Author: RJ Allen

The NWSL Podium: Top Performances in Week 13

Posted on by RJ Allen

The NWSL Podium: Top Performances is a weekly series that looks at the best attacking, defensive, and goalkeeping performances each week.

The North Carolina Courage reaffirmed their dominance in this league with a 4-1 victory over No. 3 ranked Seattle. The Houston Dash benefitted from the mega-trade last week with an early goal from Sofia Huerta, but mistakes from the defense allowed the Portland Thorns to sneak goals in. And Australian midfielder Alanna Kennedy scored from midfield against the Washington Spirit when she caught Aubrey Bledsoe off her line. The league table remains tight, with Seattle, Portland, and Chicago all sitting at 19 points. Only 8 points separate No. 2 Orlando Pride from No. 7 Houston Dash, and the race to a playoff spot is sure to be a close one. Here is a full breakdown of the scores from this week: 

Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns (1-3)

Seattle Reign vs. North Carolina Courage (1-4)

Washington Spirit vs. Orlando Pride (0-1)

Chicago Red Stars vs. Utah Royals (0-2) 

Top Three Goalkeepers

1. Ashlyn Harris— Harris was one of only two goalkeepers to earn a shutout in Week 13. While Ashley Hatch recorded the most shots for the Spirit at five, Harris’ biggest threat came in the 84th minute from Caprice Dydasco. Dydasco launched her shot from just outside the 18-yard box and Harris had to fully extend to knock the ball to the side, where it eventually went out of play for a goal kick. Harris faced 17 shots and made three saves on the night, earning her fourth shutout of the year. 

2. Alyssa Naeher—  Naeher was the other goalkeeper to earn a shutout in Week 13. The U.S Women’s National Team starter has proven her worth time and time again throughout this season, and this week was no exception. Naeher faced 11 shots and made three saves against the Utah Royals. Her best moment came early in the match, when Becky Sauerbrunn sent a ball into the box for Katrina Gorry. Gorry, who took her chance with a header. The ball bounced off of Naeher’s hands and she scrambled to try to pick it up before it was cleared away by the Chicago defense. 

3. Adriana Franch— Franch returned to the starting lineup for the Portland Thorns this weekend after missing the first half of the season due to meniscus surgery on her right knee. While Franch didn’t have to make a lot of saves on the evening, the save she did make was a critical one. In the 14th minute, less than two minutes after Sofia Huerta’s goal, the Dash had the chance to go up 2-1. On a corner kick, the ball deflected off a Portland defender and Claire Polkinghorne—one of the newest additions to the Dash roster— had the chance to score her first goal. Polkinghorne headed the ball towards the back post, but Franch read it perfectly. She jumped in the air and got both hands on the ball, falling to the ground with her grasp firmly on the ball. 

Top Three Defenders

1. Estelle Johnson— Johnson, who we highlighted last week for her defensive performances against Sky Blue and the Seattle Reign, had another solid week for the Washington Spirit. They were facing off against the Orlando Pride, who have been on a hot streak and have one of the strongest offensive rosters in the league. Surprisingly, the lone goal of the game came when Alanna Kennedy caught Aubrey Bledsoe off her line and took a shot from midfield. Johnson and her teammates managed to hold off attacks from Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, and Chioma Ubogagu, keeping the Pride’s goal tally at one. Johnson had a particularly impressive stop in the 61st minute. Alex Morgan was running down the left side of the field, with Christine Nairn in the middle, but Johnson kept up with her and timed the tackle right so that she kicked the ball out of bounds. Overall, Johnson had four tackles, four clearances, and one interception on the night. 

2. Julie Ertz— Ertz played center back for the Chicago Red Stars in their 2-0 victory over the Utah Royals on Saturday night. This is Ertz’s second straight match at center back due to Sam Johnson’s trade to the Utah Royals. While the Red Stars would probably rather have Ertz’s talents in the midfield, especially after she missed the beginning of the season due to injury, she has also stepped up on the backline. Ertz recorded eight clearances and one block in the game. 

3. Rachel Corsie— Corsie has had a great inaugural season so far with the Utah Royals. Laura Harvey has her paired with Becky Sauerbrunn in the central defense, and they are arguably two of the best center backs in the league. This week, they didn’t quite get the job done— the Utah Royals lost the match 2-0 against the Chicago Red Stars. But they did have a few impressive moments, including a goal-line stop by Corsie. In the 83rd minute, Sam Kerr found herself charging down the field ahead of both Sauerbrunn and Corsie. Abby Smith had to backtrack and eventually faced Kerr, who couldn’t get enough on the shot. With Smith off her line, Sauerbrunn and Corsie had to run back to the line to stop the ball from rolling in. Sauerbrunn slipped, but got her body in the way, and Corsie managed to stop the ball with her foot just before it rolled over the line. 

