Could Alexia Putellas land in NWSL? Plus: Final predictions for USWNT roster
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We had full intention of making the newsletter all about Khadija “Bunny” Shaw’s shock announcement yesterday that she’s staying with Manchester City, but then Alexia Putellas shared earlier today that she’s leaving FC Barcelona after 14 years with the club. We have the breaking news here, and more on that in a moment.
What else we’re covering today:
🩵 A surprise celebration in Manchester
🍼 Our new motherhood and soccer series
👀 The league catching up to the NWSL
There’s a lot going on! Let’s get back to Shaw:
End-of-Season Business
Shaw says ‘no place’ like City
Amid the celebrations for both Manchester City Women’s first WSL title in a decade and the men’s team’s FA Cup and Carabao Cup victories, there was a moment when everyone held their collective breath. Our Sam Lee was in the crowd:
💬 It all seemed to happen in slow motion during the celebrations. Shaw’s future was mentioned, there was some confusion, an awkward glance or two and then the confirmation from Shaw herself.
“I’m still here, I’m still hungry and there’s no place I’d rather be,” she told the crowd.
The WSL Golden Boot winner the last three seasons committed her future to Manchester City by signing a new four-year contract. Here’s what you need to know about the Jamaican striker:
Shaw’s contract with City was set to expire this summer, which led to a tense few months of speculation that the club would not only not re-sign her, but also let her walk for free.
In the end, City director of women’s football Therese Sjogran and women’s managing director Charlotte O’Neill worked to keep Shaw — and on a major contract at that.
Her 21 goals in 22 games were an invaluable contribution toward their first league title in a decade. Manchester’s blue side will now compete in the Champions League next season as a result.
That City managed to sign Shaw to a new, fairly lengthy contract for a 29-year-old striker, even one with Shaw’s superlative talents, speaks volumes about the club’s long-term ambitions.
Women’s football globally has taken a noticeable skew toward younger players (see Arsenal’s Olivia Smith and Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson, who were both 20 when they signed), but City have shown they are ready to invest in developing players into long-tenured veterans.
What happens next should be asked of another club, Chelsea, who were front-runners to sign Shaw — presumably as a replacement for legendary striker Sam Kerr. The 32-year-old Australian left Chelsea as the most prolific striker on the women’s side (she was their second-highest scorer this season despite missing a chunk of it to injury).
Chelsea finished third in the WSL table, meaning they will have to play their way into the Champions League next season and climb back from failing to claim a WSL title for the first time in six years. They have a lot of work — and reflection — to do this summer. (Maybe a record signing is in order?)
On to the breaking news:
Putellas calls time on Barcelona
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner Putellas has Barcelona in her blood and La Masia, the club’s youth academy, as her foundation. But the 32-year-old has finally decided it’s time to test the waters elsewhere after 14 years with the club.
The midfielder’s announcement comes after she captained Barcelona to a 4-0 win over OL Lyonnes in Saturday’s Champions League final, securing a fourth European title in six years.
Putellas rejoined Barcelona from Levante in 2012 and has scored 234 goals in 512 appearances for the club.
The Spain international has won 10 league titles and was an integral part of the Barcelona side that lifted the women’s Champions League trophy for the first time in 2021.
While every team would move mountains to secure a player like Putellas on their roster, sources told The Athletic that NWSL teams are among the options on the table for her, especially given the division’s new High Impact Player rule, which allows teams to spend as much as $1 million above the salary cap on players who meet certain criteria.
If another European team doesn’t offer the midfielder something she can’t refuse (don’t rule out Michele Kang’s London City Lionesses), NWSL could be a really fun landing spot. When I think about NWSL cities that could attract Putellas, that obviously includes L.A. and NYC. But I wouldn’t count out Boston and its connection to the Catalan club via general manager Dome Guasch.
USWNT Roster Drop: Who’s going to Brazil?
The U.S. men’s national team announced its 2026 World Cup roster today. But tomorrow, we will also know which 26 players USWNT coach Emma Hayes has selected for a trip to Brazil next month to compete in a critical set of friendlies against the 2027 World Cup hosts on their own turf. While we wait on that, a couple of things to keep in mind:
For about a year now, the U.S. midfield has felt like the most solidified position, in terms of Hayes having determined a core group.
That said, Sam Coffey is recovering from minor knee surgery, Rose Lavelle has been out with a hamstring injury since May 8 and Catarina Macario is still working through a heel injury, so there are potentially several roster spots up for grabs this window. Which brings us to our next point …
Hayes may have made 2025 her year of experimentation, but she has still left the door cracked for players to make their case for a camp invitation this year via their club performances. Two wild cards stick out: North Carolina Courage midfielder Ashley Sanchez and Utah Royals center back Kate Del Fava, whose team is currently No. 1 in the NWSL.
Del Fava would be a first-time invite, but USWNT center back Naomi Girma has not played since April as she deals with a calf injury, so there could be space.
The Athletic will cover the full roster announcement tomorrow morning.
Notables
Being ‘a great mom and a great athlete’
There are a record number of mothers rostered this season in the NWSL. Nearly 30! With the backing of more research, there is growing recognition that pregnancy does not signal the end or pause of a playing career, but rather an active chapter within it.
This turning point in professional athletics signals one of the biggest changes since the inception of the NWSL — and the next evolution for athletes. Over the last few months, we’ve spoken to researchers, players, coaches and family for a new series about the intersection of motherhood and soccer.
Read the first article, published this morning, on the science behind returning to play after pregnancy. And keep us bookmarked, because we have more coming throughout the week.
Keep your eyes on Liga MX Femenil
The top-flight women’s professional league in Mexico is flying high after a slew of record-breaking, medal- and trophy-bearing matches. Last weekend’s conclusion of the second-ever Concacaf W Champions Cup saw two Mexican clubs, Pachuca and Club América, on the podium in first and third place.
América was simply stunning in their confederation campaign. They cruised past Gotham FC 4-1 in the semis before triumphing over a tenacious Washington Spirit in the final, a 5-3 thriller that saw two braces on each side and two lead changes.
Less than a week before lifting their first Concacaf trophy, América had won the Clausura in Liga MX with a dramatic comeback over Monterrey in front of a record crowd of 26,670. The success and visibility all bode well not only for the growth of the domestic league, but also for that of the Mexican women’s national team as it prepares to qualify for the 2027 World Cup.
First Looks
Teaming up: Michele Kang’s Spirit knocked Racing Louisville owner John Neace’s team out of the NWSL playoffs last year, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find common ground in the form of investment. Both have joined the financial backing of a new Fair Trade Certified soccer cleat. I guess money talks.
Turning heads: Turns out the fastest way to make an entrance into women’s soccer is to add Planned Parenthood across the front of a jersey and let Portland be Portland. The Cherry Bombs, an unsanctioned USL W League team named after a 1976 punk anthem and based in the Pacific Northwest city, not only won their first match but also sold out their inaugural kits after launching a loud campaign.
Going public: If you missed it last week, read up on The Sports Bra bar’s latest fundraising efforts. But hurry, it doesn’t look like that train is slowing down.
Welcome back: USWNT forward Mallory Swanson scored her first goal in nearly two years and her first since returning from maternity leave to give Chicago Stars FC a badly needed 1-0 win over nine-player Bay FC on Sunday. Chicago may still be hanging out near the bottom of the table, but Swanson’s left-footed solo run-and-finish felt like a much-needed lifeline.
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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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