Tag: NWSL

The 2014 NWSL Allocations: A Snapshot

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

The Boston Breakers

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

Canadian Allocations: Kaylyn Kyle, Chelsea Stewart

Mexican Allocations: Dinora Garza

Allocations still with the club: 0

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

The Chicago Red Stars

USWNT Allocations: Shannon Boxx, Amy LePeilbet, Christen Press

Canadian Allocations: Erin McLeod, Adriana Leon, Rachel Quon

Mexican Allocations: None

Allocations still with the club: 1, Press

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

FC Kansas City

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

Canadian Allocations: Desiree Scott, Lauren Sesselmann

Mexican Allocations: Cecilia Santiago

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

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

The Houston Dash

USWNT Allocations: Whitney Engen

Canadian Allocations: Melissa Tancredi

Mexican Allocations: Teresa Noyola

Allocations still with the club: 0

Allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

The Portland Thorns

USWNT Allocations: Rachel Buehler, Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan

Canadian Allocations: Karina LeBlanc, Christine Sinclair

Mexican Allocations: Jackie Acevedo

Allocations still with the club: 2, Health and Sinclair

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

The Seattle Reign

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

Canadian Allocations: Carmelina Moscato

Mexican Allocations: Arianna Romero

Allocations still with the club: 1, Rapinoe

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

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

Sky Blue FC

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

Canadian Allocations: Sophie Schmidt, Jonelle Filigno

Mexican Allocations: Monica Ocampo

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

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

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

The Washington Spirit

USWNT Allocations: Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, Yael Averbuch

Canadian Allocations: Robyn Gayle, Diana Matheson

Mexican Allocations: Renae Cuellar

Original allocations still with the club: 0

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

The Western New York Flash

USWNT Allocations: Carli Lloyd, Abby Wambach

Canadian Allocations: Selenia Iacchelli

Mexican Allocations: Veronica Perez

Original allocations still with the club: 0

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

Totals

Total 2014 allocations: 50

2014 allocations still playing in the NWSL: 20

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

2014 allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 10

The 2013 NWSL Allocations: A Snapshot

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

The Boston Breakers

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

Canadian Allocations: Adriana Leon, Rhian Wilkinson

Mexican Allocations: Anisa Guajardo, Cecilia Santiago

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

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

The Chicago Red Stars

USWNT Allocations: Shannon Boxx, Amy LePeilbet, Keelin Winters

Canadian Allocations: Erin McLeod, Carmelina Moscato

Mexican Allocations: Maribel Dominguez, Dinora Garza

Original allocations still with the club: 0

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

FC Kansas City

USWNT Allocations: Nicole Barnhart, Lauren Cheney, Becky Sauerbrunn

Canadian Allocations: Desiree Scott, Lauren Sesselmann

Mexican Allocations: Renae Cuellar, Marylin Diaz

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

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0

The Portland Thorns

USWNT Allocations: Rachel Buehler, Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan

Canadian Allocations: Karina LeBlanc, Christine Sinclair

Mexican Allocations: Luz Saucedo, Rubi Sandoval

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

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

The Seattle Reign

USWNT Allocations: Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez, Hope Solo

Canadian Allocations: Kaylyn Kyle, Emily Zurrer

Mexican Allocations: Jenny Ruiz, Teresa Noyola

Original allocations still with the club: 1, Rapinoe

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

Sky Blue FC

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

Canadian Allocations: Sophie Schmidt, Melanie Booth

Mexican Allocations: Monica Ocampo, Lydia Rangel

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

Original allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 0 

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

The Washington Spirit

USWNT Allocations: Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, Lori Lindsey

Canadian Allocations: Robyn Gayle, Diana Matheson

Mexican Allocations: Alina Garciamendez, Teresa Worbis

Original allocations still with the club: 0

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

The Western New York Flash

USWNT Allocations: Carli Lloyd, Abby Wambach

Canadian Allocations: Bryanna McCarthy, Jodi-Ann Robinson

Mexican Allocations: Veronica Perez, Pamela Tajonar

Original allocations still with the club: 0

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

Totals

Total 2013 allocations: 55

2013 allocations still playing in the NWSL: 16

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

2013 allocations still playing elsewhere in the NWSL: 7

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 11

Posted on by RJ Allen

Image Credits: Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 11 Game Previews:

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

Game 1: North Carolina Courage vs. Sky Blue FC

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

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

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

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

Game 2: Boston Breakers vs. Washington Spirit

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

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

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

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

Game 3: Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars

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

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

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

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

Game 4: Seattle Reign vs. Portland Thorns

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

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

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

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

Game 5: FC Kansas City vs. Houston Dash

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

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

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

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

The Scouting Report:

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

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

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

Catch up here if you missed it:

NWSL Roster Rules in Normal Human English

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

Team Salary Cap Regulations

Team Salary Cap

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

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

Important Numbers

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

Roster Limits

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

We’ll get there later.

