I Only Think of the NWSL on Two Occasions, That's Day and Night

So, just like the league, we’ve been in preseason with the newsletter. We’re a bit uneven, still finding our way through the 2025 season. But, good news, just like the league, we’re back to playing every week! In that spirit (no Washington), this week, we’re deviating from our regularly scheduled programming to bring you our NWSL preview, in before the deadline…barely. We’re excited that the league is back, and we’re really excited to make predictions that we will have to adjust in July. . Hopefully, the change up is worth it, and if not, we can all forget this ever happened. Happy NWSL Opening Weekend to all who celebrate, and now, on with the show!

Meet Riss - Washington D.C.

Why Riss is excited to join our team: I am excited to be joining Shea Butter FC in something totally out of my comfort zone! I’ve always loved women’s soccer, especially playing it as a kid. I can’t wait to jump into this journey of highlighting women’s soccer and am grateful for the opportunity from the team.

We have merch!

What’s up y’all! We still have our new HBCU merch for sale. Rep your favorite HBCU or organization while supporting SBFC and a good cause. Below is a blurb about why we chose this line. Thank you for your support and we hope you love your new gear!

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

*_{note, all names listed in italics are players that scored, the number beside their name indicates the minute they scored their goal. (P) = goal scored was a penalty kick}

We are switching it up a bit this week, but we still want to highlight goals scored in the top divisions of women’s football from around the world.

Barclays Women’s Super League

Chelsea 3, Leicester City 1 - Macario 8

Manchester City 1, West Ham United 1 - Khadija “Bunny” Shaw 80

Vitality Women’s FA Cup

Manchester City 2, Aston Villa 0 - Khadija “Bunny” Shaw 53

Chelsea 1, Crystal Palace 0 - Lauren James 64

The Shea Butter FC NWSL Preview: How Many Mics?

So, if you didn’t know, I am firmly an 80s baby and a 90s kid. The 1990s brought us the birth of hip-hop journalism, and it’s prize publication was The Source. I don’t have much to add to the NWSL preview discourse, as I have read as many articles as you likely have. However, it’s one of our favorite times of the year, and we can’t completely ignore it, so we might as well have a little fun. I’ll briefly touch on each team, in alphabetical order. *Stand out track = player to watch. Before you read, know that I am very bad at predictions, so none of this may hold up in the light. Lastly, keep in mind I’m an artist, and I’m sensitive about my s***.

Angel City FC

Stand Out Track: Gisele Thompson - Defender

This one feels like my most wtf take. Angel City makes comedy albums. They’ve been rarely fun but always funny, and sometimes they’ve been good during a long car ride. But no one puts them up against five mic albums. They aren’t a seminal work that you put up against the stalwarts of the league. And, I don’t expect that this season either. But, I think they’ll get closer to that this season than they’ve ever been. This is wild to say when they still don’t have a producer (that’s a head coach. The season starts on Sunday for them) but the vibes feel different in DTLA (or the Valley if it’s training). Having said that, the label has been very, very clear on the timeline to hire said producer, and it hasn’t stopped them from doing great business in the offseason. While they brought in talent like Savy King, Alanna Kennedy, Macey Hodge, and Miyabi Moriya to sure up one of the leakier backlines in the league last year, most of WOSO, at least domestically, will be watching to see what Gisele Thompson can do in her sophomore year. Much like Jordyn Bugg for Seattle, it feels like when, not if in terms of her talent, but there is absolutely room for growth for the 19 year-old. But, she has instincts you can’t teach, speed most can’t keep up with, and a sister that she gets to play with, at home, through the LA Olympics. I think the young talent in LA, much of it homegrown, will energize the veterans, and a late season push will get them into the playoffs, and possibly as the team no one wants to play by November. But it really does depend on the producer. Let’s hope for the beleaguered fans, they get a Pharrell. Album rating: 🎤🎤🎤.5

