Abigail Segel
@abigailsegel.bsky.social
Freelance writer, women's soccer contributor for Defector, editor & writer for the Equalizer. Former Normal Gossip intern. Bylines in the Guardian and Montreal Gazette. More info at abigailsegel dot com
Pinned
The US’s biggest pro women’s sports unions have found strength together
For NWSL and WNBA players’ unions, collective actions have been key to their successes in wholly different sports
www.theguardian.com
For the WNBPA and the NWSLPA, solidarity is an ethos as well as a strategy. I spoke with leaders from both unions to learn more about the organizations' strong relationship:
On Media Day, I spoke to former Pitt Panthers Sarah Schupansky and Deborah Abiodun, whose teams face each other in the NWSL final tomorrow. The rookies talked about how proud they are of each other, and how grateful they are for their time in Pittsburgh:
Abiodun and Schupansky represent the University of Pittsburgh at the NWSL Championship
This Saturday marks the first time a team that includes a University of Pittsburgh alumna will compete in the NWSL Championship. But that honor is not held alone—two former Panthers are in San Jose, g...
equalizersoccer.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:41 AM
On Media Day, I spoke to former Pitt Panthers Sarah Schupansky and Deborah Abiodun, whose teams face each other in the NWSL final tomorrow. The rookies talked about how proud they are of each other, and how grateful they are for their time in Pittsburgh:
Washington Spirit players were upbeat at their last training before the final. There was almost as much stretching as there was dancing 🎶
November 21, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Washington Spirit players were upbeat at their last training before the final. There was almost as much stretching as there was dancing 🎶
Next up, Gotham! First, I talked to Jess Carter and Katie Stengel (separately) about if and how players compare leagues amongst themselves:
November 21, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Next up, Gotham! First, I talked to Jess Carter and Katie Stengel (separately) about if and how players compare leagues amongst themselves:
NWSL Championship Media Day is a great time to ask players about the upcoming final, but also, literally anything else! Here are some bits from conversations I had with players from the Washington Spirit that range from rather serious to very silly:
November 21, 2025 at 12:25 AM
NWSL Championship Media Day is a great time to ask players about the upcoming final, but also, literally anything else! Here are some bits from conversations I had with players from the Washington Spirit that range from rather serious to very silly:
Reposted by Abigail Segel
Thanks to a $5 million settlement with the NY, DC and IL OAG, the NWSL is required to report their investigations.
The semi-annual report and its exhibits give us a teensy bit of transparency into the NWSL’s process.
With @dianamoskovitz.bsky.social for Defector!
defector.com/nwsl-43-comp...
The semi-annual report and its exhibits give us a teensy bit of transparency into the NWSL’s process.
With @dianamoskovitz.bsky.social for Defector!
defector.com/nwsl-43-comp...
The NWSL Received 43 Complaints In 2024, And Five In The First Half Of This Year, Public Records Show | Defector
When the National Women’s Soccer League settled with three separate attorneys general earlier this year—following investigations by all three into the league’s years of failure to prevent or adequatel...
defector.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Thanks to a $5 million settlement with the NY, DC and IL OAG, the NWSL is required to report their investigations.
The semi-annual report and its exhibits give us a teensy bit of transparency into the NWSL’s process.
With @dianamoskovitz.bsky.social for Defector!
defector.com/nwsl-43-comp...
The semi-annual report and its exhibits give us a teensy bit of transparency into the NWSL’s process.
With @dianamoskovitz.bsky.social for Defector!
defector.com/nwsl-43-comp...
