Fútnotes, Volume 36

The groundswell of support for women’s sports is really amazing to watch. Growing up in the 1980’s, the only time you saw women’s sports on television outside of the Olympics was women’s tennis. Billie Jean King’s vision of a women’s tennis tour where the women were paid for their labor blazed the trail globally for women’s professional sports.

In 1996, the landscape shifted again with the creation of the WNBA. While a subsidiary of the (men’s) National Basketball Association, women’s basketball got its own professional league in the US. The backing of the NBA teams along with television deals saw the league finish its 27th regular season, and the best-of-five series between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty is set to start next week.

While basketball isn’t my bag, the history of the WNBA should be a case study for women’s leagues around the world, especially in sports where teams with established brands can leverage that for their women’s teams (like soccer). The WNBA has gotten so much right during its history, from its television deals (where most of the money to be made in sports lies) to leveraging its stars and building a fan culture that is vibrant and unique. Of course it’s not a template that all teams and leagues can follow, and there have been mis-steps along the way (looking at you, Kelly Loeffler), but the lessons are by-and-large easily transferrable from sport to sport, league to league, team to team.

It’s awesome to see the buzz on television and social media about the series and games because it speaks to the health of the league and women’s sports in general. Hopefully this is what all of women’s sports looks like in the coming years.

México

México was named the host for the 2024 CONCACAF Women’s U17 Championship (CONCACAF)

México soundly defeated Trinidad and Tobago, scoring six in the first half and coasting the rest of the way. México’s two wins have them firmly in control of League A, Group A. (CONCACAF)

Mónica Ocampo was honored during halftime of the match by México Femenil Sporting Director Andrea Rodebaugh and FMF Executive President Ivar Sisniega. (Récord)

The Centro Alto Rendimiento (High Performance Center) in Mexico City, where all the Mexican National Teams train, was spotlighted by FIFA for it’s new hybrid pitch, which was funded in part by FIFA's FIFA Forward Program. (FIFA)

Bianca Sierra and Stephany Mayor welcomed twins Kenzo and Nova yesterday (October 1). Congratulations to all!

Xolos Femenil went to the Women’s Penitentiary and held an exercise and soccer clinic for inmates. (Xolos)

Necaxa visited a primary school in Aguascalientes to open new sports fields at Escuela Primaria Carmen Serdán. (Necaxa)

Alessandra Ramírez will miss 8-10 weeks with an injury to her right hamstring. (Chivas)

Thank you for reading Golazo del Gringo! If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with anyone who enjoys women’s soccer.

Rest of the World

Former Tigres striker Mia Fishel scored her first goal for Chelsea in England’s Women’s Super League as Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-1.

AndScape had a great interview with Fishel about her journey through soccer leading up to her senior US Women’s National Team debut last week.

Aston Villa’s women’s players are “dreading” the WSL opener because the shirts they have this season cling to the skin when they get wet. Do better, Aston Villa. (BBC)

Soccer players at the 2023 World Cup will earn 25 cents for every dollar their male counterparts made, according to CNN. Do better, FIFA.

After sending no journalists to the World Cup, Italy played a friendly against Sweden in a “7,200-seat venue that just so happens to be located in FIGC (Italian Soccer Federation) president Gabriele Gravina’s hometown.” Do better, FIGC. (Pro Soccer Wire)

Christiane Endler became the first player to reach 100 caps for the Chilean Women’s National Team. How did the ANFP (Chilean federation) celebrate this? By hosting New Zealand behind closed doors and not broadcasting the match. Do better, ANFP. (CNN)

Paris Saint-Germain coach Gerard Precheur resigned after one game for personal reasons, but the buried lede here is that “a preliminary investigation into claims of sexual assault against Precheur's predecessor, Didier Olle-Nicolle” was opened in Versailles following a complaint filed by Kadidiatou Diani. Do better, Paris-Saint Germain. (Barrons)

In what would have been a colossal mess, “Football Australia considered selling off Matildas and Socceroos to private equity firm for 99 years.” While it didn’t go through, the details in the article are pretty egregiously bad, including a nugget about how the “deal could have also involved commercialising the data of all Australian football participants, including children as young as four.” Do better, Australia. (The Guardian)

Bay FC named Albertin Montoya the first head coach in club history. (The Equalizer, possible paywall)

Xiomara Gerardo of the Los Angeles Times did a great article on Melanie Barcenas, the San Diego Wave forward who has been capped at the youth levels by both México and the United States.

A great article from Theo Lloyd-Huges of Squad Depth as he teamed up with Jon Arnold of Getting CONCACAFed about the W Gold Cup. Subscribe to both if you don’t already.

Lorne Donaldson’s contract with the Jamaica Football Federation was not renewed, and the Reggae Girlz are without a head coach. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Former Tigres Femenil coach Carmelina Moscato’s induction into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame was celebrated during Canada’s match against Jamaica in Toronto. Well deserved, Coach. (CBC)

54,115 people were in attendance at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal opened their season against Liverpool. (Arsenal)

Don’t ever let them tell you no one pays attention to women’s soccer.

If you have something that should be included in this segment, please reach out to me via twitter or email me at [email protected].