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.
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:
Made my heart happy to play again last night, despite the result. Thanks for the well wishes, I’ll be back soon 🙏 #kanklelife
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.
In an unexpected announcement Wednesday afternoon, US Soccer revealed that long-time goalkeeper Hope Solo had been suspended for six months after comments made regarding the playing of Sweden in the quarterfinal loss in Brasilia on August 12. Solo’s comments, widely reported as variants on “Hope Solo Calls Sweden Cowards,” were, in context, much less offensive than the media or casual observers wanted to believe. But the Federation apparently disagreed, referring them as “conduct that is counter to the organization’s principles” in the official statement.
Asked her thoughts on the loss by Grant Wahl, Solo said that she believed the US played a “courageous game,” referring to the team’s many attacks on goal, but suggested that Sweden’s defensive strategy was representative of their opponent’s acknowledgement of their inferior offensive skills when faced with Fifa’s top ranked women’s team. But it’s so much easier to boil down a good point (with a questionable choice of word) to a biting headline than to engage into the tactical discussion that Solo wanted.
Let me be clear–I do not excuse Hope Solo’s comment. If I were in her position, I hope that I would not have used the word “coward.” But at the same time, her position was not exactly wrong–Sweden’s defensive tactics worked. But they worked at the cost of their own offensive opportunities, and when they finally encountered a team their defense couldn’t stymie in Silvia Neid’s German squad, they did not possess the offensive mind necessary to win the Gold medal game.
So despite the outrage displayed by media heads–including ex-USWNT player Julie Foudy for NBC–an immediate censure from the USSF, and, later, criticism from fellow USWNT teammates, Solo’s comments were not inherently offensive in the way they were portrayed and disseminated. When questioned by the media, Swedish player Lotta Schelin made a statement insisting that the comment was made in the heat of the moment, and that their personal relationship remains positive and friendly. Kosovare Asllani concurred, stating that while Solo should apologize, she should be allowed to speak her mind, and acknowledged that sometimes a person says more than they mean. And Pia Sundhage, former USWNT coach and current coach of the Swedish WNT, laughed Solo’s words off, saying, famously now, “I’m going to Rio, she’s going home.”
The issue today with the Federation’s response to Solo’s comments–a six-month suspension and, as reported by Grant Wahl, the termination of her National Team contract–however, is that such a decision, in this age of social media and 24-hour news cycles, does not occur in a vacuum. This comes in the wake of months of unrest between the players and US Soccer regarding the imbalance in compensation between the men’s and women’s teams, including an EEOC lawsuit with Solo’s name on it. It comes after increasing concerns regarding the safety and treatment of players in the NWSL, including the conditions of fields and training equipment, and the poverty level at which many of the league’s players live near.
And it occurs in a moment when an Olympic athlete can egregiously lie about events that occurred–making a false report to the police about being held up at gunpoint–and be escorted safely away to the United States, given a Primetime interview, and fielding a request to join the next season of Dancing With the Stars. In the light of all this, hearing that Solo’s off-hand remarks have effectively ended her career with the USWNT is not only disheartening, but discouraging.
For some, outright infuriating.
Because Hope Solo is not the only soccer player in the US system whose conduct has come under review by the USSF. Nor is she the only player who has made comments that could be considered to be counter to the principles of the organization. But, in these other cases, the disciplinary action taken by the Federation has been much milder.
Zero action was taken for comments made by Jozy Altidore and Alejandro Bedoya on the subject of former USWNT member Abby Wambach’s suspected DUI earlier this year, despite the fact that their tweets targeted both Wambach and then-current USWNT goalkeeper Hope Solo, referencing Wambach’s statements about dual-nationality players on the USMNT and a 2015 DUI incident in which Solo’s husband Jerramy Stevens was driving a team van while under the influence (and for which Solo was suspended from the USWNT for 30 days).
Altidore, in addition, is also known for his sexist comments toward fellow US soccer star Alex Morgan. Comments which, considering the fact that they are colleagues, cross over into the realm of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.
Clint Dempsey and Jermaine Jones, on the other hand, were each suspended in 2015 when their conduct on the field for their club teams threatened the safety of the referee. In a US Open Cup game on June 16, 2015, Dempsey approached the referee after a controversial call, took his notebook, and ripped it up. This earned him a three game suspension from his MLS team and, eventually, a six game (or two-year) suspension from US Open Cup play by the US Open Cup Adjudication and Discipline Panel. Dempsey’s MLS suspension, however, was short enough that he was able to compete with the USMNT in both the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup that same summer and the 2016 Copa America Centenario. And, as Ethan Swenson pointed out in an article for Sounder At Heart, the USSF could penalized him with a suspension of at least three months on their own, finding him guilty of violating US Soccer’s policy regarding threats and violence against referee personnel. Of course, that might have jeopardized the USMNT’s performance in their tournament play, considering the fact that Dempsey is one of their headline players.
The charge against Jones of “making contact with a referee” earned him a six match suspension from his MLS team in October 2015, a suspension that also prevented him from playing in other soccer competition or tournaments while it was in effect.
The misconduct involved Jones putting his hands on the referee multiple times, upset at a call that had awarded a penalty kick against his team. Any intentional threat or assault against a referee is punishable by a mandatory six game suspension according to USSF policy and bylaws, while a three game suspension is mandatory for milder misconduct, including “verbal and nonverbal communication which […] implies or directly threatens physical harm” to any of the referee staff. Unlike Dempsey’s suspension, which did not keep him from National Team duty, Jones’s prevented him from playing in the USMNT’s two World Cup qualifiers in March of this year.
And in the larger world of soccer, beyond the USSF, there are more chilling offenses that have received far less attention and were certainly penalized to a lesser extent than Hope Solo’s post-game comments.
There is John Terry, for example, of the English Men’s National Team and Chelsea FC. Terry has been accused of misconduct on and off the field–including drunkenly accosting American tourists at an airport immediately after the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. But it’s the accusations of racism against Terry that found him suspended for four games and removed as Captain by England’s Football Association in 2012.
Luis Suarez has also been held accountable for racist comments on the field. Specifically for his comments toward Patrice Evra in 2011, where he was suspended for eight games for his comments. “I never asked for Evra’s forgiveness,” Suarez wrote in his memoir, Crossing the Line, “because I felt I had done him no wrong.” But Suarez is also the same player whose Wikipedia article has to number his biting incidents in order to keep them straight. An Uruguayan National Team player who was traded to Barcelona from Liverpool in 2014, he has been disciplined for biting opponents during matches a total of three times. “I know biting appalls a lot of people, but it’s relatively harmless,” Suarez wrote, seemingly unaware of why he was sentenced to a seven game suspension for the first incident and a ten game suspension for the second. For the third, the biting of Italian player Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World Cup, he was given a four month suspension by Fifa that forbade him from stepping foot into a stadium, much less practicing or training with his teams.
What, one might ask after reading about Suarez and his habit of biting people, is misconduct worthy of having one’s contract terminated?
Until yesterday, I thought the line was set fairly high. As in the case of Romeo Parkes, Jamaican international and member of the USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds, whose contract with the club was terminated in May 2016 after he kicked Karl Ouimette, New York Red Bulls II player, in the back after Ouimette received a red card and was sent off the field. The owner of the Riverhounds released a statement indicating that the player’s conduct was “not representative of what our organization and its Academy stands for in regards to helping promote and grow this sport,” and Parkes was immediately suspended by the USL, a suspension that was later extended worldwide until late October by Fifa, preventing him from joining the Jamaican team in their Copa America Centenario play this past summer.
What do all these examples have to do with Hope Solo and the punishment handed down by US Soccer yesterday?
I should think it’s obvious.
Look, I’m not saying that these male players deserved more or less in terms of punishment for their actions, but I am saying that there is a double standard in the way misconduct of male players is handled when compared to misconduct of female players. I am saying that Jozy Altidore and Alejandro Bedoya are allowed to speak their minds, but Hope Solo has to watch what she says. I’m saying that Clint Dempsey and Jermaine Jones can threaten and intimidate referees, but Hope Solo’s words are considered too damaging to allow her to wear the US kit. I’m saying that Luis Suarez and Romeo Parkes can cause physical harm to their opponents but receive minor suspensions, or terminations from their 3rd-tier club with only a temporary ban on their international play, but Hope Solo’s mere presence on the National Team is dangerous to the philosophy and principles of the USSF.
I’m saying that Hope Solo’s six month suspension and termination are at odds with the USSF’s own bylaws and policy manual, which make no claims about player misconduct beyond what receiving yellow or red cards during a match means for their upcoming play, or what the consequences for harming or threatening a referee will be (and in the case of Dempsey–even when they apply that standard they do so inconsistently). I’m saying that there is no official policy on “conduct that is counter to the organization’s principles,” and certainly not one that, lacking transparency, appears to penalize Solo at a much higher rate than her male colleagues.
