Author: RJ Allen

10 Questions with Libby Stout

Posted on by RJ Allen

Libby Stout came to the NWSL in 2016. While this might not be the season of her dreams, she has definitely made her case for being around in season five.

We asked her 10 questions about where she came from and where she is headed.

Backline Soccer (BS): What made you decide to go to Western Kentucky University?

Libby Stout (LS): I already had a decent knowledge of WKU because my older brother was attending the school. On a visit to see him, I asked to meet the soccer coach, Jason Neidell, and he showed me around the campus without knowing who I was. Not long after that he saw me play in a tournament and began recruiting me to Western. I wanted to play for a smaller, up-and-coming D1 program and that’s exactly what WKU was. It was honestly a perfect fit for me and I loved every minute of it.

BS: You set WKU career records for wins, shutouts, goals against average and save percentage, did you go into college aiming to break records or were you more of a game-to-game player who wasn’t looking at the records?

LS: I did not necessarily go into college aiming for records. However, my goal was to earn the starting spot from day one of my freshman year and that’s what I did. I think that mentality and the circumstances put me in a pretty good position to get some of those records. But I never could have achieved individual success without the collective effort of my team and the group of girls I played with throughout my four years. Those records are shared with each player I played next to.

BS: You’ve played professionally in Germany, France, England and now the US, how have the different leagues influenced your style as a goalkeeper?

LS: I have been unbelievably lucky to have experienced some amazing things through soccer. Each league taught me something new and different and helped develop me into a more well-rounded player and person. France stands out because it’s where my professional career started and I began to learn the business side of the sport. I also developed new techniques that I still use today that have made me quicker and more disciplined. Germany was a similar experience–learning different techniques–but England was my favorite. Liverpool was a great experience team-wise. We achieved real success there, winning the league and competing in the Champions League two years in a row. LFC was a really special club to be a member of and I’ll be a forever fan of the Reds.

BS: Why the NWSL and why Boston?

LS: After announcing his decision to leave Liverpool, Matt asked if I’d be interested in following him to Boston. After some deliberation, I decided I was ready to make my way back to the States. I’d always wanted the opportunity to play here, but the league was down the year I graduated from WKU, which lead me overseas. Needless to say I was really excited to come play for the Breakers in the NWSL, and despite a rough season results and injury-wise, I have genuinely enjoyed playing here and look forward to seasons to come.

BS: Coach Beard was your coach in England and in the US for Boston. How is playing under him in two different leagues?

LS: Matt is a fantastic coach and person in general. He’s the same guy! He has had to change a little bit of his personal soccer style to adapt to American soccer, but I think he has a great vision in mind. Every person I know who has played for Matt would do anything for the guy, and I really appreciate him putting his trust in me to bring me here to Boston.

BS: The season has been a bit of a roller-coaster for Boston this year. But there are some pretty big positives with different signings. Have the changes toward the later part of the season brought some excitement back to the locker room?

LS: Definitely. We’ve brought in some real talent through the last couple of months. I think the Olympic break came at a good time for us. We were able to regroup a little bit and focus on things we wanted to improve. We still have room for improvement, but with two games left I’m hoping we can stay consistent with the effort we put in during our last game against Western NY.

BS: The fan support in Boston this year has been really impressive. How is that support affecting the team as a whole and you personally?

LS: The fans in Boston are amazing! We’ve had great crowds every game and it’s just really great to see the support through the city. We always have loads of young girls and boys waiting for autographs and pictures at the end of games. I love the opportunity women’s soccer affords to young people because we are able to personally engage and for me that’s what it’s all about. I want to play professional soccer to help pave a way for girls growing up now and allow them to develop dreams to play in their future.

BS: How has your style of play had to change to adapt to the NWSL?

LS: My style hasn’t changed a whole lot really. One thing for sure though is that I tend to not have as many opportunities to play out from the back, which I would prefer. The league in general tends to press with a high line so I have to kick long goal kicks and punt more often than I would have done in Europe. But other than that it’s still all about keeping the ball out of the net!

BS: What do you look for in defenders? Do you like super-aggressive defenders or do you like when they play a little more conservatively?

LS: I really enjoy players who understand the game and can help communicate and organize, who have good positional awareness, and who aren’t afraid to get into a tackle. That’s pretty standard for any player on the field, but I like a defender to have a combination of both aggressive and conservative play. It’s important to use both of those characteristics when it’s appropriate. The trick is just discerning which one to exercise during a given situation, which comes through instinct and experience.

BS: Best attacking player you’ve played against in any league?

LS: I’ll say my most enjoyable opponent has been Lindsay Horan. I played against her in France and now in the NWSL. She’s a savvy and deceptive finisher and I enjoy the challenge that she imposes.

 

Five Questions with Ali Krieger

Posted on by RJ Allen

Editor’s note: This interview was conducted on 8/31. 

When living in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area – the DMV as we call it – it’s hard to talk about soccer without mentioning one particular name, Ali Krieger. It’s also hard to mention her name and not have whoever you are talking to smile, because that’s the kind of effect she has.

As hard-nosed and brash as she can be on the field, she is as kind and soft spoken off of it. She cares about her fans, her teammates and her sport. When you see pictures of her being the last player on the field signing autographs, that’s not for show, that’s just Ali being Ali.

For as popular and talented as she is, you could forgive her if she was cocky and a bit egotistical, but anyone who has had the pleasure of spending five minutes with her would tell you, that is the last thing that she is. I happen to be one of those people who have been lucky enough, on a few occasions, to speak with Ali.

