<ul class="summary-list"><li>A <keyword id="12335443" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tottenham-hotspur" source="Orion">Tottenham Hotspur</keyword> striker was slapped with a hefty suspension over her <keyword id="11952991" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="acne" source="Orion">acne</keyword> medication.</li><li>The FA determined Chioma Ubogagu "unintentionally" took a banned substance by using canrenone.</li></ul><p>A Tottenham Hotspur player won't see the pitch for nine months thanks to an "honest mistake" with dire consequences.</p><p>Chioma Ubogagu, a 29-year-old striker for Tottenham, has been <a href="https://www.thefa.com/news/2022/may/19/chioma-ubogagu-suspended-190522">suspended by the FA</a> after she was found to have "unintentionally" committed anti-doping rule violations during her time with the club.</p><p>The violations in question? She was taking a medication a doctor prescribed to treat the acne she's struggled with for years.</p><div type="image" title="Chioma Obugagu." height="1666" width="2222" msid="91672565" hostid="261"></div><p>"I didn't think anything of it," Ubogagu wrote of using the drugs in a <a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/chioma-ubogagu-tottenham-hotspur-soccer">recent essay for The Players' Tribune</a>. "Obviously, I should've known better, but it never occurred to me to check them on the banned substances list. My dermatologist knew I played football professionally, and I never had any issues with anything she'd prescribed me before."</p><p>"Nothing could've seemed less performance-related than skin treatment," she added.</p><p>As it turns out, the medication found in her sample, canrenone, <em>isn't</em> performance-enhancing at all. However, it can be used to mask other drugs in one's system, making it more difficult to catch legitimate <keyword id="11954453" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="doping" source="Orion">doping</keyword> that may be occurring.</p><div type="image" title="Chioma Ubogagu strikes the ball." height="1725" width="2500" msid="91672567" hostid="261"></div><p>Ubogagu had no idea. And since her consultations with Tottenham's medical staff all took place via Zoom at the height of the pandemic, the Texas native's use of the banned substance slipped through the cracks. That is, until she needed a refill and sent the team doctor, Craig, a photo of the medication's box.</p><p>"'You're not allowed to take that,'" Ubogagu recalled Craig texting her in response. "'That's a banned substance.'"</p><p>Though Ubogagu faced up to four years banned from the sport due to her mistake, the FA — England's governing body for <keyword id="11897666" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="soccer" source="Orion">soccer</keyword> — accounted for the fact that the forward's error was entirely unintentional in determining her punishment. While Ubogagu admittedly could have done more to prevent the mistake — like researching the drugs, preemptively presenting her team doctor with a list of her prescriptions, or asking her dermatologist for more information before taking the drug — the FA found that she "committed [doping violations] without significant fault or negligence" and thus issued the nine-month <keyword id="11917174" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ban" source="Orion">ban</keyword>.</p><div type="image" title="Chioma Obugagu." height="1666" width="2222" msid="91672569" hostid="261"></div><p>Given that she has already spent more than three months off the pitch ahead of the FA's official ruling, Ubogagu will be eligible to rejoin her team in October 2022. It's a heavy price to pay for an honest mistake, but the Stanford alum described feeling "relief like I'd never felt before" upon hearing the <keyword id="11893589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news" source="Orion">news</keyword> of her abbreviated suspension.</p><p>"Had someone told me a year ago that I'd be celebrating a ban of nine months at this stage in my career, I would've thought they were crazy … but everything in perspective, right?" Ubogagu wrote. "Nine months is long, but it's not The End."</p><p>"I'm buzzing that I'll be back next season, and I just wanna make the remaining years I have left count."</p>

Acne medication led to a 9-month suspension for a Tottenham striker

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11893972" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="chelsea" source="Orion">Chelsea</keyword> midfielder Erin Cuthbert pushed back on a story <keyword id="13006521" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="the-sun" source="Orion">The Sun</keyword> wrote about her team's 4-2 victory.</li><li>The article compared the phrasing of the scorers list to the sound of "posh people having sex."</li></ul><p>A Chelsea <keyword id="12225642" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-soccer" source="Orion">women's soccer</keyword> star lambasted an "extremely disturbing and embarrassing" article written about her team's most recent game.</p><p>Midfielder Erin Cuthbert netted a second-half goal in The Blues' 4-2 win against FA Women's Super League foe West Ham United Wednesday afternoon. But instead of reading celebratory stories or straightforward reports on the match itself following the victory, the Scottish international found herself faced with salacious, sexist clickbait.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1484490666751238145">January 21, 2022</a></blockquote><p><a href="https://www.the-sun.com/sport/4507261/football-cuthbert-harder-toffs-romping/">The Sun</a> published an "exclusive" story with the headline "Cuthbert Harder! Chelsea scorers sound like posh people having sex." The title came in response to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60059524">the BBC Sport website</a>'s listing of the Blues' scorers — superstar Pernille Harder, who notched a hat trick, and Cuthbert herself — from the match.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="none">—FI_Bale9  (@FI_Bale9) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1484548281082564610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2022</a></blockquote><p>The article included minimal details about the match itself, but managed to mention one fan comparing "the run of surnames to an upper-class woman 'asking her servant for a good time.'"</p><p>And when the author did get around to recapping the game, his choice of words certainly raised eyebrows.</p><p>"<a href="https://www.the-sun.com/sport/premier-league/2549138/roman-abramovich-chelsea-women-critical-club-growth/">Chelsea</a> banged them in at West Ham during their victory in the quarter-final of the FA Women's League Cup on Wednesday," he wrote.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Adam Millington (@AdamGMillington) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1484521566511718407">January 21, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Cuthbert was astonished to see a publication "actually run with a story like this."</p><p>She took to Twitter to blast the outlet and lament the fact that they hadn't "reported on the actual match reports and women's football with the same level of enthusiasm."</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Erin Cuthbert (@erincuthbert_) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1484533571012513797">January 21, 2022</a></blockquote><p>The Sun will have several more chances to get it right in the coming days. Cuthbert and her teammates will head to Crawley as Chelsea takes on Brighton on Sunday. Three days later, they'll return to Kingsmeadow for a mid-week rematch with West Ham before rounding out the month with a Women's FA Cup game against Aston Villa January 29.</p>

