Category: Opinion

Around the World of WoSo: W-League Finals; Trio of Canadians Retire

Posted on by RJ Allen

Perth Glory Takes Care of Business:

All season Perth has been entertaining to watch but they didn’t hold back one bit, putting five past Sydney FC this weekend to advance to the Finals.  Even though Sydney scored first thanks to Kyah Simon, Perth controlled the rest of the game after that. Big time players were making big time plays, including American Vanessa DiBernardo who scored the opening goal on a penalty kick in the 28th minute.

The first half ended in a draw but Perth was out for Glory in the second. DiBernardo was at it again; this time her deflected cross found the back of the net for the lead in the 58th minute. Sydney was having trouble containing DiBernardo and she was running free and managed to complete her hat-trick in the 77th minute. It was a wonderful display of power and precision all afternoon to guide her team to a win. Two more goals were scored by Rosie Sutton and Shawn Billam in the last 15 minutes of play.

Sydney was clearly no match for DiBernardo and company, who will meet Melbourne City in the Grand Final on Sunday in Perth.

Melbourne City Back in Final:

A solid Melbourne defense against a terrific attack in Canberra United – that’s what was in store for fans who were tuned in to watch the second W-League semifinal on Sunday. It was a similar scene for both teams, who competed in last years’ semifinals, with City moving on while Canberra lost to Sydney. Now Melbourne is in the finals for the second time in as many seasons.

It was a match that needed extra time; City got a goal in the 107th minute from the tiny dragon herself, Jess Fishlock. A poor clearance off a corner gave her the golden opportunity and she didn’t waste it – driving it home for the game-winner. Melbourne managed to hold off golden boot winner Ashleigh Sykes and that powerful offense for 122 minutes. It was an impressive feat considering Canberra were held scoreless just one time in the last 12 games by Sydney Wanderers in week 11.

 

NWSL Historic TV deal:

The National Womens Soccer League has reached new heights in 2017. A new deal has been agreed to, but not just any deal; a historic TV one. This is the first multi-year deal for the league, with NWSL partnering with A+E for three years. Other details include creating NWSL Media – which will be a league app for streaming, and a re-designed website with A+E managing all digital assets.

This is a massive upgrade for everyone involved and an encouraging partnership with A+E/Lifetime, who reach 81% of homes in America. There will be a game of the week every Saturday afternoon on Lifetime, as well as playoffs and the championship. That’s 22 games on TV, and for everyone that spent the last 4 years watching their favorite teams on an unreliable YouTube Stream, this is certainly exciting.

Canada (Finally) Celebrates Olympic Bronze:

Back in the summer of 2016, Canada beat Brazil to claim a Bronze medal, becoming the first Canadian summer Olympic team to go back-to-back in over a century. To celebrate they played a friendly against Mexico this past weekend at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada. With 22,508 fans in attendance, both teams put on a show.

Canada struck first in 14th minute when Deanne Rose had the confidence to go at the backline of Mexico, eventually finishing with her left. But just two minutes later Mexico were level, thanks to a neat strike from Nancy Antonio. Young talent Janine Beckie scored the final two goals for Canada just before halftime, giving them a two-goal lead. Mexico would fight back and add another goal in the 59th minute when Kaitlyn Johnson found herself wide open on the back post to tuck it in. That would be all the goals needed to finish this one as Canada gave the fans plenty more to cheer about on the day.

It was a game that was much overdue but I’m glad the players got the chance to celebrate with the fans.

Canadian Trio Retire:

Three players who have helped shape the Canadian program into a top 10 team have announced their International retirements and were honored this past weekend. For more than a decade, Rhian Wilkinson, Melissa Tancredi, and Marie-Eve Nault were tremendous players for Canada, playing in a combined 375 games at the senior level.

Wilkinson played in 180 games, (first appearing in 2003) scoring seven goals as a strong defender. She played in three Pan American games (2003, 2007, 2011), and two Olympic games in 2012 and 2016; capturing Bronze in both.

Melissa Tancredi was known for her physical play and she gave her all in every one of her 124 appearances for her country. She debuted in 2004 against Jamaica during Olympic Qualifying. She was a constant threat up top, scoring 27 goals in her career for Canada. Tancredi played in the Pan American games in 2007 and was part of the 2012/2016 that won Olympic Bronze.

Marie-Eve Nault first appeared in January of 2004 and was a steady defender for Canada. She earned 71 caps and played in some of the biggest games in Canadian history, including the Four Nations Tournament (2004), the 2011 FIFA Womens World Cup, and the 2012 Olympics (Bronze).

Jakobsson Tears ACL:

Sofia Jakobsson suffered one of the worst injuries in sports, tearing her left Anterior Cruciate Ligament – simply referred to as the ACL. The Swedish forward who currently plays for Montpellier in the French Division 1 Feminine was at a training session during the injury on Feb. 1. The 26-year-old has appeared in 61 games for Sweden, scoring 11 goals in that span.

Jakobsson debuted for Sweden in 2011, appearing in the World Cup that summer. She also played in the 2012 London Olympic Games, UEFA Womens EURO in 2013, the 2015 Algarve Cup, and most recently the 2016 Olympic Games, winning the silver. She has become an important piece to Sweden remaining a top 10 team.

No word yet on her timetable to return but typically with this type of injury, athletes are expected to be out minimum six months. With this heartbreaking news, Jakobsson will miss out on EURO 2017 with Sweden.

Have We Been Conditioned to Hate Lifetime TV?

Posted on by RJ Allen

I grew up in Greeneville, TN. I lived there until I was 10 years old. Our town was extremely small and nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. We had three claims to fame:

  1. We were the birthplace of the only president ever to be impeached, Andrew Johnson. Until Bill Clinton came along.
  2. Some other random fact about Nathanael Greene.
  3. We are the birthplace of Park Overall, who once starred in a Lifetime TV movie with Kirsten Dunst.