Finally, let me leave you with this.
During the 2016 Euros in France this past summer, Cristiano Ronaldo exited a rough 1-1 draw with the underdog Iceland National Team with some harsh comments about the opponent that Portugal had been expected to thrash:
“Iceland didn’t try anything,” Ronaldo said, “They were just defend, defend, defend and playing on the counterattack. It was a lucky night for them. We should have three points but we are OK. […] When they don’t try to play and just defend, defend, defend, this in my opinion shows a small mentality and they are not going to do anything in the competition.”
But in the end, Ronaldo and Portugal took home the Euro Cup. And Madeira announced that it will rename their international airport in his honor.
Hope Solo got a tersely written letter from her Federation.
With the USWNT beginning a new cycle and the team in transition, it’s time for new blood. In this two-part series, I take a look at whose NWSL play has earned a call-up to National Team camp and the chance to make an impression on Jill Ellis. Part One examined the defense, while Part Two takes a look at offense.
Center Midfield
Of all the many, many takes offered after the USWNT’s early exit from the Rio Olympics, perhaps none were louder than those pointing out the issues in center midfield. Last year’s retirements left two gaping holes in the shapes of Shannon Boxx and Lauren Holiday. Jill Ellis never really tried to replace Boxx, a U.S. legend at defensive midfielder, who hadn’t been a factor for the U.S. since early 2013. Morgan Brian occupied the spot during the latter part of the 2015 World Cup and performed admirably, but since then Ellis has preferred her higher up the pitch. Holiday, although perhaps never used to her potential on the NT, was nevertheless a formidable presence in the midfield that has been sorely missed. Like fullback, the time is ripe for young center midfielders to enter the fray, and thankfully, the NWSL has plenty.
Leading the charge is Danielle Colaprico. Called to camp last year, the backbone of the Red Stars midfield was recovering from injury and did not see any playing time. Colaprico is possibly the best heir to Boxx’s crown—an intelligent defensive midfielder whose command of the field belies her diminutive size. She can drop back to defend on top of the centerbacks, restart the play, push into the attack, and make it look easy. Last year’s NWSL Rookie of the Year, Colaprico was a huge part of Chicago’s success in making it to the playoffs and is an equally large reason they remain in the mix this year.
The other key to Chicago’s strong midfield is Vanessa DiBernardo. Like her teammate, DiBernardo has been called up to senior camp but did not play. Strong in the attack, she has a keen eye for finding seams in which to send balls to catch her forwards at the perfect time on their runs into the box, and she has a rocket of a shot of her own at her disposal as well. As a member of the 2012 U-20 World Cup championship team, DiBernardo already has international experience.
Yet another member of that 2012 U-20 team, as well as part of the 2013 UCLA championship squad, Sarah Killion has been quietly working her way back toward another call-up. She’s been as instrumental in Sky Blue’s midfield as her teammate Raquel Rodriguez, while only receiving half the attention. Rather like Holiday, she can be a box-to-box midfielder, honing her defensive skills on one end while setting up plays on the other. Killion has excellent distribution and a calm presence on the field. She’s also taken three penalty kicks for Sky Blue this year, converting all of them.
Winger
Kealia Ohai has been on the fringes of the National Team since arriving in the NWSL in 2014. Often in the discussion but never on a roster, Ohai started off this season slowly, struggling to find the back of the net. Then, due to a diminished roster after Houston’s Olympians departed, Ohai moved to outside midfielder, and she hasn’t looked back. Tied with Rachel Daly for the team lead in both goals and assists, Ohai has been tearing up and down the flanks of any pitch she’s stepped on. Her speed and turns have bested every fullback she’s faced, including WNT veteran Ali Krieger, while both her crosses and diagonal runs into the box have led to goals. Ohai is playing with newfound confidence and leadership, and as a small, fast forward converted to winger, she should be right up Ellis’s alley.
Sam Witteman has been an intriguing player to watch on the Orlando Pride. The rookie, who played in seven different positions in 2015 for California, has continued her versatile play in the NWSL. No matter which line she plays on, it’s clear she belongs on the flank. Witteman has great service from the outside and plays with an intelligence that makes one forget it’s her first professional season. Going forward, she is certainly one to watch.
Forward
Apart from goalkeeper, forward is likely the hardest position to break into on the USWNT. Often the face of the team, from Mia Hamm to Alex Morgan, the team tends to carry a lot of depth at forward. That said, the years in between cycles are the best time for turnover, so now is the time for NWSL goalscorers to make their mark.
Shea Groom struggled initially this season as the lone forward atop FC Kansas City’s formation, but once Tiffany McCarty was inserted on the flank, the two found a chemistry that has pushed Groom to third in the league for goals. The scrappy striker brings a quality that is missing among the WNT’s star forwards—a willingness to sacrifice her entire body to push the ball over the goal line, regardless of what (or who) is in her way. Groom messes with defenses across the league, getting under their skin with her relentless pressure and tireless work ethic.
It would be hard to ignore any of the Western New York Flash’s high-scoring front line of Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald, helped out by Makenzy Doniak. Williams and McDonald lead the league in goals, and McDonald also leads in assists. The three have combined for 17 goals in 15 games, propelling the Flash to third place. The trio makes up the speediest front line in the league and can score seemingly at will from both the run of play and set pieces. It’s hard to imagine any of them staying under the NT radar.
Another forward worth a look is Bev Yanez of the Seattle Reign. Yanez brings a wealth of professional experience, culminating in a 10-goal season last year, earning her a place in the league’s best XI. A technically gifted player in the vein of Christen Press, she is underrated, with both a nose for goal and a playmaking ability that shouldn’t be overlooked.
As Jill Ellis continues to place her emphasis on offense, she is fortunate to have a vastly talented pool at her disposal in the NWSL. These players are just a few of those who’ve earned the chance to wear the crest for the U.S.
As part of a new series at Backline Soccer, I will be discussing and offering my opinion on a weekly basis, gathering news and topics from all over the world in women’s soccer. That includes (but is not limited to) the U.S. Women’s National Team, National Women’s Soccer League (U.S.), NCAA, and international matters as well.
Let’s start with the good news:
The NWSL is back:
After a two-week Olympic break, the NWSL is back in action. Last week marked the return of USWNT member Ali Krieger to Washington as the Spirit beat Houston 2-1 to claim top spot in the standings. In front of a solid crowd of 5,012, this makeup game (rescheduled from May) proved to be worth the wait. With two beautifully constructed goals from Christine Nairn, the Spirit were on their way to another shutout (seven on the year), but the Dash’s leading scorer, Kealia Ohai, had something to say about that. She managed a goal in the 90th minute to bring her total to five on the season. In the next week or so, U.S. and foreign international players should be returning to their respective teams. The next game is scheduled for August 26th, as Washington travels to Orlando to take on the Pride. With five weeks left, teams will be looking to make a final push in hopes of earning a playoff spot.
College Soccer is underway:
The 2016 women’s campaign has started, with ACC and SEC powerhouses already colliding, as first-ranked Florida State opened the season by defeating eighth-ranked Texas A&M 1-0 in a tough battle at Ellis Field. Another top 10 encounter saw West Virginia and reigning champions Penn State take a 1-1 draw in a grueling double overtime contest. Santa Clara and USC played a thrilling match that was finally decided in overtime, a 3-2 decision in favor of the Broncos. Plenty of talent on display every week as young players are eager to make their mark while veterans look to lead their teams to the promised land. That’s what is so great about college soccer—a star could be found anywhere. Sure, big name schools usually have great recruiting classes, but smaller schools in Division I are full of surprises that will unfold throughout the season.
The planned retirement of Silvia Neid:
Ok, so this isn’t exactly the best news, but I feel we should take this opportunity to celebrate what she has done for women’s soccer in Germany over the last few decades. While she is stepping away as head coach, she will now take part in setting up a scouting department for women’s soccer at the GFB (German Football Association). In charge since 2005, Neid has certainly set the standard for women’s soccer in her home country. Under her direction the German Women’s National Team won the 2007 World Cup, two EURO titles in 2009 and 2013, Olympic Bronze in 2008, and now an Olympic Gold, to add to her long list of accomplishments. Neid first captured my attention in that 2007 tournament when she took down Marta and Brazil to claim the championship. What was most impressive about that run was the fact that they didn’t give up a single goal and scored an impressive 21 goals in 6 games. Neid has always shown a desire for winning, and she has done it on every stage.
It wouldn’t be a conversation about Neid if I didn’t mention her choices over the years when it comes to her game-day outfits. She has set the bar extremely high when it comes to fashion on the sidelines. Seriously. Neid has shown an impeccable style and a quiet intensity to match. What I will miss most about Neid on the sidelines is the way she carried herself and the way she wanted the team to carry itself. The expectations were to be champions every year, whether that be the World Cup, Olympics, or Euros—she has done it all. Twice named FIFA World Coach of the Year (2010 & 2013) and hailed by many as the greatest female to ever coach, I forever applaud what she has done for the game as a whole and hope the work she has completed be remembered for a long time.
