The 2024/25 UEFA Women's Champions League semifinals begin this weekend, as four powerhouse clubs familiar with the UWCL spotlight kick off their first matches of the two-leg round.
France's Olympique Lyonnais, Spain's Barcelona FC, and England's Arsenal and Chelsea will battle it out, with just two tickets to the winner-take-all May 24th final in Portugal on the line.
"The coolest thing about big tournaments and high-stake games is you might be expecting something, and you get something completely different," Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Lindsey Heaps told reporters this week. "That's when you see the best teams come out, and they're able to adjust."
Champions League semis pit WSL against European elite
Arguably topping the four-contender list are defending champs Barcelona, with the Spanish side hunting a fourth UWCL title in five years. First, however, they'll have to contend with a stacked Chelsea team hungry to lift a first-ever Champions League trophy — one that could clinch a historic quadruple.
Meanwhile, with both the men's and women's sides reaching this season's Champions League semifinals, Arsenal will square off against eight-time champions Lyon in a quest to claim their first UWCL title in over 18 years.
Both WSL titans are chasing history against their European opponents, with Arsenal still the only UK team to ever win Champions League.
The Gunners will kick off the round by hosting Lyon in their 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium.
"Playing at the Emirates, and the hunger and the belief that we have as a team at the moment, we're going to go and play our game to the best we can," said Arsenal manager Renée Slegers.
With an estimated 40,000 tickets sold for the pivotal clash, Emirates provides an environment even Arsenal's opponents look forward to competing in.
"You always want these kind of crowds and this kind of atmosphere," Heaps said of the Saturday matchup. "Even if it's against you, it's the best thing in the world."
How to watch the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League semifinals
The first-leg matchups of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League semifinals kicks off on Saturday, when Arsenal hosts Lyon at 7:30 AM ET.
Then on Sunday, Chelsea will travel to Barcelona to take on the reigning champs at 12 PM ET.
Both matches will air live on DAZN.
It didn’t take long for USWNT star Trinity Rodman to re-introduce herself on Saturday, finding the back of the net just five minutes into her first national team appearance since last August’s Olympic gold medal-winning match.
Rodman’s point came off a quality assist from Alyssa Thompson, with the attacking pair eventually leading the USWNT to a 2-0 win over 2024 Olympic silver medalists Brazil in the first of the pair's two April friendlies.
US captain Lindsey Heaps doubled the scoreline in the second half, striking home a bullet of a penalty kick after 17-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes drew a foul in the box.
Hayes' development strategy proves impact of young talent
As familiar names netted goals, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes still managed to continue testing less experienced players, evaluating fresh faces against Brazil's high-flying offense.
Making an impact in her US debut was goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who earned a clean sheet with six saves to put herself firmly in the running to replace now-retired starting keeper Alyssa Naeher.
Hayes' developmental aim is, in part, to bolster the USWNT pipeline should future injuries limit the team's veteran stars — a tactic that Rodman's own recent struggles prove is an increasingly smart move.
Though Rodman’s impact is undeniable, the veteran is still rehabilitating a lingering back issue that the 22-year-old has admitted she doesn’t think "will ever be 100%."
That said, Rodman knows she brings more to the table than just her on-pitch prowess.
"I wanted to be a provider of energy and to be able to charge everyone’s batteries. I think I did that pretty well today," Rodman told TNT on Saturday.
Ultimately, as the USWNT’s slow build continues, Rodman showed exactly the team can hope to achieve once the roster is more whole down the line.
How to watch the USWNT vs. Brazil friendly on Tuesday
The USWNT's second friendly against Brazil will take place in San Jose at 10:30 PM ET on Tuesday. Live coverage will air on TBS.