Women's Soccer Express

U-15 USWYNT: Roster for second camp of cycle released, 14 players return, 3 apparent first-timers

On Thursday, November 14th, the second camp of the 2024-25 cycle for the Under-15 United States Women’s Youth National Team got underway in Chula Vista, California. The camp, which is being held concurrently with a U-16 USWYNT camp, runs from the 14th to Wednesday, November 20th.

Head coach Ciara Crinion has called in 24 players, including 14 players from the previous camp as well as three players who are apparently attending their first U.S. youth WNT camp. One of the players from the September U-15 camp, midfielder Loradana Paletta, who was named to the roster for the concurrent U-16 USWYNT camp.

For this cycle, the primary birth year for the U-15 USWYNT is 2010. One notable player with a 2010 birth date not at this camp is NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Mak Whitham, who was also called up to the concurrent U-16 USWYNT camp.

One of the players attending this camp, forward Stella Spitzer, currently plays for the Carolina Ascent of the new USL Super League on an academy contract.

DroneGate: Canada Soccer releases findings, Bev Priestman is officially out as WNT head coach, plus new reporting from Radio-Canada

On Tuesday, November 12th, Canada Soccer released a redacted “summary” version of the report of an independent investigation into the drone spying incidents at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The summary report’s findings are fairly limited, which is positive news for the Canada Women’s National Team. In addition to the 2024 Summer Olympics incidents, the investigation also determined that “surreptitious surveillance” also occurred at two “tournaments” between June 2022 and March 2024 (¶21 to ¶27), but not at the COVID-delayed 2020 Summer Olympics (¶28). However, nowhere in the published report does it directly address the allegation of spying at the Tokyo Olympics that was reported by TSN’s Rick Westhead back in July.

The summary report also stated that the players of the Canada WNT did not watch the footage obtained at the 2024 Summer Olympics, but that is based only on the statement of one person (¶20). Notably, the summary report does not mention whether players of the Canada WNT had seen earlier drone footage, nor does it discuss if any players were aware of the drone spying.

With the release of the summary report, Canada Soccer also confirmed that Bev Priestman is no longer the head coach of the Canada WNT:

The three individuals currently suspended by FIFA will not be returning. The search for a new head coach for the Women’s National Team will commence shortly.

Additional confidential HR measures are being evaluated and will be taken in response to the findings of the investigation.

The “three individuals” are head coach Bev Priestman, performance analyst Joseph Lombardi (the operator of the drone at the Paris Olympics), and assistant coach Jasmine Mander (who was Lombardi’s direct report).

On Monday, the day before the summary report was released, Radio-Canada, the French-language division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, published an article based on interviews with about 20 persons, including at least one Canada WNT player: “Details emerge of Canada Soccer’s ‘obsessed’ culture of drone spying”.

Note: All “¶” citations refer to numbered paragraphs in the summary report.

NCAA: 2024 Division I Championship — First Round Schedule with Streaming Details

On Friday, November 15th, the 2024 edition of the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship gets underway. Except for the College Cup, which will be on ESPNU, all other matches of the tournament will stream live on ESPN+.

The bracket for the tournament (NCAA.com) was announced on Monday, November 11th. A printable PDF version (with really small print) can be downloaded from the NCAA.com website.

USWNT News of Note: Lily Yohannes commits to the USA, Sophia Smith ankle injury update, Trinity Rodman goes the full 120, Tierna Davidson returns to Gotham’s line-up

This post was originally going to be centered around fitness updates on a few players, but stop the presses… Ajax midfielder Lily Yohannes, who does not turn eighteen until next June, has chosen to represent the United States.

In not-so-good news, Portland Thorns head coach Rob Gale made some comments regarding Sophia Smith’s recent ankle injury that raises the question of whether she should be called up for the USWNT’s upcoming European friendlies against England and the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, two Olympic gold medalists who were left off of the USWNT’s roster for its trio of October friendlies due to injury issues played full matches over the weekend: Gotham FC center-back Tierna Davidson returned for her first match in almost a month, while forward Trinity Rodman played the full 120 minutes in the Washington Spirit’s extra-time victory over Bay FC.

NWSL News of Note: Trinity Byars signed by Wave, Jess Fishlock and Ryan Williams extend, Celia Jiménez Delgado to retire, Rafaelle on SEI List

Leading the notables from the past week is the San Diego Wave’s signing of Texas forward Trinity Byars, who was a standout player for both the Longhorns and the USA’s U-20 WYNT.

Meanwhile, two key players for their teams, midfielder Jess Fishlock of the Seattle Reign and defender Ryan Williams of the North Carolina Courage, are extending their stays in the NWSL. Also, the Orlando Pride’s Celia Jiménez Delgado has announced that she will retire after the conclusion of the playoffs.

Additionally, the Brazilian international Rafaelle was placed on the season-ending injury list by the Orlando Pride due to a “partial tear” of a tendon in her right thigh, and Houston Dash back-up goalkeeper Heather Hinz has been loaned to Fort Lauderdale United of the USL Super League for the NWSL off-season.

