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Football Insider

Reviewing USWNT Performances Abroad: League Cup and French Cup Victories

The past few weeks have been exhilarating for the USWNT abroad, from Naomi Girma's injury to Alyssa Thompson's League Cup win with Chelsea, and Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes lifting the French Cup with Lyon. Read on for a detailed review of the top performances.

Reviewing USWNT Performances Abroad: League Cup and French Cup Victories

GOAL reviews top USWNT performances abroad, from Naomi Girma’s injury to Alyssa Thompson’s first League Cup with Chelsea and Heaps, Yohannes lifting the French Cup with Lyon.It has been a busy few weeks for members of the U.S. women’s national team, who returned to major club competitions shortly after winning the SheBelieves Cup for the eighth time.Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes, teammates for both club and country, helped OL Lyonnes capture the French Cup title, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Coupe de la Ligue.Chelsea faced Manchester United in the League Cup final on Sunday, with USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson dressing for The Blues. Naomi Girma was ruled out with an injury, while Cat Macario was not included in the squad. Chelsea defeated Manchester United and goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce 1-0, thanks to a Lauren James strike in the opening 20 minutes.Elsewhere, Arsenal and Emily Fox defeated the London City Lionesses 2-1 in Women’s Super League play, while Sam Coffey and Manchester City earned just a point over the weekend after playing to a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.Chelsea were without several key players in Sunday’s League Cup final, including USWNT center back Naomi Girma, who did not dress because of a calf injury. The Blues faced a difficult task against Manchester United without Girma, Millie Bright, Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter, among others.Still, Chelsea found a way despite the absences. Or rather, Lauren James did, scoring the goal that proved decisive.“Hopefully it’s not too bad and she can be available for the next game,” Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor told the BBC when asked about Girma. The Blues return to action Wednesday.While Yohannes was not involved in OL Lyonnes’ goal against PSG, she played an important role after entering in the second half, ensuring there was no drop-off in the team’s rhythm. Subbing into midfield and maintaining the same level of play — or even improving it — is a job well done, and Yohannes often delivers when asked to do just that.Despite her young age, she continues to show remarkable maturity, whether through her work rate to win the ball back or her ability to play teammates into space anywhere on the pitch.Lindsey Heaps was all over the pitch in OL Lyonnes’ victory over PSG. She was involved in several attacking runs, quick combinations and one-two moments throughout the match. Heaps knows how to win, and she appears to be in an environment where everyone shares that mentality, with players constantly crashing the box and battling box-to-box in midfield.Heaps’ dummy on a cross set up Melchie Dumornay for the go-ahead goal.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingIt was not Alyssa Thompson’s best game, as her opportunities to score were limited on the day. Still, she came through the match unscathed and was able to celebrate lifting the trophy with Chelsea.Thompson’s biggest contribution to this team is her ability to score goals. At the USWNT level, she has consistently found ways to get on the scoresheet, and she has been even more productive for The Blues. In the final, she was involved in several attacking moments for her side, although none ultimately resulted in a goal.

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Alyssa Thompson Clinches League Cup with Chelsea

In a thrilling League Cup final against Manchester United, Alyssa Thompson celebrated her first League Cup triumph with Chelsea. Despite limited scoring opportunities in the game, Thompson contributed to several attacking moments, showcasing her value to The Blues both domestically and internationally.

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Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes Shine in French Cup Victory

Teammates both at club and national levels, Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes played pivotal roles in OL Lyonnes' French Cup triumph over Paris Saint-Germain. Heaps showcased her tenacity all over the pitch, while Yohannes displayed her maturity and work rate, ensuring Lyonnes maintained their strong performance despite tough opposition.

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Impactful Performances Across WSL and Beyond

While Chelsea secured the League Cup without key players like Naomi Girma due to injuries, other USWNT stars like Emily Fox at Arsenal and Sam Coffey at Manchester City made their mark in the Women's Super League. Each player displayed their commitment and skill, contributing to their respective teams' performances.

Published on Mar 15, 2026