Bay FC

Stand Out Track: Alyssa Malonson - Defender

Bay FC had one of the albums of the summer last season, and it was enough to get them into the playoffs. The turnaround came with the arrival of Abby Dahlkemper from San Diego, and with the move of Kiki Pickett to the six role to help solidify the midfield. With those changes, superstar signing Rachel Kundananji saw more freedom and joy and she started scoring goals, especially timely goals, that helped balance the squad. This offseason has been a bit rough for the team, especially in the last month. Off the field allegations, as well as several departures, have left Bay with as many questions as answers. Like many teams in this grouping, the album has a few bangers, mainly standout fullback Alyssa Malonson. Her level was good enough to receive her first callup and cap for the USWNT this fall, and she is the splash of youth on a veteran backline. She will look to step up her game to get stabilize the wide areas and get back into the national team fold. Rookie signings may also pan out for Bay, with Taylor Huff and Hannah Bebar potentially making some noise for Best New Artist, but the album feels like it will hit a sophomore slump at the wrong points of the season. Album rating: 🎤🎤.5

Chicago Stars FC

Stand Out Track: Jameese Joseph - Forward

Last season, Chicago had a schedule that broke in a way that asked them to win winnable games to make the playoffs. They did that, and then held on to get the last playoff spot. They did this with their superstar forward and part of Triple Espresso, Mal Swanson. Mal is not with the club for the start of the season, and she is their taliswoman. You cannot replace your taliswoman, but you can try to score goals to help your cause. Chicago did sure up their midfield a bit, and getting Sam Staab back will certainly help their defense, but the forward line will have to play a level above to offset the injuries and a missing Swanson. One player poised to do that is Jameese Joseph. She had an underrated rookie season, particularly the second half, and it was enough to get her called up to January camp for the USWNT. Chicago will need her at that level if they have any hopes of getting back to the postseason. It feels unlikely, but stranger things have happened. Album rating: 🎤🎤

Gotham FC

Stand Out Track: Mandy Freeman - Defender

Sylvs, what are you doing, it’s Gotham! Yes, there are still great pieces there, but outside of San Diego, no team had a more seismic exodus than Gotham. Top artists Lynn Biyendolo, Yazmeen Ryan, Delanie Sheehan, Jenna Nighswonger, and Crystal Dunn departed. Gotham has managed to bring in a top rated international artist in Gabi Portilho, and league mainstay Jaelin Howell, but none of the players they got will replace all that they lost, especially in year one. Luckily, Gotham still has a solid starting defense, captained by Tierna Davidson, but whose heart and soul lies with Mandy Freeman. Freeman is the longest tenured player for Gotham, and last year she raised her game a level when her club needed her the most. They will need her again this season, as it is likely that Bruninha and Jess Carter will need blows leading up to, and after, their summer tournaments. Freeman is a leader and a damn good player, and they will need her guidance and intellect as they try to steady the ship and protect the middle until Rose Lavelle returns from injury to help create more chances. Gotham has put out better albums, and they’ve definitely put out worse albums, but their project may be competing with chart numbers with a few other outfits. That doesn’t mean it won’t still have some bangers, and I expect them to make the playoffs…it just may not be a home playoff game. Album rating: 🎤🎤🎤.5

Houston Dash

Stand Out Track: Yazmeen Ryan - Forward

Sometimes as a label, one new artist can change your fortunes. Houston, a franchise that historically lives at the bottom of the table, decided to revamp the label after a disastrous 2024 that saw them finish 14 out of 14 in the league. Their first big domino was signing Delanie Sheehan from Gotham. And underrated midfielder, she has the characteristics of a “glue” piece in the middle that Houston can build around over the next several years. With that move came more young talent, but no piece was bigger than Yazmeen Ryan. An artist many have labeled, fairly, as a feature artist, a move to Houston is her time to prove she belongs with the headliners of the game. Her stellar season on a loaded Gotham squad earned her her first USWNT callups, and she has quickly inserted herself in that lineup. Now, she’s going to be #1 on the call sheet on a team with some questions at the back. Houston will definitely put out a better album this year, and it may even chart, but they will only go as far as Ryan goes. Album rating: 🎤🎤🎤

