Welcome back to another edition of Goalside Gossip, your ultimate source for all things women's soccer!

What to expect on this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip:

1. NWSL - Landon Donovan Named SD Wave Interim Coach

2. NWSL - Pickett Returns to the Pride

3. INT’L - Concacaf W Championship (What to Expect)

4. W Championship Cup - History in El Salvador

5. Friendly - Arsenal vs Washington Spirit (2-1)

6. Friendly - Alessia Russo Chats with Goalside Gossip

Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's blend of Goals, Gossip, and Glory from the world of women's soccer.

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NWSL

Landon Donovan Named SD Wave Interim

Landon Donovan, a former USMNT star and one of the most celebrated American soccer players, has been appointed as the interim coach of San Diego Wave FC. His first match leading the team will be in the Concacaf W Champions Cup against Santa Fe FC in Panama City on Aug 20. Donovan succeeds Paul Buckle, who stepped in as interim coach following Casey Stoney's departure in June. Wave FC's sporting director, Camille Ashton, expressed confidence in Donovan's leadership and experience, highlighting his passion for the sport and the city as key factors in his appointment.

Donovan's appointment comes at a crucial time for San Diego Wave FC, who are currently ranked 10th in the NWSL standings. With a roster that includes stars like Alex Morgan and Naomi Girma, Donovan's task will be to guide the team towards a playoff position and contend for the championship. Donovan's illustrious career includes six MLS Cup victories and a record-setting international career with the USMNT, where he earned 157 caps and holds the record for most assists. His deep understanding of the game as both a player and a coach is expected to be a significant asset for the club as they navigate the remainder of the season. Let us know on Instagram (@goalsidegossip) if you think that he will be successful in leading the Wave for the remainder of the season.

Pickett Returns to the Pride

Carson Pickett has returned to Orlando Pride following a trade with Racing Louisville FC, with Orlando acquiring her in exchange for $75,000 in Allocation Money. Pickett, a defender and Florida State University alum, previously played for the Pride from 2018 to 2020. The Pride's VP of Soccer Operations, Haley Carter, expressed excitement about Pickett's return, praising her proven abilities and the additional quality she brings to the team's backline. Carter also highlighted Pickett's strong connection with Orlando's fans and community, making her a great fit for the team culture. Pickett herself expressed her enthusiasm about rejoining the Pride, calling it an honor to play in her home state again and sharing her eagerness to contribute to the team's success.

Pickett, a two-time NWSL Best XI honoree, spent the past two seasons with Racing Louisville FC, where she made 36 appearances and contributed one goal and one assist. Before her time in Louisville, she played for North Carolina Courage, where she led the NWSL in assists in 2022 and finished second in assists in 2021. During her earlier stint with the Pride, Pickett made 39 appearances but missed the 2020 season due to the pandemic. Her professional career began with the Seattle Reign, and she also had stints with Brisbane Roar in Australia's A-League. Internationally, Pickett debuted with the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2022 and has represented the U.S. at various youth levels. Orlando Pride will return to regular season play on August 23 against the Houston Dash.

Concacaf W Champions Cup Kicks Off

Inaugural Edition:

• Start Date: Group stage starts on Tuesday, Aug 20!

• Purpose: The Concacaf W Champions Cup is a new international women's soccer competition. It allows NWSL teams to compete against other top teams from North America, and serves as a qualifier for the inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup in 2026.

Teams Involved:

• Group A: NY/NJ Gotham FC (USA), Tigres (MEX), Monterrey (MEX), Alajuelense (CRC), Frazsiers Whip (JAM)

• Group B: San Diego Wave (USA), Portland Thorns (USA), Club America (MEX), Santa Fe (PAN), Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN)

Tournament Format:

• Preliminary Round: Two teams compete for a spot in the group stage. The Vancouver Whitecaps beat Alianza (1-0) to snag this last spot.

• Group Stage: 10 teams split into two groups.

• Semifinals: Top two teams from each group advance to single-elimination matches.

• Finals & Third-Place Match: Held next spring (May 2025).

Upcoming Matches:

• Aug 20: Alajuelense vs. Frazsiers Whip; Santa Fe vs. San Diego Wave

• Aug 21: Club America vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

• Aug 22: Tigres vs. Monterrey

• Sep 4: Santa Fe vs. Vancouver Whitecaps; Portland Thorns vs. Club America

• Sep 5: Alajuelense vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC; Monterrey vs. Frazsiers Whip

For the full list of group stage matches, click HERE.

