Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip!

It was a trophy heavy week across the women’s game, with statement wins on both the international and club stages. Spain reaffirmed their dominance by crushing Germany 3–0 in the second leg of the Women’s Nations League Final to retain their title in front of a record home crowd in Madrid. Meanwhile, in South Florida, San Diego Wave made history by defeating Tigres 3–0 to win the inaugural North American World Sevens Football Final, becoming the first-ever champions of the new 7v7 global tournament.

Off the pitch, headlines continued to fly. The Guardian released its highly anticipated Top 100 Female Footballers list, featuring a strong showing from NWSL stars led by Temwa Chawinga, Barbra Banda, and Esther González. The NWSL also made waves after rejecting Trinity Rodman’s proposed multimillion-dollar extension with the Washington Spirit, throwing her future into uncertainty. Bay FC added a major storyline of its own by hiring England U23 head coach Emma Coates as its new manager, while San Diego capped a dream week by pairing their World Sevens title with their place as one of the most talked-about clubs in the global game.

• Notable Matches

  • WNL Final Leg 2: Spain vs Germany (3-0)

  • W7S Final: SD Wave vs Tigres (3-0)

• News

  • News: Top 100 Female Footballers List Released, Features Several NWSL Names

  • News: NWSL Rejects Trinity Rodman’s Deal with the Spirit

  • News: Bay FC Find New Manager in England

  • News: What Exactly is the Women’s World Sevens?

Spain vs
Germany (3-0)

Spain reaffirmed their status as the world’s top ranked team by defeating Germany 3–0 to retain the Women’s Nations League title, delivering a dominant second-leg performance in Madrid despite the absence of injured Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí. After a scoreless first leg in Germany, Spain broke through in a devastating 13-minute second-half surge, with Clàudia Pina scoring twice and teenager Vicky López adding a stunning second. The match even drew a record home crowd of 55,843 at the Metropolitano.

The victory also marked a major milestone for new head coach Sonia Bermúdez, who lifted her first trophy just four months into the job and secured Spain’s third major title in two and a half years. Adding to the emotion of the night was the return of Jenni Hermoso, who made her long-awaited comeback to the national team and celebrated with the trophy after full time. Germany created chances across both legs but lacked Spain’s clinical edge, while the world champions once again showcased their depth, composure, and attacking brilliance. With this win, Spain sends a clear warning to the rest of the world as they begin to look ahead to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

SD Wave vs
Tigres (3-0)

San Diego Wave FC made history by winning the inaugural North American edition of the World Sevens Football (W7F) tournament with a dominant 3–0 victory over Tigres in the final in Fort Lauderdale. The Wave were the only unbeaten team in the competition and delivered a shutout in the championship match. Adriana Leon scored twice in the final, while Makenzy Robbe added her fourth goal of the tournament to finish among the top scorers. Gia Corley was named Breakout Player of the Tournament, and goalkeeper DiDi Haračić earned the Golden Glove.

San Diego’s title run was emphatic from start to finish. They topped their group, crushed Flamengo 5–1 in the semifinals, and finished the tournament with 15 goals scored and just three conceded. The W7F event featured a high-speed 7v7 format with 15-minute halves, rolling substitutions, and a strict no-draws rule, designed to maximize intensity and entertainment. With this victory, the Wave become the first-ever North American champions of the new global competition and take home a share of the $5 million prize pool.

Top 100 Female Footballers
of 2025 List Released

The Guardian’s “Top 100 Female Footballers of 2025” list once again underlined the NWSL’s status as the deepest league in the world, with 18 players from eight NWSL clubs earning spots. Leading the way is Kansas City Current superstar Temwa Chawinga, who soared to No. 6 overall after a historic season that included 15 goals, three assists, and back-to-back Golden Boot and MVP honors. Despite missing time late with injury, her impact was undeniable. Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda also cracked the Top 15 at No. 14 despite spending much of the season on SEI, while Gotham FC forward Esther González made one of the biggest year-over-year jumps on the entire list, climbing from No. 76 to No. 17.