Backline Soccer (BS): With the Spirit in 1st going into the playoffs this year, a little different than the last couple of seasons, how is that mindset and what do you think have been the changes that have put you in this position?

Ali Krieger (AK): I think we have a team this year that is all on the same page, we all respect each other and we really, really care about each other and get along so well. I think there’s constant support and everyone knows their role and gives it 100% everyday, not that there wasn’t in previous years. I think that there’s a certain communication and understanding that everyone is just here to work hard, to play well and be a good teammate and to want to win, most importantly. That’s the way that we’ve become so successful, I think that each game that we’re winning with that mindset, we’ve built confidence off of that. I think that that is the few keys and mainly the reason why we’ve been having success.

BS: As Captain and knowing how well the team was playing going into the break, did it make it easier to concentrate and be away, knowing the national team players didn’t have to be there, whereas other teams really needed their national team players?

AK: Absolutely, we have such depth within in this team and you couldn’t even tell we were away, at times I was thinking to myself, “do I even need to go back, I could just chill on the bench the whole time and cheer them on.” Not that I wanted to continue to do that.

In all seriousness, I love this team so much, we have such depth and great players with great attitudes who just want to work hard and get better and the willingness to learn and get better every single day has improved since day one. I think that just goes to show you that everybody who gets the opportunity to play and fill in those holes, we had 5 starters unavailable for the break, I think that players have been doing so well with just filling in and playing their role and possibly even doing it better than we were before. It makes it more difficult for us to join the team and come back in now, but that’s the way it should be, players should want to take that opportunity and run with it. I think that a lot of our teammates have done that and have done a great job. It’s a battle every single day and everyone has a fire underneath them and that’s the type of atmosphere you want at the professional level.

BS: With the growth of the NWSL into a 4th season, what changes have you seen making it possible for the 4th season and what could keep moving it forward?

AK: Obviously the addition of more teams has helped. The team in Orlando, which has been a tremendous addition because it’s so professional there, right from the start. Having the connection with the men’s team has helped them and they’ve only been in the league for 2 seasons. I think it was such a great addition and very professional and I think that that’s the way it’s going to be from now on. I think that is the key to automatically have a team that has a set up in some way.

Also, just really good support, having a great manager and a great owner who really loves women’s football, who really wants to see the game grow and the players happy. We have Bill Lynch and the Washington Spirit organization that has cared for women’s football for over 25 years. I remember, Bill, he always tells me that he used to watch me when I was so young, growing up and now I’m here playing for his club. That’s the way it should be, giving back to the women’s game. I think, in order for the NWSL to grow, we need owners like Bill and more support for the women’s game. But obviously, to have that professionalism that we have and some of the other teams that are connected with a men’s team. Obviously every team and owner that you see, in the NWSL now after 4 years, is all in and full go. I think that’s something that will help the NWSL to continue to grow as long as you have that support, I think it will continue to be successful like it has been.

I also think the more money we get into the league and the support from US Soccer, that needs to continue for it to be stabilized. It’s having great owners, good managers and staff that want to be here and want to see the women’s game grow and not because of the money, that’s just the idea you have to have coming into this.

BS: IF there was a NWSL All-Star game and you were the starting right back…

AK: Yes, I wish that was coming back, one of these days.

BS: Who would your other 4 of the back 5 be?

AK: Oh gosh, that’s a tough question. I would want all of MY teammates to be the back five, for sure, hands down. I love my teammates so much and I think that they’re some of the best players in the country. I think that I would love to just continue to crush with them, we’re so comfortable with each other, we’re doing really well. I don’t know how many goals against we have, not too many, it’s fewer than some other teams. I would love to just continue to play with my teammates. In all seriousness, to have an All-Star backline, I would have to sit and think about that and look at the other rosters. I’m just so focused on paying attention to what we have in our little bubble.

BS: In keeping with the Olympic Spirit, if you could take one athlete from any other sport and convert them from another sport and bring them to the Spirit, who would it be and what position?

AK: I think it would be either Allyson Felix or Simone Biles. That girl is so good she could probably do anything. If you put the pace of Allyson Felix with Simone Biles, if you mix the two I think you’d have an even more incredible athlete. I’d throw a jersey on her and put her up front with Crystal. I think her and Crystal could do the damn thing, wheeling and dealing.

Bill Lynch and the Washington Spirit Got It Wrong on Rapinoe

Posted on by RJ Allen

My great-uncle died during the Korean War. He was carrying bodies of the dead and wounded across a river and his boat was ambushed. His remains have never been found.

My grandfather went over to Korea to help with breaking down and bringing everyone home.

My uncle met my aunt because they were both Army.

My brother and my cousin each did two tours in Iraq.

Why do I mention this, why do I think it’s important that you know this before you continue reading?  Because this is the family I come from. A family that has bled and died for this country, for that flag, and for our rights.

I had a conversation about Colin Kaepernick and his feelings about his protesting with my brother, two-time Iraqi War Veteran and former Sergeant in the US Army. His answer was simple: he finds it disrespectful to the flag, but that it is also his right to do it.

You don’t have to like the way Kaepernick is protesting, you don’t have to like the fact that he is protesting, you don’t have to agree to a damn thing that he does, but you have no right to strip him of that right to protest.

Megan Rapinoe chose to kneel in solidarity with Kaepernick at last week’s game against Chicago and that is her right. She believes that what Kaepernick is doing is important and that this topic needs to be talked about. I agree.

Her team, the Seattle Reign, agreed as well. They issued a statement, one that was simple but effective. They did not necessarily agree with her stance or choice, but they agreed with her being able to do it. That makes one team that got it right.

