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

Posted on by RJ Allen

Perth Glory Takes Care of Business:

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

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

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

Melbourne City Back in Final:

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

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

 

NWSL Historic TV deal:

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

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

Canada (Finally) Celebrates Olympic Bronze:

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

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

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

Canadian Trio Retire:

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

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

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

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

Jakobsson Tears ACL:

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

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

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

Who is Supporting the Supporters?

Posted on by RJ Allen

Supporters Groups are a common sight dotting the soccer landscape. They are one of the most ubiquitous things found in the game no matter the league, the continent, or the crest players on the pitch.

But who is tasked with supporting the Supporters Groups in the US?

That duty falls to the Independent Supporters Council (ISC). ISC is an organization founded in 2009 to – according to their mission statement, “advocate for the fair treatment of home and away supporters, promote supporters culture, and oppose both racism and bias inside stadiums in North America”. Members include supporters groups from MLS, USL, NASL, NPSL, and NWSL.

Four of the NWSL teams have supporters groups in the ISC: Cloud 9 from Sky Blue FC, Rose City Riveters from the Portland Thorns, Chicago Local 134 from the Chicago Red Stars, and Triangle Soccer Fanatics from the North Carolina Courage.

The ISC had their annual meeting in Atlanta, GA from January 27-28.

I was lucky enough to sit down with Jen Muller from Cloud 9 and Gab Rosas from the Rose City Riveters to talk about the meeting, the ISC, and supporters culture overall and in the NWSL.

Backline Soccer: A question that a lot of new soccer fans often ask is what is “supporters culture” and how does it differ from just being the fan of a club?

Gabby Rosas: It’s sort of the next step. You can love the club and not be in the SG. The SG is more/less organized, passionate fans who want to cheer on the team home and away to the point they are personally invested in each match and each season.

Jennifer Muller: Exactly. Supporters are the people that help create the atmosphere you hear and see at games. We do everything from make banners and tifo displays to play drums and sing for the full 90 minutes.

BS: One thing people might not understand is the difference between an independent supporters group and one that is run by the club. Can you each give your take on why being independent is important?

GR: I think of the groups run by a FO (the club) as more of a “fan club”… they usually try to set up player meet & greets and are a bit more focused on getting autographs and photo ops. A supporters group, as Jen said earlier, makes the noise and displays at the match. I think they are on different levels.

JM: Exactly, that’s not to say we can’t work closely with the team, which we do with Sky Blue. But it’s important to remain independent. It’s just the business of pro sports that front offices have turnover. People come and go, but supporters are the constant.

BS: Do you think active supporters culture and not just fans of the team is important to the health and longevity of that league?

GR: I think that’s a slippery slope. The problem woso has had in this country has been trying to be too targeted with hitting certain demographics.

GR: I think women’s soccer has always had supporters, but I think that the league getting past year 3 has shown people that this is worth the investment.

JM: But I think an active and strong supporter culture can help break that cycle of appealing just to that certain demographic.

GR: Sure. I agree with that.

BS: Let’s switch gears from the NWSL to something a bit larger. Both of you went to the Independent Supporters Council meeting in Atlanta. Why is being in the ISC important to each of you and your supporters groups?

GR: I think the ISC, like a lot of other collective bargaining groups, provides a lot of support both in networking and structure. It is great to have access to a large network of SGs across the country to find out how they do things or learn about their successes. The structure can provide assistance as the NWSL SG culture grows and SGs interact with more Front Offices or even the league.

JM: For smaller clubs like Cloud 9, the information shared at the meetings and throughout the year is invaluable to us. I also see our involvement as a way to help open the NWSL up to a larger audience among soccer supporters in the US.

GR: That’s an excellent point!

JM: Maybe a supporters group of a team from another league sees our involvement and realizes that we’re trying to build a real supporters culture here. They might be more inclined to check out a game that’s local to them.