Top Three Attackers 

1. Crystal Dunn— The North Carolina Courage already had a stellar offense last season, with players like Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald, but Crystal Dunn has proven to be a goal-scoring machine for the No. 1 ranked team. Dunn scored two goals this weekend in the Courage’s 4-1 victory over the Seattle Reign, bringing her season total up to six. Her first goal came in the 33rd minute, when the Courage were drawing 1-1 after giving up the early goal. Dunn got a good ball from Lynn Williams and set up her shot just inside the 18-yard box. Lydia Williams couldn’t extend to stop it and Dunn gave her team the lead. Her second goal came in the 70th minute. Again, Dunn got a nice ball from Lynn Williams. She ran with it inside the 18-yard box and sent a ball past Lydia Williams and into the far corner. Dunn is No. 2 in the league for goals this season, behind only Christine Sinclair at seven. 

2. Lynn Williams— Williams also had herself a day against the Seattle Reign, tallying a goal of her own and two assists in the 4-1 victory. Williams assisted both of the goals scored by Crystal Dunn. In both instances, Williams was able to find Dunn with some space. In addition to those two assists, Williams also had a goal of her own in the 27th minute. Jaelene Hinkle sent the ball into the box and Williams was able to beat her defender and sneak a powerful header past Lydia Williams. Lynn Williams now has four goals and three assists on the season. 

3. Christine Sinclair— Sinclair played her 100th match of her NWSL career on Friday night against the Houston Dash. She got things started early, with an assist to Tobin Heath in the 9th minute. Sinclair gets the ball and just passes it on ahead, finding Tobin Heath who sneaks one between the legs of Jane Campbell. It would take a bit longer for Sinclair to find a goal of her own, but she did find one in the 83rd minute. She took her shot from outside of the 18-yard box, just trying to send one over the head of Jane Campbell, and the ball went through Campbell’s hands. Sinclair continues to lead the league in goals this season with seven. 

NWSL Week 13: A Tweetstorm Review

Posted on by RJ Allen

Hey guys welcome to our second Tweetstorm Review. We’ve had a lot of games, a lot of goals, and a few milestone so lets get started.

Houston 1, Portland 3

It was a hot game in Houston as Sinclair made her 100th NWSL appearance and fans were eager to get the chance to see ‘new’ players return to the rosters.

It took only nine minutes for Tobin Heath to break through Houston’s backline and score the games first goal.

Three minutes later, one of the newest Dash members, Sofia Huerta leveled the game at one.

However that was about the last Dash highlight of the night as Portland ran away with it 3-1.

Seattle 1, North Carolina 4

Many wondered how North Carolina would play after losing their first game of the season the week before, the answer: very well.  In the first battle of Williams v Williams, Lydia Williams came out victorious.

https://twitter.com/TheSoccerCritic/status/1010617896266076160

https://twitter.com/TheSoccerCritic/status/1010617896266076160

Megan Rapinoe, who had a strong performance for the Reign, helped give Seattle their first and only lead of the game with an assist off a free kick.

During the game, McCall Zerboni became the first NWSL player to play 10,000 minutes.

https://twitter.com/TheSoccerCritic/status/1010621446115217408

The tide turned for the Reign as Lynn Williams had redemption from her earlier saved PK.

The Courage would go on to score 3 more.

https://twitter.com/jacobcristobal/status/1010699143080226816

Washington 0, Orlando 1

In the 11th minute Alanna Kennedy scored what could end up being the most impressive goal of the year in the NWSL.

Washington continued to struggle throughout the game.

With talented players on the roster, it’ll be interesting to see how things may change for the Spirit moving forward.

Chicago 2, Utah 0

With Christen Press returning to the NWSL this game was highly anticipated. Press ultimately didn’t end up lacing them up for Utah, but the points up for grabs were important for both teams.

https://twitter.com/TheSoccerCritic/status/1010674316848062464

Morgan Brian, who was originally listed in the starting XI, ended up being switched out last minute – and ultimately was pulled from the available subs leaving the commentators and fans wondering why.

