English FA bans transwomen, Benteke expected back this week, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday, everyone! I’ve got what I hope is a good mix of things for you today, but as always, share any new Kicks you find in the comments.
FA bars transgender women from women’s football (BBC)
The policy change is reportedly in response to a decision by the UK Supreme Court on the definition of “woman” under an English law; but considering there are no transwomen in professional English soccer, and this will only impact about 30 amateur players, it seems both unnecessary and cruel.
D.C. United ‘optimistic’ about Christian Benteke returning to lineup (Washington Post $)
Unfortunately, João Peglow is expected to be out for another match.
What “Where Goals Come From” says about your team after MLS 2025 Week 10: Eastern Conference edition (American Soccer Analysis)
ASA’s first article since NWSL season previews (I’ve been keeping an eye out). They did a real deep-dive on how different MLS teams are scoring and allowing so far this season. The Western Conference edition should be out today.
USL Super League Team of the Month – April (USL Super League)
April’s Team of the Month includes Power FC outside back Susanna Fitch, as well as two Dallas Trinity players with Washington Spirit connections: former player Amber Brooks and loaned-out Tamara Bolt.
If you want to know more about the conditions at Loudoun United, Pablo Maurer went on Morning Kickaround to discuss what he learned while writing his Athletic article about the team. He definitely has some criticisms for D.C. United for their role in Loudoun’s struggles.
NWSL vs. UWCL, WSL: Will parity keep the U.S. league on top? (ESPN)
This article asks whether aggressive expansion will hurt the NWSL’s celebrated parity, but I think raising salary caps and making all players free agents is having a bigger impact, personally. Expansion teams have always struggled in their first few years.
Parity vs. competition w/Meghann Burke (Diaspora United, Spotify link)
On a related note, André Carlisle had Meghann Burke, executive director of the NWSL Players Association on his podcast to talk about the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement.
An Exhaustive Collection Of Football Shirts Featuring Video Game Sponsorships (Aftermath)
Some Friday fun!
Finally, here’s your schedule of games for the weekend. Here’s hoping rain doesn’t interfere too much!
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Spirit vs. Angel City FC | Fri., May 2 at 8 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | Prime Video |
| D.C. United vs. Colorado Rapids | Sat., May 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | Apple TV |
| Loudoun United FC vs. Las Vegas Lights | Sat., May 3 at 10:30 p.m. ET | Las Vegas, NV | ESPN+ |
| DC Defenders vs. Michigan Panthers | Sun., May 4 at 12 p.m. ET | Detroit, MI | ESPN2 |
| Old Glory DC vs. Utah Warriors | Sun., May 4 at 2 p.m. ET | Boyds, MD | ESPN+ |
The DC Defenders are playing in Detroit, MD?
Absolutely 😉
Is it just me or have the Spirit gotten a fair number of Friday night games?
Four so far, including the Challenge Cup. It’s a lot of Fridays for now and Sundays later in the season.
Tonight on Rugby Pass TV (free streaming service from World Rugby (FIFA equivalent)) at 8:30 PM EDT USA vs Canada in Women’s XVs.
I forgot to mention this is the first of the Pacific Four series between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US for Women’s XVs.
Tonight’s match set an attendance record for a Women’s Eagles ( USA XVs National Team) at 10,518 as they lost to Canada 26-14.
So who thinks that KDP sees the field tomorrow night as a sub for the Rapids and scores the dagger that wins the game?
That’s a hard bet because I doubt he’d be scoring the winning goal if he subs on, but rather just piling onto a multiple goal lead.
I’m not so sure I should be so pessimistic because we are at home instead of in Colorado (where I’m sure we’d be humiliated). And Benteke is supposedlt back.
Have you seen our Swiss cheese defense?
I fully expect Mihailovic to have at least 3 goal contributions, from a set piece, a basic pass, and a progressive pass.
The LA Sevens are this weekend as the last stop of this season’s HSBC 7s tour. The US Women are competing in the winner take all World Championship Tournament against the rest of the top 8. The US Men on the other hand will be battling it to stay in the HSBC 7s next season and not down in the Challenger 7s against the bottom 4 from the HSBC 7s and the top 4 from the Challenger 7s.
The men will face Portugal (2:30 PM ET 3 May), Samoa (5:29 PM ET 3 May), and Kenya (2:28 PM ET May 4) in pool play.
The women will face France (2:28 PM ET 3 May), Australia (5:51 PM ET 3 May), and Fiji (9:02 PM ET 3 May) in pool play.