The last one always seemed to be the most exciting for me. It was the one people seemed to brag about the most. It was tangible. Someone who was from our town was on TV.

My mom came home one day from the dental office where she worked as a dental hygienist and was so stoked that she could barely stand it. She had cleaned Park Overall’s teeth and the whole office posed for a picture with her! Park Overall, the girl with, like, three lines in “Kindergarten Cop” and her own Lifetime movie!

I was filled with excitement, and bragged to my fellow fifth-grade friends the next day about my mother’s run-in with a high-profile debutante. Walking into the classroom at Hal Henard Elementary School, I knew I had to play coy and not spill the deets too soon. Finally, a boy I sat beside began talking about what he had done the weekend before. His mom had taken him to the Wal-Mart to get some new Nintendo game.

“Oh, really, Mikey?” I replied. “Well, my mom met Park Overall and she is a famous actress!”

“What movie was she in?” said Mikey.

“Fifteen and Pregnant on Lifetime with KIRSTEN DUNST, MIKEY!”

“Oh. Well, I’ve never seen it and Lifetime is lame and for girls.”

Everyone laughed. I was crushed. My shining moment of looking really cool in front of my classmates had crashed and burned. I had learned a few very important lessons:

  1. No one knew who Park Overall was – even though she was born in your hometown, basics!
  2. I needed to become an actress and book a job way better than a dumb gig on Lifetime.
  3. Things that are girl-y are dumb and you should feel dumb for liking them.

Fast forward to the present.

When the NWSL announced on Thursday that they had struck up a three-year deal with Lifetime my immediate reaction was, well, not good. I slammed my phone on the bed and ran into my husband’s office.

“Shane! Ugh! The NWSL is going to be on Lifetime! Lifetime!” I groaned. An irritated look was smeared across my face.

“Yes. I heard. And?” Shane flatly responded.

“It’s Lifetime!”

“Okay … and?”

I couldn’t understand why he was so unfazed and on board with this deal. I stormed out of his office hoping that someone, anyone – possibly on the internet – would understand my frustration.

To my bewilderment, Twitter was ecstatic. Everyone was loving the partnership with Lifetime. I couldn’t grasp it. In fact, the only people I could see expressing doubts were men. Men who were upset because the network didn’t directly market to them (A great argument against this sentiment written by our very own Elizabeth Wawrzyniak, can be seen here). But, even those were few and far between.

A question suddenly came to mind:

Have I become conditioned to be a Lifetime TV hater?

Why do I feel so strongly against a network who is committed to helping a league I love so much? Why am I so unhappy with the fact that it’s Lifetime as opposed to a different network?

Besides the obviously traumatic discovery of my childhood classmates’ true feelings towards the network, I also realized it’s quite possible that I have been fed this impression from the entertainment industry itself.

I moved to Los Angeles four years ago to pursue a career in acting. I have since moved on to pursue other avenues in my life, but the few things I did learn during that time have been ingrained on my brain. When you start auditioning for larger roles in Hollywood, you’re told time and time again that you’re supposed to book roles on big networks, not cable networks. Many agents and managers in Los Angeles look down upon actors who only book roles in “Lifetime TV” movies. They consider Lifetime, and networks similar to Lifetime, to be trash TV.

And it’s not exactly like anyone in the industry is trying to change their minds. Saturday Night Live has satirized the network for their women-centric films. Family Guy has also taken a stab at the network with these super-original jokes calling the network “Television For Idiots.” It’s become a cheap joke. One that I’ve decided today, I’m tired of hearing.

Look Hollywood, I know you’re really upset that “Unreal” is actually a great show, but please stop trying to shove the “Lifetime TV = shitty programming” argument down my throat simply because you’re too lazy to create a better joke. We get it. They make movies about women. They make reality TV shows. Please stop trying to convince us that you are above this so-called “trash” because the last time I checked The Celebrity Apprentice is in its 15th season.

It’s done. I’m on board with Lifetime. Let’s get this deal started.

 

Be Honest It’s the Woman Thing, Isn’t It?

Posted on by RJ Allen

If there’s one thing I’ve griped about regarding the NWSL over the past two years, it’s been the inability to watch games on my television instead of my laptop. Sure, the YouTube access to matches was great, considering there wasn’t another option. But week after week as I sat down at my desk to watch, I bemoaned the fact that traditional sports stations could air drone racing, darts competitions, and, you won’t believe it unless you see it, hot dog eating contests, but not find a way to make room for five women’s soccer games a week.

I mean, we all know that stat. The one about the 2015 World Cup Final in Canada. US against Japan. Carli Lloyd’s Independence Day.

The most-watched televised soccer match in US history.

Soccer match. Not women’s soccer match.

Soccer match.

That epic finale reached almost 23 million viewers and was the talk of the world–not just the soccer world, the world–for weeks after.

But still, in a tragic self-fulfilling prophecy, no one was willing to give airing women’s soccer on television a real chance because they believed no one would watch it.

Maybe they forgot that to have an audience, you have to actually give them something to watch.

What was it Kevin Costner was always saying in that baseball movie?

If you broadcast it … ?

That changed this week, however, when NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush and President and CEO of A+E Networks Nancy Dubuc joined forces to announce a partnership between the league and the media company. Not only does this venture offer the kind of financial stability that will help keep the league running and profitable over the course of the three-year term, it includes a broadcast deal that features both traditional linear programing (a 30-minute pre-game show and one “Game of the Week” on Lifetime every Saturday afternoon) and a multimedia platform for streaming of non-televised games and other league-related content.

What’s not to love, right?

I mean, obviously, there are some concerns: international accessibility, quality of production, paywalls or open access, and, of course, the fact that Lifetime is a basic cable channel not available on several of the “cut the cord” streaming options people have moved toward over the past few years. And each of those is a valid concern; some that have been addressed in the press conference or questions after, others that have yet to be answered to the satisfaction of concerned fans. But the announcement was only made today, and more information will come out as the two sides begin to really work on the actionable items mentioned in this morning’s news: the app, the production, the schedule.