Moving on to the bad news:
Brazil failing to medal in Rio:
This team always has high expectations as long as Marta is on the field. With fellow veteran Formiga once again in the mix and leading the way, this team could’ve and probably should’ve medaled. As the host country of the Olympic Games, the pressure was probably the highest it’s ever been; even for a women’s team that has not quite been embraced like the men’s side has in its rich history. When they finally reached the bronze medal match, it was not secret they looked tired after playing in back-to-back 120 minutes + penalty kicks in a win vs. Australia in the quarterfinals and a loss to Sweden in the semifinals. Add on the travel Brazil had to do and (not to diminish Canada’s effort) Marta and Brazil just didn’t have enough left to earn that Bronze medal. Not medaling in these games was extremely disappointing, I do find it comforting that in the last game for Brazil was in front of 70,000 excited fans. Which is something that rarely is achieved for the women’s side. And to be embraced for these last few weeks—I know it meant the world to the players who have worked so hard to grow the game in their beloved country.
Brazil Federation still not supportive:
Even with arguably the best player in the game since she was 18, no matter what Marta does to lead her team, Brazil’s soccer federation still doesn’t want to put in the time, money, and resources to support their women’s national team. With plenty of clubs and schools dedicated to males all across the country, they refuse to invest in their female counterparts. With such a proud and successful history, as a whole, within the soccer world, why not support the women who wish to play; who could be the next Marta? During these Games, Brazilians went to games, cheered for the women’s team; created such a memorable atmosphere for them to play in. Isn’t that enough evidence to start seriously investing? Moving forward and thinking about the next big tournament (the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France), can the women’s team survive another cycle? I sincerely hope this is not the last time we see Marta and her incredibly talented teammates on the field at the biggest stage. It would be cruel and wrong of Brazil’s federation to continue to treat the women’s team like this, with such little respect and recognition. They have more than earned a place in the sport.
Injury for USC Senior:
Not to be drastic or to undermine the talent of the 11th-ranked Trojans this season, but a knee injury to starting center back Dominique Randle (Red Shirt) in the preseason has certainly caught my attention. No stranger to injury (she was forced to redshirt freshman year and saw no playing time in 2013 due to injury), resilience and patience are things she has plenty of. Randle started all 23 games in 2015 and only allowed 11 goals through 20 games (a conference best). She earned PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Week (August 17-23) and went on to lead her team to the third round (Sweet 16) of the NCAA College Cup before losing to top-seeded Virginia 2-0. With the loss of Randle, I do expect the younger players to step up and fill that role nicely. Even with a tough schedule early on, with returning defensive players Sammy Jo Prudhomme (GK) and Kayla Mills (PAC-12 DPOY), I still predict USC doing well and once again making an appearance in the College Cup.
With rumors swirling about an NWSL expansion team in Los Angeles, questions have risen about whether or not the city is capable of sustaining a professional women’s team. As an Angeleno, I am more than aware of LA’s capacity to embrace its sports teams, and on paper Los Angeles looks like an ideal city for an expansion team to thrive: money, fame, glamour, the proverbial limelight, etc. I mean, population theory alone suggests LA is a city that would be difficult for the NWSL to ignore. But, even with that being said, the city simply is not ready to fully embrace a new women’s professional soccer team.
For the most part, LA is a great sports town. We have two NBA teams, one WNBA team, two NHL teams (if you want to count the Ducks), two MLB teams (if you want to count the Angels), two MLS teams (Mia Hamm, I see you girl with that partial ownership of LAFC), and we have just recently resumed our on again, off again love affair with the NFL. Not to mention the sports pedigrees of UCLA and USC.
Again, the presence of these teams seems like an amazing selling point. Hey look at all these sports teams with sports fans they like sports right?
Except for one HUGE issue: most LA sports fans don’t actually like LA sports.
Okay, maybe I’m speaking in hyperbole, but the point I am trying to make is this: LA “fans” predominantly go to games for two primary reasons that take precedence above the love of the game. And that is to either be seen/be a part of the LA scene, or to be a part of something historic. Just ask the Clippers. They will always play second fiddle to the Lakers because you simply aren’t going to brush arms with the likes of Jack Nicholson at one of their games and they don’t have 16 championships. Or consider my own personal experience from a UCLA men’s basketball game where they were hosting the University of Kentucky (not rivals per se, but a lot of history, think Norway vs USWNT), where the focus could not have been any further from the actual game being played. No one around us knew the first thing about NCAA men’s basketball and 90% of the attention was on Alessandro Del Piero, Chloe Moretz, and Shaq, the first two of which have absolutely no ties to UCLA, UK, or basketball for that matter. This only highlights my point that the motivation for going was not to witness the sport first hand but to be seen on the scene, ultimately established by UCLA’s historical significance (11 national titles).
The problem is that this type of mentality would likely prove detrimental to an expansion women’s team because of the extreme unlikelihood that a new team could offer any form of similar appeal from day 1.
(Full disclosure: the majority of above does not directly apply to most Kings fans. They love their sport, their team, and likely wanted to go to fisticuffs after reading the above… sorry.)
Another issue that a new team would undoubtedly face is stadium location. The problem with Los Angeles is that public transit may as well be nonexistent and it’s an absolute nightmare to get anywhere. So you better have a damn good reason to go anywhere, otherwise it’s just not worth it, which is potentially extremely problematic in drawing new fans, depending on where the games are played.
This is where the prospect of partnering with an MLS team could prove make or break. A partnership with LAFC poses far fewer transportation problems than partnering with the Galaxy.
LAFC stands to have not only a top of the line stadium, but one that is conveniently located and can be reached by that nonexistent metro system. The Galaxy on the other hand, play in Carson, CA, which I believe to be approximately 1,000 miles from Los Angeles. At least that is what it feels like in traffic. And the fact that I have to sit in traffic and drive so far to a game means that I either A.) can’t have a beer at the game or B.) will end up paying $40 for an uber or lyft to the game each way. Now, there is the possibility that this might not be a problem, because the Galaxy do sellout frequently. However, the Galaxy have 5 MLS cups and have/have had the star power of David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Giovani dos Santos, etc. Implying you basically need a Marta, an Alex Morgan, and a Christine Sinclair to start winning immediately for a team with Galaxy ties to mimic the success of the men’s team, which is an unlikely prospect at best.
The last issue that no one seems to be talking about is how the city is overly sexualized, thanks in large to the entertainment industry, and how that can lead to extremely sexist tendencies.
Example: The Lakers were the first team in the NBA to create a cheerleading squad (today known as the Laker Girls). Yes, the people of Los Angeles were so bored with watching players like the legend, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, that in 1979 they had to place dancing girls in tight, sexy outfits on the court to entertain them.
Another example: The most recent soccerrelated example I can give is when I attended the MLS Cup in 2012. It was David Beckham’s last game and I was so psyched because I knew I wanted to buy some LA gear to prove to everyone that I was cool and was at the game (do you see how awful this city is?), and the only shirt I could find in a women’s size was a navy Vneck that read “Hate to See You Go, But Love to Watch You Leave.” Clearly hinting at the fact that David Beckham is considered to be an attractive dude and that I, as a female, must love his ass, instead of the game of soccer.
I’m not saying that sexuality can’t or shouldn’t play some role in selling tickets, but I am nervous that the LA market will take this to an extreme that will prove to be unhealthy for the league and the game.
In the end, I selfishly hope that I am wrong about everything and Los Angeles provides a kickass team that obliterates my expectation, but the NWSL needs to at least consider and navigate the hurdles outlined above.
At least, that is what I’m hoping for. So please, Los Angeles…”Carli Lloyd” me. Prove me WRONG.
With the USWNT beginning a new cycle and the team in transition, it’s time for new blood. In this two-part series, I take a look at whose NWSL play has earned a call-up to National Team camp and the chance to make an impression on Jill Ellis. Part One examines the defense.
Goalkeeper
Few positions on a National Team can be as impenetrable as goalkeeper. A goalkeeper is a long-term investment, and once a #1 is established, she can hold that spot for years longer than field players. For the majority of its 31-year lifetime, the USWNT has had three main goalkeepers: Mary Harvey, Briana Scurry, and Hope Solo. Harvey came aboard in 1989 and led the team to victory in the 1991 World Cup. Scurry received her first cap at age 22, became the starting goalkeeper before the 1995 World Cup, and held the spot for a decade. Solo made her first appearance at age 18 and took the regular starting position in 2005. Her ambitions for her career after the Rio Olympics have been unclear; often ambiguous, her statements about the future have ranged from assertions that her best is yet to come to more vague words that imply the time has come. Regardless, it’s clear the U.S. will soon be grooming a new #1, and probably should already have started.