League Classifications

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

Player:

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

Individual

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

Federation Player

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

Unattached Federation Individual

There are two ways to be an Unattached Federation Individual:

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

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

Domestic Players

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

International Players

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

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

Amateur Players

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

Some teams treat their serfs better than others.

Still bullshit.

Team

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

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

Expansion Team

Houston and Orlando basically. Maybe others in the future.

Federation

The USWNT and CanWNT.

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

MECHANISMS OF ACQUIRING PLAYERS

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

Player Distribution Process

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

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

It can be traded.

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

College Draft

It’s the draft.

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

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

Trades

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

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

Loans and Transfers

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

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

Amateur Call-up

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

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

Again, bullshit.

Goalkeeper Exception

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

Disabled List

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

Short‐Term Injury – 45 Day DL

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

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

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

Season‐Ending Injury

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

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

METHODS OF RELEASING PLAYERS

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

Waivers

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

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

Waiver Wire

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

Contract Expiration

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

RULES & REGULATIONS

Player Registration

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

Player Tryouts

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

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

Preseason

So quick preseason rules:

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

Off-Season Training

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

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

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

Unsung Hero of the Week: Solaun Shines Again

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

Washington 1-0 Portland

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Little Hollywood Magic: A History of Sky Blue Draft Picks

Posted on by RJ Allen

While I was working on another piece about late round draft picks, I started to notice a pattern with Sky Blue’s draft history. Since 2014, every first round pick they have had has stayed with the team. 

Maya Hayes was their pick in 2014 out of Penn State, followed by Sarah Killion from UCLA in 2015. 2016 saw another Penn State player, Raquel Rodríguez, added to the team, and in 2017 a pair of USC defenders, Kayla Mills and Mandy Freeman, were drafted. The only first round pick that is currently not on the roster is Lindsi Cutshall. Cutshall sat out 2016 because of medical reasons and in 2017 she welcomed a child. If she did come back to the roster Sky Blue would have each and every first round pick. 

Their second round picks have been a bit more hit and miss. Kendall Johnson is still in the league, playing for the Portland Thorns, while both Hayley Haagsma and Kristin Grubka are not currently attached to any clubs. The only second-round pick currently on their roster is Leah Galton, selected in 2016. Galton has been a breath of fresh air on the wings when able to play at 100% and has performed closer to a first-round pick than a second. 

Sky Blue has had more third round picks than any other round, with nine in total. Ashley Baker, Michelle Pao, Shade Pratt, and Catrina Atanda do not currently appear on the roster, but the other five do. That’s Daphne Corboz, Erica Skroski, Caroline Casey, Madison Tiernan, and Kailen Sheridan. All have started games, with Skroski and Sheridan being first choices for their positions. With Corboz, it did take a slightly roundabout route, with her going to England rather than joining Sky Blue after the 2015 draft. But when she decided to return to the states, it was Sky Blue who added her to their roster.  

Sky Blue have had quite a bit of success finding useful players in the 4th round, though often it’s been to the benefit of other teams.  Elizabeth Eddy, Chioma Ubogagu, and Lo’eau LaBonta were all drafted by Sky Blue in the 4th round, but play on other teams. Their other picks include Becky Kaplan–not on an NWSL roster–and their 2017 4th rounder, McKenzie Meehan, who has appeared in seven games, starting two this year. 

But round by round can only tell us so much. The coach for the first three years, Jim Gabarra, left in 2016 to join the Washington Spirit. That left former assistant coach Christie Holly to take over. Turnover at the top means that Sky Blue’s drafts haven’t all been run by the same people at the top. That said, Tony Novo has been the GM for Sky Blue since the winter following the 2013 season, offering a bit of consistency even as the coaches have transitioned.

Still, if you divide the tenures, it becomes clear just how good a job Christie Holly has done. Of the 10 players selected under his watch, only one is currently excluded from the club’s roster. And that one, Catrina Atanda, is still in the practice pool.