However, despite the concerns, there was much joy across the board this morning. The NWSL is coming to a television near you! Every weekend, one game will be on the big screen–no more squinting through streams that seem to never finish buffering, no more unreliable audio, perhaps the addition of professional commentating teams for the broadcast games, up-to-the-minute data analysis. All the things a sports nerd wants and needs.

Or so you’d think.

Because amid the tweets congratulating the league and fans responding with excitement to the news, there was an undercurrent of displeasure.

Several individuals expressed discomfort, feeling that they had been left out of the message.

What message, specifically?

That the A+E brand, and specifically the Lifetime channel, was the perfect fit for the NSWL because it stands, on a daily basis, according to Plush, to “empowering young women.” Dubuc added that Lifetime saw itself as a “female media brand” dedicated to showing “girls and women around the world how to think about themselves and their place in this world differently.”

That’s right. The objection is literally “but what about the men?”

Okay, listen. I’m a feminist. I believe in gender equality. Which is why I understand, at its root, this concern. What about the male fans of women’s soccer? Is there a place for them in this new deal that seems to market specifically to women?

Of course there is. And anyone who thinks there isn’t needs to examine their concern a little closer.

Trust me, as a woman, I understand not being the core demographic or target audience. But what this concern really signifies is not a lack in the network and deal, in broadcasting NWSL games on Lifetime. What it signifies is an error in perception.

Among the variants of this objection that I’ve seen lodged on Twitter–or even broached during the Q&A section of the press conference–include things like:

  • “Do the women who like women’s soccer watch Lifetime?”
  • “Do the women who watch Lifetime like women’s soccer?”
  • “Why couldn’t they get a more serious channel than Lifetime?”
  • “Why do they have to alienate half the fanbase?”
  • “How is it possible for Lifetime attract viewers who aren’t already Lifetime fans or women’s soccer fans?”
  • “How will a women’s channel this help the league grow?”

Et cetera and so on and so forth.

And you know what? Bullshit.

Bullshit on all of those concerns.

Here’s what is really being said:

  • Women cannot be complex, multi-dimensional people with multiple interests.
  • Something branded as “women’s X” or “women’s Y” or “women’s Z” is less than or inferior to all other things.

That feeling of disgust? Every “the NWSL game is the only reason I’d watch Lifetime” statement? The idea that Lifetime is a channel that’s not for you simply because it features narratives that “empower women?”

Yeah, you don’t have to pass a gender verification test in order to switch onto that channel. There’s not actually a “No Boys Allowed” sign on the door.

Because no one would have asked these questions if the league had partnered with ESPN or Fox Sports or BeIN Sports. And it’s not a content thing–it’s not that Lifetime airs non-sports material. ESPN airs films they create. Fox Sports airs films, syndicated material, even infomercials at times.

It’s the woman thing.

It’s the fact that subconsciously, calling something “women’s media” or a “chick flick” or “chick lit” automatically already assumes its inferiority in common social perception. And oftentimes unacknowledged. Without getting into a whole rabbit hole of gender theory in media, the assumption “Oh, it’s a woman’s channel so obviously there’s nothing on there for a man” is undergirded by the idea that men cannot or should not be interested in things that society decides belong to the sphere of the female.

The thing is?

That perception is wrong. Prevalent, but oh, so wrong.

So, are there women who are fans of the NWSL and fans of Lifetime programming? Yes. There are. There always have been. And this deal, as Dubuc points out, just opens the doors to new fans of both, to bringing in new fans to both halves of the deal.

Why do they have to alienate half the fanbase? They’re not. If you felt alienated, it’s because you’re so used to being marketed to directly that you’re not sure what to do when you’re not in the target bracket. But it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the games just as much as you always did–ask any woman who’s had to sit through numerous ED or male-pattern baldness commercials during any given football game.

How can Lifetime attract new fans with its limited scope, can it help to grow the league? This is the age old question. It existed before the deal. It exists after. It would exist and be relevant no matter which channel the league had entered into a deal with. And the answer? Directed marketing, indirect marketing, and pure chance. Existing fans will turn on the game no matter what channel they find it on. Already the viewership will expand because of the more traditional format of television broadcast as opposed to YouTube streams. Lifetime will advertise on A+E channels and on non-A+E channels, they’ll advertise in magazines and online. And because of their reach, because it is far broader than that of the league on its own, a far greater number of people will not only know about the league, but know how to watch. And, last, you’ll have the “stumble-upon” element. Channel surfers, TV-guide skimmers, and more. Which, you may be interested to know, is exactly how I discovered my own love for women’s soccer–channel surfing and bored, I happened to land on the first USWNT match in 2015’s WWC. History, at least for me, was made that night.

Why couldn’t they get a “traditional” sports channel? Now if you’re going to be upset about something, be upset about this. Not with Lifetime, not with the league, but with every “traditional” sports channel that saw the NWSL and said “not for us, no thanks.” Be upset that hot dog eating gets a place on the schedule but the NWSL doesn’t. Be upset that every traditional sports channel said “Okay, we’ll throw you a bone with six or nine games, but no more.”

Be upset that every other channel said “no thanks, not for us, not for our audience.”

And then think about what message that sends to the women. To the fans at-large.

Around the World of WoSo: Crummer to Seattle and Canberra takes Prem

Posted on by RJ Allen

Seattle Sign Crummer:

Laura Harvey has signed Australian Larissa Crummer, who is 21 years old and has emerged from a defender to talented forward since turning pro in 2013. Her previous club experiences were with Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar before signing on with Melbourne City in 2015.

Crummer’s profile went up significantly when she scored City’s first ever goal in the W-League in September of 2015. Crummer won the Golden boot for that season, scoring 11 goals, three ahead of former Reign great, Kim Little. The young forward also made her Matilda debut in the summer of 2015, appearing twice in the Women’s World Cup in Canada. Crummer will be a nice addition to the Seattle forward group that has vet Bev Yanez and two rookies in Katie Johnson and Arielle Ship.

