More FAWSL, more goals. Here are the top 5 we saw this weekend:

 

5. VIVIANNE MIEDEMA SAYS THANK YOU VERY MUCH

???? @ArsenalWFC take an early lead in Manchester!

Who else but @VivianneMiedema? ????#BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/VwE7PHEueG

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) December 13, 2020

This past weekend was just another day at the office for the all-time top scorer in FAWSL history. In the first three minutes of the match, an errant pass from Manchester City landed the ball at Miedema’s feet in a dangerous area outside the box. The Arsenal striker took a touch inside and cracked a rolling shot to give her team the early lead. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, as Man City stormed back to take the 2-1 win.

 

4. SAM KERR CAN’T BE STOPPED

This header. ????

Superb from @SamKerr1! ???? pic.twitter.com/SZa0iXeLeW

— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) December 14, 2020

One week after recording her first hat trick for Chelsea, Sam Kerr once again made her presence known early on against Brighton, hitting the back corner pocket with an exceptional header. Jonna Anderson started the play with a pass down the left flank to teammate Pernille Harder, who lofted it into the six. Kerr read the pass perfectly before flicking it safely passed the hands of the Brighton goalkeeper. This 21st-minute, clinical header was Chelsea’s only score of the match, resulting in a 1-0 win.

 

3. NADINE HANSSEN’S STROKE OF BRILLIANCE

Pick that one out ????????@nadinehanssen pic.twitter.com/NlMvEtSumB

— Aston Villa Women (@AVWFCOfficial) December 13, 2020

Miscommunication between Tottenham teammates led to a flat ball being played to no one in their own defensive half. Seizing the opportunity, Aston Villa’s Nadine Hanssen jumped on the poor pass before catching Tottnham’s goalkeeper off of her line. Hanssen cleverly lobs the ball over the keeper, landing it safely in the back of the net. Regrettably, Hanssen’s goal was the only tally of the match for Aston Villa, as they fell to Tottenham in a 3-1 battle.

 

2. EMILY VAN EGMOND SLICES IT HOME

That determination from @mart__thomas and that finish from @Em_surf! ????pic.twitter.com/5we7o3rUrS

— West Ham United Women (@westhamwomen) December 14, 2020

Emily Van Egmond may have opened the floodgates for West Ham United in their 4-0 defeat of Bristol City, but her goal would not have been possible if it weren’t for the relentless effort of her teammate, Martha Thomas. In slippery conditions, Thomas cut inside the Bristol defender to chase down the ball just before it would have passed out of bounds. She then drove inside and lifted a curling ball to her teammate Van Egmond, who sends the ball back post through the legs of her defender. Simply sublime.

 

1. CAROLINE WEIR PUTS AN END TO THE CHAOS

Caroline Weir's left boot strikes again! ????

Winning it in the dying moments for @ManCityWomen! ????#BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/pNqL2Gaw9X

— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) December 13, 2020

Manchester City and Arsenal found themselves tied at one apiece as stoppage time began in their nail-biting match. But in the 94th minute, City’s high-press led to a series of shots, none of which Arsenal could successfully clear. One Manchester City shot was rebounded off an Arsenal defender and collected by Georgia Stanway, who winded up a shot that was deflected by her teammate Ellen White. That shot then ricocheted back to Caroline Weir, who finally placed a line-drive shot back post. Weir’s goal was massive as it sealed a 2-1 victory over the now third-place Arsenal.

Wimbledon is leveling up, as the annual London-based Grand Slam announced Thursday that it's increasing its purse by 7% across the board in 2025, pushing the total prize money to £53.5 million ($72.59 million) ahead of tennis tournament's June 30th kick-off.

Both the 2025 women's and men's singles champions will earn winner's checks in the amount of £3 million ($4.07 million) — an 11.1% increase over the amount won by 2024 champ Barbora Krejčíková.

With increases across all Slam events, from singles and doubles to wheelchair competitions, even athletes who stumble early will see a raise over last year's competition.