Compare that to Gabarra’s tenure, from which only three out of 14 picks are still on the roster. Of course, the further back in time you go the more chance there is for players to move on.  And the three still with the club (Maya Hayes, Sarah Killion and Daphne Corboz) are all fantastic players. But the defining feature of Holly’s tenure has been his ability to pick up up the Madison Tiernans or the Erica Skroskis of the world–good players, but not considered to be draft standouts–and turning them into solid, dependable players who can start for a playoff contender. 

And having someone who can put together consistently strong drafts is a big deal. Drafting takes more than just identifying talent. It means creating a game plan focused on both tactics and club culture, and identifying how well players coming out of college might be expected to fit into that plan. That’s not something every club has. Even very successful coaches (looking at you Tom Sermanni and Laura Harvey) seem to be unwilling or unable to do what it takes to put together a strong draft.

Holly is doing more than just putting together a good 18 to 20 players for his roster. He is looking for players that will grow a culture that is very much “play for the player beside you, damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead” that has paid off with a team in 3rd place at close to the halfway point of the season. 

Rory Dames, long held to be the NWSL’s King of the Draft, finally has a worthy challenger. 

Draft Class Magic: Late Round Picks that Paid Off

Posted on by RJ Allen

The NWSL draft has brought some truly outstanding players into the league from the world of college soccer: Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle, both Mewis sisters, the list of first round picks could go on and on.

But past the second round the chances of success can fade. I’ve gone back as far as the very first draft in 2013 to pick out my top 10 picks from the 3rd or 4th rounds, to see who went late and paid off for their clubs.

Each of the ten I picked are starters (at least are when both ACLs are healthy), and have made major impacts for their clubs since coming on board.

2015 – 19th Overall Pick – Caprice Dydasco – Washington Spirit

Dydasco was the very first pick on the third round of the 2015 NWSL draft. While she only played 6 games, with 1 start, in 2015 it was 2016 where she really started to shine. With 12 appearances, all starts, the speedy defender proved her worth to the Spirit, helping take them to the NWSL championship game. While she ended up with a torn ACL before half time, she has made a quick recovery and already returned to the pitch in 2017, which will surely be a delight for Spirit fans far and wide.

2015 – 21st Overall Pick – Sabrina D’Angelo – Western New York Flash

Only two goalkeepers were taken in the 2015 draft. FC Kansas City selected Katelyn Rowland with the 17th pick, which was followed by the Flash taking D’Angelo four spots later. While the two would end up as teammates during the Flash’s 2016 championship run, it is D’Angelo who has come out on top in terms of playing time and accolades. The Canadian international has been quite good since coming in to the NWSL. And no one can forget her 3 PK saves during the title game in 2016. 

2016 – 23rd Overall Pick – Erica Skroski – Sky Blue FC

In 2016 Sky Blue took four players, each still on the current roster. Their third pick was used to snag Rutgers defender Erica Skroski, who made an immediate impact on the Sky Blue starting XI. Her speed, calmness under pressure, and willingness to put in the work have made her a mainstay in a young Sky Blue backline, where she has brought maturity far beyond what most second year players can find.  Some minor injury worries have limited her time somewhat this year, but once she is back to 100%, her tough defending will once again be a rock in that back four.

2017 – 23rd Overall Pick – Kailen Sheridan- Sky Blue FC

Goalkeepers always go late. It’s a fact of the draft. But if early returns are any indication, a few coaches might have wanted to take a bigger risk in 2017. Sheridan won the starting job right out of the gate for Sky Blue and hasn’t looked back since. Her performances seem to only get better week to week. While some young goalkeepers have struggled coming into the league in the past it seems that Sheridan is thriving under the pressure.

2013 – 24th Overall Pick – Amber Brooks – Portland Thorns FC

Amber Brooks is one of those players who sometimes struggles to find playing time, despite performing extremely well whenever she actually gets the chance to take regular minutes. She is smart on the ball, able to play a hard position, holding mid, well and has a rocket of a shot when she takes it. It is against all reason that Brooks has not been in the USWNT picture since a brief stint in 2013.

2013 – 25th Overall Pick – Jen Hoy – Chicago Red Stars

Jen Hoy is often the odd woman out for Chicago when people discuss their many attacking options. And there are certainly plenty of other names to focus on there. But while she might not have the panache of Press or the outright speed of Huerta, Hoy has some beautiful footwork, great vision and had put in work over her time on the Red Stars. 2015 may serve as her high water mark with 1110 minutes played over 18 matches, with 4 goals scored but I think given the chance she has more in the tank.

