A Conversation on Race and WoSo

Posted on by RJ Allen

RJ Allen:

So, Sandra and I are going to tackle a pretty big issue: race and WoSo.

Sandra would you like to let the people reading this know your background?

Sandra Herrera:

Yes. As far as my ethnicity, I have always identified as Mexican-American or, more recently in my adult years, as Latina or Latinx.

RJ Allen:

I am so white I sometimes glow in the dark.

Sandra Herrera:

Haha, that’s a cool skill to have sometimes.

RJ Allen:

I’m also from upstate New York. My county is, as of 2010, 94.97% white.

Sandra Herrera:

That’s a pretty high stat. I was born in south Chicago and currently live just outside of there. However, both community demographics are similar: about 75% Black 20% Hispanic.

Thanks, wiki.

RJ Allen:

So we come from pretty different backgrounds. A nice thing when talking about this, I think.

Let’s start off with something that, I think, we both agree on.

The USWNT and NWSL teams should not have a quota of players of color on their rosters. Which I’ve seen brought up by some fans as a way to diversify quickly.

Sandra Herrera:

Correct. Don’t get me wrong. I completely understand where some people are coming from, as far as people wanting to be able to see this sport represent the country that we live in today. That diversity is somewhat scarce when it comes to WoSo or to soccer in general, and we should try to find a way to remedy that. However, no I don’t agree with having a type of quota in place to achieve that. I feel like that’s unfair to young players of color currently trying to reach a higher plateau in women’s soccer.

RJ Allen:

I’ve been the token woman in a group of men for committees, and it’s hard enough there. On a soccer pitch, I can’t see it working out very well.

As someone who is white, it’s hard for me not to go with the “take the best no matter what race they are” stand. But then I think about the pay for play system and the resources, and it gets much trickier.

Sandra Herrera:

I mean, ultimately, I think at the end of the day, everybody wants to be judged on the merits of their character and on the basis of their talent. When you dig deeper into pay to play you start getting into things like race and classes and unfortunately those things are tied into money in this country.

RJ Allen:

I’ve heard it said that USSF isn’t racist, they are classist. But in this country, it’s the same thing.

Sandra Herrera:

Yeah, I think when it comes to race, it’s such a sensitive topic. So it’s hard for people to try and separate the two, but they are completely related.

No one is saying that poor white people and poor white families don’t exist, because they do. Unfortunately, the reality is that there are higher numbers of poor African-American families and poor Hispanic families.

RJ Allen:

I think women of color on the USWNT and NWSL are sort of damned if they do, and damned if they don’t. They are either treated with total kid gloves, or they are needlessly picked apart.

Sandra Herrera:

I think there’s a lot of pressure for players of color once they reach that level.

RJ Allen:

The kid gloves make it hard for people to take it seriously, because they can see the results with their own eyes. And the picking apart is just unneeded.

Sandra Herrera:

Yeah, for sure. There’s a lot of criticism either way, I think. Sometimes there can be a bit of a “remember who you’re representing” mentality in those situations. But at the end of the day, they are professionals and should be treated as such.

RJ Allen:

I do always find it funny who fans think of as women of color and who they don’t.

You know my favorite example of this.

Sandra Herrera:

Ha ha! Yeah, I do. Are you talking about Amy Rodriguez?

RJ Allen:

I am.

ARod has called herself a Latina, and her father’s parents came over from Cuba, but she is usually overlooked.

Sandra Herrera:

I love Amy Rodriguez.  I just want to be on record saying that, ha ha.

ARod has called herself Latina because it’s part of how she identifies herself as. She is a person in this country who has Latin roots, and I think she is proud of that. However, I get how she can be overlooked by some people.

She has blonde hair and very light skin. She can be referred to as what is called a “white-passing” Latinx person. So I actually think it’s kind of important and kind of cool that she honors her roots and her heritage.

RJ Allen:

It just makes me laugh because the people overlooking her are usually the ones talking about how the team doesn’t have many Latinas on it.

Sandra Herrera:

Let’s keep it real here. As of right now, I don’t think they do—unless I am forgetting somebody, ha ha.

Same thing with Stephanie Cox I feel like, once she got married, she got overlooked a lot as well because people just couldn’t recognize it without the Lopez name.

RJ Allen:

Speaking of much needed left backs on the USWNT…

(And the Reign.)

Sandra Herrera:

And that’s actually something that I really appreciate from Rodriguez. Because she’s been married happily and

has a family, and she understands the importance of that name on the back of the jersey. So I’ve always been happy that she’s kept it and represented it out on the pitch.

RJ Allen:

People skip over ARod because of how she looks, which doesn’t help with the whole thing of not judging people just on how they look and wanting diversity.

Sandra Herrera:

Bingo. It’s a pretty common thing, unfortunately, in the Latin community. We are one of the most diverse ethnic groups in this country and if you’re too pale or too dark you don’t fit the prototype.

But that’s a whole other topic. So, yeah, I miss Rodriguez, ha ha.

RJ Allen:

I do find it funny that people don’t know how to “classify” Christen Press. Speaking of not fitting a prototype.

Sandra Herrera:

I think that people just have a tendency to want to mold people into their own perceptions of what something or someone should be.

It sucks but that happens a lot.

RJ Allen:

I’ve heard people ask if she just has a really great tan.

Sandra Herrera:

I am laughing really hard right now. Yeah. That happens too.

RJ Allen:

Didn’t USWNT’s Twitter do that with Mal?

Sandra Herrera:

I think that people in general, not just athletes celebrities or famous people, have the right to identify themselves to the best way that they feel comfortable in their own skin.

RJ Allen:

She and Carli were “comparing tans”?

Sandra Herrera:

Oh man, yeah. I know that it was a completely harmless moment between two teammates. But the photo made me a little uncomfortable at first without knowing the context in which it was taken.

RJ Allen:

Yeah, the social media person was a bit clueless in that moment.

Sandra Herrera:

I can only speak from personal experience, but it made me uncomfortable because I, myself, am actually very fair skinned as well. I have had to have those conversations and talk about being a white-passing Latinx person in a white-privileged society.

Seeing the picture made me a little uncomfortable at first because I have had those moments with white friends of mine in the summertime who went out and got tans and were like, “Oh my God I’m darker than you!”.

RJ Allen:

I’ll admit I snorted when I first saw the photo, before I thought about the content.

Sandra Herrera:

Yeah, like those moments happen between friends of different ethnicities. They just do.

But there are people out there who maybe went to that place, like I did, when I first saw the photo.

But I don’t view it as some type of divisive thing between teammates, like at all. If anything, they probably were just a really comparing tans, ha ha.

RJ Allen:

How do you think the issue of having more diversity gets resolved?

If it’s even possible with how sports and USSF operate.