The Washington Spirit, however, got it very wrong tonight.

The Spirit released a statement, about 15 minutes or less before kickoff, stating that they were playing the National Anthem early. While the players were still in their locker rooms. They stated that they would not allow Rapinoe to “hijack” this tradition. That they would not subject their fans to such a disrespectful act. That the organization is veteran-owned and thus it was unacceptable to play the National Anthem when there was a chance players might protest, especially on such an important night for their franchise.

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Here is my problem with such a statement.

  1. Could you be more selfish regarding it an important night for your franchise that you would take away from issues of this country? I’m betting not.
  2. Rapinoe did not hijack anything. She didn’t put a gun to anyone’s head, she didn’t hold you against your will, all she was going to do was kneel.
  3. Instead of subjecting your fans to someone harmlessly expressing protest, you subjected them to what you feel is appropriate and deem acceptable behavior. It’s their choice to be offended or not, not yours to decide for them.
  4. I have veterans in my life, as I stated above, while they do not always agree with someone protesting in such a way, they would never dream of doing something like this.

What you did here, you denied someone their rights because it didn’t match your feelings or views. You did the most un-American, unpatriotic, unacceptable thing. You don’t have to agree with me, but my brother? The two-time Iraqi War Vet and former Sergeant in the US Army, one of those veterans you were trying to ‘protect?’  He agrees with me.

What you did was wrong, Bill Lynch, plain wrong.

I love this team, I love this game, and I love my country. I have been let down and disappointed by all three many times, but this, this moment, this hurts. I cannot find the proper words to describe the anger and hurt and disbelief that this actually happened. I am beyond disappointed, disgusted, and appalled at this action.

These players, this city, this team, the fans, and this league deserve better than that. You have no idea how much that hurts to say. This has been one of the best organizations in women’s soccer in America. They have been around since the WUSA and have had such a great reputation and professionalism about them. The fact that this happened with this team, it’s crushing, truly crushing.

What’s done is done. You just tainted your own ‘important night’ and did the thing you were most hoping to prevent. You took the focus off of the game and put it on your mission, now you made sure that this gets talked about.

No one will remember this night for the Spirit securing their first-ever home semifinal, they will remember it for the fact that you denied this woman the right to express her freedom of speech and played the National Anthem early.

Well done.

Around the World of WoSo

Posted on by RJ Allen

This week we have plenty of upsets to catch up on as well as some shocking news from a former a USWNT member concerning her health.

Kealia Ohai can’t be stopped:

Houston are finally playing like we thought they could way back in April at the start of the 2016 NWSL season; more specifically Ohai is simply playing out of her mind. On Saturday night she added two more goals to help her Dash beat the Orlando Pride in a thrilling 4-2 outing. Ohai has scored nine goals in the last seven games to keep her team alive at seventh place and still searching for a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Orlando lost its fifth consecutive game, and is officially eliminated from the playoffs. With Ohai in the lead for the Golden Boot, her play has certainly caught the attention of many fans, but has USWNT coach Jill Ellis been paying attention? I hope so because with her play, she has shown she is ready for another USWNT call-up. The home crowd for Houston was an impressive 6,819 strong and I would think that helped to give the Dash the extra motivation needed.

Washington first to clinch playoff spot:

The Spirit has officially made the playoffs for the third consecutive year after a 1-1 draw with WNY on Saturday night.  In front of a nice crowd of 4,527 at the Plex, the Spirit has performed well at home, grabbing their sixth win to tie WNY for league best. Washington has very consistent this season, and winning the Shield could be next for them, sitting on 36 points while Portland is in second with 29 points. Everything seems to be clicking for Jim Gabarra’s team, so could this finally be the year for a championship title? It certainly is possible the way they are performing.

Lauren Holiday to have brain surgery:

Earlier this week Lauren Holiday’s family announced that a benign tumor was found and will require surgery. The Holidays have known about it since late June. The former USWNT and NWSL (FCKC) star is a month away from giving birth to her first child, but the operation regarding the tumor will have to wait until 6 weeks after the baby is born. Holiday retired last year after the World Cup at the age of 27. A two-time Olympic champion and World Cup champion, Holiday is adored by fans all over the world. I’m sending positive energy and thoughts to the Holiday family as they go through this tough time.

FSU upset by South Alabama:

The number one ranked team Florida State has fallen to unranked South Alabama on Monday night. In their first loss of the year, FSU had a fair amount of chances. None more than Sophomore Megan Connolly who had several chances in the first half alone, but couldn’t find a breakthrough. Although the Seminoles had better possession, South Alabama managed to counter and in the 25th minute forward Charde Hannah found the winning goal. The goal was the first goal allowed by FSU this season, after shutting out its previous three opponents by a combined score of seven to nothing. The Jaguars did a solid job defensively in the second half, putting all 11 players behind the ball to secure the victory. FSU looks to rebound at home against UConn on Thursday. South Alabama should be confident as they face Austin Peay on Friday.

UCLA beat defending champs Penn State:

The Bruins are ranked 11th while the Lions are ranked 13th, but since Penn State are the defending champions, I would still consider this an upset. UCLA are quickly becoming one of my favorite teams to watch. Led by a couple of exciting in freshman Jessie Fleming and Teagan Micah, the Bruins have three wins and one loss to start the year. Fleming has now scored three goals in two games for the Bruins since arriving on campus from Rio, where she helped Canada win the Bronze medal. In goal, UCLA have Micah, who made six saves en route to her third shutout of the year. In a back-and-forth match that needed two overtimes, UCLA finally found the right combination. In the 99th minute, Fleming got on the end of a MacKenzie Cerda cross and headed home the game winner. For me, this was a statement win for the Bruins. The schedule doesn’t get any easier as they host seventh ranked North Carolina on Friday. Penn State faces San Diego State on Friday also.

