2 months ago
Gia Corley and Melanie Barcenas scored and the San Diego Wave beat the visiting North Carolina Courage 2-1 on Saturday.
In the day's other National Women's Soccer League matches, the Utah Royals edged the Houston Dash 1-0 and the Seattle Reign defeated Bay FC 2-0.
Corley scored her first NWSL goal in the 23rd minute and Barcenas added a curling shot for a goal in the 72nd to give the Wave a 2-0 lead at Snapdragon Stadium.
Ashley Sanchez got her 19th goal of the season in the 82nd and North Carolina (12-9-3) avoided the shutout.
Sanchez leads the Golden Boot race with 19 goals this season, setting the record for most goals scored by an American player in a single season. She is one goal away from Temwa Chawinga's NWSL record.
#season
In the day's other National Women's Soccer League matches, the Utah Royals edged the Houston Dash 1-0 and the Seattle Reign defeated Bay FC 2-0.
Corley scored her first NWSL goal in the 23rd minute and Barcenas added a curling shot for a goal in the 72nd to give the Wave a 2-0 lead at Snapdragon Stadium.
Ashley Sanchez got her 19th goal of the season in the 82nd and North Carolina (12-9-3) avoided the shutout.
Sanchez leads the Golden Boot race with 19 goals this season, setting the record for most goals scored by an American player in a single season. She is one goal away from Temwa Chawinga's NWSL record.
#season
2 months ago
Cameroon have won their first Women's Africa Cup of Nations with an emphatic 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi on Sunday evening at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
A brace from Marie Ngah Manga and a goal from Naomi Eto, all scored in the first half, secured the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon's first continental trophy. They previously made the WAFCON final in 2004, 2014 and 2016, but lost all three to Nigeria.
Cameroon will receive $2 million in prize money from the Confederation of African Football, double the prize pot from 2025 WAFCON. Malawi will receive $750,000 as finalists.
Despite expectations of a dual Malawian threat of Chawinga sisters Temwa and Tabitha, the Scorchers were unable to match Cameroon's technical precision in the midfield nor their tenacity in front of goal.
Cameroon's unique and wholly unexpected journey to the WAFCON final began long before their first match. They did not initially qualify for the tournament but were admitted last November as the result of a spontaneous decision by CAF to expand the WAFCON format from 12 teams to 16 for the first time. Mali, Ivory Coast and Egypt were also admitted by way of expansion due to their high FIFA rankings.
#first #cameroon #final
A brace from Marie Ngah Manga and a goal from Naomi Eto, all scored in the first half, secured the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon's first continental trophy. They previously made the WAFCON final in 2004, 2014 and 2016, but lost all three to Nigeria.
Cameroon will receive $2 million in prize money from the Confederation of African Football, double the prize pot from 2025 WAFCON. Malawi will receive $750,000 as finalists.
Despite expectations of a dual Malawian threat of Chawinga sisters Temwa and Tabitha, the Scorchers were unable to match Cameroon's technical precision in the midfield nor their tenacity in front of goal.
Cameroon's unique and wholly unexpected journey to the WAFCON final began long before their first match. They did not initially qualify for the tournament but were admitted last November as the result of a spontaneous decision by CAF to expand the WAFCON format from 12 teams to 16 for the first time. Mali, Ivory Coast and Egypt were also admitted by way of expansion due to their high FIFA rankings.
#first #cameroon #final
2 months ago
Cameroon cruised to a 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi to claim their first ever Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) **** le.
Marie Ngah Manga's close-range header put the Indomitable Lionesses ahead in the 20th minute and Naomi Eto doubled the lead with a stunning volley on the half hour mark in the Moroccan capital Rabat.
The Central Africans made it 3-0 in the third minute of first-half added time as Eto rounded Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and put the ball on a plate for striker Ngah Manga.
Malawi, the lowest-ranked side at Wafcon 2026 at 153rd in the world, reached the final on the back of the attacking prowess of the Chawinga sisters Tabitha and Temwa.
However, the two Scorchers stars were well marshalled by the Cameroon defence, who ensured that the Southern Africans were unable to secure a fairy tale ending to their unexpected run at the tournament.
#wafcon #first #minute
Marie Ngah Manga's close-range header put the Indomitable Lionesses ahead in the 20th minute and Naomi Eto doubled the lead with a stunning volley on the half hour mark in the Moroccan capital Rabat.
The Central Africans made it 3-0 in the third minute of first-half added time as Eto rounded Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and put the ball on a plate for striker Ngah Manga.
Malawi, the lowest-ranked side at Wafcon 2026 at 153rd in the world, reached the final on the back of the attacking prowess of the Chawinga sisters Tabitha and Temwa.
However, the two Scorchers stars were well marshalled by the Cameroon defence, who ensured that the Southern Africans were unable to secure a fairy tale ending to their unexpected run at the tournament.