Adelaide Shock Sydney:

Sixth place Adelaide United spoiled Sydney’s chance of finishing first and grabbing the premiership this past weekend. Two players who made sure of it were Adriana Jones and Sofia Huerta, who each scored to put Sydney away in a convincing 5-2 match. All season, these two have been almost unstoppable, with Jones tallying nine goals and two assists while Huerta grabbed eight goals with five assists.

With the win, Adelaide finish the regular season out of the top-four. But they should be proud of how they finished the season, absolutely energized and scoring 17 goals the last three games. Meanwhile, Sydney falls to third place but will be in the semifinals this upcoming weekend. While the Premiership isn’t up for grabs anymore, the Championship still is. They must re-focus and re-group if they want to beat Perth on Sunday.

Henry Loaned to PSG:

Portland Thorns midfielder Amandine Henry has announced her loan to French giant, Paris Saint-Germain this past weekend. In her brief time with Portland in 2016, Henry played in nine matches, grabbing one assist and helping the Thorns to the NWSL Shield.

Henry has plenty of familiarity with the Division 1 Feminine league, as she spent nine successful seasons there prior to coming to the NWSL. Now the 27 year-old moves on to PSG for six months, joining the likes of Shirley Cruz, Veronica Boquete, Marie-Laure Delie, Erika and Laura Georges. Last season PSG finished second to Lyon, who once again will be serious challengers for the title.

Canberra Wins Third Premiership:

Canberra United have secured its third Premier in program history. The best team in the regular season with seven wins, two draws, and three losses, they scored the most goals in 12 games, accumulating 33 goals in that span, with a 2.75 average per game. United also have the Golden Boot winner in Ashleigh Sykes, who scored 12 goals and added two assists along the way.

Ending the regular season with a 5-1 thrashing of Melbourne Victory pushed Canberra to first, while keeping Victory in last place and ending a disappointing season to say the least. United still have unfinished business as they meet Melbourne City for a semifinal match on Saturday.

Riley to NC:

The North Carolina Courage (formerly known as Western New York Flash) are the newest team in the NWSL, but they are also the defending champions. The coach that led them was Paul Riley, who previously coached the Portland Thorns (2013-2015) but only managed to make the playoffs once in those seasons. Riley led the Flash to a championship in 2016 which surprised many, so it’s no wonder the club wants him back.

The NC Courage are bringing back most of the roster from last year, including Sam Mewis, Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald, all who were major influences for WNYF winning the title. It may be a new club with a new location, but to have so much of the same personnel and now coach has to be exciting for the fans, old and new.

Dydasco Re-signs with Spirit:

The Washington Spirit finally have some good news to share with fans, as they have announced that Caprice Dydasco will be back for the 2017 season. Dydasco went down with a knee injury in the NWSL Championship game last October and has since been recovering and preparing to get back on the field as soon as possible.

The 23 year-old defender played in 14 games last season for the Spirit, starting 12 of those. Taken in the third round of the 2015 NWSL College Draft out of UCLA, Dydasco has shown improvements in each of the last 2 seasons. She has worked her way into the starting eleven, and with the crazy off-season Washington are having, Dydasco could be an important piece when she returns.

Backline Soccer Rejects the Banning and Dehumanizing of Immigrants and Refugees

Posted on by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer joins our fellow Americans and those around the world in condemning the illegal executive order signed by President Trump.

Our hearts ache for those treated like criminals. For those seeking refuge from war and destruction. For those legal immigrants, green-card holders, and permanent residents now barred from returning home from abroad by President Trump’s executive order. Doctors, researchers, military translators and those who have lived through unbearable horrors should never be turned away from our golden door. No one should. Our nation has long been a beacon of hope for those seeking a new beginning, epitomized by the great symbol of our nation, the Statue of Liberty, whose tablet proclaims to the world that the United States is a place of refuge for the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to be free. And we mourn with the world the dimming of our Lady Liberty’s great symbolic light in the wake of President Trump’s actions.

We at Backline Soccer recognize that we are all the children of immigrants, and that our diverse backgrounds and beliefs are the foundation of our work. And we will never shy away from tackling the issues that affect us and the world at large. We believe in being a safe space for a wide variety of opinions. We understand that not all of our readers share in our political beliefs, nor does each staff member agree on every issue, but in this moment we understand that to remain silent is to become complicit. And we stand together.

As our country continues to make socio-political changes that affect the world around us, we will do our best to show support while still providing you with up-to-date women’s soccer coverage. Citizenship doesn’t start and end with the seven countries denied entry into the United States this past weekend. We are all citizens of a global community. Make no mistake this executive order is an attempt to ban Muslims from this country and we will not support it. 

There are at least 20 nations of the world that have players in the National Women’s Soccer League. Some have made their homes here and all have worked here to make the NWSL one of the great leagues in the world. We proudly welcome them and all others that seek a home.

In this time of confusion, uncertainty, and fear we ask all our readers to do what they can to help support inclusion, diversity, and tolerance in our nation and across the globe. America is a nation built upon these values, and we must fight to uphold our core beliefs: that all peoples are created equal, that all religions are respected, that America is a land of freedom and opportunity. 

And so, tonight we off our names in support of immigrants and refugees from the seven countries listed in the executive order and all others around the world. 

Sincerely, 

RJ Allen, Editor in Chief

Sandra Herrera, Senior Editor

Jacob Cristobal, Advisory Editor

Elizabeth Wawrzyniak, Senior Copy Editor

Alanna Fairbairn, Copy Editor

Jenn Hayes, Staff Writer

Luis G. Hernandez, Staff Writer

Leigh Nieves, Staff Writer

Jacqui Porter, Staff Writer

Jordan Small, Staff Writer

Adriana Hooper, Media Director

Around the World of WoSo: HAO to Arsenal; Pride Trade Hat-Trick

Posted on by RJ Allen

HAO Commits to Being a Gunner:

Long-time United States Women’s National Team midfielder Heather O’Reilly has announced she will be playing in the Women’s Super League (FA WSL 1), England’s top league for women’s soccer. Simply known as HAO, she recently retired from international play, but at just 32 she still has plenty left to give to the sport. O’Reilly played college ball at UNC, won three Olympic gold medals, was crowned World Cup champion in 2015, and accumulated 231 appearances over 15 years for the National Team.