Sandra Herrera:

You know, I think it’s going to be pretty difficult. I like to sit here and think that it would be easy, but you’re talking about an infrastructure that’s been in place for decades.

You look at a sport like basketball, and you notice a difference in its beginning versus its present.

RJ Allen:

The pay for play has to go for it to have a shot at being fixed. But there are a lot of people getting a lot of money who would want to keep it in place.

Sandra Herrera:

Exactly. Youth soccer in this country has become a bit elitist, and that’s sad. When you go back in history and visit the teams that you fell in love with, and you can literally point at the few diverse players, that’s not something to hang your hat on.

What does that mean for the youth of this country who come from low economic backgrounds and live in urban areas who love soccer?

What does that tell them when they don’t see someone who looks like them or don’t see a last name that they can relate to? It tells them that they don’t belong there.

RJ Allen:

Seeing something helps kids believe they can do it too.

We talk about it with women’s sports all the time.

The reason that we want it on TV is to give girls a sign they can do it one day.

Sandra Herrera:

Yeah exactly. Visibility matters. Representation is important. The fact that there are people who actually want to debate that, is sad. I don’t think it should be a debate those things are important. Period.

RJ Allen:

Warning: I do not believe this, but I want you to smack it down, so I’m saying it anyway.

Sandra Herrera:

Ha ha, go for it!

RJ Allen:

Representation matters, but in sports, doesn’t winning matter more? Shouldn’t the USWNT, or any other team, pick blind to race and try to win, in the short and long term, over having a rainbow on their team?

Sandra Herrera:

Haha, I think that says more about the infrastructure that’s in place than anything.

RJ Allen:

Is that why other countries tend to be more diverse than the US?

Sandra Herrera:

Because they believe in scouting talent in urban areas?

RJ Allen:

I was going with their infrastructure allows for it. But yes.

Sandra Herrera:

Yeah, true. But I mean, you look at a guy like Messi and wonder where he would’ve ended up if HE came up through U.S. Soccer.

RJ Allen:

Knowing the coach? On the bench.

Sandra Herrera:

Oh, man. Quite possibly, yes. LOL

Or not even make the cut because he was too short.

RJ Allen:

Do you think the coaching staff being all white affects this?

Sandra Herrera:

That’s difficult to say. I want to believe that the coaching staff wants to change something like pay to play, but at the same tine, you don’t hear them being vocal about it.

RJ Allen:

WoSo seems to be—and I am saying this as a white person—a white person’s sport in terms of fans/media who covers it/coaching.

Sandra Herrera:

To be fair, there are a lot of you guys who are acknowledging that. So that helps. Sometimes you even give a platform for voices on these topics. So I thank Midfield Press for that.

I’d ask you the same question I guess, what do you think needs to be done to change it?

RJ Allen:

I think we need to change the youth system to include more women of color and I think it will change through sheer numbers.

If you have more 7-year-old girls of color playing, it would follow that you’d have more playing at 13 and 18 and 25, right?

Sandra Herrera:

True.

I get changing it at the bottom.

What about the top?

RJ Allen:

I don’t know. If I’m being honest. I do think there needs to be some rules for hiring coaches. Interviewing more women or people of color.

A Harvey Rule as it were.

Sandra Herrera:

I’d like to hear more people at the top talk about it, frankly. Acknowledging that it needs to be fixed from inside, at the top. Not just grassroots and at the bottom.

I don’t want to sit here and just be like it all boils down to race. Before anything I am just Sandra, and then comes everything else.

I think you brought up a good point about the coaching. For sure.

RJ Allen:

I think, in general, WoSo people (coaches and players) are usually scared of speaking out.

Sandra Herrera:

I think so too.

RJ Allen:

Woso is such a small world.

One wrong move, and you could be banished.

Sandra Herrera:

Yeah, that’s very true. Isn’t that, in itself, pretty elitist?

RJ Allen:

I think sports are in general. Women’s sports even more, yes.

Sandra Herrera:

In women’s sports, and, I’ll add, even more so if you’re a woman of color. 

RJ Allen:

Yes.

Sandra Herrera:

You know, I read this quote from Mindy Kaling, regarding Hollywood and the whole typical straight white male world that it is. But to be honest, it’s something that I’ve felt whenever I’ve gotten some sort of opportunity to better myself.

She says, “When you are a minority, and it’s the first time you’ve done something, you’re like, this could all be taken away from me.”

And that’s why I think it’s so important that we do have someone like Sydney Leroux writing her blogs.

That you have people like Crystal Dunn or Christen Press who are willing to answer my questions and speak on things like race.

Navigating this world of WoSo has been, at times, overwhelming for me, personally. You want to be authentic and true to yourself and to the sport without offending someone.

And that’s difficult when you start talking about things like race or pay to play.

RJ Allen:

Sometimes you have to offend people to make them either pay attention or look at what they thought was a given but wasn’t.

Though I do have some privilege to be able to do that without having racist things said to me.

Sandra Herrera:

It’s crazy sometimes, to think about your words offending someone and all you’re trying to do is speak your truth.

I imagine it’s even harder wanting to speak your truth but feeling like you cannot because of the type of spotlight you might be in.

It’s also discouraging. Real discouraging.

RJ Allen:

The NWSL marketing—we all have issues with it—but I’m sort of amazed that they haven’t marketed more to the Latina community, with the history of soccer love there.

Sandra Herrera:

Yeah, I’m fascinated by it really.

I think the marketing in NWSL is figuring itself out as the league grows too.

RJ Allen:

Not marketing to adults is an issue as well.

Sandra Herrera:

Absolutely.

I get marketing to youth. I do. It’s been done since, like, the beginning of time.

But the there have also been, like, two other leagues that folded. So, yeah.

To be honest, I’m not sure a league like NWSL knows how to market to the Latino community.

RJ Allen:

Any suggestions to help them out?

Sandra Herrera:

Don’t be afraid to incorporate Spanish media with your teams.

The Red Stars have a GREAT Spanish language webcast for their home games, I’m not sure if other teams do.

RJ Allen:

Chicago is the only team with a Spanish language webcast, as far as I know.

Sandra Herrera:

I’d say try to market around your Latin players, but I’m not sure if that would work for most teams, ha ha.

RJ Allen:

Any closing thoughts?

Sandra Herrera:

I think it’s easy for us, on the outside looking in, to talk about restructuring at the grassroots level—from the bottom up. However, I don’t think those at the top should be left off the hook. If you love this sport like you claim you do, you should start talking about it how to fix it. That includes people at the administrative level as well as coaches.

I feel like, at this point, it’s not enough to just think about what we could do at the community level.

They need to be held accountable and they need to make better decisions.

RJ Allen:

You can’t have change if no one at the top admits there is a problem.

Sandra Herrera:

Exactly.

