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Tag: national women's soccer league

  • Lavelle’s goal leads Gotham over Spirit 1-0 for NWSL championship – WTOP News

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    Rose Lavelle scored in the 80th minute and the eighth-seeded Gotham FC beat the Washington Spirit 1-0 on Saturday night to win their second National Women’s Soccer League championship.

    SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Rose Lavelle scored in the 80th minute and the eighth-seeded Gotham FC beat the Washington Spirit 1-0 on Saturday night to win their second National Women’s Soccer League championship.

    Second-half substitute Bruninha drove into the box on the left wing and sent the ball across to Lavelle, whose left-footed shot sailed past Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury into the bottom corner of the net.

    It is the first NWSL championship title for Lavelle, who had scored in the 2023 final when she was playing for the Seattle Reign against Gotham in a 2-1 loss.

    After a strong opening 10 minutes of the match for Gotham, with three shots from Jaedyn Shaw, the final began to mature into a tense affair.

    There were few chances and the best of the first half came when Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt perfectly timed a slide tackle and cleaned out Midge Purce with the follow through.

    Not long after the half, Trinity Rodman was brought off the Spirit bench for Sofia Cantore, bringing the crowd to its feet. The U.S. women’s national team star was on limited minutes after suffering a knee sprain in October.

    Even with the introduction of Rodman, the Spirit continued to struggle to create chances. They had marginally more control of the ball, 53%, but were outshot by Gotham 12-6 and finished the game without a single shot on target. Rodman had zero shots and zero chances created.

    The second-seeded Spirit (14-6-8) suffered a second consecutive defeat in the NWSL final, having lost last year to the Orlando Pride in Kansas City, Missouri.

    The Spirit reached this year’s final by overcoming Racing Louisville 3-1 in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals and then beating the Portland Thorns 2-0 in the semifinals.

    Gotham (11-8-9) had defied the odds to make the final, going on the road twice to defeat the top-seeded Kansas City Current 2-1 in the quarterfinal and the defending champions the Pride, 1-0.

    Gotham are the first eighth-seed to win the NWSL Championship. In 2023, when there were only six playoff spots, Gotham became the first sixth seed to lift the trophy.

    Head coach Juan Carlos Amoros has seven NWSL playoff wins in his career and two championships.

    ___

    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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  • Citing ‘challenges’, Denver Summit FC looking at potential stadium sites outside Denver

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    DENVER – The Denver Summit FC ownership is “engaging with other jurisdictions” over a potential site of a future stadium for the new professional women’s soccer team, Denver7 has learned.

    Citing “challenges we have faced in the Denver City Council process” over plans for a 14,500-seat stadium at Santa Fe Yards, the team’s ownership said in a statement it was also continuing to “engage in an open and honest dialogue with the Mayor, City Council and Community in Denver” while pursuing a “parallel path regarding the stadium site,” according to a statement.

    On Friday, Denver7’s Veronica Acosta reported that four of five measures considered by the South Platte River Committee this week – in which city council members were a part – were postponed over funding questions.

    The four measures were related to $50 million for the future site including a potential pedestrian bridge.

    Denver7

    “I think as a council, we want to be fiscally responsible when it comes to the use of public funds,” said Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez, who represents District 7, where the stadium is expected to be built.

    There were questions raised on the cost of the bridge and from where those funds would come.

    “How does that work if we don’t have the funding right now? Like, when does that come into play?” Council president Amanda Sandoval asked regarding the potential pedestrian bridge. “I’m just concerned that, like, we’re taking the cart before the horse.”

    Denver

    Denver plans to spend $70 million on a new soccer stadium. Is it worth it?

    Denver7 asked Councilwoman Alvidrez if she was concerned about the postponement of the four measures pertaining to the stadium.

    “I just think we need to get things ironed out before we get there,” she said. “What was missing was things like, how are we going to fund this bridge that is part of the infrastructure master plan?”

    • Watch in the video player below: City officials raise concerns as Denver NWSL team on tight deadline for future stadium

    City officials raise concerns as Denver NWSL team on tight deadline for future stadium

    Earlier this year, Denver7 reported the city was moving forward with plans to build the new National Women’s Soccer League stadium by investing $70 million to get the project started with the ownership group expected to spend between $150 million to $200 million to finish the project.

