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National Women's Soccer League

Last Week around the Leagues

by Fran Stuchbury
September 12, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)


This past week the North Carolina Courage won back-to-back National Women's Soccer League Challenge Cup Championships, Major League Soccer's New England Revolution Head Coach and Sporting Director Bruce Arena resigned, and the Indoor Football League's Tucson Sugar Skulls hired five-time champion Billy Back as their head coach. Highlights from this week come from the National Women's Soccer League, Major League Soccer, United Soccer League Championship, United Soccer League One, Canadian Football League, XFL, Women's National Basketball Association, NBA G League, Midwest League, Eastern League, Premier Lacrosse League, American Hockey League, North American Hockey League, Professional Women's Hockey League, and American Ultimate Disc League.

SOCCER

The North Carolina Courage are back-to-back UKG NWSL Challenge Cup Champions after a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville FC in the 2023 Final at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Courage have now won a league-record four NWSL finals in the club's history and become the first NWSL team to win multiple Challenge Cups. The now seven NWSL trophies (three NWSL Shields, two NWSL Championships, two Challenge Cup championships) are the most by any club in league history, breaking a tie with the Portland Thorns.

Here are the highlights.

National Women's Soccer League

The Houston Dash announced today that Sam Laity will vacate his role as the head coach of the team. "We have high ambitions and continuously work to build a competitive team that will represent the city at a high level. After considerable evaluation as to what is best for the team at this time, we made the decision to make a change," Dash general manager, Alex Singer said. "On behalf of the Club, community, and our team, I want to thank Sam for his dedication and contributions to our organization. We sincerely wish him all the best." Laity finished with a 4-6-8 (WLD) record in the regular season and the team currently sits in 10th place in the league table. The team finished with a 2-4-0 (WLD) record in the 2023 UKG NWL Challenge Cup.

With a crowd of 11,827 on hand for last Friday's Kansas City Current match against Angel City FC, the National Women's Soccer League officially surpassed one million fans in attendance for the 2023 regular season. Two days later, San Diego Wave FC welcomed nearly 25,000 fans to Snapdragon Stadium for the club's Sunday match against the Houston Dash, helping the league set a new attendance mark of 1,060,978. The new record, which marks the second-straight regular season to host over a million fans, comes with four weeks of play remaining in the season ahead of the 2023 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Bud Light.

Major League Soccer

The head coach, and sporting director of the New England Revolution, Bruce Arena, resigned from his positions.

Here is the statement from Bruce Arena.

The Colorado Rapids have parted ways with head coach Robin Fraser. Rapids assistant coach Chris Little has been named interim head coach following Fraser's departure until the club appoints a permanent successor. Fraser was named the Rapids' ninth full-time head coach on August 25, 2019, and went on to compile a 47-48-34 record across all competitions during his time at helm, leading the club to consecutive postseason appearances in his first two full seasons as Rapids head coach. In 2021, the two-time MLS Defender of the Year guided the Rapids to their best regular-season points total of all time as the club topped the Western Conference for the first time in history.

Colorado Rapids fire head coach Robin Fraser

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United Soccer League Championship

The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 26 of the 2023 regular season on with Phoenix Rising FC forward Manuel Arteaga voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording two goals and one assist across a pair of victories for his side.

United Soccer League One

The United Soccer League (USL) announced that Portland, Maine has been granted the rights to a USL League One franchise. USL to Portland, the local group behind the effort, is the culmination of a former local soccer star's vision and five years of purposeful community building to create a soccer club that embodies Portland's independent spirit and is reflective of its diverse communities. With founding partners that also include Maine celebrities and well-regarded business and community leaders, USL to Portland's future team intends to call Fitzpatrick Stadium home and kick off in USL League One in 2025.

Maine to welcome its own professional soccer team

FOOTBALL

Canadian Football League

CFL Plays of the Week

XFL

XFL EVP of Football Operations Marc Ross talks to NFL EVP of Football Operations Troy Vincent, Sr. about the relationship between the the two leagues, Player 54, Spring Football Leagues, rule implementations and the future of the NFL and XFL's partnership.

