Tag: Ashlyn Harris

Problems With the Pride: Don’t Put It All On Tom Sermanni

Posted on by RJ Allen

When the Orlando Pride were announced in the team’s introductory press conference by the fountain of Lake Eola which is the basis for the team logo, Tom Sermanni was named the first head coach in team history. Since being appointed as gaffer he’s gone on to a 25-26-14 overall record. His tactical vision was able to turn a struggling squad year one into a playoff contender by year two. Granted, the front office was able to sign Marta–one of the greatest players in the game–and her inclusion sparked a potent attack, along with the return of Alex Morgan from an overseas stint in France.

Fast forward to year three of the club’s existence: the path to the playoffs is a bit bumpier, and the offense averaging 1.38 goals per game down from 1.89 the team produced last season. The impatient fan base has started to wonder if Sermanni, who earned a contract extension last season, is the right person to lead the team. Concerns have been raised about tactics, substitutions, and motivation of players down the final stretch of the season.

Recent poor home showings against last place Sky Blue FC and the Portland Thorns have turned the final four matches of the season into must win affairs. But while these performances weren’t great, it is a little too easy to put the blame for disappointing results on the coach.  American fan culture tends to focus on national team players and big name internationals, with some super fans who focus most of their attention on a specific player rather than her team. In this ecosystem, complaints about coaches are common, but few ever put the blame on the players.

Addressing this idea, Sermanni commented, “I know that we’ve got a whole lot of perceived star players, but to be honest, the second half was abysmal in every regard. I’m lost…Our lack of willingness to actually just simply defend is just so poor. And then we go in their malaise where nobody seems to be able to get the team, pick them up and get us back in the game. To be honest, for most of that second-half performance, I apologize to the crowd for coming and keep supporting us because our team on the field didn’t deserve that support in the second half. It was extremely poor.”

Yes, the gaffer is ultimately responsible for results, but we shouldn’t let that absolve players from accountability for mental mistakes and loss of focus. When the players follow the direction of Sermanni and stick with the plan, the team is successful. As team captain Ashlyn Harris said after the Thorns match: “I think the first half we were really committed to the game plan and our commitment to go forward and our commitment to defend was some of the best that I’d ever seen. Unfortunate part about the game is, if you don’t produce and you don’t put chances away, this is what happens. We had them by the throat probably the first 10 minutes and we just didn’t capitalize and as we let the game wear on and wear on and wear on, the momentum clearly shifts. We had one lack of concentration and it cost us the game. We just mentally crumbled.”

The major problem for the Pride this campaign has been lack of consistency more than any true structural issue. In Sermanni’s words, “I would love to be able to say it’s this, or it’s this, or it’s this, it’s either individual lapses where we suddenly get caught out, it’s ball watching when we’ve got the ball and then suddenly we get caught on the counter attacks, or we’re dominating games and we’re just not ruthless enough to put chances away.”

He continued his message a different match, “Déjà I’m saying similar things every week. We started out terrific first 15, 20 minutes, probably searching into the first 30 minutes. I thought we dictated the game, the tempo was good, our attacking was good, movement was good. But then we don’t score. You dominate and dominate in games and you don’t score.”

Frustration and pressure continue to mount for the Pride, and Sermanni has to bear some responsibility. The question is why the players are unable to consistently meet expectations. With calls for his dismissal floating out there right alongside #InTomWeTrust, there’s clearly a lot of theories. But it’s too simplistic to put it all back on the coach. He’s not on the pitch kicking the ball around or defending the opposing team’s striker. He comes up with the game plan and picks the best players to execute this for 90 minutes. But at the end of the day, the players themselves have to go out and earn the results.

Unapologetically Cool: 5 Reasons Ashlyn Harris and Umbro Works

Posted on by RJ Allen
Kelley Piper

There was a lot of material to write about this week – the NWSL playoffs are set, something is brewing with the Brazilian National Team, Pass The Ball just kicked off (with a little help from Julia Roberts and Ellen DeGeneres), and I still have a lot of thoughts on Sam Kerr not being a finalist for FIFA Female Player of the Year. But I needed a little break from so much seriousness this week, and I also needed a little retail therapy. So where does that leave us? With five reasons why the Ashyln Harris/Umbro partnership is going to be a successful one. Ready? Set? Lets talk about it!

