6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 11

Posted on by RJ Allen

Week 11 brought us a double scoop of NWSL action with most teams playing a midweek match on top of all the action from the weekend. There were highlight reel goals, penalty kicks awarded, and referee controversy. That was just the beginning, so let’s buckle in as we offer up our top takeaways of the week.

Alex Morgan Returns But Too Late? – Luis Hernandez

It was the moment most Orlando Pride fans had been waiting for, the return of Alex Morgan from her stint in France. Entering the match against Chicago in the 65th minute, the home crowd roared to life hoping to see the returning hero score in her debut. However, two minutes after she entered the match Christen Press put away what would be the game winner from the spot.

The disjointed Orlando side couldn’t come away with anything on Saturday, once again dropping three points at home. In the presser after the match, Morgan stated, “But, maybe when Chi came in, I didn’t know what we were playing, who was playing what position. Because Camila was the 10 and then I wasn’t sure where she was and I wasn’t sure where Chi was so there was a little bit of confusion. I wish the communication was better. I think we can work on that a lot more.” You can’t fault Tom Sermanni for playing Morgan as soon as she was able, without better incorporating her into the rhythm her teammates have started to create, especially in a week with multiple matches. Needed fresh legs and wanting to see what her fitness level, Sermanni put her in, hoping she could boost the offense.

Certainly, the Pride will be able to work it out and improve. However, it’s the defensive errors which have caused them to drop 13 points so far this year, and each of the top four teams have more than a one-match cushion on Orlando. A trip to the playoffs may soon be out of reach.

Mid-Season Discipline (Is that Another Yellow Card?) – Luis Hernandez

As we reach the halfway point of the season, we tend to start taking a count of how it’s going, who’s leading the pack, how many cards have been issued, that sort of thing. This week actually brought out a high number of yellow cards; there were two matches that saw four yellows thrown on the weekend and one astonishing six yellow card match in the midweek between Portland and Kansas City. Looking at the numbers, the NWSL stats site tells us that 132 yellow cards have been shown so far this season, and on top of that, five red cards. This is out of the 60 matches so far this year. That’s an average of 2.2 yellow cards per match. To put it in perspective, the 2016 season had 174 yellow cards (1.74 yellows/match) with five red cards in the 100 matches. Heck, this was the first season, I even heard of the NWSL disciplinary committee.

It’s hard to find a reason for the steep increase. Has there been a shift in the style of play? Has the league or PRO changed the points of emphasis without putting out a public statement? Has the Lifetime partnership caused this somehow? I don’t believe we’ll figure out the why, but it’s worth keeping in mind as the second half of the season, and the league has no “good behavior” incentive like Major League Soccer.

MVPinoe – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Halfway through the season, it’s time to start talking seriously about this year’s MVP.

With nine goals (four scored in the past week alone), including three successful PKs, and one assist, I don’t think anyone has to look further than the Seattle Reign’s five-season veteran Megan Rapinoe. She’s on-track to take home the Golden Boot this year, and with it, MVP, because the two always seem to go hand-in-hand. (That, I think, is a discussion for another day, however.) But whether Rapinoe ultimately wins the Golden Boot or not (at three goals ahead of the pack, surpassing her would be a challenge but not impossible) if anyone else takes home MVP this year it would be an injustice.

The reason? You really don’t need to look further than her numbers so far this season. Numbers which include far more than just her nine goals.

Rapinoe has been carrying Seattle on her back this year, determined to get back into the playoffs after missing them by a hair last season. Leading the league in goals, but with just one assist, when Seattle hasn’t been able to find the net on their own, Rapinoe has been chasing down every possible chance, creating opportunities when seemingly none exist, and basically, to mix my sports metaphors for a moment, crashing into the boards time and time again. Of her 40 shots so far this year (2nd in the standings), 22 (3rd) have been on goal, giving her a SOG percentage of 55%. If this were baseball, her batting average wouldn’t just be considered good, it’d be considered one of the best in the sport. Christen Press currently has the same SOG percentage, but four fewer goals to her name this season.

With 58 corner kicks, she’s second in the league so far this season, with only Abby Dahlkemper ahead of her, which means that those nine goals don’t come from set-piece opportunities, but the run-of-play. From Rapinoe moving the ball down-field or maneuvering into the right place at the right time to receive a cross and send it home. But maybe the most important stat to consider in her case for 2017 MVP are her PKs. Three of her nine goals this year have come from PKs. Why are PKs to important? Because they’re the “extra-point” or “free throw” of soccer. They’re guaranteed scoring opportunities, and missing them is unacceptable. It happens, yes. And, yes, there’s the added element of the GK, who might jump in the right direction and make a save, but for an experienced, professional soccer player to miss a PK–send it far left or right of the goal, over the crossbar, etc.–is unacceptable. A PK is a just about the easiest chance to score a player can get, and a team needs to be able to rely on their player’s ability to earn that point. Because at the end of the 90’, the game might literally come down to whether they were able to capitalize in that moment or not.

Megan Rapinoe this year has had three opportunities to score a PK for her team.

She has completed each and every one.

When you’re that clutch, you deserve to take home that “Most Valuable Player” trophy at the end of the year.

Houston Dash Undefeated in Kansas City – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

No, really. I’m not joking.

The team that has been on or near the bottom for its three seasons in the NWSL has never lost to the two-time (back to back) NWSL Championship winners, FCKC on the road in Kansas City.

Of the four times the Houston Dash have taken on FCKC at Swope Soccer Stadium (or the Durwood Stadium FCKC played at in 2014), they have never failed to come away with at least a draw, and as of last night, have won (2-1) twice.  Surreal, no?

