Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip!

If you thought international break meant downtime—think again. Trinity Rodman came back like she never left, the USL Super League dropped its first-ever playoff schedule, and Boston’s newest club beat the lawsuit trying to shut down its $200M stadium revamp. No big deal.

Meanwhile, Jessica Berman says the NWSL could grow as big as the NFL (dream big, Berman), the Premier League still isn’t sure if Chelsea selling their women’s team to themselves checks out, and Japan completely outplayed Colombia… but forgot to win. With four WSL matches to go, the title race is tense, and the relegation fight is messier than a rainy Tuesday in Stoke.

Let’s dive in. ⚽️🔥

What's in store this week:

• Int’l: Rodman returns, scores, stuns Brazil

• Int’l: Japan responds with a six-piece

• NWSL: Berman wants NWSL to rival NFL

• WSL: Chelsea sells Chelsea, seriously

• WSL: WSL title race still open

• News: USL Super League sets playoffs

• News: Boston Legacy wins stadium lawsuit

USWNT vs
Brazil (2-0)

Trinity Rodman wasted no time making her presence felt in her first USWNT appearance in over seven months. Just five minutes in, she slotted home a slick finish off an Alyssa Thompson assist in front of a hyped SoFi Stadium crowd. Pink hair flying, back clutching (a cheeky nod to the injury that sidelined her), Rodman lit up the scoreboard and the energy—exactly the jolt this team needed after a shaky start under Emma Hayes. Even before subbing off at the hour mark, she racked up 13 ground duels, four tackles, and plenty of chaos in both boxes.

But it wasn’t just Rodman making noise. Phallon Tullis-Joyce, in her long-awaited USWNT debut, came up huge—six saves, including a highlight-reel stop from point-blank range, proving she’s very much in the mix to inherit the No. 1 jersey post-Naeher. Listen to what she had to say here. Lastly, there’s Lily Yohannes. The 17-year-old came off the bench, earned the penalty that Lindsey Heaps converted, and nearly engineered a third goal. She’s calm, visionary, and already one of the team’s best passers. No pressure, Lily.

The two teams will face off today at 10:30 pm EST again, with Brazil looking for a chance at redemption. This is sure to be a good match.

Japan vs
Colombia (1-1)

In their first meeting, Japan dominated possession and chances but couldn’t convert. Karla Torres made them pay, heading in Colombia’s first real look in the 35th minute. Japan had a chance to equalize before halftime, but Katherine Tapia guessed right to save Yuka Momiki’s penalty. A late goal from Manaka Matsukubo salvaged a 1–1 draw—though it felt like Japan left points on the table.

The rematch? Not even close. Just a few weeks after beating the USWNT in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup final, Japan reminded everyone they’re a team on a tear. They dropped six on Colombia this morning, with goals from Riko Ueki, Matsukubo, Momiki, Yu Endo, Hana Takahashi, and Miharu Shinjo. Clinical. Ruthless. And very much for real.

Berman Eyes
NFL-Sized Growth

Jessica Berman is dreaming in Super Bowl scale. The NWSL commissioner said Friday that she believes the league could grow to NFL size—yes, all the way to 32 teams. “There’s nothing that stands in the way of us doing that,” Berman said, other than top-tier talent. Not supply, though—she made it clear the U.S. has plenty of that.

Right now, the NWSL sits at 14 clubs. Boston and Denver will bump that to 16 by 2026. As for expansion beyond that? Berman says there’s no formal process running, but there are “active conversations” with potential ownership groups. So while there’s no official timeline yet, the message is clear: the NWSL isn’t just growing—it’s going long.

Which city could be the next expansion? Tell us on Instagram.

Chelsea Sold to…Themselves?

Chelsea Women are chasing a WSL title and a Champions League crown—but off the pitch, their value is caught in the financial crosshairs. The club’s parent company, BlueCo, reportedly bought the women’s team for nearly £199m...from Chelsea. Yes, they sold the team to themselves. And while it helped the club post a £128m profit and sidestep Premier League sanctions, the league still hasn’t signed off on whether the move meets ‘fair market value’ standards.

The sale was benchmarked against Angel City FC, currently the world’s most valuable women’s team. But critics are raising eyebrows at how neatly this transaction helped offset the men’s team’s billion-pound spending spree. The Premier League hasn’t yet ruled on the deal, and UEFA’s stricter FFP rules may still come into play this summer. For now, Chelsea say it’s about boosting investment in the women’s side—but the math has everyone watching.

WSL Still Up For Grabs

With four games left, Chelsea sit atop the WSL, six points clear and cruising toward a sixth straight title—this time under new boss Sonia Bompastor. But their recent 2–2 draw with West Ham gave Arsenal and Manchester United just enough hope to stay annoying. Chelsea need 7 more points to clinch, but with a Champions League semi forcing a fixture shuffle, their actual coronation date? TBD.

The race for Champions League spots is messier. City are technically still alive, but they’re seven points behind United with four to go. United’s brutal finish—City, Arsenal, and Chelsea—is rough, but manageable. Down in the danger zone, Crystal Palace are clinging on, barely. Their next games? Chelsea and City. Not ideal. Opta's supercomputer gives them a 96% chance of finishing dead last. For now, Chelsea lead the race—but it’s not quite over yet.

Where We Stand So Far

USL Super League
Sets Playoff Dates

Mark your calendars: the USL Super League—America’s newest top-flight women’s league—is officially playoff-bound. The eight-team league just announced its postseason format, with semifinals set for the weekend of June 7 and the final to follow on June 14. It's single-elimination, top seed vs. No. 4, and No. 2 vs. No. 3—with higher seeds hosting, venue approval permitting. (Yes, that includes Brooklyn’s converted baseball stadium and Dallas’s Cotton Bowl that’s… mostly empty.)

Now wrapping up its debut season, the league has already carved out its niche with a fall-to-spring calendar—mirroring Europe and directly contrasting the NWSL. As of now, Carolina Ascent FC leads the table, with Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, and a struggling Brooklyn FC rounding out the playoff pack. Year-end awards will include the usual suspects (Golden Boot, Golden Glove), but also a Golden Playmaker for the top assist-getter—because we love a little flair.

Boston Overcomes
Legal Hurdle

Boston Legacy FC hasn’t played a single NWSL match yet—but they’ve already scored a massive W. A Massachusetts judge ruled in favor of the club and the city of Boston this week, allowing the $200 million renovation of White Stadium to move forward. The ruling came after a lawsuit from the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and 20 residents, who argued the project violated public land laws and would hurt local access to Franklin Park. The court? Not convinced. “Inadequate evidence,” ruled the judge. The renovation is officially back on.

Of course, the win doesn’t mean the controversy is over. Renovation costs have doubled, and mayoral hopeful Josh Kraft (yes, that Kraft family) is turning the stadium into a campaign issue, calling the public-private project “secretive and rigged.” Mayor Michelle Wu, who supports the plan, isn’t backing down. With demolition already underway, Boston Legacy is pushing ahead—and hoping to turn this legal victory into momentum before kickoff in 2026.