Newsletter | Full Time: The Athletic’s weekly women’s soccer update
In a recent poll, 75 percent of respondents agreed that Leicester City’s Ashleigh Neville deserved a red card rather than a yellow for her challenge on Alyssa Thompson. Regardless, the physical intensity in the Women’s Super League continues to escalate.
On a lighter note, read on to discover which former USWNT star made a special Mother’s Day announcement. But first:
– An epic road trip
– Rising fanflation
– A surprising first hat trick
**Auntie Emma: On the road with the USWNT head coach**
While we often discuss American players both domestically and abroad, this week the U.S. women’s national team head coach takes the spotlight.
Emma Hayes concluded her highly publicized NWSL road trip at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey over the weekend, following two weeks of travel along the West Coast. What started as a scouting mission ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup evolved into something far more impactful.
Between fan meet-and-greets, television appearances, and visits to iconic American landmarks like Disney World and the Coca-Cola Museum, Hayes used the tour to publicly shape the culture she envisions for the USWNT: visible, approachable, and deeply connected to supporters.
The tour also had an unexpected driving force: menopause, as Hayes explained. She shared how midlife realities shifted her perspective on leadership and visibility. From jumping on drums with Angel City FC supporters to holding Sophia Wilson’s baby after a goal celebration in Portland, Hayes intentionally embraced the role of a soccer-obsessed auntie rather than a distant executive.
The result was a continuous content machine that made the USWNT feel lighter, cooler, and culturally relevant again as they head into the next World Cup cycle.
**NWSL Notables**
**Utah’s Main Character Energy**
The Utah Royals extended their unbeaten streak to seven games with a scoreless draw against Bay FC over the weekend. Considering it was Utah’s third match in nine days—and the hottest, with players seen sprinting for cool towels and water during a second-half stoppage—it was a result they can accept. Sitting fourth in the league table with 17 points, they have plenty to be satisfied with. This time last season, they had only five points from nine games.
The key? Look at the team’s spine: goalkeepers Mia Justus (injured in late April) and USWNT’s Mandy McGlynn, center back Kate Del Fava, midfielders Narumi Miura and Mina Tanaka, and forward Paige Cronin. Utah is on a mission, and the May 30 clash with top-seeded Portland Thorns is already circled on our calendars.
**Can You Call It a Rivalry?**
The atmosphere at Sports Illustrated Stadium for Gotham’s rematch with Boston on Saturday was electric. The final 1-1 scoreline didn’t reflect how entertaining the match was, with Boston securing a draw despite the NWSL champions creating far more chances.
The proximity of the two teams has sparked questions about whether an organic rivalry will quickly develop, especially given the historic spats between New York and Boston teams in other sports. The match offered early signs of a budding feud: intense battles, controversial calls, and a dynamic crowd acting as the home team’s 12th man. However, what this rivalry lacks is history—the kind that sparked the original East Coast NWSL rivalry between Gotham and the Washington Spirit. While we won’t call it a rivalry yet, it’s a shame the two sides won’t meet again until next year.
**‘Fanflation’ Could Soon Reach the NWSL**
Is the NWSL still the best deal in American sports? For now, yes. While the WNBA experiences “fanflation”—soaring demand driving ticket prices upward—NWSL clubs have largely resisted passing rising costs (from higher player salaries to growing operational expenses) directly to supporters.
Part of that is philosophical, part practical. Most clubs remain focused on filling seats and growing loyal fan bases. To attract first-timers, several teams offer “first match on us” promotions, while others keep supporter-section tickets under $10. For instance, the Gotham-Legacy match brought 1,000 fans into the stadium for $5 each through a partnership with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has repeatedly criticized skyrocketing ticket prices ahead of this year’s men’s World Cup.
But with NWSL expansion fees now topping $200 million and franchise valuations climbing fast, the real question is not if prices will rise, but when.
**News to Know**
**Shaw Completes Dramatic City Comeback**
For now, Jamaican striker Bunny Shaw remains with Manchester City. That was clear yesterday when the 29-year-old delivered another heroic performance, scoring two goals in an FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea—the club that has reportedly offered her £1 million ($1.36M) per year. Shaw’s equalizer and go-ahead winner sent City to the final at Wembley Stadium, crushing an already dismal Chelsea spirit. Sources told The Athletic that it’s still too early to assume Shaw is headed to Chelsea, but references to “a mad week” with “lots of ups and downs” suggest something major is shifting.
It’s been a big week on the blue side of Manchester. City’s stunning FA Cup comeback came just four days after they claimed their first Women’s Super League title in a decade, sealed by Arsenal’s midweek draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. Meanwhile, Brighton is writing its own story, also reaching the FA Cup final with a 3-2 comeback win against Liverpool.
🎧 Listen to the latest “Full Time” podcast, diving deep into the FA Cup semifinals with reporters Megan Feringa and Charlotte Harpur.
**More News**
– Beth Mead confirmed today she is leaving Arsenal at the end of the season after nine years, 86 goals, one WSL title, three League Cup titles, one FIFA Champions Cup, and a Champions League win in 2025. The 31-year-old is the third departure announced by Arsenal today. Reports suggest City could be a potential landing spot for the England international.
– Red cards and the unfortunate trend of players pulling opponents’ ponytails are proliferating in women’s soccer, as shown by the NWSL’s increased punishments for two red cards given two weekends ago.
– Two-time MVP and Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga made a stunning entry into this year’s race, earning her first career hat trick—and the Kansas City Current’s first in club history during the regular season—in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Stars.
**First Looks**
– **Welcome Home:** The USWNT officially has a new home base, opening the $200 million Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center on May 7. The 200-acre complex near Atlanta will house all 27 national teams, featuring 17 outdoor fields, two indoor pitches, a high-performance gym, recovery centers, and coaching education spaces designed to centralize player development, sports science, and coach training.
– **Devastating:** The family of former WSL head coach Matt Beard raised concerns that his employment and departure from Burnley Football Club contributed to a decline in mental health, ultimately leading to his death. During a pre-inquest hearing in Wales last week, Beard’s widow, Debbie, alleged the club “bullied him.”
– **A Very Happy Mother’s Day:** On a lighter note, former USWNT and San Diego Wave forward Alex Morgan shared a special post announcing baby No. 3, stopping our scrolling. Congratulations to the family.