In 2014, Houston left Kansas City with a 2-2 draw–only their seventh game ever. Lauren Holiday (we miss you) opened the scoring in the 2’ but the young Dash team responded with a goal from Jordan Jackson in the 20’. The first-half ended 2-1 after Erika Tymrak scored in the 36’, but after a halftime break, Tiffany McCarty evened the score in the 78’. And the Houston team took home their first draw in team history. They would end the season in 9th (last) place, but at that moment, 1-5-1 into the season and coming off a four-game losing streak, a draw against the eventual NWSL champions had to feel like the promise of good things to come.

2015 saw another draw between the two teams, 1-1, but the scoreline hides the fact that FCKC didn’t manage to score at all that game. In fact, if not for an own goal from Toni Pressley in the 55’, Carli Lloyd’s goal in the 45’ would have given the Houston Dash the win. The Dash finished 5th that season, and by the time of the away game in Kansas City, they had been doing fairly well, with a 3-4-4 record in the season when they took the field that night. But that night they could have had a win against the 2014 Champions, the same team that would go on to beat Seattle for the second year in a row in the final.

The Dash took home their first road win against FCKC in 2016, just their fourth game of the season. Playing without Amy Rodriguez (pregnancy), Lauren Holiday (retirement), and newcomer Sydney Leroux (pregnancy), FCKC’s season got off to a rough start, and they came into the match against the Dash with two losses and a draw under their belt already. When Houston opened the scoring in the 56’ with a goal from Irish international Denise O’Sullivan, and Chioma Ubogagu gave them a second just 15 minutes later, Kansas City had already lost the game. Despite their valiant efforts, and a late goal from Yael Averbuch in the 87’, they couldn’t pull out a draw against the Dash, who would end up finishing just one position ahead of them at 7th in the final 2016 standings.

And then last night, the Dash pulled out what, at least according to history, isn’t such an improbable win after all, despite the belief of many (including myself). Granted, they were assisted by a second-half yellow card accumulation that sent one of FCKC’s most creative players, Lo’eau LaBonta to the locker room, but the Houston Dash came out determined to turn their season around. Though Kansas City seemed to have the advantage at first, especially after a stoppage time goal from Shea Groom in the first half, a 55’ goal from Rachel Daly and then a 64’ goal from Nichelle Prince as FCKC were struggling to recover themselves after LaBonta’s ejection gave the Dash the win and kept this odd streak alive.

Go Dash, I guess?

Mid-Week Off Comes Back to Hurt Spirit and Courage – Jordan Small

While eight teams spent their Wednesday night playing their second game in four days or less, the North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit were sitting at home. Both teams had the night off and were able to prepare for the weekend matchups that awaited them. However, come Saturday, those two teams found them on the wrong side of the scoresheet.

North Carolina hosted Sky Blue on Saturday afternoon and were featured as July’s first Lifetime Game of the Week. By the 80th minute, neither team had scored, but one team looked to be gassed and ready for the match to be over. The other was racing down the field looking for a goal and the three points. Believe it or not, Sky Blue was the one with more life towards the end of the game. The team that had played three games in six days, two of which were on the road, won on a goal from Sam Kerr in the 84th minute.

Then you have the Washington Spirit. After beating the Portland Thorns at home last Saturday, the Spirit made the short trip up to Boston to take on the Breakers. The Spirit dominated the first half but were unable to finish their chances. Boston pounced on the opportunity in the 72nd minute when Midge Purce put away a goal off of lazy defending from Washington.

Both teams that had off during the week lost on the weekend. Is this just a coincidence? It might be, but to think that having too much time to think about your next opponent isn’t all that crazy to believe. It also could just be that those two teams were outplayed.

The Power of the Backup Goalkeeper – Jordan Small

Three goalkeepers who didn’t come into the season expecting to see much game time have ended up with significant minutes in recent weeks due to injuries to their teams’ starters. For Katelyn Rowland of the North Carolina Courage and Aubrey Bledsoe of the Orlando Pride, these have become long term assignments over the past several weeks. In Boston, Sammy Jo Prudhomme is just three games into her starting career.

Rowland and Bledsoe have won over half of their games since taking over. All three have picked up at least one shutout in their time as the number one. This is the first time for all three as the starter for a significant period of time and they have not disappointed. Each is making the case to be the starter for the foreseeable future which will make it fun down the stretch. Who doesn’t love a little competition?

Those are the takeaways that stood out to us. Did you take something else away from this extra long week of matches? Let us know your thoughts, and come back next week for more takeaways.

A History of Highs and Lows in Allocations in the NWSL

Posted on by RJ Allen

The NWSL has long leaned on their national team players for both firepower in games and star power outside of games.

The United States Women’s National Team has carried the load over the five years of the NWSL in terms of the sheer number of players allocated. Between 2013 and 2016 USWNT players have been allocated within the NWSL 98 times. Compared to just 56 times with the Canadians and a mere 28 times with the Mexican players. 

2013

In 2013 the Allocations were almost perfectly even in terms of numbers. Each team was given three US players and two each Canadians and Mexican players. Western New York was an American short but given Lloyd and Wambach. Nothing to scoff at in 2013. 

But the issues in terms of parity started nearly as soon as they started. For the Americans, Amy LePeilbet was out due to injury, Heather Mitts retired before the season and Amy Rodriguez was pregnant with her first child. On the Mexican side, two players failed fitness tests, Marylin Diaz and Luz Saucedo; one had a contract already with FFC Frankfurt, Alina Garciamendez; and a fourth showed up hurt, Rubi Sandoval. 

During the 2013 season, FC Kansas City seemingly hit the jackpot. Nicole Barnhart, Lauren Cheney, Becky Sauerbrunn, all from the USWNT, were gifted to the club. Barnhart and Sauerbrunn serve as co-captains today and have done well in their five years on the team to bring in two NWSL titles. Something that I doubt anyone would say would be guaranteed if the allocation fairy had chosen differently. 