Reposted by Abigail Segel
I repeat
Jaedyn Shaw's performances for Gotham have made me gasp and giggle with glee. She can and should be the eye of Gotham's hurricane:
Jaedyn Shaw's Redemption Arc Is Underway | Defector
“Gotham’s one of the best teams in the league,” Sofia Huerta told the broadcast after her Seattle Reign managed to hold the accelerating side to a scoreless draw. “Third place, really hard team to bea...
defector.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I repeat
Reposted by Abigail Segel
Hi! I wrote a thing about swimming and trans athletes and [*checks notes*] Santana for @defector.com, would mean a lot if you give it a read
What Does A Great Trans Athlete Deserve? | Defector
Once every week or two, I swim molasses-slow laps at the YMCA. I’ve been on something of a fitness journey this year, testing out different forms of exercise to see what sticks—what feels the least to...
defector.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Hi! I wrote a thing about swimming and trans athletes and [*checks notes*] Santana for @defector.com, would mean a lot if you give it a read
I repeat
Jaedyn Shaw's performances for Gotham have made me gasp and giggle with glee. She can and should be the eye of Gotham's hurricane:
Jaedyn Shaw's Redemption Arc Is Underway | Defector
“Gotham’s one of the best teams in the league,” Sofia Huerta told the broadcast after her Seattle Reign managed to hold the accelerating side to a scoreless draw. “Third place, really hard team to bea...
defector.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I repeat
NWSL players have been swept up into a storm of transphobia and racism. What will the league do about it?
The Anti-Trans Grifters Are Coming For The NWSL | Defector
In July, the Guardian reported that the NWSL had quietly allowed its policy on the participation of transgender players, established in 2021, to expire. The scrapped policy used the testosterone level...
defector.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:21 PM
NWSL players have been swept up into a storm of transphobia and racism. What will the league do about it?
After a spooky loss, a convincing rebound, and a fun romp, the USWNT leaves us with much to consider from its October window. My thoughts on a squad that Emma Hayes says is "starting to look like the team that we are trying to create" www.theguardian.com/football/202...
USWNT review: The kids are alright but concerns over chemistry and aerial ability remain
The US started off badly with a loss to Portugal, recovered a bit with a win against the same team, and finished with a romp over New Zealand
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:11 PM
After a spooky loss, a convincing rebound, and a fun romp, the USWNT leaves us with much to consider from its October window. My thoughts on a squad that Emma Hayes says is "starting to look like the team that we are trying to create" www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Reposted by Abigail Segel
This is some bullshit on SEVERAL different levels. It conveniently ignores the former openly trans NWSL players because it doesn’t fit the anti-trans/“save women’s sports” propaganda and fuels the hatred towards Black women who play in the NWSL (it wasn’t just Banda who was targeted by those people)
Deeply disappointed in Liz Eddy here, who I've always liked and respected. A reminder that we have a lot of work to do when it comes to educating the public about why trans inclusion isn't just morally correct, but competitively sound share.google/Gjf9a1Sl01eL...
National Women’s Soccer League must adopt gender standards to keep growing
Recent controversies across women’s sports — from swimming to track and field — have highlighted professional soccer lacks clear eligibility policies, unlike a growing number of other competitions.…
share.google
October 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM
This is some bullshit on SEVERAL different levels. It conveniently ignores the former openly trans NWSL players because it doesn’t fit the anti-trans/“save women’s sports” propaganda and fuels the hatred towards Black women who play in the NWSL (it wasn’t just Banda who was targeted by those people)
For the WNBPA and the NWSLPA, solidarity is an ethos as well as a strategy. I spoke with leaders from both unions to learn more about the organizations' strong relationship:
The US’s biggest pro women’s sports unions have found strength together
For NWSL and WNBA players’ unions, collective actions have been key to their successes in wholly different sports
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:21 PM
For the WNBPA and the NWSLPA, solidarity is an ethos as well as a strategy. I spoke with leaders from both unions to learn more about the organizations' strong relationship:
Jaedyn Shaw's performances for Gotham have made me gasp and giggle with glee. She can and should be the eye of Gotham's hurricane:
Jaedyn Shaw's Redemption Arc Is Underway | Defector
“Gotham’s one of the best teams in the league,” Sofia Huerta told the broadcast after her Seattle Reign managed to hold the accelerating side to a scoreless draw. “Third place, really hard team to bea...
