• MLS announced a desire to expand to 28 teams, as interest in new franchises continues to boom. Sacramento appears to be a shoo-in; the city is moving forward with plans to build a downtown stadium, and has drawn big crowds for its USL team. San Antonio, where the city and county partnered to buy the local stadium with the goal of landing an MLS team, may be a front-runner as well.
• Swansea City fired manager Garry Monk this week, an abrupt end to an excellent story. Monk played for Swansea from 2004-14, for much of the time as the team's captain, and went directly from playing to managing the team in early 2014. He helped the team escape relegation last year, guiding it to an eighth-place finish. But one win in his last 11 league games was enough for Swansea to give him the boot.
• Gophers forward Simone Kolander was named to the third All-America team and first All-Big Ten team. The junior scored 10 goals this season to lead Minnesota.
![Gophers women's soccer player Simone Kolander during the University of Minnesota's game with Marquette University at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium Friday Aug. 29, 2014, in St. Paul, MN.] (DAVID JOLES/STARTRIBUNE)djoles@startribune.com Gophers vs. Marquette in women's soccer. Gophers women's soccer feature on Simone Kolander. She was Big Ten offensive player of the week for the first week of the season: tallying nine points with a combined two goals and five assists against Stetson and No. 2 Flor](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/UUCJ722Q4SHQ7RTZREW56MAKR4.jpg?&w=1080)