Abby Smith was shaken up on the first goal of the game, but was ultimately able to stay and finish the game out.

Vanessa DiBernardo scored the second goal for the Red Stars.

https://twitter.com/TheSoccerCritic/status/1010698142776483841

Overall, it was not the game Utah was hoping to have. With this win Chicago bumps into the 5th spot with Utah in the 6th.

https://twitter.com/TheSoccerCritic/status/1010701540502405120

The results next week could really shake up the table. Make sure to watch and tweet along with the games!

Are the North Carolina Courage Bad for Women’s Soccer?

Posted on by RJ Allen

No, they aren’t.

The North Carolina Courage are not “killing the NWSL” nor are they “turning the NWSL into the French women’s league”. For some reason people ask because when they see a women’s team doing better than anyone else in their league or conference or sport, it’s the first question that apparently springs to their minds.

But I ask you, how could a team made up of solid players who work well together under a coach who believes in his team with the fervent veracity of a game show host mixed with a motivational speaker be bad for a league or the sport overall?

In a league where the last place team has two points in eleven matches, the second to last place team has ten points in fourteen matches, somehow it is the top (junkyard) dog that is being asked “why can’t you just suck a little bit more so the other teams aren’t blown away quite so much”.

Right now the North Carolina Courage are dominating the league. 33 points in 14 matches is a record that will grab people’s attention even if they know nothing about the league or even soccer. Dropping just nine points over 14 games is something the Courage should be lauded for, not chided as someone breaking the league or the sport.

And while the Courage are dominating the league, teams two through six are all within five points of each other. Orlando with 22 points; Seattle, Portland and Chicago with 19 points; and Utah with 17 points are all still very much alive as the season hits the other side of halfway. This is the best time of the season. The teams have made the majority of their trades, players are in peak form and matches are starting to really become important when tiebreakers are so critical. But with 33 points the Courage draw the eye of the casual fan – or those looking for a reason to deride the league – as a problem for the rest of the league.

And if the North Carolina Courage had 33 points while the rest of the league drew each other to keep everyone else’s points low, or the Courage blew every team out 7-0 while playing like the Harlem Globetrotters of the NWSL, then yes, the league would have a problem. But the league playoff race is still very much competitive and the Courage are more likely to beat you 1-0 than 7-0. They are a team that wears you down and can beat you in any way that you give them the opening to do. They are not a super team bought and paid for the way some European teams are. They aren’t even the team with the most international players on the roster.

The NWSL has a lot of great stories in it. Using your mental energy to breakdown why Sky Blue or Washington have been outliers toward the negative this year is a better use of your time. Looking at the way players like Morgan or Press can change the league in mega-trades that effect half the league all at once is a better use of your time. Pondering the players Jill Ellis would never call up but should is even a better use of your time.

But thinking to yourself that a team who have drafted well, invested in players that other teams benched, while relying on experienced vets who are able to preform for a coach who believes every single player on his roster could be a superstar for their national team if they just got a shot is a really bad use of your time. 

Hot or Not: NWSL Power Rankings Week 13

Posted on by RJ Allen

Warning:

This power ranking is not reactionary.

This power ranking takes outside factors like weather and injuries into account.

It has bias—yours when you read it and mine when I wrote it.

Enjoy it.

It will soon change.

The power rankings this week could be titled “the week of the tweaks”. A lot of pretty minor moving to get teams more in line with who they are a little over half way in.

Interviews with Emma: Elizabeth Eddy

Posted on by RJ Allen

Emma Bayer is an 11-year-old who does a recurring interview series for Backline Soccer. You can find more out about how Emma got into soccer here.

Birthdate: 9-13-91

Nickname from teammates: Liz

Hometown: Newport Beach, Ca

Age started playing: 5

College/major: Business and Communication 

Career aspirations after soccer: Entrepreneur 

Why did you pick your particular uniform #: 4 is my favorite number 

Pregame meal: Anything, I don’t like to be in a position to have to have anything 

Workout music: Music giving Jesus glory and most other music ie Chainsmokers or Shawn Mendes and lots more 

Favorite cartoon character: Pocahontas

Fave movie: Remember the Titans, The Swiss Family Robinson and Sound of Music 

Fave actress: Meryl Streep

Hidden talent: Drone Accident Survivor 

Mentor (in soccer or life): My Dad 

Fave charity/cause: Life Rolls On 

Life motto: John 10:10 Jesus says ‘I came not that you might have life, but life to the full.’

