FootyPop: Temwa Chawinga Breaks Single-Season Scoring Record

In this week’s women’s soccer news, Temwa Chawinga broke an NWSL record; Andi Sullivan suffered a season-ending injury; Amandine Henry announced her retirement from international soccer; and more!

High of the Week

Temwa Chawinga made NWSL history this weekend when she scored her 19th goal of the season which is a single-season record. The goal ended up being the game-winner for the Kansas City Current over Bay FC. Chawinga beat Sam Kerr’s record set in 2019 of 18 goals in a season. In just her first season in the league Chawinga has become a star.

TC6 DOING WHAT’S NEVER BEEN DONE 🗣️

Temwa Chawinga has officially broken the @NWSL single season goal record with 19 goals!!!!#KCBABY pic.twitter.com/VyIoltqwqj

— KC Current – x (@thekccurrent) October 13, 2024

Low of the Week

This week the Washington Spirit announced that midfielder Andi Sullivan would miss the remainder of the season. Sullivan suffered a torn ACL in the Spirit’s loss to the Orlando Pride on October 6. It’s a crushing blow for Sullivan who has played well this season and the Washington Spirit as playoffs are just around the corner.

Andi Sullivan will miss the remainder of the 2024 season with injury. https://t.co/h2HAUlsPQA

— Washington Spirit – x (@WashSpirit) October 9, 2024

News of the Week

Amandine Henry announced her retirement from international soccer. She appeared in 109 matches for France throughout her career.

𝑼𝒏𝒆 𝒍𝒆́𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆 𝒔𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆… ✨@amandinehenry6 annonce sa retraite internationale après 109 sélections en Bleue 💙

Merci pour tout Amandine 🙏 #FiersdetreBleues pic.twitter.com/fkqy8yhjui

— Equipe de France Féminine (@equipedefranceF) October 13, 2024

Win of the Week

The Portland Thorns did what nobody has been able to do this season and handed the Orlando Pride their first loss. It was a huge win for the Thorns fighting for a playoff spot. It was Portland’s first win since July 5. Christine Sinclair and Morgan Weaver both found the back of the net for the Thorns in their 2-0 win.

Pure joy in Portland 😄 pic.twitter.com/dGzByMl5vr

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 12, 2024

Player of the Week

Cloé Lacasse had a big game for the Utah Royals in their 3-0 win over the Seattle Reign. Lacasse scored a first-half hat trick and it was the first hat trick scored in Royals history and the first in the NWSL this season. It was just the second time in league history that a player has scored a hat trick in the first half.

First hat trick of the 2024 @NWSL season. First hat trick in #URFC club history.

Cloé Lacasse, take a bow!! pic.twitter.com/tz8y0xPMNj

— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) October 13, 2024

Goal of the Week

Christen Press made her 100th NWSL appearance this weekend and she also scored her first goal in two years. Press had been sidelined for two years with a knee injury so it’s great to see her back on the score sheet.

Christen Press… are you serious?! pic.twitter.com/Sthd3k7GHW

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 13, 2024

Team of the Week

The North Carolina Courage broke their season attendance record with a crowd of over 7,000 over the weekend. They extended their home unbeaten streak to 21 straight matches in style with Olivia Wingate scoring the game-tying goal in the final seconds of stoppage time.

Olivia is all of us rn 🥳#ForTheLove | #OwnThisMoment pic.twitter.com/eWX9XHgURW

— NC Courage – x (@TheNCCourage) October 13, 2024

What to Look Forward To

The NWSL playoffs is just two weeks away and the locations for the first round have been confirmed. The Orlando Pride, Kansas City Current, Washington Spirit, and NJ/NY Gotham FC have all secured a home playoff match. It’s the first time that Gotham has ever hosted a playoff match.

WE’RE PLAYOFFS BOUND 🚨

ROAD TO REPEAT. HERE WE GOOOO. pic.twitter.com/YrExQ7S6FM

— NJ/NY Gotham FC – x (@GothamFC) September 22, 2024

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