Welcome to this week's edition of Goalside Gossip, your go-to source for all things women's soccer! This issue is bursting with the latest from the Women’s Super League and the NWSL, as we witness the top two teams the WSL Manchester City and Arsenal fight it out in a dramatic game that had us at the edge of our seats up until the end. Across the pond, the Seattle Reign snapped their five-game losing streak with a last minute win over the San Diego Wave, and the Portland Thorns edged out Bay FC in a thrilling victory. As the WSL heads towards an extremely exciting conclusion and the NWSL starts off with plenty of last minute action, we're dedicated to bringing you detailed analysis and all the scores to keep you feeling one step ahead.

In addition to our regular league coverage, we're thrilled to expand our focus to include the United Women's Soccer (UWS) league. Get ready to dive deep into the teams, key players, and promising talents shaping this dynamic league. This week, we give you a taste of what’s to come this season by showing you some awesome saves from last season’s week 8. We also introduce you to Margaret Osmundson, who has played soccer all across the world and is a pioneer in the popular sport of Teqball.

Lastly, we are working on exciting features including player interviews, tactical breakdowns, and a closer look at how the teams are preparing for the upcoming matches. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a blend of Goals, Gossip, and Glory from the world of women's soccer. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual follower, there's something in here for everyone as we celebrate the skill, passion, and drama of these incredible athletes and their competitions.

WSL Matches of the Week

Arsenal vs Manchester City (2-1)

In a dramatic match at the top of the table, Manchester City suffered a late setback, losing 2-1 to Arsenal despite initially leading through Lauren Hemp's impressive first-half goal. Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius emerged as the hero for the visitors, coming off the bench to score two quick goals in the final minutes of the game. City's defeat keeps them at the top of the WSL table, but their lead has been narrowed to six points by Chelsea, who have a game in hand and play Tottenham on Wednesday as a makeup of Matchweek 18. The result sets up an exciting finale to the title race, with both City and Chelsea vying for the championship.

Chelsea vs Bristol City (8-0)

Chelsea delivered a resounding 8-0 victory (sheesh!) against Bristol City, responding emphatically after their previous setback against Liverpool. Manager Emma Hayes had conceded Chelsea's title chances were slim, but Arsenal's surprise win over Manchester City reignited hope for the Blues. Chelsea, mindful of their goal difference deficit, pursued goals aggressively from the start, with Guro Reiten leading the charge with a brace. The team displayed dominance throughout, with contributions from various players, including Aggie Beever-Jones and Niamh Charles. With this commanding win, Chelsea matched Manchester City's goal difference, setting up a thrilling climax to the title race.

WSL Updated Table

NWSL Matches of the Week

Seattle Reign 🟥 vs SD Wave 🟥 (2-1)

In a fiercely contested grudge match filled with tackles, cards, and even some punches thrown, Seattle Reign put an end to their five-game losing streak with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over the San Diego Wave. Despite facing an early setback when Tziarra King received a red card in the 9th minute, the Reign refused to back down. They rallied with goals from Bethany Balcer and Veronica Latsko, whose decisive back-post header in the 89th minute sealed the victory, marking Seattle's first win of the season. This victory came amidst a heated battle, with a total of 10 cards handed out, including two red cards, as tensions ran high on the field.

Portland Thorns vs Bay FC (3-2)

In a thrilling midweek contest at PayPal Park, Bay FC suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against Portland Thorns FC. The match saw Portland quickly take a commanding 2-0 lead with early goals in the 2nd and 7th minutes, but Bay FC staged a determined comeback. Racheal Kundananji sparked the rally with a goal just before the half, reducing the deficit to 2-1. She then assisted Deyna Castellanos in the 61st minute to level the score. Despite Bay FC's efforts and dominant second-half possession, Portland clinched the victory with a late goal by Sophia Smith in the 78th minute. This match marked notable performances, including Kundananji's historic goal and assist, making her the first Bay FC player to achieve this feat in a single match.

NWSL Updated Table

United Women’s Soccer (UWS)

As the new official partner of the UWS, we will be covering some players, games and stories from the United Women’s Soccer League. We encourage everyone to go check out their website before the season begins and get familiarized with what they’re all about (maybe even choose a favorite team to root for 👀 ).

Although the new season of the UWS hasn’t started yet, we wanted to give you a taste of the action that you don’t want to miss, so after showing you some insane goals from last season, we thought we’d flip to the other side of the ball and show you some insane saves. Without further ado, here are the saves of the week from the UWS week 8 last season by: Shealyn Vanderbosch (FC Buffalo), Nicole D’Agostino (Edgewater Castle), Lilliana Mantoni (Worcester Fuel) and Molly DiCaprio (Albany Rush).

Player Spotlight: Margaret Osmundson

We had the pleasure of speaking with Margaret Osmundson who has distinguished herself in both soccer and teqball, showcasing her talents across multiple continents. Her impressive soccer career began at Sonoma State University where she excelled from 2012 to 2015, consistently demonstrating her skills as a formidable midfielder. Her senior year achievements included NSCAA First Team All-American and All-Region honors, highlighting her pivotal role on the team. After college, she continued to pursue her passion for soccer by coaching at the Division II level and playing for the SF Knighthawks in the Women's Premier Soccer League until 2019. She then decided to take her talents to the international stage and moved to Brazil to play with Sport Club Internacional, which broadened her perspective and enhanced her play as well as prepared her for further competitive challenges back in the United States.

Upon returning to the U.S., Margaret transitioned to teqball, a sport that merges soccer and table tennis elements. She not only competed in this emerging sport but also established BellaTeq, the first all-female teqball club, driven by a mission to foster inclusivity and accessibility in sports. Her leadership at BellaTeq led to the distribution of over 1000 teqball tables to institutions and community centers. This initiative reflects her broader commitment to sports development and her vision of elevating teqball to an Olympic sport. 

Margaret’s extensive involvement in soccer and her pioneering efforts in teqball illustrate her dedication not just to personal athletic excellence but also to enhancing opportunities for women in sports. Her ongoing efforts in both arenas continue to break new ground, paving the way for future generations of female athletes.

Learn more about BellaTeq HERE.
Read more about Margi’s soccer journey so far HERE.

🚨GIVEAWAY WINNER ALERT🚨

As promised, Goalside Gossip will be doing five weeks of giveaways to all of our loyal subscribers. This week’s giveaway was a special “blackout” edition stainless steel tumbler. and the winner is……Gina B. Check your email Gina to claim your prize!

Keep an eye out for our next newsletter as we get ready to announce the next giveaway and make sure to follow us on Instagram because we have some even more giveaways coming up.

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