

A positive for Everton has to be the exceptional performances of Sandy MacIver thus far this season. Despite being on the losing team in the FA Cup Final, the goalkeeper was named Player of the Match after an exceptional outing between the posts. MacIver has also been a force in league play, facing 16 shots on target, yet only conceding three goals so far. Her excellent form will be crucial if Everton wants to hang with Chelsea at Kingsmeadow.

Well played in the #WomensFACupFinal, @SandyMacIver_ ????

Deservedly the player of the match ????pic.twitter.com/nCvSyRT8ro

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) November 2, 2020

A lot is riding on this game for both teams, with much of it depending on the results of the Manchester United match against Arsenal. Chelsea has a chance to slot into third and a crucial Champions League spot. On the other hand, Everton has the opportunity to claim the top spot in the league ahead of Arsenal, delivering a statement to rest of the WSL as to their ambitions for the season.

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE FA WSL:

 

November 14th 

Manchester United vs Manchester City @ 7:30 a.m. EST

Aston Villa vs Birmingham City @ 9:30 a.m. EST

Everton vs Reading FC @ 11:30 a.m. EST

Bristol City vs Tottenham @ 1:30 p.m. EST

November 15th

West Ham vs Brighton & Hove Albion @ 7:30 a.m. EST

Arsenal vs Chelsea @ 9:30 a.m. EST

WNBA All-Star Weekend is returning to the Windy City, with the league announcing Thursday that it will hold the 2026 All-Star Game in Chicago next summer.

The game will tip off on Saturday, July 25th, inside the 20,917-seat United Center, while the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge will take place the night before at the 10,380-capacity Wintrust Arena, home to the Chicago Sky.

"The WNBA is thrilled to bring AT&T WNBA All-Star back to Chicago, which will undoubtedly deliver unforgettable competition and community outreach," said commissioner Cathy Engelbert in Thursday's statement. "Together with the Chicago Sky, we look forward to celebrating the game's brightest stars, engaging WNBA fans around the world, and showcasing the energy of one of basketball's most iconic cities."

The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game will mark Chicago's second time hosting the midseason event after the 2022 edition landed in the Windy City.

"We can't wait to build on the success of the previous All-Star Game and celebrate the explosive growth of the league by showcasing the WNBA's biggest stars on a world-class stage," Chicago Sky CEO and president Adam Fox said.

While the first All-Star Game in Chicago took place at Wintrust Arena, next year's stage includes a significant venue upgrade to the United Center.

The Sky played their first-ever games at the Bulls' NBA arena this past season, taking on the Indiana Fever for two regular-season 2025 WNBA matchups.

"We're ecstatic to host the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game and build on the two sell-out Chicago Sky games played at the United Center this year," said United Center VP of booking Jerry Goldman.

The WNBA will be eager to showcase its growth since its last All-Star visit, as investment — both internal and external — remains a hot topic heading into the league's 2026 season.

USWNT and Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman has been sidelined, with the forward set to miss the rest of the 2025 NWSL season after exiting her club's 4-0 2025/26 Concacaf W Champions Cup win over Monterrey with a knee injury on Wednesday — hours after earning her first national team call-up since April.

The Athletic reported on Thursday that Rodman will be off the pitch for at least three weeks — encompassing the final NWSL regular-season matches as well as October's USWNT friendlies — though Thursday's scans showed she avoided long-term injury and could return to compete in the 2025 NWSL Playoffs.

Washington head coach Adrián González further clarified Rodman's status on Friday, confirming that the Spirit winger has a low-grade MCL sprain — a result the manager called "the best scenario."

Rodman's knock interrupts a strong run of play for the 23-year-old, who registered five goals and two assists since recovering from a lingering back injury in August.

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Sitting second in the NWSL standings, the Spirit already secured home field advantage for the upcoming playoffs, but the 2024 runners-up will see a potential postseason preview against a resurgent Orlando Pride this weekend.

The reigning NWSL champions earned two wins in their last three matches, rising to No. 3 on the league table after going winless through nine straight NWSL games.

"I think home field advantage is massive," Pride head coach Seb Hines said last week. "We experienced that last year. So if we can finish as high as possible, we can play here in front of our own fans."

How to watch the Washington Spirit vs. Orlando Pride this weekend

The No. 2 Spirit will host the No. 3 Pride at 12:30 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage airing on CBS.

As NWSL teams race towards November 2nd's Decision Day with 2025 playoff positioning on the line, a single result on Friday could determine multiple postseason fates.

Sitting four points outside of contention, No. 9 North Carolina will visit No. 13 Bay FC on Friday night, with a Courage loss clinching playoff berths for No. 4 Gotham, No. 5 Seattle, No. 6 San Diego, and No. 7 Portland.

A North Carolina loss would also put No. 10 Angel City and the No. 11 Houston Dash in must-win scenarios in order to remain in contention for the final playoff spot with No. 8 Racing Louisville.

Following 2023's dramatic final matchday results, the NWSL reintroduced the league's simultaneous-kickoff Decision Day format this year, but the 2025 season's slim margins plus a few scheduling idiosyncrasies could see the postseason door swing shut prematurely.

North Carolina needs at least a draw plus a Gotham win to survive elimination, while the five teams currently above the postseason cutoff line — except Gotham and Louisville, who will play each other on Sunday — only need a win to secure their destiny regardless of Friday's outcome, while Houston and ACFC drop out of play.

While supporters of each club will hope for clarity before next week's international break, fans of NWSL chaos will be rooting for a high-stakes 2025 Decision Day finale on Sunday, November 2nd.

How to watch Bay FC vs. NC Courage on Friday

The potentially decisive match between the North Carolina Courage and Bay FC will kick off at 10 PM ET on Friday, with live coverage airing on Prime.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is hitting the links again, returning to The Annika Pro-Am to show off her golf game on the 2025 LPGA Tour following a WNBA season rife with injuries.

The annual event will take place at the Pelican Golf Club in Tampa on Wednesday, November 12th, and will be open to the public.

"I had an amazing time at The Annika last November and participating in the Pro-Am alongside Nelly Korda and Annika Sörenstam, two of the best in the game," Clark said in a Thursday press release.

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One of Clark's sponsors, Gainbridge, also backs the annual competition, with The Annika serving as the penultimate stop in a parity-filled, up-and-down 2025 LPGA season.

"[Clark] added such a great dynamic to our event [last year], and her passion for golf and competitiveness were fun to witness firsthand," the tournament's namesake, retired Swedish golf pro Annika Sörenstam, said of the 23-year-old basketball star. "I look forward to having her back and continuing to introduce the great game of golf to the next generation."

How to buy tickets to The Annika Pro-Am

Fans can watch the WNBA star tee off at the 2025 edition of The Annika Pro-Am in Tampa on Wednesday, November 12th.

Tickets to the event are on sale now at TheAnnika.com.