U.S. women's national team attacker and club franchise player Mallory Swanson will not be with Chicago Stars FC on Friday during their regular season opener. A club spokesperson and head coach Lorne Donaldson confirmed the absence on Wednesday during the club's match week availability.

Denver makes it 16: While there won’t be a new team taking the field in 2025, this offseason saw the NWSL confirm Denver as its 16th market after agreeing to a $110 million expansion fee. The team will make its competitive debut in 2026, joining in tandem with BOS Nation FC.

Chicago Stars FC forward Mallory Swanson will miss the start of the 2025 National Women's Soccer League season due to personal reasons, the club confirmed on Wednesday.

Rodman's remarks come after Naomi Girma and Jenna Nighswonger left the NWSL for Chelsea and Arsenal respectively in January.

The USWNT has faced off against China 60 times, the second most of any nation besides Canada. China has taken down the U.S. in nine of those matchups, but the two sides have not met since 2023.

Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman has said that playing abroad is a matter of when, not if. Rodman's future will be an increasingly large topic as the year goes on, as her current deal with the Spirit expires at the end of the 2025 season.