By OkayGoal 
In this week’s women’s soccer news, Norway got off to a quick start during the UEFA Euros; Germany got tough injury news; Ellie Carpenter signed with Chelsea; and more!
High of the Week
Norway is the first team to have secured its spot in the quarterfinals of the Euros. In their first game, they secured a 2-1 win over Switzerland, and then in their second match, they achieved a 2-1 victory over Finland. Caroline Graham Hansen got the game winner in the match against Finland to send Norway to the next round. Norway advancing is a real positive for the team after failing to advance out of the group stage at the last two UEFA Women’s Euros. They finish the group stage against Iceland on July 10. They’ll play the runner-up of Group B on July 16.
Norway secure their place in the quarter-finals 👏🇳🇴#WEURO2025 || @nff_landslag pic.twitter.com/Y7WQQKkps6
— UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 6, 2025
Low of the Week
Giulia Gwinn suffered yet another injury that’s going to keep her off the field for a while. Gwinn did get a little break when it was confirmed to be an MCL injury and not an ACL tear, which was the original fear. The recovery time is much shorter for an MCL injury, and she’ll likely only be sidelined a few weeks, but she will miss out on the rest of the Euros. The defender had previously suffered ACL tears in 2020 and 2023. It’s a big blow for Germany losing their captain and a key defender. Germany will have to find a way to fill her shoes as they continue their campaign.
🚨The German national team confirm that captain Giulia Gwinn has suffered a medial collateral ligament injury during the #WEURO25 match against Poland.
Wishing her a smooth and speedy recovery ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/BmP5dvXWcl
— DAZN Women’s Football (@DAZNWFootball) July 5, 2025
News of the Week
This week, the NWSL announced the scheduling format for the 2026 season. The NWSL Challenge Cup will be on February 20, with the regular season beginning on March 13. The league will pause during June, similar to how they’ve taken a break for July this season. The NWSL Championship game will be held on November 21. Each team will play 30 games with the league moving to 16 clubs next season.
Mark your calendars for the 2026 season. 🗓️
More on the 2026 schedule: https://t.co/V7Jw89Klu5 pic.twitter.com/335UAjKNhB
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 2, 2025
Signing of the Week
Chelsea made a splash signing this week when they added Ellie Carpenter to their roster. Carpenter had spent the last five years with Olympique Lyonnais, where she made 126 appearances for the club. The defender also helped Lyon win two Champions League Finals, one in 2020 and the other in 2022. Carpenter is an Australian international who has over 80 appearances for her country. It’s a big signing for a Chelsea club that is already full of star power.
Carpenter. Chelsea. Class. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/oCvtXJZ1x2
— (C)helsea FC Women 🏆🏆🏆 (@ChelseaFCW) July 2, 2025
Goal of the Week
Vivianne Miedema scored her 100th goal for the Netherlands in their 3-0 win over Wales in their first group stage match of the UEFA Euros. It was a superb goal with Miedema faking out two defenders and sending a curling ball into the back of the net. She’s the first player to ever score 100 goals for the Dutch. The win for the Netherlands will likely be very important as they’re in a group with France and England.
Miedema had the crowd on their feet with this strike 🤩#WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/CoFNWgqQcD
— UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 5, 2025
Win of the Week
France shocked the world in their opening match against England at the Euros, knocking off the defending champions. They found two first-half goals thanks to Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore. France got a little bit lucky with a questionable offside call reversing an England goal, but they did a great job of disrupting England’s game plan. They made England look unsteady, and they put themselves in a great position to get out of the group after picking up three points in their opener.
🇫🇷 France beat the holders!#WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/uHw9TBynX1
— UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 5, 2025
Return of the Week
Nadia Nadim returned to the field for Denmark after 18 months. The forward had been sidelined after suffering back-to-back ACL tears in 2023 and 2024. Nadim’s return to the field marked her fifth straight Euros with Denmark. She came onto the field as a substitute in the 75th minute.
Denmark forward Nadia Nadim fled Afghanistan when she was 11 after her father was killed by the Taliban. She found a love of football while at a refugee camp in Denmark and worked her way onto the national team. After an 18-month absence, she returned to the pitch for Denmark👏🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/cGlLeD3GVb
— The Women’s Game (@WomensGameMIB) July 4, 2025
Player of the Week
Esther Gonzalez has been in terrific form for her club team, NJ/NY Gotham, and that form continued during Spain’s opening Euros match against Portugal. Esther got the scoring started for Spain in the second minute and then added a second goal right before halftime. She’s going to be a key player for Spain if they want to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament. With Gotham, she leads the NWSL in goals scored this season with 10 goals in 13 games.
Goal for Spain in the 2nd minute! ⚡️🇪🇸
Esther González scores! 👏 pic.twitter.com/KV4K3O62RV
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 3, 2025
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