It was another action-packed week across the U.S. Soccer landscape, from celebrating former greats to watching current stars make their mark at home and abroad. Here’s a look at some of the biggest headlines from last week:
USWNT
Tobin Heath honored at Portland Thorns match, Sophia Wilson scores game-winner
USWNT and Portland Thorns legend Tobin Heath was honored with a pre-match ceremony ahead of the club’s match against Denver Summit FC on Saturday. Heath signed a one-day contract to officially retire as a member of the Portland Thorns, where she established herself as a club icon from 2013-2020. She is Portland’s all-time regular-season assist leader with 24, and she helped the club win two NWSL Championships (2013, 2017) and the 2016 NWSL Shield.
To cap the memorable night, forward Sophia Wilson scored the lone goal of the match to earn Portland’s 11th win of the season, moving the club into a tie with the Washington Spirit for second place in the league standings. It was Wilson’s 10th goal of the campaign, marking her fourth NWSL season with double-digit goals.
Mallory Swanson, Jameese Joseph score in Chicago Stars FC win
Forwards Mallory Swanson and Jameese Joseph both found the back of the net in Chicago’s 3-2 victory over Racing Louisville on Sunday. Swanson earned her first assist of the season after streaking down the right flank and cutting through traffic inside the box to find Joseph, who blasted a shot into the roof of the goal for her first of the year. Swanson then scored the second goal for the Stars with a curling left-footed shot from just outside the six-yard box. Her goal was her 25th regular season goal for the Stars, making her the third player in club history to reach the milestone.
USMNT
Brenden Aaronson signs three-year extension with Leeds
Premier League club Leeds United announced last week that USMNT forward Brenden Aaronson signed a new three-year contract. Since joining the club in 2022, Aaronson has made 129 appearances for the Whites and was also an integral part of the EFL winning squad in the 2024/25 season that returned Leeds to the Premier League. Last season, he recorded four goals and five assists, and built momentum for the new campaign with goals against Liverpool and Manchester United this preseason.
Pepi, Dest on scoresheet for PSV
After combining for the game-winner in the previous match against Excelsior, Ricardo Pepi and Sergiño Dest both found the back of the net in PSV’s 5-1 victory against FC Groningen on Sunday. Pepi scored the club’s third goal of the night in first-half stoppage time from the penalty spot. Dest capped the win with the final goal on a counterattack following a Groningen corner kick. The winger carried the ball down the field on a breakaway and played a give-and-go with Ruben van Bommel inside the box before sending his shot into the back of the net.
USYNT
