USWNT Rewind: Emma Sears Scores Again, Emily Fox and Jenna Nighswonger Advance to UWCL Final

The U.S. Women’s National Team players had a busy week across the NWSL and abroad, including appearances in the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals.

While there were exciting matches for teams up and down the standings, Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC, NWSL) was the lone USWNT pool player to score, finishing with a glancing header against Portland Thorns FC

SEARS SCORES AGAIN 

Emma Sears notched her third goal of the NWSL season so far. The forward netted a header in the 39th minute to put Racing Louisville up 3-1, but ultimately the Portland Thorns completed a comeback to end the match in a 3-3 draw. Sears currently ranks No. 4 in the NWSL in goals, tied with seven others, including U.S. teammate Alyssa Thompson (Angel City).

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BATTLES

Emily Fox’s Arsenal squad advanced past Lindsey Heaps and Olympique Lyon on Sunday in the second leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals, surprising many outside of North London with a rousing 4-1 win that gave the Gunners a 5-3 aggregate victory and place in the UWCL final. Fox played 90 minutes while Heaps played 69. Jenna Nighswonger was on the bench for Arsenal, which will face Barcelona for the European title on May 24 in Lisbon.

Meanwhile, Naomi Girma and Catarina Macario couldn’t help Chelsea FC overturn a huge deficit against Barcelona in the other semifinal, falling 4-1 and 8-2 aggregate. Girma made her return from injury last week in the first leg as a substitute and started the second leg, contributing 45 minutes. Macario came in as a substitute and played the final 29 minutes.

KEEPING UP WITH THE ‘KEEPERS

Two USWNT goalkeepers Jane Campbell and Mandy McGlynn went head-to-head on Friday as the Houston Dash beat the Utah Royals 1-0. Campbell earned the clean sheet while recording five saves. McGlynn had three saves but couldn’t reach Delanie Sheehan’s 80th-minute screamer to put the Dash ahead late. The Dash (2-3-1, 7 points) got its second win, and Campbell got her second shutout of the year.

Meanwhile, Manchester United's keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce got a clean sheet of her own in a 0-0 draw against West Ham United on April 19. Tullis-Joyce signed a contract through 2028 just days later. Her squad (13-2-4, 43 points) will face rival Manchester City (12-5-3, 39 points) on Wednesday, April 30, with the Reds trying to maintain third place and a Champions League berth that comes with it.

FULL USWNT PLAYER RUNDOWN – APRIL 23-29

*player pool includes 2025 rosters

• Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, Première Ligue)
  • Subbed on 35 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Le Havre on April 23
• Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign, NWSL)
  • 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Bay FC on April 26
• Jane Campbell (Houston Dash, NWSL)
  • 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Utah Royals on April 25
• Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns, NWSL)
  • DNP in 3-3 draw vs. Racing Louisville FC on April 27
• Alana Cook (Kansas City Current, NWSL)
  • DNP vs. 3-2 loss to North Carolina Courage on April 26
• Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current, NWSL)
  • DNP vs. 3-2 loss to North Carolina Courage on April 26
• Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain, Première Ligue)
  • 55 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Le Havre on April 23
• Emily Fox (Arsenal, Women’s Super League)
  • 90 minutes in 4-1 win vs. Olympique Lyon on April 27
• Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit, NWSL)
  • 45 minutes in 0-3 loss to Gotham FC on April 26
• Naomi Girma (Chelsea, Women’s Super League)
  • 45 minutes in 4-1 loss to Barcelona on April 27
• Lindsey Heaps (Olympique Lyon, Première Ligue)
  • 69 minutes in 4-1 loss vs. Arsenal on April 27
• Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current, NWSL)
  • 58 minutes in 3-2 loss North Carolina Courage on April 26
• Catarina Macario (Chelsea, Women’s Super League)
  • Subbed 29 minutes in 4-1 loss to Barcelona on April 27
• Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals)
  • 90 minutes in 0-1 loss vs. Houston Dash on April 25
• Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit, NWSL)
  • 90 minutes in 0-3 loss to Gotham FC on April 26
• Jenna Nighswonger (Arsenal, Women’s Super League)
  • DNP in 4-1 win vs. Olympique Lyon on April 27
• Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit, NWSL)
  • DNP in 0-3 loss to Gotham FC on April 26
• Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash, NWSL)
  • 90 minutes 1-0 win vs. Utah Royals on April 25
• Emily Sams (Orlando Pride, NWSL)
  • 90 minutes in 3-2 win vs. Angel City on April 25
• Emma Sears (Racing Louisville, NWSL)
  • GOAL, 90 minutes in 3-3 draw to Portland Thorns on April 27
• Ally Sentnor(Utah Royals, NWSL)
  • 90 minutes in 0-1 loss vs. Houston Dash on April 25
• Jaedyn Shaw (North Carolina Courage, NWSL)
  • 76 minutes in 3-2 win vs. Kansas City Current on April 26
• Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC, NWSL)
  • 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Washington Spirit on April 26
• Alyssa Thompson (Angel City, NWSL)
  • 75 minutes in 3-2 loss to Orlando Pride on April 25
• Gisele Thompson (Angel City, NWSL)
  • 90 minutes in 3-2 loss to Orlando Pride on April 25
• Phallon Tullis-Joyce
  • Manchester United vs. Manchester City on April 30
• Lily Yohannes (Ajax Amsterdam, Eredivisie Vrouwen)
  • 90 minutes in 5-1 loss to FC Twente on April 21