Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 15h

Don't mind my head spinning and thinking, 'yeah, it's Wednesday' when I typed this one regarding "28 hours." 🥴

The #NWSL's roster freeze hit at 3 pm ET TODAY. All transactions had to be completed by then. As usual, though, that could lead to announcements beyond the deadline.

Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 20h

#NWSL TRADE (and yes the intra-league window is still open for 28 more hours 😱):

Angel City GETS Zambian forward Prisca Chilufya and a 2025 international roster spot

Orlando Pride GET $50K transfer funds

Chilufya arrived in Orlando in January on transfer from Juarez and had a deal through 2027

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 18h

#NWSL NEWS: Racing Louisville has signed #USWNT forward Emma Sears to a new contract through 2028. Add that to Flint's extension + Yanez's option this summer, and Racing is clearly trying to keep together the core of their best season to date. More on @espn.com:

Source: USWNT's Sears inks new Louisville deal

USWNT forward Emma Sears has signed a new contract with Racing Louisville FC through the 2028 NWSL season, a source told ESPN.

www.espn.com

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 19h

2026 #NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy has added Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams as a new investor. Other team investors previously announced include Aliyah Boston, Elizabeth Banks, Aly Raisman.

Bears QB Williams invests in Boston NWSL club

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is the latest investor in 2026 National Women's Soccer League expansion team Boston Legacy FC, the club announced on Thursday.

www.espn.com

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 20h

#NWSL TRADE (and yes the intra-league window is still open for 28 more hours 😱):

Angel City GETS Zambian forward Prisca Chilufya and a 2025 international roster spot

Orlando Pride GET $50K transfer funds

Chilufya arrived in Orlando in January on transfer from Juarez and had a deal through 2027

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 22h

The first two teams of the Fort Lauderdale-based edition of World Sevens Football are Club America and Flamengo.

Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · Aug 26

"Faster, louder, bigger, brasher... "If you go to the States, you've got to be bigger."

The second World Football Sevens tournament will be in Fort Lauderdale, Dec. 5-7. No clubs have been confirmed, but N/S American clubs is the expectation.

Fort Lauderdale to host next women's W7F series

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been confirmed as the host of the next World Sevens Football (W7F) tournament, taking place in December.

www.espn.com

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 1d

My cold take on the #NWSL playoffs and the congested table is that we're probably talking about jockeying for seeding (avoid 8th!) rather than who's in/out, BUT there are teams really just backing their way in. To the touchscreen!

Full episode: www.espn.com/watch/player...

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 1d

Truly fascinating potential #NWSL development.

Eben Novy-Williams @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · 1d

SCOOP: The Houston Dash are in advanced talks to sell for $120M to RHC Group.

RHC's founder is Richard Hsiao, a 24 y/o Bucks superfan and son of a Chinese billionaire who disappeared from public in 2017 under sketchy circumstances. #NWSL

More at Sportico 👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...

Dash Near $120M Sale to Group Led by Son of Disappeared Chinese Mogul

The NWSL's Dash are in talks to sell for $120M to Richard Hsiao's RHC Group. Hsiao, 24, is the son of imprisoned Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua.

www.sportico.com

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 1d

The Stamford legend!

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

Tune in to ESPN+ at 8:30 PM ET for another episode of Futbol W! We're discussing #UWCL, #NWSL and more 👇

Stream Futbol W Videos on Watch ESPN - ESPN

Stream the latest Futbol W videos on Watch ESPN.

www.espn.com

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

😳

The Women's Game @womensgamemib.bsky.social · 2d

Barcelona scored SEVEN goals vs. Bayern in their opening UWCL match. Absolutely insane behavior 🤯⚽

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

Lyon poured it on and Arsenal hung on for halftime. This Diani/Katoto/Chawinga/Dumornay combination up front is having its way -- on the flanks, centrally. It's a small win for the Gunners to get to halftime only down 2-1. #UWCL

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

Melchie Dumornay has entered the chat (and Daphne van Domselaar gives a gift). #UWCL

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

And Arsenal leads after 7 minutes! 👀

Beth Mead does the dirty work and wins a duel vs. Heaps, and Alessia Russo finishes it at the far post. 1-0 Arsenal

#UWCL

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

Arsenal v OL Lyonnes is underway (Paramount+) with a nice atmosphere (as best we can tell on TV), and there's plenty of #USWNT interest, too:

Lindsey Heaps + Korbin Shrader (nee Albert) start in midfield for OL

Emily Fox starts for Arsenal, Jenna Nighswonger is on the bench

#UWCL

Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

It's Matchday 1 for the UEFA Women's Champions League's new "league" format, and it starts with a big one: #UWCL title holders Arsenal host eight-time winners OL Lyonnes in a rematch of last year's semifinal. Also: Barcelona v Bayern Munich.

