Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Angel City FC Fires Head Coach Alexander Straus After One Win in Eight Games
Angel City FC fired head coach Alexander Straus on Wednesday, effective immediately. The Los Angeles-based club sits 12th in the 16-team NWSL after winning just once in their last eight games. The team had opened the season with three consecutive victories and sat atop the table before the slide. Senior assistant coach Leif Gunnar Smerud will serve as interim while the club searches for a replacement. Sporting director Mark Parsons said Straus “guided one of the youngest rosters in NWSL history through a pivotal period of growth.” Straus joined Angel City last summer, midway through the season. The NWSL season resumes July 3, when Angel City hosts Orlando Pride.
Sources: ESPN
Ex-Chelsea Star Sam Kerr Agrees to Rejoin Gotham FC, Returning to NWSL
Gotham FC and Australian forward Sam Kerr have agreed to terms for Kerr to return to the club and the NWSL, multiple sources told ESPN. Kerr is a free agent after six years at Chelsea, where she won five league titles, six domestic cups, and twice won the Women’s Super League Golden Boot. She scored the lone goal in a 1–0 win over Manchester United in her final Chelsea appearance in May, equaling the club’s scoring record with 116 career goals for the Blues. Kerr previously won the NWSL Golden Boot and MVP in 2017 when the club was known as Sky Blue FC, scoring 17 goals in 22 games.
Sources: ESPN
Angel City Lands USWNT Forward Ally Sentnor from Kansas City Current for $850,000
Angel City FC has signed United States women’s national team forward Ally Sentnor from the Kansas City Current for $850,000, multiple sources told ESPN. The fee is the second highest in intra-league NWSL transfer history, behind the $1.25 million Gotham FC paid for Jaedyn Shaw. Sentnor, drafted No. 1 overall by Utah in the 2024 NWSL Draft, arrived at Kansas City last August. She has scored two goals and added two assists in 12 games this season with the Current and has scored seven goals in 23 caps for the USWNT. She primarily plays center forward.
Sources: ESPN
Bay FC Acquires U.S. Youth International Kennedy Fuller from Angel City for $520,000
Bay FC has acquired United States youth international midfielder Kennedy Fuller from Angel City FC in a transfer worth $520,000 total, the clubs announced Wednesday. Fuller, 19, debuted for Angel City at age 16 via the NWSL’s U-18 entry mechanism and has scored two goals with two assists this season. Angel City received $500,000 in intra-league transfer funds and $20,000 in allocation money. Bay FC also received an international roster spot through the end of 2026. Coach Emma Coates described Fuller as “a superb young talent who possesses lots of NWSL experience” with significant room to continue developing.
Sources: ESPN
Canada Captain Alphonso Davies Available to Face Qatar After Missing World Cup Opener
Canada captain Alphonso Davies will be available for Thursday’s World Cup Group B match against Qatar, coach Jesse Marsch confirmed Wednesday. Davies missed Canada’s opening draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals last month. “He’s been in training this week, and he’ll be available tomorrow,” Marsch said. Davies has not played for Canada since tearing an ACL in the CONCACAF Nations League finals in March 2025 and has 15 goals in 58 international appearances. Canada drew 1–1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto, with substitute Cyle Larin equalizing in the 78th minute to open Group B play.
Sources: ESPN
Pulisic Injury Tests USMNT Depth Options Ahead of World Cup Match with Australia
Christian Pulisic’s fitness is a concern for the United States heading into Friday’s World Cup match against Australia, with the star winger spending the first three days of the week training alone after coming off at halftime in the opening win over Paraguay. If Pulisic cannot play, coach Mauricio Pochettino has depth options. Gio Reyna came on for the final 10 minutes against Paraguay and scored to cap the victory, though questions remain about his ability to play a full match. Timothy Weah and Brenden Aaronson provide other alternatives. Malik Tillman covered for Pulisic in the second half against Paraguay, shifting from central midfield to the left wing.
Sources: Soccer America
MLS Eastern Conference
Through May 25 — World Cup break
1. NYCFC — 10 pts
2. Nashville SC — 10 pts
3. Inter Miami CF — 7 pts
4. NY Red Bulls — 7 pts
5. DC United — 6 pts
6. Charlotte FC — 5 pts
7. Chicago Fire — 4 pts
8. Toronto FC — 4 pts
9. New England Revolution — 3 pts
10. Atlanta United — 3 pts
11. FC Cincinnati — 3 pts
12. CF Montréal — 3 pts
13. Orlando City — 3 pts
14. Columbus Crew — 2 pts
15. Philadelphia Union — 0 pts
MLS Western Conference
Through May 25 — World Cup break
1. Vancouver Whitecaps — 12 pts
2. LAFC — 12 pts
3. San Diego FC — 10 pts
4. San Jose Earthquakes — 9 pts
5. Seattle Sounders — 9 pts
6. Real Salt Lake — 9 pts
7. Colorado Rapids — 6 pts
8. Houston Dynamo — 6 pts
9. FC Dallas — 5 pts
10. LA Galaxy — 4 pts
11. Austin FC — 4 pts
12. Sporting KC — 4 pts
13. Minnesota United — 4 pts
14. Portland Timbers — 3 pts
15. St. Louis City SC — 1 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.