For example, singles players ousted in this year's first round will take home 10% more than in 2024, earning deposits of £66,000 ($89,530).

The 2025 total purse now doubles the prize money offered by the tournament a decade ago, and makes Wimbledon the biggest potential payday across all four of the sport's Grand Slams.

"We're immensely proud of the fact that, if you look back 10 years, you can see the increase over that period and 7% this year," said All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club chair Deborah Jevans. "And we have listened to the players, we have engaged with the players."

Teen swimmer Summer McIntosh made a major splash at the 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials, shattering three world records in just five days of competition in Victoria, BC.

First on Saturday, the Toronto swimmer shaved 1.2 seconds off the Australian Ariarne Titmus's 400-meter freestyle mark to set a new world record time of 3:54.18.

Then on Monday, McIntosh took down a decade-old record in the 200-meter individual medley (IM), becoming the first woman swimmer to complete the race in less than 2:06.00.

Just two days later, the 18-year-old McIntosh broke her own 400-meter IM world record, besting her 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials time by 0.73 seconds with a 4:23.65 race Wednesday.

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With her unstoppable week-long performance, McIntosh became the first swimmer to set three new world records in different individual events at one meet since US legend Michael Phelps's historic run at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"Going into tonight, I knew I could do something really special because this has probably been the best meet of my career," McIntosh told reporters after Wednesday's race.

That said, the young star is already eyeing new times — and new records.

"Overall, [I'm] happy with the time, but I know I can go faster," said McIntosh following her 400-meter IM performance. "The faster I swim, the happier I am."

The NWSL Championship is on its way back West, with the league announcing on Friday morning that the 2025 title match will kick off from PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

Hosted at the home pitch of 2024 expansion team Bay FC, the game will take place on Saturday, November 22nd.

In addition to the championship match, the 2025 NWSL season's final weekend will include a variety of supporting events like Fan Fest and the annual Skills Challenge competition.

"We're thrilled to bring the NWSL Championship back to the West Coast and to a region with as rich a history in women's soccer as the Bay Area," said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman in a league statement.

Citing a long list of former USWNT stars with local ties, including Julie Foudy, Kelley O'Hara, and Alex Morgan, Bay FC co-founder Brandi Chastain — a US legend herself — called the Bay Area "the place women's soccer calls home."

"Our community's fabric is woven with the greatest the game has to offer," explained Chastain.

"This community's passion for the game, combined with the excitement surrounding one of our newest teams in Bay FC, makes it the perfect setting to celebrate the league's top talent and crown our next champion," said Berman.

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How to attend and watch the 2025 NWSL Championship

Like last year, the 2025 NWSL Championship will air in primetime, with CBS set to broadcast the match live at 8 PM ET on November 22nd.

Tickets to the game will be available for purchase beginning in August, though interested fans can sign up for presale access online now.

The NWSL and WNBA Players Associations teamed up to release a joint statement on Thursday, with the unions expressing their solidarity with "all people seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity" after the recent ICE raids and ensuing protests in Los Angeles.

The move comes after Angel City published their own social media post addressing the ICE raids last Saturday, with the Los Angeles NWSL club noting "We know that our city is stronger because of its diversity and the people and families who shape it, love it, and call it home."

ACFC also directed immigrants in need of assistance in the wake of the ICE raids to two community organizations: the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights and the LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Calling the WNBA Players Association "leaders in this space," NWSL Players Association executive director Meghann Burke told The Athletic that the basketball union initiated their joint statement.

"It's important to stand together as workers' unions," she noted.

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NWSL and WNBA unions speak to families impacted by ICE raids

"It's not lost on us that this country and the world are in turmoil right now," wrote the NWSLPA and WNBPA. "Across the country, families are facing fear, hardship, and uncertainty tied to immigration."

The athlete unions then crystallized their position, saying, "We stand with all people seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity, no matter where they come from or where they hope to go."

"Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect," they continued. "We know not every situation is simple. But offering compassion should never be up for debate."