A Chelsea star blasted the 'extremely disturbing' story comparing her team's win to 'posh people having sex'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/uswnt">USWNT</a> midfielder <keyword id="7748340" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sam-Mewis">Sam Mewis</keyword> has spent the last year playing overseas with <keyword id="39498" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Manchester-City">Manchester City</keyword>.</li><li>But <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDanLauletta/status/1389593515651387393">reports suggest</a> Mewis could return to the US to play in the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/nwsl">NWSL</a> as soon as this summer.</li><li>Mewis and <keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> teammate <keyword id="11212091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lynn-williams">Lynn Williams</keyword> <a href="https://www.insider.com/uswnt-soccer-stars-sam-mewis-lynn-williams-podcast-2021-5">spoke to Insider</a> about the possibility of reuniting. </li></ul><p>As the COVID-19 pandemic set in worldwide, US Women's National Team midfielder Sam Mewis took her talents overseas to suit up for Manchester City.</p><p>In her nine months with the FA Women's Super League club, the 28-year-old star has improved her already stellar standing among women's soccer's elite. Mewis' exceptional play since joining City - including 12 goals and three assists  - prompted ESPN to give her the top spot in its <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-espn-fc-united/story/4338865/espn-fc-womens-rank-the-50-best-players-in-the-game-right-now">"50 best players in the game right now" ranking</a> in March.</p><div type="image" title="sam mewis" height="1663" width="2500" msid="82445136" hostid="261"></div><p>But despite her meteoric rise, early reports suggest Mewis is considering leaving the powerhouse European franchise to head back to the US. According to <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDanLauletta/status/1389593515651387393">Equalizer Soccer's Dan Lauletta</a>, Mewis plans to <a href="https://justwomenssports.com/sam-mewis-to-return-to-courage-ahead-of-olympics/">return stateside to rejoin her National Women's Soccer League club</a>, the <keyword id="8445091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="North-Carolina-Courage">North Carolina Courage</keyword>, prior to the Tokyo Olympics.</p><p>Insider could not independently confirm Lauletta's report, however, and a representative for Just <keyword id="1739459" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Womens-Sports">Women's Sports</keyword>, which produces Mewis' new podcast, said the outlet did not have information on the matter.</p><p>Insider spoke with Mewis about that <a href="https://www.insider.com/uswnt-soccer-stars-sam-mewis-lynn-williams-podcast-2021-5">podcast, called "Snacks,"</a> which she co-hosts with USWNT teammate Lynn Williams. Even before the <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> of Mewis' potential homecoming emerged, the best friends mused about the prospect of teaming up once again in North Carolina. Until Mewis' departure for the UK, the two had spent their entire <keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword> careers as teammates.</p><p>"Yeah, we joke about it," Williams told Insider. "I'm always trying to recruit people back. I've been trying to recruit Sam back, Crystal [Dunn] back, Abby [Dahlkemper] back. But at the end of the day, Sam needs to do what's best for her career as well as everybody else."</p><div type="image" title="sam mewis lynn williams" height="1667" width="2500" msid="82445138" hostid="261"></div><p>Though they're best known for their national team exploits, Mewis and Williams first joined forces when the Western New York Flash selected them in the 2015 NWSL Draft. They quickly became stars in the league.</p><p>After the Flash won the 2016 NWSL championship, it sold to new owners and moved to Cary, North Carolina, where the club was rebranded as the Courage. With Mewis dominating the midfield and Williams leading a prolific offense, the Courage became an NWSL juggernaut. The team won three straight shields (regular-season titles) and back-to-back championships in their first three seasons in North Carolina.</p><div type="image" title="sam mewis lynn williams" height="1735" width="2313" msid="82445140" hostid="261"></div><p>Mewis was instrumental in the Courage's success. Since her departure, as well as the later departures of fellow USWNT stars Crystal Dunn and Abby Dahlkemper, North Carolina has failed to win any of the NWSL's Challenge Cup or Fall Series competitions. Welcoming the world's number-one player back would help the Courage recover lost ground as they defend a title and a shield from the NWSL's most recent full-length season in 2019.</p><p>"She's an amazing player," Williams said of Mewis. "I loved playing with her, I loved living with her, I miss my friend. But at the end of the day we will always be friends and she needs to do what's best for her."</p><p>"If that's being at City, then I will support her in that decision," she added.</p><div type="image" title="sam mewis lynn williams" height="1666" width="2222" msid="82445142" hostid="261"></div><p>For her part, Mewis told Insider that she's "not sure what the near future holds" but added that "I love playing with Lynn."</p><p>In the most recent episode of her podcast with Williams, Mewis' tone seemed to hint that rumors of her return to the NWSL could be true. She spoke of her time with Manchester City in the past tense.</p><p>In that episode, titled "Mind Meld," Mewis reflected on how she's had "an overall good experience" and "learned so much."</p><p>"This season has been really good for me in a lot of ways," Mewis said on the podcast. "I'm grateful that I got to come here during such a crazy time and get so many games in and also just experience soccer from another culture's perspective."</p><div type="image" title="sam mewis" height="1738" width="2318" msid="82445144" hostid="261"></div><p>The Courage's regular season kicks off on May 15 with an away game against OL Reign. The following day, Manchester City is scheduled to play its final game of the year. That would leave room for Mewis to return to North Carolina having missed just one game of the team's 2021 campaign.</p><p>"From here on out, I of course am going to focus on our next two games here [with Manchester City]," Mewis said. "Then try to prepare to be at my very best to make the Olympic roster - whatever that looks like in the coming weeks."</p><p>Listen to the "Snacks" episode below:</p><iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed-podcast/episode/45m9HHPNNR3TTogMUQRDDI" width="100%" height="232" frameborder="0"></iframe>

The world's top-ranked women's soccer star hinted at a return to the US after playing nearly a year overseas

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">News</keyword> of a new <keyword id="381358" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="European-super-league">European Super League</keyword> has rocked the <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">soccer</keyword> world.</li><li>The new league will take 12 elite clubs from their longstanding domestic leagues.</li><li>The announcement of the new framework hardly accounted for the clubs' existing women's teams.</li></ul><p>A dozen of the largest and most influential soccer clubs on the planet have joined forces to form <a href="https://www.insider.com/european-super-league-gary-neville-rips-apart-new-competition-plans-2021-4">the European Super League - a new competitive infrastructure that promises to tear apart the framework of European soccer</a> as we've long known it.</p><p>But where the women's game factors into these grand plans is anybody's guess.</p><div type="image" title="lucy bronze sam kerr" height="1874" width="2500" msid="82152396" hostid="261"></div><p>Each of the 12 clubs - Premier League's Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur; Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, and Real Madrid of Spain's La Liga; and Italian Serie A's AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus - released a joint statement outlining ambitions for the new league on their respective websites.</p><p>And despite the fact that all 12 of those franchises feature women's teams of their own, Sunday's European Super League release hardly acknowledged the existence of women's soccer. The clubs simply cast away their women's teams as afterthoughts and essentially left players with an "IOU" in lieu of fleshing out plans for a women's wing of the new competition.</p><div type="image" title="jenni hermoso" height="1666" width="2222" msid="82152399" hostid="261"></div><p>"As soon as practicable after the start of the men's competition, a corresponding women's league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women's game," <a href="https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/431801-leading-european-football-clubs-announce-new-super-league-competition">the statement said</a>.</p><p>And that's it. That's all the release had to say on the matter of women's soccer.</p><p>Shortly after the statement from the European Super League on Sunday, UEFA and other soccer governing bodies - as well as the English, Spanish, and Italian domestic leagues - <a href="https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/news/0268-12121411400e-7897186e699a-1000--statement-by-uefa-english-fa-rfef-figc-premier-league-laliga-le/">released a joint statement</a> to condemn the plans. The backlash extended as far as threats to <a href="https://www.insider.com/european-super-league-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-banned-international-football-2021-4">ban participating players from the FIFA World Cup</a> and other international competitions with their national teams.</p><div type="image" title="sara gama juventus.JPG" height="2395" width="3193" msid="82152401" hostid="261"></div><p>Between the European Super League utterly failing to account for the women's game and the current powers of the soccer universe waging war on member institutions, the women's teams and players involved have been given absolutely no insurance policy.</p><p>If the European Super League fails to implement a timely framework for competition on the women's side and athletes are barred from national team appearances and competition in their current domestic leagues, some of the top women's players on the planet may be left without a place to play altogether.</p><div type="image" title="sam kerr.JPG" height="1665" width="2221" msid="82152405" hostid="261"></div><p>No more Sam Kerr backflips after hat tricks. No more clinical Vivianne Miedema finishes. No more Lucy Bronze defensive masterclasses, Jennifer Hermoso screamers, or Ellie Roebuck high-flying saves.</p><p>And American stars aren't immune to the repercussions, either. Five US Women's National Team players - Sam Mewis, Rose Lavelle, Abby Dahlkemper, Tobin Heath, and Christen Press - could also find themselves caught in the crossfire between the European Super League and the traditional powers of the soccer world.</p><div type="image" title="tobin heath christen press" height="1452" width="1937" msid="82152407" hostid="261"></div><p>The European Super League devoted just 27 of 761 words in its release to addressing plans - or lack thereof - for the women's game, but that was enough to threaten the future of women's soccer for many of the most elite athletes and teams on the planet.</p><p>It's certainly a questionable approach to "helping to advance and develop the women's game," as the release promised, but surely we'll know whether or not it's effective "as soon as practicable after the start of the men's competition."</p>

