The Week in Women's Football: Lyon crowned Champions League; Wiegman takes over England; More NWSL moves; | OneFootball

This week, we review the Final of the 2019-20 Women's Champions League between Lyon and Wolfsburg, discuss the news that the Netherland's women's national team very successful head coach Sabrina Wiegman will take over England's women's national team after the next Olympic Games. We also have some news from the NWSL—including players going on loan abroad—and the UWS, again with players moving overseas, and finally report the 2019/20 Australia Westfield W-League awards and an interesting move abroad by a young Australian international.

Lyon Wins Fifth Consecutive Women's Champions League title over Wolfsburg

Olympique Lyon of France defeated Wolfsburg of Germany 3-1 in the 2019-20 Women's Champions League Final in San Sebastian Spain on August 30. Lyon raced to a 2-0 first half lead through goals by French international striker Eugenie Le Sommer (25th minute), who followed up on a second shot after her first was saved, with a key assist for the initial shot to fellow French international Delphine Cascarino (who was brilliant on the wing all game) and Japanese international and 2011 Women's World Cup winner Sagi Kumagai, with a 44th minute a long range shot from an assist to Amel Majri (another French international) after an initial cross from Cascarino. After the match Cascarino, the Player of the Match said, "We prepared very well for this match after lockdown and we had a couple of games to get up to speed; we've been firing on all cylinders now. I am very proud of this team."

German international and Wolfsburg Captain Alexandra Popp halved the deficit in the 58th minute with a header into the net on a cross by Swedish international Fridolina Rolfo but Icelandic international Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir secured the title for Lyon with an 88th minute goal. Gunnarsdottier (29) joined Lyon for the 2020/21 season but due to UEFA changes to roster rules to accommodate holding the title game than months later than originally scheduled, she was allowed to play against the club that she played with for 4 seasons (2016-17 through the 2019-20 Frauen Bundesliga campaign, after six seasons with Swedish power Rosengard/Malmo, following her departure from Breidablik at home after the 2010 season. Le Sommer's 47th UEFA women's championship goal positions her in fourth place, one ahead of Brazilian international Marta (with 3 Swedish clubs), and within one of former German international Conny Pohlers (48 goals). Norwegian international Ada Hegerberg with 53 goals (currently with Lyon but missing the Final through a long term injury) and Anja Mittag (now a player coach at Leipzig but previously with Wolfsburg, Tubine Potsdam in Germany, Rosengard and PSG) on second with 51 goals. For the 2019/20 Champions League season., Arsenal's Dutch international Vivianne Miedema led all goalscorers with 10, while Danish international Pernille Harder (see more below) finished with 9, after going scoreless in the semifinal and final.

English international defender Lucy Bronze won her third WCL title for Lyon and, along with her English international teammate and defender Alex Greenwood (1 WCL title), have announced that they are returning to the FA WSL—both reportedly with Manchester City. English international forward Jodi Taylor came on in the 87th minute after signing recently on loan from OL Reign in Tacoma in the NWSL. English international Nakita Parris missed the final after receiving a red card in the semifinal win over PSG.

UEFA should be very pleased that they were able to complete the 2019-20 WCL season while some domestic leagues were not able to (England, France and Spain among them). The change in the format for the quarterfinals and semifinals to one game in the central location concept in northern Spain was expeditious given COVID-19. We thought that we would see some upsets, particularly in the quarterfinal leg, but favorites Lyon, PSG, Wolfsburg and Barcelona were able to advance over Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid (all by one goal) and Glasgow City (9-1 losers to Wolfsburg), respectively. The 2020-21 WCL season will revert to the traditional format of 10 first round groups with 4 teams each, followed by home and away legs until the Final. Though the recent games were largely riveting to watch, this has to be viewed as a one-off as clubs missed the opportunity for home advantage (and fan support), though this one-leg approach could be used in a future UEFA Cup or World Cup type of tournament in one location.