Another footnote of the original 2013 Allocations comes from Chicago. No player allocated to the Red Stars in 2013 is currently on their roster, or anyone else’s in the NWSL in 2017. Shannon Boxx, Amy LePeilbet, Keelin Winters, Erin McLeod, Carmelina Moscato, Maribel Dominguez, and Dinora Garza were all allocated to the Red Stars that very first season, and all have either retired or gone to play elsewhere. 

2014

The most startling difference between 2013 and 2014 in terms of Allocations has to be Mexico only allocating 8 total players. Allegations of underfunding, of lack of proper support and training, are not new to the Mexican federation when it comes to women’s soccer. One of the easiest to see symptoms of that is the Allocations being halved in a year Mexico should have, with the gear up to the 2015 World Cup underway, been pushing its players to fight for starting spots in the NWSL. 

As with FCKC in 2013, and really themselves in 2013 as well, the Portland Thorns have had a lucky go of the Allocations given to them. From the USWNT, Rachel Buehler, Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan. From Canada Karina LeBlanc and Christine Sinclair. Finally from Mexico, Jackie Acevedo. The Thorns of 2017 have shed Buehler and LeBlanc to retirement, Acevedo has left the league. And Morgan, well we all know what happened there. But having been dealt Tobin Health and Christine Sinclair has to be a win in most eyes. 

Two 2014 Allocations, Stephanie Cox for Seattle and Jillian Loyden for Sky Blue FC are current assistant coaches for the clubs. 

2015

In 2015 the Women’s World Cup removed all 42 Allocations for what amounted to a third of the season. And while Mexico did allocate 4 players, none played in the 2015 season.

The 38 American and Canadian players taken out of the NWSL during the World Cup did leave a hole in the league that showed one of the great injustices the league has to offer. While the World Cup players, national teamers all, were away to play for their country the players who filled their roster spots and donned uniforms in their place were unpaid amateurs. Players who under NWSL rules can not be paid for their work. It was truly a tale of the best-paid players in the league leaving to participate in the grandest spectacle the game has to offer and those filling in couldn’t be given a $1 of pay while keeping their club teams afloat. 

Of the 25 USWNT Allocations announced on January 14, 2015, 23 went to Canada to bring home the World Cup. Two did not. Kristie Mewis and Crystal Dunn. While Dunn’s story of being either the second to last or very last cut is well known, Mewis is rarely spoken about. Mewis was a project that then USWNT Head Coach Tom Sermanni was working on as an outside back and outside midfielder. When Ellis replaced him, Mewis the Elder’s time on the NT faded as the team moved closer to the World Cup. In 2016 she would no longer be an allocation. In 2017 she is having one the best years she has had in years. 

2016

The 2016 Allocations look most like the current 2017. Whitney Engen might not be with the Boston Breakers this year, Hope Solo isn’t keeping the net free of goals in Seattle, and we won’t go into Washington’s 2016 to 2017 changes, but mostly it’s what we know from 2017. 

And though either luck, talented coaching or magic FC Kansas City carried five Allocated players into the 2016 season. And then by either bad luck, fickle soccer gods, or dark magic they lost both Sydney Leroux and Amy Rodriguez for the season due to pregnancy. That Becky Sauerbrunn isn’t doing too bad for herself though. 

Two Allocations from the 2016 list that I do want to note are Kelley O’Hara and Christie Pearce. Sky Blue and Portland are the only two teams, from the original 8, that had kept two original Allocations for all four seasons by the time that 2016 rolled around. And unlike Portland, which as had two or three additional Allocations during that time, in New Jersey it was mostly O’Hara and Pearce lifting the weight as the only two national team players. 

Conclusions

Make no mistake. The NWSL is the USWNT’s league. 54% of the 2013-2016 Allocations came from the US. 31% from Canada. 15% from Mexico. No one complains when a Canadian player is played in a position their club doesn’t need them in but whispers of the national team staff asking them to be played in said position because it doesn’t happen. Canada doesn’t have the same monetary investment in the league as the US does, and with that investment comes power to dictate terms that not all coaches have the will to say no to.

In 2013 when the first set of Allocations came out the US had 42% of the total Allocations in the league. There were other voices in the room. Other national teams who had their own ideas. In 2016 it was 69% USWNT allocations, same as 2017.

In some ways, the NWSL is the best league in the world. In others, it’s the USSF’s longest USWNT camp in history.

The 2016 NWSL Allocations: A Snapshot

Posted on by RJ Allen

Nothing like starting with the first year of the NWSL and moving through the rest of them. Gotta catch them all, right? Here is a look at the 2016 NWSL allocations.

Here is a quick snapshot of who stayed with their first club, who moved on to another and who is just out of the league altogether.

The Boston Breakers

USWNT Allocations: Whitney Engen

Canadian Allocations: None

Mexican Allocations: None 

Allocations still with the club: 0

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0 

The Chicago Red Stars

USWNT Allocations: Alyssa Naeher, Christen Press, Julie Johnston

Canadian Allocations: None

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 3, Naeher, Press, Johnson

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

FC Kansas City

USWNT Allocations: Sydney Leroux, Heather O’Reilly, Amy Rodriguez, Becky Sauerbrunn

Canadian Allocations: Desiree Scott 

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 4, Leroux, Rodriguez, Sauerbrunn, Scott

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0 

The Houston Dash

USWNT Allocations: Morgan Brian, Carli Lloyd

Canadian Allocations: Janine Beckie, Allysha Chapman

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 3, Brian, Lloyd, Beckie

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Champman for the Boston Breakers

The Orlando Pride

USWNT Allocations: Ashlyn Harris, Alex Morgan

Canadian Allocations: Josée Belanger, Kaylyn Kyle

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 2, Harris, Morgan

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0 

The Portland Thorns

USWNT Allocations: Meghan Klingenberg, Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan

Canadian Allocations: Christine Sinclair

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 4, Klingenberg, Heath, Horan, Sinclair