Kansas City Current

Stand Out Track: Michelle Cooper - Forward

Kansas City fans, please let me start by saying, your rating can improve during the season. My hesitation with making this a five mic album is just that, health. Truth, you have one of the best players in the world right now, that no team in the league was able to stop from scoring last season. That was her first season in the league. Her sophomore album may break more records, but I also think she misses her favorite collaborator, Bia. Those two together are horrifying, and I don’t think anyone else has what they have when those two come together. I respect Kansas City, because they didn’t make a ton of big moves, just looked to sure up areas of need. They mostly did that, though Lorena in goal will be a wait and see as she adjust to a new league. Having said that, I think Michelle Cooper is a big piece of what takes this album from four mics to five. If she can become that third piece in attack that becomes unguardable, and with an improved ability to play make, Kansas City becomes an extremely tough out for anyone. I reserve the right to come back later this year to proclaim this album all hits, no misses. But, for now, it’s solidly in the conversation to top the charts. Will it, time will tell. Album rating: 🎤🎤🎤🎤

North Carolina Courage

Stand Out Track: Jaedyn Shaw - Midfielder

North Carolina is the most consistent label in the league. They rarely fall off the charts, and they usually have staying power at the top. They’re still the winningest franchise in the league, and they somehow manage to add new artist of equal or greater value no matter what. They’ve made some savvy offseason moves to sure up their defense, including grabbing, for my money, the best young center back out of college this year in Brooklyn Courtnall. But the biggest intraleague move this season was the North Carolina Courage getting Jaedyn Shaw. Still only twenty, and still trying to figure out her best position, North Carolina’s style of play and stability will allow her to find her fit. The attacking talent around her, particularly that of her likely midfield partner Ashley Sanchez, will make this team a bit unpredictable in the final third, something they lacked last season. She’s the added flair in a structured side, and at her ceiling, can make others around her better. And hey, she’s even likely to improve defensively in Cary, which can only round out her game. I think she’ll make a late surge, maybe too late, for an MVP shout, but I expect North Carolina to drop another Top 5 album this season, because that’s just what they do. Album rating: 🎤🎤🎤🎤

Orlando Pride

Stand Out Track: Grace Chanda - Midfielder

The only five mic album in this preview, Orlando gets their rating because they’re the champions. That’s how it works. They also had the best season in league history by point total. Never forget, this was a fledgling label that we weren’t sure was going to survive a few short years ago. But, they have the G.O.A T rapper on their team, and I don’t mean LL. Marta looked positively young last season playing with this younger roster built around her, but also the likes of Barbra Banda. Yes, Barbra Banda, one of the biggest gets for any NWSL club in recent memory. She’s their superstar and she makes them a different team, a better team, a harder team to beat. For the most part, Orlando is running it back with the team they had. Adriana has departed, and they’ve brought in Oihane from Spain and Prisca Chilufya from Juarez to play along with her fellow Zambian striker. But Orlando’s best “new” player is one that isn’t new. Grace Chanda was sidelined for the year with an injury she sustained with the Zambian national team. This season, she is back, healthy, and ready to combine out of the midfield with her countrywomen, but also with the likes of Angelina and Marta. She will also help in distribution, making this a new album, and not just an album of remixes. It’s always risky to run it back with the same team. There’s tape now, you can be studied, and that makes the challenge that more daunting. If you told me now that Orlando would drop a second five mic album, I could be convinced, but very few artists have done it. Football is a cruel sport, and I don’t know if Orlando wins a second championship, but I think they can top the charts again with Chanda in the lineup. Album rating: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤

Portland Thorns

Stand Out Track: Isabella Obaze - Defender

Whew, where to begin. This ain’t your mama’s Portland Thorns. I made a noise when I looked at the official roster, and not the normal noise I make over the presence of my rival (you can tell who is writing this, lol). It’s…not great. There are some established artists with hits, and there are some promising newcomers, but the label seems to have lost its identity. Their defense has suffered a few massive blows with the lose of Nicole Payne and Marie Müller for the season, as well as the departure of Kelly Hubly and Megan Klingenberg, and the retirement of Becky Sauerbrunn. This doesn’t account for the retirement of Christine Sinclair, the season ending injury to Morgan Weaver, and the pregnancy of Sophia Wilson (nee, Smith). It isn’t looking great for Portland, but if Isabella Obaze can have a solid first half of the season playing with Sam Hiatt, and the young forward line can step up the goal scoring, they may put out a respectable product. They will always get a mic for reputation, but they may not get much more this season. Album rating: 🎤🎤.5

Racing Louisville

Stand Out Track: Ary Borges - Midfielder

Rah-sing (TM Andre THEE Giant) Louisville, always the bridesmaid, never finishing above 9th. Look, the upside, there hasn’t been a ton of turnover for the Kentucky club. Their coach is still Bev Yanez, they still have proven goal scorers in Janine Sonis (nee, Beckie) and Uchenna Kanu. They have Emma Sears coming off of an excellent rookie season, and they still have Savannah DeMelo, who may be looking to prove a few points herself this season. They even have a pretty solid backline despite losing Abby Erceg and Carson Pickett. But it feels like as Ary goes, so goes Louisville. If they are going to get over that final hump, they need Borges back to her pre World Cup 2023 levels. She will also need to reach those levels if she hopes to break back into the Brazil squad for this summer’s Copa America Femenina. Her movement and versatility in the midfield, her ability to get into goal scoring positions, will be vital for a team that needed more creativity in their ranks. If she can raise the level of those around her by raising her own, maybe, just maybe, Louisville gets in. I think it’s another year of mostly skips, but the few standout tracks are worth multiple listens. Album rating: 🎤🎤.5

San Diego Wave FC

Stand Out Track: Chiamaka Okwuchukwu - Forward

Let’s face it, San Diego will look nothing like they have in their first three seasons in the league. The former Shield winners have simply lost too much talent. Naomi Girma and Jaedyn Shaw headlined the off season exodus that really began last season with the inexplicable firing of Casey Stoney, and has continued through the start of a new calendar year. New coach Jonas Eidevall is going to have to show, quickly, that he can develop talent for this album to have any chance of breaking into the charts. They do have some stars, namely French forward Delphine Cascarino, and her newly signed compatriot Kenza Dali, but it’s going to be the kids that get this project going. Trinity Armstrong is good shout for Rookie of the Year, but Nigerian forward Chiamaka Okwuchukwu has a chance to take some of the goal scoring load from if she’s true to her U20 World Cup form from the fall. While there may be some mix tape standouts, this freshman album won’t get more than one spin from most listeners. Album rating: 🎤.5

Seattle Reign FC

Stand Out Track: Jordyn Bugg - Defender

So, let’s get the personal bias out of the way. This is my team, my artist, so bias will always creep in, but I feel I’m honest about them, so here it goes. There is potential for this album to climb the charts, but it feels like many things will have to break right for that to happen. Seattle made one of the biggest moves in the offseason, signing all-time NWSL goals leader Lynn Biyendolo from Gotham. This matters to Seattle, a team that has struggled mightily in recent years to score goals. They also made one of the savviest moves by bringing in utility defender Madison Curry from Angel City. Those artist will help bolster the playlist, but it feels like the weight of expectation lies on the shoulders of 18 year-old Jordyn Bugg. No one is Naomi Girma, but it feels like a similar situation, where everyone knows what her ceiling is, and we’re all just waiting for her to hit it. No one is waiting more than the Reign, who need to get younger all over the pitch. If Jordyn Bugg can play beyond her years to help sure up that backline, and Biyendolo can help unlock Huitema and potential Best New Artist Maddie Dahlien, then Seattle may sneak into the postseason. Either way, they should put out a better album than last year, and that’s a start. Album ranking: 🎤🎤🎤

