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“Hi guys, I’m back. Did you miss me? Because I missed you.” — Kim Kardashian, but also NWSL after the international window.
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Emily Olsen here with Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin and Jeff Rueter — welcome to Full Time!
Band’s Back Together
US Women win $1 million
Last week, Carli Lloyd scored a stunning game-winning goal and Hope Solo made a diving save. Tonight, the US Women captured another title. Wait, what?
Don’t turn that dial! You are still in the right newsletter.
The Soccer Tournament (TST), a seven-a-side, winner-takes-all competition, has become something of a post-retirement playground for the U.S. women’s national team — with a $1 million prize on the line.
The tournament originally started as a men’s-only competition in Cary, N.C. But when US Women showed up in the second year, competing among the men, they became an instant fan favorite. So much so that the competition expanded to include a women’s division last year … and US Women took home the title.
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While Solo’s team, Solo FC, fell in the quarterfinals this year, Lloyd and US Women beat Bumpy Pitch FC — headlined by former Gotham FC midfielder McCall Zerboni — in tonight’s final to go back-to-back. Twenty-year-old University of North Carolina midfielder Evelyn Shores scored the million-dollar goal.
The goal adds to Shore’s recent success, which includes being the only college player called into the USWNT under-23 camp last month and scoring the winning goal in the team’s friendly against Germany on May 30.
Spearheaded by the energizer bunny of the USWNT, Heather O’Reilly, US Women have become a mix of the legends you know and the youth players you know.
NWSL Updates
Game of the weekend
Despite several players having just returned from various trips with their national teams, this weekend’s NWSL action did not suffer. There were big goals and plenty of lead changes.
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However, Saturday’s 2-2 draw between Angel City FC and the Chicago Stars had the goal of the week … and maybe the year. Just watch Ally Schlegel’s go-head goal for yourself:
Angel City’s first match under new head coach Alexander Straus had a lot of layers to it. Thankfully Tamerra is here to sum it up:
Twenty-year-old defender Savy King returned to BMO Stadium for the first time since she collapsed during a game on May 9 and was rushed to the hospital. King, the No. 2 draft pick in 2024, underwent surgery and was discharged on May 18.
Shortly after kickoff Saturday, the in-stadium video screen and ION broadcast panned to a smiling King, who waved to the crowd and made the shape of a heart with her hands. She joined her teammates on the pitch after the match as well. Angel City midfielder Kennedy Fuller, one of the night’s goal scorers, said after the game that it was great “to be able to see her so healthy and happy.”
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On the field, there were a few moments that made me wonder whether Straus, who joined Angel City from Bayern Munich, would be subject to the same rude awakening the NWSL has previously dealt European coaches. Sharing points with the team currently sitting bottom of the table isn’t exactly the ideal impression a new manager wants to set, but for what it was worth, Straus seemed to enjoy his first NWSL experience.
NWSL adds new rules
As Dua Lipa once said: “I got new rules, I count ’em.”
On Thursday, the NWSL announced a change to its rulebook that allows its teams to loan players to clubs within the league.
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Loans were already a growing part of the league’s sporting operation, with many clubs sending young players to temporary stops in the USL Super League and other circuits. Jeff explains that this change is a big one.
Clubs sending players on loan can still ensure they’ll be part of their plans at the end of the season when their loans expire — if they’re under contracts. Teams acquiring loanees, as soon as the window opens on July 1, can round out their rosters by bringing in players for less than their full wage, with the loaning team covering the rest. Players have even more options available for their development, meaning a rookie could sign with a contender out of college and still have a path to starting NWSL minutes in their first season.
Meg’s Corner: Boston Legacy embraces swans
Following the reveal of Boston Legacy FC’s new crest Saturday, there’s been no drama (whew) — just a range of solidly positive (or at the very least, neutral) reactions to the badge. It looked like a great party, too, despite the rain on Boston Common. They even had a fully wrapped Duck Boat. Peak Boston.
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I spoke to designer Matthew Wolff and managing owner Jennifer Epstein before the launch. You can take a look for yourself at the new design details here.
The swan and its history in the area are big, but it’s the details — including a nod to the original eight NWSL clubs, represented by the number of feathers on the swan (and their angles designed to reflect the Zakim Bridge) — that make the crest stand out.
It’s a big win for the Legacy, one that they’ve needed. The club also told me it did mid-five-figure sales in merch on launch day and picked up over 100 new season ticket deposits at Saturday’s event. It’s not just a momentum swing in the right direction, roughly eight months out from the team’s inaugural preseason — it’s a new bridge to building trust and relationships with the community of Boston.
📊 Time to let us know how you feel. What do you think of Boston’s new look?
Need to Know
Giráldez’s farewell tour in Washington
Jonatan Giráldez won the first of his last three games in charge of the Washington Spirit yesterday, a 3-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage (who were without head coach Sean Nahas due to medical reasons). It was Giráldez’s last game at Audi Field.
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The reception was largely positive — though there were chants for assistant Adrián González, who would take on Giráldez’s job at the end of the match — but winning helps that.
On Friday, Giráldez called his midseason departure to lead OL Lyonnes “not ideal,” but encouraged fans and players to “keep working” and supporting the team.
If you are still trying to make sense of the structure that allows Giráldez to move so swiftly from owner Michele Kang’s Spirit in D.C. to OL Lyonnes in France, Asli Pelit broke down the business of multi-club ownership and why it’s growing in popularity.
England roster set
We knew who wasn’t going before we knew who was.
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A trio of England exits ahead of Euro 2025 brought an air of uncertainty to head coach Sarina Wiegman’s 23-player selection for the 2025 European Championship this summer.
First, goalkeeper Mary Earps announced that she was retiring from international football. Then England trounced Portugal 6-0 in the UEFA Nations League.
Midfielder Fran Kirby was a second-half substitute in the match, but she didn’t feature in the following 2-1 loss to Spain. Shortly after the final whistle, she, too, announced her retirement from international football, saying to ESPN: “I just didn’t want to overstay my welcome.”
Wednesday morning, ahead of Thursday’s squad announcement, defender Millie Bright shared that she was withdrawing from selection, saying she was “not able to give 100 percent mentally or physically.” Bright later underwent a minor knee surgery.
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Still, the core Wiegman has been building on the field remains, and we now know the full team going to Switzerland to defend its Euros crown.
View our full roster analysis.
Full Time First Looks
Changing coaches: Tottenham Hotspur parted ways with women’s team head coach Robert Vilahamn over the weekend. The decision follows men’s team head coach Ange Postecoglou leaving Spurs, just 16 days after winning the Europa League final.
Transfer talks: Chloe Kelly has already been through a transfer saga this year with her loan from City to Arsenal in January. Now, with those terms winding down, Arsenal have confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the 27-year-old goal scorer for a new contract. Kelly was key to Arsenal’s Champions League final victory.
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Hungry Becky Eyes: Former USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn got a hometown hero’s welcome last week at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Mo., as the U.S. defeated Jamaica 4-0. We’ve known about her leadership, but hearing about the look she gives players after a mistake felt too relatable. “Becky doesn’t get mad often, but if you mess up,” former teammate and friend Lynn Biyendolo said, “she’ll give you this look, that ‘I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed’ look. That’s the Becky look.”
🗳️ Send us your questions: We are answering your questions on the “Full Time” podcast next week. Email us your burning queries and you may hear them answered on next week’s episode.
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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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