Woso and the Media: The Good, The Bad, and the Fixable

Posted on by RJ Allen

RJ Allen:

I am RJ Allen and I am here with Chelsey Bush to have a conversation about a topic near and dear to our hearts.

Isn’t that right, Chelsey?

Chelsey Bush:

Very much so.

RJ Allen:

Today, we’re going to talk about women’s soccer media and about being a woman in women’s soccer and sports media.

Where to start? There is just so much.

Chelsey Bush:

Let’s talk a little about the difference between media coverage of women’s soccer and the coverage of men’s sports.

RJ Allen:   

That’s a very good place to start.

And quite frankly it’s not hard to spot the difference.

Chelsey Bush:

Differences, in the plural, I would say.

RJ Allen:

Yes, differences.

Let’s start with game commentary, shall we?

Chelsey Bush:

Sounds good.

RJ Allen: 

How many times in a USWNT match do we need to hear about the men’s game, either the MLS or USMNT?

Chelsey Bush:

Do we need to? Never. Do we? Every game.

RJ Allen:

I don’t understand it either. Maybe at a Dash game or Thorns game or Orlando game because the teams are connected. But it seems like every game.

Chelsey Bush:

Every one. MLS, Euros, Leicester City, USMNT, Copa … I could go on.

But they so very rarely mention the women during a men’s broadcast.

RJ Allen:

Even the USWNT at a USMNT game.

Which you think would be easy to work in.

Chelsey Bush:

And never the NWSL.

RJ Allen: 

A lot of USWNT games don’t even mention the NWSL.

Chelsey Bush: 

Right. I think they’re getting better at it, but still.

RJ Allen:

How hard is it to say “Seattle Reign’s Hope Solo will be started in goal tonight”?

Chelsey Bush:

Or when the game lulls a bit, talk about the club season a certain player is having. That’s something you hear often in MNT games.

RJ Allen:

Another thing I think they don’t often do—and this was really highlighted when for me when I heard the France vs Canada game, because they did do it—is no one wants to really call players out when they aren’t preforming.

Chelsey Bush: 

Oh, that’s a huge issue for me.

RJ Allen:

I know it is.

Chelsey Bush:

Both in broadcast and in print. The tendency is to rarely criticize the players or the coach until something goes wrong, i.e. a big loss.

They should be praised and criticized in equal measure, as the play demands.

RJ Allen:

It’s almost like they are worried if they go too negative it will undermine the whole thing.

Like an “I can’t call Alex Morgan out for diving or people are going to think all women dive” sort of thing.

Chelsey Bush:

That’s because women’s soccer is often viewed as a cause.

RJ Allen: 

Which is bullshit.

There is no other way to say it.

Chelsey Bush:

I mean, I do understand that you have to grow the game. We’re really lucky in the U.S., because there’s so much more support here than in many other countries. But even here you still have people—not just the general public, but even in the media—who don’t care about women’s sports in general and have no problem saying so.

But treating it with kid gloves undermines its legitimacy.

RJ Allen:

Which NWSL commentators do you think do the best job?

Putting you on the spot a little, but I’m okay with that.

Chelsey Bush: 

May be a bit homer of me, but you know I’m going with Matt Pedersen and Jen Cooper of the Dash.

RJ Allen:

Am I being a homer if I add Lesle Gallimore from the Reign, even though I live on the other side of the country?

Chelsey Bush: 

Yes, because it’s still your team. But I agree she does a great job.

RJ Allen: 

Being a coach helps, I think. She knows how to read the game in that way and call out players in a fair way.

And no one dares call out Hope Solo on a mistake like she does. Most just don’t mention it.

You know that makes me chuckle.

Chelsey Bush:

Yes.

RJ Allen:

What do you think needs to change in WoSo media to make it more on par with the men’s side, in terms of standards?

Chelsey Bush:

There’s so much to say on this.

Treat them as players first, for one. They’re there to do a job, so critique them as such.

And learn how to pronounce their names.

RJ Allen: 

Do you think that we’re too invested in their personalities and stories?

We, as in media.

We want to see them do well, so we hold back to spare their feelings or so others won’t “hate on” them?

Chelsey Bush:

There’s a tendency, yes.

Many people who cover women’s soccer were fans first (you and I included).

It’s hard to ignore that attachment to certain teams or players and view them as impartially as possible.

And to speak in a broader sense…

There’s a lot more access to women’s soccer than other sports. They sign autographs after every game, they meet fans; they utilize social media. They’re celebrities of a sort, but very approachable ones. All of this contributes to a sense that you know them on a personal level. And that adds to an investment in them as a person, not as a player.

RJ Allen: 

I often hear from fans when I talk about this player or that “well you just don’t like them.”

As if me liking them or not is why I am calling them out on this or that.

I am apparently a Rapinoe hater because I had questions about her being named to the Rio roster.

Writers aren’t stupid, we know by and large how fans feel and take that into account when we write.

Chelsey Bush:

For sure.

I know I’ve held my tongue at times because I just don’t want to deal with that sort of backlash. And that is a problem.

RJ Allen:

I’ve not written pieces because I’ve not wanted to deal with the backlash. Even if I feel the issues should be spoken about.

Chelsey Bush:

Here is where being a women comes into it as well.

There’s backlash on top of backlash.

RJ Allen:

It’s why I decided to write under RJ Allen. My “real” name is Rebecca Allen.

I didn’t want the first thing someone judged for to be that I’m a woman. So I adjusted my name slightly.

I go by Becca in everyday life.

Chelsey Bush:

And now you’re exposed.

But it’s important for women to cover women’s sports. To cover all sports, really.

RJ Allen:

I agree. I have talked to both male writers and male sports fans. And some things I don’t think they “get” about women or women’s sports.

Chelsey Bush:

It’s just a different perspective.

RJ Allen: 

It is. It’s not a bad thing, but it is a thing.

Chelsey Bush:

Take, for instance, a player coming back after a pregnancy. Normally I don’t like talk about personal lives, but it’s similar in ways to coming back from an injury, so I think it’s relevant. That’s a perspective Alexi Lalas can’t have, but Aly Wagner can.

RJ Allen:

And it is a factor in women’s sports. As FCKC found out.

Chelsey Bush:

It definitely is.

This isn’t to say that male media has no role in women’s sports, or vice versa. It should be equal across the board.

RJ Allen: 

I think both voices need to be at the table, and the best of both sides need to be heard, for sure.

Chelsey Bush:

The ultimate goal is equal coverage, in pretty much every sense of the word “equal.”

And that goes all the way back to where we started, which is the manner in which women’s soccer is covered.

RJ Allen: 

Why do you do this job?

As one of your bosses I can say you don’t get paid, the hours can be rough, and the benefits aren’t all that impressive.