Finally, some good news: Brazilian midfielder Luana, whose first season in the NWSL was cut short by a cancer diagnosis, completed a series of chemotherapy treatments for Hodgkin’s lymphoma in October and has had follow-up tests which show no evidence of the disease.

NWSL Referee Assignments: 2024 Playoffs — Quarterfinals

Friday, November 8th

#1 Pride vs. #8 Red Stars: Alyssa Nichols (VAR: Ekaterina Koroleva)

Saturday, November 9th

#4 Current vs. #5 Courage: Brad Jensen (VAR: Greg Dopka)

Sunday, November 10th

#2 Spirit vs. #7 Bay FC: Ekaterina Koroleva (VAR: Shawn Tehini)
#3 Gotham FC vs. #6 Thorns: Danielle Chesky (VAR: Alyssa Nichols)

Source: PRO

For the full playoffs schedule, see “NWSL: 2024 Playoffs Schedule with USA TV and Streaming Details”.

U-17 WWC 2024: The USA claims Third, O’Steen wins Golden Glove, Fuller takes home the Silver Boot, Korea DPR triumphs again

On Sunday, the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup came to a close with the Third-Place Match and Final both being played on the same day. In the earlier match, the USA blanked England via a 3-nil scoreline that could have easily been more lopsided against the Young Lionesses.

Meanwhile, in the final, Spain looked to have the advantage over Korea DPR, at least in the first half. Spain briefly went ahead in the second half, but Korea DPR equalized a few minutes later. With the score level at the end of regulation, the match went straight to penalties, and Korea DPR prevailed 4:3.

As their Under-20 counterparts did in September, the Under-17 United States Women’s Youth National Team took home bronze medals. Two USA players also received individual tournament awards: Evan O’Steen was given the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper, and Kennedy Fuller earned the Silver Boot as one of the top goalscorers.

Korea DPR won their third FIFA U-17 WWC title, after previously winning the inaugural edition in 2008 and again in 2016. This is also the second time that Korea DPR has won both the U-17 WWC and U-20 WWC in the same year, having previously done that feat in 2016, and was prevented from doing so in 2008 by the USA. Only one other country, Spain in 2022 has also won both FIFA women’s youth tournaments in the same year.

NWSL: 2024 Playoffs Schedule with USA TV and Streaming Details

The 2024 regular season of the National Women’s Soccer League has come to close, with the Orlando Pride claiming the NWSL Shield as the top team of the league table, but eight teams are still in the hunt for the NWSL Championship trophy.

The 2024 NWSL playoffs officially get underway on Friday, November 8th, and continue through to the Championship match on Saturday, November 23rd.

In the United States, six of the seven playoff matches will be broadcast live on CBS or ABC. Only one match, the November 8th quarterfinal between the Orlando Pride and the Chicago Red Stars, will be shown solely on a paid streaming service.

This post was updated after the quarterfinals and semifinals.

For more on the Championship match, see “2024 NWSL Championship — Broadcast Details and Referee Assignments”.

NCAA: University of Illinois Head Coach Janet Rayfield announces retirement

On Wednesday, Janet Rayfield, one of the pioneers of modern collegiate women’s soccer, announced that she is retiring from coaching soccer at the University of Illinois, where she helmed the soccer team for 23 seasons. Rayfield will remain in her position until a successor is hired.

Rayfield had stints as an assistant coach* of the United States Women’s National Team under Pia Sundhage (2009, 2011). Rayfield has also been involved with U.S. Soccer’s youth national teams, most notably as an assistant coach* to Steve Swanson with the 2012 Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team that won the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup. The 2012 U-20 USWYNT included then University of Illinois midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo, who is now a member of the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League.

*Correction: An earlier version of this article accidentally included an extra modifier.

NWSL News of Note: Chicago Red Stars rebrand; Leroux, DiBernardo, McNabb, and Brown extend; Lacasse and Ordóñez on SEI List; Montefusco retires

Among the notables that happened during the international break…

The Chicago Red Stars drop “Red” from the club’s name and introduced a new crest.
Four players signed new contracts: Sydney Leroux of Angel City, Vanessa DiBernardo of the Kansas City Current, Kristen McNabb of the San Diego Wave, and Ryanne Brown of the Seattle Reign.
Also, Megan Montefusco (née Oyster) of the Orlando Pride officially announced her retirement. Montefusco was twice capped by the senior USWNT.
Two players, Cloé Lacasse (ACL/meniscus) of the Utah Royals and the Houston Dash’s Diana Ordóñez (shoulder surgery) were moved to the Season-Ending Injury List.
In coaching news, Utah Royals interim head coach Jimmy Coenraets is no longer “interim” after signing a two-year contract.
The NWSL Disciplinary Committee announced additional match suspensions for Chicago Red Stars forward Ludmila and Washington Spirit forward Rosemonde Kouassi.

Additionally, the league announced that Grammy-winner Melissa Etheridge will be performing the National Anthem at the 2024 NWSL Championship in Kansas City, Missouri.