Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip!

The women’s game is moving at a breakneck pace this week, shifting from the tactical chaos of a ten-goal thriller in England to the high-finance maneuvering of the NWSL. We’ve seen scores that look more like tennis sets and transfer fees that would have been unthinkable just twenty-four months ago.

In this edition, we’re looking at Tottenham’s ruthless seven-goal statement at Villa Park and Manchester City’s systematic dismantling of Leicester to tighten their grip on the WSL title race. Stateside, the Kansas City Current have fundamentally reshaped the NWSL landscape by pairing a generational playmaker with the league’s most lethal finisher. We also have the first look at China’s luxury-backed arrival for the Asian Cup and the news everyone in Los Angeles has been waiting for….Savy King is ready to play again.

Here is what is in store this week:

• Notable Matches

  • Aston Villa vs Tottenham (3-7)

  • Manchester City vs Leicester City (6-0)

  • Manchester United vs London City (2-1)

• News

  • Prada x China for the Women’s Asian Cup

  • Bethune & Chawinga Team Up in Kansas City

  • Savy King Set to Return After Cardiac Event

Aston Villa vs
Tottenham (3-7)

Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Ho lauded his squad’s professional performance after a chaotic 7-3 victory over Aston Villa on February 15. Ho noted that he had challenged his forwards to find a "ruthless edge" following a frustrating loss to Chelsea, and they responded with a quite the display that included debut goals for Signe Gaupset, Maika Hamano, and Julie Blakstad. While Kirsty Hanson provided a brace for the hosts and Oriane Jean-Francois briefly narrowed the gap, a flurry of second-half goals (including a Cathinka Tandberg brace) effectively buried Villa.

Manchester City vs
Leicester City (6-0)

Manchester City re-established an 11-point cushion at the summit of the Women's Super League with a ruthless 6–0 demolition of bottom-placed Leicester City. The league leaders tore their opponents apart at the Joie Stadium, racing to a 4–0 lead by halftime behind a Vivianne Miedema brace and clinical strikes from Khadija Shaw and Yui Hasegawa. While the Foxes were left to lament missed opportunities from Alisha Lehmann and Shannon O'Brien, Manchester City’s relentless 31-shot display reinforced their status as title favorites, extending Leicester's dismal winless away run to 23 matches. Listen to the post game interview here.

Manchester United vs
London City (2-1)

Manchester United Women extended their winning streak to seven matches across all competitions win over London City Lionesses. Former United striker Nikita Parris silenced the home crowd early by heading the visitors into the lead just five minutes in. Despite the slow start, Jess Park leveled the score in the 30th minute with a sensational strike from outside the box. While Marc Skinner’s side struggled to find a breakthrough for much of the second half, Millie Turner eventually secured the three points in the 79th minute, meeting a Maya Le Tissier free-kick with a powerful header. 

Prada Fits Up
China Ahead of Asian Cup

Prada has refreshed the formal identity of the China women’s national team just in time for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup this March. The new capsule moves away from the basic templates that often plague sports partnerships, instead delivering a tailored black mohair suit that feels heavy with intent. A purple embroidered phoenix motif serves as the centerpiece, anchored by a red cashmere knit and blue cotton shirting. This collaboration began in 2023, and while these deals can sometimes feel like a hollow marketing exercise, the specific choice of materials here suggests a genuine investment in the team's public image. Prada is betting that elegance can mirror the tenacity required for a deep tournament run. Check out the full capsule here.

Take a look at China’s first three group stage games below (times in EST).

KC Team Up
Bethune & Chawinga

The Croix Bethune story reached a fever pitch this week with a blockbuster trade that effectively reset the NWSL transfer market. On February 11, 2026, the Kansas City Current acquired the star midfielder from the Washington Spirit in a deal worth a combined $1 million. The package consists of $900,000 in intra-league transfer threshold funds and $100,000 in allocation money, making it the third-largest transfer in league history. Bethune, the 2024 NWSL Rookie and Midfielder of the Year, reportedly requested the move to "explore development opportunities in a different environment," and she has signed a new contract with Kansas City through the 2027 season.

Beyond the record-breaking numbers, the move is a massive tactical shift for both clubs. For the Spirit, the trade provides a significant financial windfall, useful for managing a roster that recently saw a landmark contract extension for Trinity Rodman, though it leaves a major creative void in their midfield. Meanwhile, Kansas City has paired one of the league’s premier playmakers with two-time Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga, creating what analysts describe as an "absolutely lethal" attacking duo. This trade was part of a larger, aggressive reshuffling by the Current, who simultaneously sold 20-year-old rising star Claire Hutton to Bay FC for $1.1 million to help finance the Bethune acquisition.

Savy King Set
To Make Historic Return

Angel City FC defender Savy King is officially set to return to the pitch after being removed from the season-ending injury list. King has been sidelined since suffering a cardiac event during a match on May 9, 2025, which led to the discovery of a rare congenital heart condition and subsequent open-heart surgery. Following a grueling rehabilitation process that saw her graduate from cardiac rehab at Cedars Sinai last summer and return to non-contact practice in the fall, King was fully cleared for contact this preseason. She is now available for the Coachella Valley Invitational exhibition matches and eyes a regular-season return when Angel City opens their campaign at BMO Stadium on March 15.

The Los Angeles native, who was traded to Angel City in early 2025 after a standout rookie season with Bay FC, has turned her recovery into a platform for advocacy. During her time away from the game, she founded "Savy King of Hearts," a nonprofit focused on heart health and CPR awareness. Last November, King launched an initiative in partnership with the NWSL and the American Heart Association to provide free CPR training to all 16 teams. This landmark program makes the NWSL the first professional sports league in the United States to have every player, coach, and staff member trained in CPR (let’s go NWSL!).