Superstitions: None 

Pets: Family Dog: Sadie, Australian Border Collie 

If you were going on Amazing Race, which teammate would you want as a partner, and why?  Merry Speck because in the Drone Accident she was timely and helpful. 

Backline Chat: Press Trade 2.0 and Some Goalkeeper Talk

Posted on by RJ Allen

Charles Olney (@olneyce): Alright, first things first: the big trade finally went down this week, sending Christen Press and Sam Johnson to Utah, Sofia Huerta and Taylor Comeau to Houston, and Brooke Elby (plus approximately 13 draft picks) to Chicago. What do people think about the deal? Winners, losers? Things that make you excited?

I’ll start by saying that I think this is basically a win-win-win. Utah probably came out the best, but I think it helped everyone.

RJ Allen (@TheSoccerCritic): I have said it all week but I am really looking forward to seeing Press play with ARod. They are so different from each other it’s unlikely they will step on each other’s cleats and that will be fun to see them complement each other instead of both having to change what they are best at.

Blasian (@BlasianSays): Whether it helps Huerta is a question. It was just her first game of course, but she isn’t playing as a fullback.

Charles Olney: As I think I’ve made clear in numerous forums here, Press is one of my all-time favorite players to watch. And ARod isn’t far behind. So I wholeheartedly agree, RJ.

RJ Allen: I understand wanting a shot at the national team. But is a shot at the national team both worth 1) changing your position to someone you are bad at 2) making your club career suffer in the meantime

Blasian: I’m with you, Charles. She’s the biggest winner of the players involved. This is fully on Jill Ellis, by the way.

Charles Olney: I do think the Huerta thing is weird. The reporting from John Hallorhan makes clear that this trade was engineered to get her a chance at fullback, except Houston doesn’t seem to want to play her there. I feel bad for her, and it’s another sign that communication in trades (especially involving Chicago and Houston) isn’t the greatest.

I feel bad for Huerta, obviously. At the same time, I feel like the fullback thing had mostly run its course by now. She hasn’t been getting any better in the role, and I’m not sure more time was really going to change that.

RJ Allen: Honestly is any team in the league going to be willing to play Huerta at outside back that has over 14 points right now?

Luis Hernandez (@radioactivclown):I said it earlier the big losers of the trade are the teams not in the trade, mostly Orlando and Portland. I’m not sure Utah can hold on to make the playoffs but the move goes a long way in that direction in the short term

Charles Olney: I think Huerta would make a perfectly good (maybe even great) wingback. But I just haven’t seen anything in her play so far to suggest that she’s really taken to the fullback role.

Becky Schoenecker(@Beckster20): I still think there are too many players better ahead of her to really make it a solid case.

Charles Olney: I was a skeptic about Utah going into the season–thought they’d be fine, but not great–but they’ve already beat my expectations AND just added the piece they were desperately missing. I’m not sure I’d BET on them to make the playoffs now, but I certainly wouldn’t be against it.

RJ Allen: They have one of the two best defenses in the league. I will never stop talking about how happy seeing Corsie and Sauerbrunn together makes me. They are truly a best of league paring.

Charles Olney: To get Press without having to sacrifice almost any present value is a huge coup. They’ll miss Elby, but not that badly. I still think they’re midfield is only so-so, but they’re very good everywhere else.

RJ Allen: You can’t have everything all at once always.

Charles Olney: True. Even North Carolina finally lost!

RJ Allen: At the last possible second.

 

Charles Olney: Alright, jumping slightly off the conversation about the trade: we’ve already seen one of these teams in action. Last night, Houston lost at home to Portland. Thoughts about the game? Thoughts about what it tells us about these teams going forward?

RJ Allen: What fountain of youth has Sinclair found and will she share it? Because she is having herself a season that I don’t think maybe predicted.

Blasian: If she could slip Becky Sauerbrunn a little before the World Cup, that’d be cool.

Becky Schoenecker: Houston has wonderful moments, and I think they’re getting better, but their defense and goalkeeping has been more than just a little rough.

Charles Olney: Portland once again seem poised to break out from a slow start and really kick things into gear. I still don’t think they’re fully loaded, but this was a more composed performance from them, for sure.

Becky Schoenecker: I just don’t understand the decision making on the backline most times (ie Van Wyk). For every goal saving play she has three where she gets flat out beat.

