Do you know the best part about soccer? Well, beyond goals and galore, it’s the meaningful friendships. The feeling of not just sharing a special bond with someone but also making memories on the pitch together is a sense that only a few will relate to. So it’s no surprise that Catarina Macario is more than happy to reunite with her fellow USWNT and Chelsea teammate, Mia Fishel.

Having joined the Blues in the summer of 2023, the forward gave a significant boost to the WSL giants. Apparently, Fishel had been sidelined with a long-term injury, precisely, an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. This injury forced her to miss out on action for over a year. However, she finally made her much-anticipated return to the match-day squad for the first time since February 2024. Mia was on the bench in last night’s 3-1 win over Leicester City.

But before the fans got to celebrate the moment, Fishel received a warm welcome at Kingsmeadow from her fellow teammates, especially Macario. This comes from a video shared by journalist Ishan Shah on X where Fishel got a big hug from Catarina. Mind you, it was no ordinary one as Mia kept hugging her fellow national teammate for quite a significant period of time. Meanwhile, Macario was gently patting her back.

It was nothing less than a heartwarming expression as the two finally stepped onto the training ground together after such a significant time apart. Then again, it remains to be seen when something similar can be said in an official game. That’s because even though Fishel was named in yesterday’s game roster, she wasn’t given a single minute to play.

Instead, the 23-year-old saw Macario deliver a crucial performance for the Blues. She netted the opener against Leicester within 8 minutes. The rest of the goals came directly in the second half. While Aggie Beever-Jones doubled the lead near the 51st minute, the away side responded with the help of Yuki Momiki.

However, the 7x WSL winners denied the Foxes’ a comeback as Erin Cuthbert put the game to bed with a third goal of the night. With the win, Chelsea retain their place at the top with a tally of 44. But we reckon that more than the win, fans would rather be thrilled about Fishel’s return. Honestly, we can admit they deserve such a break; not to mention, they lost their star player to an injury!

Not an ideal start for Catarina Macario and Mia Fishel’s star USWNT teammate!

Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion was a setback in more ways than one. Not only did they drop points, but Naomi Girma’s debut ended in disappointment. The center-back, signed from San Diego Wave for a record $1 million, couldn’t even finish her first game. After a 32-day wait to see the most expensive player in women’s football, her night was cut short due to an incident that had transpired during the 56th minute.

Girma signaled to the bench, pointing at her left calf before limping off. Moments later, she sat on the pitch as Chelsea’s physios rushed to check on her. Unfortunately, the news wasn’t good as the 24-year-old had to be replaced by Nathalie Björn. Though the severity of her injury remains uncertain, head coach Sonia Bompastor has spoken about the situation. 

“It doesn’t look too bad but we will probably need to have a scan,” said the French tactician in the post-game presser. Interestingly, calls were made against Bompastor for giving Girma, a starting XI spot too early. Chelsea fans slammed her to at least introduce her to the WSL as a substitute. Not to forget, the defender also came back from her own long-term injury blow.

Yet, Bompastor felt the call to give her a start was right. “She’s learning about the league, the team and her teammates. As you could see, the first game is never easy because it’s a competitive league,” Bompastor said. “It was good for us to have her start this game, building minutes and being able to play with the team.”

Naomi Girma is clearly in recovery, as she was not included in last night’s match. While an update on her status is still awaited, fans can meanwhile celebrate Mia Fishel’s comeback—just as Catarina Macario did!