Everyone Loves A Throw Back

On August 15, when news broke of Harris becoming the first female ambassador for the Umbro brand I thought two things. First, “That is so cool that she is breaking the mold being the first female sponsor.” And then, “You can still buy Umbro in America?”

I know that may sound harsh, but it’s true. Whenever I think of Umbro I think back to my glory days on a half-pitch with my Umbro checkerboard shorts, my little league rec soccer team that my dad coached, and orange slices and Capri Suns at half-time. It was glorious … and it was the 90s. Since then I haven’t seen Umbro around. But luckily, this can play to the advantage of the brand. Let’s not lie, the 90s are kind of in right now. And us millennials love to honor them with a throwback anytime we can. Harris and Umbro have taken this into account too. They know when the Umbro heyday was. So, along with a normal Spring ’18 premier line that Harris will help contribute on, the brand will also be releasing ‘classic lifestyle’ and ‘heritage’ pieces of some of their best throwback threads. So, get your credit cards ready, mid-to-late-twenty-somethings. You’re going to want some of this!

 

She Could Be A Champion Soon

Along with being a 3x NCAA Women’s Soccer Champion, and a World Cup Champion, there is a good chance that Ashlyn Harris could soon add NWSL Champion to her list of accolades. The Orlando Pride has been playing exceptionally well lately, and because of that, there is a chance that the stock in their fan-favorite starting goalkeeper will rise come the playoffs. And if the Pride do win it all, well, that means that Harris gets some more publicity through winning. As a brand, Umbro will be happy about that. Because winning sells. Let’s not lie. You don’t want to buy the basketball shoe of someone who’s team is sitting in last place. It’s not quite the same in the soccer world, but there is definitely some correlation with winning and sales. Everyone likes a winner. And a winner who rocks a throwback? Even better. Sign me up.

 

Her Fans Fan HARD!

The third reason that Ashlyn Harris and Umbro will be successful with their Spring ’18 collection has to do with the amazing fan base that Harris has surrounding her. They are supportive, and loyal, and loud. Don’t believe me? Check out social media whenever the USWNT lineup comes out before a game. No matter what – regardless if Harris is starting or not – the most intense debate begins on who the best American goalkeeper is currently. And Harris’ fans do not stand down. They will back their girl to the death, and I love that about them. Umbro should love that about them too. Because even though Harris only has about 400k followers on Instagram, they are some of the most loyal followers in the world. They will make sure to get the word out about the new line, and they will be sure to rock it themselves. No doubt about that.

 

She Breaks The Mold … And So Does Umbro

My favorite thing about Ashlyn Harris is that she is herself one hundred percent of the time. And the person she is, isn’t necessarily what the mainstream soccer world always wants her to be. And neither is Umbro. And that is what makes them such a good fit for each other. They are both unapologetically unique and true to themselves. Umbro hasn’t changed its course or its mission, and Harris isn’t one to be pushed into following the crowd. Neither one of them is your normal cookie-cutter soccer player or soccer brand. And neither is afraid to break the mold. They both stand for something and represent something almost pure. They are both here for the game and to live the style that they want. And that is what the fans of both the brand and the champion goalkeeper want too – to love the game and be who they are. That’s why it works. That’s why it’s a brand/player duo that makes people want to buy the product and cheer for the individual.

 

It’s Swanky Stuff

I mentioned earlier in the article that I needed a little retail therapy this week. In turn, I am currently writing this article rocking some checkered Umbro shorts. And let me tell you, they feel amazing … just like they did when I was six and following the ball around the pitch with no sense of what my position was actually supposed to be. And that’s what I really enjoyed about the Umbro pieces I recently bought. They were a good material, they were relatively inexpensive, and they brought me back to a time when life was simpler. They also got me a compliment at the local deli from the man standing behind me as I waited for my pastrami sandwich. “Are those, Umbro? That’s so cool!” I know, kind deli customer – you don’t have to tell me. Overall, I would definitely buy more Umbro apparel, and I am really excited to see what Harris does with the Spring ’18 line.

So there you have it, my friends – a different take on my weekly 5er. You can check out Ashlyn Harris and the rest of the Orlando Pride this postseason, and make sure to be on the lookout for some sweet-action Umbro apparel. Whether you are a Harris fan or not, this brand lives, eats, and breathes the beautiful game and if you are reading this article, the chance is that you do too. So give them another shot. Your inner child would want you to.

