Puget Sound

OL Reign’s Megan Rapinoe comes in at #9. The 50 Most Powerful Influencers In World Football Revealed - SPORTbible

Bloodworks Northwest will have a pop-up donor center at Cheney Stadium through the end of May. OL Reign players give back by giving blood | Tacoma Weekly

Bloodworks NW: Saving Lives from Cheney Stadium - We R Tacoma

Miguel Ibarra on Minnesota United exit: “At the beginning, I was hurt.” Miguel Ibarra hurt by Minnesota United exit, but “when I hear Seattle, I think championships” | MLSsoccer.com

MLS / USL

Maybe El Traffico will be happening again before long. California governor proposes allowing pro sports to restart in June - LAG Confidential

The Timbers’ pursuit of the Argentine was novel for its time, but changed much about how the league looks for star players. The trendsetter: How Diego Valeri’s signing paved the way for a new MLS – The Athletic ($)

Eddie Pope is more than qualified to judge world-class soccer talent. The same path as Hamm, Wambach or going pro straight out of HS: an emerging trend, and choice, two Dallas-area soccer prodigies face | Dallas News

NWSL / women’s soccer

The decision in 1921 to ban women’s football in England was rooted in jealousy and it smothered a vibrant sporting culture in its infancy. When the FA decided to ban women’s football for 50 years – The Athletic ($)

Rejected for a South Jersey select team at 11, Carli Lloyd went on to forge a different path toward stardom. How rejection paved Carli Lloyd’s road to stardom - Brotherly Game

Timbers President of Business Mike Golub was convinced the club’s new NWSL team would need a tree-themed name. NWSL Beginnings: Searching for a tree before the Thorns epiphany – Equalizer Soccer ($)

Sky Blue FC managed to come out on top in a season of setbacks. How Sky Blue FC were the underdogs who won it all in 2009 - All For XI

US soccer

Have you wanted to get the USWNT four-star only shirt but also wanted to draw a line under your support for the players themselves? Now you can make it even more obvious that you’re in it for them. Get your USWNT four-star only shirt with player names and numbers - Stars and Stripes FC

World soccer

The Premier League has revealed that six players or staff tested positive for coronavirus in its first round of testing. Premier League reveals six positive coronavirus tests across three clubs | The Guardian

The Watford captain says he fears for his family’s health amid the coronavirus pandemic. Troy Deeney will not return to training - BBC Sport

A substantial number of black, Asian and minority ethnic players have reportedly expressed strong concerns to the players’ union over a return. PFA asks Premier League to research Covid-19’s impact on BAME players | The Guardian

The club is said to be concerned about legal implications of Covid-19 infections. Hull City break ranks and call for Championship season to be voided | The Guardian

Almost a quarter of current and former professional footballers surveyed during the coronavirus pandemic said they were depressed or had considered self-harm. PFA study reveals 22% of members depressed or considered self-harm | The Guardian

Manchester City’s appeal against a two-year ban from European club competition will begin on 8 June at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Manchester City appeal against European ban set for June - BBC Sport

Rival teams claim there is clear video of the league leaders violating training rules, but Linz claims people trespassed to install spy cameras. ‘Industrial espionage’: Lask Linz hit back after claims club ‘torpedoed’ guidelines | The Guardian

The three clubs will face each other in 2021 in support of the heroes fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, Real Madrid announced on their site. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Inter create European Solidarity Cup to purchase healthcare resources - Managing Madrid

Roberto Firmino was a shy young boy. His smile did all the talking. But he was “football crazy” — and that sparked a remarkable journey. Roberto Firmino: Liverpool forward’s journey from humble origins to starring Anfield role - BBC Sport