FootyPop: Lily Yohannes Will Represent The USWNT

In this week’s women’s soccer news, Lily Yohannes will represent the USWNT; the NWSL semifinals are set; the San Diego Wave got a big signing; and more!

High of the Week

Lily Yohannes has announced that she will be representing the United States on the international stage. She had the choice between the USWNT and the Netherlands. She made her debut for the USWNT in June against South Korea where she scored a goal in her debut. Yohannes signed with Ajax at just 15 in 2023 and has made 24 appearances for the club. 

❤️🤍💙 pic.twitter.com/nEnoJg6wvO

— Lily Yohannes (@LilyYohannes10) November 11, 2024

Low of the Week

With the Portland Thorns falling in the quarterfinals it means that Christine Sinclair’s amazing career has come to an end. As a Thorn, she earned 204 appearances and scored 72 goals. On the international stage, she’s the leading scorer in the world with 190 goals in 331 appearances for Canada.

For one last time, the Greatest Of All Time.

Sinc, your legacy is immeasurable, your impact will last beyond a lifetime. #ThankYouSinc pic.twitter.com/oLrp1vVXVY

— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) November 10, 2024

News of the Week

The NWSL semifinals are set with just four teams fighting for the title. The first match will be the Washington Spirit vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC on Saturday, November 16 at noon ET. Then on Sunday, November 17, the Orlando Pride will host the Kansas City Current at 3 p.m. ET. Both matches will be on national television with Saturday’s match on CBS and Sundays on ABC.

THE NWSL SEMIFINALS ARE SET 🗓️

Coverage on Sunday will start at 2:30 PM ET!

Presented by @madebygoogle pic.twitter.com/lHC9NSKfD5

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 10, 2024

Goal of the Week

It’s been a big month for Aitana Bonmatí as she became a 2x Ballon d’Or winner and scored her 100th goal for Barcelona. It’s her fourth goal of the season for the club. It was a good goal with the cross coming into the box and Bonmatí tapping it into the top of the net.

And just like that, the 2x Ballon d’Or winner, Aitana Bonmatí, has scored 100 goals for Barcelona 💙❤️🐐

🎥 @DAZNWFootball pic.twitter.com/AwnBuW7O80

— The Women’s Game (@WomensGameMIB) November 9, 2024

Signing of the Week

The San Diego Wave announced that they had signed Trinity Byars. She became the first collegiate player to sign in the NWSL. With the college draft being gone we’ll see more players begin to sign with clubs like Byars. Byars has had an incredible career with Texas and is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals. Byars is currently rehabbing from a knee injury.

the longhorn legend is SD bound 🤘🌊 pic.twitter.com/yowBDdtVyZ

— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) November 7, 2024

Player of the Week

Barbra Banda has been a massive addition to the Orlando Pride all season and she continued to shine in their playoff match. Banda scored a first-half brace with goals in the 39th minute and stoppage time.

A great start to the play offs.

Back on the score sheet, Brace on the day.

We are Orlando Pride.#BlessedChild #BB11 pic.twitter.com/jKzfhD0MR5

— Barbra Banda (@BarbraBanda11) November 9, 2024

Team of the Week

The Washington Spirit and Bay FC quarter-final was quite the battle. Bay FC shocked the Spirit with a goal in the 82nd minute but the Spirit roared back in front of a sold-out crowd of over 19,000. Tara McKeown was the hero for the Spirit with a tying goal in the 86th minute to send the match to overtime. In the first overtime period, the Spirit took the lead thanks to an own goal to advance them to the semifinal match.

Washington Spirit were down at home and facing elimination from the NWSL playoffs.

Then in the 86th minute center back Tara McKeown did this 😱

(via @NWSL)pic.twitter.com/YLThp6yZDD

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 10, 2024

What To Look Forward To

It’s time for the NCAA Tournament with the selection show taking place at 4 p.m. ET on Monday, November 11. The Florida State Seminoles are the reigning champions but the Duke Blue Devils are currently the top-ranked team in the country.

The AQs are locked in for the 2024 NCAA DI Women’s Soccer Tournament 🔒

🔗 https://t.co/q1AqG5s7dE#NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/4SpillyGLP

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 11, 2024

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