Tag: NWSL

Making the Case: NWSL All-Star Match

Posted on by RJ Allen

In many ways, the National Women’s Soccer League has never looked better. With last season’s post-World Cup surge in attendance, the addition of a tenth team in the Orlando Pride, and player acquisitions like Lindsey Horan and Raquel Rodriguez (not to mention the return of fan favorite and big personality Natasha Kai), fans are eagerly awaiting the unprecedented fourth season of American women’s professional soccer. Should the USWNT do well at the Rio Olympics, it will only heighten interest in the league.

Which is why it could be the best time to introduce something many have been calling for since the league’s 2013 inception: an All-Star Match.

The lack of such a game, an institution in nearly every other major sport, has been puzzling. Both the first two incarnations of top-tier women’s professional soccer in this country, the WUSA and the WPS, held two All-Star games apiece with varying formats.

The first All-Star match took place in 2002 after the second WUSA season ended. Split into North versus South, the South won with an MVP performance from Abby Wambach in her rookie year with the Washington Freedom. The following year, in what ended up being WUSA’s final season, the All-Star match was moved to the middle of the season due to the 2003 Women’s World Cup, with a team of Americans falling to a team of WUSA internationals.

WPS’ inaugural All-Star match in 2009 presented yet another format. After the season ended, a team voted on by fans, media, coaches, and players hosted Swedish club Umeå IK. The American win featured a brace from Christine Sinclair. The 2010 All-Star match moved back to the middle of the season. With the same voting format as the previous year, top-voted players Wambach and ultimate winner Marta chose their teammates in the style of a pickup match.

The WPS did not hold an All-Star match in 2011, claiming most likely players would be away on National Team duty at the Women’s World Cup. And of course, the WPS would ultimately fold before the 2012 season.

With the lack of transparency that characterizes the NWSL, it is unlikely we will ever know if discussions of such an endeavor have taken place. However, one can hope that the league recognizes the benefits an All-Star match could bring.

The NWSL has struggled to create stars beyond National Team players, which is a problem given the amount of time those players are often away. If a fan is hard pressed to name a Houston Dash player other than Carli Lloyd, that fan is not likely to attend a match when Lloyd is called up for National Team duty. With the exception of perhaps the now-departed Ella Masar, the casual soccer fan simply does not know the Kim Littles, Kealia Ohais, and Sarah Hagens of the league.

An All-Star Match brings those players to light. With a lineup that could include Lauren Barnes and Arin Gilliland on the back line, Christine Nairn and Allie Long in the midfield, and Sofia Huerta and Beverly Yanez up top, anyone would be hard-pressed to deny the talent. The NWSL is often touted as a league with some of the best parity in the world, and nothing would demonstrate that level of play more than a field of the best twenty-two players.

Another advantage of bringing these top players together would be to create a prime scouting opportunity for Jill Ellis’ National Team. What better chance to see who deserves a call-up than seeing the best players from across the league play each other all in one game? Players like Crystal Dunn, Samantha Mewis, and Stephanie McCaffrey all earned first or repeat National Team looks based on their NWSL performance.

Finally, an All-Star match brings attention, and as an endeavor that is still fairly new, this league needs all the attention it can get. A televised, marketed game (no small feat in the world of women’s soccer) can create new fans as well as showing confidence in the league. A strong, confident league will stem the flow of young talent currently lost to early retirements and the allure of European leagues. It will also attract top international talent like Amandine Henry, further increasing the fan base.

Fresh off a World Cup win with the possibility of Rio gold on the horizon, professional women’s soccer has a chance to propel this momentum into something that will last. An All-Star match can only help, and after two failed leagues, the NWSL needs all the help it can get. But hey, the third time is the charm, right?

Just Pick an NWSL Team Already, I’m Begging You.

Posted on by RJ Allen

Hey all you new NWSL fans out there. Yeah you. I have a message for you.

Pick a team.

