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Chelsea's remarkable 31-match unbeaten streak came to an end in a 2-0 loss to Manchester City during the Women's Champions League quarter-final first leg. This defeat marked the first under manager Sonia Bompastor, who had led Chelsea to 28 games without a loss since taking charge. Vivianne Miedema's two second-half goals secured City's advantage, with Chelsea struggling to find their rhythm just days after their League Cup triumph over the same opponents. Defender Lucy Bronze admitted the team was "miles off" their usual standard, citing poor pressing and sloppy passing as key issues. The loss not only halted Chelsea's unbeaten run but also dashed their hopes of setting a new record for the longest undefeated streak by a Women's Super League (WSL) team across all competitions.

The match was part of a grueling four-game stretch between Chelsea and Manchester City within 12 days, including the League Cup final, WSL clash, and the Champions League return leg. Despite this setback, Bompastor remains focused on Chelsea's Champions League aspirations, with the team needing a strong response in the second leg at Stamford Bridge. Bronze emphasized that the defeat was a learning moment, noting that every opponent now raises their game against Chelsea. With their quadruple hopes still alive, Chelsea will aim to recover quickly as they prepare for upcoming challenges both domestically and in Europe.

FIFA's report on women's soccer shows big differences in player salaries, contract lengths, and match attendances in different leagues. The average salary for female players is $10,900, but players in top teams (Tier 1) earn about $24,030. Some clubs pay over $50,000, with the highest salary around $120,000. In lower leagues (Tier 2 and 3), players make much less—$4,361 and $2,805 on average. Contracts are also different. Tier 1 players usually get one- to three-year deals, while Tier 3 players often have very short contracts, sometimes less than three months.

The report also looks at match attendance. Arsenal had a record 60,160 fans for a Women's Super League game against Manchester United, but the average attendance in Tier 1 is only 1,713. In Tier 2 and 3, it's even lower—480 and 380. There are also not many female head coaches—only 22% of women's teams have a woman as head coach. FIFA President Gianni Infantino says more needs to be done to improve women's soccer and give players better opportunities.

Arsenal manager Renée Slegers has called for improved pitch conditions in women's football following her team's 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Women's Champions League quarter-final. The match, held at Real Madrid's Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, was played under heavy rain, resulting in a waterlogged and muddy pitch that significantly affected play. Slegers emphasized that enhancing pitch quality should be the "next step for women's football," acknowledging that while weather is uncontrollable, providing better playing surfaces is essential for the sport's progression.

Former Arsenal forward Ian Wright also criticized the pitch, labeling it a "disgrace" and comparing it unfavorably to other recently criticized venues. The subpar conditions not only impacted the quality of play but also raised concerns about player safety, highlighted by an injury to Real Madrid's Melanie Leupolz, who appeared to catch her studs in the muddy surface. The decision to host the match at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, instead of the larger Santiago Bernabéu during the men's international break, has been questioned, underscoring the need for prioritizing suitable venues for high-stakes women's matches.

Czech brand Snuggs, producing period underwear, has partnered with the Manchester City women's football team, becoming the first global period underwear brand to officially collaborate with a professional football club. This partnership reflects the growing interest in women's football and emphasizes the importance of health and comfort for female athletes, contributing to the discussion about menstruation in professional sports.

The collaboration comes at a time when women's football is experiencing unprecedented growth, with increased investments, larger audiences, and sold-out stadiums. Snuggs' involvement aims to support players' well-being and performance, addressing topics often considered taboo, such as menstruation, and promoting open conversations about women's health in sports.

Bayern Munich's goalkeeper Mala Grohs made her first start since undergoing treatment for a malignant tumor, playing in a Women's Champions League quarterfinal match against Olympique Lyonnais. Despite Bayern’s 2-0 defeat, Grohs made a crucial penalty save, denying Lyon a third goal. The match saw goals from Tabitha Chawinga and Melchie Dumornay securing the win for Lyon.

Grohs was diagnosed with the tumor in October 2024 and underwent throat surgery in December. Bayern publicly announced her diagnosis in November and later extended her contract until June 2026 to support her recovery. Her return, highlighted by the penalty save, marks a major milestone in her comeback to professional football.

In a recent interview, Ewa Pajor expressed her amazement at playing for FC Barcelona, stating, "Sometimes I'm at home and it's like: wow I play for Barcelona." She discussed the anticipation of facing her former club, Wolfsburg, in the upcoming Champions League quarter-finals.

Pajor reflected on her journey from Wolfsburg to Barcelona and the emotions tied to competing against her previous team. She emphasized her commitment to contributing to Barcelona's success in the Champions League.

McKenna "Mak" Whitham made history as the youngest player to compete in a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) regular-season match at just 14 years old. She debuted as a stoppage-time substitute for NJ/NY Gotham FC in their 1-1 draw against Seattle Reign. Whitham had already made waves in the soccer world by signing a Nike NIL deal at 13 and later securing a contract with Gotham FC, set to begin in 2025.

In her debut, Whitham received encouragement from coach Juan Carlos Amorós to "enjoy the game and just be you." The match saw Gotham initially take the lead before Seattle equalized, with Gotham finishing with ten players due to a red card. Whitham’s record-breaking appearance highlights the growing opportunities for young talent in professional women's soccer.

Sweden, together with Denmark, has now submitted a preliminary application to organise the European Women's Championship in 2029, writes the Swedish Football Association on its website.

- We will now take on board the evaluation that will follow from Uefa, and then continue the solid work together with DBU (Danish FA) and our host cities to be able to submit a final version of the European Championship application in August that is as effective as possible,’ says Tobias Tibell, acting Secretary General of the FA.

The deadline for submitting a preliminary application was 12 March. Already in September last year, Sweden and Denmark expressed their interest in organising the championship.

The European Football Association (UEFA) is expected to make a decision on hosting in December.