Quinn is a gold medalist! Quinn is officially the first non-binary or transgender athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics! Congratulations Quinn and the rest of their Canadian teammates! On the home front OL Reign and Tacoma Defiance both did serious work at Cheney Stadium as they continue to push for solid playoff footing. Oh, yeah, and some guy named Leonard or something quit his job or didn’t sign a new contract.

Seattle/Tacoma

The rest of the tournament and how it played out was almost worth it for those two goals from Rapinoe. Olympic Recap: Rapinoe Shines in United States Bronze Winner — OL REIGN: WE ARE THE BOLD

The first-ever trans and non-binary gold medalist in Olympic history made history and made plays. Quinn completes historic run and strikes Olympic gold in women’s soccer - Outsports

OL Reign, powered by a Bethany Balcer brace and absolute bangers from a bevy of ballers, put on quite the show to welcome Laura Harvey back home. Match Recap: OL Reign Hold Down Houston 5-1 in Tacoma — OL REIGN: WE ARE THE BOLD

Presumably inspired by the Reign’s performance, Tacoma jumped out to a 3-0 lead on their way to an impressive win. Matchday Report: Adeniran Nets Twice as Tacoma Defeats Oakland

The Tacoma Women of Color Collective has nurtured a community for professional Women of Color to come together and share with and support one another. OL Reign Legend: Tacoma Women of Color Collective – Krista Perez, Leah Ford, Benita Smith and Melo Hogan — OL REIGN: WE ARE THE BOLD

MLS/USL

USL is providing a different path for youth players looking at their professional options. A couple of recent success stories highlight how the league is handling the new influx of talent. Youth movement alive with USL | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer

In MLS there are no good teams. Pepi Hype Train takes off, Atlanta stop their skid & more from Week 18 | MLSSoccer.com

NWSL/WoSo

Recent trade left KC NWSL’s new players feeling “blindsided” and in a “whirlwind.” Recent deal involving KC NWSL shows trade winds can be abrupt | The Kansas City Star

Bev Priestman is three years younger than Christine Sinclair, and I just find that fascinating. The English manager at the heart of Canada’s Olympic football glory | Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 | The Guardian

Canada didn’t score a single goal from open play during the knockouts, and that just kind of makes it all the more impressive. Grit, determination and composure lead Canada to their first ever Olympic Gold medal - All For XI

Teams will have friendlies in October and November of 2021 before starting out in two groups in 2022. Liga MX Femenil U17 tournament set to start in Clausura 2022, with teams being in one of two groups - FMF State Of Mind

Canada were clearly the most united and unified team in the ways that mattered, and that powered them through to their first Olympic gold medal. This Canadian team sets the gold standard – on and off the pitch - TSN.ca

USA

Things just weren’t quite right for the USWNT at the Olympics, and maybe that was most evident in their victory over Australia once the pressure was largely lifted. USWNT 2020 Olympics: What we learned - Stars and Stripes FC

Josh Sargent seems poised to get a significant pay raise, even if his new club’s likely bound for relegation. Josh Sargent reportedly transferring to Norwich City - Stars and Stripes FC

World

The simultaneously inevitable and impossible is happening: Leo Messi is finally leaving Barcelona. Leo Messi not staying at FC Barcelona

Jesse Lingard missed Manchester United’s friendly against Everton on Saturday due to a positive coronavirus test. Jesse Lingard Isolating After Testing Positive For COVID-19

For FIFA 22, EA Sports motion-captured a 90-minute contest between two Spanish sides. Its echoes will be felt by millions of gamers. Inside the match that will change FIFA forever | WIRED UK

What’s on TV today?

9:30 AM - Viktoria Köln vs Hoffenheim (DFB Pokal) - ESPN App

11:45 AM - Kaiserslautern vs Borussia Monchengladbach (DFB Pokal) - ESPN App

2:00 PM - Arsenal vs Patronato (Argentine Primera Division) - Paramount+

5:00 PM - Monterrey vs Puebla (Liga MX Femenil) - ESPN+

7:00 PM - Tijuana vs Queretaro (Liga MX Femenil) - ESPN+

7:00 PM - Pachuca vs Atlas (Liga MX) - TUDN