2014 – 25th Overall Pick – Emily Menges – Portland Thorns FC

Over the last 3 years, Menges has been one of the best defenders in the NWSL. She’s the kind of player who rarely gets the recognition she deserves–solid no-nonsense defenders are often underappreciated.  Always solid, she has developed one of the most sophisticated readings of the game, and her defending has only grown over the years.

2016 – 27th Overall Pick – Abby Smith – Boston Breakers

Another goalkeeper, another late round gem. Of the 5 goalkeepers who were selected in the 2016 NWSL draft Smith is the only one starting games. Lindsey Luke, Caroline Casey, Madalyn Schiffel, Britt Eckerstrom have all found themselves on NWSL rosters as backups, while Smith (when not fighting off nasty injuries) is the clear #1 in Boston. Her play has even gotten attention from the USWNT, as she was called into the US roster for the recent friendlies in Norway and Sweden Smith was on hand. Though she watched both games from the bench it was still a deserved call up. 

2015 – 30th Overall Pick – Whitney Church – Washington Spirit

29 players had their names called before Whitney Church in 2015, nine of them defenders. And while you might not argue with Gilliland or Dahlkemper going before her it is clear that Washington got a bargain when they took Church 30th overall. Speed has never been Church’s primary feature but her brains on the pitch and her skill in the air have kept her in the Spirit’s lineup every game so far in 2017.

2013 – 31st Overall Pick – Haley Kopmeyer – Seattle Reign FC

Maybe the greatest late round draft pick of all time. Haley Kopmeyer joined a Seattle team already populated by the likes of Michelle Betos and Hope Solo and outlasted both of them. She joined in 2013 as a clear 3rd choice, but has taken the time spent as a backup to craft and hone her trade, growing by leaps and bounds into a top 3 goalkeeper this year. Her growth is in no small part to the Reign’s commitment to develop her and to Hope Solo’s mentorship of her during her time on the team. From second-to-last to one of the best isn’t too shabby.

6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 10

Posted on by RJ Allen

This week in the NWSL, we saw two teams start to pull away at the top, and a shakeup at the bottom of the table. There were comebacks, a rare straight red card, and a few (maybe unexpected) shutouts. With four midweek games to look forward to this week, here are our takeaways from Week Ten

Nadia Nadim Meets with TAPS Family after Washington vs. Portland – Jordan Small

After Saturday night’s loss to the Washington Spirit, Portland Thorns forward Nadia Nadim walked over to the side of the field to meet with a group of fans that had been escorted down onto the field. The group was from an organization called TAPS. The Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors, or TAPS for short, is a program that offers resources and services to those who have lost a loved one while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

A young lady who lost her father in Afghanistan presented Nadim with a bracelet following the match. Nadim, whose father was also killed in Afghanistan, took the time to talk with the family and take a few pictures. This was just another reminder that life is so much bigger than sport and that win or lose, a simple gesture such as a bracelet or a small conversation can have a greater impact on someone’s life.

Does Portland Have Too Much Star Power? – Jordan Small

Looking at the Portland Thorns roster, it is incredible to see the amount of talent that they have. As a team, they have combined for over 625 caps for six different national teams. Against the Washington Spirit, they had 62.7 percent of possession. What do they have to show for all of that? Getting shutout on the road for their second straight loss. Against a team that’s only just barely broken away from the bottom of the table over the past few weeks.

In 10 games this season, the Thorns have scored 12 goals while only giving up nine. Not bad all things considering. But when you look at the goals, three have come via the penalty spot and two were own goals. Sure they are scoring, but they aren’t creating many opportunities for themselves. Against Washington, Lindsey Horan, Allie Long, and Christine Sinclair were nonexistent on the field. Amandine Henry was subbed out at the half and won’t be around for much longer because of the upcoming EUROs. Is Tobin Heath coming back from injury the answer to this struggling Portland attack? I’m not so sure. But I do know that they are going to have to figure some things out if they want to be in the hunt for a playoff spot come September.

Dash Put it Together (at Least for One Week) – Luis Hernandez

As unlikely as it seemed, the Houston Dash bounced back from the four-goal drubbing at home to enact payback against the Orlando Pride this weekend, taking home three points on the road for their effort.  Head Coach Omar Morales made several key adjustments while taking advantage of the lackluster performance from Orlando. Perhaps the post-match comments from Carli Lloyd last week also lit something under her teammates as she took the field in just her second game back from the UK.

