If you’re talking about women’s soccer, the center of the game lies far from the traditional power centers of the men’s game. In Europe, the top five major leagues are essentially the same, even if they go by different names: England leads the way, followed by Spain, France, Germany and Italy. But all of them are chasing the American game.

The best and most competitive women’s soccer in the world is played in the United States. History says so, the current picture confirms it, and so does Opta’s Elo statistical rating system: The National Women’s Soccer League is the world’s benchmark.

And now that Italian players are gradually attracting the attention of American franchises, it is a sign that the Azzurre movement is gaining fresh momentum.

Until just over a year ago, no Italian women had ever played in the United States. Then something changed.

Sofia Cantore, a star for the Italian National Team and Juventus Women, broke through that barrier, joining the Washington Spirit on July 1, 2025. Just over a month later, another Juventus player followed: Lisa Boattin, who was signed by the Houston Dash.

It took until the end of December 2025 for Lucia Di Guglielmo to leave Roma and join Cantore in Washington. Then, in February 2026, Cristiana Girelli — the record-breaking star of Juventus and the National Team, decided at 36 to embark on a new chapter in the world’s leading women’s soccer league.

She worked out a new arrangement with Juventus to facilitate the move, but it was the call from Bay FC that convinced her to make the leap.

Barbara Bonansea has now followed the same path. Just days ago, came the news that she decided to leave Juventus at 35 for an entirely new experience with the San Diego Wave.

The center of women’s soccer is in the United States. And thanks to five Azzurre stars, Italy is now part of it, too.