Utah Royals FC

Stand Out Track: Mina Tanaka - Forward

The back end of Utah’s freshman album was a lot of fun, and may have gotten the most spin of all the albums in the fall. It wasn’t enough to make a dent in the end of year charts, but it gave them momentum coming into the 2025 season. And, Utah of all places, seems to understand that hip-hop has gone universal. They’ve signed a ton of talented international artist to try and create a different sound. They also have one of the most promising domestic artists in Ally Sentnor, who had a standout rookie season, and shined in the SheBelieves Cup. But as good as she was in spells, no one had a better February than her teammate Mina Tanaka. She was absolutely clinic in her delivery in front of net in the SheBelieves Cup, taking home the tournament MVP and helping her team win the trophy. Japan is stacked, but Tanaka is good enough to force her way into the starting lineup with some frequency. Utah is a lot of people’s hot pick right now, and I am willing to join them. I’m not quite sold on this album running all the way up the charts because it’s still experimental and being led by a extremely young producer, but it’s got potential, and it should be fun to listen. Album rating: 🎤🎤🎤.5

Washington Spirit

Stand Out Track: Casey Krueger - Defender 

Not giving DC the maximum ranking is me nitpicking, and it could flip very easily. But, much like Kansas City, so much of what this team, this album can be, relies on health. My only rule for this “preview” was that the player I picked had to be on the active roster on opening weekend, and boy, did that make it hard to pick for DC. Trinity Rodman is, rightfully, a lot of people’s pick for MVP. She’s in her contract year, though she has no real worries about getting paid, simply about where that will be, but that doesn’t seem like it will deter her from competing hard and being world class for DC. The Spirit will also get their all everything midfielder Croix Bethune back soon, which will help with playmaking, goal scoring, and really, anything else you need her to do. She changes the way teams have to defend the Spirit and she is sorely missed. Still, DC is missing many, many bodies, even with the additions of Rebecca Bernal and Narumi Miura. They will have to pray that their starters hold until they get more players back. However, a healthy veteran on this team, and one of the biggest keys to their consistency and focus is all-world defender Casey Krueger. Krueger has been the U.S’s best 1-v-1 defender for a long time now, and she displayed that in 2024 in her first season with the Spirit, as well as in France at the Summer Olympics. She is an older veteran now, but she plays like she’s much younger, and she still has impressive stats to go with her immeasurables. Some artists are timeless, and Casey Krueger fits that mold perfectly. They will need her no matter who else is available, because DC is going to have to shut down the best team in the league, in season, the snatch the five mic rating. They are capable, but will they watch the thorn, or finally sit upon it? Album rating: 🎤🎤🎤🎤.5

Culture Cuts: Shades of Blue

This week we’re spotlighting the Shades of Blue Network. Led by Crunk Cityzen, Shades of Blue is a show featuring Black men discussing the Manchester City men’s and women’s teams. The network has expanded to include everyone’s favorite German soccer show 50 Plus Döner and The Twelve, a show about the Barclays Women’s Super League. We’ve been blessed to watch Shades of Blue grow over the past several years, and it is all down to talent and hard work. We couldn’t be happier for their growing success, and we couldn’t be prouder of the work Crunk has done. Go support, immediately.

Final Thoughts: Go Forth, Escape

I don’t have anything profound to say because everything around us seems so massive. Every pile of smoke turns into a raging fire in a matter of seconds, and we spend another moment just trying to survive. I can only offer to you that I am there with you, feeling like I’m simultaneously hopeless and hope filled. I’ve seen great cowardice, and I’ve seen people reject it. I have strong village and a strong sense of self, but I feel rudderless often these days, but soccer, footy, still manages to ground me. It is still nice to get lost in the game for a few hours, and no league offers a better escape than the NWSL. The Untied States is hard right now. We deserve all of the smoke we’re getting and then some. But then I remember, despite all the odds, this league has survived despite living in a hell of its own construction at times. We have some of the best players on the planet playing up the road a spell from many people. If you can go to games, please do. Times are hard, money is tight, security is fragile, but the NWSL is still the best of us and the truest of us, and its a great way to spend your weekend, be it live or on TV, escaping.