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

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

1. NWSL - Gotham FC vs Portland Thorns (2-0)

2. NWSL - Angel City FC vs SD Wave (2-1)

3. INT’L - Concacaf W Championship Update

4. DC Showdown - Washington Spirit vs KC Current (4-1)

5. DC Showdown - Chelsea vs Arsenal (1-0)

6. PFA: Shaw “Hops” to the Trophy

Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's blend of Goals, Gossip, and Glory from the world of women's soccer.

🎙️ In case you haven’t heard, we’ve started a podcast series where you can listen to our newsletter updates, all in a quick 5-7 minute podcast. Posted weekly. Click here to listen.

A Quick Welcome

We wanted to give a quick welcome to all of our friends from the DC doubleheader this past weekend. We had so much fun meeting all of you snd handing you your roster cards. We hope you enjoyed the matches as much as we did. Look out for us in future Spirit matches and come say hi!

And don’t worry, the announcement of the winner for the Trinity Rodman jersey will be made shortly, so keep your eyes open and your email notifications on.

NWSL Matchday 17

Gotham FC vs Portland Thorns (2-0)

Gotham FC made a strong statement in their 2-0 victory over the Portland Thorns as their seven Olympians, including six U.S. gold medalists, returned to the team. Despite missing key players like Crystal Dunn and Lynn Williams due to injury, Gotham dominated the match, with goals from Ella Stevens and Yazmeen Ryan. Rose Lavelle, a U.S. star, made an immediate impact after subbing on in the second half, setting up Ryan’s goal with some impressive footwork. The post-Olympics return of these star players showcased Gotham’s depth and talent as they gear up for a busy end to the season.

With the regular season resuming, Gotham's win puts them in a strong position as they push toward the playoffs and prepare for the inaugural Concacaf Women's Champions Cup. The team's depth, highlighted by contributions from players like Ryan and Lavelle, will be crucial as they face a packed schedule with nine regular-season games, a tournament final, and Champions Cup matches. Manager Juan Carlos Amorós acknowledged the challenge of maintaining performance levels with so many games, but he remains confident in his squad's ability to succeed. Gotham’s victory keeps them level on points with the Washington Spirit and sets the stage for a competitive race to the top of the NWSL standings.

Angel City FC vs SD Wave (2-1)

Angel City FC secured a 2-1 victory over San Diego Wave in their first regular-season match since early July, with forward Alyssa Thompson delivering a standout performance. Thompson scored twice in the first half, opening the scoring in the 20th minute after dribbling past San Diego's goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan for an easy finish. Less than ten minutes later, she doubled Angel City's lead with a shot from the left wing that slipped through Sheridan's grip. Thompson's brace marked her first multi-goal game as a professional, making her just the second teenager in NWSL history to achieve this feat in a regular-season match.

San Diego Wave struggled to break down Angel City's defense, although they created a few late opportunities. The closest came in the 84th minute when Delphine Cascarino's hard strike was blocked by Angel City's Megan Reid. In stoppage time, San Diego managed to pull one back with Abby Dahlkemper heading in a free kick from María Sánchez, but it was too late to change the outcome. Angel City’s victory sets them up for their next home match against the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday, September 1.

Concacaf W Champions Cup Update

Inaugural Edition:

• Start Date: Group stage started on Tuesday, Aug 20!

• Purpose: The Concacaf W Champions Cup is a new international women's soccer competition. It allows NWSL teams to compete against other top teams from North America, and serves as a qualifier for the inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup in 2026.

Teams Involved:

• Group A: NY/NJ Gotham FC (USA), Tigres (MEX), Monterrey (MEX), Alajuelense (CRC), Frazsiers Whip (JAM)

• Group B: San Diego Wave (USA), Portland Thorns (USA), Club America (MEX), Santa Fe (PAN), Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN)

Tournament Format:

• Preliminary Round: Two teams compete for a spot in the group stage. The Vancouver Whitecaps beat Alianza (1-0) to snag this last spot.

• Group Stage: 10 teams split into two groups.

• Semifinals: Top two teams from each group advance to single-elimination matches.

• Finals & Third-Place Match: Held next spring (May 2025).

Next Matches:

• Sep 4: Santa Fe vs. Vancouver Whitecaps; Portland Thorns vs. Club America

• Sep 5: Alajuelense vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC; Monterrey vs. Frazsiers Whip

For the full list of group stage matches, click HERE.

Standings So Far:

Double Header in the Capital

Washington Spirit vs KC Current (4-1)

This match counted towards NWSL Matchday 17.

The Washington Spirit secured a dominant 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Current, elevating themselves to second place in the NWSL standings. The Spirit's aggressive start set the tone, with Paige Metayer scoring her first goal of the season in the 10th minute, followed by Ouleye Sarr's eighth goal of the season shortly after. Trinity Rodman added a third goal early in the second half, while Kansas City's Temwa Chawinga managed to pull one back for the Current. Leicy Santos capped off the Spirit's performance with her first NWSL goal, solidifying the win. Notably, Santos also assisted on the opening goal, becoming one of only five players in NWSL history to both score and assist in their debut.

The Spirit’s win was a comprehensive team effort, featuring strong performances from their Olympic players, including Santos and Metayer, who played pivotal roles in both defense and attack. Despite Kansas City's attempts to rally, the Spirit's defense held firm, particularly in the second half. The victory also highlighted the Spirit’s ability to capitalize early, with the team now leading the league in first-half goals. This win, their second consecutive by a three-goal margin, underscores their strength as they prepare for their next match against San Diego Wave FC.

Goalside Gossip was there to cover the match and we are working on getting you all of our behind-the-scenes footage and interviews so stay tuned. We even met with Trinity Rodman and have a special giveaway coming up… 👀 

Chelsea vs Arsenal (1-0)

Chelsea Women secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal Women in a pre-season friendly at Audi Field, Washington. The match was tightly contested, with both teams creating several chances but failing to convert in the first half. Arsenal's Caitlin Foord had a couple of close opportunities, including a shot just wide and another denied by Chelsea's goalkeeper, Zecira Musovic. The game remained goalless until early in the second half when Sandy Baltimore seized on a loose ball inside the penalty area and volleyed it past Arsenal's goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger, scoring the only goal of the match.

Arsenal pushed for an equalizer, making several substitutions to inject fresh energy, including the debut of Mariona Caldentey. Despite some promising moments, including a late chance by Alessia Russo, Arsenal could not break through Chelsea's defense, led by a solid performance from Sophie Ingle. The match ended in a 1-0 defeat for Arsenal, marking their continued pre-season preparations. Arsenal will next face Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium in their final pre-season friendly.

We sat down with Nathalie Björn and got to ask her some questions that you guys submitted on Instagram. We’re working on getting that footage to you very soon!

NWSL: Where We Stand So Far

“Bunny” Hops to the Trophy

Manchester City’s Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw has been awarded the PFA Women’s Player of the Year after an outstanding 2023/24 WSL season. Shaw was the league's top scorer, netting 21 goals—including three hat-tricks—and providing three assists in just 18 appearances. This remarkable performance surpassed her previous season's tally by one goal.

Shaw becomes the third Manchester City player to receive this prestigious award, following in the footsteps of Lucy Bronze and Izzy Christiansen. Her win is a testament to her incredible skill and impact on the pitch. City teammates Lauren Hemp and Yui Hasegawa were also among the Top Six nominees, along with Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert, Niamh Charles, and Lauren James.

As you may have seen on our social media, we were in DC this weekend at the double header and managed to get some amazing footage and exclusive interviews with players. We are working hard to get that footage together which we’ll share on the Goalside Gossip Instagram. Be sure to follow us!