Pick an NWSL team and stick with them. For one whole season; just pick a team and stick with them. Even if they break your heart. Maybe especially if they break your heart.

Sports in America has a lot of do with pride. We take pride in our team when we slip on a hat or a jersey or a pair of sweat pants with their crest stamped on them. And the connection we have with that team is what keeps us from maybe losing interest in that team when there isn’t a World Cup or an Olympics to get our soccer juices flowing.

I know a lot of you just found the NWSL at the tail end of last season. You got high on the World Cup and you decided to log on to YouTube and watch those same players go head to head with each other. And suddenly you got to see some great match ups. Tobin Heath’s Thorns taking on Kelley O’Hara’s Sky Blue was a great match. So was Hope Solo’s Reign taking on Carli Lloyd’s Dash.

But if you want to keep the league going and healthy you can’t just be a fan of Tobin Heath or Hope Solo or Morgan Brian. You have to be a fan of the Thorns or the Reign or the Dash. You have to buy in to that team as more than one to four national team players. If you really want to support the league you have to buy in to one team even if your favorite national team  player is traded or gone for national team duty or out for a season due to pregnancy or injury.

Fan bases take time to grow. As year four of the NWSL gets ready to start it’s hard to really have the baked in relationship to one of the ten teams in the league unless you live in one of the cities. I get that. I live four hours away from three different teams so any home town pride for a team isn’t there for me.

That is why I present the following tips on how to pick an NWSL team.

1) Look at the team as more than a showcase for USWNT players.

Sure the Dash have Carli Lloyd who hit a hat trick in a World Cup final. But will that World Cup final moment and Carli Lloyd really be enough to keep you a fan of the Dash for more than 2 or 3 games? Most likely no.

So look at the team rosters. Look for other players that you might know. Watch past games and see what other players stand out to you. Try to find ones not on the national team that you really like. Try to find a team with a style that you enjoy watching.

2) It’s alright to be pissed off at your team.

I am a Reign fan. I make no bones about the team I support even if I try to take my bias out when I’m writing about the NWSL or another team. But no team in this league pisses me off like the Reign. Because they are my team. Because I invest time and energy and even money into them and sometimes they just let me down.

But you know what? If I team pisses you off that means you care. That means you are invested in them. And that is a great sign.

3) It’s alright to like players on other teams without it being your team.

One of the biggest problems I faced when trying to pick my team after finding the NWSL was feeling like if I picked one team it would cut me off from supporting other players I liked. And then I remembered the MLB and NFL where I have my team, the Red Sox and Packers respectively, and I still managed to like other players in those leagues.

Case in point, I am a huge Becky Sauerbrunn fan. She is one of my favorite 3 players in the world right now. And yet I am not an FCKC fan. I can want Sauerbrunn to do well, really well in fact, and still not call myself a fan of the team or support them. In fact I personally hope they end up at the bottom of the table. But that is the Reign fan in me coming out.

The bottom line is whatever team you pick is not as importuning as picking a team and sticking with them. And it’s ok to say that you’re a fan of one team but like another. I like the Chicago Red Stars a lot but they just aren’t my team.

Whichever team you pick for the upcoming NWSL season I want you to remember the most important rule. Portland sucks.

Introducing Backline Soccer

Posted on by RJ Allen

RJ Allen:

I am RJ Allen. I am the Editor in Chief of Backline Soccer. I’m joined by Chelsey Bush, who is the Managing Editor of Backline Soccer.

So Chelsey, why is Backline Soccer a thing now?

Chelsey Bush:

We felt like it was time to devote all our attention to promoting women’s soccer, and Backline Soccer is the perfect place for us to continue to provide insight, analysis, and conversations you can’t find anywhere else.

RJ Allen:

Our time at Midfield Press was a fantastic entry into running a website and learning about the world of soccer coverage. But it was time to create our own place.

Plus, now Chelsey has a title fitting her boss status.

