The Soccer Show, starring Haley Kopmeyer and David Copeland-Smith, debuts Wednesday, March 10 on YouTube

March 5, 2021 – Ata Football and Just Women’s Sports — two growing women’s sports platforms launched in 2020 — today announced a partnership to further enhance exposure and engagement for women’s soccer through exclusive premium content. 

Building upon the success of its Just Women’s Sports podcast, Just Women’s Sports will utilize premium content from Ata Football to produce The Soccer Show, a first-of-its-kind weekly highlights-driven show exclusively covering the FA Women’s Super League (FA WSL). Hosted by former professional soccer player Haley Kopmeyer and elite trainer David Copeland-Smith, each episode will provide in-depth coverage including news, highlights and analysis. The Soccer Show premieres on Wednesday, March 10, with the inaugural episode set to feature coverage of matches featuring top-ranked teams including Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. New episodes post each Wednesday on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube page and the Ata Football platform. 

Just Women’s Sports is a new sports media platform 100% dedicated to covering women’s sports exclusively. Founded by former professional soccer player Haley Rosen, Just Women’s Sports provides news and analysis of women’s sports through exclusive interviews, podcasts, videos and other content. Best known for its flagship podcast, Just Women’s Sports with Kelley O’Hara, Just Women’s Sports has quickly grown a passionate audience of more than one million fans, followers and listeners. 

“At Just Women’s Sports, we’re dedicated to covering women’s sports with the passion, intensity and commitment to storytelling that professional athletes deserve,” said Rosen. “We’re thrilled to partner with Ata Football – a company that shares our mission to elevate women’s sports – and to show what we’re capable of producing when given access to exclusive premium content.”

Founded by former Sky executive Hannah Brown and former professional soccer player and coach Esmeralda Negron, Ata Football is the preeminent home for women’s soccer on the Web and is the exclusive rights holder for matches from the FA Women’s Super League. Live and on-demand matches are distributed in the U.S. with broadcast partner NBC Sports and are available on Atafootball.com.

“We’re focused on continuing to become the go-to destination for women’s soccer globally and the epicenter of a community that inspires the next generation of girls,” said Negron. “Our partnership with Just Women’s Sports to produce and distribute The Soccer Show is another great step on that journey.”

Kopmeyer is best known for her time as goalkeeper for Seattle Reign FC and the Orlando Pride of the NWSL. A University of Michigan graduate, Kopmeyer also played for the Brisbane Roar and the Canberra United of the W-League in Australia. Copeland-Smith is the founder of Beast Mode Soccer, and has trained some of the world’s best players, including Alex Morgan, Rachel Daly, Kristie Mewis and Allie Long.

The Soccer Show will be produced by Blue Duck Media, led by showrunner and sports industry veteran Ashley Braband, who most recently was the force behind the scenes and on the mic at ESPN’s Sports? with Katie Nolan. Over 13 years at ESPN, she produced TV shows like SportsNation and Colin’s New Football Show, and helped develop and launch various digital shows for ESPN’s social channels, before serving in her latest role as showrunner of Always Late with Katie Nolan.

Fans can sign up for updates on new episodes of The Soccer Show here. 

MEDIA CONTACT

Jeff Heckelman, 631-312-7327, [email protected] 

About Just Women’s Sports Inc.

Established in 2020, Just Women’s Sports Inc. is a digital-first consumer media brand 100% dedicated to covering women’s sports. Through daily content including podcasts, newsletters, online content and social media, Just Women’s Sports brings you everything you need to see and know in the world of women’s sports. Find Just Women’s Sports online and on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook. 

About Ata Football

Ata Football facilitates access to the very best women’s football for fans, broadcasters, sponsors, publishers and influencers. Our broad partnerships with premium distributors, combined with unparalleled grassroots and elite player engagement, accelerate engagement and drive value for everyone connected with the game. Everything we do helps to create a virtuous cycle of investment and improvement that enables women’s football to shine its brightest – now and for generations of young female footballers to come. For more information, visit www.atafootball.com.  

In this week's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins breaks down the newly reported indefinite absence of NWSL star Trinity Rodman from the Washington Spirit, with the 22-year-old attacker rehabbing an ongoing back injury that could reshape the prospects of both the Spirit and the USWNT.

Calling her "the face of the NWSL," Watkins details the Spirit star's long-term back injury, which has led Rodman to seek treatment with a team doctor in London — all while acknowledging that she doesn't think her "back will ever be 100%."

Watkins digs into the potential contributing factors to Rodman's current injury status, including the USWNT's heavy use of the forward during the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning run in Paris — and whether the team will make different decisions going forward due to the fallout on players like Rodman.

"I'm really curious if [USWNT manager Emma] Hayes and her coaching staff will adjust the way they approach strikers in the future, or forwards in the future, or rotation — or if this is just one of those many stories of a player giving it all for the United States and living with the consequences," says Watkins.

