USWNT Abroad: Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes help Lyon end Arsenal’s UEFA Women’s Champions League defense

Heaps nearly gave Lyon an early lead against Arsenal, but her headed effort was ruled out after Ingrid Engen was deemed to have been involved from an offside position. Lyon capitalized just minutes later, though, with Wendie Renard converting from the penalty spot.

Heaps played until the 78th minute and was heavily involved in the midfield battle, helping Lyon limit Arsenal’s quick one-two combinations and transition moments through the middle of the pitch. As she finishes out the season with Lyon, her form will be worth watching before she returns to the NWSL with expansion club Denver Summit.

Yohannes started in midfield for Lyon alongside her USWNT teammate Heaps. She played into the second half before being subbed off in the 62nd minute, with Lyon already leading 2-0.

Yohannes may not always dominate the game in obvious ways, but she is incredibly effective with her off-the-ball movement and ability to keep possession under pressure. She also seems to be at her best when paired with Heaps in midfield, and that showed again Saturday.

The young midfielder remains in contention for a spot on the USWNT’s FIFA Women’s World Cup roster, though the competition will be steep. With players such as Heaps, Sam Coffey and Rose Lavelle all expected to be firmly in the mix, Yohannes will need to keep making the most of these high-level club opportunities.

Although the second semifinal leg did not go Arsenal’s way, Emily Fox still put in a solid performance against Lyon. Considering how much danger Kadidiatou Diani created throughout the match, Fox handled her defensive responsibilities well, won her duels, and helped limit Lyon’s success down her side.

Arsenal had built real momentum in Europe, first with their quarterfinal win over Chelsea and then with last weekend’s first-leg victory over Lyon. That run came to an end Saturday, but Fox’s consistency has remained one of the bright spots for both club and country.

Among the USWNT’s outside backs, Fox feels like the safest bet for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup roster, assuming she stays healthy.

Manchester City were 11 points clear at the top of the WSL standings in February, but recent results have made what once looked like an untouchable lead feel far less comfortable. The Sky Blues still sit first with 52 points, six ahead of second-place Chelsea, but the margin has narrowed enough to add real tension to the final stretch of the title race.

Sam Coffey earned the start for Manchester City on Sunday, and while she had some effective moments, she also struggled at times against Liverpool’s pressure. The midfielder was booked in the 42nd minute before City eventually found a late winner to keep control of the title race.

Coffey has solidified her role as a ball-winning midfielder for Man City, but she has not yet fully unlocked the creative side of her game. In a midfield that also features Yui Hasegawa’s distribution and an attack powered by Kerolin’s directness, Coffey’s work can sometimes be easy to overlook. Still, her ability to break up play and keep City organized remains valuable as they push toward the WSL title.

Alyssa Thompson came on as a substitute for Chelsea on Sunday and had a quiet performance in an otherwise strong attacking game for her side. It has been a somewhat uneven stretch for the young forward, who has not been as sharp in front of goal and has not consistently shown the same confidence taking defenders on in 1v1 moments.

It was another OK performance from Thompson, who was outshined by Sam Kerr and Lauren James in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Leicester City. Still, her pace and ability to stretch back lines remain valuable for Chelsea, even as she works to rediscover her best form in the final third.