Chelsey Bush:

Midfield Press is a great place, and I look forward to seeing how they continue their excellent coverage of men’s soccer.

RJ Allen:

We also have done a bit of rebranding. Titles of weekly pieces will be changed from more generic “NWSL Week X Recaps” to something with a little more panache.

Chelsey Bush:

We’re putting more of our stamp on things.

RJ Allen:

And, I think, the biggest change (outside of the site as a whole) is the rebranding of The Midfield Report into The Scouting Report.

Chelsey Bush:

Yeah, we definitely couldn’t let that go. It’s one of our most popular features.

New name, same faces!

RJ Allen:

We are adding a new news feature to TSR. Because, with a limited staff, we can’t get to everything. And if we don’t write about it, we want to at least give it some attention on the podcast.

Which I’m excited about.

Chelsey Bush:

Very exciting things coming up.

RJ Allen:

What are you most looking forward to in the Backline Soccer world?

Chelsey Bush:

I’m pretty excited about the NCAA coverage we’re adding. Personally, I’ll be doing a weekly column with an NCAA WoSo roundup.

The future of our WNT is there right now. The faces of the next World Cup are in college.

RJ Allen:

That is something I’m looking forward to learning more about. It’s a weak area for me, so growing my base as the site grows its base will be great.

Personally I’m looking forward to how the interviews with players grow and how TSR grows. Bringing on guests, our own thoughts, adding to the intelligent debate, etc.

Chelsey Bush:

We do have a lot of fun on there.

RJ Allen:

Something that will also be pretty great is that the four TSR hosts will be in Houston for the final.

And if all goes well we’ll be doing at least one live show from the hotel.

Chelsey Bush:

And we’re 75% sure all of us will survive the weekend.

It’s going to be a ton of fun, and we’re going to see some great soccer no matter who ends up in the game.

I’m really excited to bring my TSR friends to my “home base.”

RJ Allen:

I think it’s important that we’re branching off at this point. So when season five happens—it’s amazing that we’re all so sure it will—and the league is strong enough for a season five, we’ll hit the ground running.

Chelsey Bush:

Yes. We’re going to be doing a lot of building and work behind the scenes during the off-season.

No off-season for WoSo writers!

RJ Allen:

This is a really exciting time for us at Backline Soccer. And we hope all of you enjoy the ride with us. Between our own writing, TSR, interviews, and everything else we’re doing, it’s a really exciting time.

Chelsey Bush:

We’re ready to make our mark, and it’s going to be a blast.

RJ Allen:

If you want to find us elsewhere online you can find us on Twitter @BacklineSoccer, you can email us backlinesoccer@gmail.com, and you can find The Scouting Report here. 

If you’d like to write for or need to contact, Backline Soccer you can contact us here.

17 Reasons We Love Lori Chalupny

Posted on by RJ Allen

In honor of the Chicago Red Stars retiring the number of former captain Lori Chalupny this weekend, we have composed a list of 17 reasons as to why we love Lori Chalupny.

1) Her longevity. Chalupny has had a long soccer career with success on various levels: college, various professional leagues, and the U.S. national team.

2) Her 2003 National Championship with the University of North Carolina.

3) Her 2008 Olympic Gold Medal.

4) Her 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship.

5) The way she battled her way back from a struggle with concussions. Unable to play for the U.S. from 2009 to 2014 due to injury, she utilized league play (WPS/NWSL) and fought her way back onto the national team.

6) How, when she returned to the national team, she didn’t pull veteran rank over Tobin Heath for her original number 17 and just wore 16 instead. Total team player. (That’s ok, she’ll always be 17 to us.)

worldcupchup

7) She is Hope Solo’s favorite ‘Left Back of All Time’. She says so herself! She’s our favorite too.