#wafcon #first #minute
2 months ago
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Cameroon faces tournament debutant Malawi in the final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, when one of the teams will win the trophy for the first time.
Cameroon, which missed the last edition, defeated host nation Morocco on penalties in the semifinals, where Malawi overcame Algeria thanks to starring performances from the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa.
They both scored in the 3-1 win against Algeria and together have scored nine of Malawi's 12 goals in the tournament.
Cameroon is making its fourth appearance in the final after losing three – all to 10-time winner Nigeria.
___
#morocco #malawi
Cameroon, which missed the last edition, defeated host nation Morocco on penalties in the semifinals, where Malawi overcame Algeria thanks to starring performances from the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa.
They both scored in the 3-1 win against Algeria and together have scored nine of Malawi's 12 goals in the tournament.
Cameroon is making its fourth appearance in the final after losing three – all to 10-time winner Nigeria.
___
#morocco #malawi
3 months ago
In the 73rd minute of a scoreless match, Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga shot down the field like an arrow to receive a long pass from midfield. The ball dropped into the pocket between the opponent's backline and goalkeeper, a ripe scenario for an attacker whose pace is as blistering as her decision-making.
Chawinga, who plays for the Kansas City Current in the National Women's Soccer League, nudged the ball with her chest to the goalkeeper's left, ran around her right, and found a half volley to begin an extraordinary new chapter of firsts in her career: not only her first goal at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, but also her country's.
Malawi defeated 10-time champions and current continental ***** le holders Nigeria in a dramatic 3-2 upset victory on Tuesday, thanks to two goals from Temwa and one from her older sister and OL Lyonnes forward, Tabitha, at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
The win puts the southern African nation in a crucial second place in their group behind Zambia on goal differential.
"We are going (to WAFCON) to compete, not just to participate," Chawinga told The Athletic before she departed for Morocco.
#temwa #current #goal #city
Chawinga, who plays for the Kansas City Current in the National Women's Soccer League, nudged the ball with her chest to the goalkeeper's left, ran around her right, and found a half volley to begin an extraordinary new chapter of firsts in her career: not only her first goal at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, but also her country's.
Malawi defeated 10-time champions and current continental ***** le holders Nigeria in a dramatic 3-2 upset victory on Tuesday, thanks to two goals from Temwa and one from her older sister and OL Lyonnes forward, Tabitha, at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
The win puts the southern African nation in a crucial second place in their group behind Zambia on goal differential.
"We are going (to WAFCON) to compete, not just to participate," Chawinga told The Athletic before she departed for Morocco.
#temwa #current #goal #city
4 months ago
Week 11 of the 2026 NWSL season saw the league return after a four-week summer break. Ashley Sanchez and Temwa Chawinga kept scoring at will, San Diego tightened its grip atop the table, and Boston showed real fight against Bay FC.
The break did little to slow the league’s biggest storylines. Washington needed late Trinity Rodman magic, Kansas City kept climbing behind Chawinga, and Chicago delivered one of the weekend’s loudest surprises against Utah.
This one saved the best for last. The streaking Spirit hosted the reeling Dash in the first NWSL match since the break. The hosts started off hot. Continued pressure at the Houston end led to several scoring chances, followed by a big break in the 32nd minute. While trying to defend against Trinity Rodman, Dash defender Avery Patterson took down the Spirit striker. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Rosemonde Kouassi stepped up. The Ivory Coast international went to Jane Campbell’s right, and Campbell read her perfectly. Following Campbell’s big save, neither side could find the net for the rest of the half.
The second half started out perfectly for the home side. Just five minutes in, Leicy Santos sent a terrific long ball to a wide-open Rodman. She closed on Campbell, then sent her shot to the far post for a 1-0 Spirit lead. Just moments later, the visitors nearly equalized. Second-half sub Kate Faasse got in deep against Sandy MacIver, but the Scotland international’s aggressive goaltending stopped the threat. Campbell kept the match in reach for the Dash with a brilliant late save against a perfect header from Tara McKeown.
And then, in the last gasps of the match, Houston equalized. In the 90th minute, Linda Ullmark sent a perfect through ball to Faasse. She would not be denied by MacIver a second time, and the match was tied. Just when it looked like the Dash had salvaged a point, however, Rodman broke the hearts of Houston. Four minutes into five added minutes of extra time, she made her way to the top of the box, then sent a soaring shot through the box and past Campbell’s outstretched hand. Washington moves into a tie for third (GD) in the table, while Houston now has but one win in their last nine matches.
The break did little to slow the league’s biggest storylines. Washington needed late Trinity Rodman magic, Kansas City kept climbing behind Chawinga, and Chicago delivered one of the weekend’s loudest surprises against Utah.