As for Washington, Watkins note that — in the wake of copious injuries — the Spirit is still finding ways to win, with club owner Michele Kang and the coaching staff shrewdly managing the depleted roster.

"I think they would be a juggernaut if they were healthy, but they can win pretty, they can win ugly," notes Watkins.

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'An NWSL breaking point'

Watkins also points out that she thinks Rodman's choice to seek treatment in London could be significant, as the forward is currently in a contract year.

With multiple NWSL standouts recently defecting to European clubs, Watkins argues that the US league is hitting a "breaking point" when it comes to retaining top players.

"I am just really, really curious if, by the end of this season, this situation has led Rodman back to the Spirit or if this is the beginning of a player having to progress forward in a different environment," Watkins sums up.

About 'The Late Sub' with Claire Watkins

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes on the USWNT, NWSL, and all things women's soccer. Special guest appearances featuring the biggest names in women’s sports make TLS a must-listen for every soccer fan.

Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

There's a traffic jam in the middle of the NWSL standings, with this weekend's slate bound to create some distance among mid-table teams jockeying to break free from the pack.

Between rising underdogs and top-dog rivalries, expect the 2025 NWSL season's sixth matchday to leave it all on the field:

• No. 2 Orlando Pride vs. No. 6 Angel City, Friday at 8 PM ET (Prime): With both teams coming off demoralizing losses last weekend, the 2024 NWSL champs will fight to bounce back against the LA upstarts in Friday's marquee matchup.

• No. 10 Houston Dash vs. No. 11 Utah Royals, Friday at 8 PM ET (NWSL+): Tied up at four points apiece, the pair of struggling teams just below playoff contention on the NWSL table will battle for a boost above the cutoff line as the recently sold Royals take a trip to Texas on Friday.

• No. 3 Washington Spirit vs. No. 4 Gotham FC, Saturday at 1 PM ET (CBS): This week's top-table showdown features two injury-struck East Coast rivals getting rowdy at Audi — can Gotham turn things around or will Washington keep persevering?

• No. 9 Bay FC vs. No. 8 Seattle Reign, Saturday at 10 PM ET (ION): Seattle holds a slim tie-break over Bay FC as both teams hug the playoff line, with the Reign looking to build on last week’s Cascadia Clash victory over Portland.

This weekend has the potential to divide the contenders from the pretenders, while the league's top three clubs continue to hold court over the rest of the field.

Saturday's soccer lineup underlines a brewing East Coast rivalry, as the Washington Spirit hosts Gotham FC for the first time since knocking the Bats out of the 2024 NWSL semifinals.

"Just playing against them, you feel that fire," Spirit forward Makenna Morris told JWS this week, with Washington's Audi Field anticipating a large crowd for Saturday's match.

Both clubs know each other well, with 2021 NWSL champions Washington and 2023 trophy-winners Gotham seeing a number of big-name players migrating between New York and DC in recent years.

After finishing 2024 in the league's top four, both teams continue to lurk near the top of NWSL table this season, cementing the idea that the best rivalries blossom between winning sides.

"The [team] that poses the most challenge to you, it just makes you want to beat them so bad," said Washington midfielder Gabby Carle.

"You hate to play them because they're good, but you also love it because it's so competitive," echoed Morris.

Ultimately, familiarity is breeding healthy resentment between two of the NWSL's winningest sides, providing a little extra incentive to secure all three points in this weekend’s matchup.

How to watch NWSL rivals Washington vs. Gotham this weekend

The Spirit will host East Coast rival Gotham at 1 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage of the 2024 NWSL semifinals rematch airing on CBS.

As the 2024/25 UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) wraps up its two-leg semifinals on Sunday, the English teams still in the running find themselves on the brink of elimination from Europe's most prestigious club competition.

Facing a 4-1 deficit against reigning champs Barcelona, Chelsea will aim to close the gap — and keep their historic quadruple hopes alive — at home this weekend.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will try to overcome a more manageable 2-1 deficit against eight-time Champions League winners Lyon, traveling to France to keep their UWCL campaign alive.

An English side hasn't won the UWCL since 2007, when Arsenal took home the WSL's lone European championship trophy.

"Huge respect for their history and what they have been doing and producing in the Champions League, in Europe," Arsenal manager Renée Slegers said of Lyon. "I think they're still a very strong side."

"Subconsciously, you always have that thing when you fall short, like last year," said Lyon midfielder and USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps, reflecting back on last season’s title loss to Barcelona. "You lose a game, you lose a tournament – the feeling is there until you're back in the the games that can fix that feeling."

How to watch the 2024/25 Champions League semifinals

Sunday's second leg of the 2024/25 Champions League semifinals kicks off with Chelsea vs. Barcelona at 9 AM ET, before Arsenal faces Lyon at 12 PM ET.

Both matches will air live on DAZN.