Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip!

The concept of an "offseason" is officially dead. While the NWSL news cycle dominated the headlines with the biggest contract resolution of the year, the actual football on the pitch in England delivered pure chaos. Arsenal walked into enemy territory and stunned Chelsea, throwing the WSL title race wide open. Manchester United flexed their attacking muscle, and Manchester City scraped by to keep the pressure on at the top.

Back home, the "Unattached" anxiety is finally over in Washington. We also got our first concrete timeline on the return of the USWNT's missing attackers, and whispers from a closed-door session in Boston suggest the expansion side is already playing like a contender.

Here is what is in store this week:

• Notable Matches (WSL)

  • Chelsea vs Arsenal (0-2)

  • London City vs Manchester City (1-2)

  • Liverpool vs Tottenham (2-0)

  • Aston Villa vs Manchester United (1-4)

• News

  • She’s Back! Trinity Rodman Staying Put in DC

  • NWSL x Dead Dirt New Knit Jersey Collection

  • Triple Espresso is Brewing

  • Inside Boston’s Secret Scrimmage

Chelsea vs
Arsenal (0-2)

Arsenal blew the title race wide open at Stamford Bridge, stunning Chelsea with a clinical 2-0 victory that silenced the home crowd. After a scoreless first half where Naomi Girma threatened on set pieces, the Gunners seized control with a six-minute blitz immediately after the break. Beth Mead curled in the opener before setting up Mariona Caldentey to double the lead. Sonia Bompastor tried to salvage the match by unleashing Lauren James, who immediately raised the tempo and teed up a golden chance for Erin Cuthbert, but the captain's header sailed just over the bar. The defeat leaves the Blues six points adrift of Manchester City, turning next weekend’s showdown at the Etihad into a must-win survival mission.

London City vs
Manchester City (1-2)

Manchester City escaped with all three points, but they had to sweat for them in front of a record-breaking crowd at the CopperJax. London City Lionesses looked ready to stage the upset of the season after Freya Godfrey rifled home a second-half equalizer to cancel out Kerolin Nicoli’s early strike. The hosts were fearless. Isobel Goodwin rattled the woodwork twice and forced Ayaka Yamashita into heroics as the underdogs went toe-to-toe with the league leaders. But you cannot give Khadija Shaw an inch. The City striker pounced on a loose ball in the 86th minute to break London hearts and keep her side nine points clear at the summit. It was a cruel result for a performance that deserved a point.

Liverpool vs
Tottenham (2-0)

Liverpool flirted with disaster for 90 minutes before Mia Enderby turned a frustrating stalemate into a smash-and-grab victory. The Reds looked cursed at St Helens Stadium, rattling the woodwork three times and dominating possession without finding a breakthrough against a stubborn Tottenham defense. But the substitute flipped the script deep in stoppage time. Enderby broke the deadlock in the 94th minute with an improvised hook finish, then immediately pounced on a defensive slip from the restart to bag a brace seconds later. It was a chaotic, cathartic 2-0 win that finally put Liverpool on the board for the 2025-26 campaign. Listen to what Gareth Taylor had to say after the match.

Aston Villa vs
Manchester United (1-4)

Manchester United turned a gritty deadlock into a 4-1 rout at Villa Park, dismantling the hosts with a ruthless second-half display. While Kirsty Hanson’s sharp finish initially canceled out Julia Zigiotti Olme’s opener to send the teams in level, the floodgates opened after the break. United found a new gear through their bench, with Elisabeth Terland making an immediate impact before Jess Park and Hanna Lundkvist buried the game. Villa created chances but lacked the killer instinct of the Red Devils, who punished every defensive lapse to secure a lopsided result that didn't quite reflect the first hour of play. Have some extra time on your hands? Watch the full match here.

Rodman Stays!
USWNT Star Staying in DC

The standoff is over, and Washington didn't just blink—they opened the bank vault. Trinity Rodman has officially re-signed with the Washington Spirit on a four-year deal that makes her the highest-paid player in NWSL history.

After weeks of "Unattached" leverage plays and legitimate rumors linking her to Chelsea, London City and Barcelona, Rodman put pen to paper this morning. Sources confirm the Spirit utilized their "High Impact Player" designation to structure a package worth reportedly over $2 million annually, shattering the ceiling set just days ago by other league dealings. The deal includes significant marketing bonuses and, crucially, a no-trade clause that gives Rodman complete control over her future. Owner Michelle Kang promised to build a global powerhouse in D.C. keeping the face of the franchise was the only way to prove she meant it.

The Takeaway

This was a flex by the NWSL. For years, the fear was that European money would eventually drain the U.S. of its prime talent. Rodman stayed. Washington proved that with the new cap rules, domestic clubs can go toe-to-toe with the world's biggest checkbooks and win. The "High Impact" era has its first defining victory.

NWSL x Dead Dirt: The Knit Kit Collection

The NWSL is officially blurring the line between on-field performance and tunnel fit. The league just dropped a collaboration with Dead Dirt featuring a knit jersey collection that feels distinctly retro. These aren't your standard polyester replicas. They bring a heavy, textured weight that nods to classic football heritage while fitting perfectly into the current streetwear rotation.

From Kansas City’s teal and red to the hot pink and green of the new Boston Legacy franchise, each piece leans into local iconography and area codes. Fans have been asking for lifestyle gear that doesn't scream "gym clothes," and this collection delivers exactly that. Expect to see these popping up in fits across the league well before kickoff. Check out the full collection here. (We love the Denver Summit FC ones)

The Triple Espresso is
Close to a Comeback

The "Triple Espresso" reunion tour is officially in the planning stages, but don't expect the full lineup just yet.

Head coach Emma Hayes dropped critical updates on the two missing thirds of her attack. Sophia Wilson (née Smith) is eyeing a return as early as the SheBelieves Cup in March. Hayes praised Portland's handling of her recovery after the birth of her daughter in September, noting that a solid preseason is the final hurdle to clearing her for international duty. Mallory Swanson is on a slower track. With her daughter arriving just this past November, Hayes confirmed Swanson is "further away" than Wilson and still in the early stages of postpartum recovery.

The Takeaway

Patience is the keyword here. After both stars missed the entire 2025 calendar year, U.S. Soccer is prioritizing long-term health over a rushed return. Getting Wilson back for preseason is a massive win for the Thorns, but Chicago fans will need to wait a little longer before seeing their franchise face on the pitch.

Behind Closed Doors
Boston’s Secret Scrimmage

The most important match of the week wasn't televised, streamed, or even open to the media. It happened behind the high fences of Boston Legacy's training ground, and the leaked details paint a picture of a team that is terrified of absolutely no one.

Sources with knowledge of the closed-door session describe a tactical setup that is radically different from the counter-attacking style typical of expansion sides. Boston lined up in an aggressive 4-3-3 that morphed into a suffocating high press the moment they lost possession. While listed as a winger, Ricketts reportedly spent the majority of the 60-minute scrimmage drifting centrally, overloading the midfield and allowing Debinha to make late runs into the box. The result was a rumored 4-0 drubbing of the reserve squad, with Casey Murphy’s starting defensive unit refusing to allow a single shot on target.

The Takeaway

Boston is hiding their hand for a reason. By moving Ricketts inside and utilizing Debinha as a shadow striker, they are building a system that requires elite technical ability to execute. Most expansion teams try to simplify the game to minimize mistakes. Boston is doing the opposite. They are betting that their purchased talent is good enough to play complex, dominant soccer from the very first whistle. Based on the whispers from Thursday, they might be right.