This one saved the best for last. The streaking Spirit hosted the reeling Dash in the first NWSL match since the break. The hosts started off hot. Continued pressure at the Houston end led to several scoring chances, followed by a big break in the 32nd minute. While trying to defend against Trinity Rodman, Dash defender Avery Patterson took down the Spirit striker. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Rosemonde Kouassi stepped up. The Ivory Coast international went to Jane Campbell’s right, and Campbell read her perfectly. Following Campbell’s big save, neither side could find the net for the rest of the half.
The second half started out perfectly for the home side. Just five minutes in, Leicy Santos sent a terrific long ball to a wide-open Rodman. She closed on Campbell, then sent her shot to the far post for a 1-0 Spirit lead. Just moments later, the visitors nearly equalized. Second-half sub Kate Faasse got in deep against Sandy MacIver, but the Scotland international’s aggressive goaltending stopped the threat. Campbell kept the match in reach for the Dash with a brilliant late save against a perfect header from Tara McKeown.
And then, in the last gasps of the match, Houston equalized. In the 90th minute, Linda Ullmark sent a perfect through ball to Faasse. She would not be denied by MacIver a second time, and the match was tied. Just when it looked like the Dash had salvaged a point, however, Rodman broke the hearts of Houston. Four minutes into five added minutes of extra time, she made her way to the top of the box, then sent a soaring shot through the box and past Campbell’s outstretched hand. Washington moves into a tie for third (GD) in the table, while Houston now has but one win in their last nine matches.
4 months ago
Temwa Chawinga has signed a contract extension that will keep her with the NWSL's Kansas City Current through the 2029 season.
"This contract extension means a lot to me because I call Kansas City home," Chawinga said. "I'm looking forward to staying longer in Kansas City and working hard with my teammates."
More: Meeting Lionel Messi before World Cup was 'dream' for NWSL's Temwa Chawinga
Chawinga is the first player to win back-to-back NWSL MVP awards, in 2024 and 2025. She is a two-time Golden Boot winner with 42 regular-season goals and 11 **** ists in 56 games. Chawinga has 15 game-winning goals in the regular season.
"Temwa is a generational player, and extending her contract was a top priority for the club," KC Current GM Ryan Dell said. "This contract extension is testament not only to the impact Temwa makes on the field, but her impact and influence in our community and the global game."Chawinga has been named NWSL Player of the Month six times. She was a Ballon d'Or nominee in 2025 and finished 17th in global voting.
"This contract extension means a lot to me because I call Kansas City home," Chawinga said. "I'm looking forward to staying longer in Kansas City and working hard with my teammates."
More: Meeting Lionel Messi before World Cup was 'dream' for NWSL's Temwa Chawinga
Chawinga is the first player to win back-to-back NWSL MVP awards, in 2024 and 2025. She is a two-time Golden Boot winner with 42 regular-season goals and 11 **** ists in 56 games. Chawinga has 15 game-winning goals in the regular season.
"Temwa is a generational player, and extending her contract was a top priority for the club," KC Current GM Ryan Dell said. "This contract extension is testament not only to the impact Temwa makes on the field, but her impact and influence in our community and the global game."Chawinga has been named NWSL Player of the Month six times. She was a Ballon d'Or nominee in 2025 and finished 17th in global voting.
4 months ago
The world was buzzing last week when Lionel Messi notched a hat trick to tie the men's World Cup goals record.
Kansas City Current star Temwa Chawinga, who was the Coca-Cola World Cup Coin Toss ******* istant for the Group J match, had a front row seat. She got to meet Messi ahead of Argentina's 3-0 win against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on Tuesday, June 16.
"Since I was young, I was watching Messi, so I'm really happy," Chawinga told USA TODAY Sports in a video interview. "It was my dream to meet him."
Chawinga is building her own resume as one of today's soccer greats. The forward was named the NWSL MVP in 2024 and 2025, the first player in league history to be given the ******* le twice in a row, and also earned the Golden Boot in those two years with 20 and 15 goals scored in each season, respectively.
Experiencing the World Cup energy in Kansas City was inspiring for Chawinga.
Kansas City Current star Temwa Chawinga, who was the Coca-Cola World Cup Coin Toss ******* istant for the Group J match, had a front row seat. She got to meet Messi ahead of Argentina's 3-0 win against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on Tuesday, June 16.
"Since I was young, I was watching Messi, so I'm really happy," Chawinga told USA TODAY Sports in a video interview. "It was my dream to meet him."
Chawinga is building her own resume as one of today's soccer greats. The forward was named the NWSL MVP in 2024 and 2025, the first player in league history to be given the ******* le twice in a row, and also earned the Golden Boot in those two years with 20 and 15 goals scored in each season, respectively.
Experiencing the World Cup energy in Kansas City was inspiring for Chawinga.