How the new format works:

www.uefa.com/womenschampi...

New format for Women's Champions League: Everything you need to know | UEFA Women's Champions League

The 2025/26 edition of the UEFA Women's Champions League follows an exciting new format. We explain what will change, what will stay the same, what it means for fans and the introduction of the UEFA W...

www.uefa.com

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

Seattle Reign's Sofia Huerta has joined the ownership group of AC Boise (USL League 1/Super League)

“I wasn’t sure something like this would ever happen in Boise—so when the opportunity came, it was an easy decision.”

More (from 2022) on Idaho's role in her journey:

www.espn.com/soccer/story...

USWNT's Sofia Huerta started with Mexico, then moved from forward to defender. Is the World Cup next?

Sofia Huerta's road to the USWNT included a stint with Mexico and several new positions. Now, she could be a key figure at the World Cup.

www.espn.com

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

There are going to be more field quality concerns here, but there's also the ongoing logjam in the calendar. Regardless of where the #NWSL teams rank in the pecking order (and leagues will throw their weight around in that process), added tenants are going to make scheduling even more difficult.

Charles Boehm ⚽️ @cboehm.bsky.social · 2d

Big news for at least one soccer demographic: groundskeepers.

Louisville, Orlando, Dallas and Houston are all playing in their local MLS/USL Champo stadia, and overlapping with the home side's spring schedules.

Delightful reversal in C-bus, tho, where gridiron is taking over the OLD soccer venue.

Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

The UFL has announced new teams for spring 2026

-New, relocated teams:
Columbus Aviators
Louisville Kings
Orlando Storm

Rebranded teams:
- Dallas Renegades (not Arlington)
- Houston Gamblers (not Roughnecks)

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

It's Matchday 1 for the UEFA Women's Champions League's new "league" format, and it starts with a big one: #UWCL title holders Arsenal host eight-time winners OL Lyonnes in a rematch of last year's semifinal. Also: Barcelona v Bayern Munich.

How the new format works:

www.uefa.com/womenschampi...

New format for Women's Champions League: Everything you need to know | UEFA Women's Champions League

The 2025/26 edition of the UEFA Women's Champions League follows an exciting new format. We explain what will change, what will stay the same, what it means for fans and the introduction of the UEFA W...

www.uefa.com

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

The Seattle Reign have announced a multi-year deal with Seattle-based pet insurance company Trupanion to be the presenting kit sponsor. It's significant commercial news for the Reign, who have gone about 5 years without a SOLD front-of-jersey sponsor, one of the most lucrative spaces they can sell.

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

For all the growth that should be celebrated, we also have to be able to talk about what's not working and where. There are markets that have consistently struggled with local relevance. Crowds for both SoCal teams dipping (San Diego being the biggest YOY decline in the NWSL) is an added wrinkle.

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d

GRANTED, the LA game was a Monday (again) + there are wider sports attendance trends to factor, BUT average attendance is down in over half of #NWSL markets, some significantly. Spirit/Gotham/Pride/Courage have made gains, but that's not the overall trend. A good reminder that growth isn't linear.

Steven Goff @stevengoff.bsky.social · 2d

NWSL announced attendance:

Portland 21,104
Washington 17,422
Angel City 11,147 (Mon.)
Gotham 9,752
North Carolina 7,218
Houston 6,406
Chicago 3,710

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 3d

Kansas City Current's dominance continued on Monday night in record fashion with a 1-0 win over Angel City:

- 19th win, new #NWSL record
- Lorena's 13th shutout, ties record
- Michelle Cooper scored 20 seconds after entering, record for sub
-KC is 1 pt. from 60 pt. Record with three games to play

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 3d

There's a Monday night #NWSL game this week, and it's as must-win as it gets for Angel City's playoff hopes — against the first-place Kansas City Current. Important to the match: Golden Boot leader Temwa Chawinga and centerback Kayla Sharples are both out injured for KC.

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Reposted by Jeff Kassouf

Taylor Vincent @tayvincent6.bsky.social · 4d

Based on the coaches needing to be kept separate after the final whistle, I'm gonna guess that postgame press conferences will be fun today

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 4d

Rowdy Audi CHAOS 🤯

Spirit concede an equalizer in stoppage time, then get a game-winner cross/shot. 2-1 victory behind a brace from Rosemonde Kouassi.

Feels a bit like the story of San Diego's season lately. Seven straight games without a win now and just hanging on to that 8th playoff spot.

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Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 5d

Olivia Moultrie's brace carries Portland to a 2-1 win over Bay FC, which is officially eliminated from #NWSL playoff contention. Portland climbs to 4th with the win.

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