USWNT Abroad: Emily Fox helps Arsenal end winless run, Phallon Tullis-Joyce impresses in Manchester derby as Naomi Girma and Sam Coffey miss out

Thompson caused problems down the left against Palace, stretching the backline and helping Chelsea apply early pressure. Her afternoon ended at halftime with the Blues trailing 1-0 after conceding inside the opening 20 minutes. Chelsea scored all three of their goals after the break to complete the comeback.

For Thompson, the next step is adding more goals to that attacking threat, both for Chelsea and the USWNT. Her pace continues to unsettle defenses, but a more consistent scoring touch would give the Blues another weapon as they chase Manchester City at the top of the table.

Tullis-Joyce delivered a composed performance in Manchester United’s 1-1 derby draw with league leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

The goalkeeper was called into action early, comfortably handling Lauren Hemp’s near-post effort during a lively opening period. She remained steady through spells of City pressure before Khadija “Bunny” Shaw beat her in the 66th minute to put the visitors ahead. United eventually responded through Elisabeth Terland’s 89th-minute equalizer.

For Tullis-Joyce, a strong showing against top opposition strengthens her case with the USWNT. Sustaining that level will be key as she competes to become Emma Hayes’ first-choice goalkeeper.

With World Cup qualifying approaching, the fitness of Sam Coffey and Naomi Girma remains a concern for Emma Hayes. Both have recently missed international duty, putting the focus on their recovery and the options available in their absence.

Coffey made an immediate impact after joining Manchester City from Portland Thorns in January, featuring regularly during the club’s WSL title-winning campaign. Fitness issues, however, have interrupted that momentum. City confirmed she underwent minor knee surgery earlier this year, and she later suffered an undisclosed injury during the club’s 4-2 win over Arsenal on Oct. 4. That setback forced her to withdraw from the USWNT’s October friendlies against Spain.

Girma has endured a similarly disrupted spell since joining Chelsea from San Diego Wave in 2025. The center back missed the start of this WSL season before a knock in training ruled her out of the latest international window.

A cornerstone of the USWNT’s defense, Girma would give Hayes a significant boost by returning ahead of qualifying. For Chelsea, a sustained run of appearances would offer her the chance to build the consistency that repeated setbacks have made difficult.

Yohannes’ situation is less clear. She did not feature in OL Lyonnes’ 5-0 victory over Marseille, but the reason for her absence remains uncertain. Without confirmation, there is little basis for treating her omission as another injury concern.

One of the USWNT’s most promising midfielders, Yohannes has plenty to gain from regular club minutes as she continues to develop. Hayes will hope all three players are available and finding their rhythm when attention turns back to qualifying.

Emily Fox helped Arsenal secure a much-needed 2-1 victory over Tottenham in Saturday’s north London derby, ending the Gunners’ five-game winless run in the WSL.

Starting in her usual role at right back, Fox provided defensive stability while supporting Arsenal’s attacks down the flank. The Gunners fell behind to an early Cathinka Tandberg goal before Georgia Stanway equalized. Alessia Russo’s second-half penalty completed the comeback, while Fox was substituted in the 71st minute.

Fox remains one of Hayes’ most established defensive options heading into World Cup qualifying. Her international experience and regular minutes against strong opposition at Arsenal put her in a strong position to retain her place in the USWNT’s starting lineup.