Clemson fall to South Carolina:

Heading into this match, the Clemson Tigers were ranked sixth while South Carolina was sitting at 22nd. Savannah McCaskill scored two goals late in the first half to lead her Gamecocks to their fourth win on the season. South Carolina played a fast and energetic first half, so by halftime Clemson looked a little tired and a bit shocked. A slow start didn’t derail the Tigers for long, pulling one back in the 79th minute thanks to a 30 yard rocket by Sophomore Sam Staab. It was too little too late and Clemson fell to 3-2 on the season and slip in the rankings as well, dropping to 14th. Clemson play High Point on Friday and South Carolina take the field against Georgia on Friday as well.

Rapinoe Kneels Amid Violent Weekend in Chicago

Posted on by RJ Allen

A special moment took place in Chicago this weekend, before an intense match between the Chicago Red Stars and the Seattle Reign, both fighting for playoff positions.

Although not in the starting lineup and on the pitch for the national anthem, Seattle Reign’s Megan Rapinoe took a knee as the rest of the Seattle bench stood. It was a small moment that could’ve been missed, but thankfully, fan cameras caught the brief gesture.

Rapinoe takes a knee | Photo Credit : Twitter @gbpackfan32
Rapinoe takes a knee | Photo Credit : Twitter @gbpackfan32

Last month, Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem during an NFL pre-season game, citing oppression of black people in the US as his motivation. This justification for sitting when it is traditional to stand has put him in the hot seat of a country fraught with issues of race and violence. Rapinoe demonstrated her support for Kaepernick during the Sunday evening NWSL match against Chicago Red Stars, choosing to kneel on the sideline during the national anthem. Though the action was initially ambiguous Rapinoe, subbed on in the 69th minute for the Reign, clarified the intent behind her anthem kneel during her post-game comments.

“It was very intentional,” Rapinoe said. “It was a little nod to Kaepernick and everything that he’s standing for right now. I think it’s actually pretty disgusting the way he was treated and the way that a lot of the media has covered it and made it about something that it absolutely isn’t. We need to have a more thoughtful, two-sided conversation about race relations in this country.”

Rapinoe elaborated on feeling sympathy in Kaepernick’s struggle, “Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties. It was something small that I could do and something that I plan to keep doing in the future and hopefully spark some meaningful conversation around it. It’s important to have white people stand in support of people of color on this. We don’t need to be the leading voice, of course, but standing in support of them is something that’s really powerful.”

RAPINOE’S ROOTS IN CHICAGO RUN DEEP

Rapinoe’s professional soccer career began in Chicago in 2009, when she played for the Chicago Red Stars for two seasons in the WPS. She remains fond of the city, remarking “I love Chicago. It’s very nostalgic coming back, especially to this stadium where I started my career. I have nothing but great memories here. I love the city […] it’s a beautiful city, it has such an incredible energy in the summer, so I always love coming back.”

While on the Red Stars, Rapinoe’s performance caught the attention of fans, who appreciated the midfielder’s aggressive play. She had a knack for the ball, and wasn’t afraid to try a bicycle kick on goal in the middle of the inaugural game. Since her time in Chicago, Rapinoe’s career has taken her around the world, including a stint in France with Olympique Lyonnais, and with her on the roster, the US Women’s National Team has won an Olympic Gold medal (London, 2012) and their third World Cup (Canada, 2015).

It is fitting that Rapinoe made her stand during a game in Chicago on Labor Day weekend. A city with a long, vibrant, history, Chicago is home to many impoverished neighborhoods and a high incidence of gun violence. And despite all its diversity, Chicago is still one the most racially segregated cities in the United States. Historically, Labor Day weekend is one of the city’s most violent, Memorial Day weekend is another, and this particular holiday weekend was no different. By the time Megan Rapinoe took a knee in Toyota Park Sunday evening, there was 1 dead and 20 wounded throughout the city from gun violence.

By the time this article is published, those numbers have risen. 6 dead and 31 wounded throughout the city.

April 2009, when Rapinoe and the Red Stars had their inaugural home opener in April of 2009, marked one year since I had lost a high school friend of mine to gun violence. It’s just one of many issues Black and Hispanic communities deal with on a daily basis throughout the city. So when Rapinoe took a knee during a game in Chicago, in time when both media and the public have taken such an issue with Kaepernick doing the same, it stung a bit. Damn, where was that love when you were here, Rapinoe? It would have meant everything to this young fan at the time.

STATEMENTS AND SOLIDARITY

Rapinoe has definitely been more vocal on various social issues over the last few years. Whether it has been advocating for LGBT rights, the United States Women’s National team fight for equal pay, Rapinoe has been loud about her support.  But when she knelt down in Chicago, it wasn’t a brave, bold, new statement from a social conscious athlete. It was the mirror image of a statement that has been made countless times by black men and women and other minorities throughout generations.

The video above displays an iconic Olympic moment. Three men sharing a podium, two black Olympians expressing themselves, and the other, a white Olympian simply standing in solidarity with them wearing the same button they are. When Tommie Smith and John Carlos made their statement, they returned to the United States as villains. Peter Norman, kind of gets forgotten. However, his solidarity should not.

