<\/p>\n
The return of the NWSL makes everything better from a women\u2019s soccer perspective. All the biggest stars from around the world are playing simultaneously now. When this happens, the quality of play skyrockets, as we\u2019ve seen through the first two weeks of the NWSL season. Not only has the play in America been enthralling, but the stakes on the European side haven\u2019t been higher. The Women\u2019s Champions League featured some incredible matches this past week, along with some major moments in England\u2019s domestic league. Let\u2019s look at the best women\u2019s soccer goals from the NWSL, Women\u2019s Champions League, and the Barclays FA WSL.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Still not over this goal from @Katie_McCabe11<\/a> \ud83d\ude31#BarclaysWSL<\/a> @ArsenalWFC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/nr2RmP4OTU<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) April 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Arsenal plays some of the best soccer you\u2019ll ever see, with stars spread out across their Starting XI. One of those stars provided a moment of magic for Arsenal emphatically. <\/span><\/p>\n Irish international Katie McCabe was as direct as she could be when receiving the ball. More often than not, when a short corner is taken, the player that receives it puts the ball into the box. Well, McCabe did the opposite and noticed she had space in front of her to run into. <\/span><\/p>\n Once McCabe picked her head up, one thing was on her mind: stick the ball in the top corner. The ball flew into the top corner with ease. No keeper was going to stop that shot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Super goal by @alexpopp11<\/a> to put @VfLWolfsburg_EN<\/a> 2-0 up on aggregate!<\/p>\n Watch the @UWCL<\/a> live on the @DAZNFootball<\/a> YouTube channel.#UWCL<\/a> #WatchWithAta<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfd\ufe0f @DAZNFootball<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/X72VMhgIsI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ata football (@atafball) March 30, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Wolfsburg is one of the European giants that are forgotten about because of how dominant Lyon usually is in winning the Champions League. The German side has won the competition twice and now has a chance to win a third with Lyon out of the way. <\/span><\/p>\n Wolfsburg handled Lyon\u2019s counterpart PSG in the quarterfinals thanks to Alexandra Popp, who is relentless in front of goal. I\u2019m not even sure how to describe what Popp did here. She ran onto the ball; it was slightly ahead of her, so she slid into her shot, and it was something in between a chip shot and a normal shot. <\/span><\/p>\n Either way, the result was the same\u2013a gorgeous goal to help seal the victory for Wolfsburg. The German side awaits Arsenal in the Champions League Semifinal. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Sophia Smith has the first hat trick of the 2023 NWSL season. <\/p>\n That second goal \ud83e\udd0c<\/p>\n (via @NWSL<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/IEbcLT6ueX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 B\/R Football (@brfootball) April 1, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Sophia Smith<\/a> continues to show that she is head and shoulders above everyone in the league right now. This goal she scored against Kansas City is proof of that. <\/span><\/p>\n Four different Current defenders try to get Smith off the ball. None were strong enough to get her off the ball without fouling. That\u2019s the conundrum that defenses have with Smith. If you make a play on the ball and miss, it\u2019s an automatic penalty. None of the defenders wanted that, but it gave Smith a chance to show off her strength, balance, and footwork. <\/span><\/p>\n Most players would have either taken a dive or given up, but Smith stuck with it and embarrassed the Kansas City defense in the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Don’t believe you can hit it better than this, @_aryborges<\/a>! \ud83d\ude80 pic.twitter.com\/fmwPlt4jhE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 National Women\u2019s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 1, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Washington was dominant against Racing Louisville in the first half of their matchup, but the second half was a different story. Louisville stormed back from two goals down to end up tying the match 2-2. <\/span><\/p>\n Ary Borges<\/a> took matters into her own hands and scored this screamer. Washington was punished for not clearing the ball properly. Instead, the ball dropped right into Borges\u2019 path, and she timed her half-volley to perfection, and her strike nestled into the top corner. <\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s the beauty of this league. If you don\u2019t take care of the ball, the talent in this league will make you pay every time. Borges made the Spirit pay on this goal and took two points away from them in the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n MAMMA MIA MAANUM!<\/p>\n 1-1 on aggregate after @FMaanum<\/a> puts @ArsenalWFC<\/a> in front at the Emirates.<\/p>\n Watch the @UWCL<\/a> live on the @DAZNFootball<\/a> YouTube channel.#UWCL<\/a> #WatchWithAta<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfd\ufe0f @DAZNFootball<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/raDwAnfrXJ<\/a><\/p>\n5. Katie McCabe \u2013 Arsenal<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
4. Alexandra Popp \u2013 VFL Wolfsburg<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
3. Sophia Smith \u2013 Portland Thorns<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
2. Ary Borges \u2013 Racing Louisville<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
1. Frida Maanum \u2013 Arsenal<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n