Chelsea FC launched a celebration for March 8th's International Women's Day under the slogan "Every woman. Every girl. Every season." this week, announcing multiple initiatives focused on gender equity and women's empowerment.
The Chelsea Foundation kicked off the festivities with the #GiveToGain campaign at Cobham Training Centre. The event brought together 25 women and girls from the Foundation's Inspire Her program and Adapted Sports walking football team, alongside students from St Mary's University Twickenham.
Participants engaged in an intergenerational mentorship workshop, writing two pledges — one offering advice and another reflecting on how someone helped them succeed. Surprise guests Sam Kerr and Kadeisha Buchanan then joined to offer their own insights.
The day concluded on the pitch, where walking footballers taught younger players the game before everyone, including Kerr and Buchanan, competed together.
The Foundation plans to expand #GiveToGain across its additional programming, aiming to reach more participants while celebrating women's football.
Chelsea also marked the first anniversary of its Women's Empowerment Network this week. The club launched the event for International Women's Day 2025 as a space for women to connect and discuss workplace issues.
Later this week, Chelsea will host a panel exploring other football issues, hoping to create a more inclusive working environment through increased discussions surrounding women's health.
"The path of womanhood holds different cycles, phases, seasons. Empowering women through the different stages of womanhood and enabling them to shape this game is what we are about," Chelsea wrote in this week's statement.
"March is a time to celebrate the women who shape our game, our communities and our future — and to recognise that progress towards gender equality requires action from us all."
The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup kicked off in Australia on Sunday, when the host nation opened the year's first World Cup qualifying tournament with a victory.
Captain Sam Kerr got the world No. 15 Matildas off to a strong start, scoring the lone goal in Sunday's 1-0 group-stage win over the No. 41 Philippines — and doing so in her hometown of Perth in front of a tournament-record crowd of 44,379 fans.
Kerr's 14th-minute header was also the striker's first international goal since late 2023, with the 32-year-old back in form after suffering an ACL tear with her WSL club Chelsea in January 2024.
"Hopefully [the goal] starts me off on a good run for the rest of the tournament," Kerr said postgame. "It means a lot to be back in the team, back scoring, and to do it at home is extra special."
Along with a spot in the 2027 World Cup, Australia will aim to top the Asian Cup podium for just the second time in the nation's history, as the Matildas look to add to their initial 2010 title.
That said, the 12-country tournament field holds tough competition for the Aussies, including No. 8 Japan, No. 17 China, No. 21 South Korea, and reigning U-20 World Cup champion No. 9 North Korea, who returns to the competition for the first time since 2010.
The nations will battle through three group-stage matches and a trio of knockout rounds to determine this year's AFC Asian Cup champion as well as to lock in the confederation's six 2027 World Cup bids — plus two intercontinental playoff spots.
"Today was a good start and there's lots of belief within the team," added Kerr on Sunday. "But, as you see today, there's a lot of quality teams in the Asian Cup."
How to watch the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup
The Asian Cup continues its group-stage openers with North Korea kicking off against Uzbekistan at 9 PM ET on Monday, streaming live on One Football.
Reigning UEFA Women's Champions League winners Arsenal suffered a setback on Wednesday, falling 3-2 to German side Bayern Munich after a second-half collapse led to three unanswered goals.
The Gunners are now 1-2 in league phase play, landing them in 11th place with three opening-round matches remaining.
"It's not good enough. We don't want to concede three goals in one half in the Champions League," Arsenal manager Renée Slegers said postgame. "It's everything. It's keeping the ball, making better decisions on the ball in their half to keep the ball there for longer, because it was very transitional."
A bright spot for Arsenal came via an opening goal from USWNT defender Emily Fox — one of a few US-centric Champions League boosts this week.
USWNT forward Catarina Macario notched a brace in Chelsea FC's 6-0 drubbing of St. Pölten on Tuesday, a match that also handed USWNT defender Naomi Girma her 2025/26 Champions League debut with the Blues.
Tuesday's clash also saw Chelsea captain Sam Kerr find the back of the net twice, as the Australia standout made her first start in 692 days.
Now halfway through league-phase play, only Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, and Manchester United remain perfect with a trio of wins, with Champions League matches resuming on November 19th.
Despite missing the 2025 regular-season finale due to an adductor injury, No. 1 Kansas City Current star forward Temwa Chawinga picked up her second straight NWSL Golden Boot on Sunday.