BS: How have the groups from more established clubs reacted to having NWSL groups there? One of you being attached to an MLS club in Portland, the other not being attached to one in New Jersey, I do wonder if there are any differences.

JM: Though we’re not attached to an MLS club, I came into the ISC as a board member for the Empire Supporters Club, which is an SG of the New York Red Bulls. So I already had contacts on the MLS side. Which has made things a bit easier. This was the first year we had more than one NWSL rep at the meetings so it gave us an opportunity to address the rest of the members and basically explain the league and where supporter culture is at the moment. I’d say the response was positive. We were welcomed and wanted at the meetings.

JM: And we were encouraged to reach out to those that are not members to encourage them to join the ISC.

GR: I agree, the reaction was positive. I think a lot of MLS SG organizations are familiar with being in either start-up mode or in a position where you are looking to grow.

JM: Right. And they are very willing to share their knowledge for those of us just starting out.

GR: Totally. Best practices, some roadblocks they have come across themselves.

BS: Right now there are four supporter groups in Cloud 9 from Sky Blue FC, Rose City Riveters from the Portland Thorns, Chicago Local 134 from the Chicago Red Stars, and Triangle Soccer Fanatics from the North Carolina Courage. Do you see more adding in the future?

GR: Very near future.

JM: Yes. We’ve started reaching out to the other groups already.

BS: Over the last four years of the NWSL what do you each think have been the biggest challenges for your supporters groups overall? You come from different markets so I’m wondering what challenges you might face that are different and the same.

GR: Ohhhhh. That’s a tough one

JM: Yeah, this may take a while.

GR: I think the Riveters have done a good job of becoming our own thing. I think, at first, there was some worry that folks would see us as the “lady timbers army” or something. Having such a large organization with us means we have to constantly work to find our own direction.

JM: One of the biggest challenges is introducing the concept of supporter culture to fans that might not be used to it. Teams that have MLS (and now NASL) ties are already starting with an established base of fans, whether it’s the supporters club itself or at least fans with knowledge of the supporter culture. The unaffiliated teams such as ours are starting from the ground up. There’s a decent amount of fan crossover with Sky Blue and the three MLS clubs that are in proximity (the two NY teams and Philly). But when we first started to really get organized in 2015 there were (and still are) a lot of people that didn’t know what to make of us. Last year we saw a big boost and that had a lot to do with the team being behind us 100%. We probably work a bit closer with our front office than in a place like Portland because we need to lean on each other to succeed. Sky Blue knows that if we grow as a club that will only help them in the long run by creating a better atmosphere and bringing in more fans. And if we can do our part in bringing in those fans (sometimes quite literally with our rideshare program), we’ll continue to have a team to support.

BS: Why should someone join a supporters group in the NWSL?

GR: I think you should join to make friends, expand your network. When you join, you meet folks who have a shared interest. Oh, and it is tons of fun to stand and chant for your team.

GR: Even if you aren’t one for being loud at matches, you can join and help bring awareness to woso in other ways.

JM: Even though soccer is a lot more popular now than when I was younger, people still find themselves without ‘soccer friends’. You’ll hear people say they want to go to games but they have no one to go with. When you join a supporters group, you basically get instant soccer friends. You can count on us to be at every home game. You can find people to have actual conversations with about soccer and not just talk about who their favorite players are.

JM: Gabby, that’s a good point. You don’t need to be in the section and making noise to be a part of a supporters club. Yes, our main focus is on game day, but we’re also a sort of social club.

GR: Yea, we’re a social club and we also want to give back to the community.

JM: Yes! Getting involved in community service and charitable efforts is something that many clubs do.

GR: Yea, I think there are a lot of ways to contribute to a SG aside from gameday operations.

GR: Are you a season ticket holder that sits in another section? That’s okay. If you’re buying SG merch, you’re helping to grow the group and enable it to do more.

JM: Yup. We have members that live out of the state and can’t even make it to games. But they still pay their dues because they want to contribute.

BS: Favorite team to play against because of the fun you have with/against the other supporters group?