The one thing left to try would be a move overseas, to experience something new and to have a different kind of challenge. The club she chose is Arsenal Ladies, a club that has a stellar reputation and a few connections to the NWSL here in the states. For one, they are the most decorated club in the WSL, earning 43 titles since the debut in 1987. Secondly, they’ve had legendary coaches and players throughout their history; including Kelly Smith, Katie Chapman, Faye White and current Seattle Reign coach Laura Harvey.

With the addition of HAO, Arsenal once again has an impressive roster to compete for the championship. They have plenty of star power to chose from; Fara Williams, Jodie Taylor, Danielle van De Donk, Asisat Oshoala, and Kim Little. HAO brings an explosive element on the wing, relentless energy, and unmatched passion. I’m sure fans cannot wait to get the season started.

Sky Blue Lands Corboz:

Daphne Corboz has played in the WSL for Manchester City since graduating Georgetown in 2014. She earned 15 starts and tallied two goals for the club. The young midfielder recently won the league with City in 2016, the first major trophy for the club since joining the WSL in 2014.

Corboz is the latest addition to a talented Sky Blue squad that boasts Kelley O’Hara, Christine Rampone, Natasha Kai, Leah Galton, Raquel Rodriguez and Sam Kerr. In the College Draft, Sky Blue got some more serious young talent, including USC duo Kayla Mills and Miranda Freeman. They later chose Kailen Sheridan out of Clemson, and Madison Tiernan from Rutgers.

Corboz adds another technical component to the midfield along with a creative fire that is always burning. I think Sky Blue could finally return to the top of the table in 2017 after a three-year absence.

W-League Doesn’t Disappoint:

In last week’s fixtures, plenty was at stake as it nears the end of the regular season; premiership still undecided, home advantage, a spot in the top four, and momentum going forward.

The top four are as follows; Sydney FC, Canberra United, Perth Glory and Melbourne City FC. The weekend saw Sydney lose to Newcastle, Canberra dropped by the Western Sydney Wanderers, Glory lose to Adelaide, and City win a crucial game against Brisbane.

As far as points go, the top three are secured, but Melbourne City needs to draw or win to officially grab the fourth spot. Sitting in fifth are Newcastle with 15 points, so they need a win to give themselves a chance.

One player who has stood out this season is Sofia Huerta, who plays for the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL March-November. Last week she scored a hat trick to lead Adelaide United to a wild 10-2 win over Sydney Wanderers. In just 11 games in the W-League Huerta has tallied seven goals and four assists, leading Adelaide United to second in the league in total goals scored with 26. Chicago fans will look forward to her return stateside in the next few months.

Americans Head Overseas:

Two recent graduates and collegiate stars here in the states have announced they will play overseas. If you follow NCAA DI soccer you should be familiar with Savannah Jordan and Lindsey Harris. Both were crucial to their respective team’s success, especially this year.

First up is Jordan, who attended Florida all four years, playing in 94 games, recording 81 goals (23 game-winning) and grabbing 27 assists as well. The exciting forward has blazing speed and is a joy to watch on the ball — combine that with excellent finishing ability and she is a quality player. Jordan has signed with Glasgow City FC, the top club team in Scotland. City is the defending champions, a 10-year reign that is impressive and has earned them plenty of UEFA Champions League experience.

Another top player to find a home overseas is UNC grad Harris. She was UNC’s first choice goalkeeper her senior year after rotating the previous three years. Harris is known for making big saves, similar to another former UNC and now NWSL star with Orlando, Ashlyn Harris. Apart from a few keepers, UNC is primarily known for producing excellent talent in field players, but Lindsey Harris made a name for herself in those three years. Harris has signed with Iceland side FH for the upcoming season. FH have won the league once in 2011 and were runners-up the last two years.

DMath to Seattle (This is Not a Typo):

For much of this NWSL offseason, Washington Spirit has been the front-runner for headlines due to all the high-profile departures since November. Six key players for the Spirit will be elsewhere come April; Ali Krieger, Crystal Dunn, Christine Nairn, Megan Oyster, Estefania Banini, and now Diana Matheson. The Spirit have sent Matheson to the Seattle Reign. In return, they have acquired the rights to Arielle Shipp, who was Seattle’s third-round draft pick out of UC Berkeley.  

Commonly referred to as DMath, she spent four years in Washington, helping them to the playoffs the last three years; most recently to a Championship title match. Matheson is the Spirit’s all-time leading goal scorer with 23 goals and 12 assists in 67 appearances. The tiny and reliable Canadian midfielder will be re-united with another former Washington player in Christine Nairn.

This move will certainly help Seattle’s midfield, which saw Kim Little and Keelin Winters depart in the offseason. This addition along with Nairn, Jess Fishlock, Beverly Yanez, and Megan Rapinoe, makes me wonder, can the Reign return to the top four?

Orlando Wheeling and Dealing:

Tom Sermanni has made not one, not two, but three trades within the last week. In his latest attempt to avoid the 2018 draft, the Orlando Pride coach has sent a first and fourth-round pick to Portland in exchange for recent UConn grad and talented forward Rachel Hill. Sermanni’s second move was picking up Houston forward Chioma Ubogagu for a third round pick. His last and biggest trade was sending second-year player Sam Witteman to NC Courage for Australian defender Alanna Kennedy.

The Pride’s main agenda in their second year seems to be centered on the forwards and defenders. To be honest, it’s a bit confusing considering the midfield is the weakest position in my opinion. Nonetheless, they’ve certainly got my early vote for one of the best defenses in the league after adding Krieger and Kennedy this off-season to complement Steph Catley and Laura Alleway. Certainly, only time will tell how well these trades will work out, but Sermanni seems to know what he’s doing.