The new European Super League taking the soccer world by storm is treating the women's game as an afterthought

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="7841238" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Rose-Lavelle">Rose Lavelle</keyword> has blossomed into one of the most lethal offensive weapons on a stacked <keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword>.</li><li>But on the club level, the 25-year-old is struggling to find playing time with <keyword id="39498" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Manchester-City">Manchester City</keyword>.</li><li>Keeping Lavelle on the bench is a missed opportunity for the WSL side and its manager, Gareth Taylor.</li></ul><p>Rose Lavelle has blossomed into a bona fide star for the perennially stacked US Women's National Team.</p><p>Even the most casual women's <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">soccer</keyword> fans will remember Lavelle's megawatt breakout during the 2019 World Cup final when the then-24-year-old fired a left-footed bullet off the dribble to deliver the nail in the Netherlands' coffin and secure the USWNT's fourth star. Lavelle has been one of the national team's most lethal weapons ever since, <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-rose-lavelle-goal-vs-netherlands-left-footed-rocket-2020-11">scoring a handful of goals</a> from her post as an attacking midfielder and earning starts in most of her appearances for Vlatko Andonovski's squad.</p><div type="image" title="rose lavelle.JPG" height="1874" width="2500" msid="81132062" hostid="261"></div><p>All of this is to say Lavelle is one of the top players on <em>the </em>top team on the planet. So why isn't she getting substantive playing time with her club?</p><h2>Lavelle's tenure with Manchester City has been lackluster</h2><p>This summer, Lavelle <a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">followed the lead of her USWNT teammate</a> Sam Mewis and signed a one-year contract with Manchester City. From the beginning, expectations were high that Lavelle would facilitate out of the midfield or create opportunities for herself in space to provide an instant jumpstart to the FA Women's Super League club's attack.</p><p>But instead, Lavelle has largely taken in the team's matches from the sidelines.</p><div type="image" title="manchester city" height="1827" width="2436" msid="81132063" hostid="261"></div><p>Thanks to an ankle injury, her debut for the club came six games after her arrival overseas. In that 28-minute stint off the bench versus Tottenham, Lavelle showed promise in that No. 10 spot that's given her so much success with the USWNT.</p><p>After that, though, the young star mostly found herself riding the bench or playing out of position for Gareth Taylor's squad. Taylor has insisted that Lavelle can "affect the game wherever she plays," but, unsurprisingly, her production has suffered as a result.</p><p>And just as she appeared to be finding her footing within Taylor's scheme, Lavelle sustained an injury. In an early December match against Everton - her second start for Manchester City in roughly three months with the club -she fell awkwardly, tweaking her knee severely enough to require multiple weeks of recovery.</p><div type="image" title="rose lavelle" height="1406" width="1875" msid="81132064" hostid="261"></div><p>Since returning, Lavelle has seen herself fall further out of Taylor's midfield rotation. She earned just 26 minutes off the bench in Manchester City's victory against West Ham on January 31. And even after scoring a goal in the lopsided affair, Lavelle was granted four and six minutes, respectively, off the bench in the Blues' following two matches.</p><h2>All the while, Lavelle's output for the USWNT has been characteristically stellar</h2><p>Since Lavelle joined ranks with Manchester City in the summer of 2020, the USWNT has played four matches. In the squad's first match since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic - a grudge match against the Netherlands to end a 261-day hiatus for Andonovski's side - Lavelle got the starting nod. She delivered<a href="https://www.insider.com/video-rose-lavelle-goal-vs-netherlands-left-footed-rocket-2020-11"> an absolute rocket</a> in the 41st minute to put the US on the board.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—U.S. Soccer WNT  (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1332389859114233856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2020</a></blockquote><p>In a pair of friendlies against Colombia two months later, Lavelle subbed-in 64 minutes into the first match and earned the start in the next. Although her efforts on the pitch didn't translate to the stats sheet, her extended time in the game was a stark contrast from her recent experience at the club level.</p><p>Then, in Thursday night's SheBelieves Cup match against archrival Canada, she once again broke through. After the US struggled to make headway in the attacking third, Lavelle came in off the bench in the 64th minute and, 15 minutes later, one-touched a loose ball into the back of the net to give the USWNT the 1-0 win.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—U.S. Soccer WNT  (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1362580900945485826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote><p>The strike even prompted outside back Midge Purce - who enjoyed a stellar performance in her own right - to call Lavelle the game changer of the rivalry match.</p><p>"Rose was remarkable," Purce said. "Her goal was beautiful."</p><p>"Rose, in particular, brings this creativity that is just so special," she added later. "You get lost watching it, and I have to remind myself, 'Get up, go with the team!' because you can just get lost watching her."</p><h2>Lavelle's success with the USWNT renews calls to give her more time in Manchester City</h2><p>Following each of Lavelle's breakthroughs for the USWNT, fans and analysts alike are typically quick to point out how lethal she is on the attack when employed appropriately. Many - admittedly, myself included - have questioned her use overseas and called on the powers that be at Manchester City to review the tape and reconsider their stance on the American star.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Grant Wahl  (@GrantWahl) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1327622747170672642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Molly Hensley-Clancy  (@mollyhc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1332389205679411200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Elisabeth Schendel  (@lis_ashlee) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1332389117540274176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Emma N  (@enchi165) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1362583621002027009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Men in Blazers  (@MenInBlazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1362579139136524288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—BLUE BALLS NYCFC  (@BlueBallsPod) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1362580243895250944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ashna  (@ashnaguliani) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1352789636775432192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2021</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Meredith Cash  (@mercash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1362579152684081152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Claire Watkins  (@ScoutRipley) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1360305857188093952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2021</a></blockquote><p>There is little doubt that Lavelle is at her best when she is empowered to attack from the center of the field, but she hasn't been afforded that luxury since her early days in Britain. To this point, Taylor has largely appeared unwilling to compromise on his typical formation (4-3-3) which boasts three true forwards and usually holds midfielders back from pushing up to attack with regularity.</p><div type="image" title="rose lavelle" height="1753" width="2345" msid="81132066" hostid="261"></div><p>In other words, Lavelle's natural 10 positioning doesn't fit the scheme Manchester City has in place. And, to be fair, it is tough to argue with Taylor's logic when his team has won each of its last five <keyword id="10056419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fa-wsl">FA WSL</keyword> matches and sits in second on the league table.</p><p>Even still, Lavelle is a bright enough star to warrant a system molded to her strengths. And every time she shines for the world's greatest team in its most crucial moments, Lavelle raises more eyebrows in Taylor's direction.</p>