defector.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Jaedyn Shaw's performances for Gotham have made me gasp and giggle with glee. She can and should be the eye of Gotham's hurricane:
@redford.bsky.social with the ultimate primer on the Free Press, which is the techno-elite's perfect Trojan Horse for evil:
Bari Weiss Signs Huge Deal To Usher CBS News Into Its Vichy Era | Defector
On Monday, newly appointed Paramount CEO David Ellison announced that his company had acquired the Free Press, the smirking blood-and-soil blog founded and run by former New York Times hall monitor Ba...
defector.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM
@redford.bsky.social with the ultimate primer on the Free Press, which is the techno-elite's perfect Trojan Horse for evil:
Was thinking about how weird it is that the NWSL teams getting the best results since the summer break are at the top (duh) and bottom (???) of the standings, so I wrote about it. A state-of-the-league analysis as the last quarter of the regular season starts:
In A Typically Chaotic NWSL Season, The Only Safe Place Is The Very Top | Defector
If you would’ve told me at the summer break that the Utah Royals, Chicago Stars, and Houston Dash would each earn more points in next the seven matchweeks than the Orlando Pride or the San Diego Wave—...
defector.com
September 19, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Was thinking about how weird it is that the NWSL teams getting the best results since the summer break are at the top (duh) and bottom (???) of the standings, so I wrote about it. A state-of-the-league analysis as the last quarter of the regular season starts:
The Northern Super League plans to add a seventh team in 2027. I talked with @nsl.ca founder & Chief Growth Officer Diana Matheson to learn more about the expansion process and the state of the young league. For @equalizersoccer.bsky.social:
Diana Matheson details Northern Super League expansion process
The Northern Super League is growing. The success of its inaugural season has encouraged its leaders to commence the expansion process with an eye on adding a seventh team for 2027. “The fact that we ...
equalizersoccer.com
September 16, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The Northern Super League plans to add a seventh team in 2027. I talked with @nsl.ca founder & Chief Growth Officer Diana Matheson to learn more about the expansion process and the state of the young league. For @equalizersoccer.bsky.social:
In my first story for @equalizersoccer.bsky.social, I discussed Jaedyn Shaw's blockbuster move from the NC Courage to Gotham. The sky's the limit for Shaw, and both she and Gotham hope she can answer their bat signal:
Gotham, Shaw look to future after trade with Courage
Gotham FC has officially acquired Jaedyn Shaw from the North Carolina Courage for a record-breaking intra-league transfer fee of $1.25 million, the teams announced Thursday. Per Gotham, “Gotham and S...
equalizersoccer.com
September 12, 2025 at 12:47 AM
In my first story for @equalizersoccer.bsky.social, I discussed Jaedyn Shaw's blockbuster move from the NC Courage to Gotham. The sky's the limit for Shaw, and both she and Gotham hope she can answer their bat signal:
The NWSL quietly updated its public-facing extreme heat policy since the Aug 16 delay in KC. The league says the edits aligned the external doc with a change that was implemented internally in 2023; the NWSLPA says it was not aware of the removal of a key clause. My report for the Guardian:
NWSL quietly updated heat policy after game in soaring temperatures, creating confusion amid delays
After the Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride were made to play in searing heat, the Guardian has found that changes to league policy may have affected the handling of the delayed game
www.theguardian.com
August 27, 2025 at 3:34 PM
The NWSL quietly updated its public-facing extreme heat policy since the Aug 16 delay in KC. The league says the edits aligned the external doc with a change that was implemented internally in 2023; the NWSLPA says it was not aware of the removal of a key clause. My report for the Guardian:
Chicago may have beat Seattle 3-3 on Monday, but the Stars could learn a lot from how the Reign has rebuilt from its disastrous 2024. On miracles and effort: defector.com/alyssa-naehe...
