Sam Coffey and City won, while Emily Fox and Phallon Tullis-Joyce drew 1-1. Chelsea won amid questions over Naomi Girma's minutes and Alyssa Thompson's scoring.
Gotham clinched a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over North Carolina, while Angel City beat Utah 3-0 and Denver Summit stunned Seattle 2-1 as the NWSL playoff picture took shape.
Chelsea's Alyssa Thompson didn't score, but the Blues put five past Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Manchester United, Emily Fox and Arsenal played to a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace, and Manchester City and Sam Coffey won 4-1 against Aston Villa.
U.S. Soccer announced on Thursday that MLS commissioner Don Garber will serve as chair of the Soccer Forward Foundation, taking on a role that will center on expanding access and increasing investment in soccer in America. The announcement comes as Garber prepares to step away from his role as commissioner after 27 years leading MLS.
Emily Fox helped Arsenal start with a win, but Chelsea and Manchester United stumbled as USWNT stars returned to club action across England and France.
With the World Cup approaching, Emma Sears may want out of Louisville, while Mallory Swanson and Claire Hutton must weigh whether struggling NWSL clubs offer the right environments for their futures.
Hapoel Afula
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