GR: KC is both my favorite and I hate it because they have our number.

JM: Washington.

BS: Who is a player from your team who has shown their support back to you most.

GR: Oh. Man. Um. Can I say all of them?

JM: Yeah, they’ve all been great, but I’ll say Kim DeCesare. She hitched a ride with a few of our members to a game in Washington. She put the adventure on the Sky Blue Snapchat. But really they all give us a shout out at one point or another.

JM: And they acknowledge us on our road trips, which is important.

JM: That was the epic 7-hour tailgate in the rain with the Spirit Squadron.

GR: Yea, the players in the NWSL are fantastic about showing support right back

BS: OK this should be easier. Maybe. Favorite tailgate pregame food?

GR: Tacos.

GR: We don’t have traditional tailgates in Portland, though. We have a taco place across the street from the stadium.

JM: We’re still working on upping our tailgate game, which should start happening this year. Last year I was pretty consistent with my Jerk Style Chicken Wrap from Wawa.

BS: Favorite sign or tifo your supporters group has made?

GR: I’m still in love with the Super Heroes tifo from 2013. It was magical.

JM: This wasn’t a banner made for stadium-wide display. In the off-season last year, Christy Holly start using “Onwards & Upwards” in his tweets. So we took that and made a huge banner that we hung above the locker room. So only the players and staff would see it.

JM: Before the last game of the season we were able to take a group photo with the team under the banner.

BS: Final question before we let people know where to find you. If Captain American and Captain Canada battled in a 5 v 5 with teammates, who would you want them to pick?

GR: Tobin, Menges, Horan, Betos up top

JM: KO, Kai, Galton, Killion. It’s the Chaos and Order team.

BS: If someone would like more info or to get in touch with your supporters groups, where can they reach you online?

GR: Can find the Riveters at @PDXRivetersSG, I’m at @gabpdx, website is www.rosecityriveter.org, email: info@rosecityriveters.org.

JM: You can go to Email: info@cloud9sc.com, Web: cloud9sc.com, Twitter: @cloud9sbfc

Thanks to both Jen and Gabby for taking the time to speak with me.

Have We Been Conditioned to Hate Lifetime TV?

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

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

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

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

“What movie was she in?” said Mikey.

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

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

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

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

Fast forward to the present.

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

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

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

“It’s Lifetime!”

“Okay … and?”

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

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

A question suddenly came to mind:

Have I become conditioned to be a Lifetime TV hater?

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

The most-watched televised soccer match in US history.

Soccer match. Not women’s soccer match.

Soccer match.

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

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

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

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

If you broadcast it … ?

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

What’s not to love, right?

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

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

Or so you’d think.

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

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

What message, specifically?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Et cetera and so on and so forth.

And you know what? Bullshit.

Bullshit on all of those concerns.

Here’s what is really being said:

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

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

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

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

It’s the woman thing.

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

The thing is?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NWSL Makes a 3 year Deal of a Lifetime

Posted on by RJ Allen

The NWSL has announced their new TV deal this morning.

Unlike past seasons, it is not a handful of games on Fox Sports at the end of the season.

Instead the league will feature one game a week on the Lifetime channel. The games will air on Saturdays at at 4 pm EST with a pregame show at 3:30 pm. The remaining games will air on the newly minted NWSL Media.

According to the press release NWSL Media is still finishing hammering out details with possible partners for streaming.

“NWSL Media will oversee the live streaming of all matches and produce the games in high definition with a consistent, state-of-the-art approach that will include exclusive new and original digital content for pre-game, halftime and post-game segments. The joint venture is currently negotiating with potential partners to stream the games not broadcast on Lifetime.”

The NWSL returned to YouTube to stream the event live, slightly ironic as that platform is likely done as far as game access goes.

The event had plenty of NWSL star power in attendance, with NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush, A+E President and CEO Nancy Dubuc, USSF President Sunil Gulati, and a group of NWSL players that included Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers), Steph McCaffrey and Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Kristie and Sam Mewis (Washington Spirit and NC Courage, respectively), Lynn Williams (NC Courage), and former USWNT Captain Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC).