The current backups, Alyssa Naeher and Ashlyn Harris, are both more than capable of holding the spot and performing well. However, as stated previously, the USWNT likes to find its goalkeepers young, allowing them to mature into the role and gain plenty of experience while doing such. With the record the U.S. has and the reputation both Scurry and Solo hold, it’s hard to argue with that. So which young NWSL goalkeepers could we see in U.S. colors soon?
Jane Campbell leads the discussion of probable Solo replacements, but the Stanford senior hasn’t played in the NWSL (yet). Abbie Smith is another talented college and Youth National Team goalkeeper who should be in the mix. Known for her booming goal kicks and punts, Smith was on her way to living up to her reputation as a top-notch keeper when she took over for Libby Stout on the Boston Breakers, but a knee injury in May took her out for the season. Assuming she regains her form, Smith should be on the USWNT watchlist.
The best option may well be Katelyn Rowland. A U-20 Women’s World Cup veteran like Harris, Naeher, and Smith before her, Rowland also starred at UCLA, setting NCAA shutout records and picking up two assists as well as leading the Bruins to the 2013 NCAA Championship. After a season and a half of serving as backup to Nicole Barnhart, longtime Solo backup herself and possibly the league’s best goalkeeper, Rowland made the bold move to leave FC Kansas City and assert herself as a #1, seeking a midseason trade to the Western New York Flash, where she soon secured the top spot. Rowland is an excellent shot stopper who rarely shows indecision off the line. As she earns more playing time at the professional level, Rowland should continue to grow and work her way into the National Team pool.
Centerback
The centerback position is fairly deep on the National Team currently. Becky Sauerbrunn is seemingly set to go another cycle with Julie Johnston at her side, while Whitney Engen is ready as backup and Emily Sonnett waits in the wings, not to mention Ali Krieger who spent a game and a half at the position this year for the team. It could be difficult for anyone to break into that group, but that’s not to say that the opportunity doesn’t exist.
Megan Oyster leads the pack. After a strong rookie season, Oyster started this year where she left off, helping propel Washington to the top of the table. However, after a dreadful game in Portland, Oyster has since struggled at times to regain her form, particularly when she was called upon to anchor the backline after the departure of her Rio-bound teammates. That said, her good performances far outweigh her mistakes, and Oyster has it in her to compete at the top.
Kassey Kallman is another option. After being a key part of the 2012 U-20 World Cup championship team, Kallman is on her third NWSL season, where she currently serves alongside Engen on Boston’s backline. The two are quietly one of the better centerback pairings in the league, where their record belies their solid work.
Another option may be Cari Roccaro. A youth NT standout and once considered a possible number one draft pick, Roccaro’s stock fell considerably when it was revealed she had been playing with two labral tears in her hips and would undergo surgery in the offseason, delaying her NWSL debut. However, her former Notre Dame head coach Randy Waldrum took a chance on her and brought her to the Houston Dash, where she completed rehab ahead of schedule and soon earned a starting position. Still not yet back to 100%, Roccaro is a disciplined player who is comfortable pushing up into the attack.
Finally, Abby Dahlkemper deserves a look. A former UCLA teammate of Rowland, the pair has reunited at Western New York, where Dahlkemper has stepped up. Most promising from Dahlkemper is that although her youth and relative inexperience occasionally show, she has shown definite improvement in her sophomore season. She also brings significant youth national team experience.
Fullback
Unlike central defense, the outside back pool for the USWNT is extremely shallow. Ali Krieger appears to have fallen from favor, while neither Kelley O’Hara nor Meghan Klingenberg had good tournaments in Rio. Jaelene Hinkle is the only young player to have seen any time at the spot recently, and although her National Team debut wasn’t stellar, her allocated status and tremendous season for the Flash may earn her a return appearance.
Lauren Barnes was invited to camp earlier this year but didn’t see any playing time. Barnes brings versatility to the role, as she can play both fullback and centerback. She hasn’t had a solid 2016 for the Seattle Reign, but who on the Reign this year has? If Barnes can regain her form, either central or outside, she could work her way back into the mix.
Finally, any discussion of outside backs would be remiss not to mention the best pairing in the league: the Chicago Red Stars’ Arin Gilliland and Casey Short. The two bring exactly what Ellis likes to see from her fullbacks – fast players, comfortable with the ball at their feet, who will push into the attack and don’t shy away from taking the shot themselves. However, both Short and Gilliland are also strong on the opposite side of the pitch, something Ellis’ current wingback system lacks. They’re skilled on 1v1 defense and demonstrate great awareness of when to drop back. It would be baffling to see January camp without at least one of the two on the list.
Although some old faces will be departing, the options are there for the USWNT to have a strong defense once again, which, as they undergo that rarity of a goalkeeper change, is absolutely necessary.
Up next: Part Two of the series, which will focus on offense.
I grew up in southeast Wisconsin, a place where Sunday Catholic masses in the fall usually included a reference to the Packers during the homily. And sometimes a joke about the Bears or the Vikings, to the delight of almost all. But I found football boring (little did I know) and paid it no mind.
I played basketball and baseball until sometime around seventh or eighth grade. I was big–tall–and slow.
The thing is, I’ve always been large. Fat, really. And the journey to being able to say that without feelings of overwhelming shame, well, it’s been a long one. And the thing about being the fat girl is that we don’t really play sports.
To be fair, women’s sports wasn’t really a viewing option. Maybe some golf, maybe some tennis. But except for Olympic years and major tournaments, I can’t remember seeing a women’s basketball game on television, never a women’s soccer game nor a women’s hockey game.
The bodies of female athletes that I saw on television were tall, toned, and definitely not fat. Toned, but not overly muscular. Even their athleticism was marked by a kind of grace that I just didn’t possess.
I never saw myself reflected in the women I saw playing sports. I didn’t see the fat girls.
As time marched on I eventually stopped playing sports. I tolerated gym class while I focused on other activities. For a long time, I looked at sports as something with nothing to offer me.
My foray back into the wide world of sports began with the NFL. With the Packers, a Super Bowl win, and the excitement of being able to connect with my dad and brothers. And, yes, the allure of the family Fantasy Football trophy.
But it wasn’t until the Women’s World Cup in 2015 that I truly became a sports fan. I’d never watched a soccer game before June 8th, 2015, when the USWNT bested Australia. No one in my family ever played soccer. None of my friends did. And, yeah, my dad, the football and basketball fan, thought it was boring. He’d say, “They’re always flopping around on the ground!” or “What good’s a sport where nobody scores?”
But I watched that game against Australia, and I was hooked.
Immediately.
My Google history from that night included a lot of names of players I’d never heard of before (I’d really only heard of Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, and Hope Solo through cultural osmosis) as well as things like “What is stoppage time?” For reference, as a former basketball player, I was very concerned the first time I saw someone take the ball over the centerline, then back, then forward again.
“Isn’t that a foul? A backcourt violation?” I wondered.
Turns out, it was not.
Since June 8th, 2015, I have watched every single USWNT game.
I’ve watched as many NWSL games as I have been able (and while the ability to watch on YouTube is wonderful, are you seriously telling me that I have several hundred channels with my cable subscription, and not a single one is willing to broadcast the games?).
I went to a Chicago Red Stars game against Sky Blue FC earlier this year and had an amazing experience, and I took my mom to the July 9th USWNT match against South Africa. She’d never seen a soccer game before either, and she loved every minute of it. And when the Red Stars take on the Washington Spirit in their last game of the regular season later this year, I will be there, cheering my head off.
The USWNT turned me into a women’s soccer fan.
But I’ve also become more and more aware of my status as, what I’ve termed, a “fat fan.”
See, I’ve always been large, always been overweight. I think I was thin once, for about two weeks, after I was released from a hospitalization for pneumonia at the age of six months. I spent high school wearing super-sized Nike t-shirts and rocking the layered flannel look (and yes, I know–it wasn’t a look then; it still isn’t now).
I sit gingerly and carefully on seats that look unable to hold my weight–or I just stand–because I can still hear one of the kids back in elementary school taunting me about being too heavy for the desk chairs.
I get anxiety about flying on airplanes–because what if they want me to pay for a second seat? Or what if I get sat next to someone who makes a big deal about my arms touching theirs on, or my thighs touching theirs. (Fat flying anxiety: it’s an actual thing.)
And on the one hand, becoming a fan of soccer has introduced me to the whole wide world of female athlete body types, and honestly helped me move toward overcoming my lifetime’s worth of shame over being the fat girl. But at the same time, I find myself continually reminded of who I am.
Life as a fat fan—and this isn’t limited to soccer; it’s just the sport I have the most experience with of late—can be complicated. As much as sports celebrate bodies and active lifestyles, and as much as soccer has helped to promote body positivity (thank you, Ali Krieger, and Christen Press, for your ESPN Body Issue comments in 2015 and 2016, respectively), I am always reminded of my size as a fan.