    In the statement received Saturday, Denver Summit FC ownership added: “We are currently pursuing a parallel path regarding the stadium site.”

    In response, Denver7 received the following statement for Mayor Mike Johnston’s office:

    “Mayor Johnston has been steadfast in his belief that a professional women’s soccer team belongs in Denver and in this stadium’s ability to bring sustained, catalytic investment to South Broadway. Losing this team would be devastating for the thousands of people who have already fallen in love with this franchise and the small businesses who are counting on the boost it will bring.

    Having worked with the team from the beginning, we have seen ownership go above and beyond to answer questions, provide details, and work with the community. Mayor Johnston is working extensively with all parties, and we are confident that we will reach an agreement that benefits the city and keeps the Summit in Denver.”

    Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez, who represents District 7 – where the stadium is expected to be – told Denver7 she believes the timeline for the stadium is still on track but wants to get questions answered and details squared away.

    “I think as a council, we want to be fiscally responsible when it comes to the use of public funds,” said Alvidrez.

    Women’s Sports

    Denver Summit FC breaks another record with 15,000-season ticket deposits

    Below is the full statement from Denver FC Summit:

    “Denver Summit FC ownership is committed to fulfilling our obligations to the league, our fans, our athletes and the community. That means we need to deliver a purpose-built stadium for women’s professional soccer – on time, ready for play in March of 2028. We have been planning for a permanent stadium at Santa Fe Yards in Denver’s urban core. Given the challenges we have faced in the Denver City Council process, we are currently pursuing a parallel path regarding the stadium site and engaging with other jurisdictions outside Denver. We will continue to engage in an open and honest dialogue with the Mayor, City Council and Community in Denver. We are grateful for the steadfast support that we have received from fans, the community, the Mayor, the business community and small businesses throughout Denver.”

    Denver7’s Veronica Acosta contributed to this report.

    Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos

    Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what’s right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.

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  • NWSL Playoff Preview | Orlando Pride looks ahead to Seattle Reign

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    The Orlando Pride have grown familiar with dealing with pressure. After concluding a historic 2024 season, which saw the Pride claim both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship, the pressure of being the underdogs amid the record-breaking season was there. As Orlando prepares for a second consecutive playoff appearance on Friday against the Seattle Reign, the pressure to win the whole thing and repeat as champions is also there. “I think last year we were still the underdogs even though we were killing it,” Pride left back Carson Pickett told WESH 2 this week. “Every game that we won, it wasn’t a shock for us, but a shock for other people when we won the shield, and people thought we might not win the championship.” The Pride culminated the 2024 season with a historic double, winning the NWSL Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular season record, and NWSL Championship after defeating the Washington Spirit 1-0 in the league final. The NWSL Championship was the first major league title for the City of Orlando. But following a topsy-turvy 2025 season, which saw the Pride battle through player injuries and winless runs, Orlando (11-8-7, 40 points) made it back to the postseason after finishing fourth in the standings. “This year there’s huge pressure to repeat,” said Pickett. “Everyone wants to go back-to-back, everyone wants to double down on what they’ve done, and to become a winning club you have to do it multiple times.” To get back in the postseason picture, though, the Pride had to deal with a period of adversity this season. Star forward Barbra Banda was placed in August on the season-ending injury list after suffering a full-thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus.And that happened amid a winless run that went nine games, and saw Orlando fall in the standings to seventh place in the standings. The Pride signed Jacquie Ovalle for a record $1.5 million transfer fee from Tigres UANL during the summer. The 9-game winless skid snapped when Orlando came back to defeat the San Diego Wave 2-1 on the road on Sept. 26. That was followed by a draw and win before a come-from-behind 3-2 victory against the Washington Spirit on Oct. 18 at Audi Field. Orlando Pride head coach Seb Hines credits his players’ resiliency toward the latter part of the regular season for getting the team back into the playoff picture for a second consecutive year. “Last year was a really unique year, and it will be very difficult to emulate that season again,” Hines told WESH 2. “To replicate that was close to impossible, but our objective was always to get into the postseason and know once you’re in the playoffs, anything can happen.” Match DetailsOrlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign Location: Inter&Co Stadium Kickoff time: 8 p.m. ETBroadcast: Prime Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.

    The Orlando Pride have grown familiar with dealing with pressure.