Though I am a peach to work with.

Chelsey Bush:

So many reasons.

I love soccer, and I love writing. Why not combine the two?

I have opinions, often strong, that I need to get out. Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows that.

And I think there needs to be more coverage of women’s soccer, and I think sometimes I can provide a viewpoint that others don’t or won’t.

RJ Allen:

I always say that I do the job in hopes one day I am out of it.

I want to see the day were there are enough professionals covering it, ones who are paid, that I don’t feel the fear that if I don’t do it, it might not be done. Though, at this point, even if that happened, I’m not sure I could walk away.

The pay would be nice though.

Chelsey Bush:  

Yeah, I agree, but I’ll be selfish enough to admit that, by that time, I hope I’m good enough that I’m one of the professionals.

A dream.

RJ Allen: 

It’s that double-edged sword of wanting to do it but also wanted pros to handle it.

But the pros weren’t pros until they decided to become pros.

Chelsey Bush:

Yes, we all want it to become more professional.

RJ Allen:

One thing I think we should touch on is the professional bit.

We are both fans of clubs in the NWSL and of the USWNT, and we cover both of those things as media members.

What do you think of the fan/professional divide?

Chelsey Bush:

It’s hard because we are fans. And to be media, you have to suppress that fangirl side.

At my first game, as press, Becky Sauerbrunn brushed past me, and inwardly I was flipping, but I couldn’t do anything besides give her a smile.

You can be friendly with the players, but you can’t go asking for autographs or pictures. It’s not professional, and you’re there to do a job, just like they are.

RJ Allen:

I think you can support a team though. As long as you make that bias clear and you treat the teams fairly in your writing.

Chelsey Bush:

Yes, I agree.

RJ Allen:

Everyone knows at this point, I think, that you’re a Dash fan and I’m a combo Seattle and Sky Blue fan.

Chelsey Bush:

If you don’t know I’m Dash to the core, you don’t pay attention.

RJ Allen:

But that doesn’t mean I don’t call those clubs out when they need it.

Chelsey Bush:

Right.

In fact, sometimes I think I’m even harder on the Dash than other teams.

Because I’m more invested in them doing well.

And also because I know them better than other teams.

RJ Allen:

Some of the best writers in WoSo have a clear team they support. I think pretending you don’t when you do can just come off as theater.

Chelsey Bush:

Right, and there’s nothing wrong with having your team, so long as you treat them fairly. As we said earlier, praise and criticize as needed, based on the play.

RJ Allen:

Are you hopeful for the future of WoSo media?

Chelsey Bush: 

Very.

These women work just as hard as anyone else, and they’ve earned as much media coverage as anyone else. They’ve earned places on Sportscenter Top 10. They’ve earned headlines.

I want women’s soccer to continue to grow, and media is a big part of that.

RJ Allen:

Any final thoughts on the WoSo media or women in WoSo media?

I know you love to give a good sermon.

Chelsey Bush:

I just want to issue a challenge, ourselves included.

Tell the story the way it is. Accept the backlash, ignore the comments section, and say what you have to say. The legitimacy of WoSo is connected to the legitimacy of WoSo media, and we have a responsibility to do the best and the most that we can. Because right now, it’s still at the point where there’s not enough coverage.

RJ Allen:

I think that is a challenge worth taking. More than worth it.

You can catch Chelsey (and me) talking about women’s soccer every Monday at 8 p.m. eastern on The Midfield Report on YouTube and iTunes.

Danielle Colaprico: The Mini Fortress

Posted on by RJ Allen

Before the start of the 2016 NWSL season the Chicago Red Stars lost veteran midfielder and former captain Lori Chalupny. She made the decision to retire from both club and country after the 2015 season. Despite missing Chalupny, Chicago has been able to command their midfield presence with two important players in their midfield in Vanessa DiBernardo and Danielle Colaprico.

A graph of Colaprico & DiBernardo connection earlier this season @wosostats
A graph of Colaprico & DiBernardo connection earlier this season @wosostats

 

Chicago has hit a bit of a recent rough patch in the absence of their U.S. national team players being out for the Olympics in Rio. Over the last four weeks Chicago has had two losses, one win, and only managed a draw against a ninth place Houston Dash – a game they should’ve won. Chicago’s lack of offense is something they are trying to correct; they’ve recently acquired Stephanie McCaffrey via Boston in a trade with the breakers.

Their defense and their midfield however have been bright spots throughout the season. Largely in part because of Dibernardo and Colaprico. After their recent match against Houston, Coach Rory Dames praised them both in their midfield roles “The more she’s [Colaprico] on the ball and the more Vanessa’s [DiBernardo] is on the ball, the better we are. They have a pretty good relationship with each other as far as their movement.”

Colaprico is the 2015 rookie of the year, and is only in her second season in the NWSL with the Red Stars but has shown no signs of a sophomore slump. Dames emphasized the role that Colaprico plays for Chicago. “Dani is really, really, good at what we ask her to do. She cuts out a lot of balls, she covers a lot of ground. She’s better in the air than people think. Getting her on the ball more is important for us.”

Colaprico has started every game since being drafted by Chicago, and has become a staple in Chicago’s midfield by being able to disrupt the oppositions run of play. She is a type of versatile player that is able to help facilitate offense and be trusted for defensive coverage. After winning the ball she can be trusted to play the ball through to DiBernardo or the outside backs in Casey Short and Arin Gilliland. She can be counted on for serving in a long ball to Christen Press or Sofia Huerta for goal. Defensively, she can prevent an offensive press by getting on the ball before it enters Chicago’s final third.

@wosostats tracking interceptions earlier in the season.
@wosostats tracking interceptions earlier in the season.

Colaprico’s play has obviously elevated in her second season with Chicago. However recently, we have seen the athletes tape around her knee and hamstring grow over the last few weeks. It’s cause for concern for a team that is already struggling offensively and missing its national team players for the Olympics. The NWSL will break for the Olympics in August, and despite playing through injury, Colaprico’s play has still shown resiliency and determination in her play.

Dames elaborated on her ability to perform while dealing with injury. “Dani’s been hurt for the last five weeks. Dani’s just trying to make it to the break so she can recover. About four of five of them [players] probably. You see her knee’s all taped up. Her hamstrings all taped up. So she’s probably playing at 70/75 percent, and still able to cover a ton of ground and do the things we’re able to ask of her.”

Colaprico understands playing through injury and explains her mind set in having to currently do so. “I’ve been having some knee problems. It’s hard but I think its getting better and its just something to push through. We have a break coming up in August so I’m just trying to get through to that break and we have one more week to get three points. I’m just pushing through at this point. ”

Chicago is a young team with a lot of talent and Colaprico is considered to be a part of its core. Her outstanding play last year lead to a national team camp call up during the U.S national team World Cup victory tour. After this years Olympic break, it will be another four years till the next cycle. Its not crazy to assume there will be more in her future. Dames shares this thought as well, and concluded his praise by acknowledging her potential on a national team level. “I think that there’s about four or five in our group that are on the cusp that when the Olympics are over if they can improve on a few things they’re going to have a legitimate shot to at least get a look in the next cycle. She is obviously one of them.”

Her importance to the team and presence in the midfield, coupled with DiBernardo, has proven crucial in some of Chicago’s more closely contested matches this season to date. While fans in Chicago will be treated this weekend to the return of Chalupny for a jersey retirement ceremony, they will also be witness to a rising star midfielder in Colaprico.

Fit, Focused, and Black Lives: Crystal Dunn Preps for Rio

Posted on by RJ Allen

Much can change in the course of year. No one knows that any better than Crystal Dunn.

Last July the US women’s national team celebrated their third FIFA Women’s World Cup after 16 years, it was a momentous occasion that Dunn just narrowly missed. In a post-game celebratory interview, Abby Wambach still praised Dunn’s efforts even though she was cut from the final roster.

After missing out on the World Cup, Dunn utilized the NWSL as platform for herself. She went on a scoring spree, netting 15 goals for the Washington Spirit helping lead them into the NWSL playoffs for a semi-final match. She was awarded the NWSL golden boot winner for 2015. Her outstanding play led to more national team call-ups for the US victory tour, CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, and the She Believes Cup.

She has shown she is ready to make the leap onto the international stage that is the Olympics.

Backline Soccer was able to discuss the Olympics, NWSL, and current social issues with Dunn before an Olympic friendly in Chicago. Rio is right around the corner, and with a roster yet to be named, Dunn remains focused on her Olympic dream despite the headlines around.

Backline Soccer: Can you talk to us about preparing for the Olympics in Rio in the middle of the NWSL season?

Crystal Dunn: “A lot of us here are 9 games deep in the league, it’s a lot of games. I think coming into this camp we all knew our legs might not even fully be where they need to be just because of the season we’ve had so far. Surprisingly, in the first few days we   were here we just clicked instantly, and sometimes that doesn’t happen at camp. You know we’re playing all over the field, and with different teams, and different players. Sometimes when you come into camp it’s so hard to get readjusted with everything, but this 9-day camp has been great so far. We’ve clicked, like I said. We’re all just so focused on the goal at hand and ready to have these sendoff games so we can be prepared for Rio.”

BS: It’s amazing what can happen in just a year. Going from the World Cup and falling short of making the roster there. Fast forward to this year with you being on the cusp of Rio. To be honest, you’re looking like you’ve got a pretty good shot to make the roster. Does the NWSL help play a part in keeping you fit and prepared for international tournaments?

CD: “For me, the league is the most intense league, I think. Just with the athleticism that’s in this league, you’re not really catching a break for 90 minutes. I think its prepared me really well. I feel fit. I feel healthy. I’ve been playing against really great players in the league, which has always prepared me for coming into national camps.”

BS: So, last season you went off on a scoring spree in the NWSL. We’re currently at the season midway point, and you have had some awesome assists. However, there may be some out there who think you’re not where you should be in terms of goals. Have you had to adjust your play a bit in preparation for Rio?

CD: “You know a lot of people ask how do you feel this year as opposed to that year, and it’s crazy to think that before last season – it’s not like I was on the radar for goal scoring. So I think that people have a way of kind of twisting what they think they know about the game and things like that. But I’ve also never had 4 assists in a season, you know? So, if they were to ask what’s this season like compared to last, I’d say I think I’m doing pretty well. Just for the fact that I’ve probably set a new goal now. I don’t have to be that person that’s going to score goals, but if I’m making other players around me look better, and play better then I think that’s exactly what I need to be doing. As a teammate I need to just wait for my moment and if a goal comes for me, then a goal comes. But at the end of the day if my team is winning then I would never sit and pout in a corner. [laughs]”

BS : Well said! Finally, I want to touch on something before we close. The other day Sydney Leroux put out a really awesome post on her blog, touching on some of the really sad things that have been going on the few days..

CD: “Oh YES.”

BS: Do you have any words of consolement? Or any words of advice for young girls of color who maybe woke up this morning feeling unsafe or uncomfortable in their own skin?

CD: “Yes. You know it’s crazy that all this is going on. I think not many things have been said about it. I think that’s the kind of disappointing stage. I think it’s crazy that when Orlando happened everyone kind of took a deep breath and was running to everyone’s call, and I feel like that’s great. I was one of those people that was like, this is a terrible thing that has happened in our country, we all need to be unified in this. But I think that the shootings that have been going on have been going on for years. I feel like people are now not even still waking up about the situation. Just as a Black woman on the national team I feel like this is something that needs to be said. You know, there’s not many of us that have been on this team. I always talk to Syd about these things. She’ll ask ‘Crys how do you feel?’ and I’ll say ‘I feel the same way as you.’ It’s just that I don’t know what can be done. I don’t know what words to truly say. I don’t want to make this about race because that happens a lot of the time. But I do think that the issues that are going on are a lot deeper than what people really think. So you know, it’s upsetting knowing that not that many people want to speak up on this issue that’s going on in our country.”

(Christen Press and Crystal Dunn | Source: Sandra Herrera @SandHerrera_)

The US women’s national team faced another Olympic bound team, South Africa on July 9. Some predicted an uneven match with the number 1 ranked FIFA team going up against the 52 ranked FIFA team. The game ended with a 1-0 score line with USA as the victors. Crystal Dunn scored the lone goal.

 

*This article was published back in July 2016 on Midfield Press. The Author has granted republishing on Backline Soccer*

Catching up with Christine Nairn

Posted on by RJ Allen

Christine Nairn, an Annapolis, Maryland, native, is no stranger to the Maryland SoccerPlex – the place she calls home on Saturday evenings. She not only grew up watching her brothers play there, but she herself played there as a youth player before going to Penn State and then being drafted by the Seattle Reign. She made her way back home two years ago, and I was lucky enough to catch up with her after training this week.

Backline Soccer (BS): With the sell out this Saturday, as one of three “hometown girls” on the team and having watched your brothers play here, how does it make you feel to see the growth and support for this team?

Christine Nairn (CN): It’s awesome for the growth of the game, like you said I’ve grown up playing here since I was like nine or ten or even younger going to watch my brothers play. For it to come full circle and to play in front of family and friends and former coaches, it’s a testament to this organization, to women’s soccer in general, to invest in the young players, the homegrown players as they call it around the US. We’re excited for the sell out and hopefully it’s the first of many for this year.

BS: With bringing in more help for Crystal Dunn up front, how does that help your play in the midfield, knowing you have a little bit more than last year where it was pretty much just Dunn over the top, knowing you have a little more space to work with?