What it’s like to be a fat fan?
First of all, the official merchandise.
Now, this isn’t a problem so much in the NFL–I have no problem getting a Jordy Nelson or Clay Matthews jersey in the size that I want.
But I have noticed that it’s a problem in the soccer world. The USSF caps replica and authentic jersey sizes at 2XL. In both men’s and women’s sizes. (Let’s not get lost in the many problems with women’s jerseys, but seriously, that v-neck?). For a while, you could only get the 3-star jersey in the women’s cut. Which, as Serena Williams helpfully pointed out, doesn’t fit every body type.
But the 2XL in either cut doesn’t fit everybody (or every body) either.
So if you want to represent your favorite athlete or team, as a fat person, you’ve got to squeeze your body into a 2XL or go the route of finding non-licensed apparel. Which, yes, does exist. But, as a fans of the USSF and its players, we should try to avoid.
I have two jerseys: a 2015 away jersey with Ali Krieger’s name and number and a 2016 away jersey with Kelley O’Hara’s. I’m a defense girl; always have been. They’re 2XL and, yes, technically they fit, but they’re tight.
They’re tight and I feel uncomfortable wearing them. I spend the day pulling them down as they roll up, self-conscious that my fat back is showing. I spend the day feeling like Bruce Banner, just one moment of not paying attention to how wide I’m swinging my arms from bursting out of the seams. For the record, the 2016 jersey is just slightly better. I am comfortable wearing that one outside of the house. Sometimes.
But you know what would be so much better?
A jersey in 3XL.
That would fit just a little better and make me a little more comfortable. I’d still be fat, yeah, but I’d certainly feel a little more dignified. And what about fans larger than me? I know they exist. How hard would it be to offer a 4XL or 5XL option? How hard would it be to make fans of all sizes feel comfortable using their bodies to mark their enthusiasm and their passion for the sport?
The official NWSL team merchandise isn’t always better–though it can vary from team to team.
I’ve got a wonderful long-sleeve Red Stars shirt and a bright orange Sky Blue shirt that (after some deliberate stretching) fits okay. Team jerseys, depending upon availability, can range from topping off at L to 2XL, but never higher.
Which is a shame for multiple reasons. Not only are the opportunities far more frequent for people to go and see them play, but the league could benefit even more from increased merchandise sales to help support teams and players.
The NWHL, for example, also only offers up to 2XL, both in shirts and jerseys. But their merchandise is undergoing a revamp as they design new jerseys for their second season, and it’s possible that available sizes might change or increase nearer to the start.
But there’s actually a simple solution to this.
As a fat person, I’m used to sometimes paying a few dollars more for a size I want. Lots of places offer sizes up to 2XL at a set price, and sizes above 2XL with a slight surcharge. If I could go all day without feeling like everyone knows what color underwear I’m wearing, I’d pay the extra bucks.
The problem isn’t limited to federation and league products, either. The issue also exists within individual player merchandise, their personal branded lines. It isn’t an institutional issue but a cultural one.
And sometimes, yes, it’s simply out of the player’s control.
I can tell you, if there’s a player out there who offers their gear in larger sizes? I’m 100% more likely to buy from them.
Ashlyn Harris’s store via Sqor, when it first opened, offered at least one shirt that went into at least 3XL: the all-black Keeper shirt with her name on back.
It’s one of my favorites.
In contrast, Megan Rapinoe’s line doesn’t seem to offer anything over 2XL. Ali Krieger’s most recent t-shirt design only went to 2XL (and sold out in a day—congrats!). But when someone contacted Team Krieger, they did express concern over the issue of sizing. It’s interesting to note that the Krieger website includes a sizing chart that lists Bella+Canvas shirts being offered up to 4XL but the product itself is only offered up to 2XL. I love both players, and I support them both, but I can’t in good conscience buy a shirt from them that I’m not sure will fit me.
Hope Solo’s merchandise store seems to only offer options up to 2XL as well, but she recently put out a “Resting Pitch Face” merchandise line in cooperation with Girl Up. And with this product, her sizes went up to 3XL in one of the t-shirt options, and 5XL in the sweatshirt option. I was already a Hope Solo fan. I’ve got a (too-tight) t-shirt from the US Soccer store with her name and number in gold lettering, but am I considering plunking down more money for a shirt or sweatshirt that actually fits? That I can wear outside without feeling self-conscious?
You betcha.
And sure, there are the inevitable responses to issues like this. Why not just lose the weight? Why not be more active? Why not get healthier? Is it the responsibility of institutions or individuals to cater to fat people?
Well, those are questions that open up a whole host of other issues about the way society and culture views body types. But I can tell you this. I’m not unhealthy. My blood pressure is perfect. I don’t have diabetes.
Oh, and last summer, inspired by the USWNT during the Women’s World Cup (and in particular, Ali Krieger’s stories of her multiple comebacks after what could have been career-ending injuries), I actually did a C25K program and ran in a 5K in the fall.
Yeah, me. The fat girl.
So it’s not just that I’m lazy (I’m willing to admit that I can be), unhealthy (I’m not), or some other accusation someone wants to toss at me. And others who experience similar things aren’t either. The issue is that larger people exist, that we can be just as passionate as fans as everyone else, but we are continually reminded that sports just aren’t for us by the limited merchandise options made available.
We are literally being sized out of athletic patronage.
So, back to that last question: Should there be more size options? My answer is going to be yes. Yes, federations and teams and players should try to offer products in larger sizes. I’m not even saying that every product has to go up to 5XL or above. But one or two of them? Absolutely.
Why?
We’re fans.
We buy tickets. We squeeze ourselves into uncomfortable stadium seating that gouges into our hips, and if we look like we’re on the edge of our seats for the whole game, it’s 50% excitement and 50% because the armrests don’t hurt our sides that way. We buy merchandise that we can wear (snapbacks and scarves) or display (flags and signs) and merchandise that we’re apprehensive about wearing (jerseys, shorts, t-shirts, jackets, socks, etc.). We show up to games, and sometimes, honestly, sometimes we’re a little afraid or anxious about what other people think. Are our rolls of fat showing? Do we look ridiculous in this? Do people think we’re trying too hard, that we know less or aren’t truly fans because we weigh more?
We cheer and we root and we are so, so proud of our players and our teams and our leagues.
But sometimes?
Sometimes we don’t wear our gear at all. Sometimes we show up in things that fit us, things that make us feel like we don’t have to worry the whole day.
And then we wonder, the whole time, do people still know that we’re fans? Do they think we’re imposters? Do they know that we live and breathe and die by the scoreline? Our team’s place on the table?
Come the end of September, I’m going to be at that Red Stars game. And I’m going to be wearing some sort of soccer gear. I just wish I could be certain that I will be comfortable in it as I’m hooting and hollering and cheering the teams and the players on.
Pay to play is not a new concept in youth sports, especially soccer. Articles have been written, research has been done, and lectures have been given. The pay to play concept has bled into low-income neighborhoods and created a divide for players of color within US Soccer development programs. The problem isn’t merely that it exists—the problem is that this issue has essentially become somewhat of a long-standing tradition in youth soccer. It has become the norm throughout the United States.
WHAT IS “PAY TO PLAY,” AND WHY DO I HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT IT?
Pay to play can refer to many different fields and professional areas, like politics and business. However, pay to play is a phrase that has been commonly heard or used when referring to youth sports in general. It is the common belief that money must be exchanged for the potential access to the elite club leagues, which lead to potential college scouts, which lead to potential college scholarships, which lead to potential US development leagues, which lead to potentially playing at a national team level.
When you exchange money for goods and services, there is a sense of privilege in that. So why would we hear so much about something like that in something like youth soccer? We probably hear so much about it because it has become an evolving problem that was created by the very people who have claimed to love the sport. Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and yet somehow, it does not truly “belong” to everyone here in the States. The playing field in youth soccer is no longer level, and it has not been for several years. How do we try and solve this problem at a grassroots level?
RACE AND LOW ECONOMIC STATUS ARE RELATED
To acknowledge the huge disadvantage that pay to play holds in youth soccer, one must also acknowledge the fact that race and low economic status are related in the United States.
Poverty is poverty and money issues can affect anyone in this country. There are average families struggling every day. No one is saying that there are NOT poor white people. What many are saying, though, is the numbers of low-income Black and Hispanic families ARE much higher. That also means they live in more under-developed areas, with fewer educational and athletic resources in their neighborhoods and communities, leading to far fewer opportunities in general.
A few years ago, the Working Poor Families Project released a policy brief that contained information and charts examining the relationship between race and ethnicity in poverty levels. They also charted the percentages of working families below 200% poverty by race and ethnicity.
