PORTLAND — On a clear, cool night in Rose City, a legend’s legacy was forever immortalized as Christine Sinclair was inducted into the Portland Thorns Hall of Fame and had her No. 12 jersey retired before the club took on Bay FC. Similar to her final regular-season appearance at Providence Park, the Thorns perfectly honored the club legend with their on-field performance. 

Though the visiting Bay FC scored first in the 36th minute through Taylor Huff, Portland turned things around in the second half. Passing the torch to the next generation of Thorns stars, midfielder Olivia Moultrie scored the first brace of her career and became the youngest player in Thorns history to score twice in a single match to win the game. 

“We’re delighted to get the result for Sinc on this special night,” Thorns head coach Rob Gale said. “Being down 1-0 at home on a big occasion, it’s about character and about quality from that moment onward.”

The Football Ferns’ captain’s career spans nearly two decades, five World Cups (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023), and four Olympics, as well as numerous leagues across the globe.

Riley has made no regular-season appearances in 2025, as she has been dealing with a chronic nerve injury that has sidelined her since the start of the Paris Olympics in July 2024, causing her to withdraw from the Olympic squad. She was able to return to the training pitch in August.

“I want to thank my family, friends, the teams that I have played for, the teammates I have played with, and the fans who have rooted for me here at home and all over the world,” Riley said in her announcement. “I am leaving with my head held so high and feeling so much support and love. This chapter may be closing, but I know there is so much more to come.”

In college, Riley was a star for the Stanford Cardinal, leading her team to two NCAA semifinals and one final from 2006 to 2009. During that time, she also debuted for the New Zealand women’s national team in 2007 and quickly established herself as a crucial member, eventually earning 163 international caps, the second most in team history. She holds the New Zealand record for most appearances in major tournaments.

Riley’s professional career began with FC Gold Pride in the WPS in 2010. She won a championship and Rookie of the Year with the Pride. In 2011, she joined Western New York Flash and won another championship.

From there, Riley went to Sweden, where she won multiple league titles with FC Rosengård from 2012 to 2018. She spent one season each with England’s Chelsea FC (2018-2019) and Germany’s Bayern Munich (2019-2020) before returning to the NWSL.

She returned to the United States to play with the Orlando Pride in 2020 (though she did not play that year due to the Pride’s removal from the inaugural Challenge Cup), and again in 2021.

When Angel City joined the NWSL as an expansion team, they acquired Riley in a trade, allowing her to play in her hometown for the first time in her career. From there, she was named team captain and has held the title to this day.

“Ali Riley is Angel City. Her heart, grit, and unwavering commitment to lifting everyone around her have shaped the culture of this club,” said ACFC CEO and Co-Founder Julie Uhrman in a release. “Her impact on our team, our city, the global game, and on me personally is immeasurable. Ali has shown us that leadership goes far beyond the pitch; it’s in how you care for others, how you show up, and how you lead every single day. Her love of the game, for Angel City, and for the community is undeniable. And while she may no longer be on the pitch, she will never be far from Angel City. We all need more Ali Rileys in our lives.”

The match went to halftime early with three minutes remaining in stoppage time. It was later suspended and will be resumed at a date to be determined, from the time of suspension.

“The decision was made in consultation with match officials, medical personnel, and both clubs. Out of respect for the seriousness of the situation and in the best interests of players and staff, the match was abandoned,” the NWSL said in a statement provided to The Equalizer.

As first-half stoppage time began, DeMelo knelt to the ground and then sat down, looking dazed before losing consciousness. Both teams’ medical personnel reacted quickly and soon called for the EMTs. An ambulance was driven out onto the field, which DeMelo was eventually loaded into on a stretcher.

The league received heavy backlash and the Players’ Association called for a league policy change earlier in May for not suspending the game between Angel City and Utah Royals after Savy King suffered a cardiac episode on the field. The players were made to play the rest of the game despite agreeing it should have been suspended.

Sunday’s match marked the first time in league history that a game was suspended because of a medical incident.

Louisville’s players and coaches were visibly shaken in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Head coaches Laura Harvey and Bev Yanez could be seen discussing while DeMelo received medical attention before Harvey motioned to her team that they’d be going to halftime early. Reign players came back out onto the field after the suspension was announced to show appreciation for the fans, looking visibly emotional. Fans continued to mill about the stadium, looking somewhat confused after the suspension was announced over the speakers.

This is the second time this season that DeMelo left an NWSL match on a stretcher. In a March 22 game against Bay FC, DeMelo was stretchered off the pitch late in the first half. During that game, Racing Louisville said DeMelo was taken to the hospital “for a precautionary evaluation after experiencing lightheadedness during the first half.” She said about that incident that her heart rate wasn’t slowing, and she struggled to breathe for about three minutes. In May, DeMelo spoke to ESPN about being diagnosed with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism last fall.

