With international club matchups filling the calendar before the NWSL regular season returns, US teams are getting the chance to test their talent against squads from across the world.

Arguably the biggest names in club play are arriving in Washington, DC, this week, as Arsenal faces the Washington Spirit on August 18th followed by WSL foe Chelsea on August 25th.

Arsenal debuts new players in US friendlies

This isn’t the first time Arsenal competed in a friendly in the US, having played the Seattle Reign to a 1-1 draw back in 2016. That said, the DC-bound group has a very different makeup than past teams.

Arsenal’s largest offseason roster shakeup saw star striker Vivianne Miedema depart the Gunners for Manchester City, ushering in a new era via key pickups Mariona Caldentey from Barcelona and Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.

The changes haven’t stopped there: Just this week, the club announced the signing of Sweden international Rosa Kafaji, while departing Canada international Cloé Lacasse signed with the Utah Royals.

On Thursday, Arsenal announced their 29-player tour squad, set to land in Washington, DC that afternoon.

Friendlies key to Arsenal's WSL preseason prep

The two friendlies will provide Arsenal a chance to prep for the upcoming WSL season while also extending the club’s footprint in the US, where increased access to live match coverage has given way to a large and devoted fanbase.

"We know from our recent trip to Australia that the interest and love for Arsenal Women stretches far and wide," said Arsenal managing director Richard Garlick in a statement. "We want to build on that and bring our US supporters closer to the club."

The Gunners finished the 2023/24 WSL season third in the standings, falling just short of the final title race between Chelsea and Manchester City. They also nearly missed the cutoff for UEFA Champions League eligibility — all motivating factors to get as much out of their preseason as possible.

Tough NWSL opponents await Arsenal stateside

The London club will get their first US test against the Spirit, who are coming out of the NWSL regular season break sitting third in the league table. The Spirit also showed out on the international stage this summer, with Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune both contributing to the USWNT’s Olympic gold win alongside alternate Hal Hershfelt.

"We always want to create the best conditions for our teams to prepare and perform at their best in pre-season," added Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar. "This gives our players an opportunity to play and train in a new environment, in front of our supporters around the world." 

As for Arsenal's second preseason opponent Chelsea, the Blues are dealing with changes of their own, with former Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor taking the reins from Emma Hayes, who moved on to coach the USWNT.

How to watch Arsenal's US tour in Washington, DC

The match kicks off at 2 PM ET on Sunday. Get your tickets to see Arsenal take Audi Field online or tune in to the match via DAZN.

After a dramatic 3-0 win over crosstown rival Manchester United on Saturday, Manchester City is now leading the WSL, sitting three points clear atop the 2025/26 league table while notably extending their advantage over second-place powerhouse Chelsea FC.

The home side scored all three of their goals in the first half, with defender Rebecca Knaak putting City ahead in the 26th minute before attacker Khadija "Bunny" Shaw added to the lead in the 43rd minute.

Returning from injury with a vengeance, forward Lauren Hemp sealed the deal for the Citizens with the final goal in first-half stoppage time.

"It's so nice to be back," Hemp said postgame. "Today we showed the mentality that I said at the start we needed to show."

While reigning six-time WSL champions Chelsea have yet to lose a match this WSL season, a trio of 2025/26 draws has the Blues now trailing the current eight-win, one-loss record held by Manchester City.

As for United, the WSL third-place Red Devils were without star goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce in Saturday's loss, after the USWNT net-minder suffered a fractured eye socket in November 8th's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.

"She should be fine, it's just trying to make sure she doesn't get another knock in that area," said United manager Marc Skinner, noting that Tullis-Joyce could return as soon as the club's 2025/26 Champions League match against VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

One of this season's NWSL Coach of the Year finalists is moving on up, with Kansas City manager Vlatko Andonovski leaving his position as the Current's head coach to become the club's full-time global sporting director.

Andonovski has been juggling both jobs since joining the Current in October 2023, with the 49-year-old coming off what was arguably his most successful managerial season, leading Kansas City to a first-ever NWSL Shield amidst a record-shattering 2025 campaign.

In his new role, Andonovski will "implement the long-term vision for the club's technical and athletic success, as well as be responsible for player recruitment, roster strategy and scouting."

"It's vital to move into this role to keep growing this club with the aim of being a perennial contender on the global stage and a top developer of talent," Andonovski said in Friday's club announcement.

With the administrative switch in the works prior to last weekend's playoff upset, Andonovski will now join the hiring committee tasked with appointing his successor, while continuing his head coaching duties until Kansas City secures its new manager.

In another front office shift, the Current's head of soccer operations Ryan Dell will immediately take over as the club's GM, with former GM Caitlin Carducci departing the club after one year at the helm.

Michigan women's basketball is on the rise, as the then-No. 14 Wolverines avenged their early 2025 NCAA tournament exit with a stunning 93-54 blowout win over then-No. 18 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Michigan sophomore guard Olivia Olson led the game in scoring with 20 points as the Wolverines put together a true team effort, with six bench players combining for 38 points in the win.

The Big Ten team also dominated defensively, limiting the Fighting Irish bench to just two points while keeping Notre Dame star guard Hannah Hidalgo to a mere 12-point performance.

"We knew exactly what Michigan was going to do," said Notre Dame basketball head coach Niele Ivey afterwards. "We did not have any type of fight defensively, and that's where we have to start."

The Wolverines' victory was especially sweet after Notre Dame ousted Michigan from last season's national tournament with a 76-55 second-round Irish win.

Saturday's fallout also affected this week's AP Top 25 poll, with Notre Dame falling six ranks to No. 24 while Michigan earned an eight-spot bump to No. 6.

After quietly recruiting five-star talents like Olson and Syla Swords in 2024, Michigan — a program that has yet to earn a title at the NCAA or conference level — proved over the weekend that they are entering the 2025/26 season with added depth and experience.

"That's why I committed to Michigan," Swords told JWS at October's Big Ten Media Day. "That's why so many of us came there, because we wanted to be part of something new, part of something that's never been done."

Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman is back in action, subbing into her team's 2025 NWSL semifinal win in Saturday's 90th minute as she continues to rehab a sprained MCL — with questions still remaining surrounding her future with the club.

"It felt amazing," she said afterwards. "If I get 30 seconds, or if I get 90 minutes, it feels great to be out there."

Rodman will hope for more involvement in next weekend's NWSL Championship game, taking the pitch for the Spirit in her final match under contact before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

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The USWNT standout's extension negotiations have apparently made it all the way up to the NWSL commissioner, with Rodman garnering interest from multiple UK clubs willing to outspend the US league's salary cap restrictions.

The NWSL's most recent collective bargaining agreement sets each club's current salary cap at $3.3 million, which will titrate up to $5.1 million by 2030.

"Right now, my head's completely down. It's been so distracting being injured, and that's all I can really think about," Rodman said on Saturday, addressing the reports. "Once we get this championship, then I can start making decisions and figuring out what next year looks like for me."

With rumors swirling around Rodman and her future with the Spirit, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman defended the salary cap this week, telling CBS Sports that the parity the cap fosters is "the reason our league is the most competitive league in the world."