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

The Seattle Reign

USWNT Allocations: Hope Solo, Megan Rapinoe

Canadian Allocations: None

Mexican Allocations: None 

Allocations still with the club: 1, Rapinoe

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0 

Sky Blue FC

USWNT Allocations: Kelley O’Hara, Christie Pearce

Canadian Allocations: None

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 2, O’Hara, Pearce

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0 

The Washington Spirit

USWNT Allocations: Crystal Dunn, Ali Krieger

Canadian Allocations: Diana Matheson, Stephanie Labbé

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 1, Labbé

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: Krieger for the Orlando Pride, Matheson for the Seattle Reign

The Western New York Flash

USWNT Allocations: Jaelene Hinkle, Samantha Mewis

Canadian Allocations: Adriana Leon, Sabrina D’Angelo

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 3, Hinkle, Mewis, D’Angelo

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Leon for the Boston Breakers

Totals

Total 2016 allocations: 33

2016 allocations still playing in the NWSL: 26

2016 allocations still playing in the NWSL for their original club: 23

2016 allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 3

The 2015 NWSL Allocations: A Snapshot

Posted on by RJ Allen

Nothing like starting with the first year of the NWSL and moving through the rest of them. Gotta catch them all, right? Here is a look at the 2015 NWSL allocations.

Here is a quick snapshot of who stayed with their first club, who moved on to another and who is just out of the league altogether.

The Boston Breakers

USWNT Allocations: Kristie Mewis, Alyssa Naeher

Canadian Allocations: Nkem Ezurike

Mexican Allocations: Bianca Sierra

Allocations still with the club: 0 

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 2, Mewis for the Washington Spirit, Naeher for the Chicago Red Stars

The Chicago Red Stars

USWNT Allocations: Shannon Boxx, Christen Press, Julie Johnston

Canadian Allocations: Adriana Leon, Rachel Quon, Karina LeBlanc, Melissa Tancredi

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 2, Press and Johnston

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Leon for the Boston Breakers

FC Kansas City

USWNT Allocations: Nicole Barnhart, Lauren Holiday, Amy Rodriguez, Becky Sauerbrunn, Heather O’Reilly

Canadian Allocations: None

Mexican Allocations: None 

Allocations still with the club: 3, Barnhart, Sauerbrunn, and Rodriguez

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

The Houston Dash

USWNT Allocations: Meghan Klingenberg, Carli Lloyd

Canadian Allocations: Erin McLeod, Lauren Sesselmann, Allysha Chapman

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 1, Lloyd

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 2, Klingenberg for the Portland Thorns, Chapman for the Boston Breakers

The Portland Thorns

USWNT Allocations: Rachel Buehler, Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan

Canadian Allocations: Christine Sinclair, Kaylyn Kyle, Rhian Wilkinson

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 2, Health and Sinclair

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Morgan for the Orlando Pride

The Seattle Reign

USWNT Allocations: Megan Rapinoe, Hope Solo, Sydney Leroux

Canadian Allocations: None

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 1, Rapinoe

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Leroux for FC Kansas City

Sky Blue FC

USWNT Allocations: Kelley O’Hara, Christie Pearce

Canadian Allocations: Jonelle Filigno

Mexican Allocations: Monica Ocampo

Original allocations still with the club: 2, O’Hara and Pearce

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

The Washington Spirit

USWNT Allocations: Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, Crystal Dunn

Canadian Allocations: Diana Matheson

Mexican Allocations: Arianna Romero, Veronica Perez

Original allocations still with the club: 0

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 3, Krieger and Harris for the Orlando Pride, Matheson for the Seattle Reign

The Western New York Flash

USWNT Allocations: Abby Wambach, Whitney Engen

Canadian Allocations: None

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 0

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

Totals

Total 2015 allocations: 41

2015 allocations still playing in the NWSL: 21

2015 allocations still playing in the NWSL for their original club: 11 

2015 allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 10

The 2014 NWSL Allocations: A Snapshot

Posted on by RJ Allen

Nothing like starting with the first year of the NWSL and moving through the rest of them. Gotta catch them all, right? Here is a look at the 2014 NWSL allocations.

Here is a quick snapshot of who stayed with their first club, who moved on to another and who is just out of the league altogether.

The Boston Breakers

USWNT Allocations: Heather O’Reilly, Meghan Klingenberg, Kristie Mewis

Canadian Allocations: Kaylyn Kyle, Chelsea Stewart

Mexican Allocations: Dinora Garza

Allocations still with the club: 0

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 2, Klingenberg for the Portland Thorns and Mewis for the Washington Spirit

The Chicago Red Stars

USWNT Allocations: Shannon Boxx, Amy LePeilbet, Christen Press

Canadian Allocations: Erin McLeod, Adriana Leon, Rachel Quon

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 1, Press

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Leon for the Boston Breakers

FC Kansas City

USWNT Allocations: Nicole Barnhart, Lauren Holiday, Becky Sauerbrunn, Amy Rodriguez

Canadian Allocations: Desiree Scott, Lauren Sesselmann

Mexican Allocations: Cecilia Santiago

Allocations still with the club: 4, Barnhart, Sauerbrunn, Rodriguez, and Scott

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

The Houston Dash

USWNT Allocations: Whitney Engen

Canadian Allocations: Melissa Tancredi

Mexican Allocations: Teresa Noyola

Allocations still with the club: 0

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

The Portland Thorns

USWNT Allocations: Rachel Buehler, Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan

Canadian Allocations: Karina LeBlanc, Christine Sinclair

Mexican Allocations: Jackie Acevedo

Allocations still with the club: 2, Health and Sinclair

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Morgan for the Orlando Pride

The Seattle Reign

USWNT Allocations: Megan Rapinoe, Hope Solo, Stephanie Cox, Sydney Leroux

Canadian Allocations: Carmelina Moscato

Mexican Allocations: Arianna Romero

Allocations still with the club: 1, Rapinoe

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Leroux for FC Kansas City

* Should be noted that Cox is an assistant coach for The Seattle Reign

Sky Blue FC

USWNT Allocations: Jillian Loyden, Kelley O’Hara, Christie Pearce

Canadian Allocations: Sophie Schmidt, Jonelle Filigno

Mexican Allocations: Monica Ocampo

Original allocations still with the club: 2, O’Hara and Pearce

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

* Should be noted that Loyden is an assistant coach for Sky Blue

The Washington Spirit

USWNT Allocations: Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, Yael Averbuch

Canadian Allocations: Robyn Gayle, Diana Matheson

Mexican Allocations: Renae Cuellar

Original allocations still with the club: 0

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 4, Krieger and Harris for the Orlando Pride, Matheson for the Seattle Reign, and Averbuch for FC Kansas City.

