🎉 Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip! ⚽️

The women's soccer world is firing on all cylinders this week—massive derby wins, fresh kit drops, and the return of the SheBelieves Cup. Arsenal embarrassed their North London rivals, Man City made a statement against Liverpool, and Lauren James did Lauren James things in Chelsea’s last-gasp win.

Off the pitch, Adidas is pushing boundaries (for better or worse) with their new Euro 2025 away kits, while the USWNT looks to defend its crown at SheBelieves—this time with a roster full of fresh faces. Oh, and if you want to attend NWSL games for free as Goalside Gossip media representatives, check the end of this email. Let's dive in.

What's in store this week:

• WSL: Man City vs Liverpool (4-0)

• WSL: Chelsea vs Everton (2-1)

• WSL: Arsenal vs Tottenham (5-0)

• News: Euro Away Jerseys Released

• News: SheBelieves Cup 2025

• GG: Media Interns Needed In NY, SF, SD, and Seattle!

Man City vs
Liverpool (4-0)

Manchester City secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Liverpool in their first home win of 2025, with Khadija Shaw leading the charge with a first-half brace. Shaw, the WSL’s top scorer, netted twice with assists from Mary Fowler, taking her tally to 11 league goals this season. Jill Roord extended City’s lead on the hour mark, and Gracie Prior capped off the win with a fortunate goal late in the game. City remain fourth in the table, comfortably ahead of Liverpool by 13 points.

Mary Fowler made WSL history by becoming the first player to contribute to two or more goals in four consecutive league games, providing key assists for Shaw’s strikes. Shaw, meanwhile, continued her impressive form under manager Gareth Taylor, with 61 goals in 69 league appearances—closing in on Fran Kirby’s record for most goals scored under a single manager.

Chelsea vs
Everton (2-1)

Chelsea secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Everton, with Lauren James netting a stunning stoppage-time winner to keep her side seven points clear at the top of the WSL table. Everton took a surprise lead through Kelly Gago, who fired past Hannah Hampton, but Chelsea responded quickly as Mayra Ramirez equalized with a close-range finish. Despite several missed chances, including Aggie Beever-Jones hitting the crossbar, Chelsea struggled to break down Everton’s defense.

In the dying moments, James found space 25 yards out and delivered a brilliant strike into the bottom corner to snatch all three points. The late winner ensured Chelsea maintained their dominant position in the title race, as they continue their push for another league triumph.

Arsenal vs
Tottenham (5-0)

Arsenal extended their unbeaten home record in the North London Derby with a commanding 5-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in front of 56,784 fans at Emirates Stadium. Alessia Russo’s early flick forced a Clare Hunt own goal to open the scoring, and Mariona Caldentey doubled our lead before halftime with a composed finish. Frida Maanum made it 3-0 early in the second half, with her strike deflecting off Hunt, before Russo added a fourth with a clinical shot off the post. Emily Fox capped off the performance in spectacular style, firing a must-see long-range rocket into the top corner in stoppage time. Chloe Kelly even made her long-awaited return in the second half and nearly marked it with a goal, hitting the crossbar.

Adidas’ Euro 2025
Away Kits

Adidas’ Euro 2025 Away Kits: A Work of Art or a Fashion Gamble?

Adidas has rolled out its first wave of Euro 2025 away kits, and they’re certainly not playing it safe. Drawing inspiration from each country’s artistic and cultural heritage, these designs bring everything from Cubism to graffiti into play. Some hit the mark beautifully—others might have gotten lost in translation. Let’s break them down.

Note: Click each title to see what the jersey looks like!

🇪🇸 Spain – Cubism Takes the Field (⭐ 8.5/10)

A soft pastel palette meets abstract, angular designs in this nod to Picasso and the Cubist movement. It’s different, but in a way that feels intentional and stylish. The small footballer silhouette on the back collar ties it all together nicely. Easily one of the best in the bunch.

🇮🇹 Italy – A Renaissance Revival (⭐ 8/10)

Italy leans into its artistic heritage with a refined mint green jersey, inspired by Renaissance frescoes and nature. The floral pattern creates a subtle camouflage effect, and while it borders on looking too delicate, the elegant “Italia” script on the back helps ground it. A classy and thoughtful design.

🇧🇪 Belgium – Abstract, but Make It Fast Food? (⭐ 7.5/10)

Belgium’s kit pulls from the 1920s Abstract Modernism movement, with a bold custard-yellow base and sharp angular patterns. The purple trim adds nice contrast, but the “BELGIUM” typeface on the back has a bit of an unintentional diner-menu feel. A strong concept, but the execution isn’t perfect.

