Been A Long Time, Shouldn't Have Left You Without a Dope Beat To Step To

Well, it’s in the title. Listen, life post the NWSL Championship has been brutal for the SBFC Team. Chaotic holidays, prolonged illnesses, and, well, everything else that’s happening around us right now has kept us away from doing some of what we love. But, never fear, we are back with our weekly newsletter, bringing you all the old hits, and hopefully, a few new classics as well. In addition to getting back to our regularly scheduled program, we have some new team members for you to meet!

Meet Anéssa - North Carolina

Why Anessa is excited to join our team: Highlighting women's soccer and black perspectives specifically is so important to me and I'm so excited to get to do it alongside a great group of people! Writing and photography are my biggest passions.

Meet Thom - Kansas City

Why Thom is excited to join our team: I fell in love with WoSo in 99 when Bri Scurry saved that penalty shot. I’ve been hooked ever since. What has always bothered me about the sport, particularly in this country, is how it lacks a Black perspective. Over the last few years, the sport has become decidedly more Black in a media space that doesn’t understand the evolution. To be teaming up with SkyE and Sylvs is a chance to offer that perspective and make sure that the voices of all Black players and Black coaches are heard and valued.

We can’t wait to introduce you to the rest of the team in the next newsletter! Our growth is just beginning, stay tuned.

New HBCU merch!

Welcome loyal Squad Members! We are back and so is our merch. Our new HBCU line is dropping today. We are excited about this one, and the bonus, it’s dropping during Black History Month (Year for us). The following blurb explains our why in regards to this drop.

Elevate, Celebrate, Educate. These are three words that get to the heart of why Shea Butter FC was created. We elevate and celebrate Black women in the game through education and community building. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have lived these principles in support of Black people in America since Reconstruction. It felt right to throw our support behind these institutions that elevate Black intelligence and talent, celebrate our many accomplishments and leaders, and educate Black people in a country that continues to fight against it. Furthermore, HBCUs have men’s and women’s soccer programs that are rarely amplified, despite their success. We want to change that. You can join the movement to Elevate HBCU Soccer with this merch. Tell your family, tell your friends, and support your favorite HBCU by choosing from our many color combinations. HBCUs and young Black people need us now more than ever!

Grab your gear here!

*A portion of sales for this line will be donated to the United Negro College Fund. To find out more about UNCF, pleases read their mission here

Match Recaps and Notable Goal Scorers

*the number next to the name denotes the goal scorer and the minute of the match their goal was scored. (P) means it was a penalty goal, and a plus (+) sign added means the goal was scored in stoppage time

The NWSL is in preseason, while Europe played it’s last matchday prior to the international break. Below are the Black goal scorers of note from European competition.

Barclays Women’s Super League

Manchester City 4, Liverpool 0 - Khadija “Bunny” Shaw 30, 43

West Ham 3, Brighton 1 - Nikita Parris 14, Viviane Asseyi 68 (P)

Chelsea 2, Everton 1 - Kelly Gago 51, Lauren James 90+3

Arkema Première Ligue

Paris Saint-Germain 4, Montpellier 1 - Grace Geyoro 23, Jennifer Echegini 35, Nina Soufiya Negueleu 90+1

Dijon 2, Reims 1 - Hawa Sangare 59

Lyon 7, Guingamp 0 - Melchie Dumornay 30, Kadidiatou Diani 35, 59, 62

Frauen Bundesliga

Freiburg 2, Koln 0 - Cora Zicai 59

Wolfsburg 6, Eintracht Frankfurt - Lineth Beerensteyn 8

Black In Action: Khadija “Bunny” Shaw

Bunny Shaw scored a brace in her WSL match against Liverpool, a team she loves scoring against. And while both of her goals were sensational (see above video of her first goal), the photo I posted is my focus. We have highlighted Bunny in this section before, but I am making her a repeat. Shaw was the victim of racial abuse during Manchester City’s home match against Arsenal. The abuse affected her in such a way that she sat out of City’s next match, also against Arsenal, this time in London, before returning to play against Liverpool. Her brace and pose after her first goal was an emphatic “fuck you” to the racists that hurl violent insults. Bunny is a 9, she is strong, she seems impossible to defend at times. But she is fully human and capable of feeling hurt and pain. And, unfortunately, anti-Black racism is hurled at players, regardless of when they played the game. We at Shea Butter FC unequivocally stand with Bunny and all Black players that endure racist abuse while playing the game they love. We love you Bunny, keep ballin on em!