Rose Lavelle has been sensational for the USWNT, so her lack of playing time for Manchester City is puzzling

<ul class="summary-list"><li>With <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> cases surging, the British government has once again placed the <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword> on lockdown to reduce the spread of the virus.</li><li><strong>"Non-elite" soccer in <keyword id="6355981" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="england">England</keyword> has been halted until December 2, including training and competition for top-level youth and development squads on the girls' side of the game.</strong></li><li>Boys at the same level have been permitted to continue playing, prompting accusations of sexism levied towards the <keyword id="87908" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="FA">FA</keyword> — UK soccer's governing body.</li></ul><p>The English Football Association — the governing body for soccer throughout Britain — is facing accusations of sexism resulting from a recent wave of pandemic safety measures.</p><p>Once again, the UK government has placed the country on lockdown as COVID-19 cases skyrocket across North America and Europe. Through December 2, most Brits are required to stay at home, avoid meeting people outside of their homes, and close certain non-essential businesses and venues.</p><div type="image" title="premier league covid" height="1713" width="2284" msid="79139788" hostid="261"></div><p>However, the protocols allow "elite <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> persons to train and compete" as an exempt activity. Or some of them, at least.</p><p>The FA barred top-level development squads for women ages 16-21 as well as Regional Talent Clubs for girls ages 9 to 15 from continuing to train and play because they "do not meet the necessary 'elite' protocols required" by the government. Still, all "elite" football academies for men 15 and up, as well as some highly-ranked boys' clubs, can practice and compete as normal.</p><div type="image" title="liverpool wsl academy team" height="1532" width="2043" msid="79139789" hostid="261"></div><p>"We can also confirm that the Barclays <keyword id="10056419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fa-wsl">FA WSL</keyword> Academies and FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs are to be suspended during this period as their resources — including finances and personnel — do not meet the necessary 'elite' protocols required and a number of their facilities are now closed due to the UK Government's new national Covid-19 restrictions," a press release <a href="https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/nov/06/further-update-on-non-elite-football-061120">published by the FA on Friday</a> read. "Academy players within the Barclays FA Women's Super League can continue training within either an education setting or blended training and education provision."</p><p>"In addition, the UK Government has confirmed that 'elite' football academies can continue during this period and has specified the following:</p><ul><li>Aged 15 and above within the 'elite' sport exemption;</li><li>Other age groups if in an overarching education setting, i.e., full-time educational provision, or blended training and education provision;</li><li>Ofsted FA/PL/EFL recognised: Category 1 and Category 2 academies."</li></ul><p>Controversy erupted shortly thereafter, with many girls and young women impacted by the decision airing their grievances on social media accompanied by the hashtag #isitbecauseiamagirl.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Women's Football Club  (@Womens_FC) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1325045531157073921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Charlotte Kneer  (@C_Kneer) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1325395804258000896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—HMWright  (@HeatherWright20) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1325409043448475650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—claudette pendlebury and Izzy  (@claudepen) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1325135087709675521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Michelle Owen  (@MichelleOwen7) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1325552365567680512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Lille-Mae Mulpeter  (@LouiseMac6) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1324681019094683648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2020</a></blockquote><p>The decision to table youth girls' soccer was irritating even at the top levels of the women's game in the UK, with Manchester United manager Casey Stoney calling the move "a real shame" and insisting that she "personally can't understand it."</p><div type="image" title="manchester united academy team" height="1666" width="2222" msid="79139796" hostid="261"></div><p>"I class our regional talent club and academy as 'elite', because they're at Manchester United," <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54833598">Stoney told the BBC</a>. "They're training to become professional players, just like the boys are, but unfortunately, it's not seen that way in terms of governance."</p><p>"That's one of the things that has got to change," she added. "It's really disappointing, but it's the classification of the academies."</p><h2>Women in Britain's top professional soccer league are experiencing disparate treatment from the FA as well.</h2><p>The FA Women's Super League — Britain's top women's professional soccer league — is home to some of the top soccer players on the planet, <a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">including US Women's National Team stars</a> Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Christen Press, Rose Lavelle, and Sam Mewis. And even though the FA WSL has become one of the world's most elite landing spots for women's soccer players in recent years, the British government is treating the league as something of an afterthought as the country shuts down.</p><p>The Vitality Women's <keyword id="82387" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="FA-Cup">FA Cup</keyword> for the 2020-2021 season — which was originally scheduled to begin November 15 — has been postponed due to the UK's latest protocols. Like the girls' youth teams, the FA WSL teams slated to compete in the upcoming tournament were not deemed "elite" enough by the British government to earn an exemption to play.</p><div type="image" title="manchester city.JPG" height="1598" width="2500" msid="79139805" hostid="261"></div><p>The men, however, kicked off the opening round of their FA Cup on Friday. They'll continue to play through the national lockdown, including the 10 non-elite clubs that were slated to participate in the first round competition, <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/30964/12124229/womens-fa-cup-suspended-during-month-long-lockdown-in-england-as-mens-fa-cup-goes-ahead">according to Sky Sports</a>.</p><p>According to Conservative MP Nigel Huddleston, however, there's still potential for the government to reverse the decision to put the Women's FA Cup on hold for November.</p><p>"We are in discussions with the <a href="https://twitter.com/FA">@FA</a> about the Women's FA Cup to see if a solution can be found that means the competition does not need to be paused," the sports minister from Worcestershire wrote.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Nigel Huddleston MP  (@HuddlestonNigel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1324415501662081033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2020</a></blockquote><p>Still, for many — including Watford FC Women striker Helen Ward — the fact that the men's and women's games are receiving disparate treatment at all is cause for frustration and concern.</p><div type="image" title="helen ward" height="1875" width="2500" msid="79139815" hostid="261"></div><p>"I don't know who makes these decisions but they clearly don't realize how far the women's game has come," Ward told Sky <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">News</keyword>. "I can't get my head around it. It sends a really bad message and instills the belief in the next generation that boys' football is more important than girls'."</p><p>"I think it is hard to say it's anything other than gender inequality," she added.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-viewership-up-493-percent-despite-sports-ratings-struggles-2020-10">TV ratings for North America's top women's soccer league are up a whopping 493%. Here's how they succeeded as other sports are losing viewers.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">European clubs are poaching US Women's Soccer stars thanks to the coronavirus pandemic</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/wnba-players-georgia-senate-runoff-vs-team-owner-kelly-loeffler-2020-11">WNBA players endorsed the opponent of Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler to help force a runoff for Georgia's Senate seat</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/wnba-natasha-cloud-bails-out-woman-arrested-destroying-trump-signs-2020-11">A WNBA star bailed a Florida woman out of jail after she was arrested for destroying Trump campaign signs</a></li></ul>