Indoor Football League

The Tucson Sugar Skulls have hired five-time champion Billy Back as their head coach for the 2024 season. Back led the Frisco Fighters to the best record in the Indoor Football League for the second consecutive season last year. Under his guidance, the Fighters were near the top of the league in points scored and points allowed. The Fighters were also number one in yards given up per game. They had the top rushing offense in the league and sported the best run defense in the IFL under coach Back. The Sugar Skulls' previous head coach Hurtis Chinn resigned for personal matters, ending his two-year run with the team. It was his first year as head coach after serving as the Offensive Coordinator in 2022.

BASKETBALL

Women's National Basketball Association

The Seattle Storm announced two-time WNBA Champion, two-time All-WNBA selection, five-time All-Star and the franchise's all-time single-season scoring leader Jewell Loyd has signed a multi-year contract extension with the team. "It's been special for Seattle to witness Jewell compete for championships and rise to be one of the best in the game. She is a franchise player, and we are excited to continue to build our future around her," saidAlisha Valavanis, Seattle Storm President & CEO. "She is a remarkable person and leader, she lifts her teammates, the organization, and her community. Everyone around Jewell knows she embodies greatness. We're so glad she's staying in Seattle."

Breanna Stewart a double-double with 40 PTS and 20 REB, leading the charge for New York Liberty to beat the Dallas Wings 94-93.

Brittney Sykes of the Washington Mystics hits a buzzer beater to win 90-88 over the New York Liberty.

Best of WNBA: Week 13

NBA G League

The NBA G League released its complete game schedule for the 2023-24 season, which tips off on Friday, Nov. 10 and features a record 31 teams, including the newly formed Rip City Remix, the affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers. The NBA G League schedule will again be organized into two parts: the 16-game Showcase Cup, followed by a 34-game regular season. All 31 NBA G League teams will compete in a total of 50 games during the 2023-24 season.

The Iowa Wolves announced that Drew Van Meeteren is the organization's new President of Business Operations. Van Meeteren has spent the past six years affiliated with the PGA TOUR, most recently as the Executive Director of the AdventHealth Championship, a Korn Ferry Tour stop in Kansas City, Mo. Van Meeteren spearheaded a turnaround strategy that helped make the annual event one of the premier stops on the Korn Ferry Tour.

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BASEBALL

Midwest League

Detroit Tigers prospect Jackson Jobe notches nine punchouts for the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps

Portland Sea Dogs second baseman Chase Meidroth changes direction multiple times before making a diving catch on a pop up in short right field

Eastern League

New York Yankees prospect Spencer Jones goes deep to right for a grand slam for the Double-A Somerset Patriots.

Portland Sea Dogs second baseman Chase Meidroth changes direction multiple times before making a diving catch on a pop up in short right field

LACROSSE

Premier Lacrosse League

TOP 10 PLAYS FROM THE 2023 QUARTERFINALS

HOCKEY

American Hockey League

The Charlotte Checkers unveiled their jerseys for the Queen City Outdoor Classic, presented by Pepsi, which will take place against the Rochester Americans at Truist Field in uptown Charlotte on Saturday, Jan. 13. The specialty jerseys, which will only be worn for this event, are a hybrid of those worn by the team during the 1950s and 1970s. They feature a red and white color scheme with a baseball-inspired "Checkers" wordmark across the front and the event logo on the shoulders.

Charlotte Checkers unveil 'Queen City Outdoor Classic' jerseys. The specialty jerseys will only be worn for the event and are a hybrid of those worn by the team during the 1950s and 1970s.

ECHL

The Adirondack Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils and Utica Comets, have announced that the club has re-signed forward Shawn Weller for the 2023-24 season. Weller announced it will be his final year of professional hockey. The 37-year-old recorded 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 51 games last season for the Thunder and served as the team's assistant captain. The South Glens Falls, New York native returned home during the 2021-22 season in a trade with the ECHL's Kansas City Mavericks. In 191 regular-season ECHL games with Elmira, Bakersfield, South Carolina, Stockton, Kansas City, and Adirondack, the left-shooting forward has 127 points (50 goals, 77 assists).

North American Hockey League

Hockey is back! Check out some of the best moments from the opening weekend in the NAHL!

Professional Women's Hockey League

Hilary Knight took a moment to shout out the PWHL for taking a step in the right direction in advancing women's hockey. Check out what else she had to say about the league and her excitement to play for Boston.

OTHER SPORTS

American Ultimate Disc League

The top play from every week of the 2023 AUDL season!

Did we miss anything newsworthy or fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from September 12, 2023


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