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

The international break started this week so there were no games in the NWSL but don’t worry, there was plenty of action on the international stage.

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

1. NWSL News - NWSL’s Amazing Growth

2. INT’L - Important Dates & Fixtures

3. INT’L - USWNT vs Mexico (1-0)

4. INT’L - Canada vs Australia (2-1)

5. USWNT News - The 99ers

6. Olympics - Lavelle’s Olympics Preview

7. UWS - From 40 to 4

Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's blend of Goals, Gossip, and Glory from the world of women's soccer. Whether you're a seasoned fan or new to the sport, there's something here for everyone as we celebrate the passion and skill of these incredible athletes.

NWSL

NWSL’s Amazing Growth

In its inaugural season, the National Women’s Soccer League streamed games for free on YouTube with subpar quality. The league’s early days were marked by low-budget production and limited broadcast deals. Today, NWSL matches are aired across CBS, Amazon, Scripps, and ESPN, reflecting a significant evolution from its humble beginnings.

In 2024, the NWSL signed a four-year, $240M broadcast deal and has already surpassed 1 million in attendance, with several teams experiencing record-breaking numbers. For example, the Chicago Red Stars set a new attendance record with 35,038 at Wrigley Field. League-wide, attendance is up 42% year-over-year, with significant growth in social impressions, retail performance, and Nielsen ratings.

However, growth is not uniform across the league. The OL Reign experienced a 40% drop in average attendance due to the absence of high-attendance events, while the Chicago Red Stars saw a 71% increase due to a record-breaking game. Without these anomalies, the Reign’s and Red Stars’ attendance metrics would look different, revealing underlying issues of consistency.

Kansas City Current stands out by selling out every game, while top teams like San Diego Wave FC, Angel City FC, and Portland Thorns FC show dips or marginal gains in attendance but maintain high percentages of seating capacity. Consistency in ticket sales is crucial for building a strong fanbase, evidenced by teams with less fluctuation in attendance numbers.

At the lower end, North Carolina Courage and Houston Dash struggle to grow their audiences. Despite past successes, the Courage have the league’s lowest average attendance, and the Dash’s numbers have stagnated over the years. This disparity highlights potential challenges for these teams in keeping up with the league’s overall growth and investment.

The league’s growth emphasizes the importance of teams investing in their markets to remain competitive and attractive to sponsors and broadcasters. The NWSL has progressed significantly from its early days, and while expansion is crucial, ensuring all teams benefit from growth is essential to maintaining league parity and long-term success.

NWSL Updated Table

The Orlando Pride have opened up a slight lead at the top of the NWSL table, sitting on 38 points after defeating the second-place Kansas City Current. The Current (35 pts) and Washington Spirit (34 pts) remain hot on Orlando's heels in a tightly contested race for the top spot. The bottom of the table has seen minimal movement during this season with the Utah Royals (9 pts) and Seattle Reign (11 pts) lagging behind.

As the NWSL reaches the halfway point of the season at Matchweek 16 out of 26, the league will now pause for the international break. Goalside Gossip will shift its coverage to focus on the exciting international action, including the highly anticipated Euro Qualifying Matches and the fast-approaching Olympics. Stay tuned for all the latest updates and analysis as the world's best players compete on the global stage.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

International Break,
Olympics, Euro Qualifiers
_{Important Dates & Fixtures}

As the NWSL takes a summer break, the spotlight turns to an exciting lineup of international tournaments and qualifying matches. From the highly anticipated Olympics in France to the inaugural NWSL Summer Cup and Concacaf W Champions Cup, fans have plenty of thrilling football action to look forward to. Let's take a closer look at what's in store:

• Pre-Olympic Friendlies:

  • Saturday, July 13: United States vs. Mexico (read about it below)

  • Today, July 16: United States vs. Costa Rica, 7:30 p.m. Eastern at Audi Field, Washington D.C. (we’ll be there tonight! come find us outside the gates before the game)

• Olympics (July 25 - August 10):

  • 12 nations compete in France for the coveted gold medal

  • Tournament kicks off on July 25 and concludes with the final on August 10

  • USWNT Olympic Group Stage:

    • Thursday, July 25: United States vs. Zambia, 3 p.m. Eastern

    • Sunday, July 28: United States vs. Germany, 3 p.m. Eastern

    • Wednesday, July 31: Australia vs. United States, 1 p.m. Eastern

• NWSL Summer Cup (July 19 - October 25):

  • All 14 NWSL clubs and 6 teams from Mexico's Liga MX Femenil participate

  • 30 group stage games followed by a semi-final on August 6

  • Final to be played on October 25 in Texas

• Concacaf W Champions Cup (Starts August 15):

  • 11 clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean compete

  • Winners qualify for the FIFA Women's Club World Cup

• Euro 2025 Qualifying (Matchday 5):

  • Iceland, France and Denmark reserved their spots at UEFA Women's EURO 2025 on Matchday 5, joining Germany, Spain and hosts Switzerland in confirming places at the tournament.