The English football association is facing accusations of sexism after COVID-19 forced girls' play to a halt but not the boys

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="7841238" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Rose-Lavelle">Rose Lavelle</keyword> now has a <keyword id="6362952" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cow">cow</keyword> named in her honor.</li><li>Pro <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">soccer</keyword> club Forward Madison FC held a fan contest to name its new team calf, and Rose Cowbelle won.</li><li>The <keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> star responded "To say this is an honor would be an understatement" <a href="https://twitter.com/roselavelle/status/1355199408724439042">on Twitter Friday</a>. </li></ul><p>Rose Lavelle has many accomplishments to her name, but none quite as mooving as this.</p><p>The 25-year-old <a href="https://www.insider.com/uswnt-vs-colombia-players-kneel-during-national-anthem-mlk-day-2021-1">US Women's National Team</a> superstar now has a cow named in her honor.</p><div type="image" title="135014340_398941624701179_8244038080760839723_n 12.50.01 PM" height="756" width="1008" msid="80593381" hostid="261"></div><p>Forward Madison FC - the USL League One professional soccer franchise based in Madison, Wisconsin - recently acquired a calf when its original team cow, Lionela Bessi, gave birth. The club held a fan contest to find the perfect name for its new baby, and submissions ranged from <a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-tottenham-hotspur-prep-for-tokyo-olympics-with-uswnt-2020-10">Alex Moogan</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/megan-rapinoe-trump-insurrectionist-uswnt-fans-dont-bring-bull-here-2021-1">Moogan Bovinoe</a> to Moo Salah and Mooradona.</p><p>But the finalists came down to Concacalf - a play on the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football's acronym - and Rose Cowbelle. And on Friday, Forward Madison FC announced Rose Cowbelle had taken the "dairy close vote - 893 votes to 700."</p><div type="image" title="135548162_399251811144943_3827101890179631605_n 12.50.01 PM" height="756" width="1008" msid="80593382" hostid="261"></div><p>"It may sound cheesy, but it's great that Forward Madison can provide some levity after such a difficult year," team owner Conor Caloia said in a <a href="https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/news_article/show/1143261">pun-riddled statement</a> after the results were revealed. "Moo-ving forward, we expect Rosie and Bessi to attend our home games when it is safe to do so again. As a Wisconsin team, we are proud to pay homage to our state's dairy industry."</p><p>Lavelle - the human, not to be confused with her bovine namesake - was thrilled to hear the <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword>. She took to Twitter to respond, writing, "To say this is an honor would be an understatement."</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Rose Lavelle  (@roselavelle) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1355199408724439042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2021</a></blockquote><p>Now a <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-rose-lavelle-goal-vs-netherlands-left-footed-rocket-2020-11">key member of the USWNT</a>, Lavelle has deep ties to Forward Madison FC's home city in Wisconsin. The attacking midfielder spent her college years playing in Madison for the Wisconsin Badgers before moving on to the pros.</p><div type="image" title="rose lavelle.JPG" height="1874" width="2500" msid="80593383" hostid="261"></div><p>When she's not attending Forward Madison FC games, Cowbelle will live in the city's suburbs at Havens Petting Farm in Blue Mounds. According to the club, the calf "will be well taken care of by employees who have devoted their lives to the love of <keyword id="6371668" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="animals">animals</keyword>."</p><p>Perhaps Lavelle and her beloved English Bulldog, Wilma Jean Wrinkles, will find their way to America's Dairyland to meet Rose Cowbelle someday. In the meantime, Lavelle will be across the pond <a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">competing for Manchester City</a> and preparing for the USWNT's upcoming Olympics run.</p>

MOOVING NEWS: A pro soccer club named its team cow in honor of USWNT superstar Rose Lavelle

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> star <keyword id="1180817" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tobin-Heath">Tobin Heath</keyword> had a stunning two-goal showing for <keyword id="6034" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Manchester-United">Manchester United</keyword> Sunday.</li><li>Her first <keyword id="1934" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Goal">goal</keyword> of the brace — a bending, left-footed chip in the 83rd minute — has gained traction on social media for its simple brilliance and long range.</li><li>Three minutes later, Heath beat a defender with a smart touch in the box and slotted a shot into the lower left corner of the net.</li></ul><p>Tobin Heath is thriving across the pond.</p><p>The US Women's National Team star took her talents overseas to join Manchester United this fall, and she's been on a tear ever since. Heath has accumulated four goals and two assists for the Reds in her eight games since arriving in England alongside fellow USWNT forward Christen Press.</p><div type="image" title="tobin heath" height="1874" width="2498" msid="79844803" hostid="261"></div><p>Those impressive FA Women's Super League statistics include the 32-year-old striker's two-goal showing in United's final contest of 2020 - a 6-1 win over Bristol City Sunday. Her stunning first goal of the brace - a bending, left-footed chip in the 83rd minute - has gained traction on social media for its simple brilliance and long range.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Manchester United Women  (@ManUtdWomen) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1340662561914695682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2020</a></blockquote><p>Just three minutes later, Heath doubled her effort by beating a defender with a smart touch in the box and slotting a hard shot into the lower left corner of the net.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Manchester United Women  (@ManUtdWomen) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1340997948969283587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2020</a></blockquote><p>The 2020 FIFA FIFPro Women's World11 selection was all smiles after both scores. And following Sunday's win, her Manchester United coach - former England national team star Casey Stoney - expressed awe at the high-quality goals Heath and her teammates scored on the day.</p><p>"Some of the goals were outstanding," Stoney said. "And were a pleasure to see and watch and to even be in the stadium to see them."</p><div type="image" title="tobin heath" height="1441" width="1922" msid="79844808" hostid="261"></div><p>Stoney's squad heads into 2021 atop the <keyword id="10056419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fa-wsl">FA WSL</keyword> table and with a 10-game unbeaten streak under its belt. And even though Heath is pleased that her new team has achieved "what we set out to do," she stressed after the match that there's still more work to be done.</p><p>"Obviously it's only half way through the season, but we did exactly what we set out to," Heath said. "Now we get to get a mental and physical break and regroup. We already have our sights set on what we want to do better in the second half of the season, and we're all committed to that goal."</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-tobin-heath-goal-manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-derby-2020-11">Tobin Heath launched a rocket to put Manchester United on the board and spur a comeback in the WSL's Manchester derby</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/christen-press-tobin-heath-manchester-united-jerseys-outsell-mens-2020-10">Manchester United jerseys for 2 American women's soccer stars outsold all of the players on the men's side</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">European clubs are poaching US Women's Soccer stars thanks to the coronavirus pandemic</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/uswnt-tobin-heath-christen-press-kelley-ohara-off-field-projects-2020-7">Stars of US women's soccer are done waiting for others to help level the playing field and are creating their own opportunities while inspiring others</a></li></ul>