    After concluding a historic 2024 season, which saw the Pride claim both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship, the pressure of being the underdogs amid the record-breaking season was there.

    As Orlando prepares for a second consecutive playoff appearance on Friday against the Seattle Reign, the pressure to win the whole thing and repeat as champions is also there.

    “I think last year we were still the underdogs even though we were killing it,” Pride left back Carson Pickett told WESH 2 this week. “Every game that we won, it wasn’t a shock for us, but a shock for other people when we won the shield, and people thought we might not win the championship.”

    The Pride culminated the 2024 season with a historic double, winning the NWSL Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular season record, and NWSL Championship after defeating the Washington Spirit 1-0 in the league final.

    The NWSL Championship was the first major league title for the City of Orlando.

    But following a topsy-turvy 2025 season, which saw the Pride battle through player injuries and winless runs, Orlando (11-8-7, 40 points) made it back to the postseason after finishing fourth in the standings.

    “This year there’s huge pressure to repeat,” said Pickett. “Everyone wants to go back-to-back, everyone wants to double down on what they’ve done, and to become a winning club you have to do it multiple times.”

    To get back in the postseason picture, though, the Pride had to deal with a period of adversity this season.

    Star forward Barbra Banda was placed in August on the season-ending injury list after suffering a full-thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus.

    And that happened amid a winless run that went nine games, and saw Orlando fall in the standings to seventh place in the standings.

    The Pride signed Jacquie Ovalle for a record $1.5 million transfer fee from Tigres UANL during the summer.

    The 9-game winless skid snapped when Orlando came back to defeat the San Diego Wave 2-1 on the road on Sept. 26. That was followed by a draw and win before a come-from-behind 3-2 victory against the Washington Spirit on Oct. 18 at Audi Field.

    Orlando Pride head coach Seb Hines credits his players’ resiliency toward the latter part of the regular season for getting the team back into the playoff picture for a second consecutive year.

    “Last year was a really unique year, and it will be very difficult to emulate that season again,” Hines told WESH 2. “To replicate that was close to impossible, but our objective was always to get into the postseason and know once you’re in the playoffs, anything can happen.”

    Match Details

    Orlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign

    Location: Inter&Co Stadium

    Kickoff time: 8 p.m. ET

    Broadcast: Prime

    Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.

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  • Football Manager 26 will feature women’s soccer for the first time

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    The upcoming Football Manager 26 will include the officially licensed Barclays Women’s Super League and National Women’s Soccer League, among other women’s competitions, marking the first time that women’s soccer has featured in the long-running management sim. This means you’ll be able to select a women’s team to manage, complete with accurate player imagery, club logos and kits.

    The debut of women’s soccer was actually way back in 2021, and was supposed to feature in Football Manager 2025. That game was eventually cancelled, with developer Sports Interactive shifting its attention to Football Manager 26, which arrives on November 4.

    When the developer first the prospect of adding the women’s game to its various game modes, it said it would only do so once it was able to offer the same level of depth and authenticity as it does for men’s soccer. Since making that initial statement, the popularity of women’s soccer has grown enormously, and Sports Interactive in FM26 it has created a “single ecosystem” in which you’re not limited to exclusively managing a men’s or women’s team on a single save. To ensure its virtual recreation of women’s soccer is as realistic as it can be, the studio consulted real-life players, managers, clubs and organizations.

    At launch, the latest entry will feature 14 playable leagues that span 11 nations and three continents, with leagues in Germany, France, Japan, Australia and more represented alongside England and the US. The FM26 database currently consists of more than 36,000 players, and the studio now has a 40-strong team of researchers working exclusively on building it out further, with additional playable competitions planned.

    The off-the-field differences between the men’s and women’s game are also reflected, taking into account the typically shorter contracts in women’s soccer, and fewer release clauses that can be activated in the transfer market. Sports Interactive also used real-world data to inform the average recovery rates for various injuries where they might differ between men and women.

    For a full rundown of all the new additions, click . Football Manager 26 launches November 4 on Xbox and PS5, with a mobile version via Netflix arriving on the same day, and FM26 Touch for Nintendo Switch releasing digitally a month later.