2013 American Community Survey | Source: Working Families Project
With a constant pay to play system in place for youth soccer in the United States, this immediately sets a barrier between potential players of color and an elite soccer league or an Olympic Development program. Most families who enroll their kids in sports do so as a means of social interaction and activity. What happens when that child eventually develops and displays actual talent and skill? Where do they go to improve and enhance their skills, as the costs of youth soccer and its elite leagues rise? For the non-white youth of this country, that opportunity shrinks every year.
There are youth development academies out there that are free with a “homegrown” player emphasis that can lead to opportunities for young players to someday play with the senior team. The Chicago Fire Developmental Academy is one. One of their main perks is that participation comes at no cost for its players, and it provides a door to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy League at the U-16 and U-18 level. It also hosts its training sessions in and around the Fire’s stadium, Toyota Park, which is located in Bridgeview (a suburb south of Chicago). It is one way to eliminate some of the parental noise that may come from pay to play teams, while giving low income families an opportunity for their child to be selected based on their talent. It is also extremely competitive and limited to 50 boys.
So why do the development academies in the women’s game have such heavy fees? When looking into academy fees for girls, one can check into the Portland Thorns FC, arguably the most popular team in National Women’s Soccer League. They have their academy information available online, like most NWSL academies, for families who are interested in having their daughters set on a path of potential. They outline a pyramid of potential for success through their academy that can lead to college opportunities, NWSL drafts, and maybe someday the United States senior national team.
The academy state fee was listed at $1,350 for the 2015/2016 season, after estimated travel costs for U16’s, the grand total rounded out to $4,515. The academy state fee is now $1,600 for the 2016/2017 season.
Portland Thorns FC Academy
What families from low-economic backgrounds are able to fit an additional $4,500 into their already tight budgets? Of course these types of academies, camps, and various development leagues all offer some type of payment plan. They may also offer some kind of financial assistance in the form of scholarships on a case-by-case basis. In the event that a child is sponsored or offered a scholarship into these leagues and academies, what type of additional pressure do they carry into these development programs?
The constant pressure to succeed or immediately contribute to their teams could be considered unfair emotional and mental baggage for them. What happens when one of these teens are just having a bad day and don’t feel like practicing? The attitude of “you’re fortunate to be here” doesn’t leave much room for error or lax attitudes. It could also cause strife between “paying” parents and “non-paying” parents. After all, isn’t that why one pays to play? Paying for the privilege of having their child get access to the best coaching? And to get as much playing time and pitch time as possible?
WHAT COULD THIS MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF U.S. SOCCER?
When one thinks about success in US soccer at a national level, one immediately thinks of the United States Women’s National Team. They have won multiple Olympics, FIFA World Cups, and other various international tournaments. Although the US Soccer Federation could continue to improve their relationship and support of the women’s game, the United States is one of the stronger federations when it comes to women’s soccer. The USWNT has grown in reputation for their ability in peak physical play and fitness, along with their fierce attitudes on the pitch.
Just because it has been referenced and noted that we have outstandingly fit players and that other countries may not doesn’t mean the competition isn’t catching up. The inaugural She Believes Cup, an elite 4-team tournament hosted in the US, saw the USWNT face 3 top-five ranked teams. Each victory of theirs was closely contested—all with one-goal margins of victory. There were no 5+ goal wins, like we saw throughout their World Cup Victory Tour.
When you’re competing against other highly-ranked international teams, why should we sell ourselves short of creativity and depth from potential future players? The “American Style” brand of women’s soccer is to be bigger, more physical, and fit—to do enough to literally run the team off the field. What happens when other federations try to match that style? Does that leave room for creativity on or off the ball? Does it not hurt our future when these financial barriers are a constant issue?
The infrastructure of youth soccer in the U.S. has to be looked at from the bottom, at the grassroots level, in and around communities. However, that does not mean that there shouldn’t be accountability at the top. Administration and coaches have to look at themselves and the infrastructure and ask if this how they want to operate.
This country has prided itself on being the melting pot of the world. It is a problem when not everyone here has access to the world’s game. It completely contradicts the motto often heard throughout women’s soccer: “Grow the Game.”
For more content related to Race in WoSo, please check out our discussion here. We will continue to have these discussions and have a follow up to this Pay to Play article discussing Youth Soccer and Latin-American Bi-Culturalism.
If the Boston Breakers hadn’t gone 0-3 in their last three WPS games in 2009, I wouldn’t be writing about what is perhaps the most unlikely championship in American professional women’s club soccer history. Americans love a good underdog story, especially one that involves sports. Struggling with management and coaching changes, fighting to make the playoffs, and successively defeating each of the three higher-seeded teams in a Super-style playoff system, you might say that Sky Blue FC’s run to the 2009 WPS Championship is one of those memorable—if not downright miraculous—sports stories. If you are a longtime fan of women’s professional soccer, you might remember it. If you don’t, let me fill you in.
The Captain Becomes the Coach
Sky Blue had three different head coaches during their inaugural 2009 season. First was Ian Sawyers, who was also General Manager. He opened the season with one win, three losses, and two ties. Kelly Lindsey was brought in after Sawyers was fired, and the team fared a bit better under her, recording five wins, four losses, and three ties. After Lindsey resigned, with only two matches left to play in the regular season, management decided to name Captain Christie Pearce head coach, making her the first player/coach in the history of American women’s professional soccer. Mike Lyons was brought in as her assistant coach. Pearce had a 1-1 record in those final two regular-season matches, which was good enough to clinch a playoff spot. Including the playoffs, her overall record was 4-0-1.
Gerry Marrone, the General Manager who was Sawyers’ successor, oversaw the change from Coach Lindsey to Coach Pearce. He shared the story of how the change took place.
The day that this change took place was an interesting one.I was dealing with a personnel issue early in the day and I thought that Kelly was going to resign.Because of the way things were unfolding I went to the practice field to observe the team.Interestingly enough Christie had just returned to the practice field but was not active as she was returning from injury.The team was gathered when Kelly arrived, she walked up to address the team, turned to me and handed me her team computer, computer bag and letter of resignation for both her and her assistant coach (whom I had suspended earlier that morning).The team was surprised – some reacted negatively and some positively.It was pretty quiet for a couple of seconds.
Because of what had unfolded that week and earlier that day I was not necessarily surprised at what happened, but certainly at how it happened.I expected we were going to be making a change and prior to coming to the field I met with then managing owner Thomas Hofstetter and suggested that if what I expected to happen actually took place we should ask Christie if she would do it – become player/coach.We had been through a tough year from a coaching perspective and I didn’t feel it made any sense to go out and bring in an outsider with only a few games remaining and us being out of the current playoff picture.Thomas and I discussed it, and he had no hesitation with the idea.He gave the green light.
Back at the practice field, as Kelly left, got in her car and drove away I looked at Christie and we walked a few yards down the field.I asked her if she would run practice that day, and then come to the office so we could discuss the situation – I told her I had an idea that I wanted to run by her.As was very normal with Christie – she didn’t miss a beat and said no problem.I addressed the team, explained the situation, talked about the events of the morning and told them Christie was going to run practice that day.I told them not to worry, they were in good hands and we would have a plan by the end of the day.Christie then took the reins, addressed her new team (not officially yet), put them at ease and got on with business.
When Christie came to the office a couple of hours later I asked her if she would consider being the player/coach.With literally no hesitation she said yes immediately.We discussed bringing someone in to help her and she made a suggestion of whom that could be and we moved forward.It was a crazy day, but we were on our way to a championship when she left the office that day. ~ Gerry Marrone
And just what kind of person does it take to take on the dual responsibilities of captain and coach? Well, let’s just say that sharing a nickname with a superhero isn’t a bad sign.
Christie was clearly the key to all of this happening.Throughout the season she was herself – Captain America.She is one of the most natural born leaders I have ever seen.Christie brought in Mike Lyons as her assistant, and between the two of them I think they did two things tactically – the kept it simple and played to the strengths of the players we had. Christie was always the on-field leader – and Mike was a great motivator on both the practice fields and the sidelines.I think Christie would tell you this was all new for her – watching films from a different perspective, planning for the matches from all angles – not just defensively.I think she was enjoying it too.I still believe she will be the coach of the national team one day.
~ Gerry Marrone
The decision to turn a captain into a coach set off a chain reaction that lead to Sky Blue hoisting the trophy. With a newfound freedom, the team was able to, as Marrone called it, “play simpler.” Players who had once been shoehorned into playing a more American style were sudden set free to bring their uniqueness to the game.
On the field I think Christie and Mike made the game simpler.They put players in positions that were best suited for their abilities and played to their strengths.Two good examples of this were Franciella (Fran) and Rosana – our two Brazilian players. Rosana was and still is a star of the Brazilian national team, and was classic Brazilian – played with flair and personality.She scored a half-volley goal earlier in the year that made my eyes bulge watching it.Under the previous coach Rosana was being held back – forced to as she told me, “play like an American”.Christie and Mike set her free to play like a Brazilian and it paid dividends.
