NWSL – Page 9 – Women's Soccer Express

NWSL News of Note, Teams Edition: Billionaire Marc Lasry expected to acquire controlling stake in Courage; Bay FC to build training facility, Current stadium to host 2025 NCAA College Cup

Leading this edition of notables is the news that Steve Malik, the primary owner of the North Carolina Courage is in formal talks to sell a 60% stake in the Courage to billionaire Marc Lasry. Should that deal go through retired NWSL player Lauren Holiday is expected to have “a very active role” in the Courage organization.

Also, Bay FC has announced plans to acquire a lease of land on Treasure Island, in the San Francisco Bay, for a permanent and dedicated training facility, which would also include offices for its sporting operations.

In head coaching news, the Houston Dash have officially parted ways with Fran Alonso who had been mysteriously absent from the team since the end of June.

Other notables include:

Angel City: MLS club Los Angeles FC acquires minority stake
Kansas City Current: CPKC Stadium will host 2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup
Gotham FC: Ali Krieger named Club Ambassador
Portland Thorns: RAJ Sports awarded Portland WNBA Franchise
Racing Louisville’s attendance woes — “We’d love to see more of you”

Angel City’s violation of the salary cap and other league rules is covered in a separate post: Angel City FC fined $200,000 and docked 3 points for violating salary cap and other league rules.

Additionally, SafeSports investigation into former Chicago Red Stars head coach Rory Dames has apparently been closed due to “insufficient” evidence. However, the root cause appears to be a blatantly deficient investigation.

NWSL News of Note, Players Edition: Christine Sinclair announces retirement, Contract renewals include Alyssa Naeher, Ann-Katrin Berger, Julie Doyle, and Tara McKeown

Leading the notables since the last update is the announcement by one of the all-time greats, Christine Sinclair, who will be ending her professional playing career at the end of the season.

Another retiring player, Gotham FC’s Kelley O’Hara was placed on the season-ending injury list due to “chronic knee degeneration”.

In other player-related news, three goalkeepers extended with their clubs: Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars, Ann-Katrin Berger of Gotham FC, and Jordan Silkowitz of Bay FC.

Other players re-signing with their clubs include

Orlando Pride: Julie Doyle
Washington Spirit: Tara McKeown
Houston Dash: Sophie Schmidt
Utah Royals: Laura Flynn and Cristina Rogue

Additionally, the Washington Spirit have loaned defender Waniya Hudson to the Dallas Trinity of the USL Super League for the remainder of her contract.

NWSL Referee Assignments: October 4 to 6, 2024

Friday, October 4th:

Dash vs. Red Stars: Ekaterina Koroleva (VAR: Danielle Chesky)
Reign vs. Angel City: Matt Thompson (VAR: Laura Rodriguez)

Saturday, October 5th:

Courage vs. Wave: Melinda Homa (VAR: Corbyn May)
Gotham vs. Bay FC: Sergii Demianchuk (VAR: Kevin Broadley)
Racing vs. Current: Matthew Corrigan (VAR: Brad Jensen)
Thorns vs. Royals: Rebecca Pagan (VAR: Ekaterina Koroleva)

Sunday, October 6th:

Pride vs. Spirit: Danielle Chesky (VAR: Abdou Ndiaye)

Source: PRO

NWSL Referee Assignments: September 27 to 29, 2024

Friday, September 27th:

Angel City vs. Spirit: Alyssa Nichols (VAR: Elijio Arreguin)

Saturday, September 28th:

Current vs. Gotham: Ekaterina Koroleva (VAR: Shawn Tehini)
Royals vs. Racing: Alexandra Billeter (VAR: Corbyn May)
Pride vs. Dash: Iryna Petrunok (VAR: Danielle Chesky)
Wave vs. Thorns: Elijio Arreguin (VAR: Kevin Broadley)

Sunday, September 29th:

Red Stars vs. Courage: Ricardo Fierro (VAR: Laura Rodriguez)
Reign vs. Bay FC: Elton Garcia (VAR: Alyssa Nichols)