We all coexist in a culture that promotes our athletes as role models. Yet sometimes when they speak on issues we don’t agree with, they get torn apart. Kaepernick is currently experiencing that. Whether in the media or by a general audience, criticisms seem particularly harsher when that athlete is black or if that athlete is female. When Rapinoe took her knee, she received praise and criticism as well.

So why now? Why not when she played for a city that is notoriously segregated and whose summers she claims to love? Those same summers are all too often plagued with unrelenting gun violence, after all. Maybe one can argue that her platform in 2016 is much bigger than it was back then in 2009. That maybe she wasn’t as informed on those issues. Although if you’re from, in, or around Chicago, it’s hard to ignore those headlines.

It’s been hard to ignore Kaepernick’s headlines as well. He is speaking out on issues that make people uncomfortable. He is in a moment that is bigger than himself and he seems to understand that, saying that he understands the potential consequences of speaking out. He has chosen to make a statement despite potentially losing everything he worked for. And while the criticism remains, his public support has grown. His jersey sales have sky rocketed.

Only time will tell if this moment will affect Rapinoe’s status as a public athlete. We will see what type of praise and criticisms she will receive, if this moment will spike sales for her jerseys or her clothing brand, as Kaepernick’s has. More importantly, we will see if she will continue her support in the long term, as she’s said she intends to do so. And, as someone who has followed Rapinoe’s career since 2009, it is my hope that she continues being outspoken on these issues.

She made a statement on Sunday, but I hope it doesn’t end there.

If we want things better in the future we must remember Chicago. And Detroit. And Compton. And Baltimore. And Ferguson. Countless other cities.

Be your best you. Continue to show your solidarity. Don’t stop recognizing your privilege. Don’t stop acknowledging your own struggle. Don’t stop forcing a conversation to be had. Don’t stop calling out other white people and when you do, tell them to listen instead of speak. Don’t fade away.

Don’t stop taking a knee.

A Brief Look at Attendance Trends in the NWSL and MLS

Posted on by RJ Allen

In their fourth season, the NWSL has managed to do something that the MLS was not able to do in their first four years: find growth in attendance. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at attendance between NWSL teams that share cities with MLS teams and see if those numbers might mean anything for the future of the league.

 

Breaking Down Attendance

 

new Figure 1 NWSLKey NWSL

New Figure 2 NWSL

Overall, the NWSL is struggling to match the numbers of MLS teams in the same cities. They’re only averaging 1/4th of what the MLS is averaging. Plus, the MLS teams reached 50% stadium capacity by their 4th year and 64% by 2016, while the women’s league is only at 27%. However, the NWSL is experiencing a greater amount of growth than the MLS experienced in their first 4 years. As you can see in Figure 2, the MLS teams who are either partnered with an NWSL team or in the same city as an NWSL team have only had, on average, a 6.4% increase in attendance from their inaugural season into their 4th year (the MLS as a whole saw a 20% decrease in attendance overall). While, the NWSL has seen a 30% overall increase in attendance. Even though the literal number of people attending the games isn’t as high as the men’s league, the fact that the attendance increase has been so high over the past four years should say a great deal about the overall future of the league.

new Figure 3 NWSL

Figure 4 NWSL

 

*For Figures 3 and 4, the “MLS Same Year” category corresponds to what year 2016 was for that specific NWSL team. Ex: 2016 was the Houston Dash’s 3rd season, so the “MLS Same Year” percentage is based on the Houston Dynamo’s 3rd season.

The three teams who lead the league in overall attendance in 2016 (Portland, Orlando, and Houston) are the same three teams who are partnered with an MLS team, suggesting that partnering with an MLS team provides the resources and brand recognition that leads to more ticket sales. You can even see in Figure 4, that the percentage of attendance compared to the MLS is significantly higher in partnered cities than in non-partnered cities. This is further evidence that a direct partnership is beneficial to an NWSL team. Though, it will be interesting to see if these numbers will hold for Orlando given they are only one season old.

Another interesting result to point out is stadium capacity. As of right now, 6 of the 10 teams are averaging above 70% capacity per game, although the average capacity of the NWSL is at 34%. This is obviously due to some teams playing in much larger stadiums than others. We do need to keep in mind that the smallest MLS stadium holds 18,000, while most NWSL stadiums hold between 3,500-6,000 people. In terms of potential for growth, I would hope that in the future a few of those six teams would look for larger stadiums to call home since they are doing a decent job of filling the space they have currently.

 

Breaking Down Each Team

 

1. Portland Thorns

Population: 609,456

Stadium Capacity: 22,000

MLS Team: Portland Timbers (Partnered)

Portland is the gold standard for an NWSL team, but they should essentially be ruled as an outlier for all statistics surrounding the league. They are tripling the average attendance for the league at every home game. They are also the only team in the NWSL that can come close to rivaling their MLS team in attendance. Portland is an all-around amazing soccer city. This could be due to the success of University of Portland soccer program and a lack of NFL and MLB teams. Whatever the case may be, just keep up the good work, Portland.

 

2. Orlando Pride

Population: 255,483

Stadium Capacity: 61,348*

MLS Team: Orlando City (Partnered)

The Orlando Pride currently has the 2nd highest attendance in the league. Although the home opener (which was 23,403) is definitely an outlier, their last three home games have been 7052, 7247, and 5842, which is still higher than the NWSL average. Both the Pride and City are doing a fantastic job at keeping their attendance high, but it is difficult to gauge whether or not they will sustain these averages since they are both less than two years old. Due to the size of their current stadium, their stadium capacity percentage is pretty low. Of course, this will change as of next year when their new 25,500 capacity stadium is built. Hopefully, this will make the atmosphere of the women’s games more exciting to attend and will drive the men’s team to sell out every home game.