~ Gerry Marrone
Pearce remembers the season and the offer to become the coach. The “no-brainer” decision might have scared off another player but not Pearce.
I think 2009 was a difficult season for Sky Blue, and then, when the role was asked of me to become coach it was a no-brainer. Because I knew at the time the team needed someone who believed in them and that wanted to take it on, and at that point, it’d be tough for a coach to come in and actually understand the personalities and kinda everything that was going on that season. So, it was a no-brainer for me to accept that role and then just have the team, you know, come together and kinda buy in to the same system and just enjoy it and have fun. And I think you could see that within the team and the dynamic of how we went from almost last to first and winning that championship. But I enjoyed it; I loved it. The team was awesome. No egos on that team, so it was amazing to coach. ~ Christie Pearce
Natasha Kai, a Sky Blue forward, remembers what it was like to play with Christie, first as a captain, then as a coach and captain.
I lived with her, so I got to experience her, not only as a captain on the team and our player/coach, but I also got to get close to her off the field. You know she’s one of my role models. I’m sure she’s a role model for a lot of people around the world, especially in America, but you know she’s a good example of, you know, everything. Mother, coach, friend, um, and I learned a lot from her over the years. And I’m very fortunate to be back here, you know, many, many years later and still being able to play with her. ~ Natasha Kai
The Team
A coach cannot be a coach without a team. The team put together in 2009 blended national team players from four different countries: the United States, Brazil, Canada, and Australia, with some young talent and experienced players to create a team that could bond together and win.
This is the team that suited up in the playoffs.
Jenni Branam stood in goal for Sky Blue for 16 games and had an impressive .97 GGA, while having six clean sheets to her name—two in the playoffs. Only two goals got past the Sky Blue goalkeeper in the last two games of the regular season and the three playoff games. England Women’s National Team goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was the backup goalkeeper.
Jen Buczkowski, recently retired from FC Kansas City of the NWSL, was joined by Keeley Dowling, Meghan Schnur, Julianne Sitch, and Christie Pearce to form the defensive unit.
The Sky Blue midfield was home to the likes of Kacey White, Yael Averbuch, Francielle, Kelly Parker, Noelle Keselica and Collette McCallum. Francielle scored the game-winner over Washington in the 85th minute of the Super Semifinal.
The midfield’s play gave the team a chance to get the ball to a talented group of forwards. Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City fans will know that name as well as they know Buczkowski and Averbuch), Natasha Kai, Rosana, Kerri Hanks, and Katie Hooker formed a formidable attacking unit.
But it wasn’t always the players that suited up that made an impact. As Gerry Marrone explains, sometimes it was the third-string goalkeeper (also serving as equipment manager) who got the team motivated and ready for action.
I think there was another intangible we had – Shannon Myers.Shannon was our third goalkeeper behind Jenni Branam and Karen Bardsley.She was what was called at the time a Developmental Player and also served as the equipment manager.However, she was so much more.Shannon was a motivator.From what I heard (because I was clearly not in the locker room) Shannon was a driving force and frequently did pre-game speeches to the team. I got to know Shannon more following this season and I can tell you she is simply one of the highest quality people you will ever meet, and I have no doubt she was a key factor in this championship run. ~ Gerry Marrone
Natasha Kai, back for the 2016 season after a few years away from the game of soccer, remembers how her team managed to come together to take home the title.
I mean, the beginning of the season – you know – you can’t even write a book about that. But I think as the months went by, we kinda molded together and glued ourselves together, and we were all tuned in to realize, hey, we’re the Bad News Bears. Anything is possible. We just needed each other’s backs. And slowly, game by game, we started winning. And we were like, you know what, we might as well just take home the championship. Every game was a challenge, but every game we got closer and closer to the championship game.We made it to the championship game and, you know, we were like, hey, we’re here we’re here; we might as well win the damn thing. So, we did. ~ Natasha Kai
Pack for L.A.
The WPS playoffs were like nothing NWSL fans have seen. The 4th-seeded team from the regular season played the 3rd-seeded team, the winner went on to play the second-seeded team, and the winner of that game played the first-seeded team for the title. Three road games for the 4th-seeded Sky Blue team posed a daunting task.
It definitely was a challenging format, but we kinda understood the format because it made regular season play that much more important and effective. But you know, we just had basically gotten to that fourth place spot in 2009, and you know it was tough, but it was rewarding and motivating and challenging, but I think it made the team stronger with each victory, and you kinda felt that momentum. So, I think it actually benefited us, coming from the bottom to the top. At that point you have nothing to lose, and you’re on the road, and you’re getting stronger as a unit, and I think it helped us through that victory in 2009. ~ Christie Pearce
Sky Blue first headed down to Washington, then on to St. Louis, and finally to Los Angeles. On a map, it almost looks like fate was taking Sky Blue out west, little by little, towards their own manifest destiny.
One of the most memorable moments of this run happened a couple of days before the playoffs began.The way the schedule was laid out – if we won on the road in Washington on the Saturday we needed to go straight to the airport to board a plane for St. Louis to play on Wednesday.If we won in St. Louis we had to fly directly to Los Angeles for the final on the weekend.The players were all asking how this was going to work, and there was some general confusion mixed with excitement.There was a team meeting in the office with the team and staff to discuss logistics and Christie stood up and made one very clear statement – PACK FOR L.A.!That became the rallying cry for everyone – we were going all the way and when you got ready to board that bus in NJ for DC be prepared for the week – we were going to L.A.
~ Gerry Marrone
Sky Blue wanted the players to know that the whole organization was behind them. So they came up with a unique way to show the players that they were thinking about them.
In the office the staff – led by our PR Director Gloria Averbuch (yes, Yael’s mom) developed a plan to show the players we were all behind them.We held a drawing in the office where each staff member and volunteer selected the name of a player out of a hat – similar to what you do for a secret Santa.We then prepared a gift bag for each player with things that would remind them of the season, the struggles and the goal – to win the Championship.These bags were to be delivered to each player as they were boarding the bus to leave for Washington.The entire staff met the team bus to help load the luggage and have a proper send off.We gave out the gift bags.~ Gerry Marrone
Game 1: Washington Freedom
Going into the game on August 8, 2009, Sky Blue had not beaten Washington that season, and they had only drawn them once, with the scores of the three games being 1-2, 4-4, and 1-3. The 1-3 loss to Washington had happened only the week before.
Sky Blue needed to figure out how to shut down Lisa De Vanna and Homare Sawa, along with Abby Wambach, who was back after suffering a broken leg, while also managing to score against future USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn, future World Cup champion Ali Krieger, USWNT defender Cat Whitehall, draftee Becca Moros, and Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
The first half of the game saw both teams enter the locker room scoreless. But in the 54th minute, Natasha Kai was brought on for two-time MAC Hermann Trophy winner Kerri Hanks. Less than a minute later, she scored the first goal of the match. Not to be outdone, Lisa De Vanna ripped one past Branam in the 78th minute. Pearce went to her bench and selected Francielle to replace Collette McCallum. Francielle, who had only played six games with Sky Blue at that point, scored the game-winner in the 85th minute.
Game 2: St. Louis Athletica
On August 19, 2009, Sky Blue faced the second-seeded St. Louis Athletica. They played the Athletica three times in the regular season. They lost each time. Now they had to play the regular season runners-up in St. Louis in order to advance to L.A. for the final.
The St. Louis Athletica boasted one of the best goalkeepers in the world—both in 2009 and 2016—in Hope Solo. Their star striker, Englishwoman Eniola Aluko, netted six goals and assisted on four others during the season. Future NWSL captain for the Chicago Red Stars, Lori Chalupny, was their captain and a scoring threat in her own right.
The winning goal was slotted past Hope Solo in the 30th minute by a defender, Keeley Dowling, who had never scored before as a professional soccer player. Yael Averbuch assisted. Just one more unexpected feat from the team that wouldn’t quit.
Just as Christie Pearce predicted, they were going to LA. But not before a few moments of team bonding happened. One moment during the travel sticks out to Marrone more than the others.
After we won in St. Louis on Wednesday we had to fly to Los Angeles for the final.Because the travel plans were so last minute we couldn’t get everyone on the same plane.We all went to the airport, along with all of our equipment and hunkered down in the terminal while we split the travel party in two.Shannon Myers traveled with her guitar, like we needed even more luggage!Imagine a crowded airline waiting area littered with soccer players all sitting on the seats and floor.Luggage and bodies everywhere.Shannon pulled out her guitar and starts playing Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” – first just the music, then she starts singing softly.A couple of the players start singing along.A gentleman that was traveling somewhere else sees what’s going on.He asked me who we were and where we were going and I explained it to him quickly. He pulls out his Ukulele and joins in. Before you know it there are about 30-40 people singing along in the terminal with the Sky Blue women.Even as I write this now I’m smiling and tearing up thinking about the memory – it was special. ~ Gerry Marrone
Game 3: Los Angeles Sol
The Los Angeles Sol was possibility one of the greatest women’s professional teams ever put together. A look at the lineup for the final shows just how solid they were from tip to tail. Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc led a backline that gave up only 9 goals all season. Manya Makoski, Brittany Bock, Allison Falk, and Stephanie Cox stood in front of the keeper on her backline. Japan’s Aya Miyama, USWNT players Aly Wagner and Shannon Boxx, and McCall Zerboni created a dynamic midfield. Marta, considered by many the best attacking player in the world at the time, and China’s Han Duan started as their forwards.
