2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship
The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship, the final match of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, was a soccer match held on May 8, 2021 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, USA. It was contested by Portland Thorns FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC, the winners of the West and East Divisions, respectively, of the Challenge Cup. The match finished drawn 1-1 after 90 minutes, with the rules specifying that the teams would not play extra time but would instead proceed to a penalty shootout. The Thorns won the shootout 6-5 after 7 rounds, thus winning the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup. Road to the final Portland Thorns FC won the right to host the final by finishing with the best record across both divisions. ''Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first.'' Match Details Portland struck first, with Christine Sinclair winning the ball near midfield and then scoring from just outside Gotham's penalty box in the 8th minute. Portland generated several more chances in the first ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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2021 NWSL Challenge Cup
The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup was a league cup tournament that took place during the 2021 National Women's Soccer League season. It began on April 9 and ended May 8, one week before the start of the regular season. It was the second iteration of the NWSL Challenge Cup tournament, which had started in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was announced as a regular event later in 2020. Portland Thorns FC won the 2021 final over NJ/NY Gotham FC in a penalty shootout. Format While the inaugural Challenge Cup took place entirely in a single "bubble" location during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Challenge Cup was played in home markets. The 10 NWSL teams were organized into two regional divisions of five teams each. Every team played four games within their division, with the two division winners competing in the final on May 8. The full schedule was released on March 9, 2021, along with tournament rules and regulations. Tiebreakers The initial determining factor for a ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Houston Dash
The Houston Dash is a professional women's soccer team based in Houston, Texas. It joined the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the 2014 season, and is affiliated with the MLS team Houston Dynamo FC. History Establishment On November 19, 2013, the Houston Dynamo began talks in the initial stages with the intention of bringing a top flight women's professional soccer franchise to Houston. Just a week later, the effort was bolstered when the Dynamo began accepting refundable deposits for a potential NWSL expansion team. On December 11, 2013, the National Women's Soccer League awarded the Houston Dynamo and the city of Houston an expansion franchise. Team name, crest, and colors During a press conference on December 12, 2013, Houston Dynamo president Chris Canetti announced that the club would be named the Houston Dash and would share similar colors to the Dynamo: orange, black, and sky blue. The crest features a soccer ball along with the words "Houston Dash" with sky b ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Crystal Dunn
Crystal Alyssia Soubrier (; born July 3, 1992) is an American soccer player for the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States women's national soccer team. She first appeared for the United States national team during an international friendly against Scotland on February 13, 2013. She has since made more than 100 total appearances for the team. Dunn played collegiate soccer with the North Carolina Tar Heels from 2010 to 2013 and was awarded the 2012 Hermann Trophy for best college soccer player. She was a member of the team that won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan. Following her collegiate career, Dunn was selected first overall by the Washington Spirit in the 2014 NWSL College Draft that took place on January 17, 2014. The following year, she won the NWSL Most Valuable Player and the Golden Boot awards, becoming the youngest player to win both ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Raquel Rodríguez
Raquel Rodríguez Cedeño (born 28 October 1993) is a Costa Rican professional Association football, footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League and the Costa Rica women's national football team, Costa Rica women's national team. Early life Born in San José, Costa Rica to Sivianni Rodriguez and Grettel Cedeño, Rodriguez, nicknamed Rocky, was raised in Costa Rica and moved to the United States where support for women's soccer offered more opportunity. Her father, Sivianni Rodríguez, played professionally in Costa Rica with C.S. Herediano, Herediano and the Costa Rica national football team. Rodriquez began playing soccer at age four and played on boys teams and trained with her brother and father as a youth. At age 11, her cousin told her one of the well-known men's club teams was holding tryouts for a women's team. After trying out, she played for the team's under-15 team. She played for the high school team ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lindsey Horan
Lindsey Michelle Horan (born May 26, 1994) is an American professional soccer player for Olympique Lyonnais Féminin on loan from Portland Thorns FC. She previously played for the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States women's national soccer team. In 2018, she was named NWSL MVP. Horan was a leading player for the Thorns during their 2017 championship season, scoring the winning goal in the championship game, and before that was a prolific scorer for Paris Saint-Germain FC, scoring 46 goals in 58 appearances. She was the leading scorer for the United States U-17 team at the 2010 CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championship. Early life Horan was born May 26, 1994 and grew up in Golden, Colorado near Denver. Although she attended Golden High School, she did not play soccer for the school. Instead, she played club soccer with the Colorado Rush. She first started playing ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Gina Lewandowski
Gina Loren Lewandowski (born April 13, 1985) is an American former soccer player. University career Lewandowski played her collegial soccer at Lehigh University, where she was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year (2004, 2005) and Patriot League Rookie of the Year (2003), she was led all scorers in League 2004 year with eight goals and 16 points. She finished her college career with 36 goals and 8 assists in 70 games. Then played 2006 for Northampton Laurels. Professional career Following university Lewandowski tried outs for two teams in Germany, heading overseas on May 22, 2007. Her desire to play lead her to "... go over and see where it takes me," Lewandowski said, "It's just a leap of faith." 1. FFC Frankfurt Following a successful trial, the four-time All- Patriot League moved to 1. FFC Frankfurt with fellow American Alexandra Krieger on July 30, 2007. While at Frankfurt Lewandowski won the treble in 2007–08 (Bundesliga-Pokal-Champions League). She helped ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Simone Charley