Quoted in the press release, Jeff Plush sounded thrilled with the deal, as did partners Nancy Dubuc and Sunil Gulati. 

“This is a transformational partnership in the evolution of the league, and we are so appreciative of Nancy Dubuc and her team at A+E Networks as they take a leadership position in the growth of our league and create opportunities for young women,” NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush said. “We are also extremely pleased to be able to present our fans with the most comprehensive national television and streaming packages in our history.”

“As a former college athlete, I know the importance of sports in the lives of women and girls and I couldn’t be more thrilled to join forces with NWSL and U.S. Soccer to ensure professional women athletes are elevated as the entire country can watch and be inspired by their strength and athleticism.   The teams are filled with some of the best professional players in the world, and we are proud to welcome them to Lifetime,” said Nancy Dubuc, President and CEO, A+E Networks.

“This partnership is not only tremendously significant in the continued growth of the NWSL, but representative of how far the league has come in four years and where it can go in the future,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “A+E and its resources are a fantastic fit for women’s professional soccer and will have a major impact on continuing to raise the profile of what we feel is already the best and most competitive league in the world.”

The TV deal is likely not to satisfy everyone. There is no telling yet how the digital content will be provided or if international fans will be left out in the cold. Also unclear is whether playoff games will be aired on the channel or whether they will be featured on elsewhere. But no matter what, this deal does mark a significant step forward for the league, with a three-year term that signals confidence on both sides.

Women’s soccer, Lifetime has told the sports world, is worth our attention.

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

Posted on by RJ Allen

Seattle Sign Crummer:

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

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

Adelaide Shock Sydney:

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

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

Henry Loaned to PSG:

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

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

Canberra Wins Third Premiership:

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

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

Riley to NC:

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

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

Dydasco Re-signs with Spirit:

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

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

Backline Soccer Rejects the Banning and Dehumanizing of Immigrants and Refugees

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sincerely, 

RJ Allen, Editor in Chief

Sandra Herrera, Senior Editor

Jacob Cristobal, Advisory Editor

Elizabeth Wawrzyniak, Senior Copy Editor

Alanna Fairbairn, Copy Editor

Jenn Hayes, Staff Writer

Luis G. Hernandez, Staff Writer

Leigh Nieves, Staff Writer

Jacqui Porter, Staff Writer

Jordan Small, Staff Writer

Adriana Hooper, Media Director

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

Posted on by RJ Allen

HAO Commits to Being a Gunner:

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

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

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

Sky Blue Lands Corboz:

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

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

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

W-League Doesn’t Disappoint:

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

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

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

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

Americans Head Overseas:

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

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

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

DMath to Seattle (This is Not a Typo):

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

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

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

Orlando Wheeling and Dealing:

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

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

Grassroots Support: Interview with a UWSL Support Group

Posted on by RJ Allen

The United Women’s Soccer League is one of the lower-tier pro-amateur soccer leagues for women in the United States. Founded in December 2015 with eleven teams, the league has added five new teams playing in its three conferences for the upcoming 2017 season.

Backline Soccer takes a moment to interview Southeast Syndicate, the supporters’ group for the Detroit Sun FC, one of the UWSL’s new expansion teams. The SE Syndicate is currently the only supporters group within the league.

 
Backline Soccer: Detroit Sun FC belongs to the United Women’s Soccer League, a second-tier women’s soccer league–what are some challenges of supporting a lower-tier team?
 

SE Syndicate: The biggest challenge of supporting a lower-tier team is spreading the word about your club and supporter group. Once we are able to get people to the matches, we can support just as passionately as any top-tier team. Without a big platform it’s tough to reach people that would be interested in joining our group. We advise our members to share about the SG and club via word of mouth and social media.