Danish international Pernille Harder, who had such a strong domestic and Champions League campaign for Wolfsburg, is joining Chelsea in England. Chelsea is paying Wolfsburg what very well could be a German and world record transfer fee, with varying reports of it in the 280,000 to 350,000 Euros range and the Guardian reporting 300,000 Pounds Sterling or 340,000 Euros—Harder (27) had one year remaining on her contract with Wolfsburg. Harder wanted to be closer to her partner, who also plays football in London. She was Player of the Year in the Frauen Bundesliga with 27 goals and finished with 9 Women's Champions League goals and a total of 105 goals in 114 matches in three and a half years with Wolfsburg, where she won four German league titles. She was UEFA's Player of the Year in 2018 and scored four against Glasgow City in this year's WCL quarterfinals. Harder is a huge addition for Chelsea along with their other signings this summer for the 2020-21 FA WSL campaign in Bayern Munich captain Melanie Leupolz, Canadian international midfielder Jess Fleming and Australian international forward Sam Kerr last January.

Netherland's Wiegman to guide England's Lionesses after the Tokyo Olympic Games

Sabrina Wiegman will take over as England's women's national team manager prior to the European Championship in 2022 (originally in 2021) which the Lionesses will host. She is committed to guiding her native country in the next Olympic Games Finals in Japan, which were postponed for 12 months due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Wiegman led her country to the 2017 European crown at home and then to the final game of the Women's World Cup last summer in Lyon. Phil Neville, who guided England to what some felt was a disappointing fourth place finish in France last summer, is due to see out his contract until July 2021. Wiegman signed a four year contract and will guide England not only at the UEFA Championships but also expectedly at the 2023 WWC in Australia/New Zealand and for the 2025 EUROS. She earned 104 caps for her country and was the captain as a player. She said about the appointment, "I'm delighted and honoured to join England Women next year. England is the cradle of football and the major developments in women's football globally over recent years have been led by the FA. I'm very much looking forward to contributing my experience and expertise to this ambitious team. The ride with the 'Oranje Lionesses' has been amazing so far, but we haven't reached our final destination yet. There are two more goals: qualifying for the UEFA Women's EURO in 2022 and challenging at the Olympics next summer. That would be a fitting completion for me of everything we've strived to achieve in women's football in my home country. I'm extremely excited by the prospect of leading England Women in the future, but for now I am 100 per cent focused on Oranje. I will do my utmost to add another chapter to their remarkable journey before making my next step."

This is a huge signing for England and though Emma Hayes (Chelsea) and Laura Harvey (ex-Utah Royals/Seattle Reign and currently head coach of the U.S. U-20 national side) would have been great choices, Wiegman brings a winning mentality from a vibrant European national team; many of her players are currently with FA WSL clubs so she knows the league which supplies most of the England squad. She will bring new ideas and a creative approach on the field to a squad. Jill Ellis, a native of England who led the Americans to two consecutive Women's World Cup, certainly had strong credentials and was reported to be the other final candidate, but Wiegman is an inspired choice to lead England into a post-pandemic world.

NWSL News

Sky Blue FC Defender Midge Purce is elected to Harvard University's Board of Overseers.

Margaret 'Midge' Purce has been elected to Harvard University's Board of Overseers. With 13 total nominations, the Sky Blue FC defender was one of five alumni named to the University's second-highest governing body. Purce ran as part of Harvard Forward, a coalition of alumni, students, and faculty pushing for the University to divest from fossil fuel investments and commit more resources to climate-focused initiatives. The group originated after ongoing frustration with Harvard's insufficient response to the climate crisis and lack of alumni inclusion in the University's governance. Purce will serve a six-year term on the board through Commencement 2026. She will use the position to call on the University to demonstrate leadership in the fight against climate change by focusing on climate justice, responsible investing, inclusive governance, and student voices. Sky Blue General Manager Alyse LaHue expressed her support for Purce's extraordinary extracurricular activities, "It's been incredible to watch Midge pursue off-field goals and achieve them. Everyone at Sky Blue is so proud of her and can't wait to watch what she does next." In her third NWSL season in 2019, she had a breakout campaign with the Portland Thorns and finished the year with 8 goals (tied for sixth best in the league) and 1 assist in 22 matches, before her off-season trade to Sky Blue FC.

More NWSL Loans Abroad

There have been a number of high profile loans to clubs abroad by NWSL teams in the past few weeks (see our column of two weeks ago: https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/the-week-in-women-s-football-exclusive-with-arsenal-star-evans-aston-villa-make-moves-ucl-quarter-finals-4338178).

