Swish Happens Here: All-Star Snubs, an MVP sitting at home, and Angel Reese’s sheer dominance
It was a May evening here in North Texas. The sunset was something out of a Pixar movie. The hues of pink, red, and orange meshed in a way that […]
Dear readers, I must say, writing about the NWSL while the NWSL is on break is a different challenge. I’ve never had to do this before, so I hope what I bring you is worth your time, and helps you pass the days until August 01, 2025, when the Kansas City Current vs Racing Louisville and Gotham FC vs Chicago Stars kickoff at the same time. Yes, I know the date and time of the NWSL’s return, but I’m grateful we also have the self-titled “Summer of Soccer” to hold us over. Speaking of…
Europe’s best squads survive to make it to the knockout stages
4⃣ huge quarter-final ties to look forward to 🤩
#WEURO2025
— UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (@weuro2025bot.bsky.social) Jul 14, 2025 at 1:18 PM
After Match Day 1, you can be forgiven for thinking that England were in trouble in the Group of (D)eath. The reigning Euros champions played poorly against France, and the fashion in which Les Blues ran freely up the flanks to pressure English’s backline was a blueprint on how to defeat the Lionesses. Fortunately for them, the Netherlands and Wales did not offer the same threat, and a tactical change that saw Alex Greenwood switch to the left back role, sured up the backline and gave England more freedom to work through the middle. They scored ten (10) goals in their next two group stage matches, and finished in second.
Georgia Stanway makes it 2-0 England! 🏴
The Dutch are way off the pace here and it’s a long way back from this.
#WOSO #WEURO #EURO2025 #WEURO2025 #FOOTBALL
— Amy Devlin (@amydevlin.bsky.social) Jul 9, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Their opponents will be Sweden, who topped their group with an impressive 4-1 win over Germany. Germany played much of the match down a player after a red card for a wonderful save from a German player that was not Anne Katrin Berger, the only player allowed to use her hands. Sweden had already come back from a 1-0 deficit and looked like a team worthy of their nine (9) points. This means Germany and France, two tournament favorites, will play in the quarterfinals, with one of them ruining a lot of brackets. One of the best players in this tournament has been Delphine Cascarino of France. An MVP candidate in the NWSL for the San Diego Wave, she has taken that form to Switzerland, helping France create on many of their goals so far. She alone is worth the price of admission, but Sandy Baltimore, on the opposite flank, is also in the form of her life. Germany always has a chance, but woof, it’s a slog.
Euro 2025
Sweden 🇸🇪 4-1 Germany 🇩🇪
Sweden make it 3 wins from 3 with an incredible victory over Germany to top their group
Stina Blackstenius, Smilla Holmberg, Fridolina Rolfö & Lina Hurtig all scored as Sweden thrashed the 8x European champions
Germany advance as runners up
— The Women’s Football Insight (@wfinsight.bsky.social) Jul 13, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Group B saw tournament favorite and reigning World Cup Champions Spain mostly cruise to a first-place finish, collecting all nine (9) points while only conceding three (3) goals. The nature of those concessions makes the Spanish side vulnerable to other top teams, but they aren’t likely to run into a team that can take advantage of that until the semi-finals, unless there is an all-time upset from host nation Switzerland. On the other side, runners up Italy will take on the perpetually underperforming Norway. Norway topped Group A with nine (9) points, but they are the only top team that is the underdog in their matchup. They have the chance to prove the naysayers wrong, but Italy is a sound team who will relish the chance to make the semifinals in their first tournament under their new manager. They’re only a win away, and they may never get a better chance to advance this far. The quarterfinals begin Wednesday, July 16 th at 3:00 PM EST. To continue our Summer of Soccer, we now head south.
Spain have beaten Italy and finish top of Group B!
After being level at HT, second half goals from Patri Guijarro and Esther González got them the victory!
Spain face Switzerland and Italy face Norway in the QF’s!
#WEURO2025
— Women’s Football Talk (@womensfootballtalk.bsky.social) Jul 12, 2025 at 12:01 AM
In Morocco, things have gone to script during WAFCON, but not without some stumbles
8 players. 3 countries. 🌍⚽️🏆
NWSL talent is headed to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations — and they’re bringing that pressure.
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) Jul 1, 2025 at 11:44 PM
The Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) kicked off this July 4 th weekend and ended its group play on July 14 th . Group A is the closest to WAFCON’s group of death, and it saw the host nation top the group on goal differential, with Zambia and its two NWSL superstars Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundananji scoring three (3) goals a piece in the group stages to finish second. In Group B, Nigeria finished comfortably at the top of the group, but their last two matches were less than convincing. That is not the form they want to take into the next round, because they are facing a great attacking side in Zambia. They will need to score more goals to keep up with them and advance to the semifinals and reclaim their crown.
It only took Barbra Banda 58 seconds to make an impact for the Copper Queens — not that we’re surprised!