The Western New York Flash

USWNT Allocations: Carli Lloyd, Abby Wambach

Canadian Allocations: Selenia Iacchelli

Mexican Allocations: Veronica Perez

Original allocations still with the club: 0

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Lloyd for the Houston Dash

Totals

Total 2014 allocations: 50

2014 allocations still playing in the NWSL: 20

2014 allocations still playing in the NWSL for their original club: 10

2014 allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 10

The 2013 NWSL Allocations: A Snapshot

Posted on by RJ Allen

The 2013 Allocation distribution was one of the starting steps to the NWSL kicking off. It set the tone for the league and who would be playing where within it. The US WNT, Canadian WNT, and Mexican WNT each distributed players among the eight teams in the league, three for the US and two each from the Canadian and Mexican teams.

Here is a quick snapshot of who was allocated where, who has stayed with their first club, who’s moved on to another, and who is just out of the league altogether. 

The Boston Breakers

USWNT Allocations: Sydney Leroux, Heather Mitts, Heather O’Reilly

Canadian Allocations: Adriana Leon, Rhian Wilkinson

Mexican Allocations: Anisa Guajardo, Cecilia Santiago

Original allocations still with the club: 1, Leon left Boston but returned before the 2017 season.

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Leroux for FC Kansas City

The Chicago Red Stars

USWNT Allocations: Shannon Boxx, Amy LePeilbet, Keelin Winters

Canadian Allocations: Erin McLeod, Carmelina Moscato

Mexican Allocations: Maribel Dominguez, Dinora Garza

Original allocations still with the club: 0

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

FC Kansas City

USWNT Allocations: Nicole Barnhart, Lauren Cheney, Becky Sauerbrunn

Canadian Allocations: Desiree Scott, Lauren Sesselmann

Mexican Allocations: Renae Cuellar, Marylin Diaz

Original allocations still with the club: 3, Barnhart, Sauerbrunn, Scott

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

The Portland Thorns

USWNT Allocations: Rachel Buehler, Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan

Canadian Allocations: Karina LeBlanc, Christine Sinclair

Mexican Allocations: Luz Saucedo, Rubi Sandoval

Original allocations still with the club: 2, Health and Sinclair

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Morgan for the Orlando Pride

The Seattle Reign

USWNT Allocations: Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez, Hope Solo

Canadian Allocations: Kaylyn Kyle, Emily Zurrer

Mexican Allocations: Jenny Ruiz, Teresa Noyola

Original allocations still with the club: 1, Rapinoe

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Rodriguez for FC Kansas City

Sky Blue FC

USWNT Allocations: Jillian Loyden, Kelley O’Hara, Christie Pearce

Canadian Allocations: Sophie Schmidt, Melanie Booth

Mexican Allocations: Monica Ocampo, Lydia Rangel

Original allocations still with the club: 2, O’Hara and Pearce 

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0 

* It should be noted that while Loyden has retired from league play, she is an assistant coach for Sky Blue

The Washington Spirit

USWNT Allocations: Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, Lori Lindsey

Canadian Allocations: Robyn Gayle, Diana Matheson

Mexican Allocations: Alina Garciamendez, Teresa Worbis

Original allocations still with the club: 0

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 3, Krieger and Harris for the Orlando Pride, Matheson for the Seattle Reign

The Western New York Flash

USWNT Allocations: Carli Lloyd, Abby Wambach

Canadian Allocations: Bryanna McCarthy, Jodi-Ann Robinson

Mexican Allocations: Veronica Perez, Pamela Tajonar

Original allocations still with the club: 0

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 1, Lloyd for the Houston Dash

Totals

Total 2013 allocations: 55

2013 allocations still playing in the NWSL: 16

2013 allocations still playing in the NWSL for their original club: 9

2013 allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 7

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 11

Posted on by RJ Allen

Image Credits: Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 11 Game Previews:

After four mid-week games, we are in for another full weekend of NWSL games as we go into Week 11. Let’s see what we have on tap for the five games.

Game 1: North Carolina Courage vs. Sky Blue FC

North Carolina Courage record: 8-3-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 24

Sky Blue FC record: 5-6-1
Position: 5th
Total Points: 16

The Courage will be coming in fresh this week as they lucked out by not having to play a mid-week game on Wednesday and not having to travel for this match. They’ll be facing a Sky Blue team, however, that will be on a mission to pull out a win. North Carolina is pulling themselves further and further away from the rest of the pack up top. With the defense settling in, this week, especially with fresher legs, they will be looking to continue to do many of the same things that have gotten them this far. With the hopeful return of Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald, they will be even stronger. 

Sky Blue is looking for vengeance after two disappointing losses in a row. They will have their hands full with North Carolina this week, especially given that they had to play a mid-week game. They will need more from Kelley O’Hara, first and foremost, to get back into their rhythm, after she had a not-so-great game against Orlando on Wednesday. The young defensive group, led by Christie Pearce, will also have their work cut out for them with the strength of the Courage attack. Hopefully, Sky Blue will see some more fabulous goals from Sam Kerr. Their key this game will be to rely on their depth and attempt to hold off the wave of attack from the Courage. 