The Dash rolled out a new combination on the backline, the sixth different version of the season, to clamp down on the Orlando attack. Limiting the Pride to three shots on goal allowed Jane Campbell to bounce back for her second start of the season, a much better showing from the rookie even with the few shaky moments she had in the beginning of the match. As the Lifetime game of the week, Houston proved to the national audience which team wanted to win more. The result moves the Dash out of last place on the table and puts them in ninth, sitting just above the Boston Breakers, who they’ll host in their midweek game on Wednesday. Houston is positioned to give themselves some separation from the Boston while gaining confidence for the weekend showdown at FC Kansas City.

Missed Opportunity for FC Kansas City on the Road – Luis Hernandez

If you had told Vlatko Andonovski on Friday that his team was going to leave Seattle with a point on the road, he would have been happy. A point would have been a great result in the first of two road games for the Blues after already drawing against the Reign the week before. However, Seattle were left with just ten players on the field after Lauren Barnes was issued a straight red card in the 4’ for an armbar of striker Shea Groom. Kansas City took advantage of the imbalance early on, making Seattle pay in the sixteenth minute with a goal from Brittany Ratcliffe. However, FCKC couldn’t hold on to the lead, and the Blues leave the Emerald City dropping two points.

The draw keeps Kansas City one point behind Seattle, and barely keeps Orlando at bay. As FCKC go into the midweek match at Portland, they will have a challenge getting a result at Providence Park. If FCKC fail to make the playoffs, will they look back at this game as one of the reasons they miss the postseason, dropping two points when they had the clear advantage from almost the very start.

Sportsmanship – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Living just over an hour outside of Chicago has its benefits, and one of those is the ability to schedule a trip down to Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL, to catch matchups between the Chicago Red Stars (my “geographical” faves) and Sky Blue FC (my “absolute” faves). Last year’s trip down was actually my first live, in-person, soccer game ever, and it was an event to remember (and one that ended with a selfie with one of the greatest players of the game, Christie Pearce). This year I was looking forward to another good matchup, and the chance to see Kelley O’Hara play with her club team. She’d been on NT duty in 2016, and though I’d seen her play with them in Chicago and again in Minnesota late last year, club play is different, and brings out different sides of a player’s game.

Unfortunately, O’Hara didn’t play on Sunday, either suffering from a slight injury or being rested in anticipation of a midweek match-up against the Orlando Pride. But them’s the breaks and with any luck, I’ll get to see her play with Sky Blue at Toyota Park next summer.

The thing I noticed, though, that I want to call attention to, is just how much of a leader O’Hara is on and off the field. Sitting on the bench in trainers, she was coaching and offering tips to the younger members of the backline who were out there on the field. Before the game, during the slight break when Chicago’s GK Alyssa Naeher was down on the field and the Sky Blue players came to the sideline for some water, at the half, and so on, O’Hara was demonstrating how to defend against Chicago’s attack, reassuring her teammates, helping them out.

With the news that this year is almost certainly Christie Pearce’s final season with Sky Blue FC, it’s good to see that the backline and the team will have someone as focused on teaching and leading as playing. And most of all, for all the little girls and boys in the stands, for all the grown-ups in the stands, it’s an important and visual reminder that an athlete’s work doesn’t begin and end on the field, and isn’t simply the accumulation of their physical talents. How a player performs on the bench is maybe just as important as how they perform on the field.

And I just felt like this is a good moment to acknowledge that.

Tears and Tears – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

We need to talk about ACL tears.

Obviously, we’re all tearing up about Kealia Ohai’s unfortunate injury over the weekend, or the fear that we’ll hear the same news from Danny Colaprico after she went down in Sunday’s game against Sky Blue FC. ACL tears are tearing up the league this season, and we need to talk about why that is.

Here’s the thing about this kind of injury.  It’s three times (3x) more likely to happen to a female soccer player than a male one. And this year, it’s taken down a number of players in our league (or former NWSL players), starting with Amy Rodriguez and Joanna Lohman over opening weekend, Kim Little over in the UK, and Yuri Kawamura. (Did I forget anyone?) And Diana Matheson, Cali Farquharson, and Kelsey Wys are all still in recovery for injuries suffered late last season or during off-season play.