The NWSL Players Association released a statement on Monday morning that said: “Our hearts are with Savannah DeMelo and her family following last night’s game. Her health and well-being remain our top priority, and we are relieved she is receiving the medical attention she needs. Postponing the match was the right decision, as nothing is more important than the safety of Players and staff on the field. This is a challenging time for all those affected, and we ask for continued respect of everyone’s privacy.”

This post was updated to include the statement from the Players Association.

The $1.25 million fee would set an intra-league record for a National Women’s Soccer League trade, more than double the previous record set in August when the Kansas City Current acquired Ally Sentnor from the Utah Royals for $600,000. The fee, which “would be paid over multiple installments and entirely in NWSL intra-league transfer funds,” would also rank among some of the most expensive transfers globally.

The NWSL’s secondary transfer window closed on Aug. 25 for incoming international transfers, but intra-league trades can still be made until the league-wide roster freeze on Oct. 9.

Gotham currently sit in sixth place in the standings with a 7-6-6 (W-D-L) record and were looking to add a creative player to their squad. The club plans to sign Shaw through the 2029 NWSL season. She was previously signed through 2026 with the Courage.

The move will be Shaw’s second of this calendar year as she joined North Carolina in January after requesting a trade from the San Diego Wave. That deal involved the Courage sending $300,000 in allocation money, an international spot for the 2025 and 2026 NWSL seasons, and $150,000 in intraleague transfer fees to San Diego.

Shaw, 20, is one of the brightest young American attacking talents. She signed for the Wave in the summer of 2022 as a 17-year-old and scored in her first three NWSL games. Shaw shone as she helped San Diego make the playoffs as an expansion team that year, then win the NWSL Shield and be named to the NWSL Best XI in 2023.

She has eight career goals in 26 appearances for the senior USWNT and won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player in the Americans’ first-place finish at the Women’s Gold Cup in 2024. However, Shaw admitted she struggled to meet high expectations since joining the Courage. The Frisco, Texas-native started 10 NWSL games this season, recording three goals and one assist for the 11th-place Courage.

It isn’t immediately clear where Shaw fits into a stacked Gotham roster that boasts Esther Gonzales, Geyse, Ella Stevens, Gabi Portilho, Midge Purce, Katie Stengel, Rose Lavelle, Sarah Schupansky, and Josefine Hasbo, among others, as attacking options. Given Lavelle’s injury history, however, and the similar role she and Shaw can play, Shaw could slot in well when Lavelle is unavailable or playing restricted minutes.

It is Brazil’s ninth championship while Colombia are runners-up for the second straight time.

Colombia opened the scoring in the 25th minute through 20-year-old Linda Caicedo. Mayra Ramírez slipped Caicedo into a pocket of space at the top of the six-yard box, where the young attacker cooly finished with a low corner shot.

Brazil equalized in first-half stoppage time when Angelina converted a penalty kick awarded by VAR for an off-the-ball foul.

In the 69th minute, a disastrous play gave Colombia the lead once again. Tarciane intended to pass the ball back to her goalkeeper under some pressure, but ended up passing it into her own net.

Ten minutes later, Amanda Gutierres scored her fifth goal of the tournament to once again draw Brazil level. Gutierres was able to chest down the cross sent in by Gio Garbelini and cleanly shoot into the bottom, far corner.

Colombia might’ve thought they won the game in the 88th minute when Caceido and Ramírez connected again to give them the 3-2 advantage. This time it was Cacedio assisting Ramírez, slipping the Chelsea forward in on goal on the counterattack.

Brazil, however, was not done. In the sixth of seven second-half stoppage time minutes, Marta hit a left-footed rocket from outside the box to tie the game at 3-3. The brilliant finish and late-game heroics represented the kind of brilliance we have come to expect from the Brazilian legend.

In extra time, it was finally Brazil’s chance to take the lead. And once again, it was the legendary Marta, this time tapping it in from close range off the assist from Angelina.

With five minutes remaining in extra time, Colombia tied the game one last time thanks to a beautiful direct free kick from Washington Spirit attacker Leicy Santos that went straight into the top corner.

Tied with four goals each, the 2025 Copa America Feminina Final would be decided with a penalty shootout.

The penalty shootout began with Tarciane and Catalina Usme both converting their spot kicks for Brazil and Colombia, respectively. Angelina’s penalty was saved by Katherine Tapia and Marcela Restrepo converted for Colombia. Gutierres evened the score for Brazil and Manuela Paví skied her attempt over the crossbar.