Around the World of WoSo: NWSL Draft, Morgan in Lyon

Posted on by RJ Allen

NWSL College Draft Tidbits:

The 2017 National Women’s Soccer League College Draft was held in Los Angeles over the weekend and – no surprise – Rose Lavelle was taken number one overall. The first of 40 picks, the talented midfielder out of Wisconsin spent all four years a Badger and led her team to two (2014, 2012) trips to the postseason. 

2016 National Champions USC had plenty to celebrate on the day, as five player’s names were called. Three players went in the first round; Morgan Andrews third to Boston, Kayla Mills fourth to Sky Blue who also grabbed Miranda Freeman with the 10th pick. Two more players were selected in the second and fourth rounds respectively as Seattle took a chance on Katie Johnson, while Samantha Prudhomme found a home in Boston.

The newest team in the NWSL, the North Carolina Courage (formerly the Western New York Flash) had three picks. They grabbed Ashley Hatch from BYU with the second pick, Darian Jenkins out of UCLA with the seventh and Claire Wagner from Clemson at 20.

Alex Morgan Suits up for Lyon:

In her first action for Olympique Lyonnais in the Division 1 Feminine, Morgan helped Lyon to a 3-0 victory over Guingamp. Morgan managed 72 minutes and grabbed her first assist to French superstar Eugenie Le Sommer. This was a positive result for OL, considering the last match between these clubs was all Guingamp in a 3-1 win over Lyon last November.

A few reasons for the turnaround could be the additions of the American Morgan, Canadian Kadeisha Buchanan and German Josephine Henning. On paper, this roster could now be the best in the world. Other stars include; Le Sommer, Dzenifer Maroszán, Wendie Renard, Ada Hegerberg, Camille Abily, and Caroline Seger. All these world-class players on one team should be certainly intimidating for the rest of the league. Lyon leads the league in most titles with 14 and I do expect them to win it again this year.

USWNT Called Into January Camp:

Jill Ellis has called 29 players in for the first United States Women’s National Team camp of 2017. This camp will serve as evaluation for the upcoming SheBelieves tournament in March.

22 players from last year are back, including Carli Lloyd, Alyssa Naeher, Becky Sauerbrunn, Tobin Heath, Crystal Dunn, Alex Morgan and Julie Johnson. Ellis has also called in six players who have not yet earned a cap; Jane Campbell, Adrianna Franch, Rose Lavelle, Christina Gibbons, Kristen Edmonds, and Taylor Smith. The young and explosive forwards Lynn Williams and Kealia Ohai are also back.

Ellis has also decided to bring in five U-23 players to the senior camp; 16-year-old Brianna Pinto, Casey Murphy (Rutgers), Mandy Freeman (Sky Blue FC), Tierna Davidson (Stanford), and Savannah McCaskill (South Carolina).

The long-awaited return of fan-favorite forward Amy Rodriguez was a nice surprise. Out since giving birth to a baby boy in June 2016, her last appearance was November of 2015 during the World Cup Victory Tour.

SheBelieves Cup Details Announced:

The second edition of the SheBelieves Cup will be held March 1-7th in three different locations; New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. All four teams from last year have agreed to compete again, each ranked in the top five; United States (1), Germany (2), France (3) and England (5).  

The venues chosen are Red Bull Arena (NJ), Talen Energy Stadium (PA), and RFK (D.C.). I would’ve liked the locations to be a little more south, as it could be a bit cold in March, but we will see how it works. Two of the USA matches will be shown on FS1, while the other one will be on FOX.

The Americans won last year, defeating Germany in the final match to secure the inaugural trophy.

England Legend Kelly Smith Retires:

The 38-year-old has decided to call her career in football over. The Lioness had a career most could only dream of. It started at Seton Hall where she set collegiate records, earned countless awards and scored 76 goals in just 51 matches and three years.

Her professional career started in 1994 and she played for several clubs; Wembley Ladies, New Jersey Lady Stallions, Philadelphia Charge, New Jersey Wildcats, Boston Breakers and Arsenal Ladies (three different stints).

Smith was a two-time FA POY and won 20 trophies in her time with Arsenal, including five FA Cups, winning the Premier League four times, the FA Cup three times and the UEFA Cup once. She finished her Arsenal career with 144 appearances and 125 goals, a remarkable ratio. In her brief time here in the States, her football style was enjoyable to watch, even when the sport was seriously struggling throughout the 2000s to gain attention.

What is amazing to think about is that even with a variety of injuries in her professional career, she managed to keep coming back and remind the world she belonged. She torn her ACL in 2002, broke her leg in 2004, picked up a stress fracture in her foot in early 2005, Achilles injury in 2011, and another stress fracture in 2012. Smith each time came back with resiliency, never giving up on herself.

One of her most notable accomplishments could be her international career with England from 1995-2015. She earned 117 caps and scored a record 46 goals in that span. Along with Rachel Yankey, Fara Williams, Casey Stoney, and Faye White, Smith carried the spotlight. She took on the responsibility of getting women’s football on the map; for me, she was what Mia Hamm was to the American fans. That’s how great she was, that’s how important she was to women’s football for England.

Personally, I believe Smith is one of the best players to ever step on the pitch. She will be missed but no doubt she will continue to teach the next generation of English footballers. Up next for Smith will be a full-time coaching role within Arsenal’s organization.  

Goals Galore Down Under:

This past weekend in W-League fans of Adelaide United and Canberra United had plenty to cheer about. Adelaide destroyed the Wanderers by a score 10-2 while Canberra managed a 7-2 win against Perth Glory. Two top scorers for Adelaide were Sofia Huerta and Adriana Jones, both having hat-tricks in a wild game. As for Canberra, Ashleigh Sykes was the stand-out player who grabbed four goals on the day.