*the team’s Wikipedia page says the capacity for Camping World Stadium is both 60,219 and 61,348, but upon Googling the capacity it says 70,000, so I stuck with the middle number.

 

3. Houston Dash

Population: 2,196,000

Stadium Capacity: 7,000 (Expandable)

MLS Team: Houston Dynamo (Partnered)

Another example of the benefits of partnering with an MLS team is the Houston Dash. Since their inception, the Dash have never made the playoffs and have only been ranked in the top 3 twice out of 56 weeks. In short, their team is not the best, and yet people are still showing up to games. Their total growth since their expansion has been positive. They have experienced a small decline in attendance from 2015-2016, but the Houston Dynamo have actually been experiencing a decline in attendance for the last four years. This suggests that there is a larger problem happening in Houston and that the Dash are actually doing pretty well.

 

4. Seattle Reign

Population: 652,405

Stadium Capacity: 6,000 (Expandable)

MLS Team: Seattle Sounders (Not Partnered)

Seattle has the highest attendance among teams that are not partnered with an MLS team. They have experienced excellent growth since their first year (92%), but their year-to-year growth is decreasing in rate. When you look at the attendance of the Reign compared to the Sounders, you see a huge a problem. The Reign’s average attendance in 2016 is 4,427, while the Sounders are at a staggering 42,203. This is the largest gap of any NWSL team. This could be due to any number of issues, such as the quality of their stadium or lack of support and resources for the marketing and sales team to find the untapped market of soccer fans. Overall, it is clear that Seattle has a city full of people who love soccer; yet it is not being translated over to the Reign.

 

5. Boston Breakers

Population: 645,996

Stadium Capacity: 4,500

MLS Team: New England Revolution (Not Partnered)

Boston has had an overall above average growth, and more importantly, a growth that has been increasing in average every year. The Breakers also have one of the highest stadium capacity percentages in the NWSL. This is promising, especially because in the New England Revolution’s fourth year, they experienced a 13.5% loss in attendance. Can you imagine how great Boston would be doing in attendance if they had a winning season? One can dream.

 

6. Washington Spirit

Population: 90,676*

Stadium Capacity: 4,000

MLS Team: DC United (Not Partnered)

The Washington Spirit have had virtually no growth (4%) since their first season, yet they have the highest stadium capacity percentage at 95%. The clear issue here is that Washington is definitely one of the teams that needs to look at a larger stadium. With that being said, when comparing attendance trends of DC United and the Spirit, these were the only two teams that became a bit of a stretch to compare. Their stadiums are so far apart, you could almost argue that the Spirit are not even in a city with an MLS team. Regardless, it is still clear that the Spirit’s potential for growth is primarily dependent upon moving to a higher-capacity stadium.

*reflects the population of Germantown, Maryland: the home of their stadium.

 

7. Western New York Flash

Population: 210,358

Stadium Capacity: 13,768

MLS Team: None

The Flash are one of only two teams to experience an overall drop in attendance since their first year. This suggests a large problem. In 2013, their average attendance was 4,485. In the World Cup year of 2015, that number had dropped to 2,860. The drop could be correlated to losing players like Carli Lloyd and Abby Wambach, but big-name players have left other NWSL teams before, and the attendance for those teams has not fallen by almost 37%. With that being said, the Flash have grown from 2015 to 2016 by 25%, meaning they could be back on the right track for future growth.

 

8. FC Kansas City

Population: 467,007

Stadium Capacity: 4,626

MLS Team: Sporting Kansas City (Not Partnered)

While FC Kansas City is the only other team besides the Flash to show a decline in attendance overtime, it’s tough to actually read into year over year fluctuations because they have changed stadiums multiple times. A positive for FCKC is that if you take out their first year, their attendance is showing an overall growth. They are the highest team overall for stadium capacity (99%), which suggests they are another team who would benefit from playing at a larger field. FCKC is also the closest NWSL team to “Same City MLS” attendance in Year 4 (besides Portland) at 43%. These are all positive signs that Kansas City could climb the attendance charts in the future.

 

9. Chicago Red Stars

Population: 2,719,000

Stadium Capacity: 30,000

MLS Team: Chicago Fire (Not Partnered)

Chicago has had the second largest year-to-year growth at 74% but has the second-lowest attendance in the entire league. The Red Stars are currently in the largest city of any NWSL team. There are nearly 3 million people in the city of Chicago. They play in the same stadium as the Chicago Fire, who are averaging 15,000 per game. This is an issue. It’s an even larger issue because the NWSL headquarters are also located in the windy city. What is happening in Chicago? It’s possible that they’re in a city oversaturated by other huge sports markets (the Bulls, the Bears, the Cubs, the Blackhawks, etc.). This would suggest that population theory alone is not enough to sustain a pro women’s soccer team. But, it also makes you question the team of individuals working to promote the Red Stars. Chicago, you’ve got some work to do.

 

10. Sky Blue FC

Population: 55,831

Stadium Capacity: 5,000

MLS Team: None

Last but not least, Sky Blue comes in at the bottom of the list with an average attendance of 1,811 in 2016. One clear issue: they are located in the smallest town of all the NWSL teams, which suggests the obvious, they have less people in their market. Another issue: they are currently sharing a field with Rutgers, so why aren’t they drawing more of a college crowd? Many people have criticized Sky Blue in the past of only focusing their marketing on youth, rather than a more diverse fanbase. These could be factors in determining why their attendance is so low. In my opinion (and it’s not an original one), Sky Blue should consider relocating to a reasonable sized market where they can access the resources to bring in a larger fanbase.

