CombatWombat, combatwombat@feddit.online

I definitely feel this to be true:

Paschakis says there is a growing perception from the public that criticism of these organizations, and of the sport as a whole, is often managed through avoidance rather than being addressed.

“The media and the organizations continue with routine public relations messaging until the audience’s attention shifts,” she said. “Formal apologies or corrective statements seem to only occur when sponsors withdraw support or when revenue is impacted.”

With potentially four expansion clubs joining the league next season, it’s hard to imagine her not being drafted.

Nieminen, playing for Luleå HF, finished her 2025-26 SDHL season with 24 goals and 45 points in only 27 games.

Nieminen is expected to enter the 2026 PWHL Draft where she’s projected to be picked in the top two rounds. David is also likely to rejoin the PWHL as a free agent having spent the first two seasons in the league with the Montreal Victoire.

Legend stuff. Let’s hope she’s back in time for the home stand starting 4/18.

“I’m not walking around the best, and I’m missing a few games for the (PWHL’s) Seattle Torrent,” Knight said on “CBS Mornings.”

“To be able to play through injury was definitely a mental sort of gymnastic challenge for myself and also physical, but we’ve got some amazing support staff that did their best to get me out there and perform at my best — as best as I could.”

Spain - Ukraine on International Women’s Day eve is gonna be fun:

The Royal Spanish Football Federation turned its social media channels purple to honor International Women’s Day, and installed a commemorative banner at Madrid’s Ciudad del Fútbol headquarters featuring Spain’s world champions and UEFA Women’s Nations League winners. The “Dream Without Limits” slogan aims to inspire the next generation of footballers.
Spain’s 2027 Women’s World Cup qualification matches will showcase the International Women’s Day activities, with the team set to kick off against Iceland on March 3rd at SkyFi Castalia Stadium in Castellón. Ukraine will then host Spain on March 7th at Mardan Antalyaspor Stadium in Turkey.

I haven’t watched the CWNT vs Colombia match yet, but let’s hope it signals a turn of fortune for Canada and we get a competitive match.

The United States Women’s National Team has a big year ahead and is seeking to set the tone by winning the SheBelieves Cup for the eighth time in the 11th edition of the competition. The tournament run opened with a victory against Argentina (2-0), led by goals from Lindsey Heaps and Jaedyn Shaw. Next on the schedule is the program’s biggest rival, Canada, with the two sides once again facing off and attempting to determine the region’s top dog. The match is set for ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio, a 20,585-seat soccer-specific stadium with a natural grass playing surface.

This is the 68th all-time meeting between the two programs, with the USWNT holding a 54-4-9 record and claiming the most recent result in a friendly last summer (3-0). Ranked 10th internationally by FIFA, Canada had a solid start to 2025 by winning the Pinatar Cup and taking four out of the next five friendlies. However, Les Rouges (The Reds) ended the year dropping five consecutive matches, including defeats to Switzerland (0-1), the Netherlands (0-1), and Japan (0-3, 0-1). The current tournament run opened with a victory against Colombia (4-1).

Good to have Sam back:

Kerr’s 14th-minute header was also the striker’s first international goal since late 2023, with the 32-year-old back in form after suffering an ACL tear with her WSL club Chelsea in January 2024.

“Hopefully [the goal] starts me off on a good run for the rest of the tournament,” Kerr said postgame. “It means a lot to be back in the team, back scoring, and to do it at home is extra special.”

I haven’t been to see the Victoire at home, but the crowd energy at Climate Pledge is a big part of what’s attracted me to the league.

For opponents, the atmosphere at Place Bell has been a point of conversation since the Victoire moved to the venue permanently ahead of the league’s second season. This year, including their most recent win, a 4-0 victory over Minnesota this week in front of a sold out crowd of 10,172 has been no exception.

You know what you gotta do here, Shoreline:

In a conversation with The Urbanist, Klicker placed blame for the bill’s failure squarely on Jesse Salomon (D-32nd, Shoreline), the Local Government Committee’s chair. Despite being approved by the Washington House on a 94-2 vote just four days into the start of the legislative session on January 15, it was never given a public hearing on the Senate side after being referred to Salomon’s committee.

A state senator since 2019, Salomon faces a strong opponent in his bid for re-election this year in Representative Cindy Ryu. Ryu’s challenge against an incumbent was an early signal of the number of left-leaning primary challenges legislators are likely to face this year, with Redmond City Councilmember Jessica Forsythe’s challenge of moderate Democrat Representative Amy Walen (D-48th, Kirkland) coming soon in its wake with others likely on the way.