The next round bolstered Brazil’s lead, with Mariza converting before Santos had her attempt saved by Lorena Silva. Marta had the chance to win it all in the fifth round and continue her heroics, but Tapia came up with another save. Caicedo then, unfazed by the enormity of the moment, calmly tied it again.

Moving into sudden death, both kickers in the sixth round, Jhonson and Wendy Bonilla, scored. Luany scored the first penalty kick of the seventh round, so when Lorena saved Jorelyn Carabalí‘s shot, Brazil came out victorious.

It is possible that the forward immediately starts scoring goals left and right (and headed), but the team’s focus is on the future.

“We’re invested in Mia for the long term,” Reign head coach Laura Harvey told media at Fishel’s introductory presser on July 10. “If she can hit the ground running and come in and be unbelievable from day one, great. But I think we know, one, she’s on a journey. Two… Mia’s potential is so high, and now it’s about the journey of getting it where we all believe it can be. And that’s why the investment is not just about tomorrow. It’s about the long term and showing up for what that looks like.”

They also don’t need Fishel to immediately make up for lackluster scoring. Right now, the Reign’s existing attacking unit is playing their best soccer of the season when the NWSL last played matches. In the first 10 games of the season, the Reign only scored multiple goals once. In their last three games, they scored a total of eight goals, recording three consecutive multi-goal games. 

Amid this low-pressure approach, Fishel’s integration into the team has been going well.

Since joining the team in early July, Fishel has quickly found comfort off the field and made friends off the field. An avid fisher, it didn’t take Fishel long to connect with fellow teammates, making plans to enjoy some of the great fishing and crabbing that Seattle has to offer.

Veteran midfielder Jess Fishlock admitted that she’d only been around Fishel for a week, but commended her great personality and joked to The Equalizer that she finds it interesting that Fishel has terrible table tennis form but somehow still wins.

Outside of fitting in well with the overall group environment, Fishel is also surrounded by familiar faces. Harvey was her coach with the U-20s, where she also played with several current teammates. Her existing relationship and experience with Harvey were a big reason she signed with Seattle in the first place.

“When it comes to [Harvey’s] coaching style, the way that she coaches, it brought the best out of me,” Fishel told media at her introductory press conference. “And I knew that immediately with the short time I had with her. And she gave me the confidence to be my absolute best. And that definitely intrigued me to come to Seattle.”

Some teammates she has known even longer, like midfielder Sam Meza, with whom she has played with since the U-15 USWNT level. Meza was very excited when she heard Fishel was joining the Reign and has since been impressed with her return from injury and contributions to the team.

“She’s done really, really well,” Meza said of Fishel’s integration. “I think coming back from injury, it’s definitely a process. And I think she’s doing really well within that process. She’s been super positive and really just a light since being here. I’m super excited for her. I think she is super talented, and I think she can really help us in the attack.”

On the field, she is developing the relationships and understandings that will be key to her success.

“I think when you play as a forward, to understand the tendencies of the people around you is the thing that can be the key ingredient for a forward to be successful or not,” Harvey explained.

In the two friendlies Seattle played in July during the break in NWSL play, Fishel played 30 minutes in the first game against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and then 45 minutes against the Thorns in Portland.

“Even in that sort of week of training between the first game [against Urawa], the second game [against Portland], and then how she executed in the second game, you can see she’s starting to understand people’s tendencies and what each other wants within the team,” Harvey told The Equalizer on Tuesday. “But that takes time. You know, it’s hard to be able to do that overnight. And Mia is definitely someone who needs to understand what other people are doing to get the best out of her strengths as well.”

Seattle only returned the last of their European players this week, and their players who were called up in the previous international window were given a break before returning to the team, so Fishel is just this week integrating with the last of her teammates.

“We haven’t had a chance yet to play everybody. I think she and Lynn, and the partnership that they can create, will be interesting,” Harvey said. “I think that’s just the next stage of it is getting back into these games that we’ve got thick and fast, and seeing what works with the team that we have now.”

Despite the limited amount of time she has had with the full team so far, her potential impact has been evident.

“I can absolutely see on the training field what she’s going to bring, what she’s going to add,” Fishlock told The Equalizer at practice on Tuesday. “I’m super excited to get on the field and link up with her. Just going to add a different dynamic to our group and our team. And that’s kind of what we need to do, is just keep adding those little tiny parts.”

Combination of young stars and veteran wisdom = Reign attacking success in June

One thing helping take pressure off of Fishel is the Reign’s relatively recent success scoring in league play. Right before the summer break, a team that was desperately struggling to score to start the season found its goalscoring form.

They started their June road trip with a 2-1 victory over San Diego, came back to tie Chicago 2-2 and then rolled over the Royals 4-1 in Utah.