Charles Olney: For Houston, I thought it was one of the more coherent performances they’ve had for the season. Sure, the result didn’t work out. But they played pretty well on the whole. In a season where they’ve had a lot go right despite poor performances, this felt a bit like reversion to the mean. But I agree with Becky that Van Wyk had a dreadful game. We talked last week about whether Pauw would be willing to bench her. I think the case for that move was pretty clear last night.

RJ Allen: Bench her and move who to her spot? Brooks?

Charles Olney: In her postgame comments, Pauw said that Polkinghorne isn’t really match fit yet, and my impression is that once she’s fully ready to go, she slots into the backline. That said, I really liked how Houston looked in that 4-1-4-1. Polks did a nice job occupying the space between the two lines, and provided some of the shield that Houston has been missing all year.

Becky Schoenecker: What about Campbell?

RJ Allen: She frustrates me. Campbell that is. Because you can see how much talent she has but she makes some really odd choices and she needs more coaching that doesn’t look like it’s happening.

Charles Olney: I have no issues with Campbell. She made a bad mistake on the Sinclair goal, and didn’t exactly cover herself with glory elsewhere. But she’s a perfectly good keeper now, and still has a lot of room for improvement.

Luis Hernandez: To me, both teams looked better than what they had early in the season. Houston has come a long way but Campbell just isn’t helping her cause in the national team picture nor with the Dash. Teams seem to be scoring on her from easy chances that she needs to do better on.

Blasian: I know it makes sense for non-Naeher and Harris goalkeepers to get NT call-ups, but it doesn’t seem to me that she’s earned it.

Becky Schoenecker: Do you think it’s a lack of confidence at this point? She’s a capable goalkeeper, but compared to the other keepers in the league she’s sliding fast.

RJ Allen: I think it’s coaching.

Charles Olney: Keepers just have so few chances to make a difference that the noise can easily drown out the signal. It could easily just be a normal bad stretch and not really signify much of anything. I’d wait a lot longer to decide that there’s something fundamentally wrong.

Luis Hernandez: Portland is seeming to be getting healthier than they have been in a while and that was the performance they needed on the road to keep their playoff hopes alive, so they can defend their championship.

RJ Allen: You also hate goalkeepers, Charles.

Blasian: I could see it if it’s just in her decision-making, but to allow a goal like Portland’s third seems to just be about fundamentals

Luis Hernandez: Sinc is just amazing with what she’s been able to do, and now she’s got everyone else around her contributing so that’s going to make Portland dangerous going forward. The Thorns just need to keep pace with the rest of the pace and overtake one of those teams ahead of them in the standings.

RJ Allen: I think Campbell coming right out of college and starting so quickly was an issue.

Becky Schoenecker: To me that’s a defeating goal, she was already making questionable decisions, but I think the next game will be huge for her. If she’s able to recover and make some good saves it might start an upward swing and get her confidence back.

RJ Allen: She didn’t have time to warm in to the league and steps were missed in the move between college and the pros. She has to go back to basics and no coach seemingly is taking her there.

Becky Schoenecker: And you’re right, coming out of college I doubt Houston – and a lot of these teams – have quality goalkeeping coaches. How can anyone expect to get better if it’s just shooting practice with an assistant.

Blasian: That next game is @ Orlando…not an attack I’d want to face in that scenario

RJ Allen: No. Marta, Morgan, Syd and Hill can eat people alive in they want.

Charles Olney: Speaking of goalkeepers and the US pool, anyone have thoughts on Adi Franch’s return?

RJ Allen: Becky is right. Goalkeeping coaches are lacking league wide with very few exceptions.

Becky Schoenecker: I’m not looking for her to get Houston a win, just for her not to make it so easy for them to lose.

RJ Allen: Welcome back. She is one of my favorites in the league even if she’s good for a WTF now and then.

Becky Schoenecker: People are so quick to blame goalies, but no resources are set aside to improve them.

Luis Hernandez: To me, Franch needs more performances this season to be seriously considered back into the WNT picture.

RJ Allen: Let’s be real though. NWSL play has very little to do with who gets called up *after* Ellis has put them on her radar.

Becky Schoenecker: I agree, but I think she can get there her improvement from last year to this year has been amazing to see (and crazy enough wasn’t Angerer coaching her?)

Luis Hernandez: But I’d put AD ahead of Campbell for sure. I think we should just turn the page on Campbell for a while.