Alyssa Naeher Shoots And Scores But The Chicago Stars Are Still In The Dark | Defector
The injuries came as fast as the goals. One, two, three Chicago Stars players were down and out by the 55th minute of Monday’s match against the Seattle Reign. That moment felt like a low point in wha...
defector.com
August 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Chicago may have beat Seattle 3-3 on Monday, but the Stars could learn a lot from how the Reign has rebuilt from its disastrous 2024. On miracles and effort: defector.com/alyssa-naehe...
Reposted by Abigail Segel
Four Al Jazeera staff, including reporter Anas Al Sharif, were killed in an Israeli attack on a tent for journalists outside the main gate of Gaza's al-Shifa hospital aje.io/onll19
Anas al-Sharif among five Al Jazeera journalists killed by Israel in Gaza
Al Jazeera staff killed in targeted Israeli attack on a tent housing journalists near al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza City.
aje.io
August 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Four Al Jazeera staff, including reporter Anas Al Sharif, were killed in an Israeli attack on a tent for journalists outside the main gate of Gaza's al-Shifa hospital aje.io/onll19
I went to the England-Italy Euro semifinal in Geneva yesterday. Still buzzing: defector.com/in-the-face-...
In The Face Of Chaos, England Kept Calm And Carried On Into The Euros Final | Defector
GENEVA — If it weren’t for the crystal-blue lake and rugged mountains that sandwich the city, I’d have thought I was in London. In the 36 hours before England’s Women’s Euro semifinal match against It...
defector.com
July 23, 2025 at 7:53 PM
I went to the England-Italy Euro semifinal in Geneva yesterday. Still buzzing: defector.com/in-the-face-...
Michelle Cooper is finally having the pro season that her college career suggested she could, and she's earned consistent USWNT call-ups as a result. On the third-year Kansas City Current forward's talents and tenacity: defector.com/michelle-coo...
Michelle Cooper Is Always Ready To Pounce | Defector
Michelle Cooper took her time. When Temwa Chawinga sent a slow ball to the space in front of her—a ball Chawinga only had because of a turnover Cooper had caused—she moved laterally with it, waiting f...
defector.com
June 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Michelle Cooper is finally having the pro season that her college career suggested she could, and she's earned consistent USWNT call-ups as a result. On the third-year Kansas City Current forward's talents and tenacity: defector.com/michelle-coo...
On a revealing night in San Jose, Jessica Berman made her priorities for the NWSL clear: defector.com/jessica-berm...
Jessica Berman Makes Her Priorities Clear | Defector
In the 74th minute of Angel City’s May 9 game against the Utah Royals, Angel City defender Savy King collapsed on the field. She was immediately tended to by medical staff, who performed chest compres...
defector.com
May 20, 2025 at 2:25 PM
On a revealing night in San Jose, Jessica Berman made her priorities for the NWSL clear: defector.com/jessica-berm...
For the @mtlgazette.bsky.social, I wrote about the Victoire's devastating elimination from the PWHL playoffs: www.montrealgazette.com/sports/hocke...
Ottawa puts brakes on Victoire’s playoff hopes
Charge eliminates Montreal in the PWHL best of five semifinals with a 2-1 Game 4 win.
www.montrealgazette.com
May 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
For the @mtlgazette.bsky.social, I wrote about the Victoire's devastating elimination from the PWHL playoffs: www.montrealgazette.com/sports/hocke...
The Montreal Victoire finally won a playoff game, and almost killed me along the way. Here's to the stubborn belief of a team that continues to be great when it matters: defector.com/victoire-4ot...
It Took Two Years And Four Overtimes For The Victoire To Live Up To Their Name In The Playoffs | Defector
The whole season, win or lose, Montreal Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie and her players spouted their belief in the team. Listening to them week after week, the message started to feel tired. How si...
defector.com
May 12, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The Montreal Victoire finally won a playoff game, and almost killed me along the way. Here's to the stubborn belief of a team that continues to be great when it matters: defector.com/victoire-4ot...