Anatomy of a Goal: Lauren James

Lauren James has been out for Chelsea for most of this season, and while the WSL giants have remained undefeated in that time, her individual brilliance has been missing from a side looking to win every trophy available. But what they really missed is their biggest star in the biggest moments. With the match tied 1-1 in stoppage time, this sequence, one of desperation, starts with a cross in from Niamh Charles. James actually ducks to let the ball go and an Everton player jumps over her to head the ball away. The ball cycles back out a few yards to Millie Bright, who passes it back to Sandy Baltimore, who then gives the ball to James in some space at the top of the box, slightly left. James takes a touch just to survey the space in the box before tapping into the audacity that she so often possess, and fires a shot home with her lethal left foot. It is a beautiful shot that is trailing away to the far post. There is no defender there to block it, and she places it just below where the keeper can reach if she’s at a complete stretch. The technique with the inside of her left foot that also the bend away is lovely, and it always looks so casual coming off her foot. If Chelsea can keep this LJ healthy, they may reach all of their goals this season.

Hidden Figures: Kelly Gago

The January window in the WSL is often quiet, especially in comparison to the summer window. That was not the case this season, with the likes of Naomi Girma, the first million dollar transfer coming to Chelsea, along with Keira Walsh, and Chloe Kelly leaving Manchester City to go on loan to her old club, Arsenal. But, with more movement than usual, and bigger dollar/pound signs than ever before, the best singing of the fall window may be Kelly Gago, the French international striker. She has made an instant impact at Everton, and her growing partnership with Toni Payne, the Birmingham, AL born midfielder, looks like one formed from them playing together for several seasons. Unfortunately, this goal starts with a turnover by Cat Macario, but it is Payne’s barreling run that truly gets this goal started. Her layoff to Gago seems to be far too wide, and the angle does not favor Gago, but her technique from the spot, especially at her height, is beautiful, and she is able to sail it into the top far corner for the goal. It is a lovely play from a much improved Everton squad, and Gago is a huge reason why they are. She is a player to watch for the rest of the WSL, and I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.

Cultural Cuts: Black Rosie Media

Today we are shouting out one of our biggest supporters, and one of the hardest working and most talented Black women in sports. Erica Ayala is the founder of Black Rosie Media, which is dedicated to covering women’s basketball, women’s hockey and The Olympics. This coverage includes podcasts, shows, and, newsletters. We are linking both newsletters (shoutout beehiiv) here so you can take a look at the work for yourself. Follow Black Rosie Media and subscribe to their newsletters while you’re there.

Women’s Basketball Roundup: https://wbb-roundup.beehiiv.com/

Gold Medal Dispatch: https://black-rosie-media-pop-up.beehiiv.com/

Final Thoughts: You Can’t Cancel Black History Month, or Black People

I want to be very clear here. Our country is currently being run by racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, and ableist men who are determined to tell us we are not fully human. One, trans women are women, trans girls are girls, and they all should be able to play sports, because sports are for everyone. Two, you cannot cancel Black History Month or Black people. This country has tried for over 400 years and it hasn’t happened yet. It won’t happen now. We will be here to love on and celebrate all Black women as our way of brightening the corner we’re in. We will scream about Shea Butter Bombs and Dimes, and we will defend the Bunny Shaws of the world whenever we can. I also want to send love to a Black woman, Daniela Caracas, who is not from the U.S., but deserves love all the same. What was done to her, and the lack of support for her in the aftermath, is upsetting, but not at all surprising. It does not matter where it is in the world, Black women are never allowed to be the victims, even when their perpetrator is caught on tape. We love you Daniela. We love all of you, and we want you to know that Shea Butter is in this fight with you, whatever it may be. And we will be loud and unapologetically Black while we do it. Happy Black History Month to you all!