It’s no secret that the focus in sports kinesiology and physical therapy is imbalanced, that most teaching, studies, and practical therapies and preventative techniques are based on the male body and the way the male body reacts to usage and stress of joints, ligaments, etc. But the male body is not the universal norm, and there needs to be more attention given to the physiological differences of female bodies to male ones, differences that don’t make women weaker or inferior, but ones that requires us to pivot differently, shift our weight differently, run differently, than our male counterparts.

And women’s teams (and leagues like the NWSL) need to make it a priority to find and work with trainers and therapists who understand the different needs and abilities of female athletes.

Who understand the science of playing like a girl.

Well, that’s what we took away from Week Ten as we head to a slew of Wednesday matches. Give us your biggest takeaway in the comments or let us know where you disagree with us. Until next time, fair readers.

Kealia Ohai to Miss Remainder of 2017 Season

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Houston Dash announced today that forward and captain Kealia Ohai suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Orlando Pride this past Saturday.

Ohai initially went down in the 67′ after trying to make a turn against Pride defender Ali Krieger, returning to the field after being checked over by Houston training staff. She went down again in the 74′ and had to be assisted off the field.

After a medical evaluation, Ohai was diagnosed with a Grade 3 ACL sprain and medial meniscus tear in her left knee.

“I am devastated but so excited to start my recovery and get back on the field,” Ohai said in a heartfelt post on Twitter.

Losing Ohai is a major blow for a struggling Houston team, who have three wins and seven losses on the season. Interim head coach Omar Morales had this to say about losing Ohai:

“The injury to Kealia is a big hit to the team, not only on the field but off the field due to the leader that she is. With her being the captain, you are losing a big piece of your team. We have to stay strong for her, push for her, win some games and build on the momentum from Saturday. We will keep her in mind because she has done so much for us this year.”

The Dash have confirmed that Ohai will be placed on the disabled list for the remainder of the season.

 

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 10

Posted on by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 10 Game Previews:

We have arrived at Week Ten of the NWSL, not necessarily unscathed, but seeing plenty of parity between several teams in the league. Let’s dive into this week’s previews. 

Game 1: Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash

Orlando Pride record: 3-3-3
Position: 6th
Total Points: 12

Houston Dash record: 2-7-0
Position: 10th
Total Points: 6

After last week’s dominant performance, (minus the last 10-15 minutes,) the Pride are coming into this week confident, really needing to start honing in and perfecting the little things. Big picture this week sees the Pride most likely coming away with the three points, if last week was any indication, but they will need to work hard on closing out games and remaining consistent. This week that will be their focus. They have seemed to have settled on a starting XI, at least until Alex Morgan is inserted back into the line-up in a few weeks. But their biggest enemy this week will be themselves. With Marta assisting in or scoring all four goals last week, the Pride will look to her for another solid performance. But they will also need to see others step up, especially defensively, to close-out the game. The last minute goals last week came at the cost of a goalkeeper and a defensive mistake. 

The Dash struggles continue and look to continue for the foreseeable future. I have mentioned this a few times in my previews, but even seeing the return of Carli Lloyd, who, while not scoring, had some strong moments in last week’s match, they just do not seem to have much idea of what to do, or what game plan they want to have at any given moment. This was apparent last week, especially as the players seem to fatigue well before the second half began. Their key, even if they do not win games, is to find consistency amongst each other this week. Their defensive game plan should be their first step. The team needs to find a way to get everyone working together, especially as the Pride have started to find their groove. They may have lucked out not having to face a combination of Marta and Alex Morgan quite yet.

Game 2: Boston Breakers vs. North Carolina Courage

Boston Breakers record: 2-5-2
Position: 9th
Total Points: 8

North Carolina Courage record: 7-3-0
Position: 10th
Total Points: 21

Boston has a lot to figure out this week but I do not know if we will see much more of an improvement against a Courage side that has been playing pretty consistently this season. The Breakers have also been plagued with injuries and it was just announced that starting goalkeeper Abby Smith is out this week. We will most likely see the first start for rookie and 2017 NWSL draftee, Sammy Jo Prudhomme. While she was a great goalkeeper in college, going up against an attack like the Courage’s, she will be tested early and often. Boston’s main focuses this week are to not give up the early goals and find a way to curb the Courage attack. The Breakers also re-signed Libby Stout during the week, a former GK who made 9 starts and 42 saves for the Breakers in 2016.