  • Teams that don't qualify through League A have a second chance via playoffs, with 7 spots up for grabs

Mark your calendars and get ready for an action-packed summer!

USWNT vs Mexico (1-0)

The U.S. Women's National Team triumphed over Mexico 1-0 in a pre-Olympic friendly at a sold-out Red Bull Arena, thanks to Sophia Smith's second-half goal. The Americans dominated with a 17-3 shot advantage, but had to wait until the 64th minute for Smith's persistence to pay off. This match was part of the “Impact 99” Legacy event, honoring the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions. The crowd and current players were inspired by meeting the legendary 99ers (read about it below).

The match also marked notable milestones, including NWSL Rookie of the Year front-runner Croix Bethune earning her first cap as an Olympic alternate. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher secured her 63rd career shutout, and Sophia Smith continued her impressive form, scoring her 20th international goal. The U.S. team remains unbeaten under coach Emma Hayes, with their final pre-Olympic match set against Costa Rica tonight in Washington, D.C.

Canada vs Australia (2-1)

In an international women's friendly match held in Marbella, Canada triumphed over Australia with a 2-1 victory as both teams prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Australia's Sharn Freier opened the scoring at 23 minutes, but Canada responded with goals from Nichelle Prince at 41 minutes and Evelyne Viens at 85 minutes, securing their win. Despite a strong start and maintaining significant possession, Australia struggled to convert further chances and appeared fatigued towards the end.

The 99ers

The 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup became a landmark event, defying expectations and captivating a massive audience. Initially, FIFA planned to hold the tournament in small venues. However, Marla Messing, CEO of the organizing committee, saw the need for larger venues after witnessing the U.S. women’s national team draw over 140,000 fans at the 1996 Olympics.

Messing enlisted the U.S. team to help market the World Cup, a move that significantly boosted ticket sales and fan engagement. Despite doubts, their efforts paid off spectacularly. The U.S. team's first game at Giants Stadium saw nearly 79,000 fans, with attendance never dipping below 50,000 for their matches and averaging 20,000 for non-U.S. games. The final at the Rose Bowl set a record for the most attended women’s sporting event in the U.S. until 2023.

The final, watched by 40 million Americans, showcased the dramatic penalty shootout win over China, with Brandi Chastain’s iconic celebration becoming a defining moment. This success paved the way for the Women’s United Soccer Association in 2001 and the National Women’s Soccer League in 2013.

The legacy of the ‘99ers continues to inspire new generations of players and fans. Their efforts demonstrated the viability and appeal of women’s soccer, contributing to its growth and recognition as a successful business model. Key figures from the 1999 team, like Brandi Chastain, have remained influential, shaping the sport's future and inspiring young players to believe in their potential.

Lavelle Previews Olympics with a 'Chip on Our Shoulder'

About two months ago, Cincinnati's Rose Lavelle, alongside teammates Crystal Dunn and Emily Sonnett, discussed their SheBelieves Cup victory and Olympic hopes on NBC's TODAY show. Let’s take a look back at what they said and see if it still rings true today.

Lavelle expressed the team's drive: "I think we have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder... We always play with that mentality, so we're excited to put on a good tournament."

The U.S. team, transitioning with new head coach Emma Hayes, the controversial decision to leave out Alex Morgan and the retirements of Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz, is set to face Zambia, Germany, and Australia in Group B. Lavelle highlighted the camaraderie within the squad, bolstered by their shared experiences in the NWSL, making the journey "so much more fun."

The U.S. opens their Olympic campaign on July 25 against Zambia. See the clip of them talking on the Today Show below!

UWS

From 40 to 4

The 2024 United Women’s Soccer (UWS) National Championship is coming to Buffalo, NY, from July 19 to 21. After an exhilarating season with 40 teams from across the country, four exceptional teams now compete for the ultimate prize: the UWS National Championship.

“We are thrilled to host our National Championship in Buffalo this year,” said UWS Commissioner Joe Ferrara. “The city has a rich sports culture and a passionate community that will make this event unforgettable for our athletes and fans.”

Hosted by FC Buffalo, a club deeply embedded in the local community, the championship weekend will feature three games at Robert Rich Sr. All-High Stadium. Dates and times will be announced following the final weekend of regular season games that’s coming up.

Nick Mendola, co-owner of FC Buffalo, expressed his excitement: “Our club was founded to put our city on a stage, and we are both honored and humbled by the opportunity to showcase our league and our city this month. This announcement is months in the making, and we want to thank UWS Commissioner Joe Ferrara for his endless work on behalf of the league.”

Jonathan Ward, UWS Director of Marketing, also shared his enthusiasm: “Buffalo is the perfect stage to showcase the incredible talent within our league. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of our players and the spirit of the UWS community in such a vibrant city.”

This season has been a blast, and we’ve had so much fun watching these incredible teams compete. Stay tuned for our upcoming exclusive interviews and team spotlights, featuring top women’s players.

For more information on the 2024 UWS National Championship, stay tuned to the official UWS website and social media channels.