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Alianza (1-0)

In a historic night for Vancouver Whitecaps FC, their League1 BC women's team claimed a 1-0 victory over Alianza Women FC in the inaugural match of the Concacaf W Champions Cup at Estadio Cuscatlán in El Salvador. This win secured their place in the Group Stage of the 2024-25 Concacaf W Champions Cup, extending their unbeaten streak to 28 games. The match’s decisive moment came in the 25th minute when 17-year-old Emily Wong scored the tournament’s first-ever goal from a penalty kick. The Whitecaps displayed maturity and strong defensive play, with goalkeeper Morgan McAslan making several crucial saves to preserve the lead.

Looking ahead, Vancouver will compete in Group B of the tournament, facing Club América on August 21, Santa Fe FC on September 4, and concluding with matches against NWSL sides San Diego Wave FC and Portland Thorns FC in October. Despite being a young team, the Whitecaps showed resilience and composure, particularly in the later stages of the match, to secure this significant victory and advance in the tournament.

Arsenal Arrives in D.C.

Washington Spirit vs Arsenal

In the first match of the Washington Spirit International Friendlies, the Washington Spirit narrowly lost 1-2 to Arsenal W.F.C. in front of a crowd of 15,062 at Audi Field, marking Arsenal's debut in the United States. Despite missing key players from the U.S. Women's National Team, the Spirit featured new faces, including Leicy Santos and Rosemonde Kouassi, who made their team debuts. Arsenal took an early lead with a goal from Alessia Russo in the 10th minute, but the Spirit quickly responded, with Ouleye Sarr equalizing just before halftime after connecting on a cross from Andi Sullivan.

The second half saw back-and-forth action, with both teams vying for control. However, Arsenal capitalized on a defensive error in the 74th minute, allowing Russo to score her second goal of the match, securing a 2-1 victory. The Spirit continued to press in the final minutes but couldn't find the back of the net despite several attempts. The match was a strong showing for the Spirit, who now turn their attention to their next NWSL regular-season game against the Kansas City Current, followed by another friendly where Arsenal will face off against Chelsea.

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Russo Reacts to Arsenal’s Win

Alessia Russo scored a brace for Arsenal in their 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Washington Spirit yesterday at Audi Field, and we got a chance to catch her in the player’s tunnel after the match. Here’s what she told us:

On starting her pre-season with a couple of goals… It was a challenging first pre-season match, and we have only been together for a short time after the internationals and the Olympics, with everyone arriving at different times. It's great to be back with almost everyone and to secure our first victory, setting the stage for the upcoming week.

On how pre-season training has been since returning… It has been going well, although it's demanding, but that's the essence of pre-season. It's enjoyable to be back and to establish the groundwork we aim to achieve during these pre-season games.

On returning to the US after studying and playing in North Carolina… It's wonderful to be back, and I had an incredible three years here in college at UNC. It's always pleasant to return and encounter familiar faces. It's challenging because you have to come up with more in-game solutions than we do with English teams, as we are more accustomed to playing against them. Washington Spirit presented us with a unique challenge, and it was tough. However, it was beneficial to have those discussions and build those connections.

On whether there were specific things the team wanted to work on in this game… There are always aspects to work on, such as coming together, building connections, and getting our legs back in the game. Everyone has had very different summers with the Olympics, camps, and various other things, so it's great to reunite and find our rhythm again.

On the academy players who played in this game… They were fantastic, and Arsenal's academy system is one of the best, which was evident today with the girls who played. They can hold their own out there, and we have so many top talents coming through. I'm excited for them, and they are all really lovely girls who fit seamlessly into the group. It's a pleasure to play alongside them.

On how winning the Euros with England changed her life… I would be lying if I said it wasn't challenging at times. Obviously, it's what you want, and there's no better feeling than winning a trophy with your country. It's what we play for, to win those kinds of trophies. But your life does change, and I think that's for the best. We've wanted women's football to be in this place for a long time, and it's a shame it took this long. The Olympics are huge, and we were all watching. These games are getting the fans, the stadiums, and the representation they deserve. It's nice for those players to have that limelight.

On whether she would have any advice for Emily Fox after winning Olympic gold this summer… Emily is one of the most professional people I have ever worked with, so I think she will be fine, and her performances will be as classy as always. It's just a transition you have to go through, but I think a lot of the girls are used to it now, and everyone in our team puts football first. Foxy will always be a superstar.

On any must-have restaurants in American soil… The team’s having Chipotle tonight, and we couldn’t be more excited.

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