What inspired the team’s improved goalscoring form? Young attackers Maddie Dahlien and Emeri Adames said it is a combination of increased confidence, the team gelling over time, and a hunger.

“We’ve just been telling each other, like, ‘shoot, get something on the ball,’” Adames said after defeating Utah. “But I also think there’s a hunger that we didn’t have at the beginning of the season that we do now, in like, we can beat these teams by multiple goals. We don’t have to just score one goal a game. We can get into our attacking third and really attack them. So I think that’s what changed.”

“I think it’s like getting into a gel with the relationships on the field. I think that we’re all finding a rhythm with each other,” Dahlien added. “And I think it really showed like with Ji [So-Yun] and Emeri and me and Lynn [Biyendolo] today, like we are figuring out each other’s tendencies and where each other like to be.”

Harvey agreed with her young stars and added that she thinks there is a renewed belief in the group that combines with their constant desire to get better.

“I’ve never worked with a group that, when adversity comes or things don’t quite go our way, they want to solve it immediately,” Harvey said. “They don’t want to leave things to chance. They don’t want to talk about it in their little silos. They want to come in the room collectively and go, ‘okay, this happened to us, we need to solve it.’ And I think that as long as we can keep that mentality and keep adding quality as we go to our play, we will be okay.”

One player who has helped fuel that belief is veteran USWNT and NWSL forward Lynn Biyendolo. Though Biyendolo didn’t register an official assist or goal on the stat sheet, she had three hockey assists against Utah.

“I think that just speaks to her impact,” Dahlien said. “She draws in three defenders, and then that leaves me and people on the other side open. I think people respect her so much as a player, so sometimes she’s not going to be available to get her shot off, but it’s her dishing the next pass and then finding the next free player. And her impact has been immense, not only on the field, but as a leader off the field. And so I don’t think really you can measure her impact here.”

That Biyendolo trusts her young teammates in those moments, Adames said, instills confidence in them.

“That she trusts us so much to give us the ball in those scenarios, and to trust us that we’ll be there when she plays the ball, I think that means a lot,” Adames said.

The NWSL’s all-time leading goalscorer (tied with Sam Kerr) also leads by example.

“She’s involved in all the good things that we do, and she’s that sort of pinnacle up there that has that experience, that understands what it takes to win in this league,” Harvey praised. “So, without someone like her in the forefront of it, I think the young ones would be looking for someone to work off. And thankfully, having Lynn means that they have that sort of stalwart up there who sets the tone for them all the time.”

Following Biyendolo’s example, young players like Adames have also improved their individual performances to contribute to the whole. Adames capped off a stellar June where she scored three goals and became the second youngest player to score a brace in the NWSL (behind only Mallory Swanson), named to the Team of the Month Best XI.

To begin the season, Adames’ playing time was sporadic and limited. A month or so before the game in Utah, Harvey had a conversation with Adames about what she needed to do to get more playing time. Defense was what was keeping Adames off the pitch. In June, her improved effort on the defensive end paid off.

“Being committed to the defensive side of the game is what she needs to do,” Harvey explained. “Because we know how good she is going forward. We know it. But we’re a team, and we play in a league where you can’t carry someone who doesn’t execute defensively. And [now] she’s executing defensively, and she’s getting the reward for that. … Now she’s set her own standard that we know she can do on both sides of the ball. So it’s the challenge for her now to stay in that standard and keep pushing forward from there.”

Roster competition

Right now, Seattle’s attacking options are plentiful. Dahlien has played every game of her rookie season, Adames is in form, Biyendolo is an all-time great goalscorer, five-foot-11 Jordyn Huitema is always a threat on set pieces, Nérilia Mondésir is healthy and finding her footing in the NWSL and Maddie Mercado has been impressive and energetic in her minutes. That doesn’t even take into account the legendary attacking midfielders they have back and healthy in Fishlock and Ji So-Yun. That sort of depth exists at nearly every position on the field for Seattle.

“I think the thing that we have now, which I’m really excited about and makes my job really hard, is our one to 26 is very competitive,” Harvey told The Equalizer. “I’m not sure I’ve had a roster one to 26 that’s as competitive as — I may have had a more talented maybe at times, 2021 was a highly talented roster. But just how competitive it is between the whole 26, I’ve never really felt that, ever, I don’t think, but for a very long time. Which makes my job hard, but also exciting, because we have loads of options.”

The depth helps take pressure off of Fishel, but it also breeds an ideal kind of competition. Fishel said she wanted to join a team that would push her in training every day, and this roster fits that bill.

