WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY

IN THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP...

• Top headlines: PFA Awards, League Cup groups drawn, ACL misery for Ziu.

• Fave finds: A baby and a bobblehead

• Kit drop: Nike x FC Como, Adidas drop third kits

• Transfer news: Zadorsky to West Ham, Janine Beckie traded, Jackie Groenen extension.

• Jobs: New opportunities in football

Not a subscriber? Get our weekly roundup straight to your inbox

🚨ICYMI

Top headlines

🏆 It was a busy night for Manchester at this year's Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Awards. Manchester City’s Khadija (Bunny) Shaw scooped the PFA Players Player award. Manchester United’s Grace Clinton, who spent last season on loan to Tottenham, took the Young Player of the Year award. Fara Williams won the PFA Merit Award for her contribution to the sport. 

⚽ The 2024-25 Women's League Cup Group Stage Draw has been made:

• Group A: Newcastle United, Everton, Manchester United, Liverpool

• Group B: Durham, Sheffield United, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers

• Group C: West Ham United, Southampton, Portsmouth, London City Lionesses

• Group D: Birmingham City, Leicester City, Bristol City, Brighton & Hove Albion

• Group E: Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa

• Chelsea will join the competition in the quarter-finals. Manchester City and Arsenal will join later after the group stages, depending on their Champions League performances.

🦘 While Arsenal and Chelsea have been busy on tour in the USA, Manchester City, Leicester City, West Ham and PSG have jetted off to Australia to take European football down under for the Perth International Football Cup. The clubs go straight into two semi-final games; City will take on Leicester on Wednesday while West Ham plays PSG on Thursday. The tournament finishes with a double-header on Sunday 1 September. The semi-final losers play a third-place playoff game before the winners of the semi-finals go head-to-head in the final. If you’re in Perth and fancy supporting, tickets are available here.

🩼 West Ham’s Jess Ziu has torn her ACL for the second time in two years. The 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international was injured during a behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly last week.

🤕 Angel City’s Ali Riley has been added to the season-ending injury list. She’s unsure if she’ll play football again as she works through a nerve issue that forced her to miss the Olympics.

🌎 The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™ is about to get underway in Colombia. Reigning champions Spain will defend their title between 31 August – 22 September in the expanded 24-team tournament.

📚 FAVOURITE LINKS

What we’re reading

→ Donovan acknowledges 'steep' learning curve as Wave coach

→ Nikki Doucet on WSL: ‘We want the world’s most distinctive women’s club competition’

→ 'We don't have to choose between babies and football'

🔍 IN FOCUS

Player autonomy and welfare are put at the centre of NWSL’s future

The NWSL and its players’ association have agreed a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The agreement is a major departure from the typical American draft system and will give players higher salaries and more control over their careers and contracts.

Player Autonomy and Career Control
First up, the big one. The NWSL is removing its draft system (the first major professional sports league in the United States to do so). This change will allow incoming players to choose their teams freely, it’ll be more like a college recruiting process. Existing league players will have free agency when their current contracts end.

Guaranteed Contracts and Trade Consent
There have also been big changes in contract management. All NWSL player contracts are now guaranteed, preventing early termination by teams or the league. One that's always a shock for European fans, players can no longer be traded without their prior consent, giving them more control over their careers.

Salary Increases and Revenue Sharing
The new CBA significantly raises player compensation:

• Minimum salaries will increase from $37,856 to $48,500 in 2025, rising to $82,500 by 2030.

• The salary cap has been lifted so there is no longer a maximum salary limit for individual players.

• Teams must allocate a percentage of their revenue towards player compensation, rewarding players for increased success.

Improved Benefits and Working Conditions
Players will also benefit from:

• Parental and mental health leave

• Better mental health services

• Guaranteed vacation time and in-season breaks

• Improved travel policies and match scheduling

League Growth and Professionalisation
Practical changes to the leagues' administration and structure aim to increase professionalism. There’ll be:

• Increased investment in staffing, charter flights, and facilities

• Closer alignment with global football standards

• Creation of a year-round schedule

Impact on the League
The changes that will come from the new CBA are expected to attract top global talent to the NWSL, accelerating its growth and competitiveness. With the recent launch of a new competitor, the USL Super League, these progressive policies can’t come soon enough.

⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH

Chelsea rounds off their US tour with a win

Chelsea secured their first win under Bompastor with a 3-1 victory over Gotham in their US preseason friendly. Bompastor fielded a full-strength squad, with new signing Lucy Bronze getting her first start.  Kanyerd bagged two goals, and Beever-Jones added the third. A few minutes later Jess Carter scored against her old club. Gotham signed ex-Arsenal player Heather O’Riley on a one-day contract as an injury replacement player, but then in a twist… she failed her medical and could only watch. Watch the extended highlights here.

Meanwhile, Arsenal took on Washington Spirit and won 2-1 with a brace from Russo. Highlights here.

Chelsea then took on Arsenal in the final game of the US tour. A goal from Sandy Baltimore secured a 1-0 win for the Blues.

👀 FAVE FINDS

A baby and a bobblehead

Dutch International, Lieke Martens-Van Leer revealed she’s pregnant this week. She made the announcement to her PSG teammates… cue, a lot of hugs and tears.

The Naomi Girma Bobblehead everybody…

✍️ INSIDE TRACK

Transfer round-up

CONFIRMED TRANSFERS

• Shelina Zadorsky | Contract to 2025 | Centre Back | Tottenham Hotspur → West Ham United

• Louna Ribadeira | Contract to 2028, returns to Paris FC on 1-year loan  | Striker | Paris FC → Chelsea Paris FC

• Jelena Cankovic | Attacking Midfield | Chelsea → Brighton

• Bruna Vilamala | 1 Season Loan | Forward | FC Barcelona → Brighton

• Lauren | Contract to 2025 | Defender | Kansas City → Atlético Madrid

• Perle Morroni | Contract to 2026 | Defender | Lyon → San Diego Wave

• Trade: Janine Beckie → Racing Louisville for Reilyn Turner → Portland Thorns

CONTRACT RENEWALS

• Jackie Groenen | Extended to 2027 | Centre Midfielder | Paris Saint-Germain

MANAGER MOVES

• Laurent Bonadéi has been made French coach following the departure of Hervé Renard. He was previously the assistant coach and will provide continuity ahead of next year’s Euros.

• After three years in the role, Futoshi Ikeda has left his role as head coach of Japan. His contract was set to expire this month.

👟 KIT DROP

FC Como in new Nike partnership

Nike launched their flagship multi-year partnership with FC Como Women with new home and away kits. Mercury/13 acquired the club in March, seeking to build a multi-club portfolio. Nike has joined the action as the first supplier to an independent women’s Serie A team.

Adidas has dropped some showstopping third shirts, all featuring the ‘originals’ logo.

🛋️ DITCH THE SOFA

Upcoming events

Get ready for WSL Sundays with Baller FC
Signature Brew, 340 Acton Mews, Haggerston, E8 4EA

Sunday, 22 September
Arsenal vs Manchester City + Emirates After Party
+ two more games

Sunday, 6 October
Chelsea vs Manchester United
+ two more games

→ Check out the full calendar

Is there a women’s football event happening near you? Give us a heads-up

📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST

What we’re watching

Wednesday 28 August:
11:15 - Leicester City vs Manchester City (Friendly) [City+]

Saturday 31 August:
03:00 - Portland Thorns vs Bay FC [TNT Sports 3]

U20 World Cup Group Stages
→ Watch on FIFA TV
→ Scores and fixtures available here

📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

More women working in football

• Social Media Editor | Tottenham Hotspurs | Apply by 2 September

• ​​Creative Strategist | Manchester United | Apply by 6 September

• Women’s - Loans Manager | Chelsea FC | Apply now

• DevOps Manager | FIFA (Hybrid, Zurich) | Apply now 

• Marcomms Operations and Projects Manager | West Ham United | Apply now

More women watching, playing and working in football