The Courage were without a few key players last week with Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald injured, but the team was still able to churn out a quality product. If both players return to the line-up this week, the Courage won’t need to make many adjustments in what they have been doing. Their key is to stay patient and shore up their defense because the Breakers’ attacking side only needs a little bit of space to make the Courage pay. Look for the hopeful return of the injured players to the line-up and the continued solid performance against a struggling Breakers side. 

Game 3: Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns

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

Portland Thorns record: 4-2-3
Position: 4th
Total Points: 15

The Spirit are coming in this week with a new weapon in their arsenal. Estefania Banini, who was their leading goal-scorer last season, as returned to the Washington roster. There has been no word if she will be available for this match but the signing alone is good news for a team that’s been struggling. After holding the Red Stars to a draw last week, the Spirit will once again have their hands full against the Thorns. The Spirit are starting to put a few more pieces together but are still missing what Tori Huster brings and also may be potentially be without Mal Pugh again as she continues to recover from an injury suffered during the FIFA break. Washington will be looking for another consistent game from Steph Labbé, who has saved their butts on numerous occasions this season. But in order to get past the Thorns this weekend, the Spirit will need to keep the pressure and attack at a high level.

The Thorns are coming in this week after a loss to Sky Blue last week at home, a subpar performance that left them disappointed and maybe a little embarrassed. Look for them to want to bounce back very quickly this week. The Thorns are starting to show where the injuries are hurting them, mainly with a gaping hole left by Tobin Heath, who has experienced a setback with her back injury and looks to be even longer now. The weaknesses of Franch were exposed last week as well, so she will need to make sure her decision making is on this week as anything can happen against the Spirit. While also suffering more injuries than just Heath, if the Thorns can bounce back quickly this week, they should see a different result.

Game 4: Seattle Reign vs. FC Kansas City

Seattle Reign record: 3-2-4
Position: 5th
Total Points: 13

FC Kansas City record: 3-3-3
Position: 7th
Total Points: 12

The Reign have been quite the puzzling team this season. They started off the strong but have seemed to level out and been a bit inconsistent with their play. They really need work on closing out games and finding a bit more consistency defensively. While the backline is set and we have seen some great play from Haley Kopmeyer, it has been inconsistent. While FCKC won’t be a huge threat for them, with their inconsistencies, the attack from their post-season nemesis could cause some problems. Seattle needs to get back to their previous form and find a way to make their team gel better. If this means a shake-up in the line-up, then so be it. Granted, even though a few players such as Diana Matheson and Larissa Crummer, who they had planned on for the season, are still injured, they have several key pieces that coach Laura Harvey could move around. Jess Fishlock will need to become a little more dominant in the middle if Seattle is going to have a better chance at moving up the table.

FCKC has also been a bit puzzling this season. With Amy Rodriguez no longer a part of the picture, the FCKC attack has seemed to start to find the light of their rhythm. Sydney Leroux seems to be coming into her own a bit more, which is really the key for them, especially going up against the Reign, who have been a bit unpredictable. With FCKC fairly solid in the back with the Nicole Barnhart holding it down, if FCKC can spur their attack, they should see success this week.

Game 5: Chicago Red Stars vs. Sky Blue FC

Chicago Red Stars record: 5-2-2
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 17

Sky Blue FC record: 5-4-1
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 16

Chicago will have its hands full this week with Sky Blue. With a somewhat disappointing performance against the Spirit last week, there will be some things they look to improve on come Sunday. They’ve faced difficulties connecting their passes or in their ability to string them together, and the Red Stars will need to work on that against Sky Blue this week. The backline will also be fully tested with Sam Kerr, as most teams have been this season. She had herself a game last week against Portland, so Chicago will need to contain her throughout the game. If Chicago can connect more passes and be more consistent this week, this should be a great match-up to watch.

Sky Blue will want to continue their climb towards the top with another dominating performance this week. Look for them to rely again on Sam Kerr to spur the attack and get them on the board in Chicago. The biggest thing for Kerr, however, is consistency. She can have dominating games like she did last week and then be unable to buy herself a goal in the next. So working on her consistency, especially this week, will be key. Christie Pearce has also had to work all season with a young backline and, for the most part, they have been able to handle the tests of the NWSL play. But this week, with the Chicago attack led by Christen Press, Pearce and the rest of the backline will be tested frequently. Where Kelley O’Hara plays this week will be anyone’s guess, but if she causes as many fits on the field as she did last week, Chicago will have their hands full.

The Scouting Report:

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

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