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Double the fun? Women's soccer explodes alongside Austin FC as fans seek new pro NWSL team

UT soccer player and Olympian Julia Grosso banged an Austin FC drum alongside Verde and Black fans as the soccer community continues to grow in Austin. (Austin FC/Twitter)
On Monday, University of Texas soccer player Julia Grosso announced her first professional contract with Juventus, a team in Italy's top-flight league Seria A—but that's not even her biggest accomplishment this year.
At 20, the junior midfielder already has her first Olympic gold medal under her belt as she made the game-winning penalty kick to propel the Canadian national team to the top at the 2021 Summer Olympics. And later this year, Grosso and her Longhorn teammates won the Big 12 semifinals and were just edged out of the finals by TCU in front of a home crowd of over 4,000 attendees—the most in a Big 12 tournament in over a decade.
Grosso's huge year reflects the surge of new excitement around women's soccer in Austin. The hype around new MLS team Austin FC has bled into every facet of Austin's soccer scene and created solidarity between all of the city's teams: it's not uncommon to see Verde fans from Austin FC fan groups mingle with burnt orange in Longhorn matches or cheer on semipro women's side FC Austin Elite, and Grosso herself banged a La Murga drum in the fan section of one of Austin FC's home matches.
IT’S THAT TEXAS TOUCH FOR CANADA 🤘🏾@TexasSoccer’s Julia Grosso gets the Olympic Gold. pic.twitter.com/0UvLPKa0HR
— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) August 6, 2021
Beyond grateful and excited for this opportunity to play with Juventus. Can’t wait to get started! @JuventusFCWomenpic.twitter.com/lbUjkABmbD
— Julia Grosso (@GrossoJulia) December 6, 2021
It's that type of community that brought the "MLS to Austin" movement to reality—and some members of Austin FC fan club Austin Anthem are hoping history repeats itself as they work toward bringing the top-flight National Women's Soccer League to Austin.
The movement is a result of well-intentioned espionage by Christine Hanley and Michelle Frasch. Hanley, a season ticket holder for NWSL side Houston Dash, "weaseled" into Austin Anthem in part to start promoting a NWSL team but became passionate about Austin FC along the way. "I think the NWSL could be really successful here because it's just a really tight-knit city," Hanley said.
And the even tighter-knit soccer community seems to be backing the movement. Verde and Black "NWSL 2 Austin" banners have flown at Austin FC games, Longhorn matches and FC Austin Elite games, and Austin FC goalie Brad Stuver has added star power by wearing NWSL 2 Austin merch.
As the two continue their relationship with Austin FC staff, including working tirelessly during Austin FC matches in the supporters' section, they've seen some promising evidence behind the scenes. The potential team would already have a stadium and key infrastructure—according to Frasch, it's written in a stadium contract—and plenty of fans.
Austin FC owner Anthony Precourt has talked about adding a team for months, and earlier this year, the former NWSL commissioner quietly visited Austin to assumedly discuss a potential future in the city. Precourt himself told the two he was seriously considering it as he greeted fans after an Austin FC match.
Add together the backing of USWNT superstar Megan Rapinoe, Austin FC soccer buzz and the movement's petition—which has seen 1,000+ signatures—and the two are certain a new NWSL side isn't a matter of if, but when.
"If the ownership group in Austin is committed to equality and committed to growing the game on both sides, I would very much encourage them to look into a @NWSL franchise." @mPinoe wants #AustinFC Owner/CEO @APrecourt to consider an expansion team. pic.twitter.com/ZJnlgLEosn
— Emily Giangreco (@EmilyGiangreco) May 6, 2021
"We basically know it's coming, we just don't know when," Hanley said. "When we do ask about it, they just say 'keep doing your thing.'"
There are a few obstacles: the NWSL itself has had prominent leaders fired and may not be ready to tack on another team, especially after adding two new sides for the 2022 season. And adding an Austin side would make for an odd number of teams, so the league would probably need to find two locations to add at once.
But the city's futbol community has already wowed the nation with its fervor for all things Verde—and women's soccer supporters are sure that could transfer to the city's first women's pro team.