These goals explain why Adelaide and Canberra are leading the league in total goals scored with 28 and 24 respectively. But they also concede almost as many, with Adelaide giving up 23 while Canberra has given up 19. Through 10 matches Adelaide still sit at the bottom of the table and Canberra remains in second place.

Join the Pride: The 2017 NWSL Draft

Posted on by RJ Allen

Going into the NWSL draft this year, the Orlando Pride no longer have the luxury of having a draft pick in the first or second round. The first-round pick was used in the trade to bring in now-retired player Becky Edwards and breakout player Kristen Edmonds to the squad. Additionally, the team parted with the second-round pick as part of the deal to acquire Sarah Hagen. The newest team in the league ended its inaugural season falling flat by finishing ninth on the table; the Pride’s last win came in July during Week 12 of the season. Orlando can only improve itself using the draft with the second pick in the third and fourth rounds.

After speaking with Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni earlier last week, he indicated the club was hoping to add depth with quality players in the late rounds like the Pride’s fourth round selection, Dani Weatherholt; taken with the 31st pick last year.

“The big issue we have this year is we don’t have a draft pick until the third round. So most of the things we are looking at are probably going to be ineffective because the players that you’re hoping to get are probably going to be gone by the time our pick comes around.” Sermanni stated, “So ultimately, it’s still going to end up being just a little bit of a lottery for us because we don’t know exactly what the situation is going to by the time our pick comes around.”

One of the main issues facing the Pride based on last year’s performance was the thirty goals the team gave up. The positions which will be the targeted by Orlando are down the spine of the team. It is looking to upgrade center back, defending midfielder, and attacking center midfield. However, Tom has said he will want to take the best available player even if the player falls outside one of the team’s immediate needs.

Personally, I’d like to see the Pride focus on the midfield. An upgrade in holding mid would provide some protection to the backline; additionally, the team would also try to find an attacking mid to facilitate the offense. We’ll find out who joins the Pride on Thursday, January 12.

A Moment of Reflection on Backline Soccer in 2016

Posted on by RJ Allen

2016 will go down as one of the weirdest years in recent memory. From the cluster that was the political process to the USWNT not medaling for the first time in a major tournament to all of the deaths of both famous people and normal people made famous by their deaths, it has been a year most would like to forget.

But there is one thing that I will always be thankful for in 2016. If this year were somehow struck from the record, Backline Soccer wouldn’t have been born.

The story of how Backline Soccer came into the world isn’t one I’ve told in this form before. But here goes:

The story of Backline Soccer’s birth starts in the shadow on the 2015 World Cup. My first foray into any women’s soccer media was doing a podcast with some friends at the time. It was my first real experience breaking down games and talking about soccer in depth like that. The show ended just before 2016 but it served as my introduction.

My first real media experience was writing for Once A Metro. They cover the New York Red Bulls of the MLS but also Sky Blue FC in the NWSL. My very first piece was “U.S. Soccer and USWNT head to court”. Talk about trial by fire.

During my time at OAM, I saw a site called Midfield Press put out a tweet looking for people to write about the NWSL. They mostly cover men’s second division soccer but were looking to add more women’s soccer writers to their staff. I took a chance and decided to invest all my time in Midfield.

While I was working at Midfield Press, I was lucky enough to get to know Susie Rantz who writes for Sounder at Heart. She brought me on to do some work covering the Reign. I still write for them because it’s nice to have a team focused site where I don’t have to be the boss.

Jason Bruzzichesi, the Midfield Press editor-in-chief, gave me pretty much all the freedom I wanted. We soon built up the women’s side to be far more than just the second fiddle on the site. There I met Monica Esenwein and Sandra Herrera, two people who would soon become dear friends. I brought on board Chelsey Bush, who would become important later in the story. The four of us started doing The Midfield Report podcast on April 4th (which later became The Scouting Report) and had a lot of fun learning the ropes. I brought in a few more writers over my time there, many who made the jump to Backline after it was formed. 

Monica, Sandra, Chelsey and I talked a lot about the idea of creating a women’s soccer site. While we loved working at Midfield Press they were having a bit of an identity crisis. The timing worked out for most of the women’s soccer section to be able to move right before the 2016 Rio Olympics.

I called Chelsey on a Tuesday during her lunch hour, and then Monica and we decided to start the site. Sandra was on a plane to her brother’s wedding in Mexico but we knew she wouldn’t want to be left out, so we assumed she’d be in – thankfully we were right.

Backline Soccer was officially born on August 2nd, 2016. It was named partly because the four founders are all big fans of solid defense, partly in honor of Becky Sauerbrunn, who is the best BS in WoSo (and there is a lot of BS), and partly because BacklineSoccer.com wasn’t already taken. 

The work we’re doing is pretty damn good. I might not be a perfect editor, but I’m learning and trying to help the site grow. We’re covering a sport we love, with a group of people that we trust and enjoy working with. From our copy editors to our social media person to our writers, we’ve come together to create a pretty awesome crew. To top off the wonder that is 2016 for Backline Soccer, earlier this month Chelsey and I were both voted in to the NWSL Media Association.

2016 has been crazy. For me and for Backline Soccer it’s been a coming into our own. I couldn’t have done it without help. 

To Monica, Sandra, and Chelsey, thank you for everything you three have done for the podcast, the site and for me. You are three of the best people I know. Monica I can’t wait to see what you do outside of Backline in 2017. I had no idea how much I needed you three in my life until I had you. 

To the Jacob, Ellen, Elizabeth, Alanna, Leigh, Luis, Jacqui Porter, Jenn, Jordan, Melissa, Kelley and Adriana – You are some of my favorite people in the world. Every week I am blown away at the articles you write and the conversations we have. The site and I are so lucky to have you. 

A special shoutout to Dan Lauletta of Equalizer Soccer, who has been a huge help and source of information – I would be a little more lost in the woods than I am if it wasn’t for you. Thank you for all you’ve done for me and others in our WoSo world.