USWNT star Tobin Heath scored a brilliant chip shot from range in an impressive, two-goal showing for Manchester United

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="2900455" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sam-Kerr">Sam Kerr</keyword> notched her first hat trick for <keyword id="6355517" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="chelsea">Chelsea</keyword> against West Ham Sunday.</li><li>The dominant striker found the back of the net in the 15th, 55th, and 68th minutes to extend the Blues' record undefeated streak in the <keyword id="10056419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fa-wsl">FA WSL</keyword> to 28 games.</li><li>But before Kerr could launch into her signature back flip celebration, she collided with an Irons defender and hurt her hip, forcing an early substitution in what constituted her best-ever game in blue and white.</li></ul><p>Sam Kerr is widely considered one of the most lethal offensive weapons on the planet, and on Sunday, she reminded the world why.</p><p>The prolific striker notched her first hat trick for Chelsea in the Blues' first game with fans at Kingsmeadow since February. Kerr's trio of goals - which came in the 15th, 55th, and 68th minutes - propelled Emma Hayes' side past West Ham 3-2 to extend Chelsea's record 28-game undefeated streak in the FA WSL.</p><div type="image" title="sam kerr" height="1551" width="2069" msid="79612520" hostid="261"></div><p>But the Australian international suffered an injury before she could celebrate the impressive feat with <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMatildas/status/910310662731055104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E910310662731055104%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.refinery29.com%2Fen-us%2F2019%2F06%2F235225%2Fsam-kerr-australian-soccer-backflipflip">her signature backflip goal celebration</a>. Upon slipping her third <keyword id="1934" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Goal">goal</keyword> of the day into the back of the net, the 27-year-old collided with an Irons defender, smashing her left hip and limping away from the goal in obvious pain.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Barclays FA Women's Super League  (@BarclaysFAWSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1335716145937215491?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2020</a></blockquote><p>Kerr's stunning performance Sunday came after the <keyword id="3838472" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="matildas">Matildas</keyword> captain faced considerable criticism for her lack of finishing in recent Chelsea matches. Her first goal against West Ham broke a three-game scoring drought for the all-time goals leader in both the National Women's <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">Soccer</keyword> League in the United States and the W-League in her native <keyword id="6355478" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="australia">Australia</keyword>. Kerr now paces the Blues in scoring for the year and ranks third in the FA WSL in total goals on the season behind Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema and Jill Roord.</p><div type="image" title="sam kerr.JPG" height="1665" width="2220" msid="79612523" hostid="261"></div><p>But Kerr's knock after her third goal of the day forced an early substitution in what constituted her best scoring performance in blue and white since joining the club in November 2019. Chelsea has not yet publicly spoken to the severity of Kerr's injury, so it remains unclear whether or not she'll be available for the first leg of the Blues' Champions League matchup against Portuguese side S.L. Benfica on Wednesday.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-mvp-sam-kerr-learns-about-award-minutes-before-winning-2019-10">International soccer star Sam Kerr didn't know her league's MVP award was being announced until minutes before she won it</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/uswnt-lawsuit-players-us-soccer-settle-working-conditions-travel-fields-2020-12">Agreement will give US Women's National Team access to similar resources as the men's team, but they are still fighting for equal pay</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/uswnt-sophia-smith-abby-wambach-childhood-photo-2020-12">The USWNT's youngest player posted an adorable throwback photo with Abby Wambach, and the national team legend applauded her for being an inspiration</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/syracuses-tiana-mangakahia-returns-post-breast-cancer-chemo-surgery-2020-12">A Syracuse basketball star is back on the court after breast cancer, chemo, and a double mastectomy derailed her senior season</a></li></ul>

One of the world's top strikers scored her first hat trick for Chelsea but collided with a defender and was injured before her signature goal celebration

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Women's National Team released its latest roster, and some big names were not included for October training camp.</li><li>US <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">Soccer</keyword> opted not to bring the stars currently playing abroad — including <keyword id="480510" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Alex-Morgan">Alex Morgan</keyword>, Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis, and Emily Sonnett — back to the states amid the pandemic.</li><li>Morgan told Insider that it was "the right decision" and that head coach <keyword id="10108530" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="vlatko-andonovski">Vlatko Andonovski</keyword> called each player to assure them that the move was "not performance-driven in any way."</li></ul><p>The US Women's National Team <a href="https://twitter.com/USWNT/status/1314234401312641024">released its most recent roster</a> on October 8, and some huge names were not on the list.</p><p>Alex Morgan was one of them.</p><p>The Olympic gold medalist, two-time World Cup champion, and co-captain of the <keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> since 2018 signed a one-year deal with FA Women's Super League side <keyword id="62094" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tottenham-Hotspur">Tottenham Hotspur</keyword> in September. As such, she and her five-month-old daughter, Charlie, packed their bags and headed across the Atlantic amid the coronavirus pandemic to begin the next stage of Morgan's club career and help her best prepare for the Tokyo Olympics next summer.</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1708" width="2277" msid="78667467" hostid="261"></div><p>But when USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski and US Soccer were formulating plans for the national team's October training camp — the team's first gathering in 7 months — they decided "it just did not make sense for the players in Europe to leave their club environments." So Morgan and a handful of her 2019 FIFA World Cup-winning teammates in Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis, and Emily Sonnett were all left off the roster — a decision Morgan herself agrees with.</p><p>"I think that it's the right decision not to bring players back because we are in another country that is handling the pandemic different," she told Insider while promoting <a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-gogo-squeez-accessible-youth-sports-initiatives-2020-10">her Fun Comes First campaign with GoGo squeeZ</a>. "Obviously health and safety is of utmost priority for each player. Each player needs to decide what's best for them, but in US Soccer making the executive decision not to bring us over, it's because of us getting consistent training and games here."</p><p>"[They're] really minimizing the unnecessary travel for us to come meet the team for a training camp that we could be really doing here instead with our respective teams," Morgan added.</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="961" width="1281" msid="78667469" hostid="261"></div><p>Since her first call up in 2010, Morgan has been a stalwart on the USWNT and has seldom missed team events barring injury or her recent pregnancy. Though she noted that "there aren't any games involved" in the upcoming USWNT camp which "was really the deciding factor in not bringing players back," it'll undoubtedly be strange for the superstar striker to miss a national team event she's eligible for. </p><p>But even without joining her teammates in Colorado, Morgan has a great opportunity to prepare for the Olympics with Tottenham. The <keyword id="9977529" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fawsl">FAWSL</keyword> — which includes several sister teams to Premier League clubs — has rapidly bridged the gap in skill level between itself and the women's leagues traditionally thought to be the best on the planet, including the National Women's Soccer League and Australia's W-League. She'll face stiff competition in the form of international superstars such as Australia's Sam Kerr, Denmark's Pernille Harder, England's Lucy Bronze, and Ellen White, France's Valerie Gauvin, and Holland's Vivianne Miedema, all of whom have recently joined the <keyword id="10056419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fa-wsl">FA WSL</keyword>'s ranks.</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1666" width="2222" msid="78667472" hostid="261"></div><p>"It's pretty exciting just seeing so many international players play here as well as so much top talent domestically," Morgan said.</p><p>With the Tokyo Olympics less than a year away, the American international will undoubtedly use the next few months with Hotspur to get back up to speed after her post-World Cup maternity leave hiatus. She's confident that her time in the UK will be enough "to get my touch back, to get my speed back, [and] to feel good about going in with the National Team."</p><p>But Andonovski assured Morgan that her absence from his most recent USWNT roster was neither a reflection of her own abilities nor an indication of what's to come in 2021.</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1400" width="1866" msid="78667475" hostid="261"></div><p>"Vlatko called each one of us to let us know that it's not performance driven in any way," Morgan said. "It's because of the pandemic, the amount of players in Europe, and the ability for us to continue to get a consistent training and game environment."</p><p>Morgan could make her Tottenham debut as early as next week, as Hotspur take on a league-leading Arsenal squad on Sunday. If not, Tottenham's November 4 matchup with Chelsea will more than likely feature Morgan's first live action of the year.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-tottenham-hotspur-prep-for-tokyo-olympics-with-uswnt-2020-10">The pandemic pushed Alex Morgan to move to the UK so that the new mom could get back in match-shape for the Tokyo Olympics</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-gogo-squeez-accessible-youth-sports-initiatives-2020-10">Alex Morgan is making youth sports fun again</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/catarina-macario-uswnt-call-up-us-citizen-same-day-2020-10">A budding USWNT star credited the American dream after earning her first national team call up and becoming a US citizen in the same day</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/christen-press-tobin-heath-manchester-united-jerseys-outsell-mens-2020-10">Manchester United jerseys for 2 American women's soccer stars outsold all of the players on the men's side</a></li></ul>