For OL Reign, defender Alana Cook—who played 270 minutes over three starts in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup—has completed her loan assignment with OL Reign and has returned to Paris-Saint Germain. Cook was with the team for last week's 2019-20 UEFA Women's Champions League quarterfinals and semifinal matches.

Defender Adrienne Jordan, who joined OL Reign in May 2020 from Birmingham City, completed her contract with the club and has now signed with UD Granadilla Tenerife of the Primera División de la Liga de Fútbol Femenino. Jordan's NWSL rights for the 2021 season remain with OL Reign.

OL Reign has also extended the contract of midfielder Rebecca Quinn through the 2021 season, with a club option for the 2022 season. The Canadian international back was loaned to Vittsjö GIK of the Swedish Damallsvenskan through the end of 2020. Other moves to Sweden include OL Reign defender Lauren Barnes being loaned to Kristianstads DFF through the conclusion of the Swedish Damallsvenskan season in November, while forward Japanese international Yuka (Nicole) Momiki has been loaned to Linköpings FC, also through the end of the season in Sweden.

Defender Julia Ashley has rejoined OL Reign for training activities after recovering from a back injury which she acquired in Australia with Adelaide United during the 2019-20 W-League season. She also played in Sweden last year with Linkopings.

The North Carolina Courage has loaned Hailie Mace to Kristianstads DFF in Sweden for the rest of the 2020 Damallsvenskan season, which ends in November. Mace signed with the Courage on January 22 and is currently under contract through 2021. Courage head coach Paul Riley said, "The last few months have given Hailie a glimpse into the expectations at the Courage. She has grown immensely since being here and more games will do her a world of good. She is a great talent and I'm truly excited to see how our environment can help her reach her dreams. She needs games to continue her development and we are delighted to see her go to Europe to find those games." She played last season with FC Rosengard in Sweden, scoring 4 goals in 16 matches after a two game spell in Australia with Melbourne City in 2018-19. Mace made her debut with the Courage during the NWSL Challenge Cup. On June 27, she entered the match against the Portland Thorns as a substitution in the 71st minute. Her first touches on the ball led to an assist on a goal by Debinha. Throughout the Challenge Cup, Mace played in all five matches for 85 minutes. She had a 100% success rate on tackles and a 76.5% success rate on passes. Kristianstads DFF currently has a record of 7-3-3 (W-D-L) for 24 points and is in third place in the league, 8 points behind leaders Rosengard and 5 behind second place Goteborg.

Riley and the Courage have signed ex-Wake Forest University midfielder Peyton Perea for the rest of the 2020 season for their league games in September and October. She played for Civitas Santa Teresa Badajoz in Spain's Primera Iberdrola last season. Perea had signed a national team replacement player contract with the Courage in 2019, not appearing in any games but training for the entire season before going to Santa Teresa after the 2019 NWSL season ended.

The Houston Dash has sent English international forward Rachel Daly on loan to West Ham United until the end of the 2020 calendar year. She played for Leeds United and Lincoln Ladies as a youth in England but has played professionally only in the NWSL. She explained her emotions about the loan agreement, "I'm over the moon to be back in England. I've always wanted to play in the Barclays WSL and what a year to be a part of it. I'm excited to be playing for West Ham as I think it's a top club with massive potential. Being closer to my family is something that I'll cherish over the next few months after being away from them for eight years—it has been difficult. Having them be able to watch me live week-in and week-out will be special." Daly led Houston to their very first title in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup in Utah in July, finishing with three goals and two assists and the MVP and Gold Boot awards. She has recently signed a new three year contract with the Dash for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 NWSL seasons.

The Chicago Red Stars have sent 5 players out on loan to European clubs including forward Rachel Hill to Swedish Damallsvenskan league side Linköpings FC (currently in fourth place on 23 points from a 7-2-4 record). Previously, Hill's overseas experience included joining Australian club Perth Glory on loan for the 2017-18 W-League season, where she finished with six assists, the most in the league, and nine goals, the third-most in the league. She re-signed a loan agreement for the 2018-19 season finishing with six additional goals as the team walked away runners up in the Grand Final.