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  • Orlando Pride winless run extends to 6 games after Gotham FC loss

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    The Orlando Pride’s scoring issues continued on Friday night. Without leading goal scorer Barbra Banda who was added to the season-ending injury list last weekend, Orlando extended its scoring drought to three games. Esther Gonzalez netted early and Jaelin Howell scored in the second haf as Gotham FC defeated the Orlando Pride 2-0 at Inter&Co Stadium. The loss extended the Pride’s winless streak to six games heading into the final eight games of the regular season.Angelina left the game in the 26th minute after suffering an undisclosed injury. Barbra was officially ruled out of the rest of the season on Sunday after suffering a full thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus tendon during an Aug. 16 game at Kansas City Current. The Pride head into Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup action on Tuesday when they host Costa Rican club Alajuelense at Inter&Co Stadium. Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2 News, who has covered Orlando City SC since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.

    The Orlando Pride’s scoring issues continued on Friday night.

    Without leading goal scorer Barbra Banda who was added to the season-ending injury list last weekend, Orlando extended its scoring drought to three games.

    Esther Gonzalez netted early and Jaelin Howell scored in the second haf as Gotham FC defeated the Orlando Pride 2-0 at Inter&Co Stadium.

    The loss extended the Pride’s winless streak to six games heading into the final eight games of the regular season.

    Angelina left the game in the 26th minute after suffering an undisclosed injury.

    Barbra was officially ruled out of the rest of the season on Sunday after suffering a full thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus tendon during an Aug. 16 game at Kansas City Current.

    The Pride head into Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup action on Tuesday when they host Costa Rican club Alajuelense at Inter&Co Stadium.

    Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2 News, who has covered Orlando City SC since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.

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  • Barbra Banda placed on season-ending injury list for Orlando Pride

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    Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda was placed on the season-ending injury list, the team announced on Saturday. This comes after the Zambian attacker suffered a full thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus tendon during last weekend’s game at KC Current. “Barbra has been instrumental to our success, and losing a player of her caliber is heartbreaking for the entire organization,” said Haley Carter, the Pride’s VP of soccer operations and sporting director. “We are committed to providing her with the highest level of care and support throughout her recovery. Her contributions to this team both on and off the field have been immeasurable, and we know she will approach her rehabilitation with the same determination and professionalism she brings to everything she does.”The injury is a major blow to the Pride’s offense this season. Orlando is winless in its last five games — two losses and three draws — and have scored only twice and conceded 5 goals during that stretch. Banda, 25, currently leads the Pride in scoring with 8 goals this season. She was the team’s top scorer with 17 goals in 2024, which also saw the Pride win a historic double with the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. Since her arrival in Orlando last year, Banda has scored 25 times and has produced seven assists in 41 matches played in all competitions. Her 2024 NWSL Championship MVP performance earned her a nomination to the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or earlier this month. Related: Orlando Pride, Barbra Banda, Marta earn Ballon d’Or nominations The Pride (8W-5L-4D, 28 points) currently sits in fourth place in the standings with nine games left in the 2025 NWSL regular season. Orlando hosts Gotham FC on Friday at 8 p.m. at Inter&Co Stadium. Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2 News, who has covered Orlando City SC since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.

    Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda was placed on the season-ending injury list, the team announced on Saturday.

    This comes after the Zambian attacker suffered a full thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus tendon during last weekend’s game at KC Current.

    “Barbra has been instrumental to our success, and losing a player of her caliber is heartbreaking for the entire organization,” said Haley Carter, the Pride’s VP of soccer operations and sporting director. “We are committed to providing her with the highest level of care and support throughout her recovery. Her contributions to this team both on and off the field have been immeasurable, and we know she will approach her rehabilitation with the same determination and professionalism she brings to everything she does.”

    The injury is a major blow to the Pride’s offense this season. Orlando is winless in its last five games — two losses and three draws — and have scored only twice and conceded 5 goals during that stretch.

    Banda, 25, currently leads the Pride in scoring with 8 goals this season. She was the team’s top scorer with 17 goals in 2024, which also saw the Pride win a historic double with the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship.

    Since her arrival in Orlando last year, Banda has scored 25 times and has produced seven assists in 41 matches played in all competitions.

    Her 2024 NWSL Championship MVP performance earned her a nomination to the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or earlier this month.

    Related: Orlando Pride, Barbra Banda, Marta earn Ballon d’Or nominations

    The Pride (8W-5L-4D, 28 points) currently sits in fourth place in the standings with nine games left in the 2025 NWSL regular season.