Source: PRO

NWSL Referee Assignments: September 20 to 23, 2024

Friday, September 20th:

Current vs. Spirit: Matt Thompson (VAR: Kevin Broadley)
Bay FC vs. Pride: Brad Jensen (VAR: Shawn Tehini)

Saturday, September 21st:

Racing vs. Courage: Adorae Monroy (VAR: Shawn Tehini)
Dash vs. Reign: Jamie Padilla (VAR: Kevin Broadley)
Red Stars vs. Wave: Danielle Chesky (VAR: Corbyn May)

Sunday, September 22nd:

Gotham vs. Royals: Eric Tattersall (VAR: Brad Jensen)

Monday, September 23rd:

Angel City vs. Thorns: Joshua Encarnacion (VAR: Greg Dopka)

Source: PRO

NWSL News of Note: Red Stars activate Rall and release Feller, McCutcheon signs with Wellington after being released by Courage

Here are the notable’s since last Friday:

Chicago Red Stars: Maxi Rall off 45-day injury list, Sami Feller released
North Carolina Courage: Maya McCutcheon released, signs with Wellington Phoenix of the A-League
San Diego Wave: Goalkeeper Mackenzie Rath signed as injury replacement player
U-20 WWC Players Update: USA and Japan advance to the semifinals

NWSL News of Note: Katie Stengel and Lily Woodham to Crystal Palace, Current sign goalkeeper Katie Fraine

Leading the notables for Friday is the transfer of Katie Stengel from Gotham FC to WSL debutante Crystal Palace FC. Palace also acquired another NWSL player, Welsh international Lily Woodham, from the Seattle Reign on a short loan.

The Kansas City Current bolstered their goalkeeper depth chart with the signing of Katie Fraine, who had a long career in Sweden following a stint with the Atlanta Beat of the now-defunct Women’s Professional Soccer.

Also, as rumored, former San Diego Wave forward Sofia Jakobsson signed with the London City Lionesses.

NWSL News of Note: Huerta loaned to Lyon, Tarciane out with shoulder injury, Two Morgans extend, U-20 WWC update

Leading the mid-week notables is the news that the Seattle Reign will loan fullback Sofia Huerta to Olympique Lyonnais through June 2025. Also, Houston Dash center back Tarciane is out for an indefinite period due to a shoulder injury.

Also in this update:

San Diego Wave: Sofia Jakobsson released
Portland Thorns: Morgan Weaver extends through the 2028 season
Orlando Pride: Morgan Gautrat signs one-year extension, with option for 2026
U-20 WWC Players Update: The USA and Japan advance, Canada out

NWSL Referee Assignments: September 13-16, 2024

Friday, September 13th

Courage vs. Bay FC: JC Griggs (VAR: Ekaterina Koroleva)
Pride vs. Current: Alyssa Nichols (VAR: Shawn Tehini)
Thorns vs. Red Stars: Elton Garcia (VAR: Corbyn May)

Saturday, September 14th

Racing vs. Angel City: Danielle Chesky (VAR: Kevin Broadley)
Royals vs. Wave: Laura Rodriguez (VAR: Alyssa Nichols)

Sunday, September 15th

Spirit vs. Dash: Matthew Corrigan (VAR: Adorae Monroy)

Monday, September 16th

Reign vs. Gotham: Shawn Tehini (VAR: Alexandra Billeter)

Source: PRO

NWSL News of Note: Cece Kizer signed by Gotham, Alozie and Bike extend, U-20 WWC Players Update, Former Royals Find New Homes

Here are the notables since last Friday’s update:

Gotham FC: Forward Cece Kizer signs through 2025
Houston Dash: Michelle Alozie extends for two seasons
Chicago Red Stars: Jenna Bike extends through 2026
U-20 WWC Players Update
Former Utah Royals find new homes
Gotham FC: Sinead Farrelly honored on Sunday
ESPN: NWSL General Manager survey