To the crew I write with at Sounder at Heart – Thank you for helping me be better and sharing how awesome Seattle is with this New Yorker. 

And to the readers who have read and commented and shared Backline Soccer’s work – Thank you for everything. We would not be here without you.

2017 starts in a few days. We here at Backline Soccer can’t wait to see what comes next.

Around the World of WoSo: W-League Madness and African POY Nominees Announced

Posted on by RJ Allen

Canberra United beat Melbourne City:

History was made this past weekend in the W-League when Canberra United won 2-1 over Melbourne City. Not only was it United’s first win against City, but it was the first loss in Melbourne’s short existence. In that span of 18 games, they only trailed a total of eight minutes. Talk about a remarkable start for an organization. To put it in another perspective, City’s unbeaten run lasted 419 days.  

All three goals came in the second half, starting with United scoring just a few minutes into the half. Jenna McCormick managed a beautiful header to get past City keeper, Lydia Williams. Less than five minutes later, Bev Yanez equalized with a sweet rocket from distance to grab her first goal down under. The clincher for United came in the 82nd minute by way of teenager Karly Roestbakken, who got on the end of a cross at the back post to put the game away.

The next match for Canberra is versus Brisbane Roar on Saturday, while City looks to rebound later in the day against Western Sydney Wanderers.

African POY Nominees Announced:

The five nominees for African Player of the Year were announced, with no surprises or exclusions. The list is very solid: Asisat Oshoala, Elizabeth Addo, Gabrielle Abdudi, Raissa Feudjio, and Janine Van Wyk. The two players who have the best chance to win, in my opinion, are Oshoala and Van Wyk, who play for Arsenal Ladies and JVW, respectively.

The 22-year-old forward was a huge part of the 2015 World Cup success for Nigeria. They played fast and fun, with Oshoala leading the way. She hassled opposing defenses with her speed, and she scored in the 3-3 draw against Sweden. Oshoala has 17 caps and 11 goals in her short career for Nigeria. The young player already has racked up a handful of hardware, including BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year (2015), African Women’s Footballer of the Year (2014), and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Ball and Golden Boot in 2014. Oshoala’s aggressive style of play fearless attack is a joy to watch.

Van Wyk has been around a for a bit longer. The 29-year-old has accumulated 130 caps and nine goals as a defender for South Africa. She scored her first goal for Banyana Banyana (The Girls) back in 2005, in her debut against Nigeria. It was a lovely free kick, which won South Africa the African Women’s Championship. Since then, Van Wyk has been a crucial member and leader, becoming the team captain as well. Earlier this year, in March, she became the most capped South African player, male or female, with her 125th appearance.

Victory Sign Veteran Yallop:

The Melbourne Victory have gone out and gotten New Zealand international, Kirsty Yallop. Yallop is a much needed addition to a squad that has struggled so far this season. Victory is currently sitting in last place, even with playmakers such as American midfielder Christine Nairn and English forward Natasha Dowie.  

The veteran and 30-year-old Yallop has played 90 times for her country and tallied 12 goals. The midfielder has represented the Kiwi’s in two Olympics (2008, 2012), and two World Cups (2011, 2015). Yallop has plenty of experience across the globe, having played in New Zealand, the United States, Sweden, and Australia.

Victory drew with the Wanderers over the weekend in a 2-2 contest. They face sixth-place Newcastle Jets on Friday in the seventh round.

Trinidad & Tobago Name New Head Coach:

Replacing Randy Waldrum (NWSL-Houston Dash) for the head coaching position with Trinidad & Tobago is Carolina Morace. She formerly coached Canada (2009-2011), Italy (2000-2005), Viterbese in 1999, and Lazio in 1998. As a player on the Italian National team, she appeared in 150 games, scoring 105 goals from 1978-1997. In 2014, she became the first woman to be inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame.

While at the helm for Italy, the team qualified twice for the Euros. She led Canada to a 2010 CONCACAF Championship and titles in the 2010 and 2011 Cyprus Cup, while going from 11th to 6th in the FIFA World Rankings. She resigned as head coach of Canada in mid 2011, after a disappointing finish at the 2011 Women’s World Cup, because of budget concerns and disputes about the future of the team.

Morace has plenty of young talent to with with in T&T. Their best player is goalkeeper Kimika Forbes. The 26 year-old should be a recognizable name for American fans from Forbes’s memorable performance in February of this year, when she made 10 saves in a 5-0 loss to the United States. Even in defeat, she stood out with her athletic prowess and incredible effort. 

Roestbakken Second Youngest To Score in W-League:

Karly Roestbakken sets her place in W-League history by becoming the second-youngest player to score. She is 15 years, 10 months and 23 days young. The record for youngest player to score is held by Sam Kerr, who was 15 years and two months in 2008. The W-League is known for grooming its young talent into superstars (Kerr, Williams, De Vanna, Gorry, Polkinghorne, Kennedy, Simon, Heyman)—could Roestbakken be next?

Roestbakken suits up for Canberra United, who, as mentioned earlier, beat City for the first time. Her goal will go down as one of the most important goals for United this season, as they could be one of the few challengers for the title race later on.

Gorry in Form for Brisbane:

One of the best players in the league and for the Roar this season has been Australian native, Katrina Gorry. She has been very consistent this campaign, playing in all 6 games and adding three goals. Gorry shares the lead with Jess Fishlock (City), Natasha Dowie (Victory), Sam Kerr (Perth Glory), Jen Hoy (Newcastle Jets), and Adriana Jones (Adelaide United). The Golden Boot race is extremely close and with only a handful of games left, it’s completely up for grabs.

Gorry has been the leader for a team that also boasts such veterans as Claire Polkinghorne, Amy Chapman, and Tameka Butt.  If Gorry can continue her form, I think they could compete down the road for the top three. The Roar currently sits in fifth place, with three wins, one draw, and two losses. They have 10 points and are just two points behind leaders Melbourne City and Sydney FC.