Puget Sound

While putting together the charity one-shot for YachtCon: Back to School every player went into deep backstory, knowing that there would be a tiny impact on play. I love it. Meet the cast of DDD:253 – Invasion of the Trees | Full Moon Storytelling

MLS / USL

Riverhounds signed an MLS talent, and lost him almost immediately. Despite some backlash, Lilley stands by Alex DeJohn release | Pittsburgh Soccer Now

NWSL / women’s soccer

Reports of FSG potentially expanding into the NWSL and WNBA raise concerns given substandard treatment of the women’s team it already has. The reason for skepticism of FSG’s potential NWSL interest – The Athletic

Thoughts on the Spirit giving a three-back a look, and possibly playing more games in the District. Washington Spirit notebook: 5-0 win over IMG Academy, prospect of games at Audi Field brighten - Black And Red United

Washington Spirit have gone from a rebuilding phase to title contenders over the last few seasons. Washington Spirit 2021 preseason preview: Spirit aim to contend during 2021 - CBSSports.com

Also, there is fierce intra-squad competition for the position of Best Aunt. NWSL preseason preview: Ali Riley on reckoning with her identity and inspiring Asian-American girls to play - All For XI

Japanese soccer player Nahomi Kawasumi has confirmed she will not take part in the Tokyo Olympics torch relay this month after deciding to withdraw from the event last year due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan soccer player Kawasumi confirms won’t take part in torch relay | Reuters

US soccer

Catarina Macario’s 5,000 mile journey from Brazil to the USWNT can be summed up in three words: Googling Mia Hamm. My American Dream by Catarina Macario | The Players’ Tribune

The roster was tricky due to current COVID restrictions. Gregg Berhalter announces USMNT March roster - Stars and Stripes FC

We’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s time to get hyped as hell for the USMNT - Stars and Stripes FC

World soccer

Let’s see how things are going with the T&T World Cup Qualifying campaign - oh! Fenwick allegedly attacks press officer; TTFA opens probe into controversial English coach - Wired868

Defiance forward Alec Diaz is with PR as they attempt to topple their group’s expected winner. Bateau, Levi ruled out of Puerto Rico qualifier, T&T blindsided by two month old travel restriction - Wired868

Ángel Di María and Mauricio Pochettino are also mentioned as part of Paris’s charm offensive. Neymar and Kylian Mbappé are reportedly trying to get Lionel Messi to join PSG - Barca Blaugranes

Manchester City remain on course to win the quadruple, but is the Champions League the one they want the most? Champions League remains 'big one' for Manchester City after reaching quarter-finals - BBC Sport

Of 72 clubs covered by EFL testing for Covid-19, 71 returned no positive tests in the latest week of testing, but Championship side Rotherham United record 25 positive cases. Rotherham United record 25 positive Covid-19 cases in latest week of EFL testing - BBC Sport

What’s on TV?

10:55 AM: Molde vs. Granada (Europa League) — Paramount+

10:55 AM: Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Roma (Europa League) — Galavision / Paramount+

10:55 AM: Arsenal vs. Olympiakos Piraeus (Europa League) — UniMas / Paramount+

10:55 AM: Dinamo Zagreb vs. Tottenham Hotspur (Europa League) — TUDN / Paramount+

1:00 PM: Young Boys vs. Ajax (Europa League) — Galavision / Paramount+

1:00 PM: Rangers vs. Slavia Praha (Europa League) — Paramount+

1:00 PM: Villareal vs. Dynamo Kiev (Europa League) — TUDN / Paramount+

1:00 PM: Milan vs. Manchester United (Europa League) — UniMas / Paramount+

2:00 PM: USMNT vs. Costa Rica (Men’s Olympic Qualifying) — FS1

4:30 PM: Mexico vs. Dominican Republic (Men’s Olympic Qualifying) — FS1

7:00 PM: Pachuca vs. Tigres UANL (Liga MX) — TUDN

Plus a plethora of men’s and women’s college soccer, with kickoffs from 9 AM through 5 PM.