Thompson Shines for Chelsea as Heaps Announces Return to Denver Summit FC

Thompson continues to be a standout player in the Women’s Super League (WSL). Since joining Chelsea last September, she has quickly established herself within the squad.

In a recent match against West Ham, Thompson’s precise one-touch finish contributed to Chelsea’s commanding 3-0 lead, ultimately helping the team secure a 5-0 victory. With five goals this season, she currently leads the Chelsea squad in scoring.

Reflecting on her performance following her 15th appearance, Thompson expressed her satisfaction: “I’m super happy. I feel like it was a good result for us and a great way to start the second half of the season.” She also highlighted her growing partnership with teammate Sandy Baltimore on the left wing, stating, “My relationship with Sandy is really developing on the pitch. I think we are working well together. She’s a great player, so it’s easy to play with her.”

Looking ahead, Thompson and Chelsea will face Crystal Palace on Saturday, January 17.

In other news, Heaps made headlines with her announcement of returning home to join NWSL expansion side Denver Summit FC. Having played for OL Lyonnes since 2022 after a successful tenure with the Portland Thorns, which included two NWSL Shields and an NWSL championship, Heaps is excited about her new chapter.

In the club’s press release, she stated, “I’m incredibly excited to come home to Colorado and join Denver Summit FC. This club represents something special, not just for the league, but for this community and for the next generation of players growing up here. I’m fully committed to finishing the season strong with OL Lyonnes, and I can’t wait to begin this next chapter in Denver this summer.”

During her time in France, Heaps has further enhanced her resume, winning a UEFA Women’s Champions League title and three Division 1 Féminine titles. With a remarkable total of 114 goals in her club career, she will continue with OL Lyonnes until the end of the current season, before transitioning to Summit FC ahead of the latter half of the 2026 NWSL campaign.

Meanwhile, Girma played a pivotal role as center back for Chelsea, contributing to their impressive 5-0 victory over West Ham United. Having faced challenges in securing a starting position throughout 2025, Girma displayed a veteran’s composure, helping to keep West Ham scoreless while maintaining 65 percent possession for Chelsea. The Hammers managed only one shot on goal, underscoring Girma’s defensive prowess.

Girma was notably absent from Hayes’ January camp roster due to the FIFA window, opening opportunities for younger center backs to gain valuable experience, as both she and Sonnet were omitted from the 26-player squad.

In light of ongoing transfer rumors surrounding Macario’s potential move to the NWSL, Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor addressed her and Niamh Charles’ absence from the recent match against West Ham. “It wasn’t a case of not risking them, but Cat and Niamh were probably not at their best level to perform in the game today,” Bompastor explained. “They have different problems, but I don’t have any more clarity on their situation yet; hopefully, they will be back in the squad soon.”

Macario’s last start for Chelsea was in 2025 during a 6-0 victory against Roma. She was also excluded from the U.S. Women’s National team head coach’s January camp roster due to the FIFA window.