BS: What has the relationship like between the team and players and the supporter group? What sort of efforts or outreach do you have planned for the team?
 

SES: We have talked to the owners of the team and are excited to help them support local women’s soccer and our club. As the club was only created a few months ago we haven’t had many opportunities to see the players in action. We have a lot of things planned for the team. This off-season we will be working on many projects to support the team. We will be painting banners, making chants, (possibly) providing some merchandise , and other activities in order to let the players know that we love and support them every match. Also, our club is looking to find ways to positively impact our community and we are excited to be a part of that!

BS: Have you taken cues from other supporter groups or has the culture grown on its own?
 

SES: The lower-tier supporter culture in Michigan has exploded over the past few years and we have definitely been inspired by the boom. That being said, we are excited to do things our own way and make our own little dent in American soccer culture.

BS: Do other teams in the UWSL have supporter groups? Are other groups forming?
 

SES: Grand Rapids FC has had a men’s team in the Premier League of America and National Premier Soccer League for a few years now. They have recently announced the creation of a women’s side to play against our beloved Sun FC in the UWSL this summer. They have a great supporters group called the Grand Army. We are excited to become enemies for 90+ minutes and yet also form friendships. They are the only group that we know of in the UWSL.

BS: Do you have a relationship or partnership with supporter group for nearby men’s teams? Or is there any mutual interaction between supporters for local men’s and women’s soccer? What about NWSL supporter groups?
 

SES: We do not have any relationship with supporter groups for men’s teams. We are 100% focused on supporting Detroit Sun FC this summer. It doesn’t matter who you support for men’s ball if you are singing with us on Sun’s Match day! We have had a few members of NWSL Supporter groups wish us luck, but without a NWSL team closer than Chicago, the point becomes mute.

BS: Do you see (or hope to see) a path toward entry into the NWSL, the US’s first-tier women’s soccer league? And what role do you think a supporter group can play in bringing about that transition?
 
SES: Without a merit-based path to the first-tier, entrance into the NWSL is dictated by the ambition of the owners of Detroit Sun FC. Yes, we would love to one day see Detroit Sun FC in the NWSL. But for now we are focused on pushing the club toward a UWSL championship. I feel like our supporters group can play a role in bringing the NWSL’s eye to Detroit Sun FC. The passion and numbers that we bring to every match will hopefully spark interest in the club. As we said, our main goal and focus is supporting our club in the second-tier. We want to have a positive impact on the inaugural DSFC season.

Daphne Corboz Heading to Sky Blue FC

Posted on by RJ Allen

Daphne Corboz will finally take the pitch as a member of Sky Blue this upcoming NWSL season. After being the 22nd pick in the 2015 NWSL draft for SBFC, Corboz decided to play for Manchester City in the FA Women’s Super League instead, where she made 15 appearances and scored two goals and helped her team win their first FAWSL title.

The Georgetown Hoya was one of the best attacking players during her college days. In 2013 she racked up 27 points–7 goals, 13 assists–in 16 games played. She was named as a Second Team All-America selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as well as being the Big East Midfielder of the Year and being an All-Big Eat First Team selection.

Head coach Christie Holly was quoted in the Sky Blue press release as saying, “We are delighted to have signed Daphne Corboz. She is going to be a key piece to what we are trying to achieve over the next number of seasons, and she is an attractive player to us for many reasons. For starters, she is a New Jersey girl and has a full appreciation of what it means to wear the Sky Blue FC crest. She is someone who brings a huge amount of qualities on the field, and she also has a great personality off the field as well.”

Jen Muller from Cloud 9, when asked for comment said, “Not a bad way to start the day. When it was announced that Corboz would not be returning to Manchester City we hoped Sky Blue would find a way to bring her home to New Jersey. Very excited to see what the team can accomplish with this addition, especially now that it seems like O’Hara will be part of the attack. Between our returning players, our draftees, and now Corboz, it’s going to be a fun season.”

Needless to say, Sky Blue expects big things from this talented midfielder.