Manchester City and Chelsea will face off in a massive League Cup final this weekend. Elsewhere, the NWSL kicks off for another season.
Read our preview of all of the Matildas Abroad action below.
England
Women's League Cup
The League Cup final takes place this weekend, with Manchester City and Chelsea facing off on Saturday, 11.15pm AEDT. This game is free to watch via the Barclays Women's Super League YouTube Channel.
Chelsea remains undefeated this season across all competitions, and if that remains the case this weekend, they will walk away with their third League Cup trophy. Chelsea has lost their last three consecutive League Cup finals, however - with City responsible for one of those in 2021/22. City will back themselves to get the job done and lift their first trophy since that League Cup win three years ago.
Mary Fowler will be available for Manchester City and will hope to continue her fantastic form this season. Sam Kerr will not be available for Chelsea but is very close to a return to play, as indicated by being named this week in their UEFA Women's Champions League squad for the knockout phase.
Women’s Super League
The WSL gets back underway this weekend with four fixtures to complete Matchday 16.
Everton hosts Arsenal on Saturday, 6am AEDT. The Gunners will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing FA Cup defeat to Liverpool last week. Meanwhile, Everton – now ten points away from the relegation zone – will be hoping for points to continue their positive recent form.
Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley will be available for Arsenal, while Clare Wheeler will hope to shake off recent injury concerns to return for Everton.
Liverpool faces off against Manchester United on Saturday, 6.15am AEDT. Liverpool could finish the round as high as fifth with a victory, but United will be hoping for three points to keep the pressure on Chelsea at the top. Teagan Micah will be available in goals for Liverpool.
Tottenham Hotspur take on Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday, 2am AEDT. Brighton’s promising early season form has declined in the new year and they will be hoping to turn that around against a Tottenham side who are coming off the back of three consecutive defeats. Charli Grant, Hayley Raso and Clare Hunt will all be available for Spurs.
The final game of the round is relegation-threatened Crystal Palace taking on Aston Villa.
Every WSL match is available to watch live and on demand on Optus Sport.
Women’s Championship
Birmingham City clash with Southampton on Monday, 1am AEDT. Birmingham will be heavy favourites against a Southampton side who are currently sitting eighth on the table, but will know that any slip up opens the door for the teams below them to catch them on top of the table. Emily van Egmond will be available for Birmingham.
Selected Women’s Championship matches are available to watch on the Barclay’s Women’s Championship YouTube Channel. Birmingham City’s match is not available this week.
United States
The 2025 NWSL season kicks off for another season. Mackenzie Arnold and Kaitlyn Torpey's Portland Thorns travel to Kansas to take on the Current in their opening game, kicking off on Sunday morning at 3:45am AEDT.
Thorns will be put under the test in their first game of the season, with Arnold and Torpey looking to shut down last season's golden boot winner, Current's Temwa Chawinga. Torpey will be hoping to make her professional debut for the Thorns, making one appearance for them in a pre-season friendly.
Cortnee Vine's North Carolina Courage will take on Racing Louisville in their first game of the season. Courage have bolstered their attack with the addition of gold medal winning Jaedyn Shaw. This game will kick off on Sunday morning at 8:00am AEDT.
Lastly, Alanna Kennedy has the chance to make her professional debut for Angel City FC when they take on California rivals, San Diego Wave FC, in their opening game.
Both teams had seasons to forget last season, finishing the 2024 season in the bottom half of the ladder and missing out on finals. Angel City made 9 new signings to start the season, with Kennedy being one of the most experienced.
This game will kick off on Monday morning at 9:50am AEDT, with fans able to watch via Optus Sport.
France
Lyon takes on Reims on Saturday, 7am AEDT. They remain undefeated and at the top of the table in the league. Ellie Carpenter will be available for Lyon.
Sweden
Kristianstads DFF take on IFK Norrköping on Monday, 3am AEDT. It is the final group stage game of the Swedish Cup. Any result will see Kristianstads advance to the next stage of the competition. Remy Siemsen will hope to be available after missing last week while Amy Sayer continues her ACL rehabilitation.
AIK Fotboll host KIF Örebro DFF on Monday, 3am AEDT, also in the final group stage match of the Swedish Cup. They will need a win – and results going their way – to advance. Jada Whyman will hope to make her return from injury for AIK in this game.
Denmark
League action returns to Denmark on the weekend as FC Nordsjælland host Odense Boldklub on Sunday, 11pm AEDT. Defending champions Nordsjælland are currently second on the table, six points away from the top, and will hope to get their 2025 league campaign underway with a win. Winonah Heatley will hope to recover from a knock that kept her out of last week’s cup tie to take part on the weekend.
Netherlands
FC Twente take part in the KNVB Women’s Cup Quarter-Final this weekend, facing Den Haag on Sunday, 5am AEDT. They are favourites to progress after overcoming Ajax in the Round of 16 and will be gunning for what could be their best chance of a trophy this season. Daniela Galic will be available for Twente.
Germany
TSG Hoffenheim take on Köln on Sunday, 12am AEDT. A win could see Hoffenheim finish the round in sixth while Köln are languishing near the relegation zone in 10th. Jamilla Rankin will be available for Hoffenheim.