The two hope to see an NWSL team in 2023. In the meantime, they're content leading the Verde supporters section, growing their fan club and cheering on women's soccer at venues across the city.
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Popular
Austin FC kept rival FC Dallas to a draw Saturday night as it pulled off a 2-2 comeback. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Despite a 2-0 deficit, there was a pot of gold for Austin FC after all as it celebrated its annual Pride Night with rainbows and a 2-2 comeback draw to FC Dallas Saturday night.
After three FC Dallas losses last season, the Dallas derby draw marks the first time Austin FC has tied against its Copa Texas rival. Austin continues to edge over FC Dallas as it sits at 3rd in the MLS West.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the match:
A somber start
¡Ya Basta! Enough! End Gun Violence. #uvaldestrong
— Los Verdes (@LosVerdesATX) June 26, 2022
📷 @arubiophotospic.twitter.com/3PiVdTPtik
Decked out in colorful hues for LBGTQ+ Pride, Verde fans started the match on a somber note as they held up banners to take a stand against gun violence before the match.
As the national anthem began, fans held up banners with the names of each child that was killed in the Uvalde school shooting and a plea to "end gun violence."
The supporters' section was also dotted with Pride flags and a "Bans off Our Bodies" banner in protest of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
FC Dallas earns a 2-0 lead
Paul Arriola is there to put it away and put @FCDallas ahead! pic.twitter.com/Z4AMmM6lp3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
That sober tone continued onto the pitch. With midfielder Daniel Pereira's absence due to a red card, the Verde and Black lost two goals to FC Dallas by the 70th minute of play.
FC Dallas played it sneaky for the first half of the match, giving Austin FC plenty of room to hold possession as it waited to strike on a Verde error. That mentality proved dangerous for Austin as Dallas' Paul Arriola took advantage of Brad Stuver's deflection to score the first goal of the night in the 57th minute of play.
Dallas struck once more as Brandon Servant pushed past the Verde line to score the second goal of the match.
#DTID double their lead!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
The substitute Brandon Servania with a fine finish within five minutes of coming on. 💥 pic.twitter.com/IZm0YsPxG5
Austin FC strikes back
Sebastián Driussi pulls one back!#AustinFC are still in this one. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Yoi0x768jb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
But energy quickly returned to Austin's favor thanks to Designated Player Sebastian Driussi, who scooted past several FC Dallas defenders alongside Moussa Djitte to snag an unlikely first goal for Austin.
A full Verde comeback
Late drama in this Texas Derby!@AustinFC ties it up, Danny Hoesen with the diving header. 😱 pic.twitter.com/Jk2f4fIEXG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
Austin's subs proved deadly as momentum returned to the home team toward the end of the match. A well-placed cross from Nick Lima—and a diving header from a fresh-legged Danny Hoesen—helped the team secure the draw with a second Verde goal in the 84th minute of play.
Hoesen, who was Austin's first starting striker last season, has now scored two goals with the team after a yearlong injury stuck him on the bench.
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(Bob Daemmrich)
Hours following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion, on Friday, about 1,000 people gathered in Republic Square with signs calling for change.
The rally, organized by the group Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights Texas, started at the federal courthouse on Republic Square on Friday at 5 p.m. before the crowd marched to the Texas Capitol. More protests are expected to ensue over the weekend.
People showed up with all types of signs like Mindy Moffa holding up, "Keep your filthy laws off my silky drawers."
Austin joined cities across the country that saw protests for a women's right to an abortion after the ruling.
According to a recent UT poll, 78% of Texas voters support abortion access in most cases.
Sabrina Talghade and Sofia Pellegrini held up signs directed at Texas laws. A Texas trigger law will ban all abortions from the moment of fertilization, starting 30 days after the ruling. When state legislators passed the trigger law last summer, it also passed laws for more protection of firearms, including the right to open carry without a permit.
Lili Enthal of Austin yells as around 1,000 Texans marched to the Texas Capitol.
From the Texas Capitol, Zoe Webb lets her voice be heard against the Supreme Court ruling.
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