USWNT stars take center stage this weekend, as the UEFA Women's Champions League semifinals kick off with UWCL clashes featuring US talent on both sides.
OL Lyonnes advanced behind dominant US midfield trio Lindsey Heaps, Lily Yohannes, and Korbin Shrader, who powered the French club past Wolfsburg in the quarterfinals. They now face reigning UWCL champion Arsenal — and USWNT defender Emily Fox — on Sunday.
"We know Arsenal are a top side," Yohannes said. "But we're not really thinking about the opponent — we're focused on ourselves and we know that if we put in our top performance, we can beat anyone."
Sunday's UWCL semifinals matchup repeats October's Champions League league-phase opener. That's when OL Lyonnes topped the Gunners 2-1 in London, while both teams eventually advanced to the quarterfinals.
Bayern Munich hosts Barcelona on Saturday, hunting its first-ever Champions League final berth after winning a fourth straight Frauen-Bundesliga title. Barcelona previously routed Bayern 7-1 in the league phase, entering the UWCL semifinals in dominant form with just one loss this season.
The Spanish club is seeking a sixth consecutive final appearance. Barcelona will hope for superstar Aitana Bonmati’s healthy return, as the midfielder continues her injury recovery.
Second-leg matches take place in May, with the final set for Oslo on May 23.
Where to Watch UWCL Champions League Semifinals
The UWCL semifinals kick off with Bayern Munich vs. FC Barcelona on Saturday at 12:15 PM ET. Afterwards, Arsenal faces OL Lyonnes on Sunday at 10:30 AM ET. Both Champions League matches air live on Paramount+.