The final game took place on August 22, 2009. The 80-degree weather set the stage for a battle of the ages. Sky Blue had come this far, and they would not be denied.
We should get this out of the way. Sol defender Allison Falk received a red card 27 minutes into the game for denying Natasha Kai what was considered by the referee to be an obvious goal scoring opportunity. For 63 minutes—not including stoppage time—The Sol was forced to play a player down. Playing down for that long would be a disadvantage to any team. But games are not played on paper, and calls are made by humans. Sometimes that is just the way the ball bounces.
The game-winning goal was scored in just the 16th minute by Heather O’Reilly, assisted by Natasha Kai.
It was the first goal that Sky Blue had ever scored against the Sol.
O’Reilly is no stranger—then or now—to scoring or assisting game-winning goals. Three other instances spring to mind from her professional career. In 2004, her game-winner against Germany in the Olympic semifinal sent the USWNT to the gold-medal game, where they reclaimed the Olympic title after their loss in 2000. In 2012, her cross in the Olympic semifinal to Alex’s Morgan’s head for the game-winner over Canada became the stuff of legend. And bringing it back to club, her assist on Amy Rodriguez’s goal in the 2015 NWSL final saw her club, FC Kansas City, beat out the Seattle Reign for their second-straight title.
Just a reminder, the only three teams that Sky Blue hadn’t beaten in the regular season were the ones they defeated in each of the playoff matches. When they did so, they joined the Sol as the only two teams in the league to have beaten each of the other teams. Kai summed up her feelings about what it was like to step onto the field against the Sol and to beat them.
Stepping on the field, I think we already beat all the odds on making it, and like I said before, the excitement was there, all our emotions were there, and, you know, with all the crap we’d been through, through that whole 2009 season, it felt good to walk on the field as the underdogs and then walk off the field as champions. And, you know, that’s the best feeling ever, knowing that nobody had our backs except for the 22 of us and our ownership and everyone involved with Sky Blue. And bringing home the trophy was the exclamation mark to everything. It was us against the world and we overcame that. ~ Natasha Kai
Christie Pearce did not only coach the final game, she also spent 90 minutes shutting down Marta—something that very few defenders have ever been able to do. She shared her thoughts on what it was like to accomplish what the team set out to do.
It was pretty rewarding, you know, to know that A) you’re capable of doing that and B) your team respected you so much and bought in to each and every game plan through the playoffs. It was pretty amazing. And then to beat a team like L.A. Sol, who were just stacked and loaded and, you know, on paper were much better than us. But you know, just shows that if you put a good team out there on the field that are working together, united, it’s hard to break down, and you saw that in the championship game. ~ Christie Pearce
Gerry Marrone shares the story of the Sky Blue after-party and how he came to learn that his championship-winning player/manager was three months pregnant—something that was unsurprisingly not public at the time but only served to add to the legend of Coach Pearce.
Thomas Hoftstetter (Managing Partner) traveled out for the game and we met in LA.His first order of business after making sure the team was OK was to go find a place for a party after the final.We discussed the budget and how we wanted to stay within a certain dollar amount.We drove along the coast not far from Home Depot Center (the name at that time of the stadium) and looked [at] a few places.We came across a place that had an upstairs patio/deck area that they would give us – it was on the beach and facing the Pacific Ocean – a perfect ending to a rather tumultuous season.We established a budget for the party – the staff was going to notify me when we were getting close to the number and we could shut it down and move to an open bar where people could pay for their own drinks.And according to Thomas – “win or lose we are going to celebrate this season!”And we did.
Obviously we won and the place was rocking.Abby Wambach came by as well as several other “stars” to join in the celebration.The trophy was a very large cup – and it was being used as such and passed around – as we all celebrated into the night on the beach.Within the first 90 minutes the hostess found me about the bill – we were already approaching our limit.I looked at Thomas and simply shrugged – meaning what the hell – we came this far and won – keep it going.As we approached closing time I was sitting at a table with Christie, her husband Chris and several of their friends and Christie asked to talk to me.I couldn’t imagine what could possibly be up.
That’s when she said, “I wanted to speak with you about this later, but because the players now know I wanted to tell you.We were celebrating the win in the locker room”, to no credit of us – I completely dropped the ball and was not prepared with Champagne for after the game.It wasn’t because I didn’t think we would win – I really thought we would, but it just never occurred to me.What a massive fail on my part.
Christie continued, “I had to tell the girls I’m pregnant – it was the only way to explain why I wasn’t taking a drink”!Christie was not only pregnant – she was pregnant enough the doctor was going to shut her down if the season had lasted even one more week.If you think back to that injury Christie had around the time we appointed her player/coach she was having some complications from her pregnancy that no one knew about.Now, after 90 minutes of completely shutting down Marta – the undisputed best player in the world at the time, she was telling me this.I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.~ Gerry Marrone
Ownership That Believed
A winning team needs ownership that is willing to support them in both good times and bad. In the 2009 season, Sky Blue saw plenty of both. As General Manager, Gerry Marrone worked closely with the ownership, and it was his duty to help steer the ship.
Thomas Hofstetter was the Managing Partner and whom I worked with on a day-to-day basis.Francesco Prandoni, Steve Temares and Phil Murphy – who just today announced he is running for Governor of New Jersey, made up the group.Throughout this season we lost more money than they ever had projected.There were many reasons for this, but it never impacted the desire to succeed and win a championship. In fact, during this run to the Championship they gave me the approval to travel with the entire team – all 22 players, plus Shannon the Equipment Manager.Even though we could only roster 16 for the games they permitted everyone to travel as a team.During the season when you traveled only the rostered players would make the trips to manage expenses more efficiently.I honestly believe this made a considerable difference for not just team moral, but team unity. I don’t think at the time the players clearly understood what we did – but I think they appreciated it. ~ Gerry Marrone
Where Are They Now?
As with the current league, some players leave to have a second career after soccer, and some manage to hang around much longer. Of those that I could track down, here is where they are now:
At the start of the 2016 NWSL season, Pearce and Kai were both playing for Sky Blue, while Buczkowski, O’Reilly, and Averbuch all played for FC Kansas City. Pearce and O’Reilly both won gold at the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Karen Bardsley plays for Manchester City of the English FA WSL and is the number-one goalkeeper for the English Women’s National Team. She helped the Lionesses win the bronze at the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Rosana plays for PSG in Division 1 Féminine. The sport of soccer said goodbye to Buczkowski in 2016. She retired mid-season to attend the physical therapy school at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Several players coached after finishing their time as a player or stayed in the soccer world in another capacity. Kerri Hanks coached at Texas Christian University. Collette McCallum is the assistant coach of the Perth Glory’s Women’s team. Keeley Dowling is the assistant coach at the University of Texas at Austin. Casey White is the Capital Area Soccer League Older Girls Director.
Some left soccer for other dreams. Cori Alexander founded Cori Alexander Photography and found a second career as a photographer. Jenni Branam left soccer in 2011 to become a nurse.
The Legacy
Calling a team “the most unlikely champions in American professional women’s club soccer history” is not a something I do lightly. FC Gold Pride went from bottom of the table in 2009 to top of the table in 2010 and became the 2010 WPS champions. But they dominated the 2010 season, before folding ahead of the 2011 season. None of the WUSA or NWSL champions would really be considered unlikely; neither would the 2011 WPS champs, the Western New York Flash. Unless a future NWSL champion somehow manages the upset, the title belongs to Sky Blue.
Natasha Kai called the team the Bad News Bears. She’s not wrong. Few people would have wagered at the start of the season that Sky Blue would scrape into the playoffs. Fewer still would have predicted that they could beat the three other playoff teams—none of which they had beaten before—and come out champions.
This team of unlikely champions proved that it doesn’t always matter if a team gets off to a fast start—it’s the process of building through the season, adding bits and pieces as you go, that can lead to a place in history. Christie Pearce told them to pack for L.A., so they did. And after they’d won, they had one more t-shirt to pack.
Coach/Player Christie Pearce and Forward Natasha Kai hoisting the trophy. Photo Credit: Gerry MarroneCoach/Player Christie Pearce and Assistant Coach Mike Lyons after the Sky Blue victory. Photo Credit: Gerry MarroneGM Gerry Marrone with the trophy. Photo Credit: Gerry Marrone
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