Women's football

Trinity Rodman danced, Emma Hayes smiled, and a young USWNT rolled to a 5-0 win over Chile, fueled by debut goals and growing momentum.

GOAL breaks down five key storylines to watch as Emma Hayes’ squad closes January camp, with debuts, leadership roles, and roster spots still up for grabs.

Women's Super League side London City Lionesses have been tipped to complete the 'landmark' signing of Barcelona star Alexia Putellas this month. The 31-year-old has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with Barcelona since joining the Spanish giants from Levante in 2012, which includes the Primera Division nine times and the Champions League three times.

GOAL breaks down the key moments from USWNT players abroad, including a dominant performance from Tullis-Joyce for Manchester United.

Swiss star Alisha Lehmann suffered defeat on her Leicester City debut on Sunday as the Foxes were beaten 2-1 by West Ham in the Women's Super League. The result leaves Leicester down in ninth place in the table and just two points ahead of bottom side Liverpool after 13 games. Leicester now face a tricky run of fixtures as they battle to avoid relegation.

Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor has conceded her side are unlikely to win the Women's Super League this season after defeat to Arsenal left them six points behind leaders Manchester City having played a game more. The Blues were beaten for the second time in their last three home games.

A dominant second half carried the USWNT past Paraguay, with Trinity Rodman and Ally Sentnor shining - even as first-half issues linger for Emma Hayes' side.

Trinity Rodman became the highest-paid women’s soccer player in the world by staying in the NWSL. GOAL breaks down what that decision means - and the challenges that came with it.

Trinity Rodman returns to club and country roster, Gisele Thompson has a chance to solidify herself as an outside back, goalkeeper pool gets clearer, and five keys for the USWNT as they take on Paraguay to open up play in the new year.

U.S. international Trinity Rodman has agreed to a three-year deal to remain with the Washington Spirit, ending months of uncertainty surrounding her future. The agreement follows the NWSL’s introduction of the High Impact Player rule, though it remains unclear whether Rodman will be formally classified under the designation once it takes effect in July.

Alisha Lehmann has completed a sensational return to the Women’s Super League by joining Leicester City on a contract until 2028. The world’s most-followed female footballer has brought an end to her five-month spell with Italian side Como to bolster the Foxes’ ranks as they look to secure their top-flight status, with a potential debut against former club West Ham United pencilled in for this Sunday.

GOAL looks at how the top USWNT players did abroad across the weekend, from Thompson at Chelsea to Tullis-Joyce at United and Fox at Arsenal.

Alisha Lehmann has been linked with a return to the Women's Super League, just over 18 months after she left for Italy. The Swiss international ended a three-year stint at Aston Villa in mid-2024 before signing for Juventus with then-boyfriend Douglas Luiz. Last summer, she made the switch to Como after struggling for game time, and now Lehmann could be coming back to English football.

Long-time U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Rose Lavelle has been voted U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year after a year packed with adversity.

Defending champions Chelsea opened up their Women’s FA Cup campaign with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday. The free-scoring Blues booked their place in the fifth round thanks to a brace from Sam Kerr and goals from Millie Bright, Guro Reiten and Alyssa Thompson, with Sonia Bompastor's side a class above their WSL 2 opponents at Kingsmeadow.

Arsenal are reportedly exploring a deal for Bayern Munich star Georgia Stanway, who will be a free agent this summer. The England international has spent nearly four years at the German giants but earlier this month, the midfielder announced that this season would be her last there. Now, clubs are clamouring for her signature, but it is not yet certain where she is heading next.

From Alex Morgan to Tobin Heath, Sam Mewis to Christen Press and Tobin Heath to Carli Lloyd, GOAL judges the Americans to have played in England

Why Lindsey Heaps chose Denver Summit, and what her homecoming means for the NWSL’s newest club.

GOAL looks at the top USWNT performances abroad, from Thompson's one-touch tap-in finish to Heaps' signing with NWSL expansion side Denver Summit FC.

United States international Jenna Nighswonger looks to be finally set for some regular game time after completing a loan move away from Arsenal. The full-back has found opportunities hard to come by since joining the Women's Super League club last January but has now secured a temporary switch that should change that - one which also includes an option to buy.

Lionesses star Georgia Stanway has confirmed that she will leave Bayern Munich this summer, paving the way for a potential return to England and the Women's Super League. The midfielder's next destination has not been officially revealed just yet but Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for the two-time European Championship winner, who previously spent seven years at Manchester City.

As London City Lionesses prepared for their first season in the Women's Super League, the excitement and anticipation was palpable. Fuelled by the finances of billionaire owner Michele Kang, the independent club from the capital made a serious splash in the summer transfer window, with a deadline-day, world-record deal for France midfielder Grace Geyoro acting as the exclamation point. But despite such heavy investment, with half a season gone, things haven't panned out exactly as Kang and her staff would've liked.

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes rolls with 'available' players for January camp, which includes Trinity Rodman, Ally Sentnor, and four uncapped rookies.

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers has been rewarded with a new long-term deal after an extraordinary 2025 in which she led the Gunners to Women's Champions League glory. Slegers was due to be out of contract this summer but the club has now acted to secure her signature for the next three-and-a-half years, handing the 36-year-old a deal that runs through to 2029.

Arsenal have had their fair share of success stories over the years when it comes to the women's side of the academy. Leah Williamson, England's two-time European Championship-winning captain, and Lotte Wubben-Moy, also part of those triumphs with the Lionesses, are two of the most high-profiles examples of players who have progressed through the youth set-up and become key members of the first team - and they will not be the last.

Manchester City are reportedly in advanced talks to sign United States international Sam Coffey from Portland Thorns. The Women's Super League pacesetters are seeking to end Chelsea's six-year stranglehold on the division, and now they are progressing with an eye-catching move for the midfielder. If they get this deal over the line, this could be a huge boost in their title bid.

Trinity Rodman headlines U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes’ 26-player January training camp roster ahead of matches against Paraguay and Chile. The camp falls outside a FIFA international window and features exclusively NWSL players, with Rodman - currently unattached to a club - included in the squad.

Arsenal midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross has returned to her native Australia indefinitely after her mother, Jess, was diagnosed with a terminal and aggressive form of cancer. The 23-year-old will miss the Gunners' upcoming Women’s Super League fixture as she supports her family through what she described as a "world-changing" diagnosis.

Manchester United have extended the expiring contract of Lionesses star Ella Toone, as well as those of Elisabeth Terland, Lisa Naalsund and Gabby George, until the summer of 2027. All four were set to become free agents in just six months' time, meaning they were also free to discuss moves with any suitors from abroad following the turn of the New Year. However, United have acted to trigger one-year clauses for the quartet, with all eyes now on if longer deals can be struck with the players.