women’s soccer – Page 12 – Women's Soccer Express

USWNT: 2025 SheBelieves Cup — Teams, Schedule, and USA TV/Streaming Details Announced

February 2025: See “2025 SheBelieves Cup: Roster Round-Up, Match Schedule, and TV/Streaming Details” for the rosters of all four teams, plus updating TV/Streaming details.

In 2025, the SheBelieves Cup, a friendly tournament hosted by the United States Women’s National Team, will return to its traditional group format. Joining the hosts will be Japan, which returns for its fifth appearance, plus two debutantes: Australia and Colombia.

The tournament will be played from Thursday, February 20th to Wednesday, February 26th. All of the USWNT’s matches will be shown live on TBS and Universo, with Max and Peacock as streaming options. The matches not involving the USWNT will be televised by Universo and streamed on both Max and Peacock. The 2025 SheBelieves Cup’s six matches will be played at three venues: Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas; State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona; and Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.

UEFA teams are not available for this window as they will be competing in Nations Leagues matches (UEFA.com).

USWNT: England’s Roster for its upcoming friendly against the USA — Three NWSL players, first senior call-ups for two players (Updated)

Update (29-Nov-2024): On Tuesday, November 26th, Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy was called up due to Maya Le Tissier being in concussion protocol. Le Tissier will not be available for the USWNT’s match. (EnglandFootball.com) The text of this article has been updated accordingly.

For England’s friendly against the United States Women’s National Team, head coach Sarina Wiegman has called up nine starters from the last time the USA faced the Lionesses, along with some fresher faces, including four players who got their first England caps in 2024 and three uncapped players.

Among the uncapped players is Orlando Pride goalkeeper Emma Moorhouse, who is back for her third-straight England camp after getting called up for the first time during the summer (EnglandFootball.com feature). Two other NWSL players return: Defenders Jess Carter of Gotham FC and Esme Morgan of the Washington Spirit.

The two first-time call-ups are both midfielders from England’s Under-23 squad: Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown and Leicester City’s Ruby Mace. Both are more likely to get their first senior caps against England’s second opponent of this window, Euro 2025 host Switzerland, than against the USWNT.

While the USWNT will be without its “Triple Espresso”, the Lionesses will also be missing some key players due to injuries, most notably forward Lauren Hemp (age 24, 61 caps, 18 goals), midfielder Ella Toone (age 25, 53 caps, 19 goals), and forward Lauren James (age 23, 24 caps, 7 goals). Other players mentioned as unavailable are outside-back Niamh Charles (age 25, 18 caps, no goals) and the uncapped Lucy Parker (age 26), who played collegiately for UCLA and LSU. Meanwhile, former UNC Tarheel center-back Lotte Wubben-Moy (age 25, 13 caps, 1 goal) is just returning from a foot injury and was not called up.

USWNT: Roster for friendlies versus England and Netherlands announced — No “Triple Espresso”, First call-ups for Ally Sentnor and Phallon Tullis-Joyce

The “Triple Espresso” trio of Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman will not be playing Wembley in 2024 as all three players have been left off the United States Women’s National Team roster for its final friendlies of the year due to injury issues and/or match load issues. In their place, head coach Emma Hayes has retained first-timers Yazmeen Ryan and Emma Sears from the October roster and has called up Utah Royals forward Ally Sentnor into her first senior USWNT camp. One other player has been given her first call-up this window: Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who is currently the starting goalkeeper for Manchester United in the Women’s Super League. Meanwhile, midfielder Lily Yohannes, who recently committed to the United States, returns for her first camp since June. Also, center-back Tierna Davidson returns after missing the October friendlies due to a minor hamstring strain.

Along with Smith and Swanson, four other players from the 27 players called up for the October friendlies were not named to this 24-player roster: Goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who suffered a muscle injury while training with the USWNT in October; midfielder Olivia Moultrie, who has an ankle or leg issue (Bluesky); defender Hailie Mace; and midfielder Ashley Sanchez.

Over a third of the USWNT’s roster for this camp features players with two or less senior caps: In addition to the two uncapped players, Sentnor and Tullis-Joyce, eight players have either one or two caps, including all seven of the previously uncapped players that were called up for the October friendlies plus the returning Yohannes.

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

On Friday, November 22nd, the Second Round of the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship will be played, with all 16 matches streaming live on ESPN+. The first matches get underway at 2:00 p.m. ET, while the last match of the day has a scheduled start time of 10:00 p.m. ET.

Based on RPI (as of November 10th), the most competitive Second Round match-ups are…

Ohio State vs. Auburn (RPI difference of 5)
Texas vs. Michigan State (RPI difference of 6)
Penn State vs. TCU (RPI difference of 7)
Iowa vs. Georgetown (RPI difference of 8)

The three lowest RPI-ranked teams still in the tournament are Colorado (#55), Washington (#50), and California (#49).

All Third Round matches are scheduled to be played on Sunday, November 24th, with start times ranging from 2:00 p.m. ET to 9:00 p.m. ET.

NWSL News of Note: Angel City’s new training facility, Current upgrade Caitlin Carducci to GM, Courage’s Cortnee Vine on mental health break

This week, Angel City announced that they will move “next door” into a training facility recently vacated by the Los Angeles Rams. The to-be-renovated facility is expected to be ready ahead of the 2025 NWSL preseason.

Also, the Kansas City Current’s interim general manager Caitlin Carducci is “interim” no more after a title upgrade on Wednesday.

Finally, Australian international Cortnee Vine is “taking some time off” to prioritize her mental health.

2024 NWSL Playoffs: Semifinals Details, including Referee Assignments

#2 Washington Spirit vs. #3 NJ/NY Gotham FC

Date: Saturday, November 16th
Start Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+ (with Showtime)
Referee: Matt Thompson
VAR: Greg Dopka

#1 Orlando Pride vs. #4 Kansas City Current

Date: Sunday, November 17th
Start Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Streaming: ESPN+
Referee: Danielle Chesky
VAR: Shawn Tehini

Source for Referee Assignments: PRO

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

U-16 USWYNT: 24 Players called into first camp of new cycle, including several first-timers

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

Head coach Patchy Toledo has called in 24 players, including just 10 of the 18 on the roster for August’s Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship. Three of the four named alternates for that tournament have been named to this camp’s roster.

All but two of the players named to the camp’s roster have 2009 birth years: NWSL professional Mak Whitham, who was born in 2010, and midfielder Loradana Paletta, who has a 2011 birth year.

Eight players called up are apparently attending their first United States youth national team camp.

With the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup becoming an annual tournament in 2025, some U-16 and U-15 players could be called up to the U-17 USWYNT this cycle.

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.