Category: NWSL

Portland Thorns vs. Club Tijuana: How to watch Summer Cup, TV channel, live stream

The NWSL side hosts the Liga MX Femenil side at Providence Park

The NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup has arrived, and Sunday will see the Portland Thorns kick off the competition against Club Tijuana.

All 14 NWSL teams and six teams from Liga MX will take part in the Summer Cup, with every match aside from the championship taking place over the next two weeks.

The tournament will coincide with the 2024 Olympics, as the NWSL takes a break from its regular season with matches that are likely to see several fringe players get opportunities to shine.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup on Paramount Plus” link=”https://paramountplus.qflm.net/217Nxg”]

The Thorns entered the break in league play sitting fifth in the table, and will have to contend with the absences of Olympic players like Janine Beckie, Jessie Fleming, Sophia Smith and Sam Coffey.

The Seattle Reign and the Utah Royals are also in Group B alongside Portland and Tijuana, with Seattle opening the competition with a 2-1 win over Utah on Friday night.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Portland Thorns vs. Tijuana (Summer Cup)

  • When: Sunday, July 21
  • Where: Providence Park (Portland, OR)
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Paramount+ (WATCH NOW), CBS Sports Golazo Network

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Washington Spirit vs. Chivas: How to watch Summer Cup, TV channel, live stream

The Summer Cup continues with a NWSL vs. Liga MX Femenil matchup

The NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup has arrived, and Sunday will see the Washington Spirit take on Chivas in Philadelphia.

The Spirit will travel north to take on the Guadalajara-based side, a two-time champion of Liga MX Femenil.

All 14 NWSL teams and six teams from Liga MX will take part in the Summer Cup, with every match aside from the championship taking place over the next two weeks.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup on Paramount Plus” link=”https://paramountplus.qflm.net/217Nxg”]

The tournament will coincide with the 2024 Olympics, as the NWSL takes a break from its regular season with matches that are likely to see several fringe players get opportunities to shine.

The Spirit will be missing several key players due to Olympic duty, with Croix Bethune, Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger, Hal Hershfelt, Gabby Carle and Leicy Santos all away with their national teams.

Chivas and the Spirit will also face NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Chicago Red Stars in Group D of the Summer Cup.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Washington Spirit vs. Chivas (Summer Cup)

  • When: Sunday, July 21
  • Where: Subaru Park (Chester, PA)
  • Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Paramount+ (WATCH NOW), CBS Sports Golazo Network, TUDN

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Angel City vs. Club America: How to watch Summer Cup, live stream

The midseason tournament is here, and Saturday will see the first inter-league matchups

The NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup has arrived, and Saturday will see the first matches between teams from the U.S. and Mexico.

Angel City will host Club América on Saturday, moving away from its normal home of BMO Stadium to Titan Stadium on the campus of California State University, Fullerton.

All 14 NWSL teams and six teams from Liga MX will take part in the Summer Cup, with every match aside from the championship taking place over the next two weeks.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup on Paramount Plus” link=”https://paramountplus.qflm.net/217Nxg”]

The tournament will coincide with the 2024 Olympics, as the NWSL takes a break from its regular season with matches that are likely to see several fringe players get opportunities to shine.

Angel City and América have faced off once before, as the NWSL side defeated its Liga MX Femenil opponent 3-0 in a March 2023 friendly.

The two sides will also face Bay FC and the San Diego Wave in Group B of the Summer Cup.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Angel City vs. Club America (Summer Cup)

  • When: Saturday, July 20
  • Where: Titan Stadium (Fullerton, CA)
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Paramount+ (WATCH NOW)

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Seattle Reign vs. Utah Royals: How to watch Summer Cup, TV channel, live stream

The inaugural game of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup has arrived

The inaugural game of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup has arrived.

The Seattle Reign will host the Utah Royals on Friday night as the new competition gets underway at Lumen Field.

All 14 NWSL teams and six teams from Liga MX will take part in the Summer Cup, with every match aside from the championship taking place over the next two weeks.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup on Paramount Plus” link=”https://paramountplus.qflm.net/217Nxg”]

The tournament will coincide with the 2024 Olympics, as the NWSL takes a break from its regular season with matches that are likely to see several fringe players get opportunities to shine.

For Seattle and Utah, the tournament will also be a respite from a difficult NWSL campaign. The teams occupy the bottom two places in the league table, with the Royals in 14th place and Seattle just two points above them.

The two teams will also face the Portland Thorns and Club Tijuana in Group A.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Seattle Reign vs. Utah Royals (Summer Cup)

  • When: Friday, July 19
  • Where: Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ (WATCH NOW)

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Bay FC’s Camberos returns to Club America after leaving over safety concerns

The 23-year-old forward returns to Mexico after a season and a half in the NWSL

Bay FC forward Scarlett Camberos has re-joined Club América for an undisclosed transfer fee, the NWSL side announced on Monday.

Camberos departed América to join Angel City FC in March 2023, requesting a transfer after she expressed concerns over her safety. The Mexico international had been targeted by a man who threatened and harassed her, and also hacked into her social media accounts.