CN: Crystal will always be one of the main targets for our team, I think she’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s shown why she was the MVP of the league last year and she carried us on her back the whole season. Crystal’s in a little different of a role this year, she’s getting in a little different spots on the field, different positions, so she’s still getting used to that. We’re still learning each other’s tendencies, the good thing about this team is that I don’t think we’ve reached our potential yet, each game we just focus on getting a little bit better than last game. I think, as we get better as a team, it won’t be the Crystal Dunn Show anymore, as much as it was fun to watch that show – if she wants to score 17 goals this year, by all means she can do it again, we wouldn’t hate that – but the more people zero in on Crystal, the more people are open, whether that’s on the outside, me in the midfield, or anywhere. Like Krieger said before, the depth of this team is so special, I think that even when the National Team girls are gone we have young players who have gotten minutes early on in the season and can step up and perform.

BS: Playing in the W-League the last two offseasons, what are some differences you’ve seen between the two leagues?

CN: Australia is so fun and every time someone asks about the Australian league, all the players have a smile on their face, it’s just an awesome time to go to Australia and play.  To keep fresh and clean on the ball and continue to stay fight is a positive of that and it works well with our season.  It’s still growing as a league and Australian soccer is getting bigger and bigger each year, I think that’s because the Matildas are getting better and better each year. I think they’re another force to be reckoned with this Olympic year, they’re going to be a dark horse team many teams might count them out. If you’ve seen the way they’ve been playing…

BS: They blew through qualifying.

CN: Yeah, they blew through qualifying and really gave the US a test in the World Cup last year and I think they’re going to surprise a lot of teams in the Olympics. If they can continue to produce and put on a game and attract more people, I think the W-League will continue to improve each and every year and I think that’s super important for their country as a sport and for their National Team for years to come.

BS: Going into week nine, how do you feel the tone within the team has changed or grown since week one and the outlook going forward?

CN: It’s probably gotten a little bit better with each and every day, like I said getting more comfortable with our starters and our players coming off the bench, getting into our roles and really embracing them. Never being satisfied. If I’m not starting, I’m going to accept my role, but I’m not going to be happy about it. I’m going to continue to push my teammates because I want what’s best for them and what’s best for this team is what’s best for me. If we can continue to push each other and get better each and every day, the sky’s the limit. One thing that I think that has stayed the same is our standard, we hold ourselves to such a high standard here, whether that’s Krieger getting on us or Crystal or D or Shelina or any of the Canadians. They keep the standard so high and say “it’s not good enough” and when those players leave, our main National Team players leave, there are other players stepping up and going into those roles. If we can keep that standard throughout the year I think we’ll be fine for the year and continue to get three points on the road and at home.

BS: Okay, hardest question I’m going to ask you, I’m a Penn State fan, what is your favorite creamery flavor?

CN: Peachy Paterno, with blue and white sprinkles. On my visit there, I ordered rainbow sprinkles and they corrected me like, “we only have blue and white sprinkles” and I was like, “Okay, sorry.” From that moment on I was like “Peachy Paterno – blue and white sprinkles.”

BS: You can actually order it online, they have coolers that you can put five half gallons in and a larger cooler.

CN: I didn’t know you could order it online, that’s determination. If there is one school that would ship their ice cream, it would be Penn State.

“Don’t be Afraid to Dream” An interview with Raquel Rodriguez

Posted on by RJ Allen

After seven weeks, the NWSL is just a few games away from the half season mark. Some of the rookies of NWSL 2016 draft class have seen considerable playing time in these last several weeks. One prominent rookie that stands out is Raquel ‘Rocky’ Rodriguez.

For those unfamiliar with Rodriguez there’s a few soccer tidbits you should know. She has been playing with the Costa Rican National Team since she was a teenager, and in 2015 helped the team reach the FIFA World Cup for the first time in team history. During a group stage match against Spain, Rodriguez made history again, netting the team’s first ever World Cup goal. After the international tourney, Rodriguez returned to Penn State University and helped the Nittany Lions win their first ever National Title in the NCAA College Cup. Penn State defeated Duke 1-0, with Rodriguez scoring the game’s victory goal.

After being selected 2nd overall in the NWSL draft, Rodriguez has settled into the league. When Sky Blue FC visited Chicago to face the Red Stars, she spoke with us about a few of her favorite things: Soccer and ice cream.

Backline Soccer (BS): I want to congratulate you on your first season with NWSL. How do you feel you are adapting to the league?

Raquel Rodríguez (RR): Thank You! I feel like I’m doing ok. I really like the tone that every match you don’t really know who is going to win. There’s differences in a lot of other leagues, and I think that Sky Blue is really forming. We’re a bit of a new group with a lot of rookies and we’re growing throughout trainings and such, but I think we are establishing elements that a team needs – but that takes time. I think that we’re on the right path, and as the season goes on the idea is to always improve and I think we are demonstrating that.

BS: You’re young but you have a lot of experiences playing with Costa Rica. You’re a Mac Hermann Trophy winner and won a National Title with Penn State. Why did you choose to play in the NWSL instead of a club or league in Europe?

RR:  Well the main reason was that at the time I hadn’t completed my college career, and I had taken time for training and NWSL is perfect for that because its only six months a year and after the season I can use that time for international training. I also had certain feelings about it because I am more familiar with the United States as opposed to overseas. There were all types of things that came into play, right? And I am just really grateful, first, to God for opening the doors for Sky Blue, and second to Sky Blue for confiding and believing in me.

BS: Can you speak a bit about your experiences in the World Cup with Costa Rica?

RR: It was a very unique experience. I always say it was a dream come true. Especially because it was the first World Cup for Costa Rica participated in. It was very symbolic of many years of fighting for women’s football in Costa Rica. I am sure that we’re not the only country fighting for more popularity and more support. But that World Cup I felt was the closing of a difficult chapter with ignorance towards women’s game in Costa Rica. I also felt it was the beginning of another chapter of growth, and development of women’s soccer. All in all, it was a very emotional time and amazing experience for all of us.

BS: Do you feel more support with the Costa Rican Soccer Federation after this World Cup?

RR: Yes, absolutely. I think the most important thing to come out of it was the communication aspect that has developed between the federation and the players. Ultimately, we appreciate that. We like to know what’s going on regarding the team, and they now do things they may not have done in the past, right? So I think that even the media coverage has now helped. Now they might talk to me or someone like me and report about it. Report about us. It’s no longer just about the Men’s side, it’s the Women’s side and many other sports as well. So after the World Cup I think it helped create some huge strides.

BS: You’ve have the chance to play with two National captains in your career. Shirley Cruz for Costa Rica, and now on Sky Blue FC, Christie Rampone for the United States. Can you speak about some of their differences or some things they have in common?