🏴 Wales – A Love Spoon-Inspired Look (⭐ 6.5/10)

This one is all about tradition, featuring a pale green print inspired by Welsh Love Spoons—hand-carved wooden gifts symbolizing love and unity. The idea is great, but the midriff graphic feels slightly out of place. The lilac trim is a unique touch, though, and the daffodil emblem with the “Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae” (“It is better to play together”) slogan adds a nice sentimental finish.

🇩🇪 Germany – Berlin Street Art Meets the Pitch (⭐ 6/10)

Graffiti and urban street culture influence Germany’s kit, which made its debut at Berlin Fashion Week. The spray-paint smears and “Deutschland” etching on the back embrace the aesthetic fully, but it’s not the most polished execution. It’s certainly eye-catching, but Adidas has done better for Germany in the past.

🇸🇪 Sweden – Minimalism or Just Plain? (⭐ 6/10)

Sweden sticks to its Scandi roots with a satin-finish blue shirt and faint ripple textures. Clean and sleek? Yes. But next to the other bold designs, it’s almost too understated. A solid jersey, but it might get overlooked in the grand scheme of things.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland – A Swirl of Nostalgia (⭐ 4/10)

Scotland’s away kit revives the bright pink-and-yellow color scheme from its earliest international days in 1881. While it’s a cool historical reference, the swirling pattern makes it a bit overwhelming. A bold choice, but definitely not for everyone.

🇮🇪 Northern Ireland – A Missed Opportunity? (⭐ 3/10)

Inspired by "The Dark Hedges" from Game of Thrones, Northern Ireland’s away kit features a simple brown line drawing of the famous beech trees. The problem? It doesn’t really capture the mystical, haunting beauty of the real thing. It’s an interesting idea, but the execution feels a little flat.

SheBelieves Cup 2025 Preview:
Can Anyone Stop the USWNT?

The 10th edition of the SheBelieves Cup kicks off this week, bringing together the U.S., Japan, Australia, and Colombia for a round-robin showdown across three U.S. cities. With the tournament running from Feb. 20-26, the winner will be decided on total points after each team plays three matches.

The Favorites 🇺🇸

The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) enters as the reigning champion, having lifted the trophy in seven of the last nine editions. Despite missing key stars like Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, and Sophia Smith, head coach Emma Hayes has a fresh-looking 23-player squad blending Olympic gold medalists with emerging talent.

Among the newcomers, 19-year-old right-back Gisele Thompson joins her sister Alyssa on the roster, marking just the third set of siblings to play for the USWNT. Meanwhile, Hayes continues to build depth for the 2027 World Cup, with four uncapped players and 10 with four or fewer caps making the cut.

The Contenders 🇯🇵🇦🇺🇨🇴

• Japan brings a disciplined, possession-based style and will be eager to avenge last year’s loss to the U.S.

• Australia (2023 World Cup semifinalists) could be the biggest threat, even without star forward Sam Kerr.

• Colombia stunned Germany at the World Cup and boasts Leicy Santos and Linda Caicedo—one of the most exciting young players in the game.

The Schedule:

🗓 Feb. 20 (Houston, TX) - Look for us outside the gates!
🇯🇵 Japan vs. 🇦🇺 Australia – 5:00 p.m. ET
🇺🇸 USA vs. 🇨🇴 Colombia – 8:00 p.m. ET

🗓 Feb. 23 (Glendale, AZ)
🇨🇴 Colombia vs. 🇯🇵 Japan – 3:00 p.m. ET
🇺🇸 USA vs. 🇦🇺 Australia – 5:00 p.m. ET

🗓 Feb. 26 (San Diego, CA)
🇦🇺 Australia vs. 🇨🇴 Colombia – 7:30 p.m. ET
🇺🇸 USA vs. 🇯🇵 Japan – 10:30 p.m. ET

Where to Watch 📺

• Inside U.S.: TBS, Universo, Max, Peacock

• Outside of U.S.: Max, Universo (Spanish), Peacock

Exciting News:
Join the Goalside Gossip Team!

We’re still looking for individuals in these cities to represent Goalside Gossip as media representatives at NWSL matches:

• New York/New Jersey (Gotham FC)

• San Diego, CA (San Diego Wave)

• San Francisco/San Jose (Bay FC)

• Seattle Area (Seattle Reign)

As an intern, you’ll attend NWSL matches as a media representative, create engaging content, and connect with fans, players, and the women’s soccer community. It’s more than an internship—it’s a chance to be part of the movement pushing women’s soccer forward.

Head over to our internship page for more information about the program and details on how to apply. Applications are open until February 20th, so don’t miss out!