After spending the 2023 campaign with Angel City, Camberos was traded to Bay FC ahead of its expansion season. The forward has made 10 appearances, including eight starts, scoring one goal for the California side this season.

“We are grateful for Scarlett’s hard work and commitment to Bay FC and her role in helping us lay the foundation in our first season,” said Matt Potter, Bay FC head of football and interim sporting director.

“This scenario moved quickly between clubs and ultimately with Scarlett and her agent. We believe we’ve reached an agreement that supports her desires and growth as well as ours as a club as we continue to build our squad for the future. We wish Scarlett all the best as she continues her career and look forward to her return with her new club in the Summer Cup.”

Camberos, 23, was born in California and represents Mexico internationally. She started on Saturday as Mexico fell 1-0 to the U.S. women’s national team in a friendly.

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Sanchez: No contact from USWNT since Hayes named coach

The North Carolina Courage star is hoping to make amends after a World Cup snub last summer

Ashley Sanchez said she has not had any contact with the U.S. women’s national team since Emma Hayes was named head coach last winter.

The 25-year-old playmaker was named to the USWNT roster for the World Cup last summer, but then-head coach Vlatko Andonovski controversially left her on the sidelines for the entirely of the tournament.

Sanchez had been a major contributor to the USWNT prior to the World Cup, but Andonovski moved Savannah DeMelo ahead of her on the depth chart just before the tournament kicked off.

The North Carolina Courage star did earn two USWNT caps in friendlies after the World Cup, but hasn’t been called back in since an appearance against Colombia in October.

Just two weeks after Sanchez appeared in that match, the USWNT named Hayes as Andonovski’s successor. Hayes finished out the 2023-24 season with Chelsea before joining the USWNT full time in May.

Since Hayes was appointed, Sanchez admitted that it’s been radio silence when it comes to the USWNT.

“I’ve had pretty much no contact really, whatsoever, which is definitely hard as a player,” she told GOAL.

“But hopefully, after the Olympics, we’ll see what happens. I’m just focusing on what I can and hopefully getting another shot. I’m just going to try to do the best I can for my team. I think that if I do that, I will get another chance.”

Sanchez has been making a strong case for herself after an offseason trade from the Washington Spirit to the Courage. In her first season with North Carolina, Sanchez has four goals and three assists while starting all 16 of the team’s NWSL games this season.

Per FBref, Sanchez also leads the NWSL in passes into the penalty area this season, and places in the top five in progressive passes, through balls, expected assists and shot-creating actions.

Looking back on her World Cup snub, Sanchez attempted to be philosophical while admitting that she still carries some wounds from what she said earlier this year was “probably the hardest moment of my career.”

“I think that I’ve definitely processed it and I wouldn’t say I’m over it necessarily, because obviously there are times where I’m like, ‘Dang, that really did suck,’” she said.

“But I would just say that I do feel like everything that was meant to happen happened and I’m just hoping that I get another opportunity. I’m just trying to do everything I can to get another opportunity to play and do all the things that I wanted to do. That’s pretty much how I’m looking at it.”

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Racing Louisville coach Yanez misses game after suffering miscarriage

The 35-year-old said in a statement she was “heartbroken”

Racing Louisville head coach Bev Yanez missed Sunday’s game against the North Carolina Courage after suffering a miscarriage, the club announced.

Assistant coach Carmelina Moscato served as the acting head coach for the match, which the Courage won 3-1.

“My family and I are heartbroken with the miscarriage of our baby boy,” Yanez said in a club statement.

“We are grieving and healing as a family at this time. It is an indescribable hurt that, through sharing my story, I am realizing many have gone through. I’m so grateful for the support around us as we heal our hearts.”

Yanez, 35, and her husband Othaniel have two daughters: Noemi-Rae, who was born in 2020 and Cali June, born in 2023.

After spending one season as an assistant coach with Racing, Yanez was named the club’s head coach ahead of the current season. Previously, Yanez had spent two years as an assistant at NJ/NY Gotham FC.

As a player, Yanez spent most of her career with the Seattle Reign in addition to stints in Finland, Australia and Japan.

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San Diego Wave president Ellis hits back at ‘false accusations’

The ex-USWNT coach did concede there had been allegations of mistreatment investigated

San Diego Wave president Jill Ellis has responded to what she called “false accusations” from a former team employee, who alleged that Ellis has fostered an abusive environment at the NWSL club.

Former Wave video and creative manager Brittany Alvarado made explosive allegations on X this week, calling the former U.S. women’s national team coach “devastating to our mental health.”

The Wave strongly pushed back on Alvarado’s claims in a statement on Wednesday, even saying that they would consider legal action against their former employee.

After Alvarado’s statement, three other former team employees have corroborated her description of an environment at the Wave that is damaging to mental health.

On Thursday, Ellis released a statement through the Wave that conceded there had been allegations of mistreatment made at the club. The 57-year-old said that all of those claims had been investigated, sometimes through an independent third party, and the club had been cleared of all wrongdoing every time.

