<\/p>\n
This past week was full of hype for the beginning of the 2023 NWSL season! It culminated in the weekend with six games, all of which were thrilling. In addition to NWSL news this past week, we\u2019ve seen some World Cup updates and other stuff. So without further ado, catch up on the last week of key women\u2019s soccer news:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Of course, our high of the week was the return of the NWSL. However, along with the standard excitement, there were some record-breaking moments!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A record-setting start to the season!#WePlayHere<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/dbPF2x5uvH<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 National Women\u2019s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 26, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n First, San Diego had a record-setting crowd of over 30,000 fans in attendance!<\/span><\/p>\n The Washington Spirit also broke its attendance record with more than 11,000 attendees. But that\u2019s not all\u2013Angel City, too, sold out BMO Stadium for their home opener!<\/span><\/p>\n Racing Louisville became the first NWSL team with players from six different continents. Sophia Smith scored a goal, which means she\u2019s scored in three consecutive season openers for the Portland Thorns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Overall, opening weekend was epic. We saw chaos, we saw potential, and we saw a ton of young players debut!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n According to @diariARA<\/a>, Jorge Vilda and the @RFEF<\/a> are not equally upset with every member of \u201cLas 15\u201d.<\/p>\n In fact, there is a BLACKLIST of three players above everyone else:<\/p>\n Aitana Bonmat\u00ed, Mapi Le\u00f3n, and Mariona Caldentey. pic.twitter.com\/PM3zvbv5bS<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Women\u2019s Transfer News (@womenstransfer) March 24, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In World Cup news, more about the Spanish team\u2019s situation has come out. To catch you up, many of the Spanish team\u2019s key players left the squad last year and asked for the coach to be removed. He wasn\u2019t removed, and the Spain national team made up for the lost players by calling up a much younger squad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Recently, an article stated that Coach Jorge Vilda is more upset with some players than others. <\/span>Aitana Bonmat\u00ed, Mapi Le\u00f3n, and Mariona Caldentey are blacklisted from the team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to hear more of this unfortunate news out of Spain, especially when the World Cup is approaching. With all this national team chaos, when will enough be enough? Some of the top teams in the world won\u2019t be at full potential<\/a> due to organizational and coaching problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Women\u2019s World Cup Adidas away kits are here \ud83d\udc55 [THREAD]<\/p>\n Japan \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5 pic.twitter.com\/B8xiN4iBHh<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 B\/R Football (@brfootball) March 23, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Adidas released the kit designs<\/a> for the World Cup\u2026 and they\u2019re straight out of our dreams. They\u2019re inspired by the environment and landscape of each country and turned out absolutely stunning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Also, in World Cup news, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands made a bid to host the 2027 Women\u2019s World Cup!<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, we are happy VAR is integrated for the NWSL now. But\u2026 it could definitely take time for it to work seamlessly. ACFC\u2019s Jun Endo scored a beautiful goal that VAR reviewed and turned back because of a foul way farther back on the pitch.<\/p>\n Was it clearly and obviously a mistake on the center refs part? Many think not.<\/p>\n Overall, VAR will be great in mitigating violent and reckless play, but it\u2019s definitely cause for fail of the week when it sparks so much controversy over a justifiable goal that would\u2019ve put Angel City up 2-0.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A beautiful goal from Alyssa Thompson off an assist from Dani Weatherholt for the Play of the Match from #LAvNJNY<\/a>!#WeAreAngelCity<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/E8auH5rE0I<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) March 27, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Two of the league\u2019s youngest stars scored fantastic goals in their home openers. Check out these bangers from Angel City\u2019s Alyssa Thompson and San Diego Wave\u2019s Jaedyn Shaw.<\/span><\/p>\n JAEDYN SHAW IS THE TRUTH \ud83d\ude31pic.twitter.com\/SRJ7F1LwcL<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) March 26, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n End of an era \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n Ali Krieger has announced that she will retire following the 2023 NWSL season.<\/p>\n What an amazing career, congratulations\u00a0@alikrieger<\/a>! \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/rNtRTZHoOX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ata football (@atafball) March 23, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n A World Cup legend announced her retirement! Ali Krieger stated she\u2019d be leaving professional soccer at the end of this season. However, in Gotham\u2019s match on Sunday, Kreiger subbed off in the first half due to injury. We hope this doesn\u2019t mean her last season isn\u2019t cut short in any way!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No matter what, though, it\u2019ll be exciting to see what she does in her post-pro soccer career!<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Born & raised in SD. <\/p>\n Welcome the youngest player in @NWSL<\/a> history, Melanie Barcenas. pic.twitter.com\/zfAPZIo4hf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) March 21, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n More in NWSL news, San Diego Wave beat the Washington Spirit\u2019s record for the youngest player in the league when they signed 15-year-old Melanie Barcenas last week. Barcenas is a San Diego native with a history in the USYNT.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Official. \u270d\ufe0f<\/p>\n Sinead Farrelly signs a contract for the 2023 season with an option with Gotham FC.<\/p>\n \u2014 NJ\/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) March 25, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Additionally, Gotham FC announced the signing of Sinead Farrelly! This marks Farrelly\u2019s return to pro soccer after publicly releasing her story of abuse<\/a> by former Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Atlanta-natives Croix Bethune and Hannah White announced they\u2019re transferring from USC to play for @UGASoccer<\/a>. They\u2019re rejoining their old coach Keidane McAlpine. Georgia is making massive moves ahead of next fall. pic.twitter.com\/StEMFDpXY9<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Lis Schendel (@lis_ashlee) March 24, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Two Trojan stars are headed south! Croix Bethune and Hannah White announced they\u2019d play at the University of Georgia next fall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Saturday, April 1<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n Kansas City Current vs. Portland Thorns at 12:50 PM ET\/9:50 AM PT<\/span><\/p>\n Chicago Red Stars vs. Houston Dash at 2:00 PM ET\/11:00 AM PT<\/span><\/p>\n Racing Louisville vs. Washington Spirit at 3:00 PM ET\/12:00 PM PT<\/span><\/p>\n Gotham FC vs. OL Reign at 7:30 PM ET\/4:30 PM PT<\/span><\/p>\n San Diego Wave vs. North Carolina Courage at 10:00 PM ET\/7:00 PM PT<\/span><\/p>\n Sunday, April 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Orlando Pride vs. Angel City FC at 5:30 PM ET\/2:30 PM PT<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/rhWxb7wAb3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kim McCauley (@kimischilling) March 25, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n With Debinha leaving fellow Brazilian Kerolin at the North Carolina Courage, and then the Courage dominating Debinha\u2019s new team\u2026 there was really no other answer than the creation of this meme.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Featured image via @weareangelcity<\/a> on Instagram<\/em><\/p>\n _<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nHigh of the Weekend\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
Low of the Weekend<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
News of the Weekend\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
\n<\/blockquote>\n
Fail of the Weekend<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n<\/blockquote>\n
Goals of the Weekend\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
\n
Player of the Weekend\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
Signings of the Weekend\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
\n
Transfer of the Weekend\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
What to Look Forward To<\/b><\/h2>\n
NWSL<\/b><\/h3>\n
Fav Social Media Post\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS<\/b><\/h4>\n