8) When she played as a Red Star in the WPSL, WITHOUT PAY because she believed in growing the game.

frechups

9) She loves pizza like YOU love pizza. While at national team training camp in her hometown of St. Louis, Chalupny gave us a tour of IMO’s pizza and even shares a slice with teammates.

10) The way she is a St. Louis girl through and through. Look how she cringes putting on rival Cubs jersey (sorry Cubs fans).

chupscubs
Source – Chicago Red Stars Snapchat

11) You can’t knock civic pride, though. Look at all the joy on her face when she scores for her team in front of her hometown crowd.

12) The way she grew to love Chicago as her very own city.

Chichups

13) She will be the head coach for Maryville Women’s Soccer in 2018!

14) The way she could command and anchor a midfield.

15) The way she could defend and attack the left flank.

16) The way she represented the Red Stars crest and captain arm band with dignity and pride every single match.

chups17

17) The way her number will never be worn by another Red Stars player.

Honorable Mention: During a Red Stars segment of “KK Cam,” Chalupny accompanied then goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc and Zakiya Bywaters on a trip to a hair salon. While there, she had zero chill, expressing her fear of clippers and blades going near KK’s head.

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All of these reasons and more are why we miss seeing you out on the pitch, Chups. Thank you, Captain!

How to Pay the Amateurs

Posted on by RJ Allen

A lot has been written lately about if the amateur NWSL players should be paid, why they aren’t paid, and if the league or their clubs can afford to pay them.

Very little has been written about how these players should be paid and about what might be a reasonable agreement under which these players, who put in as much work as the players under contract, could be paid.

Every unallocated player (someone who is not being paid by the United States or Canadian federations) makes between $7,200 to $39,700 for the duration of the season, going from April to October. And while this is not a livable wage and needs to be raised if the league wants to retain talent, the amateurs aren’t paid at all. They are simply reimbursed for some, but not all, expenses.

Unllocated players, therefore, make between $360 and $1,985 a game, per their 20-game schedule.

Side note: USWNT players make $54,000 for the NWSL season, meaning $2,700 a game. Still too low, but much more reasonable than their solely NWSL counterparts.

If the NWSL keeps needing to use amateur players going forward, and they will always need to with a 20-person roster and a slough of both United States and Canadian national team players, they should be required to pay them. This pay should not count against the team’s NWSL salary cap (currently set at $278,000). 

This is the current NWSL language on amateurs:

An amateur Player is any person other than a professional Player.  An amateur Player may not receive or retain any remuneration for playing except expenses directly related to a game or games which have actually been incurred by the Player.

This is my proposal for paying amateur players:

An amateur Player is any person other than a professional Player.  An amateur Player will receive $200 each time they are listed in their club’s 18-person game-day roster. They may also receive remuneration for expenses directly related to a game or games which have been incurred by the Player.

The shoestring budget that some clubs operate on should be able to accommodate this modest pay for players putting on their uniforms to go out and try to score or defend goals in the club’s name. If they can’t, that has to be a sign that the ownership group might not be the right fit for the NWSL, going forward.

2015 and 2016 have seen teams having to often bring on amateur players because of the World Cup and Olympics. If the pay changes are put into effect in 2017, a non major year for the United States and Canada, fewer players will need to be called up. Too late to help out those who have already gone without pay, but a good time to implement a new policy and have two seasons to try it out on a smaller scale before the next World Cup year.

Pay the amateur players. It’s bad enough we call them amateur and not non-contract players. The least we can do is pay them. Maybe not what they are worth, but at least something. It’s the right thing to do.

A Conversation on Race and WoSo

Posted on by RJ Allen

RJ Allen:

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

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

I am so white I sometimes glow in the dark.

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

Thanks, wiki.

RJ Allen:

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

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

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

You know my favorite example of this.

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

I am.

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

RJ Allen:

Speaking of much needed left backs on the USWNT…

(And the Reign.)

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

It sucks but that happens a lot.

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

She and Carli were “comparing tans”?