Ashlyn Harris Out 8 Weeks

Posted on by RJ Allen

Orlando shared the unfortunate news that star goalkeeper and captain Ashlyn Harris will be out approximately eight weeks after an injury suffered against the Seattle Reign this past Sunday.  Orlando reports that she’s suffered a quadriceps injury near her hip

Harris went down with a non-contact injury in the 24′, taking a goal kick and then collapsing in pain on the field. Though Harris walked off under her own power, Orlando was forced to make an early substitution, and sent new signing Caroline Stanley out into the box to keep the powerful Reign at bay for the rest of the match. Stanley and the team fought hard to earn a draw and a point despite losing their captain in an unfortunate and somewhat shocking way.

Stanley will stay with the team in the meantime, and it seems that Aubrey Bledsoe, the backup who was ruled out of last week’s match and prompted Stanley’s pickup, may have been replaced as the Pride’s #2 keeper.

As for Harris, this means fans will not see her play with the National Team in their upcoming June friendlies against Sweden and Norway in Europe, and and her status for the recently announced Tournament of Nations to take place on the West Coast later this summer is in jeopardy, leaving Jane Campbell as the likely candidate to fill the #2 GK spot on the UWSNT roster.

Week 4 Woes: Orlando Pride Face Must-Win Game

Posted on by RJ Allen

July 10th of last year may not seem like forever ago, but for Orlando Pride fans it probably feels like that right now.

That’s the date of the last Pride victory, a Week 12 home victory against the then-not-so-great Boston Breakers of 2016. Orlando’s current 11-match winless streak is tied for second all-time now with Seattle, and is only two matches away from meeting the 2013 Washington Spirit’s 13-match run of futility. However, based on a recent Orlando Sentinel story, Tom Sermanni is still pretty upbeat and not overly concerned whether he’ll be in the hot seat anytime soon.

But I believe the Pride’s inability to win is a problem that goes deeper than the tired excuse of new players getting comfortable in a different system or anything to do with Marta. Coach Sermanni has made some poor early decisions in his starting XI, a few of his in-game adjustments have been head scratching, and miscues and lack of execution have resulted what I would call a must-win situation in their Week Four match on the road at Children’s Mercy Victory Field against FC Kansas City, a team also looking for answers to their current woes.

Heading into the first match against Portland, I was fairly confident I had a grasp on how the Pride wanted to play and who would be where on the pitch. I’d seen them off and on in the preseason, both in practices and in scrimmages. Perhaps spending so much of the preseason in a three-back line can now be attributed to not having all of the starting defenders in camp at one time for most of the run up to Opening Weekend. Steph Catley arrived later in the preseason after wrapping up her duties in Australia, and Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris departed for national team commitments mid-way through. So, going four in the back on the road in Providence Park seemed like a wise move since most of the players are more familiar in that formation, and at that point, a lot of fans and critics in the league were saying that the Pride had one of the stronger back lines. On paper, at least.

And yet, Jamia Fields got the start at right back against Portland? And got a nod again when Orlando hosted Washington just a week later? Perhaps when the Pride were practicing behind closed doors, Fields, a forward who never played defender professionally before, was given time there; but then why not give her minutes at right back in a preseason match to learn the position better under game conditions. In the games we saw her on the backline, her play didn’t pass the eye test and her game stats left a lot to be desired. Yet, Sermanni only made the back line adjustment when Fields was forced off the pitch late in the first half of the home opener versus the Spirit. Having Catley, Kennedy, Alleway and Krieger in the back four is simply placing the team’s best players in those positions where they belong. Which also begs the question, why aren’t the Pride fielding their best XI in the starting XI?

Going into the season, I felt Jasmyne Spencer was best suited to come off the bench to inject energy in the second half and use her speed to go 1v1 at a tiring defense. However, she’s been in the starting XI all three matches with lackluster results. The Pride attack has looked better once Spencer is subbed out for Danica Evans. I don’t fault Spencer, but I think Tom is being a bit too loyal to his players with too little to show for it. The season is early enough to make a change as players adjust to their roles.