The statement from Ellis is below:

Mental health is a priority at our club for everyone, and we have support measures in place to help those in need. Our staff and I will always honor how someone feels. Over time, we have actively responded to employees who have shown or expressed needs related to their mental health. I want to reinforce that Wave FC has a robust Employee Assistance Program that is promoted regularly to employees. 

I will continue to protect former and current employee confidentiality. When allegations of mistreatment have been made, we have taken them seriously and investigated them thoroughly. In addition, when appropriate, independent third parties have assisted us in evaluating our workplace. At no time have those evaluations uncovered any wrongdoing by the club. 

What we do is all about fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and excellence. The false accusations in today’s post are not only personally damaging but also take away from the incredible work and progress we’ve achieved together as a team. It’s important to address this information promptly and effectively.

Our focus remains on moving forward and continuing to build a strong, unified club.

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‘There is so much work to be done’ – Wave star Morgan responds to Ellis accusations

Multiple former Wave employees accused the club of fostering an abusive culture

San Diego Wave forward Alex Morgan has responded after multiple former club employees accused the NWSL team of fostering an environment that was detrimental to mental health.

Former Wave video and creative manager Brittany Alvarado released a lengthy statement on Wednesday accusing club president Jill Ellis of creating a culture of abuse at the club.

“[Ellis] has compromised countless lives to advance her narcissistic personal agenda, fostering an environment where abusive behaviors among her subordinates was allowed to flourish,” Alvarado said on X.

Alvarado added that Ellis “has been nothing short of life-altering and devastating to our mental health.”

In a statement, the Wave categorically denied the accusations, calling them “inaccurate and defamatory,” while adding that the club would be pursuing all legal avenues.

Jenny Chuang, another former Wave employee, responded to Alvarado’s post by saying: “I was placed on suicide watch during my tenure with the Wave in 2022. I begged for help while my mental health declined rapidly.”

The accusations from Alvarado and Chuang were followed by a similar statement from Bernadette O’Donnell, the club’s former senior communications manager and Abigail Lozano, a former community relations coordinator for the Wave.

“By the end, I had no hope for my life and didn’t want to be alive anymore most of the time,” O’Donnell said.

“After experiencing the toxic work environment enabled by leadership, my mental health quickly deteriorated,” Lozano said. “This resulted in my resignation, to protect myself.”

In the wake of the statements from her club’s former employees, Morgan responded with a post of her own on X.

Morgan and Ellis have a long relationship, as the striker was a key player during the Englishwoman’s five-year tenure as U.S. women’s national team head coach. Ellis then made Morgan the Wave’s signature acquisition ahead of the club’s inaugural NWSL season in 2022.

Notably, Morgan appeared to concede that there were at least some problematic elements in the team’s culture, concluding by saying: “It is clear that there is so much work to be done.”

“I am disappointed to hear about the allegations made by multiple former Wave FC employees today,” Morgan said.

“As players, we have worked hard to build a team that is surrounded by an inclusive, positive and safe environment.

“But it’s important to me that we are creating that environment for both players AND staff throughout the entire organization.  Equity in the workplace is something I have and will continue to advocate for.

“I want to be proud of what we are building at the Wave but it is clear that there is so much work to be done.”

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Reports: Angel City nears record-breaking sale including $300 million valuation

Willow Bay and Disney CEO Bob Iger are reportedly close to a record-shattering deal to buy a controlling stake in the NWSL club

Angel City FC is close to changing hands, and it’s a move that will likely reverberate throughout women’s sports.

On Tuesday, Puck News first reported that Willow Bay and husband Bob Iger, who is the CEO of Disney, were close to a deal to purchase a controlling stake in the Los Angeles-based NWSL club.

Semafor then filled in the details, reporting that the couple’s investment — which would see Bay replace Alexis Ohanian as the controlling shareholder at the club — would be at least $50 million. Should the deal go through, Angel City would be valued at somewhere over $300 million.

That would represent a rapid rise, as Sportico declared Angel City’s total value at $180 million in October 2023.

Bay, the dean of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, and Iger were in attendance as Angel City fell 3-0 to the Orlando Pride on Sunday.

Former Milwaukee Bucks part-owner Marc Lasry and Manchester United owner Avram Glazer were reported as competitors to purchase Ohanian’s stake. The Los Angeles Times reported in March that the Angel City board had voted to seek a new controlling investor amid internal disputes over spending.

Semafor’s reporting included a pitch deck submitted as part of the Bay/Iger bid, which asserted that the new owners would “enhance and promote ACFC as a premier women’s sports franchise and global brand,” noting that a practice facility and better team performance would be areas of focus under new ownership.

Since Michele Kang purchased the Washington Spirit at a $35 million valuation in February 2022, NWSL club values have skyrocketed. In September 2023, a consortium of Chicago-based business leaders purchased the Chicago Red Stars at a valuation of $60 million.

In 2024, the market has been even more active. The Portland Thorns were sold to siblings Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal at a $63 million valuation in January, setting an NWSL record.

Not long thereafter, the Seattle Reign were sold to the Carlyle Group and the Seattle Sounders for $58 million in March. That same month, Ron Burkle sold the San Diego Wave to the Levine Leichtman family at a record-breaking $120 million valuation.

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