The FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup 2023\u2122\u00b8\u008f will be the last opportunity to catch Megan Rapinoe in action for the US national team as she revealed plans for retirement in the Autumn. The midfielder who currently plays for OL Reign boasts a variety of titles including two time World Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist. Rapinoe won the Ballon d\u2019Or in 2019 and the golden ball and boot at the 2019 World Cup where she netted six goals and claimed three assists. Well known for her activism off the pitch for LGBTQ+ rights, she will make her 200th cap for the national team in their first game against Vietnam. This American legend is sure to be a player not to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RACHEL DALY<\/strong> Megan Rapinoe | USA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Rachel Daly | ENGLAND<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n BUNNY SHAW<\/strong> ALEXIAS PUTELLAS<\/strong> Bunny Shaw | JAMAICA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Alexias Putellas | SPAIN<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n KEIRA WALSH<\/strong> SAM KERR<\/strong> Keira Walsh | ENGLAND<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Sam Kerr | AUSTRALIA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" July 13, 2023 If you’re travelling from 20 July – 20 August, you can enjoy the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup 2023\u2122 LIVE onboard on Sport 24! With the top games broadcast live from Australia & New Zealand, you won’t miss a kick!Check out the full schedule HERE Day one sees joint hosts New Zealand & […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"sport":[28],"event":[173],"author-date":[200],"class_list":["post-488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","sport-football","event-ones-to-watch","author-date-july-2023"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
This season the Women’s Super League has been rocked by Rachel Daly’s return from Houston Dash in the NWSL for her first complete season in ten years. After signing for Aston Villa in August last year she has racked up a tally of 23 goals to her name, winning top scorer for the season. Having previously played at left-back in the Lionesses’ successful campaign at UEFA EURO 2022, an unfortunate surge of injuries in the England team has seen Sarina Viegman give Daly her rightful chance up front. She netted two goals in the Lionesses Arnold Clark Cup victory over Italy in February, and is expected to add to her tally down under!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sport24live.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/gettyimages-1161211664_0.avif\")
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Khadija Monifa, best known as \u2018Bunny Shaw\u2019 – a name given to her by her brother as a child because of her love of carrots, is another player to keep a close eye on this summer. With 56 goals to her name, the forward is Jamaica’s all-time leading goal scorer – men’s or women\u2019s! In this season\u2019s campaign alone at Man City, Bunny scored 31 goals in all competitions at making her the highest-scoring women\u2019s player across any season. Well known for her pace and power the 26-year-old is expected to be a big star this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having ruptured her ACL on the eve of the European Championships last summer, she was robbed of her chance to shine on the big stage. Now she\u2019s back, she is thought to be Spain\u2019s secret to success at this year’s World Cup. Having only returned from injury in April, it took just 22 minutes for the 26-year-old to return to the score sheet, netting in the friendly against Panama in June. Putellas is the only player to ever win the Ballon d\u2019Or twice in consecutive years and her unfortunate injury came off the back of a record-breaking season as she became the highest-scoring midfielder in European history with 34 goals in all competitions in the 21\/22 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sport24live.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/microsoftteams-image_22.avif\")
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Known as the \u2018wizard\u2019 by her teammates, Keira Walsh has been hailed as the secret to England\u2019s European victory. The midfielder\u2019s ability to pick a pass with pin-point precision is beyond spectacular but often goes unnoticed. The playmaker’s talent shone through last summer where she was awarded player of the match in the UEFA EURO 2022 final, and her move to Barcelona saw her become the world\u2019s most expensive female footballer ever! Keep a close eye on her in this tournament and you will appreciate just how talented she is .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last but certainly not least, Matilda’s Captain Sam Kerr is another star not to miss as she captains her side at their first home World Cup. The Australian, who has 61 goals to her name, is a natural striker who can be counted on to deliver when it matters most for her team. As the only female player to win the Golden Boot in three separate leagues (and continents), her accolades speak for themselves, but off the pitch she is a humble team player with a bubbly character. Be sure to look out for her backflip celebration which she brings out on special occasions… what could be more special than a home World Cup?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sport24live.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/microsoftteams-image_24.avif\")
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