Sam Kerr Not Guilty | Twentytwo Turns One!

February 17, 2025

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY

This week is our 52nd newsletter and our 1st anniversary (happy birthday to us)! Thanks for sticking with us, and reading every week.

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⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH

Our top five WSL moments

  1. Everton’s January signing, Kelly Gago is turning out to be a very good bit of business. Two goals last week, and another this weekend against Chelsea. And what a goal it was by the way.

  2. Mille Jensen scored a beaut against Man United after some great play from Palace. 

  3. Ella Toone freekick x Grace Clinton’s head. We’re hoping for some more of this in England’s upcoming Nations League games.

  4. Janice Cayman stunned with this volley against Villa.

  5. Bunny Shaw and Mary Fowler are linking up like never before. Two goals and two assists for the duo. This one got our vote

RESULTS
AS IT STANDS
🚨ICYMI

Top Headlines

The news dominating the headlines this week was Sam Kerr being cleared after her trial for racially aggravated harassment. For most people, the fact that the case went to trial at all was bonkers. But it did, and the verdict has caused heated debate around free speech and race. Kerr made a statement shortly after the verdict and posted a further comment on Instagram later that day.

❌ Mapi León has been accused of touching the private parts of opposition player Daniela Caracas during Barcelona’s 2-0 win against Espanyol. In footage of the incident, León can be seen looking down before touching Caracas’ crotch area. León denies the allegation. Unsurprisingly, Spanish football has downplayed the accusations with Liga F president, Beatriz Álvarez characterising the episode as ‘part of the game’ that ‘shouldn’t be taken out of context’. With the trial of Rubiales going on in the background, it seems fair to say that Spanish football hasn’t learned its lesson when it comes to protecting players who make claims of sexual assault.

🌳 Tottenham Hotspur got the go-ahead to build a women’s team training facility on Whitewebbs Park after a long battle with local protesters who opposed the plan due to the impact on wildlife and local people. Beth England has said the project is a “once-in-a-generation opportunity”, and would “provide our professional squad and local women and girls with the same opportunities to succeed as our male counterparts”.

💰 If you won the lottery, how would you spend it? How about a football club? EuroMillions jackpot winners Frances and Patrick Connolly bagged £114m back in 2019 and have just become shareholders of Durham Women FC. Durham University previously owned the club but has transferred ownership to existing directors in a change to the club’s structure.

👋 Chloe Kelly got a welcome and a half when she came on in the North London Derby. She didn’t make it into England’s original Nations League squad (which was announced last week) but has managed to squeeze onto the list after Beth Mead withdrew with an injury. She’ll be out to prove herself in England’s upcoming games in a bid to secure her Euro’s spot.

🏛️ Luis Rubiales’s trial continued this week, and it was Rubiales’s turn to give evidence. He told the court that Hermoso consented to the kiss he gave her at the 2023 Women’s World Cup Final. "She squeezed me very hard under the armpits, lifted me up, and when I went back down I asked her if I can give her a kiss and she said 'OK'". That directly contradicted Hermoso’s earlier testimony. The trial continues until 19 February.

🗓️ There’ve been a few rearranged WSL games after teams progressed in cup competitions: 

  • Manchester City vs West Ham on 16 March has moved to 19:00 on Wednesday 5 March. 

  • Chelsea vs Leicester City on 16 March has moved to 19:30 on Wednesday 5 March. 

  • Arsenal vs Everton’s WSL game will kick off at 19:00, Friday 14 March.

🏆 WOMEN’S FA CUP

Women’s FA Cup Draw confirmed

Manchester United was the team drawn against Sunderland, the only non-WSL club still standing in the competition. Another classic underdog story emerged as bottom-of-the-table, Crystal Palace, was drawn against top-of-the-table, Chelsea. To round things off, Manchester City faces Aston Villa, and Arsenal will take on Liverpool.

Matches take place on 8-9 March.

🏅 I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN

She Believes Cup 2025

It’s that time of the year folks - everyone’s favourite tournament name is back on the radar. The She Believes Cup kicks off on 20 Feb with Japan joining for the fifth time, and Australia and Colombia make their debuts (side note - we love that England still hasn’t been invited back since winning in 2019).  It’s a six-match, three-game tournament format played in three cities. 