 

 

All this to say, there is a great deal of work that still needs to be done within certain teams. However, the NWSL has had growth that suggests a sustainable future. 

What Could Have Been: The 2016 NWSL All-Star Game That Wasn’t

Posted on by RJ Allen

All-Star games are a part of most major sports. A way to see the best of the best in that league square off against each other on two super teams.

Some leagues, like Major League Baseball, put some importance on the game by using it to award home field advantage in the World Series. Some leagues, like the National Football League, use it to give their players a vacation to Hawaii each year. Now, I’m not saying that a hypothetical NWSL All-Star Game should be used for either of those purposes, but with the proper attention given, it could make a great televised promotion (just an idea for next season). However, with no actual all-star game taking place, I am forced to imagine one for myself.

For the purposes of making two all-star teams, I’ve decided to split the NWSL into “East” and “West.” And while I use “West” loosely, there are few better ways to get two groups of 5 teams that make sense.

East Teams: Western New York, Boston, Sky Blue, Washington, Orlando

West Teams: Chicago, FC Kansas City, Houston, Portland, Seattle

There are may ways to pick two all-star teams from these two groups. But before teams can be picked there must be coaches. The simplest way I’ve found is to use the coaches from the top-ranked teams in each of the two “conferences” created for the all-star game. The number-one ranked Washington Spirit’s Head Coach Jim Gabarra would coach the East, while number-two Portland Thorns’ coach Mark Parsons would coach the West.

Once you have the “conferences” and the coaches, it’s time to create the rules. I’ve gone with a set that limits the number USWNT and international players to try to give a platform to players who have been outstanding in the NWSL.

1) There will be 18 players on each team: 2 goalkeepers and 16 field players.

2) Each of the 10 teams must have at least 1 player represented.

3) No team may have more than 4 players represented.

4) No team may have more than three current USWNT players.

4a) A current USWNT player is one who was named to the 18 person Olympic roster.

5) No team may have more than three current international national team players.

5a) A current international national team player is one who was named to the 18 person Olympic roster for their country.

5b) If a player plays for a national team that did not make the Olympics they do not take up an international spot

6) The NWSL will be broken up into “East” and “West” conferences, from which the all-star teams will be formed.

6a) East Teams: Western New York, Boston, Sky Blue, Washington, Orlando

6b) West Teams: Chicago, FCKC, Houston, Portland, Seattle

7) The game shall be 90 minutes with two 45 minute halves.

7a) If the game is tied after 90 there will be 30 minutes of extra time split in to two 15-minute halves.

7b) If the game is still tied after both halves of extra time, the game will go to penalty kicks.

8) There can be up to 7 substitutions.

The only rule that might be unexpected is the 7 substitutes rule. That is simply a functional way to let each of the 18 all stars on each team play if the coach wishes. Though the coach can decide not to play a player if they wish.

Now that pesky things like rules and coaching are out of the way, we can move on to the team rosters. There are many ways to pick the team: fan voting, appoint two captains and let them pick, have the coaches pick, some combo of either, etc. But since I have to power to pick the rosters, I’m going to create two teams that I most want to see play in the context of the rules I set out. (If you don’t like my picks, make your own all-star teams.)

The way I set it up, only 6 out of 18 players can be USWNT or international Olympians. Leaving two thirds of the NWSL all-star team to be NWSL players. While players like Heather O’Reilly are classified as NWSL players, not USWNT players because she didn’t make the 18, I think it’s fair to say over the last 8 months most of the minutes she has played are in fact NWSL minutes anyway. And players like Jess Fishlock, a Welsh international, are excluded because Wales was not qualified for the Olympics. It is a bit of a grey area but no system is perfect.

 

A few notes before I unveil my list:

I tried to take NWSL into account first and foremost. A lot of big names aren’t listed because of it. You don’t find Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, or Meghan Klingenberg on this list, partly because of the limits I placed on USWNT players and partly because I don’t find their NWSL play to be worthy of an all-star team nomination.

I fully admit that bias played a part in my picks. No matter how much I try to make this list as fair as possible, there are players who have gotten into the 18 of both teams that might not have if someone else were doing the picking. That’s just the nature of watching a lot of soccer and knowing who I enjoy. I make no apologies about it.

The limits I put on USWNT and international Olympians likely wouldn’t be there to this limit if the NWSL was doing the rule making. They want—maybe even need—Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, and other big names to draw fans. I don’t need their names to put butts in seats we don’t have.

 

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Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments who I got wrong and who I got right. If you want, give me your 36 NWSL all stars.

Who would win? East or West?

Around the World of WoSo

Posted on by RJ Allen

Plenty of good and not so good things happened this week in the world of women’s soccer. Here’s my weekly roundup for you.