“I think that that really helps with competition and I think that’s another reason why we’re on a good momentum shift,” Harvey said. “Because I think everyone knows and believes that they’ve got a chance to play. If they play well they play, and if someone’s playing better than them, then they might lose their spot. … I think that that’s been a really good positive thing for us that we need to take into the second half of season. …

“With where the team is I don’t think there’s pressure for her to be [amazing from day one] which is great. It’s ideally what you want. We’re not bringing her in to be the hero today. We’re bringing her in because we think that she’s got short term and long term value to this team, and the more we can expose her, the better that will be.”

Depth will also be key going into this stretch of the season, where the team will play 12 games in 12 weeks.

“I think we’ve got players who can step in or in every single position, which you know is great, as long as the players all buy into that, and right now they are,” Harvey said. “It’s unrealistic to think you’re going to play the same starting 11 every week, with the travel and the days between the games. So having a really competitive roster that can go out and perform depending on opponent, depending on where we are, depending on what travel and recovery we’ve had, is a luxury I don’t think I’ve really had before.”

Returning to full capacity after ACL injury

Fishel is still technically returning from tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee while training for the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup. She had been cleared to play since January, but didn’t make her return to play for Chelsea until March. Though the injury was tough and derailed her professional and international career, Fishel said she learned a lot from the experience.

“I learned so much about being professional and taking care of your body, strengthening it. And I feel like me as a player is night and day. I’m quicker, I’m stronger, [and] I’m mentally stronger as well,” Fishel said.

Now, Fishel and her knee are feeling good as they continue to grow her fitness and get her back to being fully fit. Though Fishel isn’t on a strict minutes restriction, Harvey said they are cognizant of being smart about her playing time. She played 30 minutes and then 45 minutes in friendlies, and that kind of minutes distribution is likely to continue at least to start the second half of the season.

“How much we can get out of her quickly isn’t the priority, right?” Harvey told The Equalizer. “We’re invested in Mia long term, so whatever we get out of her in the next 12 games, in this crazy stretch we have — bonus. If that’s 30 minutes here, 45 minutes there, 90 minutes as we get going, great. But there’s just no expectation. I think we’ve just got to drip feed her in, and I think that’ll be the best way.”

What Fishel brings to Seattle

There are many visibly evident talents that Fishel is bringing to the Reign. 

Fishel’s goalscoring prowess is easy to point out and get excited about. The attacker was the Mexican league’s top scorer in the 2022 Apertura (fall) season with 17 goals in 17 appearances, making her the first foreign player to win Liga MX Femenil Golden Boot, as Tigres won the title, and she added another 13 goals in the 2023 Clausura (spring) before her move to Chelsea. In her time at UCLA, from 2019 to 2021, Fishel scored 32 goals and added 14 assists in 59 appearances for the Bruins.

“What I’ve observed with Mia is a uniqueness in ability to finish,” general manager Lesle Gallimore said after introducing Fishel to Seattle media. “To be that person and to want that on you is unique in our game. And those are the type of players you’re always looking for, the ones that want it on them all the time. And even as a young player, she’s not shied away from being the go-to.

“And she finishes in different ways. That’s the thing. She’s not a predictable player that anyone’s going to be able to look at and say, ‘Oh, this is how you take Mia out of the game,’ … she’ll find a way to make you think differently. And that, to me, is really, really exciting in our game. And she’s one of those players, I feel over time, our fans are going to learn to be on the edge of their seats anytime she’s in and around the box. And the cellies are solid.”

Fishel agrees that she is exactly the kind of player Gallimore described, she wants the ball at her feet in the big moments, and she is not phased by pressure.

“I’ve been having pressure since I left UCLA, going to Tigres,” Fishel said. “That was, I think, the biggest backlash. … So I’m used to the pressure. I’m used to showing up in big moments. And I think that’s who I am as a player — I want to be in the big games. I want to be the one the ball gets to when it’s the last minute of the game. So it’s part of my DNA, and this is no different.”

Fishel is also versatile and willing to help her team in whatever position or role is best.

“I know that I could bring something different in whatever way Laura wants. That’s the trust that we have,” Fishel said. “I’m multi-dimensional. It just depends on who we’re playing, how we’re setting up. I think that I can gel in multiple ways, so I’m excited to explore that with Laura and see what works best with this team.”

There are also some more intangible attributes that the UCLA alum is bringing with her that suggest she will be successful.

Fishel is hungry. She felt she wasn’t getting enough opportunities at Chelsea and has not been shy about her desire to be a consistent contributor for the U.S. women’s national team.

“I feel like even though I was doing really well and doing all that I could, it just wasn’t enough for the [Chelsea] coach at the time,” Fishel said. “And I wanted to, obviously, be on a team that values me and respects me and knows my talent and will use it. I also want to be in the U.S. women’s national team, and I know how big playing time is, so that definitely helped with my decision to leave Chelsea.”

