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Man city sign world cup winner

United States midfielder and 2019 World Cup winner Sam Mewis says joining Manchester City “is like winning the lottery”.

Mewis has played 67 times for her country and featured regularly during last year’s World Cup, starting the 2-0 final win over the Netherlands in Lyon.

The 27-year-old has joined the former Women’s Super League champions from North Carolina Courage.

“I feel so lucky to have the opportunity,” Mewis told BBC Sport.

“A couple of months ago my agent came to me with it and my eyes just kind of opened wide because obviously Manchester City is such a great club and is so well known.

“We [North Carolina Courage] played them last year in the ICC [International Champions Cup] tournament and I just remember thinking how good they were and how every player was so comfortable on the ball.

“I thought it would be cool to play overseas one day and for a club like Manchester City. I feel really lucky and really fortunate to have this opportunity.”

The midfielder is City’s second summer signing after England striker Chloe Kelly joined from Everton.

They narrowly missed out on their second WSL title last season – they were top of the table when the campaign was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, but dropped to second spot when final positions were decided on a points-per-game basis.

Under new boss Gareth Taylor, they will start the 2020-21 season with an away game at newly-promoted Aston Villa during the weekend of 5-6 September.

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Lyon win record ninth French cup

England internationals Lucy Bronze, Nikita Parris and Jodie Taylor helped Lyon win a ninth French Cup as they beat Paris St-Germain 4-3 on penalties.

With the score 0-0 after normal time, Bronze scored in the shootout to put Lyon ahead, before Sarah Bouhaddi saved Lea Khelifi’s effort.

Taylor made her Lyon debut as she replaced Parris in the 90th minute.

The game was stopped for 10 minutes in the first-half as the floodlights failed.

A crowd of 5,000 people watched the game in Auxerre due to Covid-19 restrictions.

European champions Lyon were crowned French champions in May after the league was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Rapinoe pulls out of tournament

United States winger Megan Rapinoe is one of three internationals to have withdrawn from the NWSL Challenge Cup amid coronavirus fears.

Forward Christen Press and midfielder Tobin Heath will not play because of “uncertainty” caused by the virus.

Orlando Pride are also not playing after six of their players tested positive for Covid-19.

“Megan let us know that she has decided not to play,” said Bill Predmore, chief executive of Rapinoe’s team OL Reign.

“Like all NWSL players, she was given the option to participate … but we understand and respect her decision.”

The tournament, being played in empty stadiums, starts on Saturday in Utah and will last for one month.

It will make the NWSL the first team-sport league to resume competition in the United States.

“It is deeply painful not to be able to play the game I love, and to watch the broader effects of the global pandemic on our league, sports and our world,” Press said in a statement.

“Regrettably, given the uncertainty created by COVID-19, I must elect not to participate in this tournament.”