Kelley O’Hara Taken Down From Behind:

The tackle heard around the National Women’s Soccer League on Saturday night was on Sky Blue and USWNT member Kelley O’Hara. This was her first game back from Rio. The challenge came in the 91st minute from an unlikely source in Chicago Red Stars midfielder Alyssa Mautz. The tackle came from behind, which usually does not end well. This was an uncharacteristic foul by Mautz, who I’ve seen play in person. I’ve watched countless footage from her A&M days and in the NWSL, and I’ve never seen her make that kind of reckless challenge. I am in no way excusing her decision to make that tackle, as it was a terrible mistake and one that was strange because of the circumstances (Chicago was leading by three goals, clearly about to win). After leaving the stadium in a boot and on crutches, O’Hara seems to be in good spirits, taking to Twitter to update her status:

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Ada Hegerberg Named Best Player in Europe:

If she didn’t have it before, this 21 year-old from Norway certainly has everyone’s attention now, after beating out French star Amandine Henry (PSG/Portland Thorns FC) and Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsan (FFC Frankfurt/Olympique Lyonnais) to be named UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe for 2015/2016. This is the first time that a German player hasn’t won (the last three winners include Celia Sasic, Nadine Kessler and Nadine Angerer). Hegerberg has scored an impressive 28 times in just 50 appearances for her national team since being called up in 2011—a feat exciting to see from someone so young. She plays her club ball at Olympique Lyonnais in France (D1 Feminine) and has made 43 appearances since 2014, scoring 59 goals along the way. She is proving to be a special player. Hopefully we will see more of the same from her in the future.

Duke Falls to Arkansas in NCAA upset:

When the number two ranked team in the country traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas last Friday, I was sure they would come away with a convincing win, but I was wrong. Not only did Duke lose, they only managed three shots on goal and gave Arkansas their first win in program history over a top 10 ranked opponent. Credit of course to the Razorbacks for using home atmosphere to their full advantage, playing a very impressive match in front of a record crowd of 3,010. With the disappointing loss this early in the season, Duke has two wins and, looking ahead on the schedule, it doesn’t get any easier as the Blue Devils face North Carolina and West Virginia in the next two weeks (also top 10 teams). The good news for Duke is that it’s early in the season; they have time to improve and learn from mistakes to get where they need to be. For me, this is the biggest upset in Women’s Division I so far. What will it do for Arkansas and Duke moving forward? What kind of effect will this game have on the rest of the season? In the long run, it’s a massive confidence booster for Arkansas, proving they can seriously compete with any team. Duke will need to forget this game and get back to the quality soccer we are used to seeing. Definitely worth keeping an eye on these two teams.

Seattle Show Signs of Life:

The Seattle Reign faced the Portland Thorns this weekend, and they came away with a 3-1 win to end the Cascadia Rivalry with one win apiece. Before the match, the Reign were in sixth place in the NWSL standings and seven points out of playoff contention. With these three points, they move to fifth (helped by a Sky Blue loss) and are still mathematically in the hunt for that fourth spot. Dutch playmaker Manon Melis scored two goals, and Megan Rapinoe added a third to ensure a victory for Seattle. Melis now is the Reign’s leading goal scorer, with five on the year. The way they played, the spirit they showed, and the style in which they won reminded me of the Reign from last year’s regular season. With Jess Fishlock (looking refreshed), Bev Yanez, and the returning Kawasumi Naho all grabbing assists, the Reign looked very comfortable going forward. Haley Kopmeyer stood tall in goal for Seattle and (in the absence of Hope Solo) made six saves, while keeping her back line organized enough to grab three crucial points. It’s no secret the assertion of Naho into the lineup certainly has had a positive effect on the team. For Seattle fans, it feels like they are finally coming together. But with four games left, is it too late? Playing in front of 5,888 at home seemed to give the Reign that energy and spark needed to win. I’m not counting out Harvey’s team just yet.

Marta and Schelin lead FC Rosengard to Swedish Cup Victory:

Less than week after the Olympics ended, many players were back with respective clubs, including five-time Ballon d’Or winner Marta and Olympic silver medalist Lotta Schelin. Both play for FC Rosengard in the top Swedish league, the Damallsvenkan. FCR are known for bringing in top players from all over the world; in the past they have fielded the likes of Ramona Bachman (SUI), Nilla Fischer (SWE), Formiga (BRA), Ana Mittag (GER), and Manon Melis (NLD). The rich history is understandably quite the draw for many players. The Svenska Cupen final against Linkoping FC had many recognizable players on display for Rosengard: Marta, Schelin, Emma Berglund (captain), Ali Riley, Ella Masar, and Lieke Martens. For Linkoping, one standout player is Stina Blackstenius, who many should remember played a superb tournament for Sweden in the recent Olympics. She scored the only goal for Linkoping but just didn’t have enough star power to find the win. As for Rosengard, they put on a dominant 3-1 performance, with goals from Marta, Schelin, and Martens to earn the victory.  This was the club’s third Svenska Cupen in program history, and with that kind of roster, one of its most impressive, surely.

Dunn Hasn’t Been Crystal Clear For Washington:

Last year’s NWSL MVP has yet to score a single goal in 2016. Yes, you read that correctly. Crystal Dunn had a breakout year in 2015, scoring 15 goals in 20 appearances. Last season she took 84 shots and 48 were on frame, yet this season, in 10 games Dunn has managed 23 shots; only seven have been on goal. Dunn hasn’t scored yet, but she has tallied four assists on the year. One explanation could be that teams have figured out how to frustrate her. With her speed, that is a difficult task, but players all across the league have shown the ability to contain her. Dunn has done tremendous work in games this season—her effort is next to none; she’s just contributing in a different way this year. It’s clear the Spirit, as a whole, have done a better job spreading the ball around, as 10 different players have scored this season, as opposed to seven players last season. Washington are sitting pretty in first place and have earned 35 points. They have more than proven that Dunn doesn’t need to do all the heavy lifting for them to have success.  If you would’ve told me at the beginning of this year that the reigning MVP wouldn’t have a goal to her name with four games left, I would’ve laughed and said that’s crazy. Turns out Dunn and Washington are the ones laughing all the way to the playoffs.