Other Red Star loanees include goalkeeper Cassie Miller—who made her NWSL debut as a part of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup—who is returning to Cyprus on loan to Apollon Ladies FC of the Cypriot First Division. She previously played for the team during the 2019-20 season. Prior to that, Miller competed with Netherland's PSV Vrouwen for their 2018-19 season. In her first stint abroad, second year Red Star defender Kayla Sharples heads to Finland to join the Kuopion Palloseura of Kansallinen Liiga, who is currently third in the league after 12 games with 22 points from a 7-1-4 record. Sharples played at Northwestern University in Chicago. She joins fellow American Kaelyn Korte, who we interviewed late in the 2018 season when she played in Kazakhstan with Kazygurt (see: https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/the-week-in-women-s-football-exclusive-interview-with-biik-kazygurt-defender-korte-winkworth-implements-vision-at-arizona-state-4252736). Another American on the KuPS side is defender Mckenzie Grossman, after playing in Iceland last season with IBV and the previous year with Vasteras in the Swedish second division.

In their first overseas stints abroad, goalkeeper Emily Boyd and forward Makenzy Doniak of the Red Stars are bound for Denmark as they team up with the Elitedivisionen's HB Køge, who are currently in fifth place with 7 points from 5 games (2-1-2). Their other Americans are forward Mimi Rangle (ex-Long Beach State), goalkeeper Sara Small (ex-Wake Forest University/University of Arkansas at Little Rock who transferred from Odense after they were relegated to the second tier following the 2019 season) and forward Kyra Carusa (ex-Stanford and Georgetown University who recently was capped by the Republic of Ireland). Carusa has 4 goals this term for Koge after helping the club win promotion last season.

Orlando Pride Brazilian international midfielder Camila has been loaned to Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras of Brazil's top-flight until December 22, 2020. Camila, 25, joined the Pride ahead of the 2017 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season and has since appeared in 49 matches, totaling five goals and five assists. In 2019, the Brazilian international appeared in 16 matches, four of which were starts, netting one goal. Prior to joining the Pride, Camila spent part of 2015 and 2016 in the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino Série A1, with stints at Tiradentes and Ferroviária in that time. Following the 2018 season, she went on loan to Iranduba, marking the last time she played in her native Brazil. She played for Brazil in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Canada and in last summer's full Women's World Cup in France.

The Pride also sent rookie Taylor Kornieck on loan to MSV Duisburg in the Frauen-Bundesliga, with the club to be determined. She will return early in 2021. Kornieck was selected third-overall by the Pride at the 2020 NWSL College Draft out of the University of Colorado, the highest draft pick in Club history. However, due to the team's withdrawal from the NWSL Challenge Cup, she has yet to make an appearance for Orlando. Duisburg finished 9th in last season's German top league with 17 points (4-5-13 record), just avoiding relegation on goal difference (-28) along with Bayer Leverkusen (-29) over Koln (-38).

Sky Blue FC loaned midfielder Nahomi Kawasumi to her former Japanese top tier league club INAC Kobe from August 15 to December 31. Kawasumi joined Sky Blue FC in January 2019 and appeared in 19 matches last season. The Japanese international played every minute in all six games of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. She scored her first goal in a Sky Blue jersey from 40 yards out against eventual champions Houston Dash. This will be Kawasumi's third stint with INAC Kobe, as she made her professional debut with the Japanese side in 2006 and captained them to their first league title in 2011. Kawasumi was also named league MVP twice with INAC Kobe. Her second spell with the team came in 2014 on loan. Last season, INAC Kobe finished in third place in the Nadeshiko League 1 table with a record of 9-4-5. They are currently again in third place after 7 games with a 4-2-1 record for 14 points in the 10 team league, four behind leaders Urawa Reds (18 points) and two behind NTV Beleza (16 points), who this winter won the first Asian Women's Club Championship against the league representatives of the Korea Republic, China and Australia.

In addition, Orlando Pride defender Carson Pickett has been loaned to Apollon Ladies FC of the Cypriot First Division, with the loan set to expire on November 20, 2020. Pickett joined the Pride as part of a multi-player trade from then-named Seattle Reign ahead of the 2018 NWSL season. Since then, she has made 39 appearances for the Pride while notching one assist. A product of Florida State University, Pickett was selected fourth-overall by the Reign at the 2016 NWSL College Draft. Through her four seasons in the NWSL, she has totaled 75 appearances and two assists. She has spent the past three off-seasons on loan to the Westfield W-League Brisbane Roar.