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

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

RJ Allen:

Seeing something helps kids believe they can do it too.

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

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

Ha ha, go for it!

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

Because they believe in scouting talent in urban areas?

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

Knowing the coach? On the bench.

Sandra Herrera:

Oh, man. Quite possibly, yes. LOL

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

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

Sandra Herrera:

True.

I get changing it at the bottom.

What about the top?

RJ Allen:

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

A Harvey Rule as it were.

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

I think so too.

RJ Allen:

Woso is such a small world.

One wrong move, and you could be banished.

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

Yes.

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

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

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

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

It’s also discouraging. Real discouraging.

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

Yeah, I’m fascinated by it really.

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

RJ Allen:

Not marketing to adults is an issue as well.

Sandra Herrera:

Absolutely.

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

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

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

RJ Allen:

Any suggestions to help them out?

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

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

RJ Allen:

Any closing thoughts?

Sandra Herrera:

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

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

Sandra Herrera:

Exactly.

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

Posted on by RJ Allen

RJ Allen:

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

Isn’t that right, Chelsey?

Chelsey Bush:

Very much so.

RJ Allen:

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

Where to start? There is just so much.

Chelsey Bush:

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

RJ Allen:   

That’s a very good place to start.

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

Chelsey Bush:

Differences, in the plural, I would say.

RJ Allen:

Yes, differences.

Let’s start with game commentary, shall we?

Chelsey Bush:

Sounds good.

RJ Allen: 

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

Chelsey Bush:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush:

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

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

RJ Allen:

Even the USWNT at a USMNT game.

Which you think would be easy to work in.

Chelsey Bush:

And never the NWSL.

RJ Allen: 

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

Chelsey Bush: 

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

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush: 

Oh, that’s a huge issue for me.

RJ Allen:

I know it is.

Chelsey Bush:

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

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

Chelsey Bush:

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

RJ Allen: 

Which is bullshit.

There is no other way to say it.

Chelsey Bush:

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

But treating it with kid gloves undermines its legitimacy.

RJ Allen:

Which NWSL commentators do you think do the best job?

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

Chelsey Bush: 

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

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush: 

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

RJ Allen: 

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

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

You know that makes me chuckle.

Chelsey Bush:

Yes.

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush:

There’s so much to say on this.

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

And learn how to pronounce their names.

RJ Allen: 

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

We, as in media.

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

Chelsey Bush:

There’s a tendency, yes.

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

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

And to speak in a broader sense…

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

RJ Allen: 

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

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

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

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

Chelsey Bush:

For sure.

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

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush:

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

There’s backlash on top of backlash.

RJ Allen:

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

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

I go by Becca in everyday life.

Chelsey Bush:

And now you’re exposed.

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

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush:

It’s just a different perspective.

RJ Allen: 

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

Chelsey Bush:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush:

It definitely is.

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

RJ Allen: 

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

Chelsey Bush:

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

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

RJ Allen: 

Why do you do this job?

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

Though I am a peach to work with.

Chelsey Bush:

So many reasons.

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

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

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

The pay would be nice though.

Chelsey Bush:  

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

A dream.

RJ Allen: 

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

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

Chelsey Bush:

Yes, we all want it to become more professional.

RJ Allen:

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

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

What do you think of the fan/professional divide?

Chelsey Bush:

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

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush:

Yes, I agree.

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush:

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

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush:

Right.

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

Because I’m more invested in them doing well.

And also because I know them better than other teams.

RJ Allen:

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

Chelsey Bush:

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

RJ Allen:

Are you hopeful for the future of WoSo media?

Chelsey Bush: 

Very.

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

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

RJ Allen:

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

I know you love to give a good sermon.

Chelsey Bush:

I just want to issue a challenge, ourselves included.

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

RJ Allen:

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

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

Danielle Colaprico: The Mini Fortress

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Catching up with Christine Nairn

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BS: They blew through qualifying.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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