UWCL Power Rankings: Barca top, Thompson powers Chelsea

Jeff KassoufOct 17, 2025, 01:16 PM ETCloseJeff Kassouf covers women's soccer for ESPN, focusing on the USWNT and NWSL. In 2009, he founded The Equalizer, a women's soccer news outlet, and he previously won a Sports Emmy at NBC Sports and Olympics.United States forward Trinity Rodman has a Grade 1 MCL sprain and will be sidelined for an unspecified amount of time, Washington Spirit head coach Adrian Gonzalez said Friday. There is no timetable for her return.Rodman is expected to miss the U.S. women's national team's upcoming games against Portugal and New Zealand due to the knee injury sustained earlier this week. U.S. Soccer has not announced Rodman's withdrawal from training camp, and Gonzalez said he could not answer whether she would miss time with the USWNT.The NWSL playoffs begin in three weeks. Rodman is one the best players in the NWSL and a focal point of the attack for Washington, which recently clinched the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.- Who is the best teenager playing in the NWSL? - Former USWNT star Press announces retirement"We are going to take this day by day," Gonzalez told reporters. "Every player is completely different."Rodman's injury occurred on Wednesday, just a few hours after U.S. Soccer announced her return to the team after a six-month absence, and USWNT head coach Emma Hayes told reporters she was "super excited" to have Rodman back on the roster. Rodman last played for the USWNT on April 5."She's one of the best players in the world, and we've had to play without her for more than a year," Hayes said about Rodman on Wednesday prior to the forward's injury.Rodman was helped off the field in tears during Wednesday's 4-0 win over Mexican side Monterrey in the final game of group play in the Concacaf W Champions Cup. She was unable to put pressure on her right leg. She was later seen on crutches and in a full knee brace.Trinity Rodman reacts after getting injured and leaving the game in the first half of the Washington Spirit's game with Monterrey. Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images"She's at the facility today starting the rehab; she's doing good," Gonzalez added. "The results that we got are the best scenario. Obviously, an injury is not always a good situation. It's not as bad as it could be. She's starting now the rehab."She has an MCL sprain. It's not too big, too much, but we need to see how she's doing every day, start the rehab today, and try to support her in this situation."Washington's victory on Wednesday clinched the Spirit a spot in next year's semifinals of the regional championship, which serves as qualification to FIFA's forthcoming world club competitions.Rodman's status for the NWSL playoffs is also uncertain. There are two games remaining in the NWSL's regular season. The playoffs begin on Nov. 7. The NWSL Championship takes place on Nov. 22.Rodman has dealt with a recurring back injury for over a year. Her appearance for the USWNT in April -- when she scored six minutes into a 2-0 win over Brazil -- is her lone international cap since the Olympic gold medal game in August 2024.The Spirit clinched the No. 2 seed in the NWSL playoffs for the second straight season. Last year, Washington finished second in the regular season and runner-up to the Orlando Pride in the NWSL Championship.Rodman played through back pain during that stretch and said after her team's loss in the final in November 2024 that it was "not an excuse but I wasn't the Trin that I wanted to be today" due to her back pain."All players are different," Gonzalez said on Friday. "We are taking care of every player as an individual in terms of how we prepare [for] the weeks, the games, and trying to individualize as much as possible the loads. Obviously, every player has a different background, and we always are taking care of those details."Right now, we need to focus on day by day, try to help her to recover, to heal as best as possible, and let's see how she's progressing every day."The U.S. will play Portugal on Oct. 23 in Chester, Pennsylvania, and again on Oct. 26 in East Hartford, Connecticut. The Americans wrap up the window against New Zealand in Kansas City on Oct. 29. Source link

Bethlehem grad and Kansas City Current midfielder Claire Hutton called up to the USWNT’s 26-player roster for three upcoming friendlies.

Oct 15, 2025, 06:31 PM ET

Dear Little Christen, (The Beginning)

Two-time World Cup champion forward Christen Press announced on Wednesday that she will retire from professional soccer at the end of the 2025 NWSL season.

USWNT goalkeeper Casey Murphy has signed a deal with 2026 NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy FC, multiple sources told ESPN.

Sep 15, 2025, 07:00 PM ET Savannah DeMelo thanked medical staff, teammates and fans for their support on Monday, a day after she collapsed on the field during Racing Louisville's match against Seattle Reign FC at Lumen Field. Racing said in a statement Monday that DeMelo was at a local hospital and is undergoing testing to determine what caused her to go to the ground late in the first half of Sunday's game.

Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo was stable and alert after she was taken by ambulance from a match on Sunday against the Seattle Reign because of a medical emergency. The game at Seattle’s Lumen Field was called off after the incident late in the first half. DeMelo sat down on the field before collapsing. Trainers rushed to her side and players from both teams were visibly shaken. The television cameras cut away from the scene on the field and the match went to half-time early. Reign players emerged a short time later to applaud their fans as an announcement was made that the match was abandoned.

Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo was secure and alert after she was taken by ambulance from a match on Sunday in opposition to the Seattle Reign due to a medical emergency. The sport at Seattle’s Lumen Area was referred to as off after the incident late within the first half. DeMelo sat down on the sector earlier than collapsing. Trainers rushed to her aspect and gamers from each groups have been visibly shaken.

Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo was stable and alert after she was taken by ambulance from a match on Sunday against the Seattle Reign because of a medical emergency. The game at Seattle’s Lumen Field was called off after the incident late in the first half. DeMelo sat down on the field before collapsing. Trainers rushed to her side and players from both teams were visibly shaken.

Gotham FC acquired midfielder Jaedyn Shaw in an National Women's Soccer League intraleague-record $1.25 million transfer from the North Carolina Courage, the club announced Thursday.

Jeff KassoufSep 8, 2025, 09:12 PM ET Close Jeff Kassouf covers women's soccer for ESPN, focusing on the USWNT and NWSL. In 2009, he founded The Equalizer, a women's soccer news outlet, and he previously won a Sports Emmy at NBC Sports and Olympics. The North Carolina Courage have agreed to trade United States midfielder Jaedyn Shaw to NJ/NY Gotham FC for $1.25 million, which would be an intra-league record for an NWSL trade, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN. A $1.25 million fee is more than double the intra-league record that was just set in August, when the…

Jeff KassoufSep 8, 2025, 09:12 PM ET Close Jeff Kassouf covers women's soccer for ESPN, focusing on the USWNT and NWSL. In 2009, he founded The Equalizer, a women's soccer news outlet, and he previously won a Sports Emmy at NBC Sports and Olympics. The North Carolina Courage have agreed to trade United States midfielder Jaedyn Shaw to NJ/NY Gotham FC for $1.25 million, which would be an intra-league record for an NWSL trade, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.

The North Carolina Courage have agreed to trade United States midfielder Jaedyn Shaw to NJ/NY Gotham FC for $1.25 million, which would be an intra-league record for an NWSL trade, multiple sources con...

United States women's national team forward Alyssa Thompson has signed for Chelsea from NWSL side Angel City FC. Sources told ESPN that Chelsea will pay Angel City an initial fee close to $1.3 million (£1m). The deal could potentially reach near $2m (£1.5m) with add-ons, a source said, but will not surpass the world-record transfer completed earlier Friday when the London City Lionesses signed Grace Geyoro from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth £1.43 million ($1.9m), according to ESPN sources. Chelsea held significant interest in Thompson, and the hamstring injury to…