RR: Every captain, every leader, is different. They all have their own things. Shirley is a player very passionate, with a lot of courage, and a lot of heart. Those are trademarks of her play. She is the soul of the team she plays for. She’s the soul, the motor. With Christie, she gives you a sense of security just with her presence. She’s the kind of leader who has done a lot of good for the game. She’ll give you one on ones. She’ll observe someone, and grab them and give them some coaching. So to have her on the team is a privilege and great honor. It’s those kinds of examples I’m so grateful to God for.

BS: This question is for the Penn State fans. Do you have a favorite Penn State Creamery flavor?

RR: Ok, I have to say that I love ice cream! Out of all the deserts. I’m going to have to say just vanilla with Oreo. It’s my all-time favorite. You know, but I mean Penn State Creamery, gosh, I had several flavors. I don’t remember them [laughs] but that’s the main one. I can honestly eat any kind, all the time, milkshakes! All the time. But I can’t do that, got to try and keep and shape! [laughs]

BS: That’s so great, we had a writer who did an interview with Ali Krieger who asked the same question but Krieger said the mint chocolate chip. Since you’re Penn State player I had to ask too.

RR: Oh Yeah! Really? Oh the mint chocolate chip! Yeah, that’s sweet.

BS: I have a question for your family. Since the NWSL streams their games on You Tube, is it easy for your family and friends to catch you live and watch your games?

RR: Yes! I think that’s something for cool for my parents and everybody. They’re really happy supporting me and watching the games on the internet, on YouTube.

BS: Finally, do you have any words or advice for any young Latinas out there who maybe watch you in the games and are dreaming or striving to be where you are at this level?

RR: Yes. I don’t know about advice, But I always say to not be scared to dream. Because when I was growing up I had all these dreams and I didn’t always see how they could be possible. I knew that if I wanted to experience those dreams I had to first of all commit my ways to the Lord, because I knew that I wouldn’t, I couldn’t, be able to do it on my own. I just always prayed to god and trusted in my heart that he would have great plans for my life. Second of all just work hard. Do what we can do and when the opportunities come, just don’t be scared. There is always going to be nerves, or being afraid of going to the unknown, but it’s part of the risk we take. If you never take the risk, if you never take the step, you’re not every going to make your dreams come true. Just dare to dream. It doesn’t even have to be soccer. Just don’t be scared to dream.

“No tengan miedo a soñar” Un Entrevista con Raquel Rodriguez

Posted on by RJ Allen

For people who are not familizada with footballer’Rocky’ Raquel Rodriguez, here are some facts of miedocampista of Costa Rica.   She played with Le selection Costa Rica since 2009, and in 2015 the team participated in the premier FIFA World Cup football in Canada. Rodriguez was a historic moment against Spain when he noticed the premier goal for her team in a World Cup. Following story in his college career with Penn State, Rodriguez helped the Nittany Lions to a national title. In the final against Duke the score was 1-0 with Rodriguez putting the goal. The championship was the first national title for the university.

Rodriguez was the second selected by Sky Blue FC to play in the league nwsl player. When Sky Blue FC faced the Chicago Red Stars, Rocky talk to us after the game on nwsl, football in Costa Rica, and his two loves: soccer and ice cream.

Backline Soccer (BS): I mean congratulations on your nwsl season premiere. How are you adapting to the league game?

Raquel Rodriguez (RR): Well, I think the league is pretty intense. I like the fact that every game is not known who will win. There are differences in many other leagues. And I think we are building Blue Sky is a new team with many new people, who are called rookies are starting forming and trained, but I think we are establishing the elements of fairly solid team and that takes time. So I think we are on track, and spend the season as the idea is to keep improving and I think we are showing that.

BS: You’re young, but you have a lot of experience playing for Costa Rica, you’re winning Mac Hermann Trophy and a national title with Penn State. Why did you choose to play in nwsl instead of a European club or league?

RR: Well the main reason is because it has not finished college career and I are still trained and nwsl is perfect because it’s only ifs months a year and then after the season I use that time to train international. It also made sense because I’m better known in the United States rather than Europe or elsewhere. But I think there were several factors, right? And in the end I am very grateful, first, God, for opening the doors with Blue Sky and second by Sky Blue for trusting me and believing in me.

BS: Can you talk about your experience at the World Cup with Costa Rica?

RR: It was a unique experience. I always say it was a dream come true. Because it was only the first World Cup in which Costa Rica participates and is very symbolic that not so many years of struggle for women’s football in Costa Rica. I am sure that we are not the only country that is struggling more and more popularity in football support. But the World think it was the end of a hard cover as there is ignorance in women’s football in Costa Rica and the start of a cover development and women’s football development. So I was very sentimental part of all the experiences we had.

BS: Do you feel more support with the federation after the World Cup?

RR: Yes, of course. I think the most important thing was the communication that has now developed between the federation and the players. At the end those which appreciated. That we know that what is happening and now they do things that did not exist, perhaps, I think the media also have been in fact now, follow me follow me or someone like me, and report. Report of us. It is no longer only men’s soccer, football is feminine and even other sports. Then after I think the world already made gigantados steps.

BS: I played with two national flagships, Shirley Cruz with Costa Rica and Christie Rampone of USA. UU by Sky Blue. Can you talk about the differences or what you have in common with them?

RR: Every captain, each leader is different. It holds its own. Shirley is a very passionate player, with a lot of courage, and a lot of heart. That’s the way to play it shows. She is the soul into the team playing. It is the soul, the motor. Christie alone with his presence gives security. She is the kind of leader who made good in the game and it gives you something one by one. If she sees someone, she grabs the player and gives some tips. Then to have it is an honor, it is a great privilege. They are those things I thank God for giving me such examples.

BS: This is a question for fans of Penn State. There is an ice cream parlor’Penn State Creamery’ What’s your favorite flavor?

RR: Oh, I have to say, I love ice cream! [Laughs] Of all the desserts and sweets, I love ice cream. But with Oreo Vanilla is my favorite. But at Penn State Creamery had many flavors, and I can eat all the flavors! I can take a few shakes every day, but I can not. [Laughs] I have to keep playing shape.

BS: I have a question for your family. Nwsl games are live on YouTube. Your family and friends can see their games on the internet?

RR: Yeah, that’s great for my parents. Everybody. They are excited by the ease to watch the games. On the internet, Youtube, super good.

BS: Can you say a few words or advice for young Latinas who are watching the games on Costa Rica or nwsl on YouTube and want to dream and be like you?

