Also in today’s roundup, Huffington Post announce Facebook NWSL stream, Line Sigvardsen Jensen suffers ACL tear, Jones’ future called into question after Germany EURO exit, Houston Dash sign goalkeeper Bianca Henninger, and Irish international Emma Byrne announces retirement
Alex Morgan scored her only goal so far for the Pride this year towards the end of June. (photo by Mark Thor, courtesy of Orlando Pride)
Lyon, the french club for which USWNT and Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan competed with on loan from the Pride for the first half of 2017, retain an option on Morgan. According to Four Four Two, Morgan and the club will be coming to terms on what that means in regards to her return to Lyon within the next couple of weeks.
When asked if she’s going to return to Lyon, Morgan responded by stating that the decision has yet to be made. “It’s a mutual option. We haven’t come to a decision on that, but will have a decision mutually within the next couple of weeks, because that’s also something that’s weighing on my shoulders.”
Also, FWIW about Morgan’s possible return to Lyon: pic.twitter.com/zsv7ifZOmg
— Richard Farley (@richardfarley) August 3, 2017
Morgan signed with Lyon in January of this year. She made eight appearances and five starts for the club that won the UEFA Women’s Champions League title after defeating Paris Saint-Germain in penalty kicks. The Pride, on the other hand, currently sit in seventh place in the NWSL standings with a 5-6-4 record through 15 games this season. Morgan, who returned to the Pride in June, has seen time in only four games since then due to a hamstring injury.
The California native scored her first international goal in the last eight games for the USWNT in the finale of the Tournament of Nations and an eventual 3-0 victory over Japan after she came off the bench in the second half.
Huffington Post announces weekly stream of a NWSL game via Facebook
Today, the Huffington Post announce that starting tomorrow, they will be streaming a NWSL game each Saturday on their Huffington Post Women’s Facebook page in partnership with go90. Not only will the NWSL continue with its Lifetime broadcast of the Game of the Week and its digital distribution of all other games via the go90 platform, but they will be adding social streaming as another touch point for fans to watch their favorite NWSL teams.
Exciting news! Starting tomorrow, we’ll be streaming a @NWSL game each Saturday on @HuffPostWomen‘s Facebook page in partnership with @go90. pic.twitter.com/v3t0sfbYpa
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) August 4, 2017
In other NWSL digital news, the league announced that the NWSL app is now available for download within Google Play store for android users. Up until this point, the app was only available via the app store on iOS.
?THIS JUST IN: The Android ? #NWSL app is now available from the Google Play Store! https://t.co/bOJNr7POUy pic.twitter.com/MwZV4lrNX6
— NWSL (@NWSL) August 4, 2017
Line Sigvardsen Jensen tears ACL in Denmark semifinal EURO victory
Denmark outlasted Austria and won on penalty kicks to advance to the final. (photo: UEFA)
The whirlwind that was Denmark’s penalty kick defeat over Austria in the EURO semifinals yesterday was hindered particularly for Washington Spirit midfielder Line Sigvardsen Jensen who left the field due to injury. It’s been confirmed that she sustained an ACL tear in the match and not only will be out for the EURO Final this weekend, but also for the rest of the 2017 NWSL season.
In her second season with the Washington Spirit, the Danish international has made six starts in nine games recording one goal and one assist so far this year. For Denmark, she’s been a starter so far this tournament in their spectacular run towards the EURO Finals where they’re set to take on the Netherlands on Sunday to compete for the trophy.
The injury that Denmark’s Line Sigvardsen Jensen sustained in yesterdays semifinal is sadly an ACL tear. https://t.co/oUOc2t52hC
— Katja Kragelund (@applessquabble) August 4, 2017
Steffi Jones’ future as Germany head coach in question after early EURO exit
Germany’s quarterfinal exit from the EURO was their worst ever showing in the competition. (photo copyright by EriMac Photo for The Equalizer)
Reinhard Grindel, president of the German Football Association (DFB) announced that the DFB will be re-evaluating and analyzing performance from the German women’s national team in the EURO to determine what the best move is moving forward to ensure success. Those comments put the future of new head coach Steffi Jones into question.
Germany, who was seeking their ninth EURO title, was eliminated from the tournament in the quarterfinals thanks to a late Denmark winner. Steffi Jones took the helm of the German national team in August 2016 after long-time coach Sylvia Neid stepped down after winning the gold medal last summer at the Rio Olympics. The expectations were high for Jones and Germany going into the EURO as they rolled through qualifying, winning all eight of their matches and outscoring their opponents 35-0. Germany’s quarterfinal exit was Germany’s worst-ever performance at the European Championships, as they’ve reached the semifinal in every EURO to date. Although there is no real precedent for the DFB to let go of Jones and if they decide to do so, she will be the shortest serving first team coach. The DFB is set to make a decision in the coming weeks.
Steffi Jones’ future indeed in question after poor #WEURO2017 performances. DFB will make a decision in the next two or three weeks. https://t.co/l0jLOb5P5W
— Jasmina Schweimler (@JasSchweimler) August 4, 2017
Dash sign goalkeeper Bianca Henninger to replace injured Williams
Bianca Henninger has been signed to the Dash to replace injured Lydia Williams (Photo Copyright Clark Linehan for The Equalizer)
On Thursday, the Houston Dash announced the signing of goalkeeper Biana Henninger as a response to the injury that Australian international and Dash starting keeper Lydia Williams suffered to her quad during training with the Australian national team. Williams is expected to miss four weeks.
To replace Williams, the Dash signed Henninger who’s return to Houston marks her second time with this squad. The 26 year old made 17 appearances for the Dash during the 2014-2016 NWSL seasons before being cut from the roster ahead of the 2017 season to make room for Jane Campbell.
Henninger will assume to role as back up to Campbell as she joins the team ahead of tomorrow’s match against Portland.
Irish international Emma Byrne announces retirement
The most capped Irish international player, Emma Byrne, has announced her retirement from soccer at the game at the age of 38.
The veteran goalkeeper represented her country 134 times in a 21 year career after making her debut in 1996 at the age of 16 years old. Outside of her international career, she’s also played club soccer in England for 17 years with Arsenal Ladies. She’s won 11 English league titles and one UEFA Women’s Champions League title in 2007.
Byrne spoke to the FAI about her decision to retire where she recognized all of the friendships and experiences she had a long that way that will forever remain with her. “I have made some great friendships along the way, learned a lot from so many people, and I have always loved being involved with the Ireland team. Unfortunately we never managed to qualify for a major tournament… but I’ll treasure the memories and experiences of every time I played for Ireland,” she said. “It’s a great achievement to step down having broken the all-time appearance record, but it’s time to give other girls an opportunity to stake their claim in the team.”
In addition to a monumental playing career, Byrne was also instrumental in the fight against the FAI for the women’s team as it pertained to equality and fair compensation. She was a part of the squad that, in April, lashed out at the FAI over it’s treatment of the women’s team alluding to poor compensation among other things.
134 caps ✅
21-years service ✅
Most capped ?? Women’s player ✅#IRLWNT?? captain @emmsb30 announces her retirement. Thanks for everything! ? pic.twitter.com/IhpcUY28h5— FAIreland (@FAIreland) August 4, 2017