Another aspect of the Pride’s puzzling starting formations is the use of the 4-3-3. It’s easy to second guess after the fact, but Orlando’s biggest issue isn’t creating goals. The right answer is the midfield play for Orlando. The “right” midfield should be able to cover the back line while being able to distribute the ball forward and creating positive goal scoring opportunities. Evan’s goal to draw the Spirit was the result of a sequence of six passes. In the Week 3 match against the Courage, Orlando’s attack was isolated for the majority of the game with only a couple of players consistently moving into the attacking third.

With a strong midfield in mind, Dani Weatherholt has to be a starting player every week. Once she was subbed out in the first game in the 63′, the Thorns were able to take advantage of Weatherholt’s absence–namely her ability to spin away from trouble and distribute the ball forward–and score quickly in the 67′. She’s looked more comfortable as the holding mid than Monica, the other player Sermanni has gone to play in that position. 

On the pitch, the Pride have had too many miscues and poor execution. Last season Orlando yielded just two scores from the spot. But we’re only heading into Week 4 this weekend, and so far the Pride have been penalized in two out of the first three matches with first-half penalty kicks due to errors made by both Australian centerbacks, Kennedy against Portland and Alleway in North Carolina, who should know better than to defend with their arm stretched out inside the box. Ashlyn Harris, who was critical of her teammates after the loss to North Carolina last week, has given opponents second chance opportunities with her weak clearances that the other teams have been able to capitalize upon.

Even though the season is just in its fourth week, the Pride have to realize that the match against the Blues is must-win. The NWSL season isn’t long enough (even with 24 games this season) to fall this far back from the playoff pack. Orlando has already dropped points at home, and have just one road win ever, in Week 6 against the Houston Dash last year. Sermanni needs to throw everything into this match to get the win, start Orlando’s best starting XI, make the right adjustments, and somehow get his players to perform at the level of which they are capable instead of the underachieving we’ve seen so far. The club ownership has given Tom all the resources to succeed, bringing in top talent like Marta and Krieger, but haven’t demonstrated much patience to wait for results, and Sermanni may not think so now, but his seat is hot. Orlando hosts the NWSL championship and are expected to contend for a playoff spot. Four points in four games will go a long way toward building the team’s confidence as they return home to face the Courage in Orlando on Mother’s Day.

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 1

Posted on by RJ Allen

Welcome to our first installment of “Off the Bench,” the latest Backline Soccer weekly series.

Backline Soccer Recap:

This last week on Backline Soccer, we posted all ten of our 2017 NWSL team previews. If you haven’t yet read them, please visit our site to check them out and let us know what you think!

NWSL Week One Game Recaps:

What a great first weekend back for the NWSL we had! Let’s dive straight into a recap of the five matches we had this past weekend.

 

Game 1: Houston Dash 2 vs Chicago Red Stars 0

Houston Dash record: 1-0-0
Chicago Red Stars record: 0-1-0
Attendance : 4,484

First up, to kick off the 2017 NWSL season, the Houston Dash took on the Chicago Red Stars at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Kealia Ohai opened up the scoring giving the 2017 season its first goal in the 15th minute. Alyssa Naeher stuck to her line a little too long and Ohai made her pay. Then, in the 80′ minute, Rachel Daly sent a rocket past Naeher, for goal number two, and was featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter for it!

 

Game 2: Portland Thorns 2 vs Orlando Pride 0

Portland Thorns record: 1-0-0
Orlando Pride record: 0-1-0
Attendance : 16,145

The first Lifetime Game of the Week started shortly after the Houston game, with the Portland Thorns taking on the Orlando Pride. It was a pretty even game for most of the match. The 24th minute saw a killer diving header from Ashlyn Harris to keep the Thorns from scoring but an unfortunate handball on Alanna Kennedy in the 32nd minute led to a converted PK by Nadia Nadim. Christine Sinclair netted home the final goal to seal the Thorns’ win in the 67th minute.

 

Game 3: Washington Spirit 0 vs North Carolina Courage 1

Washington Spirit record: 0-1-0
North Carolina Courage record: 1-0-0
Attendance : 2,400

Next up were the Washington Spirit and North Carolina Courage, in their inaugural match. McCall Zerboni scored the game’s lone goal–and the first in NC Courage history–in the 19th minute but it was Spirit goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé who put on a spectacular performance that kept the Courage from scoring any more after that. With one spectacular save after another, Labbé demonstrated to everyone just what an asset she will be for the Spirit this season. Unfortunately for the Spirit, Joanna Lohman went down in the first half with what was confirmed on Monday as a torn ACL in her left knee.

 

Game 4: Seattle Reign 1 vs Sky Blue FC 1

Seattle Reign record: 0-0-1
Sky Blue FC record: 0-0-1
Attendance : 3,521

The final match of the day was between the Seattle Reign and Sky Blue FC, which ended up being the game of PKs. A foul committed by a Sky Blue player saw Megan Rapinoe convert a PK in the 56nd minute. Then in the 62nd minute, a foul by a Reign player saw Sarah Killion bury a PK to level the game. Seattle Reign goalkeeper, Haley Kopmeyer, who had a player of the week worthy game as well on Saturday, almost stopped the PK taken by Killion.

 

Game 5: FC Kansas City 2 v. Boston Breakers 0

FC Kansas City record: 1-0-0
Boston Breakers record: 0-1-0
Attendance : 3,340

The final game of the first weekend back for the NWSL between FC Kansas City and the Boston Breakers saw the return of Amy Rodriguez and Sydney Leroux to the pitch after maternity leave. Leroux kicked off the party early with her first goal in over a year in the 7th minute. Amy Rodriguez decided she wanted to be part of the goal scoring party too and netted herself one in the 48th minute. Then in the 58th minute, we all held our breath as Rodriguez went down with a non-contact injury and was stretchered off shortly after. Official confirmation has not been given but it was reported to be the left leg which was then immobilized with a brace.

The weekend ended with the Dash, Thorns, Courage, and FCKC all taking home 3 points, while Sky Blue and the Reign each left with a point. Held winless and pointless in the first weekend were the Red Stars, Pride, Spirit, and Breakers.

The Scouting Report:

The Scouting Report went live last night with the first official NWSL weekly TSR recap of all NWSL games from the weekend. Make sure to tune in every Monday at 8pm EST to catch our weekly series!

You can find last night’s TSR here:

Come back next week for the next edition of Off the Bench!

Kickbacks: Five Things about the Roster for Russia

Posted on by RJ Allen

Earlier this morning, US Soccer released a 24-player roster in anticipation of the Women’s Team’s upcoming friendlies against Russia.

The two-leg set will open in Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX on April 6, and be followed-up with a match on April 9 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, TX, a homecoming game of sorts for Houston Dash players Morgan Brian, Kealia Ohai, Carli Lloyd, and 2017 draftee Jane Campbell.

Included in the roster are:

24-player roster of call-ups for April 2017 matches against Russia

As we look at the roster, some things are immediately apparent.

Keepers: No Hope Solo

Solo’s suspension from the USWNT concluded in February, and she is eligible again to be called into camp by Ellis. However, having undergone shoulder surgery in late 2016, the long-time US #1 is only partially through the rehabilitation process. Her absence on the roster could indicate that Jill Ellis and US Soccer really have moved on from Solo or that she is not yet cleared and ready to return. Ellis, on her part, has been mum about her intentions toward the goalkeeper even with Solo’s declaration that she wants and expects to return.

Alyssa Naeher (Chicago), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando), and Jane Campbell (Houston) have all been called back into camp for the friendlies. With Solo out of the picture right now, Harris and Naeher are neck-and-neck for the top spot at the moment, with Naeher probably having just the slightest edge over Harris after being named to the Rio roster while the Orlando Pride GK was relegated to the Alternates list. Campbell, on the other hand, seems to be in for a great period of mentorship under the two during the drive towards France in 2019, and it wouldn’t surprise us to see her slowly earning caps over the next two years. Will we see her take the field against Russia? Probably not as a starter, but I think it’s probably a good bet we see her take the pitch in the 46′ if the US has–as they should–built up a good lead.

The Backline: Allie Long, Midfielder, and Megan Oyster’s First Call-Up

Despite being played in the centerback position of Ellis’ experimental three-back backline, Allie Long (Portland) continues to be listed in the midfield on the released rosters. This could be because, say it with us now, Allie Long is a midfielder. She’s not comfortable in the backline–much less as being the pivot or anchor that stabilizes and directs the shape of the backline. Continuing to list her as a midfielder seems like a concession to those of us who don’t see a future for her in the three-back system.

In a related note, Megan Oyster (Boston) has been called into camp for the first time. Oyster is a consistent centerback who played that role for Washington until the recent off-season when she was traded to Boston. Oyster’s performance for Washington was fairly solid but she was benched when the Spirit suffered a bit of a lag in the 2016 season and then continued to sit when Ali Krieger and Shelina Zadorsky returned from national team duties in Rio. Oyster was a part of the starting XI in the Spirit’s failed bid for the NWSL championship last October, where she played centerback in a three-back that featured Krieger and Alyssa Kleiner (and sub Caprice Dydasco) on the wings.

What does Oyster’s call-up mean for the team? Could be a couple of different things. First, of course, it could represent a return to the four-player backline that held the US up throughout the 2015 road to their third Women’s World Cup. With Julie Johnston (soon to be Julie Ertz) out of the roster for her wedding and honeymoon, Oyster and Sauerbrunn could find themselves the center of a classic four-back formation.

Or, it could mean that Ellis’ experiment with Allie Long is finally over, and she’s exploring other options to anchor her three-back. Oyster did very well in that formation for the Spirit in 2016’s final match, with Ali Krieger on her right running up the wings to move the ball and even make some attacking moves. A three-back with, say, Krieger on the right, O’Hara on the left, and Oyster in the center? Now that’s something I’d really love to see.

Midfield: The Return of Rapinoe

When Megan Rapinoe (Seattle) was left off the roster for the 2017 She Believes Cup, there were people (including us) wondering if her career with the national team was over. Certainly it was in jeopardy after last year’s performance, where she failed to make an impact in her two games off-the-bench in Rio, as well as the few later friendlies in which she was rostered. And, of course, there was also the stir she made by supporting Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest during the National Anthem, taking a knee on the sidelines at a friendly against the Netherlands in September. With the official position of US Soccer made public earlier this month in a billboard announcement during a She Believes Cup match, it seemed as if Rapinoe’s absence had a bit of a sharp edge to it.

https://twitter.com/stuholden/status/838109929802063872

But, maybe we all assumed too much? Because Rapinoe is back, and just before the NWSL season where she’ll take the field for the Seattle Reign again too.

Forwards: Rodriguez Back, Still No Leroux

Amy Rodriguez (Kansas City) has been called back to the third consecutive camp of 2017 after taking time off in 2016 to give birth to her second son. Rodriguez was left off the final roster for the She Believes Cup in March, but this latest call-up would suggest that Jill Ellis isn’t counting her out at all as the team moves forward toward the next WWC cycle. Sydney Leroux (Kansas City), also out in 2016 for the birth of her first child, has been training hard with FCKC as well but hasn’t yet received a call-up to return to camp with the national team at this point. This is in no way to suggest that her international career is over either, of course. We fully expect to see her back in the USWNT lineup when she’s ready. Both, it needs to be noted, tallied a goal in FC Kansas City’s recent preseason match against Missouri Women’s Soccer, so there’s no doubt that both players are eager to lace up their boots and drive up their numbers.

One name that has made a return to the roster is Kealia Ohai (Houston). Ohai made her senior team debut just last fall, in a friendly against Switzerland at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. Ohai took the field in the 82′ and scored her first international goal just 48 seconds later, breaking a record set by Lynn Williams (North Carolina) set just days before (Williams’ goal was 49 seconds after she took the field for the first time in the 46′). Ohai’s breakout season with the Dash last year–scoring nine goals in seven games–earned her a look from Ellis and the senior team, and we anticipate that she will continue to find the back of the goal at both levels of play.

 

Grading USWNT Clothing Lines

Posted on by RJ Allen

It seems that more and more athletes are creating their own clothing lines lately and the U.S. Women’s National Team is no exception. Even though many players have had clothing lines in the past, most have since discontinued them. Currently, only four players have clothing lines that are available through their personal websites or through a direct affiliate website. Of the existing four, I have examined each of the clothing lines and in my unprofessional fashion opinion and professional fan opinion, graded them on a scale of A-F.  During the process, I will keep in mind each line’s marketing strategies, options, and overall appeal.

 

Grading Scale:

A- Great job. Might only need one or two slight improvements.

B- Overall good. Could improve in a few areas.

C- Not the best. Could significantly improve in many areas.

D- Clear flaws. Needs a lot of help.

F- Why did you do this?

 

For each clothing line I will be doing an “initial grade” and a “final grade”. I did this to show that my perception of each line changed after analysis and overall comparison.

 

Ashlyn Harris

 

screen-shot-2016-09-12-at-2-00-33-pm

Initial Grade: A-

 

I was aware that Ashlyn had a fairly popular line. I had seen a few of her items on Instagram, but I wasn’t aware of the extent of her line. 

Overall, her items are great. They are trendy, unique, and refreshing in a non-traditional sense–the clothing isn’t limited to articles simply featuring her name and number. 

Currently, her items are only available through her page in Sqor Sport’s Sqor Shop. And at first, this turned me off. I felt that Ashlyn having her own personal domain would be more advantageous for her as a brand. But, after browsing through Sqor Sports’ website, I realized how much foot traffic they get. They also carry other items from athletes like Odell Beckham, Jr., Peyton Manning, and Cristiano Ronaldo. This has to be helpful for her in terms of exposure and accessibility.

Ultimately, Ashlyn’s offbeat and eclectic line remains as one of the best among the four and receives a final grade of an A.   

 

Final Grade: A

 

Ali Krieger

ak11_primary

Initial Grade: A

You have to give Ali Krieger credit. Her clothing line, available at AliKrieger.com, is always sold out. Always.

I joke that it’s harder to get her snapback than it was to buy tickets to Hamilton when the original cast was still intact.

I also obviously have a massive amount of respect and love that she is receptive to fan’s critiques, but at what point does the unavailability of her line become more inconvenient than exclusive? Her brand also only carries one hat, one T-shirt, and one cinch bag.

While all of these items are popular, I can’t give a higher final grade than a B for a line with only three items. Even if they are, apparently, topnotch.

 

Final Grade: B-

 

Hope Solo

screen-shot-2016-09-12-at-2-05-09-pm

Initial Grade: B

 

I’m not sure if the recent events that have transpired around Hope make her ineligible for this article (I’m trying to stick to current and active players), but I’m going to include her because her line is still available through her website.

All in all, Hope’s clothing line seemed pretty traditional. Shirts and hoodies with her name, “Hope.”, are in the forefront of her website’s store. Even though this seems pretty standard, Hope does include other items that are more sentimental and amusing.

One of my personal favorites (that I didn’t realize was a thing!), is the #GetTheGoals T-Shirt. Any true Hope Solo fan knows this is a reference to a quote from her late grandmother, who was arguably the biggest national team fan in the country. Hope gets bonus points for this alone. But, in the long run, even though her line defied a few of my expectations, I can’t give her more than an A- for a clothing line that lacks a little excitement.

 

Final Grade: A-

 

Megan Rapinoe

rapinoe

Initial Grade: C

 

With the catchy hashtag of #BeYourBestYou, and a logo that is both simple and smart, I’m sure you’re wondering why I initially rated Megan Rapinoe’s clothing brand so low.

My reasoning is this: Social. Media. Spamming.

At first, I couldn’t handle it … “Made the Olympic Squad! #BeYourBestYou,” “Flying to Madrid! #BeYourBestYou,” “Getting my hair done! “BeYourBestYou,” “Tore my ACL! #BeYourBestYou.”

Okay, the last one clearly didn’t happen, but you get my point. Like those friends you have on Facebook who sell body wraps through pyramid scheme companies, I couldn’t help but feel that she has overcompensating for an under-performing clothing line.

One day, I finally took a leap and clicked one of her many posts on Twitter …  and guys … her clothes are actually kinda cool. I respect that not all of the items have her name plastered across the front. Most of them have her message: “Be Your Best You.” It may sound campy, but it carries a meaning that is universally understood. She also carries an assortment of items from tanks and tees to beanies and track jackets.

I also love that every item is unisex and can be worn by whatever gender you may be. So, ultimately, I’m going to apologize to Megan Rapinoe. I judged your clothing line pretty harshly, but then bought my husband and myself one of your tanks and we can’t deny that they are both very soft and very versatile in terms of appearance.

I am upgrading you to an A+.

 

Final Grade: A+