The rankings also highlight the strength across the entire league, from legends like Marta (No. 19) and rising stars like Trinity Rodman (No. 35), to first-time honorees such as Sofia Cantore, Manaka Matsukubo, Lorena, Leicy Santos, and Gift Monday. Kansas City led all clubs with multiple selections, reinforcing how dominant their 2025 campaign truly was. Overall, the list reflects both elite star power at the top of the NWSL and impressive league-wide depth, with established icons and emerging talents sharing the global spotlight. See the full list here.

Top 5 NWSL Players on The Guardian’s 2025 List

• No. 6 – Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current)

• No. 14 – Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride)

• No. 17 – Esther González (Gotham FC)

• No. 19 – Marta (Orlando Pride)

• No. 23 – Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC)

NWSL Rejects Trin’s
Deal with Washington

Trinity Rodman’s future in the NWSL is suddenly uncertain after the league rejected a new four-year, multimillion-dollar contract extension she had agreed to with the Washington Spirit. The deal, which would have paid her more than $1 million per year, was vetoed because it exceeded what the league’s current salary cap system allows. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman defended the decision by emphasizing that the cap is central to the league’s identity, arguing it preserves competitive balance and prevents a small group of teams from dominating through spending.

In response, the NWSL Players Association immediately filed a grievance, and Rodman’s agent, Mike Senkowski, publicly criticized the league’s inability to accommodate what he called her “fair market value.” He explained that the deal was structured to comply with the collective bargaining agreement and keep Rodman in the league long-term, but the rejection now forces their hand to explore other options. The 2026 NWSL salary cap is set at $3.5 million per team, with gradual increases planned, but that figure still limits how much a single superstar can earn domestically.

The standoff puts Rodman at a crossroads. If no resolution is reached, she could pursue a move to Europe, where top clubs are not bound by a rigid cap. Beyond Rodman herself, the situation highlights a larger tension in the NWSL between maintaining parity and adapting to a new era in women’s soccer, where global stars command salaries that increasingly challenge traditional league structures.

Bay FC Find New Coach

Emma Coates has left her role as head coach of England’s Women’s Under-23 team to take over as the new head coach of NWSL side Bay FC. The 34-year-old replaces Albertin Montoya, who stepped down after Bay FC finished 13th out of 14 teams in the 2025 season. Coates had been in charge of the England U23s since 2023 and will be joined in San Jose by her longtime assistant Gemma Davies, formerly the manager of Aston Villa in the WSL. Bay FC struggled this past season after a strong expansion debut in 2024, when they reached the playoffs.

Coates leaves behind a strong legacy with England, having helped bridge the pathway between youth and senior national teams. Several players under her leadership progressed to the Lionesses, including Lucia Kendall, Michelle Agyemang, and Aggie Beever-Jones. Bay FC leadership praised her ability to develop players and build winning culture, signaling a clear shift toward long-term growth around stars like record-signing Racheal Kundananji as the club looks to rebound in 2026.

What’s the World Sevens?   

Now that the first-ever North American edition of World Sevens Football is officially in the books, it is clear the women’s game has entered a new era. Built around a fast, high-scoring 7v7 format and backed by the largest prize pool in the sport outside the World Cup, World Sevens has quickly positioned itself as a global stage for elite women’s football. The tournament first launched in May 2025 in Estoril, Portugal, featuring European powerhouses like Bayern Munich, Manchester City, PSG, Manchester United, Ajax, and Roma, with a total $5 million prize pool and $2.5 million awarded to the champions. Unlike celebrity-style competitions, W7F uses active professional rosters, ensuring the highest level of play.

The North American edition delivered on that same promise with nonstop action, packed stands, and worldwide viewership, capped by a historic, undefeated title run from San Diego Wave. Each match is played in two 15-minute halves with unlimited substitutions, quick restarts, and knockout rounds following group play, all designed to maximize speed and creativity. Co-founded by Gotham FC and Chelsea minority owner Jennifer Mackesy alongside entrepreneur Justin Fishkin, and supported by leaders like Aly Wagner, Tobin Heath, and Kelley O’Hara, W7F is being built as a global “grand slam” series.