Game 2: Boston Breakers vs. Washington Spirit

Boston Breakers record: 2-6-3
Position: 10th
Total Points: 9

Washington Spirit record: 3-5-2
Position: 8th
Total Points: 11

Boston is also coming in this week from a mid-week game and without some big names. Rose Lavelle is still out. And, as of this writing, no word on Abby Smith for Saturday’s match. The Boston of the beginning of the season has seemed to all but disappear. There seem to be just too many things that need to be fixed at this point in the season and they are not sure where to start. Having key players out has not helped but Boston has not been lucky in general. This week, after the Spirit come in off of more rest and a win over the Thorns, Boston will need to find a way to stifle the Spirit attack and contain Franny Ordega. 

The Spirit are coming into this match with the advantage of facing a struggling Boston team and also having not played a mid-week match. The Spirit will continue to rely on Ordega to lead their attack. But the Washington team may also see the addition of Mal Pugh back in the lineup, which will bolster the attack as well. The thing the Spirit will need to monitor this week will be their defense. The likes of Estelle Johnson have had a great season, for the most part, but Boston is looking to turn their season around and anything can happen. Additionally, with Tori Huster finally back for Washington, their midfield will also be a stalwart in facing the Boston side. 

Game 3: Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars

Orlando Pride record: 4-4-3
Position: 6th
Total Points: 15

Chicago Red Stars record: 6-3-2
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 20

The Pride are coming off of a huge mid-week win over Sky Blue but will also be on limited rest facing a very tough Red Stars team. Orlando has had problems all season maintaining consistency from game to game but one thing they hate to do is drop points at home. Expect them to try to not let that happen for the second home game in a row. The task will be large to contain Christen Press and Sofia Huerta in the attack while also trying to break the staunch defense of the Red Stars. Orlando will need to focus on leaving less space in the midfield for Chicago to take advantage of while also connecting and finishing more chances. The Pride are lacking a clinical finisher, but with Alex Morgan set to potentially return, she may be the missing piece they are looking for. She may not be active immediately so the Pride need to make sure their forward line can start finishing and finding better luck in the final third. Additionally, the Pride defense has settled into the starting four but need to see more work from Edmonds, who has not had a good season. Hopefully, Ali Krieger and the rest of the backline can focus more on their job this weekend and not have to clean up so much of Edmonds’ defensive miscues. 

Chicago is also coming off of a loss in their mid-week game, which snapped their win streak, and this could spell trouble for the Pride. While the Pride are more successful at home, the Red Stars will look to keep their place in the playoff spot and take home the win. This week the Red Stars need to focus on taking advantage of their opportunities but also look to string more passes together and make the job of their forwards a bit easier. The Red Stars have a very strong backline, but with Marta and the potential first minutes for Alex Morgan, expect them to be challenged by the forward line of Orlando. The biggest area the Red Stars will most likely have the best luck this weekend is in Orlando’s midfield. If Chicago can get some of their connecting weaknesses together, this may spell major trouble for the Pride at home. 

Game 4: Seattle Reign vs. Portland Thorns

Seattle Reign record: 4-2-5
Position: 4th
Total Points: 17

Portland Thorns record: 5-3-3
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 18

Seattle, like Portland, will be coming in on limited rest after a mid-week home game. Luckily, they will not have to travel and will be at a slight advantage for recovery and rest. Seattle has seemed to be hot and cold most of the season with plenty of draws to show for it. But expect them to want to capitalize on a big win over Chicago and pull out one over Portland. Their defense looked slightly shaky in the win against Chicago so the return of Lauren Barnes, after a one-game suspension, will be welcomed. The Reign can expect to be tested by a revitalized Portland attack, even on limited rest. If they can focus on their game and fighting until the final whistle, they should see some positive results. 

Portland, also coming in from a mid-week win at home, will want to capitalize on one of their best performances of the season. Christine Sinclair finally made herself known this season and had a brace to show for it. If she can get involved more in the attack against Seattle, they will be tough to beat. With no return of Tobin Heath in sight, Portland will have to figure out how to move on without her and made a good showcase of it Wednesday night. Their biggest thing will be if Adrianna Franch is on her game or will spell trouble for them in-goal this week against a strong Reign attack. 

Game 5: FC Kansas City vs. Houston Dash

FC Kansas City record: 3-4-4
Position: 7th
Total Points: 13

Houston Dash record: 3-7-1
Position: 9th
Total Points: 10

FCKC, another team on limited rest, will be facing a Dash side who is in the same position. FCKC has yet to really figure out how to score goals, and after their mid-week loss to Portland, they will be looking to bounce back very quickly. FCKC needs more production from their forward line. Their defense has been putting in their time but cannot solely win the games for the team. After a not-so-great showing against Portland, they will need these three points as the playoff battle heats up. Their main goal this week, especially against a Dash side that is still figuring things out mid-season, is to score early and get their attack involved consistently throughout the game. 

The Dash are coming in, after snapping a 6-game losing streak, on a win and draw in their last two matches. They want to turn their season around but just do not seem to have the game plan to do it. After a questionable call gave them the win against Boston, look for them to want to continue their small upward trend against FCKC. But in order to do that, the consistency of their backline and moving forward without Kealia Ohai, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, will be a tall task. The Dash seemed to struggle at the end of their draw with Boston, in just what to do next. In order to have success against FCKC this week, the team will need to come in at the very beginning with a solid way to win and also play with consistency.

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Monday night with our weekly TSR. A reminder that you can catch TSR live every Monday night at 8pm EST on our YouTube channel. Make sure to follow the podcast on Twitter @ScoutingPodcast.

In case you missed this week’s episode, catch up here:

We also went live for a special TSR last night to cover the four mid-week NWSL games. 

Catch up here if you missed it:

NWSL Roster Rules in Normal Human English

Posted on by RJ Allen

Reading the NWSL roster rules sometimes feels like it requires a law degree, a dictionary, and a strong drink.