RR: First, I always say, do not be afraid to dream. In my case I had many dreams when I was chiquitita with football. But I understood that God was all that could open the doors, and I also understood that he was even better than I imagined plans. So first I prayed much to the Lord and I will express my feelings trusting Him. And on the other hand, worked hard towards my hand, much discipline, much sacrifice, but always with the goal in my mind. But never be afraid to dream. Not have to be football, you can dream whatever. I’ve always known about types of nerves of fear. But if you do not touch the nerves, we will not know much what we want.

Catching up with Diana Matheson

Posted on by RJ Allen

Before the Spirit’s trip to Portland, I had the chance to catch up with their all-time leading scorer, Diana Matheson.

Backline Soccer (BS): With being here all 4 years, how do you feel the team and the league have grown and matured over the last 4 years?

Diana Matheson (DM): I mean it’s really improved each year both on the field and off the field. We’ve added great professional players every year and have gotten more consistency. Off the field, the league and this team is getting more and more professional.

BS: With the new additions, especially this year, your role has maybe kind of changed a little bit, how do you feel your role has changed on and off the field?

DM: I mean it’s kind of similar to last year, Mark always liked me on the wing as opposed to a midfielder, Jim has started me there most of the time as well, in this league I feel I’ve been more of a forward than a midfielder.

BS: If you could steal any 3 players from other teams and bring them over, who would they be?

DM: I feel like that’s kind of a tricky question. I’m going to go with Kim Little because she is fun to play with but she couldn’t keep number 8, she’d have to change it. Desire Scott, because she’s tough to play against so take her away from Kansas. I don’t have a third, so we’ll leave it at that.

BS: Do you and Krieger, with the upcoming Olympics, have a dinner or anything riding on it?

DM: No, no nothing, no dinners. Everyone’s got enough riding on that already, there doesn’t need to be a side bet.

A Conversation with Ali Krieger

Posted on by RJ Allen

For those of you that are new to women’s soccer, Ali Krieger is one of- if not the- best right backs in the world.For those of you that are new to women’s soccer, Ali Krieger is one of- if not the- best right backs in the world. A veteran of two World Cups, she was part of one of the greatest backlines to every play the game,  and gave us one heck of a summer last year, not to mention that epic penalty kick in 2011 and a load of amazing memories in between.

I was lucky enough to get to snag a few moments of her precious time, after training last week and got to find out what her answer to the most important question ever was, what’s her favorite Penn State ice cream. Ok, I may have asked her about soccer and the Washington Spirit and their awesome start to the season, which are pretty important too.

Backline Soccer (BS): How does it feel being back at right back?

Ali Krieger (AK): So good. I think that playing other positions as well has helped in playing my natural position, because I get more touches on the ball, like playing in midfield last season, I thought that was really fun for me. It was a different experience for me so I think having that, I can apply what I usually do at right back to those positions and get more touches on the ball and get better at that in other positions that I played and kind of get more experience. Of course I’m going play wherever my coach wants to play me and do the best I can. It feels much better to be playing in my natural right back position now.

BS: It seems like you’re becoming more confident in taking shots. Have you been given more freedom with that or is it just the flow of the game?

AK: It’s kind of flowing, I feel like I want to get into attack more and it’s been difficult in this league because the run of play is go-go-go. We’ve tried to calm the game down a little bit, to have possession, in order for me to get forward and I’ve just been finding myself more into the attack recently. But I don’t plan it, no. Against Portland I maybe could have put a couple of headers in. It’s nothing new that I’m doing or changing. I get too excited when I get up there, it’s fun. How to stay calm now, I’ve got to figure that out.

BS: The backline is starting to look like they’re starting to gel together, how do you feel about the progress, especially since game one? With Stephanie being back there now, how is that affecting the adjustments?

AK: It’s good, obviously we only have 2 out of our back 5, as we call it, are the same from last year, so it’s been an adjustment. The other 3 have stepped in and done a tremendous job and we haven’t skipped a beat. I think we’ve moved a few steps forward from where we were last year and having Shelina in there, as well – being a young experienced Canadian National Team player, has really helped. We’re really building off of each game and only allowing one goal in right now has been really great for us and we kind of iron out the details as the game goes on and then we take a look at film and we’re like look this needs to be cleaned up before next game and moving forward in this long season that we have. I think we’ve done a good job so far and now it’s just kind of getting use to each other and getting comfortable playing next to each other, kind of sticking together as a unit, that’s really important. If one of us makes a mistake, we all make a mistake, it’s not one person is leaving the other person out to dry, we’ve really done a good job at being a unit and making sure all of us are on the same page because we do know there are new faces in the backline and it’s so important to be that connected back 5 and that’s huge for any team.

BS: This may be the Penn State kid in me, what is your favorite Creamery flavor?

AK: Mint Chocolate Chip. I haven’t been in a while, it’s newer I think. I have to go back and take a look and stay on top of the flavors and the names, but mint chocolate chip for sure.

(I looked this up, there is Mint Nittany or Bittersweet Mint.)

Catching up with Stephanie Labbé

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Washington Spirit are sitting atop the NWSL standings, having taken 9 out of 9 possible points from their matches with a 3-0 record. Leading up to the Portland game this week, arguably the first real test for the Spirit this season, I was lucky enough to catch up with the new keeper in town, Stephanie Labbé. She was gracious enough to answer a few of my questions after training.

Backline Soccer (BS): What has been the biggest adjustment coming over to the NWSL?

Stephanie Labbé (SL): The speed of play and the quality of strikers that I face. I had the same backline in front of me for 6 years in Sweden, so figuring out everyone’s strengths and weaknesses on this backline and getting to know their styles of play.

BS: Do you think that the Olympic break helps with national team players not having to miss as many games and helps keep team chemistry in the club teams?

SL: Yes, I definitely think it’ll help. Anytime you get to play together, and the longer you get to play together, the more chemistry and the stronger the team becomes. We have a deep bench with a lot of good players, and the more we can play together, the better.

BS: Who is the crazier captain to play with Ali Krieger or Christine Sinclair?

SL: They both have different leadership styles. Ali tends to be more vocal, giving the pregame speeches and talking a lot on the field. Sinc is more of the lead by example, putting her body on the line and going all out. They are similar in that they are both very humble and have worked for everything they have, nothing in their careers have been given to them.

BS: What is the mindset going into the next four weeks knowing you play the same two teams back to back?

SL: I haven’t really thought of that too much. We’ve been keeping it game by game and really concentrating on the next opponent for the upcoming week. This week is Portland and we have to step up our performance from last week and play better against them then we did against Western New York.

BS: Do you ever wish, just once, that when your team scores, someone would come and give the keeper some love?

SL: Yes! I can’t really go running to the huddle and then all the way back to goal, maybe I can run to the bench. I will definitely have to talk to the defenders about this and maybe one of them can give me a hug or something—show me some love.

Hopefully one of the defenders will agree, and maybe when Ali Krieger scores again, she’ll show Steph some love.