With one goal and one assist already, she’s just getting started in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. 🇿🇲
📸: Football Case Study
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) Jul 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Elsewhere in Morocco, the most complete team looks to be the reigning WAFCON champions, Banyana Bayana, aka South Africa, who also topped Group C with seven (7) points. They are also on the much harder side of the bracket, where they will face Senegal, who has looked good this tournament, and if they advance, will play the winner of Nigeria/Zambia in the semifinal. Even without superstar Thembi Kgatlana, South Africa still poses many dangers in attack and will be a handful for Senegal. The other side of the bracket features Morocco/Mali, with new Boston Legacy striker Aissata Traoré with two (2) goals this tournament, and Ghana/Algeria, with the expectation that the host nation makes it back to the final. Their opponent, if they advance, would be battled tested and likely favored, but anything can happen in a home tournament. WAFCON resumes with Nigeria/Zambia on Friday, July 18 th at 12:00 PM EST. I highly recommend tuning in for this one, it’s a different kind of tournament and you get a chance to see world class attacking talent that you may not know.
Staying in the southern hemisphere, but heading west, we finish up our Summer of Soccer in South America.
Brazil begins its title defense and its march to hosting the World Cup 2027
Caitlin Clark range with her feet only 😤
Marta and Brasil begin their Copa América run this Sunday vs Deyna Castellanos and Venezuela. Don’t miss the magic. 🪄
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) Jul 8, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Copa América Femenina kicked on July 11 th , with the host nation Ecuador storming back from a 2-0 deficit to end the game at 2-2. The Ecuadorians will feel they should have taken all three (3) points, as they put on the better performance in the second half, and conceded a shot from 30 feet and a penalty kick, both avoidable concessions. They have been the surprise team of the first round for me, and are in Group A, which is the group that does not have Brazil or Colombia. Ecuador, at home, may have a chance to advance, which would be a major boon for the nation and women’s football. The other Group A match saw Chile, the favorite to get out of the group along with Argentina, defeat Peru 3-0, but it was not easy in the first half. Peru had a sound game plan, and Chile was wasteful with their chances early, but they ended the match with the expected result.
With only ten (10) nations eligible for Copa, all eligible teams play in the tournament. This leads to the unique situation of one team in each group sitting out each match day. First in Group A was Argentina, who got a chance to scout the competition before kicking off their tournament. In Group B, this spot went to co-favorites Colombia first. Paraguay, a dark horse to advance, won the first Group B match 4-0 against Bolivia, and Brazil won a stressful match against Venezuela 2-0, with the first goal coming against the run of play. This match featured several NWSL players, including Marta for Brazil and Deyna Castellanos for Venezuela.
This tournament will end later than the Euros and WAFCON, and is one to keep an eye on, as it is also acting as an Olympic qualifier and a qualifier for the Pan American Games. The next cycle of South American football will be heavily determined by a Copa 2025 tournament that is being played at some of the highest elevation on Earth. If you love when shooters shoot and high stakes footy, Copa is for you.
Stateside, the NWSL Transfer Window is Wide Open
We’ve caught a big fish from across the pond 🎣👀
Mia Fishel joins @reignfc.com through 2029.
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) Jul 10, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The league may be on a break, but business doesn’t stop for teams, especially during a transfer window. Three teams made moves last week, and there are likely more to come. Expansion side Boston Legacy signed Malian striker Aissata Traoré through 2027. She will stay with Fluery on loan through the end of 2025 before joining her new club before their inaugural season begins. Elsewhere, Angel City stuck with their plan to go young by signing UNC and USWNT U23 midfielder Evenlyn Shores. Shores has had herself a summer, scoring the game winning goal against Germany in their first U23 match against that side, and a week later scored the million-dollar goal for the US Women at TST.
Lastly, the biggest name to sign with a NWSL team is Mia Fishel. She moved from Chelsea to the Seattle Reign through 2029, for an alleged salary of over
one (1) million dollars. Mia Fishel is one of the few out and out number nines in the US player pool. If playing in the NWSL can get her back to form, that is probably alright with Emma Hayes, who would welcome having to make some tough roster decisions in the coming years.
Boston Legacy added another member to their family this week.
On Aliyah Boston Day in the City of Boston, what better time to say: welcome to the Legacy 💚
Aliyah Boston, WNBA All-Star and three-time Massachusetts Player of the Year, is now a Boston Legacy FC investor.
— Boston Legacy FC (@bostonlegacyfc.com) Jul 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Boston Legacy added another member to their family this week. NCAA Champion, WNBA Rookie of the Year, and WNBA All-Star Aliyah Boston, who played her high
school basketball in nearby Worchester, in now an investor for the expansion side. In a statement, she did acknowledge that, of course, Aliyah Boston had to invest in Boston. It’s an investor that makes sense and is on brand by virtue of birth. I look forward to seeing what next moves Boston and Denver make before they kick a ball in the league.
And, as the transfer window heats up, and free agents make their final decisions, know that I’ve got you covered through it all. Thank you for continuing this journey with me. Until next week, don’t forget to watch your favorite players cover every blade of grass.
—
Sylvia Bullock is 1/2 of Shea Butter FC and the world’s foremost Christen Press and Crystal Dunn truther. She’ll be covering the NWSL every week for Fearless SC. You can find her on BlueSky at Southern Sylvs.
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