    Orlando hosts Gotham FC on Friday at 8 p.m. at Inter&Co Stadium.

    Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2 News, who has covered Orlando City SC since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.

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  • Zambian International Barbra Banda joins Orlando Pride in ‘blockbuster deal’

    Zambian International Barbra Banda joins Orlando Pride in ‘blockbuster deal’

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    ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Pride secured a major acquisition last month by signing Zambian international Barbra Banda in a blockbuster deal with the Chinese Women’s Super League outfit Shanghai Shengli FC.

    Banda’s move to the Pride, facilitated by a transfer fee totaling $740,000, includes a four-year contract extension through the 2027 season, financed with allocation money. The agreement also features a negotiated sell-on clause for potential future Banda transfers.

    This high-profile signing represents one of the most significant investments in a player in the history of the National Women’s Soccer League.

    “We’ve always aimed to elevate the Orlando Pride into a championship-caliber force within the NWSL, and we believe that investing in the world’s premier players is crucial to achieving that goal,” stated Orlando Pride Owner and Chairman Mark Wilf. “Barbra Banda brings an elevated level of technical prowess, physicality, and speed to our offensive line-up, making her an electrifying addition to our roster.”

    Haley Carter, Orlando Pride’s VP of Soccer Operations and General Manager, expressed gratitude for the Wilf family’s faith in the team’s leadership and their endorsement of the sizable investment in Banda. Carter applauded Shanghai Shengli FC for their collaboration in facilitating the transfer, underscoring their pivotal role in nurturing Banda’s talent.

    Banda, a natural-born goal-scorer who celebrated her 24th birthday this month, played a pivotal role for Shanghai Shengli FC in 2023, netting 16 goals and providing five assists. Her stellar performance saw her clinch the CWSL Golden Boot for the season.

    Reflecting on her move to Orlando, Banda expressed excitement about joining a prestigious club within one of the world’s most competitive leagues. “Since my initial conversation with the club and General Manager, I knew that Orlando Pride was where I wanted to be,” Banda remarked. “I eagerly anticipate meeting my new teammates and contributing to our shared pursuit of success and silverware.”

    Banda’s rise to prominence extends beyond her club accolades. She made history at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics at the international level by becoming the first player to score consecutive hat-tricks and securing Zambia‘s maiden victory at a FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

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  • Wildfire smoke continues to wreak havoc on US sports | CNN

    Wildfire smoke continues to wreak havoc on US sports | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    A string of sports games and practices have been postponed as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to choke the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast parts of the United States.

    Around 75 million people are under air quality alerts as wildfire smoke shrouds major US cities, with Major League Baseball (MLB), the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) forced to postpone games due to concerns over dangerous air quality.

    The MLB postponed two games – one between the Detroit Tigers and the host Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park and the other between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium – on Wednesday due to medical and weather expert warnings about “clearing hazardous air quality conditions in both cities,” the league said in a statement.

    Meanwhile, the WNBA was forced to postpone Wednesday’s game between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx due to smoke impacting the Liberty’s home arena, with the league noting that information regarding the rescheduling of the game would be provided at a later date.

    The New York Racing Association (NYRA) canceled Thursday’s training at Belmont Park due to “poor air quality conditions” affecting New York state, while in New Jersey, the NWSL postponed Wednesday night’s Challenge Cup game in Harrison and rescheduled it for August 9.

    “The safety of our players, officials and fans is our top priority. Following consultation with the NWSL Medical and Operations staff, it was determined that the match could not be safely conducted based on the projected air quality index,” the NWSL said in a statement.

    Smoke from Canada’s fires has periodically affected the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic for more than a week, raising concerns over the harms of persistent poor air quality.

    More than nine million acres have been charred by wildfires in Canada so far this year – about 15 times the normal burned area for this point in the year – and more than 10,500 people have been evacuated from communities across Alberta.

    According to the MLB, the Phillies-Tigers game will take place at 6:05 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, while the Yankees and the White Sox will now play a doubleheader beginning at 4:05 p.m. (ET) on Thursday.

    The Belmont Stakes is scheduled for Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, and the NYRA said a decision on Thursday’s live racing program will be made in the morning following a “review of the air quality conditions and forecast.”

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