The 7,248 words that make the roster rules up can seem daunting. Like they were not meant to be understood. But I am here to make it all make sense.

I present (most of the important parts of) the NWSL Roster Rules in Normal Human English.

Team Salary Cap Regulations

Team Salary Cap

Each team gets $315,000 to spend on building their team. They can’t pay any player more than $41,700 or less than $15,000 for their talents.

If a team has less than 18 players on their roster, the league will fill the missing spots with the weight of non-USWNT or CanWNT players to get to 18 to calculate the team salary cap. This sometimes happens for teams with a lot of Federation Players, since as the team doesn’t pay for them. Players brought on because of roster relief and goalkeeping replacement must fit under the cap too.

Important Numbers

  • Team Salary Cap: $315,000.
  • Minimum Salary: $15,000.
  • Maximum Salary: $41,700.

Roster Limits

Every team has 18 to 20 players under contract. The only exception is when injuries and goalkeeping replacements are added to the roster. 

We’ll get there later.

League Classifications

The league makes this way harder than it needs to be. But here goes.

Player:

Someone who is either under contract with a team or who has their rights controlled by a team. (E.G. Jess Fishlock)

Individual

They don’t play in the NWSL but they are eligible to. (E.G. Crystal Dunn)

Federation Player

A player that has USWNT or CanWNT pay their bills. (E.G. Becky Sauerbrunn or Christine Sinclair)

Unattached Federation Individual

There are two ways to be an Unattached Federation Individual:

  1. If a player is not currently on an NWSL roster, but the USWNT or CanWNT has stated that she will be a Federation Player (Allocated was the old term) if she joins the league.
  2. If the NWSL grants permission, a team may waive their rights up to a Federation Player, who then becomes an Unattached Federation Individual.

The best example of this status is Rose Lavelle before the 2017 NWSL draft. Boston, and everyone else, knew she’d be a Federation Player, but until she was on a roster she was an Unattached Federation Individual. 

Domestic Players

A U.S. citizen, a permanent resident (Green Card holder), or someone who has been granted refugee or asylum status. Basically, this means ‘not an international player.’ (E.G. Kelley O’Hara)

International Players

Someone who is not a US Citizen, who does not have a Green Card and who isn’t a Canadian Federation Player.

According to the league, each team has slots for four international players, but those slots have been traded around, so the actual available space is quite different.  It sometimes seems like it takes a Masters to figure out who actually has what. (E.G. Francisca Ordega)

Amateur Players

A serf whose labor is used by NWSL without receiving the benefits and wages of full Players. They can’t be paid. Really. Each team gets up to 10. 

Some teams treat their serfs better than others.

Still bullshit.

Team

Boston Breakers, Houston Dash, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, North Carolina Courage, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns FC, Seattle Reign FC, Sky Blue FC and Washington Spirit.

Yes, this is listed out. For real. No, I’m not kidding.

Expansion Team

Houston and Orlando basically. Maybe others in the future.

Federation

The USWNT and CanWNT.

For some reason, Mexico is still listed as a Federation even though only one Mexican player is in the league right now and that player isn’t a Federation player (i.e., Mexico does not pay her salary). It’s a long story.

MECHANISMS OF ACQUIRING PLAYERS

There are a lot of ways to get into the NWSL. Let’s look at the ones you need to really know.

Player Distribution Process

Remember the thing Washington traded Krieger to get? That let them end up with Pugh? Yeah, that’s this.

It’s effectively a priority list for access to Federation Players that enter the league. Like with the draft, if you were bad the year before you’re high on the list. Good and you are low.

It can be traded.

Once you use it, you drop to last in the order.

College Draft

It’s the draft.

There are four rounds of ten picks each. Picks can be traded for other picks, for players, for international player spots, for a ham sandwich and a pack of gum.

The teams get 15 days once a draftee reports to camp to decide if they want to extend a contract or not.

Trades

They played for one team and now they play for another.

Okay, it’s more complex than that but that’s basically it. Trades. You know what these are.

Loans and Transfers

They played in another league and now they are in the NWSL.

There are rules of when they can come and go into the league. And it’s complicated and you don’t need to worry about it too much. But that’s why Carli Lloyd couldn’t just start playing for the Dash right away when her stint in London was done.

Amateur Call-up

If a Federation Player is away with their national team then an NWSL team can call up an amateur player.

There is paperwork the clubs have to submit to the league. They can pay for “necessary expenses as approved by the League” but may not “provide any compensation to the Amateur Player.” What this means is that they might get a per diem for expenses related to playing on the road, but they don’t earn a paycheck for their play.

Again, bullshit.

Goalkeeper Exception

Sometimes a goalkeeper gets hurt. You have to have two on the roster at all times. So when one of your goalkeepers are down you can pick up another. Teams have to keep under the salary cap while doing it.

Disabled List

There are really two kinds of injuries in the NWSL. Short-term and season ending.

Short‐Term Injury – 45 Day DL

The team’s staff thinks they will be out 45 days or more but not the full season.

You can put them on the week to week DL but doing that means that they still take up a roster spot. If you move them to the 45 day DL you can bring in a player to replace them until their D45 is up.

If they are better in less than 45 days? Tough. They have to sit out the full 45 days.

Season‐Ending Injury

Pretty much what it says on the box. Out for the year.

See: half of the league, because what are healthy ACLs this season?

METHODS OF RELEASING PLAYERS

How do teams get rid of players they don’t want? Glad you asked.

Waivers

Teams can waive players pretty much at any point during the year before the Roster Freeze Date. A date at which the rosters are given the Anna treatment from Frozen. 

This year that date is Tuesday, August 29, 2017. 

Waiver Wire

Once a player is waived, they can be picked up by other teams. Teams submit paperwork if they want the player. In cases where more than one team wants to take a waived player, the team with the worse record gets them.