Some things that have stood out to Harvey since coaching her with the U-20s, which wasn’t a very long period of time but featured a lot of games in a short span, are her ability and drive to learn.

“I think just the flexibility to learn really quickly was something that stood out,” Harvey said. “I think she described herself as a sponge. I would echo that. [She also has] a drive, a real drive to want to be the best she possibly can be. And when you’re working with a player like that, you just lean towards that. Because I want everyone to be the best they can possibly be. And if we can help develop her in any way possible, we want to do that.”

The Euro 2022 victors eventually came out on top in front of a sold-out crowd of 34,203 fans at St.Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland. The result capped off the highest-attended Women’s UEFA European Championship in the tournament’s history at 657,291 total.

Despite the eventual result, Spain started the game on top. Spain only needed 25 minutes to break the deadlock after a relatively even start to the finale of Euro 2025. Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey scored the wide-open header inside the six-yard box off the cross from outside back Ona Batlle, after England defender Lucy Bronze failed to mark the goalscorer properly. Even before the finish, it was a beautiful example of classic Spanish interplay that created the opportunity.

The Lionesses had some early chances but failed to capitalize. After the goal, Spain continued to dominate possession, using an impressive counterpress to not allow England out of their own defensive half.

England were forced to make an early substitution when Lauren James went down injured in the 40th minute. James had already been listed as questionable with an ankle injury. The change resulted in Chloe Kelly‘s earliest appearance in this tournament, having made five second-half appearances off the bench. As a substitute, the Arsenal forward assisted the first goal in the quarterfinal comeback against Sweden and scored the game-winning goal in extra time against Italy in the semifinal. She would once again prove incredibly impactful.

England found an equalizer in the 57th minute through the head of Alessia Russo. Kelly recorded her second assist of the tournament with a pinpoint cross from the left side. Similar to Spain’s opener, the marking in the box didn’t put enough pressure on the goalscorer.

After England’s equalizer, Spain created the majority of, and the higher-quality, chances but couldn’t find that decisive second goal, sending the game to extra time.

Extra time remained deadlocked at one goal apiece, sending Spain to their first penalty shootout of this tournament and England to their second. For the first time since the inaugural edition in 1984, the women’s Euro would be decided by a penalty shootout.

Veteran Beth Mead stepped up first and initially converted down the middle despite slipping, but had her shot well saved by Cata Coll on the forced second attempt. Patri Guijarro was first for Spain and barely squeaked her centered shot past a flying Hannah Hampton. Alex Greenwood converted with a low shot just far enough into the right corner. Caldentey, who missed a penalty earlier in the tournament, had her mid-height shot saved by Hampton. Niamh Charles, a late substitute for England, sent Coll the wrong direction and placed the ball into the left corner. Aitana Bonmatí, Spain’s semifinal goalscorer, also had her mid-height penalty saved by Hampton. Captain Leah Williamson had her attempt saved by Coll with a strong swipe. Salma Paralluelo sent her shot wide of the right post, making it 2-1 in favor of England with one round of kicks left to take. Kelly, who scored the game-winning goal in the Euro 2022 final, stepped up to take the decisive fifth-round kick and sent it into the top left-hand corner for the victory.

Despite long periods of domination, Spain could not win it all in their first-ever Euro Final appearance. Gotham FC and Spain forward Esther Gonzáles still took home the tournament’s Golden Boot as the top scorer with four goals throughout the 2025 Euros. Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Bonmatí was named the Player of the Tournament.

Michelle Agyemang received the Young Player of the Tournament award, having come off the bench in four games and scored two crucial goals for England at the age of 19. Hampton was awarded Player of the Match honors for her several in-game saves and penalty shootout performance.

England were lucky to get to the final in the first place, but in the end, their resiliency paid off and they were able to outlast Spain.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to bring Mia into our squad,” Seattle Reign FC head coach Laura Harvey said in a statement. “She’s a forward with world-class potential who’s already accomplished so much in her young career. Mia’s ability to disrupt defenses, finish in different ways makes her a dangerous addition to our group. We’re excited to help her take the next step and can’t wait to see her on the field soon.”

Fishel has made three appearances for the senior U.S. women’s national team. She received her second call-up for the senior team in September 2023 for a set of friendlies against South Africa and subsequently made her senior debut on September 24, 2023. Fishel scored her first, and so far only, goal for the national team in her second appearance, a friendly against Colombia which finished 3–0 on October 29, 2023.

Fishel has also represented the United States at the U-15, U-17 and U-20 levels, winning three Concacaf championships across those age groups. In 2020, Fishel was a finalist alongside Naomi Girma and Trinity Rodman for U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.

Fishel’s USWNT journey was derailed in February 2024 when she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee while training for the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup.