We continue to see the Olympics bump lead to sell-out crowds:

The Ottawa Charge returned from the Olympic break on Saturday to face the league-leading Boston Fleet in front of 8,572 fans at TD Place, the largest crowd of the season. Unlike their previous two meetings this year, it was Boston who came away with the shootout win, 3-2.

I’m following this one in Infinite, and I’m really enjoying what G Willow Wilson’s doing. I’m excited to see where she takes this storyline.

Iran is scheduled to play in the Pride match in Seattle 🏳️‍🌈

“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj told sports portal Varzesh3 as Iran traded strikes with Israel as part of a widening war prompted by the bombardment.

Iran has been drawn in Group G at the World Cup and is scheduled to play in Los Angeles – where it faces New Zealand and Belgium on June 15 and 21, respectively – before it plays Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

I didn’t get a chance to watch this one but it seems we underperformed and Trin went out injured, so I feel like maybe I made the right choice?

Despite giving up the early goal, Argentina did a really great job at locking down defensively and limiting the chances the United States had the rest of the first half. USWNT maintained 60% possession in the first 45 minutes of the match, but were only able to manage three shots, one being the goal scored. Argentina weren’t faring much better going into break with just four shots and none posing a real threat to find the back of the net. It was very much a half where USWNT did enough to get the lead, but it definitely felt like everyone expected more. Things get really weird in this sport the more you let teams hang around, so it was important for United States to put this match to bed and secure the win early into the second half. Otherwise they could risk some Argentina magic salvaging a result near the end.

Just 15 minutes into the second half, USWNT got the all-important second goal courtesy of a corner. The initial corner kick wasn’t much of a threat, but with Argentina unable to clear it out of danger the U.S. had another chance at finding a score. Lindsey Heaps tapped a pass to Jaedyn Shaw who, in all fairness, didn’t have much time or space but found just enough of both to get a shot off. The effort curled and while Argentina keeper Solana Pereyra did get a hand on it, the shot was too strong to stop and in the 56th minute Shaw had doubled the lead.

I’m generally opposed to drafts as a method for entering the league, and instead prefer giving budget and salary cap based on results, and letting the players choose where they want to play, but it seems pretty popular?

Among the best available players from the NCAA heading to the PWHL this season include past and present American national team members Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards, Tessa Janecke, Abbey Murphy, Kirsten Simms, and Lacey Eden.

Finnish national team members Petra Nieminen, Nelli Laitinen, Viivi Vainikka, and Jennina Nylund are all expected to declare and join the growing group of Europeans in the league, as are Swedish national team members Josefin Bouveng, Thea Johansson, and Sofie Lundin. Swiss national team netminder Andrea Brandli is also expected to make the jump as the top goaltender available in the draft.

After Anna Shokhina and Fanuza Kadirova entered the league from Russia this season, the first Russian defenders from the ZhHL are expected to declare. Russian Olympian and World Championship national team members Anna Shibanova and Maria Batalova are both expected to declare. Batalova is Russia’s reigning Defender of the Year.

Other top NCAA players heading to the 2026 Draft include Issy Wunder, Sydney Morrow, Emma Peschel, Grace Dwyer, Vivian Jungels, and Lily Shannon.

From U Sports, top scorers Grace Elliott, JessyMaude Drapeau, and Annalise Wong are all set to declare as well.

Oh weird! They must’ve starting taking traffic and moved it inside the paywall. I wish I could get the graph, which is the gist of the article, but the thesis is that when you match players to their registration, the NHL has the most registered Republicans, at ~60%, than any league other than the MLB.

Come join us in !womenshockey@reddthat.com ! The PWHL is in full swing.

You could tell we really missed Knight and Bilka last night.

Last place in the standings, first place in attendance. You win some, you lose some. Also, loved this for Tejralova:

The captain of Czechia’s team, defender Tejralová was the only Torrent Olympian who didn’t medal. She earned a double roar Friday after she was introduced, then opened the scoring for the Torrent. She tapped a feed from Danielle Serdachny past Kirk (20 saves) to make it 1-1.

“It was a great play from (Gosling) and (Serdachny). I’m grateful for that,” Tejralová said. “But I would rather get the three points.”