Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip!

It was a weekend defined by knockout football across the pond and massive roster shakeups here at home. The Women's FA Cup Fourth Round delivered the goods, with Arsenal putting in a professional shift to defeat Aston Villa 2-0 and reigning champions Chelsea reminding everyone of their firepower in a 5-0 rout of Crystal Palace. We also saw London City grind out a 1-0 win over Sunderland to book their spot in the next round.

Off the pitch, the news cycle is spinning just as fast. The roadmap for the year is finally here with the 2026 NWSL Schedule drop, while Rose Lavelle earned top honors as the new U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. But it wouldn't be the offseason without transfer drama: Denise O'Sullivan is swapping North Carolina for Liverpool, and in a surprise move, Delphine Cascarino has officially departed the San Diego Wave, possibly to go to England as well. Let's get into it!

• Notable Matches (FA W Cup)

  • Arsenal vs Aston Villa (2-0)

  • Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (5-0)

  • Sunderland vs London City (0-1)

• News

  • The 2026 NWSL Schedule Drops

  • Lavelle Named US Soccer Female Player of the Year

  • Another One Switches to Europe: O’Sullivan Goes to Liverpool

  • In a Surprising Move, Cascarino Departs San Diego

Arsenal vs
Aston Villa (2-0)

Arsenal defeated Aston Villa 2-0 in the fourth round of the Adobe Women's FA Cup at Meadow Park. Following a goalless first half in which Aston Villa goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck made several key saves and Arsenal's Beth Mead struck the crossbar, the hosts broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Stina Blackstenius tapped in a pass from captain Kim Little. Little then secured the victory in the 61st minute by scoring the second goal herself on a rebound after a Blackstenius header hit the woodwork, booking Arsenal's place in the fifth round. Listen to what Little had to say after the solid match, as Arsenal move on.

Chelsea vs
Crystal Palace (5-0)

Chelsea continued their FA Cup title defense with a dominant 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Kingsmeadow. Captain Millie Bright opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a header from an Erin Cuthbert free-kick, followed quickly by a goal from Sam Kerr and a penalty converted by Guro Reiten to make it 3-0 before halftime. Kerr added her second goal shortly after the break, and Alyssa Thompson capped off the scoring in the 70th minute to seal the win.

Sunderland vs
London City (0-1)

The London City Lionesses secured a 1-0 victory over Sunderland in the fourth round of the Women's FA Cup at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground. After a goalless first half where Sunderland’s Rhiannon Roberts saw a deflected shot go over the bar, London City took the lead early in the second half when Wassa Sangaré scored with a header from a Grace Geyoro corner in the 50th minute. The match marked the first win for new head coach Eder Maestre and featured the debut of Daniëlle van de Donk, who came off the bench in the 70th minute to help seeing out the result.

NWSL Drop
2026 Schedule

The National Women’s Soccer League officially unveiled its 2026 regular season schedule on January 15, confirming a historic expansion to a 30-match balanced format for the first time. The season is set to kick off on Friday, March 13, 2026, with all 16 clubs, including the newly added Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC, in action during the opening weekend. The league has also structured the calendar to accommodate the global soccer landscape, including a mandated break from June 1 to June 28 to avoid conflict with the men's 2026 FIFA World Cup group stages, ensuring maximum visibility for both competitions.

The release highlighted several marquee fixtures that will define the season's narrative. Three key matchups to circle include:

• March 14: Boston Legacy vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC – A trial by fire for the expansion side Boston Legacy, who will make their league debut at Gillette Stadium against the defending 2025 NWSL Champions, Gotham FC.

• July 10: Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current – Dubbed a "new rivalry" by the league, this primetime matchup on Prime Video features two of the league's most exciting attacking units facing off in what has become a heated contest dating back to their 2024 meetings.

• October 17: Washington Spirit vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC – A massive late-season clash on CBS serving as a rematch of the 2025 Championship final, where Gotham edged out the Spirit 1-0.

Lavelle Named US Soccer
Female Player of the Year

Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle has been voted the 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, claiming the prestigious honor for the first time in her decorated career. The award recognizes a resilient 2025 campaign where Lavelle overcame ankle surgery that sidelined her for the first half of the year to become the driving force behind Gotham FC’s run to the NWSL Championship title. Returning to peak form in August, she tallied six goals and two assists in the season's final stretch, eventually earning Championship MVP honors in Gotham's 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit.

Lavelle’s recognition was part of a Gotham sweep, as her teammate Lilly Reale was voted the 2025 Young Female Player of the Year. Reale, the No. 1 overall draft pick, played in every regular season match for the club and was instrumental in locking down the defense that secured the title. In her acceptance statement, Lavelle credited her support system for helping her navigate the "adversity" of her injury, noting that she wouldn't have even been in contention without the medical staff and teammates who helped her get back on the field.

Another One Crosses the Pond:
O’Sullivan the Latest To Go

In a move that marks the end of an era for the North Carolina Courage, captain and club legend Denise O'Sullivan has completed a permanent transfer to Liverpool FC in the Women's Super League. The transfer, announced on January 17, concludes O'Sullivan's nearly nine-year tenure in North Carolina, where she made a club-record 186 appearances and lifted seven trophies, including two NWSL Championships and three Shields. O'Sullivan stated that while North Carolina "will always be my home," the move allows her to be closer to her family in Ireland, who are now just a short flight away.

The Irish international joins a Liverpool side in desperate need of her experience and leadership. The Reds are currently fighting to avoid relegation in the WSL, sitting at the bottom of the table under manager Gareth Taylor. O'Sullivan’s arrival is seen as a critical reinforcement for Liverpool's midfield as they attempt to salvage their season, bringing a "standard of excellence" that Courage officials noted would be her lasting legacy in the NWSL.

In a Shock Move, Cascarino
Departs San Diego

San Diego Wave FC and French forward Delphine Cascarino have mutually agreed to part ways effective immediately, ending her stint in California after just 18 months. The announcement on January 18 cited "personal considerations" and a desire to be closer to home as the primary reasons for the contract termination. Cascarino was a key productive figure for the Wave during her time there, leading the team in goal contributions in the 2025 season with five goals and six assists despite the team's ups and downs.

Her departure leaves a significant gap in the Wave's attack as they head into the 2026 season. While no destination has been officially confirmed, speculation is rampant that she may be heading to the London City Lionesses, potentially reuniting with owner Michele Kang (who also owns Cascarino's former club, Lyon), or to West Ham to play alongside her twin sister, Estelle. The Wave thanked Cascarino for her contributions, with Sporting Director Camille Ashton acknowledging that facilitating the move was the respectful choice for the player's personal well-being.