After 13 months of rehab, the former UCLA Bruin returned to the field on March 23 for Chelsea. She made four league appearances, making one start but playing no more than 55 minutes in any one game. As a result, Fishel scored two goals in 14 appearances over two years for Chelsea.

Fishel made a partial return to the USWNT when she spent the end-of-May to early-June international break with the U-23s for a pair of games against Germany.

“Yes, she could come in, sit on the bench for [the senior team], but it’s much better for her to go and play in Germany and get the experiences so that these players are tracking to compete in the place that we want them to come 2027,” USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said in May.

In her time at UCLA, from 2019 to 2021, Fishel scored 32 goals and added 14 assists in
59 appearances for the Bruins. She was a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American
and earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors in back-to-back seasons.

Fishel was initially drafted No. 5 overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride after leaving UCLA a year early. She declined to join Orlando and instead chose to sign with Liga MX Femenil powerhouse Tigres, where she made an immediate impact.

Fishel was the league’s top scorer in the 2022 Apertura (fall) season with 17 goals in 17 appearances, making her the first foreign player to win Liga MX Femenil Golden Boot, as Tigres won the title, and she added another 13 goals in the 2023 Clausura (spring) before her move to Chelsea.

Hayes was the Chelsea boss when the Blues first acquired Fishel from Tigres in 2023 for a $250,000 transfer fee. While at Chelsea, the club won back-to-back Women’s Super League titles. She was also with Chelsea during the club’s run to its sixth FA Women’s Cup title (2024-25) and third FA Women’s League Cup title (2024-25). Fishel scored in her Chelsea debut but missed the better part of both seasons.

“I’m incredibly excited to sign a long-term contract in the NWSL and take this next step in my career with Seattle Reign FC,” Fishel said in a statement. “This league is one of the best in the world, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity. I can’t wait to get started and contribute to the team’s success.”

The contract shows immense belief in Fishel’s potential as she immediately becomes the longest-contracted player on Seattle’s roster. Only three players are even signed through one less season, with Claudia Dickey, Ainsley McCammon and Sam Meza all signed through 2028.

“We’re pleased to bring Mia Fishel to Seattle Reign FC,” said general manager Lesle Gallimore in a release. “Mia is a player with tremendous upside – a goal-scorer with presence, creativity and a drive to keep growing. This move represents an important step in her return to top form, and we’re committed to giving her the environment and support to thrive. We believe in her ability to make a real impact in the NWSL and are looking forward to what she’ll bring to the club and our fans.”

Reports emerged in early June that Fishel was in discussion with multiple NWSL teams about a summer transfer away from Chelsea in search of more minutes and earning more USWNT caps ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Chelsea already boasts a crowded roster of talented forwards, including fellow USWNT attacker Catarina Macario, Colombian international Mayra Ramírez, and Australian Sam Kerr, the two-time WSL league-leading scorer who is set to return from a long-term knee injury.

Seattle are not without their own crowded forward pool which has seen a decent amount of rotation through injury and different players being in form.

USWNT and NWSL veteran Lynn Biyendolo leads the front line when healthy, while rookie Maddie Dahlien has appeared in every single match this season, and 18-year-old Emeri Adames has recently been in fire form, named to the June NWSL Best XI. Canadian Jordyn Huitema and Haitian international Nérilia Mondesir have also started at various points when healthy, while Ana-Maria Crnogerčević and Maddie Mercado too have played some impactful minutes. Certain lineups have also seen brilliant attacking midfielders like Jess Fishlock and Ji So-Yun play more so as part of the forward line.

Despite a deep forward pool, Reign have at times lacked the presence of a true No. 9, a more traditional center-forward, a classic focal point with Fishel’s pure goal-scoring ability.

Biyendolo is the closest as she is more than capable of playing that position, stretching the back line and being on the receiving end of service, but she can make an impact anywhere along the front line. Huitema is often thought of as a pure striker but rarely, if ever, plays that way for Seattle. This season, she has often played more as a false nine or a play-making No. 10.

Despite her goalscoring acumen, Fishel has admitted that she “identified more as an attacking midfielder” while she was growing up. “I wanted to be on the ball and start attacks,” she told the Chelsea club website. That, however, is a position where the Reign are generally not lacking.

Fishel is already in market and able to begin training. Her first chances to appear will be in the club’s two July friendlies, against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds on July 20 and against Portland Thorns on July 26, at Lumen Field and Providence Park, respectively. Seattle returns to NWSL play on Aug.1 at home against Angel City for its annual Pride Match.

Where Fishel fits into this Reign squad and how long it takes her to adjust to the NWSL remains to be seen, but her signing has the potential to be one of the biggest, most exciting, and most impactful moves of this summer transfer window.

The UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 hosts put on a dream performance in front of a record crowd in Bern, Switzerland, on Sunday. After a disappointing opening day loss to Norway, Switzerland came back to defeat Iceland 2-0 in front of 29,658 fans, the sixth-largest women’s EURO tournament crowd ever, and the third of 2025 to make the top ten.

“It’s incredible,” Switzerland captain Lia Wälti said after the win about the support of the Swiss fans. “Before the game, I probably cried about three times already because when we came to the stadium, seeing all the fans, the videos of the city, and how amazing people are in supporting us – it’s something we’ve never experienced in Switzerland.  So we’re going to have to really enjoy it.”

The day’s marquee matchup featured the hosts, Switzerland, taking on Norway at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland. It’s a good sign for the rest of the tournament that the home fans turned up in massive numbers for Switzerland’s first match — the crowd of 34,063 was a record for a women’s game in Switzerland inside the stadium with a capacity of 34,250.

“It was a goosebump moment; everyone had Swiss jerseys on,” Switzerland midfielder Géraldine Reuteler said. “Everyone was just smiling, just beaming; it was so much pleasure to play here for the fans – they made a great atmosphere.”

“I think these are the moments we’re all playing football for,” Swiss captain Lia Wälti said. “Already, while we were singing the national anthem, I had tears in my eyes. It was something we said that we’re only going to experience once in our lives, and we have to enjoy it. And I think today we did enjoy it over the 90 minutes.”

Both teams exited the past two editions of the EUROs in the group stage and are looking to turn things around this year — Switzerland as the host nation and Norway as the team of talented superstars that has consistently underperformed at major tournaments.

The game began well for Switzerland, who held a 1-0 lead after a dominant first half and a goal from Nadine Riesen.

They seemed to start the second half with the same kind of fire but their fortunes were reversed in minutes. In the 54th minute, Vilde Bøe Risa’s corner kick delivery was met by a powerful header from Ada Hegerberg, tying the game. Just four minutes later, Norway took the lead when Carolina Graham Hansen played in a low ball that was turned into the net by Swiss defender Julia Stierli.

After Hegerberg dragged a penalty kick attempt wide in the 70th minute, Switzerland still had a chance to take a point from the game, but a 90th-minute point-blank block preserved the upset.

“I think it was a very even game. I think we almost had more chances than Norway. We would have, in my opinion, deserved a little bit more tonight,” Wälti said. “So it’s unlucky for us, but I think we got carried by the fans today. It was an unbelievable experience playing in front of a home crowd. I’m proud of the performance, but it’s unlucky with the result.”

The result made Norway the first team to win against a Women’s EURO host in their opening match since the group stage was introduced in 1997. It is also a good sign for Norway that Hegerberg got on the scoresheet as her 50th career international goal was also her first at a Women’s EURO since 2013 — they will need her scoring goals if they hope to make a deep tournament run this summer.

The day began however with Finland, the lowest-ranked team in the group at No. 26, defeating Iceland, the highest-ranked team at No. 14. Finland could’ve scarcely wished for a better start to the tournament, as they were winless in their previous eight Women’s EURO matches.

The first half was slow, but things quickly heated up in the second half. Iceland had their chances but were dealt a devastating blow when Hildur Antonsdóttir received two yellow cards in the span of six minutes, forcing Iceland to play down a player from the 58th minute on. It was a questionable call made by VAR that commentators struggled to identify as a card-worthy foul.

Finland took advantage, and Katariina Kosola scored the opening goal of the 2025 Women’s EURO in the 70th minute with a beautiful strike into the top corner. Her fourth international goal held up as the game winner.

“It’s been 16 years since Finland last won at a major tournament, when the Women’s EURO was played in Finland in 2009,” Finland head coach Marko Saloranta said. “Since then, we’ve had no victories at the 2013 and 2022 tournaments. I’m very satisfied to start with three points.”

It was also a landmark game for Chicago Stars defender Natalia Kuikka who made her 100th international appearance for Finland.

For Iceland, this is a start they will hope to forget and quickly recuperate from. Captain Glódís Viggósdóttir had to be substituted at halftime for what she later confirmed was stomach illness that she’s had for a few days. Iceland will hope she recovers in time for their July 7 matchup against Switzerland. At the very least, Iceland will be without their 29-year-old box-to-box defensive midfielder Antonsdóttir, who is an incessant runner and ball-winner.

The Icelandic player to watch for National Women’s Soccer League fans is Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir as the 24-year-old versatile attacker is set to join Angel City after this tournament. One of Iceland’s most successful and popular players, the young player has a lot of weight on her shoulders leading the attack.

“We will bounce back – I’m not scared about that,” Jónsdóttir said. “I know we will do better in the next game. We have to.”