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As a Shel Silverstein poem starts: “When the light turns green, you go. When the light turns red, you stop.” But what do you do when the light turns green with the silhouette of your favorite football queen? Keep reading to find out. Emily Olsen here with Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin — welcome to Full Time!
Summer Soccerfest
NWSL players go abroad
We are in the thick of the European Championship, with an entire round of the group stage gone. It has not disappointed, but we are just getting started.
NWSL fans need not fret too much over the summer break, because several of the league’s players are traversing the globe with their national teams. The Euros kicked off July 2, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on July 5 and Copa America Femenina starts Friday.
- Eighteen NWSL players are enjoying a European summer, with 11 of 16 nations in the Euros using talent from the American league. That’s triple the NWSL players who competed in the tournament in 2022.
- WAFCON features eight NWSL players representing three different countries: Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia. The players in that tournament are competing for an increased winner’s prize of $1 million, double what it was in 2022.
- In Ecuador, Copa América Femenina features 11 NWSL players representing three countries: Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. And yes, one of those players is the unretired, ageless wonder Marta.
You can read about all 37 players and how to watch them in Tamerra and Melanie’s rundown.
Top moments of the Euros
Twenty-four games in 12 days is a lot to keep track of. Luckily, we have a team of reporters and a Slack channel full of chatter to catch you up. Here are just a few of our favorite Euros moments:
💬 Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema let out a guttural roar and pointed to the sky after scoring her 100th goal for the country, joining her teammates to make the sign “Viv 100” with their fingers afterward. — Charlotte Harpur
💬 After absorbing England’s front-footedness at the start of their game, France wingers Delphine Cascarino and Sandy Baltimore outpaced England’s backline. Marie-Antoinette Katoto is a rather stoic player, but the broad smile on her face as her teammates piled onto her after scoring the opening goal made clear how special the moment was as France defeated England 2-1. — Tamerra Griffin
💬 Earlier today, Portugal and Italy kept the fight alive in Group B with a hard-fought 1-1 draw. It featured a golazo from Italy’s all-time leading scorer Cristiana Girelli, 35, a disallowed Portugal goal and a late equalizer from Diana Gomes. It’s not over yet for the group topped by Spain and Italy for now. — Emily
WHAT. A. GOAL. 🔥
Cristiana Girelli gives Italy the lead with an unreal strike 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/whHeXzTO8A
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 7, 2025
WAFCON trio of goals
Women’s AFCON only officially got underway Saturday, but three NWSL players have already scored in pretty banger-ific fashion. Here’s Tamerra’s take on the first few games:
“Reigning NWSL Championship MVP Barbra Banda scored 58 seconds into Zambia’s opening game against Morocco. Twenty-six minutes later, Banda was in vintage form, collecting the ball at midfield with her chest while absorbing pressure and playing a deliciously timed ball through to Bay FC striker Racheal Kundanandji, who slid it cleanly to the back of the net.
“Morocco weren’t to be counted out, though, and rallied from behind to level the score to 2-2 by game’s end.
“On Sunday, the Bay contingent kept rolling. Six-time African Women’s Player of the Year and “agba baller” Asisat Oshoala opened the scoring account for Nigeria’s Super Falcons with a flick of her head off a free kick.”
Meg’s Corner: The hostess with the mostest
I can’t be the only one tuning into the Euros from home, sighing wistfully at all that beautiful b-roll of picturesque towns with towering mountains in the background, wishing I were on the ground, ready to complain about the summer heat and gorge myself on live tournament football and Swiss chocolate.
Despite the distance, the afternoon games on the East Coast have thoroughly entertained, especially Switzerland’s 2-0 victory over Iceland, which has now kept the host country’s dreams of reaching the knockouts for the first time alive. To earn it, they’ll have to face off against Finland — arguably the best team in Group A so far — on Thursday.
And for all the questions about Switzerland hosting this tournament and what it may mean for the country in terms of legacy, there can be no doubt that the locals have shown their loyalty. Swiss supporters turned up in the thousands for the fan walk to the match in Bern, along with another 2,000 Icelandic fans, setting a new record for the largest fan walk in the tournament’s history. (Just look at this sea of red.)