A teammate of Pickett's in the W-League with the Roar for the past three seasons, Portland Thorns FC midfielder Celeste Boureille, has joined France's Division I Féminine side FC Fleury 91 on a short-term loan. Boureille is under contract with Portland for the 2021 season. Boureille (26) appeared in five matches with three starts during the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. Since signing with the club in 2016, Boureille has made 61 appearances (48 starts) across all competitions. FC Fleury 91 has competed in Division I Féminine since 2017. The club was promoted to Division 2 in 2012 and earned promotion to the top league in 2017 after winning the league title. During the 2019-20 season, FC Fleury finished seventh in the league standings, improving on a ninth place finish in 2018-19.

Sky Blue FC sent their Canadian rookie Evelyne Viens (their fifth overall selection in the 2020 NWSL College Draft) on loan to Paris FC through February 2021. She appeared in all six 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup matches and scored her first professional goal against the Chicago Red Stars during the Club's appearance in the Semifinal match. Paris FC finished fifth in the Division 1 Féminine for the 2019-20 season with a record of 7-3-6.

Other moves of interest involving American or internationals signing for European teams, after completing their collegiate careers, include the following: Mikela Waldman is an American who was playing in Israel with Maccabi Holon and signed with Sporting de Huelva in Spanish Primera Division Femenina for the 2020-21 season. She played 22 games with Hammarby in the second tier Elitettan last season in Sweden. In 2019 she also played with FC Lugano (a team famous for importing Americans with their debut appearance in the WCL this past season) and played at Brown University in Rhode Island.

Amanda Visco, an American center back at Rutgers University in New Jersey, has signed with Santa Teresa de Badajoz in Spain. The New Jersey native joins the recently promoted team into the top division Primera Division after winning promotion last season. At Rutgers, she captained a squad that posted 11 shutouts and a 0.58 GAA in 2019, holding opponents to three shots or less on goal in 10 matches. The defender also netted two goals in 2019, one of which was the game winner in the victory at Iowa. She led a backline that totaled 48 shutouts across her career, pacing the nation in GAA in 2017. While she was there, she played in four consecutive NCAA post-season tournaments.

Silvia Leonessi (23) is moving from an American university to the Italian league. She was born in Denmark but her father is Italian. At home she played with Varde (currently in the Danish second division) and for four years at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, she played in 84 games with 36 goals (10 game winners) and 51 assists. She won a WPSL title in 2019 with Pensacola FC.

More UWS Alumni Going Abroad

Some more players with United Women's Soccer League (UWS) experience are heading abroad, in addition to those who we reported on last week: (https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/the-week-in-women-s-football-nwsl-returns-college-football-suspended-for-2020-uws-moves-abroad-4338896).

Megan Warner (Unity FC) became the first UWS League Two (the developmental league that was started in 2020 but—other than for a few games with member clubs—has not yet staged a full season) alum to jump to the professional ranks, signing a deal with UMF Sindri in Iceland. The Watford, England native joined Unity FC for the 2020 season, and notched an assist in the inaugural UWS-2 league match, a 4-1 victory over Orlando FC Royals. In her last two seasons at Webber International University in Decatur, Georgia, she scored 16 goals and added six assists, for 38 total points.

Ellie Jean (New England Mutiny) is continuing her professional career in the Netherlands, signing a two-year contract with PSV Eindhoven. The Penn State graduate originally signed with FC Nordsjælland in Denmark after the end of her senior season, but her initial season was cut short. A former United States youth international prospect, Jean will have a chance to shine on the international level in the Women's UEFA Champions League, which the PSV Women qualified for with their first place finish this past season (which was interrupted due to COVID-19). Former NWSL and current Matildas Kyah Simon and Amy Harrison also joined the Dutch side for the 2020-21 season.

Catalina Perez (New England Mutiny) turned her 2019 campaign with the East Conference regular season champs into a contract with Napoli in Italy. The Columbian national team backstop originally signed with ACF Fiorentina in Italy's Serie A, before moving to Napoli. Perez has spent time in the Colombian youth system, seeing time in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup (where she was red carded for taking down American forward Abby Wambach in her side's 2-0 defeat to the eventual winners in the round of 16 match) and 2019 Pan American Games sides. She graduated from Mississippi State in 2017 (after playing two seasons at the University of Miami in Florida), posting a 1.00 GAA, six shutouts, and two assists in a Third Team All-American effort.