Contract Expiration

Once a contract runs out, a player might choose not to re-sign. If they do, the club retains their rights until the next off-season. This is to prevent a player from leaving one team just because they got a better offer somewhere else. Yeah. Crazy. I know.

RULES & REGULATIONS

Player Registration

If you are not registered with U.S. Soccer then no NWSL for you.

Player Tryouts

So there are a lot of rules about trying out players. They mostly come down to the following:

  • Make sure their paperwork is in
  • They can’t be a current NWSL player on another team
  • You have 15 days to decide once preseason starts
  • When in doubt ask the league.

Preseason

So quick preseason rules:

  • The league decides when your preseason starts, and you will burn in a fire if they catch you practicing with a player before that date. That means no working out with coaches, trainers, or anyone else in the team’s management. Yes, really. This does not mean that players cannot decide to work out or train together, only that it cannot be mandated, scheduled, arranged, overseen, etc., by someone in the coaching or management groups.
  • If a player is in preseason with one team, no other team can put the moves on them until the first team lets them go.
  • 15 days into preseason the coach has to decide on the non-contracted players and draftees.
  • They better be on the roster if they are playing in any scrimmages or exhibition games or it’s back to the fire for you.
  • The first roster submitted is 32. Then 25. And then the final 20 person roster comes out just before opening weekend.

Off-Season Training

Don’t do it. The league will bust your ass if you do.

These aren’t all the rules in all the detail. To try and cover everything would have left me writing for a week straight. But these are a lot of the rules that fans will need most of the time. I skipped over some things that don’t come up often, sure, but when they come up usually they deserve their own pieces to explain why it’s good or bad the rule was there.

As the end of the day understanding the rules, even the ones we don’t like, helps us understand the league a little better.

Unsung Hero of the Week: Solaun Shines Again

Posted on by RJ Allen

In this weekly series, I will be highlighting a player from the weekend who was their respective team’s unsung hero, win or lose. A player who does the dirty work, does the little but important things in a game and someone who didn’t exactly fill up the stat sheet but found other ways to contribute.

This week I’ve chosen Washington Spirit midfielder Havana Solaun.

The 24-year-old is in her third year in the league and with her second team after being drafted 15th overall in 2015 to the Seattle Reign out of the University of Florida. She sat out with an injury all of 2015, and in 2016 she appeared in six games for the Reign. Solaun’s player rights were traded to Washington in November of 2016 and in return, Seattle received midfielder Christine Nairn and goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel. Fast forward to 10 games into the 2017 season; she is finding her place in Washington, appearing in every game thus far, adding three goals and one assist to her name.

Washington 1-0 Portland

Due to veteran Tori Huster making her way back into the starting 11, Solaun was asked to be more of a threat offensively, with Gabarra putting her up top to give her the right opportunities to go toward goal. I was going to discuss all-things-Huster this week but my fellow Backline writer Charles Olney beat me to it and published a fantastic piece for you all to enjoy. Instead, I’ll focus on what Solaun was allowed to do with Huster back in the line-up.

Solaun has been a steady contributor so far this season as I mentioned above, and this game was no different. Washington’s first quality chance came in the ninth minute when Solaun snuck behind her defender for a looping ball that was sent to the left side of the box. She shook the Thorn’s player enough to get a foot of space and lifted a shot on goal but right at Portland’s keeper Adrianna Franch. Franch gave up a rebound right in front of the goal, bouncing to Williams who was lurking around the six-yard box but Emily Menges cleared it just in time.

It was a clever run on the back post by Solaun, getting in over the defense in the blink of an eye and managing a shot even at the tough angle. She created something that was promising and likely, should’ve resulted in a goal. Nonetheless, moving her up top for this game was already paying off for the Spirit.

A few months after Seattle drafted Solaun in 2015, Laura Harvey–head coach of the Reign–said that a player like Solaun is comfortable with possession, a young talent who can play numerous positions and is technically very good. Solaun has shown that now playing for Washington and head coach Jim Gabarra had this to say when he acquired her last year: “Havana will give us a creative element in attack and we believe she has the ability to impact games.”

Both coaches knew what they were getting when Solaun suited up for them, but she has really taken her game to a new level for the Spirit.

Solaun showcased just what they were talking about in the 22nd minute against Portland. She received a pass from Meggie Dougherty Howard about 20 yards out, giving the crowd of 4,319 some twinkle toe action to get rid of Portland’s Celeste Boureille, then rifled a low shot past Franch. I thought it was going in, but the keeper’s best friend came to the rescue as Solaun’s shot hit off the post and was cleared away by the recovering Boureille. It was a stunning effort on goal. It’s a shame it didn’t go in.

That’s the type of play Solaun is capable of, and she was firing on all cylinders to attempt that play. She easily won her one-on-one battle, tested the keeper and almost gave Washington a two-goal lead without any significant buildup. Solaun had a great look and just narrowly missed what would’ve been her fourth goal of the season.

On the other side of halftime in the 50th minute, Solaun was oozing confidence on the ball, with a little shake ‘n bake in Portland’s end to give herself some space. The final pass into Kristie Mewis deflected off a Thorn but Solaun once again created something out of nothing for the Spirit. Instead of kicking it off her defenders’ shins and opting for a simple throw-in, she decided to take on her defender and take a chance on herself.

Later on, in the 75th minute, Solaun and Dougherty Howard, both former Florida Gators, linked up again on a smooth takeover just past midfield. Thanks to the quick thinking of Solaun, that allowed some space for Dougherty Howard to operate going forward while at the same time not slowing the play down. In turn, Doughtery Howard found Williams streaking into the 18, but a tough defensive play by Emily Sonnett shut down that opportunity.

With the 1-0 win over a slumping Portland, Washington are now unbeaten in three. They are currently sitting in eighth place with an improving record of 3-5-2, good for 11 points. Solaun is on track to have a breakout year and if she continues to put in this kind of effort, it might not be too bleak for Washington by the end of the year.