“You really change a country if you host it properly,” former Switzerland Football Association head of women’s football Tatjana Haenni told The Athletic, who saw purpose in building a strategy without relying on Switzerland’s results. The last two Euro hosts went on to win it all; Switzerland’s expectations are nowhere near that. But Sunday’s win may help provide a path for Switzerland to prove itself as a footballing nation and a host country with a proper atmosphere and a plan for the future of the women’s game.
🎧 From Basel to Zurich, “Full Time Euros” and its panel of experts, takes you inside Euro 2025 from Switzerland.
Need to Know
Lily Yohannes lands in Lyon
U.S. women’s national team midfielder Lily Yohannes officially signed with OL Lyonnes today. We previously reported the agreement between Ajax and Lyonnes over the 18-year-old on July 1. The deal runs through 2028. She will play for new head coach Jonathan Giraldez, who most recently led the Washington Spirit in NWSL. Both clubs are owned by businesswoman Michele Kang.
She joins fellow USWNT midfielder Korbin Albert, who signed with the club last week from Paris Saint-Germain, fullback Ashley Lawrence from Chelsea, former Barcelona winger Ingrid Engen, winger Jule Brand from Wolfsburg and striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto from PSG.
Read more about Yohannes and her growing career here.
Women’s soccer remembers Diogo Jota
Another moment that will last from this Euros was Portugal’s first game against Spain after the tragic news of Diogo Jota’s death.
Before the match, a placard was unfurled in the stands that read, “You took the name of Portugal beyond borders. Now it’s our turn to raise your name.”
The banner honored former Liverpool and Portugal forward, Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 26, who passed away following a car crash in the early hours of Thursday in Spain. Jota had just married his long-time girlfriend 10 days earlier.
Every Euro 2025 game has since observed a moment of silence for the brothers.
Around the world, players have taken to mimicking Jota’s famous video game celebration to honor the Premier League champion. During Nigeria’s 3-0 win over Tunisia in WAFCON, former Liverpool player Rinsola Babajide used the celebration after scoring the team’s second goal.
What to Watch
Summer tournaments galore
With so many games going on, we can’t tell you to watch all of them, but these tournaments are capable of surprise bangers like Portugal-Italy and Spain-Belgium proved today.
📺 England vs. Netherlands
Wednesday at noon ET on FS1
England have their backs against the wall, while the Netherlands are coming off the high of beating Wales and seeing Miedema reach a century of goals. It’s a must-win for both teams.
📺 Zambia vs. Senegal
Wednesday at noon ET on beIN Sports
You’ll have to get a second screen, but this matchup has quite the firepower with Senegal coming off a 4-0 win over DR Congo and Zambia looking to build momentum from a closely contested 2-2 draw with Morocco. We know Banda can score. The question is just how many.
📺 Ecuador vs. Uruguay
Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ViX
While Sunday’s game between Brazil and Venezuela might be more intriguing on the field, this one has a few strong storylines to follow. Ecuador, the hosts, face a Uruguay team that reportedly refused to train, protesting their federation and demanding better conditions.
Full Time First Looks
A moment for Wales: Euro 2025 is Wales Women’s first major tournament. Although the Netherlands spoiled the party, it was a major milestone for the nation, which played in front of just five people in 2021. Megan was there to capture the singing, tears and even smiles.
Closer review: England forward Alessia Russo’s opening goal against France was disallowed for a marginal offside ruling on Beth Mead. It was a decision England’s head coach described as a “huge surprise” — so what exactly happened, and why didn’t the goal stand? The Athletic explains.
Light the way: As Meg mentioned, Switzerland has fully embraced the Euros this summer, breaking records off the field and finding success on it. That passion goes all the way up to the traffic lights. In Basel, where the final will take place, officials installed 12 alternate pedestrian crossing lights that feature a footballer kicking a ball when on green.
📫 Love Full Time? These stories can also be found on Yahoo’s women’s sports hub, in partnership with The Athletic. Also, check out our other newsletters.
(Photo: James A. Pittman / Imagn Images)