Alex Lamontagne (Calgary Foothills WFC) parlayed her stellar 2019 UWS Offensive Player of the Year season into a contract with Rodez Aveyron Football in the top-flight of France. It's a return to the French top league for the former Syracuse University forward, who had a stint with FC Fleury 91 the year prior. The full Canadian international netted six goals with Calgary this past season, helping them reach the UWS National Championship and clinch their second straight West Conference crown. She played for Canada at the 2016 U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

Canadian international Alex Lamontagne celebrates with iconic Canadian international forward Christine Sinclair—she is now on the move to FC Fluery 91 in France. (Photo courtesy United Women's Soccer league).

2019/20 W-League Seasonal Awards Announced

In July, the 2019/20 W-League seasonal awards were announced. Kristen Hamilton (Western Sydney Wanderers and North Carolina Courage) won the esteemed Julie Dolan Medal as the League's Player of the Year. She had a huge impact on the Wanderers making the playoffs for the first time in their history and was tied for the Golden Boot lead with 7 goals, along with English international Natasha Dowie (Melbourne Victory but now at AC Milan in Italy), American midfielder Morgan Andrews (Perth Glory and OL Reign) and Remy Siemsen (Sydney FC). Kristen Hamilton was surprised to win the award and gave credit to her teammates and coaches by saying, "It was actually very unexpected and pretty cool to get the phone call, but the (award) is just a testament to the team, the players I was surrounded with, and the coaching staff."

Goalkeeper of the Year had co-winners in American Aubrey Bledsoe (Sydney FC and Washington Spirit) along with 2019/20 W-League Champions Melbourne City and Matildas' backstop Lydia Williams (who moved to Arsenal in the FA Super League this summer). Bledsoe also won the honor in the 2018/19 season when Sydney FC won the Grand Final over Perth Glory (when Sam Kerr—now at Chelsea—was still on the side).

Melbourne City head coach Rado Vidosic won the Coach of the Year title after guiding his side to an undefeated regular season (only the second club ever to do that after Canberra United) and then won two playoff matches to capture the W-League title.

Melbourne City head coach Rado Vidosic led his team to an unbeaten season and Premiership and Grand Final wins. (Photo courtesy Westfield W-League/Melbourne City)

The Goal of the Year title was won by Amy Jackson's (Melbourne Victory), who launched a 30 yard bullet against Perth Glory in Round 7, scoring twice in her club's 2-1 win on December 28, 2019. Jackson's win was a high honor in a season with a number of great goals including tallies by American Simone Charley (Canberra United), English international Natasha Dowie (Melbourne Victory) and native Australians Princess Ibini (Brisbane Roar), Chloe Logarzo (Sydney FC) and Tessa Tamplin (Newcastle Jets), among the 185 goals scored in the competition this season.

The Young Footballer of the Year title was again captured by Ellie Carpenter of Melbourne City for the third year in succession. She defeated Kyra Cooney-Cross of Western Sydney Wanderers, who scored a stoppage time winner from well outside the box on a free kick in the first game of the campaign against Adelaide United to help set the Wanderers on a great start to their landmark season. Cooney-Cross would end the campaign with 13 appearances, notching four goals and three assists, with a passing accuracy of almost 75%.

Another worthy candidate was Indiah-Paige Riley (18), who was born in New Zealand but is an Australian youth international and started all four final games when Brisbane Roar salvaged a disappointing season of missing the playoffs with three wins and a draw. Riley played in 10 games with 8 starts and 2 goals in her second W-League season. Riley joined reigning Danish champions (their third title in five seasons) Fortuna Hjorring this summer for the 2020-21 season. After four games of the new season, her side is fourth out of eight clubs with 3 wins and 2 losses for 9 points, but the club will see UEFA Women's Champions League action starting at the 40 team qualifying group stage during the 2020-21 campaign.

The other candidate for Young Player of the Year was Riley's Roar teammate Hollie Palmer (19), who had two goals in three games in February, including one against Champions Melbourne City, who only allowed 5 goals all season.

Tim Grainey is a contributor to Tribal Football. His latest book Beyond Bend it Like Beckham on the global game of women's football. Get your copy today.

Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrainey