Megan Rapinoe slammed Olympique Lyonnais for their treatment of a former player. The French club withheld pay from the player during her pregnancy.

Rapinoe called the treatment “utterly disgraceful.” The veteran U.S. women’s national team forward plays for Lyon’s sister team in the NWSL, OL Reign.

“The culture at OL in France has a LONG way to go. Y’all love to talk about how much you support women, but this math is not mathing,” she wrote. “I implore you to be the club that is ALWAYS supporting women, not the club that once did.”

Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, who is now with Juventus, played for Lyon from 2020-22. During her tenure with the team, she became pregnant. While initially supportive, Lyon later withheld pay and did not remain in contact with her throughout her pregnancy.

Lyon cited it as an issue with French law, but FIFA rules established in late 2020 dictate that players receive pregnancy and maternity leave.

While Gunnarsdóttir eventually took the issue to international players union FIFPRO, she was told she wouldn’t have a future with the club if she were to take the issue to FIFA.

“I couldn’t wrap my head around that. I was just shocked,” Gunnarsdóttir wrote for The Players Tribune. “And I’ll be honest, I was hurt. The whole situation made me feel crazy. How could any team get away with this?”

The Icelandic star later returned to the club, but she was told she couldn’t bring her son on away trips.

“The understanding between us just was not there, and I felt that,” she wrote. “They always made me feel like it was a negative thing that I had a baby.”

Gunnarsdóttir and FIFPRO won a lawsuit against the club, which was ordered to pay her full salary of more than €82,000 plus interest.

Per FIFA, the club failed to follow the “duty of care,” noting their lack of contact with the player during her pregnancy.

“No one was really checking on me, following up, seeing how I was doing mentally and physically, both as an employee, but also as a human being,” Gunnarsdóttir wrote. “Basically, they had a responsibility to look after me, and they didn’t.”

Other maternity policies also have come under fire recently. Emma Mukandi, who plays for Reading in the Women’s Super League, has criticized the English Football Association, which only guarantees new mothers 14 weeks of full play. The policy is also discriminatory toward poorer clubs, as new mothers receive less support, she said.

“If you’ve got loads of money at Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, you’ve got loads of great facilities, having a baby there is not an issue at all,” she told BBC Sport. “But the lower down the leagues you go and then money comes into it and facilities, then it’s easier for clubs and CEOs to be like, ‘No, this isn’t happening.'”

U.S. women’s national team midfielder Lindsey Horan notched a highlight-reel goal for her club team, Olympique Lyonnais, in Wednesday’s Champions League group-stage  match against FC Zurich.

Lyon defeated FC Zurich, 4-0, as the team continues its title defense. Horan and Lyon bested Barcelona in May to take the 2022 championship.

Horan beat a defender and the goalkeeper  through their legs to score her goal, the first for her team on the day and her second during group play.

Melvine Malard scored twice in the victory after Horan got on the board at the 14-minute mark, and Delphine Cascarino capped the dominant performance with a goal in stoppage time.

The win marks Lyon’s 100th in the Champions League. Its first came in August 2007 against Slovan Duslo Sala.

The win put Lyon in second place in their group behind Arsenal, and fourth-place Zurich has been eliminated. Juventus is in third place in Group C.

Group play continues through the end of December, followed by the knockout phase, beginning in January 2023.

Horan, a midfielder for the USWNT, is on loan for Lyon from the Portland Thorns where she has played since 2016. Prior to that she played for another French team, Paris Saint-Germain, from 2012-2016.

Angel City FC will continue its postseason push without star defender Vanessa Gilles, with the Canadian international joining Olympique Lyonnais on loan.

The French club announced the news Monday, revealing that the 26-year-old would join Lyon on loan through June 30, 2023, ahead of the World Cup.

Angel City will retain Gilles’ rights and has extended her contract through December 2023.

“Being a part of Angel City this year has been an incredible experience, both on and off the pitch. The fans, my teammates, and the entire Angel City family have made representing this crest mean so much,” Gilles said in a statement. “Leaving before the end of the season was a very difficult decision to make both because we are in a run for playoffs, and because I have been injured and unable to contribute as much as I would have liked. It is very bittersweet.

“However, having the opportunity to go on loan to Lyon and compete in the Champions League among some of the best in the world has always been a dream of mine, and is one that I couldn’t pass up.”

Gilles has appeared in seven matches for Angel City, notching a goal and assist for the NWSL expansion club.

“We’ve been fortunate in our first year to attract world-class talent and players like Vanessa,” ACFC General Manager Angela Hucles Mangano said. “While her presence will be greatly missed, we feel that by extending her contract through December 2023 and retaining her rights, we are supporting her as a player in what we know is a dream opportunity for her.”

Gilles won Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games last summer with the Canadian national team before joining ACFC for its debut season following a four-year stint with FC Girondins de Bordeaux in France’s Division 1 Féminine.

The center-back’s absence will be felt as ACFC makes a postseason push. The club sits in fifth place with 31 points, and the top six teams make the playoffs.

The Women’s International Champions Cup lineup has been announced, with the Portland Thorns set to host C.F. Monterrey, Chelsea FC and Olympique Lyonnais in the August tournament at Providence Park.

Each of the participating teams has won a title in the last year.

Lyon won the UEFA Women’s Champions League title in May and clinched France’s Division 1 Féminine title earlier this month, while Chelsea won the FA Women’s Super League title and the FA Cup title in May.

Monterrey took home the Liga MX Femenil Apertura title last December, and the Thorns won the 2021 NWSL Shield and Challenge Cup.

The Washington Spirit, the reigning NWSL champions, originally were slated to appear in the tournament but withdrew due to scheduling concerns and were replaced by Monterrey.

“After internal discussion, we have decided to withdraw,” the Spirit said last Friday. “This will allow our team a brief period to rest ahead of the final third of the regular season. The ICC tournament gathers some of the greatest teams in the world and we are honored to have been considered.”

The Thorns are the defending champions of the WICC, having defeated Lyon in a 1-0 victory last summer. Lyon won the tournament in 2019.

Ada Hegerberg will return to the tournament with Lyon after missing last season with an injury. Sam Kerr and Chelsea will make their WICC debut, as will Monterrey.

The tournament will take place August 17-20. Sports media company Relevent Sports Group operates the competition.

“Each year the WICC competition grows as the world’s top players circle their calendars for the chance to be crowned the best club in the world,” RSG CEO Daniel Sillman said in a statement. “We are honored to be hosting the stars of the game on the biggest stage and we hope to inspire the next generation of girls and boys to compete in the world’s game.”

Lyon added more hardware to its growing trophy cabinet, claiming the French league title with a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.

The victory marks Lyon’s 15th French league championship. The club reclaimed the top spot after PSG upset Lyon last season for the title.

USWNT star Catarina Macario scored the game-winning goal for Lyon, opening her account in the third minute. The American striker made a darting run up the flank to get in behind the PSG backline before beating the goalkeeper with a far-post rocket.

Macario finished the 2021-2022 league campaign with 13 goals and five assists in 18 matches played. Her goals tally is the second-most in the league behind PSG’s Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who logged 18 and four assists in 20 games played.

Lyon’s league title comes after the French side defeated powerhouse Barcelona for the Champions League trophy on May 21.

Lyon midfielder Catarina Macario is clapping back at the Women’s Champions League for its Team of the Season selections after she was snubbed by UEFA’s Technical Observer panel.

The all-star team includes six players from Olympique Lyonnais, including goalkeeper Christiane Endler, who helped propel Lyon to the Champion’s League title in a 3-1 win over Barcelona.

Among midfielders, only Amandine Henry was selected from Lyon. Three Barcelona players were selected in the midfield, headlined by Alexia Putellas, who led the Champions League in scoring with 11 goals through 10 games.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto of Paris Saint-Germain was the lone player selected to the Team of the Season who was not a part of the either Barcelona or Lyon.

Macario reacted to her absence from the team despite her performance throughout the season, which included eight goals – including one in the final – and two assists. Her eight goals through 11 games were good for third in the WCL and led Lyon.

“Thanks for having me guys,” she wrote. “I’ll try again next year.”

Notably, Tabea Waßmuth of Wolfsburg, who finished second in Champions League scoring with 10 goals through 10 games and helped her team to a semifinal appearance, also was left off the Team of the Season.

It’s hard to believe only seven months before claiming the Champions League title, Ada Hegerberg was making her triumphant return to Lyon after being sidelined for 21 months.

The Norway striker has come a long way since her ACL injury abruptly halted her career in 2020, just two years after winning the Ballon d’Or award.

On Saturday, things turned around for Hegerberg as she scored a goal to help Lyon to a 3-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League final, a feat that surprised Hegerberg herself.

“I couldn’t imagine winning the Champions League one year ago,” Hegerberg said after the historic win. “I’ve come far from a long injury, and getting back to this level is just extremely inspiring and I am very grateful.”

The 27-year-old’s goal added to her Champions League tally, notching 59 in 61 UWCL appearances to make her the competition’s all-time top scorer.

“It was about finding the right space,” Hegerberg said of her headed finish to double Lyon’s lead in the championship. “When you get a chance on goal, it should be goal.”

Hegerberg has scored in four of the five UWCL finals she’s competed in for Lyon, the first player to do since Alfredo di Stefano.

“I have difficulties finding the words to describe this,” she said. “We faced a beautiful team, and we really went for this victory, and we let the football talk which is important for us.”

Lyon’s trophy marks the club’s record eighth Champions League championship, restoring the club’s reign atop women’s soccer.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this group of players,” Hegerberg said. “It takes a lot of courage, a lot of work, mentality to get to this place. It wasn’t easy to go for it, but it’s the eighth title of the club, which is amazing.”

Lyon did what seemingly no team could this season, dominating Barcelona 3-1 to clinch the Champions League trophy Saturday.

The French side put Barcelona under pressure early, as Amandine Henry put Lyon up 1-0 in the game’s sixth minute. The French national team midfielder launched a stunning curler from far outside the box.

Lyon doubled its lead in the 23rd minute as Ada Hegerberg headed a lofted cross past the Barcelona keeper, deflating the Spanish side.

The situation went from bad to worse for Barcelona in the 33rd minute when Catarina Macario finished off a Lyon effort spurred by sloppy defending from Barcelona. The finish from the USWNT star put her team up 3-0.

Barcelona showed a glimmer of hope for a comeback late in the first half, when Alexia Putellas knocked in a cross to keep her side in the game.

But the 3-1 scoreline held through the second half despite Barcelona’s best efforts, and Lyon celebrated as the final whistle blew.

“This is what I’ve dreamed of ever since I was a little girl,” an emotional Lindsey Horan said after the match.

Saturday’s win marks Lyon’s record eighth Champions League title.

Catarina Macario will play in the most significant club match of her career Saturday when Lyon takes on Barcelona in the Champions League final.

In the UWSNT striker’s first full season with the French club, Macario led Lyon in Division 1 Féminine goals, notching 13 across 18 matches. The 22-year-old leads Lyon in Champions League scoring as well, with seven goals and two assists in 10 games so far.

Of her seven goals, two came in Lyon’s quarterfinal contest against Juventus. The young star notched another brace in the club’s first-leg semifinal matchup against French rival Paris Saint-Germain.

Tucking in behind Lyon forward Ada Hegerberg, Macario’s midfield positioning makes her challenging to stop, with the American star able to make darting runs and take defenders one-on-one.

Her skill level in particular is what sets Macario apart, with her ability to execute world-class finishes for club and country.

Macario isn’t just lighting it up for Lyon. She has brought the same offensive firepower stateside, anchoring the attack for the U.S. women’s national team.

In February, Macario earned MVP honors at the She Believes Cup after burying two unforgettable goals and recording one assist in three matches for the USWNT.

On Saturday, Macario has a chance to add a Champions League trophy to her banner season when Lyon faces off against Barcelona. The matchup will be a tough one for Macario and Lyon, as the Spanish side is coming off a perfect 30-win season in the Primera Division.

The Champions League final will kick off at 1 p.m. ET Saturday on DAZN’s YouTube channel.

Barcelona’s Irene Paredes has enjoyed getting to see the success of the club since its professionalization in 2015.

That success includes winning the Primera Division and the Spanish cup multiple times. The club also claimed its first-ever UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy last year to complete the treble for the first time in its history.

Barcelona has had a record-breaking run in the lead up to this year’s WCL final, selling out games at Camp Nou and setting the world record for women’s soccer attendance not once but twice.

The club also completed a perfect 30-win season in the Primera Division.

“It’s been a really fast development,” said Paredes, referencing the fact that the club was only professionalized seven years ago. “But it’s just the consequence of a lot of work, a lot of people with a lot of enthusiasm and ideas working together. They really wanted a female football club doing great things.”

As for selling out Camp Nou, the defender said she and her teammates were in awe over the turnout.

“It was amazing, we couldn’t understand and believe it,” she said. “When they put the tickets on sale, we didn’t expect to have all of those sales in two days. We were wondering if all of the people would come, and of course they did and they’ve been screaming and helping us to win the game against Real Madrid.

“The second time against Wolfsburg, it was also a surprise because it was another new record. People could say that it’s lucky, that they gave a lot of tickets [away], but no, most of the people paid for tickets. They came to cheer us on and that’s because they want to support us.

“I hope the rest of the world is looking to us to try to do the same.”

This season marks the second time in Paredes’ career that she’s made a Champions League final. She played for Paris Saint-Germain when that club finished as runner-up in 2017.

She knows how difficult it is to make it to this point, and to play against a club like Olympique Lyonnais, which has won seven WCL titles – including a record-breaking run of five from 2016-2020.

“If we win that final, knowing the importance that Lyon has in Europe and the world, of course it would be amazing,” she said. “But it’s not about winning [against] Lyon, it’s just about winning the second time in a row.

“This last year has been a lot of work, a lot of good results. Of course we want to win and it would add strength to keep fighting to become the best team in the world. If not, our season has been amazing and the club wants more and we are working for that.

“We don’t want to be the new Lyon. We just want to be the new champions.”

The Champions League final will kick off at 1 p.m. ET Saturday on DAZN’s YouTube channel.