Chawinga tallied 15 goals and three assists in the 2025 NWSL campaign, beating out Gotham forward Esther (13), North Carolina forward Manaka Matsukubo (11), Louisville forward Emma Sears (10), and Chicago forward Ludmilla (10) for this season's Golden Boot.
The 27-year-old, who set the league's single-season scoring record with 20 goals in 2024, is now just the second-ever NWSL player to earn back-to-back Golden Boots, joining former Chicago star Sam Kerr.
With the Malawi international still recovering from an injury incurred during the Current's October 18th match against the Houston Dash, her recovery remains front of mind as Kansas City gears up for the 2025 NWSL Playoffs.
In order to to stay in market and continue her rehab, Chawinga also pulled out of last week's WAFCON qualifiers in hopes of returning to the NWSL pitch to help the reigning Shield-winners secure a championship.
Kansas City manager Vlatko Andonovski said this week that "there's a chance" Chawinga could be available for the team's early postseason games, but that she was still "day-to-day."
"Deb is good. Kayla's good. Gabby. They're all good," Andonovski told reporters, running through his roster. "Temwa is still not good and we're not going to take any risks at this point. We'll see how she progresses."
After a historic season, Kansas City has to like their playoff chances — but a healthy Chawinga could be the club's key to lifting a first-ever NWSL championship trophy.
Star striker Temwa Chawinga is nearing yet another trophy, as the 2024 NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner lifted her No. 1 Kansas City Current over No. 4 Gotham FC with her 15th goal of the season on Saturday — taking the lead in the 2025 scoring race.
Chawinga's 51st-minute tally secured the 2-0 victory, as the 2025 Shield-winners became the first-ever NWSL team to reach 20 wins in a single season — and the first to ever snag more than 60 points in a single campaign.
The Malawian international is now just the second player in league history to score at least 15 goals across multiple seasons, joining former NWSL star Sam Kerr's 2017, 2018, and 2019 runs for Sky Blue and Chicago.
With two regular-season matchdays left, the 2025 NWSL Golden Boot race is down to Chawinga and Gotham FC attacker Esther, with the Spain star chasing the Kansas City standout with 13 goals of her own.
Besides the two-goal advantage, Chawinga also currently holds the edge in momentum, with the Current striker scoring in her last four NWSL matches while Esther has been silent on goal since September 13th.
Trailing Chawinga and Esther in this year's Golden Boot race with a still-impressive 10 goals apiece are No. 8 Racing Louisville's Emma Sears and No. 14 Chicago Stars' Ludmila.
Chelsea FC star striker Sam Kerr made headlines on Sunday, as the Australian international scored her 100th goal for the six-time reigning WSL champions in the waning minutes of the Blues' 3-1 win over Aston Villa — Kerr's first competitive match in 634 days.
Kerr subbed into the match in the 75th minute before slotting in the historic goal amid a corner-kick melee three minutes into stoppage time.
"I feel like it's nice to finally be out there and have people stop talking about an injury," Kerr said postgame, referring to the 2024 ACL tear that kept her sidelined for more than 18 months. "Now they can start talking about goals."
Kerr is now chasing Chelsea FC's all-time leading scorer Fran Kirby on the career stat sheet, with the attacking midfielder notching 116 before leaving the Blues to sign with Brighton & Hove Albion in July 2024.
"For me, she's an idol," Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor said about Kerr after Sunday's match. "It's a lot of positives, a lot of confidence for her, for the team."
Along with Kerr's return, Sunday's clash also saw blockbuster new signing Alyssa Thompson make her Chelsea debut, with the USWNT rising star taking the pitch as a halftime substitute.
Chelsea FC is playing it close to the chest, with big-name new signing Alyssa Thompson and previously injured superstar Sam Kerr waiting in the wings as manager Sonia Bompastor teases a 2025/26 WSL season debut for the pair.
Kerr joined the 18-player game-day roster for Chelsea FC's opening-day victory over Manchester City last Friday, but saw her season debut delayed as the Australian remained an unused sub while Thompson greeted fans from the stands.
This Sunday's matchup against Aston Villa provides another chance for the standouts to take the pitch, as the six-time reigning WSL champs hunt another result.
"With Alyssa, we are looking for her to be able to play. We don't have the confirmation yet, but we are hoping for her to be able to play in this game," Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said earlier today. "I think she has already shown some good things this week in training, and we can see what she can bring to the team."
Bompastor went on to call last week's decision to keep Kerr on the bench "my choice," saying "She's doing everything she can to be available for the squad and available to start…. The next step for her is to be involved in a short game in the league, and maybe we'll see that on Sunday."