RJ Allen: I would say that good NWSL play can get you on her radar but after? It has almost no connection.

Charles Olney: She had one or two scary moments trying to play the ball with her feet, but I thought was otherwise pretty solid. Portland have to be happy to have her back. Eckerstrom provided some nice cover, but is clearly a step below the top keepers in the league.

Luis Hernandez: I’d like to see Bledsoe get a camp call-up

Becky Schoenecker: Yes to Bledsoe

RJ Allen: I would be happy with a Naeher, Bledsoe, Smith camp.

Blasian: I am not as high on Bledsoe as y’all are.

Luis Hernandez: She occasionally makes a bonehead decision but is mostly solid.

RJ Allen: The goalkeeper pool is as deep as a thimble long term right now.

Luis Hernandez: I’d like to Bledsoe over Smith

Charles Olney: I don’t really know her game at all, and maybe it’s just a case of the grass always being greener, but I’m certainly curious about what Casey Murphy can do.

Becky Schoenecker: Well with the number of times she’s forced to see the ball I can understand that haha

RJ Allen: Casey Murphy I doubt gets a real shot until she is state side.

Blasian: Within the Spirit team, I think we might be having this conversation about Kelsey Wys had she not thrown away the title and then got injured in Australia.

Luis Hernandez: Murphy has a problem being under the radar. Who’s really watching her matches and is she convincing enough to break into the team?

RJ Allen: There are NWSL players who should have gone up 2 or 3 years ago than Ellis just won’t call up. I do wonder at what point either they get calls up or we (media types) just move on from them.

Charles Olney: [Cough] Colaprico and DiBernardo [Cough]

Blasian: Absolutely, both of them.

RJ Allen: But would Ellis know how to use them if she had them? What good is having Colaprico on the bench?

Blasian: She doesn’t know how to use most of her current players

Charles Olney: I do think that we often fixate too much on these marginal decisions. I’m the biggest DiBernardo fan you’ll find, but even I don’t think she’s a starter or anything. Same with Colaprico. Could be a nice bench player, but it’s not likely to make a huge difference either way.

I will say, though, that DiBernardo is precisely the TYPE of player that the US needs. Whether she’s quite at the level needed to make that sort of player useful is a fair question. But Ellis could certainly make it work, even given her tactical limitations.

Luis Hernandez: I’m just waiting for Ellis to be out of the picture. I’d like to think the federation is looking for the women’s general manager, but I doubt it.

RJ Allen: 2021 for sure the USWNT has a new coach. And Ellis as the GM because this timeline sucks. They have said they are looking for a GM. The problem is it will be someone Ellis approves of or advises them on.

Luis Hernandez: I know I’m beating a dead horse when I say this but at this point the only evaluation for a player on the WNT is “can this player win us a World Cup?” If the answer is anything but yes, then move on.

Blasian: Spain’s men’s team has shown it’s never too late to change managers.

RJ Allen: I am pretty happy about Zerboni coming up, TBH. I thin the US leaning in to the “punch the other team in the mouth” thing she and Horan can pull off is at least fun.

Luis Hernandez: I agree with RJ here. That’s the value of having USSF backing the NWSL

Charles Olney: Alright: final question. We’ve got a few games coming up this afternoon. What are people looking forward to?

RJ Allen: Seattle vs North Carolina should be a hoot.

Luis Hernandez: I’m looking forward to the Courage’s response to the loss last week

RJ Allen: And even if Press isn’t playing I think Utah vs Chicago will be something to keep an eye on.

Blasian: I’m staying up for the 1 am Spirit kickoff to experience the sadness live.

Luis Hernandez: The Pride attack if they all show up. And I think the best match this week is going to be Red Stars/Royals. I also want to say that Dani Weatherholt who is going to miss this week’s game should be considered for the national team and is extremely underrated.

Becky Schoenecker: I’m excited for the Chicago Utah game.

Charles Olney: I agree with folks hyping Chicago-Utah. Has a lot of potential to be a super interesting game, and also is a HUGE match for its playoff implications

RJ Allen: Can I bring up one thing unrelated to the games today that I really love? I am really loving seeing players – a lot of USWNT players but also NWSL players – using #MensWorldCup as a hashtag.

Becky Schoenecker: That’s great!

RJ Allen: There are two World Cups. A men’s and a women’s. Only using a gender term with one is silly. Either both are just the World Cup with the year, or it’s men’s and women’s. I don’t make the rules, I just enforce them.