Alex Morgan says it was 'the right decision' for US Women's National Team to leave some top stars off latest roster

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="1180817" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tobin-Heath">Tobin Heath</keyword> and <keyword id="2648219" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Christen-Press">Christen Press</keyword> signed with <keyword id="6034" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Manchester-United">Manchester United</keyword> of the FA Women's Super League in September.</li><li>The US Women's National Team superstars beat out all of their male counterparts in jersey sales for three days after announcing their signing with the iconic club.</li><li>The popularity of their kits came well before Heath and Press made their debuts for the Reds, which came during the second half of Sunday's 3-0 win over Brighton.</li></ul><p>Tobin Heath and Christen Press are already making waves on the other side of the pond, and it happened before they even stepped foot on the pitch.</p><p>The US Women's National Team superstars signed with Manchester United last month in a huge acquisition for the iconic club's women's team, which is in just its second year competing in the FA Women's Super League. But before the prolific strikers could even aid in the Reds' offensive efforts, Heath and Press impressed by beating out all of their male counterparts in jersey sales.</p><div type="image" title="tobin heath christen press" height="1666" width="2222" msid="78498927" hostid="261"></div><p><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8804463/SPORTS-AGENDA-Premier-League-clubs-need-wage-cuts-afford-bailout.html">According to the Daily Mail</a>, the Americans' jerseys accounted for more sales than those of the club's men's superstars Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford for three days following their historic signing with Manchester United. The stunning feat underscores the weight of Heath's and Press's move to the UK and the popularity they bring to the women's side of the club.</p><p>The duo announced their decision to join the Reds after opting out of play with their National <keyword id="7597433" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Womens-soccer">Women's Soccer</keyword> League sides during this summer's Challenge Cup and the subsequent <keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword> Fall Series. Neither star is wearing their signature number for Manchester United; Heath — who wears No. 17 with the <keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> and the Portland Thorns — chose No. 77 for her new kit, while Press opted to honor Kobe Bryant with No. 24 after her typical USWNT and Utah Royals FC No. 23 was already taken for the Reds.</p><div type="image" title="tobin heath christen press" height="1666" width="2222" msid="78498935" hostid="261"></div><p>Heath and Press both made their debuts for Manchester United during the second half of Sunday's 3-0 victory over Brighton. Heath recorded an assist on the Reds' final goal of the contest, and Press nearly netted a goal of her own when her shot ricocheted off the post moments prior.</p><p>The American internationals' incorporation into the Women's Super League follows something of a trend for USWNT stars. Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle both signed for crosstown rival Manchester City in recent months, and superstar Alex Morgan joined Tottenham Hotspur on a one-year contract in September. With defender Emily Sonnett taking her talents to Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC in Sweden, six players on the USWNT's 23-woman roster left their NWSL sides for European clubs with less than a year to go before the start of the Tokyo Olympics.</p><div type="image" title="sam mewis manchester" height="1878" width="2500" msid="78498939" hostid="261"></div><p>Whether they'll return to the American league after their contracts overseas expire remains to be seen. But for now, Heath, Press, and the rest of the USWNT stars abroad will look to compete for European championships and raise the international stature of their clubs along the way.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">European clubs are poaching US Women's Soccer stars thanks to the coronavirus pandemic</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-rocky-rodriguez-first-portland-thorns-goal-celebrates-early-2020-10">An NWSL superstar pulled a Steph Curry after scoring a stunning first goal with her new club</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-world-cup-champion-yuki-nagasato-joins-mens-soccer-club-2020-9">A women's World Cup champion is set to make history as the first female soccer star to play professionally with a men's club</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/megan-rapinoe-supports-alabama-soccer-player-kneeled-during-national-anthem-2020-9">Megan Rapinoe sent a message of support to an Alabama soccer player who received hateful comments after kneeling during the national anthem</a></li></ul>

Manchester United jerseys for 2 American women's soccer stars outsold all of the players on the men's side

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Tobin Heath scored an absolute <keyword id="5086581" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Golazo">golazo</keyword> in the FA Women's Super League's Manchester Derby on Saturday to help spur a comeback for <keyword id="6034" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Manchester-United">Manchester United</keyword>.</li><li>After Manchester City's Lucy Bronze gave the ball away in the box, Heath collected the misplaced pass and launched a bending rocket into the back of the net to put Manchester United on the board.</li><li>The <keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> star's <keyword id="1934" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Goal">goal</keyword> in the 54th minute — and her energy-filled response — gave her side new life and helped United climb back from down 2-0 to finish in a 2-2 draw.</li><li>Casey Stoney's United team remains undefeated on the season and sits alone atop the WSL table.</li><li>Check out a clip of Heath's incredible shot and subsequent fired-up reaction below:</li></ul><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Barclays FA Women's Super League  (@BarclaysFAWSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1327610731798306816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2020</a></blockquote><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/christen-press-tobin-heath-manchester-united-jerseys-outsell-mens-2020-10">Manchester United jerseys for 2 American women's soccer stars outsold all of the players on the men's side</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-stars-roster-2020-10">Alex Morgan says it was 'the right decision' for US Women's National Team to leave some top stars off latest roster</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/megan-rapinoe-alex-morgans-tea-sipping-celebration-f-epic-2020-11">Megan Rapinoe called Alex Morgan's World Cup tea-sipping celebration 'f------ epic' because 'to tease the English is such a pleasure'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">European clubs are poaching US Women's Soccer stars thanks to the coronavirus pandemic</a></li></ul>