USWNT fans will not get a glimpse of defender Naomi Girma, however, as the January 2025 Chelsea addition sat out last Friday's clash with a calf injury and remains unavailable.
How to watch Aston Villa vs. Chelsea FC this weekend
With the possibility of Thompson and Kerr taking the WSL pitch, Chelsea will visit Aston Villa at 7 AM ET on Sunday, with live coverage of the match streaming on ESPN+.
Chelsea FC star Sam Kerr is officially back, as the 31-year-old Australian striker gears up to make her first appearance for her WSL club in 20 months after suffering an ACL tear in January 2024.
"Sam Kerr is on the squad, so she will be involved in the game [against Manchester City]," Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor told reporters on Thursday as the Blues gear up for their 2025/26 WSL season opener on Friday.
"[Kerr] is in a good place, she has been training well, she's physically in a good position," Bompastor continued. "She's also mentally in a good position, because again I think she's one of the players everyone wants to see on the pitch."
Kerr's return to play is just the latest boost for the six-time reigning WSL champions this week, with Chelsea officially finalizing the near-$1.5 million transfer of USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson from NWSL side Angel City.
Thompson signed a five-year deal with the London club just hours before the WSL's transfer window closure on Thursday evening.
Chelsea quickly accelerated interest in the 20-year-old rising US star after Colombian striker Mayra Ramirez suffered a significant right hamstring injury in a preseason match last weekend.
How to watch Sam Kerr in Chelsea FC's 2025/26 WSL opener
The Blues will begin their hunt for a record-extending seventh consecutive WSL trophy on Friday, when Chelsea hosts Manchester City to open the UK league's 2025/26 season.
The clash kicks off at 2:30 PM ET with live coverage streaming on ESPN+.
USWNT and Chelsea FC star Catarina Macario inked a 10-year, $10 million contract with Nike on Tuesday, securing one of the most lucrative sponsorship deals in the women's game.
Macario started her pro career as an Adidas athlete, but swapped brands after battling back from a long-term knee injury to win a domestic treble with WSL side Chelsea this year.
The Brazilian-born US national is also starring in Nike's "Scary Good" ad campaign, a series of short films that "pay homage to the horror and satire of late-night television with a cast of the game's most dominant attackers."
Other soccer stars joining Macario in the sportswear giant's short film series are Spain's two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and winger Salma Paralluelo, Brazil's Kerolin, and Germany's Giulia Gwinn, as well as Macario's Chelsea teammate, Australian national Sam Kerr.
"Nike has always been a part of my journey — from Surf to Stanford, to the USWNT and now Chelsea FC," Macario said in Tuesday's press release.
"Now, to be officially with the brand feels incredible. Not only because I get to join a team of football legends that have influenced my style of play since the beginning, but because I believe Nike represents the fearless spirit I try to bring with me every time I step on the pitch."
Women's soccer is blowing up on the sponsorship front, with payouts jumping from Norwegian superstar Ada Hegerberg's $1.1 Nike deal in 2020 to this week's blockbuster Macario signing.
How to watch Macario in her "Scary Good" Nike film
Catarina Macario's "Scary Good" film — dubbed "The Cold-Blooded Clinic" — will drop on July 16th on Nike Football's YouTube channel.
Incoming Matildas boss Joe Montemurro revealed a new setback in the return of Australia captain Sam Kerr from injury on Monday, disclosing that the Chelsea striker has recently undergone an additional surgery unrelated to her January 2024 ACL tear.
"I think there were some complications," Montemurro told Australia's Channel 10 about the 31-year-old attacker's status this week. "There was a subsequent intervention, but I do believe she is now back running."
"It was something completely different [to the ACL injury]. I think the knee is fine," Montemurro continued.
Montemurro, who took the reins of the Matildas this week following a year-long stint leading European club titan OL Lyonnes, did not detail a specific timeline for Kerr's return.
However, the Australia captain is likely to miss the world No. 16 team's upcoming three summer friendlies against No. 38 Slovenia and No. 57 Panama.
That said, though Montemurro has yet to directly connect with Kerr, the Australia boss did state that "there's nothing to worry about, she's on track."
"By all reports, she's focused on getting back and she's focused on being back at her best, knowing that there's an exciting tournament coming up," the new Matildas manager said, referencing the 2026 Asian Cup.
"So with that attitude, I expect to see a fantastic Sam Kerr."