  • 20 Feb, Houston, TX: Japan vs Australia (5pm ET) and USWNT vs Colombia (8pm ET)

  • 23 Feb, Glendale, AZ: Colombia vs Japan (2pm ET) and USWNT vs Australia (5pm ET)

  • 26 Feb, San Diego, CA: Australia vs Colombia (7:30pm ET) and USWNT vs Japan (10:30pm ET)

🧠 QUIZ

Which WSL teams will face each other four times in 12 days this season?

Answer at the bottom of the email

👀 FAVE FINDS

Traitors x Women’s Football

Ok, it’s a few weeks late but this take is pretty funny — We are 100% behind an International Women’s Football Traitors Special. Enjoy, Traitors fans.

✍️ INSIDE TRACK

Kim gets a little bit longer.

Arsenal veteran Kim Little has signed a new contract that takes her through to summer 2026. Little has been with the club since 2008 (scoring 174 goals in 363 appearances) and at 34, there’s speculation that retirement could be not too far away.

🩼 ACL WATCH + INJURY UPDATES

Sam Kerr’s return edges closer

Sam Kerr could be back on the pitch within the next month. She joined the Chelsea squad over the winter break for their warm-weather training (although she continued with her individual programme) and should return to non-contact training soon. Kerr said she’s “fully focused on getting back on to the pitch” after being cleared in court last week.

Erin Cuthbert has withdrawn from Scotland's squad for the upcoming Nations League games. She picked up a rib injury a few weeks ago and will continue her recovery at Chelsea during the International break.

Beth Mead and Lotte Wubben-Moy have withdrawn from England’s squad due to injury. They’ve been replaced by Arsenal’s Chloe Kelly and Aston Villa’s Lucy Parker.

👟 KIT DROP

Man Utd gets in on the 80s nostalgia

Man Utd x 80’s terrace culture: Vintage football fashion has landed
in Manchester. The eight-piece Terrace Icons collection features a tracksuit, polo, and jersey, all complete with trefoil logo and retro united badge courtesy of Adidas Originals. Now available

90’s and early 00’s nostalgia has been running rampant for sports brands hoping to tap into the lifestyle x football heads. Well, Nike has gone bold, some might say too bold, reviving 2004’s Total 90 III not as a football boot, but as a sneaker (cough, trainer). Not sure we’ll be sporting these in the office, but if you fancy yourself a pair of Nike’s T90 III Sail’s, and reliving your primary school days, they’re hitting the shops in the next few weeks.

🛋️ DITCH THE SOFA

Upcoming events

Nations League Screenings
Portugal vs England, Friday 21 Feb, 19:45 KO

Watch this space - women’s football networking event
Saturday 22nd February, Students Union, De Montfort University, Leicester
A place for those passionate about the women's game. Whether you're a fan, photographer, budding journo or seasoned coach, open to all (18+).
Free tickets here

We’re heading to the Women’s Football Fair – come down and say hi!
Saturday 15 March 2025, 10:00-16:00, Doors 9:45, Edgbaston Park Hotel
Meet inspiring players, connect with other football fans, and explore a wide range of women’s football vendors including shirts, fan art, memorabilia, and more.
Tickets £5

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

📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST

What We’re Watching

Friday 21st February 2025
UEFA Women's Nations League
17:15 - Italy vs Wales [BBC TBC, BBC iPlayer]
19:45 - Portugal vs England [ITV TBC]

Tuesday 25th February 2025
19:15 - Wales vs Sweden [BBC TBC, BBC iPlayer]

Wednesday 26th February 2025
20:00 - England vs Spain [ITV TBC]

📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

More Women Working in Football

🧠 QUIZ

Question: Which WSL teams will face each other four times in 12 days this season?

Answer: Chelsea and Manchester City…

  • 15 March - Subway Women’s League Cup Final

  • 19 March - UEFA Women’s Champions League

  • 23 March - WSL

  • 27 March - UEFA Women’s Champions League

P.S. If you know a WSL fan who’d love to read this email, please forward this one or share a link :)

More women watching, playing and working in football