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National Women's Soccer League

NWSL expansion team Bay FC hires Albertin Montoya as coach

Montoya joins Bay FC, the NWSL's expansion team, after serving a brief stint as interim coach of the Washington Spirit in 2022.

Melanie Anzidei6

Megan Rapinoe from those who know her: 'She makes the tough times easier for everybody'

Meg Linehan and Steph Yang81

Julie Ertz on choosing to retire: 'It’s not because mama can’t play, mama can play'

Meg Linehan22

Atlanta celebrates its incoming, generational status as a U.S. Soccer hub

Felipe Cardenas40

Alex Chidiac on the mixed emotions of her World Cup experience and move to Tigres

Steph Yang5

NWSL to add Boston expansion team in 2026: How it lines up with league's growth vision

“Our goal is to build a championship-caliber franchise that the city can be proud of," the ownership group said.

Steph Yang22

At Gotham FC, World Cup winner Esther González ‘is in the right place’

Esther González won the World Cup with Spain, but the new Gotham forward isn't stopping there.

Melanie Anzidei5

Anzidei: From Copa America to the World Cup, soccer is going to be everyone's business

Melanie Anzidei will cover soccer business and news for The Athletic

Melanie Anzidei60

North Carolina Courage defeat Racing Louisville 2-0 in 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup final

The Courage became two-time Challenge Cup winners, leading the NWSL in wins in the tournament since it was introduced in 2020.

Steph Yang and The Athletic Staff9

Thorns, OL Reign maintain NWSL Board of Governors seats amid sale processes, league commissioner says

The Portland Thorns and OL Reign both maintain their vote in the NWSL Board of Governors while in the midst of their respective sales.

Meg Linehan6

Chicago Red Stars new owner Laura Ricketts eager to lead team out of years-long limbo

The long limbo for the Chicago Red Stars has finally ended — and in a fitting fashion. The team won its first match under new ownership, led by Laura Ricketts, with a 2-0 win over the Washington Spirit last weekend following the official closing of the sale on September 1. Before former majority owner Arnim Whisler had even announced his intent to sell the NWSL team in December, Ricketts was already expecting the Red Stars to go on the market. Last October, Red Stars players collectively issued a statement asking for the team’s board to “(find) a new majority owner.” “Looking at it,...

Meg Linehan9

Roots, Soul soccer to include fans as owners, be 'Oakland's team more than ever'

Oakland's pro soccer clubs are looking to pull their local community even closer by inviting it to join the owner’s circle.

Melissa Lockard25

Julie Ertz to play final USWNT match Sept. 21 vs. South Africa: What's her legacy?

The two-time Women's World Cup winner announced her retirement from professional soccer on Aug. 31.

Meg Linehan and The Athletic Staff19

Courage, Racing Louisville to meet in 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup final

Brianna Pinto found the net in the 96th minute to give her team a 1-0 lead.?

Meg Linehan and The Athletic Staff4

OL Reign’s Bethany Balcer: NWSL making ‘same mistakes’ with 2023 Challenge Cup schedule

Balcer's OL Reign are this year’s No. 1 seed and host Racing Louisville FC on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.

The Athletic Staff28

Houston Dash fire coach Sam Laity with 4 games left in season

The Dash is 4-8-6 and sits 10th in the NWSL standings. Houston has four games remaining in the regular season.

Meg Linehan and The Athletic Staff5

Full Time: NWSL’s tangled table

There was a lot of talk about the celebrities who?showed up for Lionel Messi?during the MLS game between LAFC and Inter Miami, but did Selena Gomez pen a?personal essay like Jane Fonda?did after meeting Megan Rapinoe? This is the digital version of Full Time. If you want it earlier, start every week with Full Time delivered to your inbox.?Sign up here. In racing (track, motor, horse) competitors usually form a pack before someone emerges as a frontrunner, untangling the mess in time to reach the finish line alone. With four games left in the NWSL regular season, that pack is more...

Emily Olsen, Meg Linehan, and Steph Yang4

Luis Rubiales is the latest father to hide behind his daughters: The excuses must stop

Rubiales isn't the first father to hide behind his daughters. The Athletic's Meg Linehan writes it's time for the excuse to stop.

Meg Linehan172

Laura Ricketts-led group finalizes Chicago Red Stars purchase: What's next for the club?

The group reached an agreement to purchase the NWSL club in mid-August.

Meg Linehan and The Athletic Staff8

Vera Pauw to leave role as Ireland Women's manager; Eileen Gleeson takes interim charge

Vera Pauw will depart her role as Republic of Ireland Women’s manager following the expiry of her contract at the end of August. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has confirmed it will not be offering Pauw a new deal. The 60-year-old had been in charge of Ireland since 2019. FAI Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Hill said: “On behalf of the Football Association of Ireland, we would like to thank Vera for her hard work and commitment over the past four years and wish her well for the future. In particular, I wish to acknowledge the role she played in leading Ireland to the FIFA...

Caoimhe O'Neill

Reunited at Gotham FC, Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim reflect on past and present

The two players whose story shocked the NWSL world shared a field for the first time in eight years this month.

Meg Linehan8

Full Time: NWSL says 'Contigo Jenni'

Like many of the players, we’re still dealing with jet lag. I’m?Emily Olsen?here with?Meg Linehan?and?Steph Yang?— welcome to Full Time! This is the digital version of Full Time. If you want it earlier, start every week with Full Time delivered to your inbox. Sign up here. While players who left for the World Cup (and those who remained in the United States) are eager to get back to routine, there’s been a resounding and uniting reminder left over from the international competition. It was a message?on the minds?and?wrists of players, and among the?fans with signs in the...