Tobin Heath launched a rocket to put Manchester United on the board and spur a comeback in the WSL's Manchester derby

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Newly-minted <keyword id="62094" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tottenham-Hotspur">Tottenham Hotspur</keyword> and new mom <keyword id="480510" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Alex-Morgan">Alex Morgan</keyword> has taken her talents overseas on a one-year deal.</li><li>The US Women's National Team superstar spoke to Insider about her quick decision to join the FA Women's Super League side and uproot her life to the UK.</li><li>With the Tokyo Olympics mere months away and the US still struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19, Morgan said she felt it'd be best "to get back to full fitness" and "get my touch back" abroad.</li></ul><p>A lot has changed for Alex Morgan — a new mom with a new team in a new country.</p><p>The US Women's National Team superstar signed a one-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur less than six months after giving birth to her first child. Now she's adjusting to life in the UK with her daughter, Charlie, while preparing to return to competition for the first time in a year.</p><p>It's a lot to take on for anyone — even an Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Cup champion — but Morgan's love of the game trumps all.</p><p>"I want to play, you know? I want to play <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">soccer</keyword>," Morgan told Insider while promoting <a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-gogo-squeez-accessible-youth-sports-initiatives-2020-10">her Fun Comes First campaign with GoGo squeeZ</a>. "This is what I love. It's my passion, and regardless of it being my job, it's what I love to do every single day."</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1400" width="1866" msid="78643592" hostid="261"></div><p>That wouldn't have been so easy back in the United States. Since 2013, Morgan has played club soccer in the National Women's Soccer League, the top women's league in America that, before the pandemic, featured all of the active players on the <keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> roster.</p><p>Though her Orlando Pride have been active in recent weeks, they did not partake in the <keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword>'s Challenge Cup this summer due to a COVID-19 outbreak within their own ranks. The Pride will have played just four games in 2020 when their NWSL Fall Series schedule is all said and done this Saturday. Between the limited opportunities for competitive play and the outsized risk of contracting the virus while traveling to North Carolina and Texas, Morgan opted to try something new.</p><p>"I have to look at when the last time I played a competitive match was. A full match? That was the World Cup ... it's been a year," Morgan said. "I need to get back to full fitness, and I need to get games ... Not being able to do that in the US because of the season really wrapping up with the NWSL mid-October and not starting back up until a to-be-determined date next year, I knew that I needed more."</p><p>"An individual training environment just wasn't going to be enough for me to get my touch back, to get my speed back, to feel good about going in with the National Team," she added. "Whether that be in November or January, I wanted to be in a team environment consistently so I can feel good going into 2021 — which is hopefully when we'll be going to Tokyo."</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1708" width="2277" msid="78643596" hostid="261"></div><p>The FA Women's Super League provided her with the best opportunity to do just that. The league — which includes several sister teams to Premier League clubs — has rapidly bridged the gap in skill level between itself and the women's leagues traditionally thought to be the best on the planet, including the NWSL and Australia's W-League. International superstars such as Australia's Sam Kerr, Denmark's Pernille Harder, England's Lucy Bronze, and Ellen White, France's Valerie Gauvin, and Holland's Vivianne Miedema have all recently joined the FA WSL's ranks.</p><p>Plus, some of <a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">Morgan's USWNT teammates have also taken the trip across the pond</a> to compete for various sides in the UK's top league. Strikers Tobin Heath and Christen Press both joined Manchester United, while midfielders Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis signed with crosstown rival Manchester City.</p><p>"I feel like the decision is made so quickly, so it took me like a week or two to settle down here, but I feel good about my decision that I made," Morgan said. "It's pretty exciting just seeing so many international players play here as well as so much top talent domestically."</p><p>Though Morgan has yet to debut across the pond, her Hotspur squad has already played six matches this fall and has another eight on its schedule before the end of the year. She acknowledged that Tottenham might not have been the most obvious landing spot for a three-time FIFPro World11 star like herself. Morgan said she sees joining a team that "isn't really seen as one of the top two or three powerhouses in the WSL" gives her a unique opportunity to make an immediate impact for the club.</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1666" width="2222" msid="78643599" hostid="261"></div><p>"It gives me a challenge to really step in and get back to where I was before at an accelerated rate," Morgan said. "And also to bring my playing leadership and experience as well to try to help my team to more success."</p><p>But until she's match fit, Morgan will continue getting her lay of the land in North London. Though her husband, Servando Carrasco, didn't make the initial trip to the UK with her, Morgan said she's looking forward to his arrival at the end of the month.</p><p>As for Charlie, Morgan says the now-five-month-old has been remarkably adaptable to her new surroundings, which has undoubtedly made it easier for the 31-year-old to make the most of her time on the pitch.</p><p>"She's a total rock star and has been sleeping well, which gives me a lot of rest and helps me feel good for training and getting back in with the team," Morgan said. "We've also been doing a lot of day trips to parks and into the city. It's been fun to explore."</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="732" width="976" msid="78643601" hostid="261"></div><p>Morgan could make her Tottenham debut as early as next week, as Hotspur take on a league-leading Arsenal squad on Sunday. If not, Tottenham's November 4 matchup with Chelsea will more than likely feature Morgan's first live action of the year.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-gogo-squeez-accessible-youth-sports-initiatives-2020-10">Alex Morgan is making youth sports fun again</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">European clubs are poaching US Women's Soccer stars thanks to the coronavirus pandemic</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-tea-celebration-backstory-kelley-ohara-podcast-2020-7">Alex Morgan revealed the origin story behind her iconic World Cup tea-sipping celebration and how she was surprised she remembered to do it at all</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgans-competitive-drive-makes-her-uswnt-icon-2020-4">20 examples of Alex Morgan's competitive drive that has made her a soccer icon</a></li></ul>

You Searched For "fa wsl" and got 13 results

Acne medication led to a 9-month suspension for a Tottenham striker

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MOOVING NEWS: A pro soccer club named its team cow in honor of USWNT superstar Rose Lavelle

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USWNT star Tobin Heath scored a brilliant chip shot from range in an impressive, two-goal showing for Manchester United

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One of the world's top strikers scored her first hat trick for Chelsea but collided with a defender and was injured before her signature goal celebration

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Alex Morgan says it was 'the right decision' for US Women's National Team to leave some top stars off latest roster

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Tobin Heath launched a rocket to put Manchester United on the board and spur a comeback in the WSL's Manchester derby

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The pandemic pushed Alex Morgan to move to the UK so that the new mom could get back in match-shape for the Tokyo Olympics

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