Simone Naomi Charley (born February 4, 1995) is an American professional soccer player and track and field athlete who plays for the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Early years Charley was born to Sharon and Bobby Charley in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Hoover, Alabama. Her maternal family is originally from Montserrat. She was born into a sports family, her older sister Nicole having been a triple jumper at Auburn, her older brother Myles a triple jumper and long jumper at Troy and her cousin Damian an American football player at Vanderbilt. Charley is a natural athlete herself, and excelled at the high school and university level in both soccer and track and field. During her high school career she won nine state championships in both sports, was named 2011 state Gatorade Player of the Year (soccer) and 2012 Birmingham News Female Athlete of the Year. She also excelled academically. College career Charley attended Vanderbilt Universit ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Morgan Weaver
Morgan Victoria Weaver (born October 18, 1997) is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for Portland Thorns FC. College career Weaver played college soccer at Washington State from 2016 to 2019. She scored her first collegiate goals on September 4, 2016, recording a hat-trick against North Dakota State. Weaver was named to the All-Pac-12 Freshman Team in 2016. In 2017, she was named to the All-Pac-12 third team. She was named to the All-Pac-12 first team in 2018, and was named to the All-Pac-12 second team in 2019. Club career On January 16, 2020, she was selected as the second overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft. Weaver made her professional debut for Portland Thorns FC on June 27, 2020, in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, coming on as a substitute in the 54th minute for Tyler Lussi against North Carolina Courage. She scored her first professional goal on July 17, 2020 against North Carolina Courage. International career Weaver received a call-up to the United ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Nahomi Kawasumi
is a Japanese footballer who plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC. A full international since 2008, she won gold at the 2011 World Cup as well as silver at the 2012 London Olympics and 2015 World Cup. During the 2011 World Cup, she scored two goals—including a lob at 35 yards away against Sweden during the semifinals—helping Japan eventually win the tournament for the first time in its history. Early life Kawasumi was raised in Kanagawa Prefecture about 40 minutes south of Tokyo where she began playing soccer as a youth following the lead of her older sister. She played for the Rinkan Lemons while in elementary school along with future Japanese national team defender Megumi Kamionobe. Kawasumi and Kamionobe scored approximately 70% of the team's goals. Kawasumi attended Nippon Sport Science University. Playing career Club INAC Kobe Leonessa, 2008–2016 Kawasumi signed with INAC Kobe Leonessa in 2008. In 2011, she was named the league's most valuable player after captaining INAC to ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Meghan Klingenberg
Meghan Elizabeth Klingenberg (born August 2, 1988) is an American soccer player who plays as a Defender (association football), defender for Portland Thorns FC, Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League, National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). A former member of the United States women's national soccer team, she is a one-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion. She has also played for three teams in the Women's Professional Soccer, Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league, for Tyresö FF in Sweden's Damallsvenskan and for the Houston Dash in the NWSL. Early life Klingenberg was born in Pittsburgh and raised in the suburban north hills of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. She has a younger brother named Drew who played college soccer at Penn State. She attended Pine-Richland High School from 2003 to 2007 and was the captain of the girls soccer team. In 2005, she helped lead Pine-Richland to the Pennsylvania state high school championship and was an NSCAA All-America selection. She ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jennifer Cudjoe
Jennifer Cudjoe (born 7 March 1994) is a Ghanaian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Club career Sky Blue FC Cudjoe signed a short-term contract with Sky Blue FC for the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. She made her NWSL debut on 30 June 2020. Cudjoe was selected by Racing Louisville FC in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft The 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft was a special draft held on November 12, 2020, by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for Racing Louisville FC, an expansion team, to select players from existing teams in the league. Louisville would be able to ..., but Sky Blue soon acquired her back in a trade. Honors Individual * Ghanaian Female Footballer of the Year: 2015 References External links Northeastern Oklahoma A&M profileNortheastern State University profileMaine-Fort Kent profile 1994 births Living people Ghanaian women's footballers Footballers from Accra University of Main ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Imani Dorsey
Imani Michelle Dorsey (born March 21, 1996) is an American professional soccer player who currently plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School in Olney, Maryland and in college she played for Duke University. College career Duke University, 2014–2017 Dorsey played for Duke University from 2014–2017. She was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 and was a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy. She finished her career ranked fourth all time in career goals at Duke. Club career In 2015 she played for the Washington Spirit Reserves in the W-League. She scored eight goals, helping the team win the W-League Championship. She was named W-League Rookie of the Year. NJ/NY Gotham FC (formerly Sky Blue FC), 2018–present Dorsey was selected by Sky Blue FC with the 5th overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. She joined the team in May after completing her degree at Duke University ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |