Tag: Danielle Colaprico

WoSo Remix: Chance the Rapper and Chicago Red Stars

Posted on by RJ Allen

This is part two of a three-part series. [Part 1]

*DISCLAIMER*

Yes, this is a women’s soccer article referencing a rap album. Yes, there is foul language. Yes, this is your Parental Advisory.

Back in August, Backline Soccer published Part One of a WoSo Remix series featuring Chance the Rapper and the Chicago Red Stars. In honor of Chance the Rapper’s recent groundbreaking SEVEN Grammy nominations for a streaming album, we present Part Two of WoSo Remix: Chance The Rapper and Chicago Red Stars.

If you’re from Chicago and are unfamiliar with hip hop or have been living under some rock the last four years, Chance The Rapper is an artist from the south side of Chicago who has been receiving tons of critical acclaim for his new release, Coloring Book. The album has been nominated for seven Grammys this year. If you haven’t heard it yet, go do yourself a favor and download it. It is free.

 

WHY WOMEN’S SOCCER & HIP HOP?
It’s no secret athletes are into music. They use it to motivate their workouts and hype up game days. Here at Backline Soccer, we’re into a whole bunch of cool shit like WoSo, tacos, and music. So when Chance The Rapper dropped that mix-tape, I immediately downloaded it. It was released back in May 2016, about a month after the National Women’s Soccer League kicked off their historic 4th season.

Like athletes, music usually accompanies me whenever I do any writing. So, it only seemed appropriate to do a review and remix of the mix-tape that has taken the music world by storm with the squad that literally reps Chicago’s notorious stars on its crest, The Chicago Red Stars.  While going through Coloring Book from start to finish, I will be comparing players from the 2016 active roster to specific lyrics in its tracks.

*DISCLAIMER 2*

AGAIN. This album contains a Parental Advisory for Explicit Content. So chill the fuck out. Also, not all players will be used in this WoSo Remix to the album. Mostly active starters & players from this season to date, with some honorable mentions.

 

Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book (cover art)

CHANCE THE RAPPER – COLORING BOOK (Tracks 6-10) 

SAME DRUGS
If you would’ve told me that when I grew up there was going to be a rapper from the south side who would take two of my favorite things – the Peter Pan movie adaption ‘Hook’ and Hip Hop – as inspiration for a song, I’d have called you a terrible person. Turns out I am the terrible person for not realizing this could be possible because Chance does exactly that in this track.

This song–accompanied by somber, yet melodic piano–has Chance reminiscing on former lovers and friends. While using drugs as a metaphor for changing interests and personal evolution, he takes us through the thoughts and processes of realizing that sometimes people just grow apart.

The lines “Where did you go to end up right back here? When did you start to forget how to fly?” have us selecting Stephanie McCaffrey for this remix. McCaffrey was originally drafted by Chicago in 2015 only to be traded to Boston in the same round back, a transaction that brought Danielle Colaprico and Sofia Huerta onto the roster.  Despite having struggled with Boston early in the 2016 season, a mid-season trade brought McCaffrey back to the windy city and her arrival added a spark to the Red Stars offense. In her first three games back with the Red Stars, McCaffrey netted three goals. Welcome back, Hoodrat.

 

MIXTAPE (ft. Young Thug & Lil Yachty)
On this track, Chance invites Young Thug and Lil Yachty to rap along with him on themes about being an independent artist and releasing mixtapes. The freedom that comes from producing your own content, label-free is represented by each of the artists featured on this track.

The lyric “I like my women real tall ayy, type that can really play ball, ayy” will be remixed for Red Stars 2016 rookie Katie Naughton. Standing at 5’10, the Notre Dame draftee proved she could ball. Naughton came up huge in her very first start with Chicago when she was asked to fill the shoes of Julie Johnston against the visiting Alex Morgan and the Orlando Pride.

Naughton held her own and proved to be a viable option as a defensive sub throughout the remainder of the season. During this off-season, Naughton signed with Australian W-League team Adelaide United FC. The defender had a strong presence for AUFC, playing all games for her Australian side this 2016 season.

 

ANGELS (ft. Saba)
This track was released with a video about a month before the entire Coloring Book album dropped. While the entire mixtape showcases Chicago as muse for Coloring Book, this song (and the video) is laced with love for the city Chance calls home. It features SABA (another Chicago grown rapper), lyrics with references to Chief Keef and Kanye West (more Chicago rappers), and shout-outs to locally known urban radio stations WGCI 107.5 (Chicago) and Power 92 (Hammond/Northwest Indiana).

The Red Stars have many local players in Chicagoland natives like Vanessa DiBernardo, Casey Short, and Katie Naughton. However, the lyric “I just had a growth spurt, it done took so long my tippy toes hurt” is what will be remixed for Jersey girl, Danielle Colaprico. Yes, she is listed at 5’3, and yes, she has laughed at herself in regards to her height.

However, it’s hard to ignore Colaprico’s ‘growth spurt’ this past season. She showed no signs of a sophomore slump, and I wrote about her earlier in the season as a mini-fortress. Her strong efforts got the attention of U.S. National team coach Jill Ellis and earned her a national team camp invitation. She joined Katie Naughton in Australia this off-season, and played for Australian W-League team Adelaide United FC.

 

JUKE JAM (ft. Justin Bieber & Towkio)
The track ‘Juke Jam’ comes right in between two tracks that get you moving. Chance reminisces on his youth and the past feelings of a former romantic interest. Spending time at the roller rink, and too young and intimidated to advance the relationship to the next level, he settles for the closeness of a typical Chicago dance move, juking. The ‘slow jam’ of Coloring Book, this song features Justin Bieber singing the smooth hook.

However, it’s the line Towkio echos, “You came with your best friend, came up for the weekend” that will be remixed for Red Stars players Alyssa Mautz and Taylor Comeau. In a national team cycle that saw national teamers leave for friendlies and Olympic duties, both players were often relied upon to come off the bench and help fulfill the role of absent players.

A veteran of the team since the WPSL, Mautz has been a reliable utility player providing depth in the Forward and Midfield roles. Comeau arrived via the Portland Thorns for the 2016 season. The former Thorn scored a game winner for Chicago in a crucial game against Orlando to maintain playoff positioning.

*Honorable mention: Janelle Flaws. The reserve player literally ‘came up for the weekend’ and played 45 minutes against the Washington Spirit. You can find her lighting it up for the Red Stars Reserves, way to go Flaws*

 

ALL NIGHT (ft. Knox Fortune)
‘All Night’ is a bit of a dance track for the Chicago House Heads out there. Historically known as the birthplace of House Music, Chance uses this track to crack jokes at various moments on a night out in Chicago. He pokes fun at his insecurities around his new fame and those around him asking for favors when he’s just trying to have a good time.

The lyric “So back up, back up, I need space now” will be remixed for Sofia Huerta. After a breakout 2015 rookie season that saw her become the secondary goal scorer for Chicago, many fans were looking forward to seeing more production in 2016. Huerta may have got off to a slower start for some, but broke through the scoring barrier in week seven when she was given a bit too much space to score.

Huerta finished the NWSL season strong with seven goals and two assists. This off-season she joined teammates in playing for the Australian W-League team Adelaide United FC and was named Player of the Month for January. She netted eight goals in 12 matches for AUFC.

 

TUNE IN
The Grammy’s will be airing this Sunday, February 12th. You can find the Chicago Red Stars playing at Toyota Park, in Bridgeview, IL.

Check their website for season tickets.

Ellis Names NWSL Heavy Roster for Switzerland Friendlies

Posted on by RJ Allen

Jill Ellis, head coach of the USWNT, has named her 24-person roster ahead of friendlies against Switzerland (October 19th at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, and October 23rd at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota).

And out of the 24 women called up, 11 players have yet to earn a cap with the senior team:  Jane Campbell, Danielle Colaprico, Lynn Williams, Kealia Ohai, Shea Groom, Andi Sullivan, Ashley Hatch, Casey Short,  Arin Gilliland, Merritt Mathias and Abby Dahlkemper.

18 players will dress for matches, meaning that several of those eleven players will earn their first caps with these matches. 

Notably absent are Meghan Klingenberg (D), Ali Krieger (D), Julie Johnston (D), Megan Rapinoe (M), and Alex Morgan (F). 

A full roster can be seen below. 

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Stanford), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (Western New York Flash), Arin Gilliland (Chicago Red Stars), Merritt Mathias (Seattle Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Andi Sullivan (Stanford)

FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Shea Groom (FC Kansas City), Ashley Hatch (BYU), Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)

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.