Tag: Orlando Pride

NWSL Releases Home Opener Schedule

Posted on by RJ Allen

This afternoon the NWSL released information about the league’s 2017 season home openers.

The release was chock full of important information. Most notable, perhaps, was the fact that 2017’s Opening Weekend will take place April 15-16 and feature five games, though a close contender is sure to be just which teams will be featured in Lifetime TV’s first “Game of the Week” broadcast.

Well, wait no longer.

Continuing their history-making trend, the first “Game of the Week” will be April 15’s showdown between Portland Thorns FC and Orlando Pride at Providence Park. For the second year in a row, a game between Portland and Orlando at Providence will look to make a mark on the Women’s Soccer world. Last year, of course, the Orlando Pride played their first-ever match at Portland, where they made a good show but ultimately lost 1-2 to the Thorns.

Other matches during Opening Weekend include:

  • Houston Dash v Chicago Red Stars @ BBVA Compass Stadium (April 15)
  • Seattle Reign FC v Sky Blue FC @ Memorial Stadium (April 15)
  • Washington Spirit v North Carolina Courage @ Maryland SoccerPlex (April 15)
  • FC Kansas City v Boston Breakers @ Swope Soccer Village (April 16)

The league’s newest franchise, the North Carolina Courage (formerly Western New York Flash, for those unaware of the off-season move) will host their first-ever match the following weekend, when they welcome the Portland Thorns to WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, April 22. The Courage will look to make a splash as they somehow balance the almost oxymoronic titles of Reigning NWSL Champions and Newest NWSL Club.

But perhaps even more anticipated than North Carolina’s debut that weekend will be the showdown taking place in Orlando’s brand new Orlando City Stadium between the Pride and visiting Washington Spirit. The match on the 22nd will be heavily watched by fans of both sides, owing not only to the quality of the competition but to the somewhat frustrating nature of the trade that sent national team member and former Spirit RB Ali Krieger to the Pride in exchange for what some called a paltry gain in the distribution ranking order.

Other home openers during Week Two:

  • Chicago Red Stars v FC Kansas City @ Toyota Park (April 22)
  • Boston Breakers v Sky Blue FC @ Jordan Field (April 23)

The last team to play at home this season, but never the least, will be Sky Blue FC, who will welcome their fans back to Yurcak Field on Sunday, April 30, in game against FC Kansas city. FCKC will likely have back Amy Rodriguez, a key component missing from their roster last year, while Sky Blue’s roster features the great Captain America, Christie Rampone, whose steady leadership always makes SBFC a formidable opponent for any team.

Other information revealed in the release today includes confirmation of a 24 game season (12 home games, 12 away), though it’s not yet clear if the schedule will feature “geographic rivalries” as last year’s did.

The full press release can be located on the NWSL’s website here.

A Look at Season Tickets Around the NWSL

Posted on by RJ Allen

With the NWSL season quickly approaching (no schedule available at the time of posting), it’s time to take a look at the different season ticket options around the league.

This year’s NWSL season features 12 games at the home field of each club (24 in total)—up from the 10 home game, 20 total games in 2016. Without the World Cup or the Olympics to break up the season, it’s likely to be more fluid than in years past.

Before we get into this, I want to make it clear, I am only looking at full season packages. No flex packs here.

Let’s start by taking a look at the league as a whole. 

Sidenote: I decided on what was “premium” and what wasn’t based on what was offered and other details. They sometimes match up with the club’s ideas and sometimes they do not. 

[table id=6 /]

A few notes:

  1. A few clubs have supporter sections, but be warned the lower price sometimes comes with the drawback of being standing room only. More on that later.
  2. Both Chicago and Seattle offer 4-person tables at $3,000 and $3,600 respectively. So $750 and $900 a person. Not bad if you want field seats with food and drinks included. (We believe Seattle includes food and drink.)
  3. FC Kansas City and North Carolina Courage both had the most options under $200, with 3 each.
  4. Boston and Washington are the only teams with no options under $200.

Now here’s a look at the season ticket picture on a team-by-team basis:

The Boston Breakers

[table id=7 /]

Upsides: 

  • The Breakers are consistent with what rewards you get. No locking lower level ticket holders out of events to get them to upgrade.

Downsides: 

  • Boston’s packages were the most expensive for all of the “non premium” options. But considering they are located in one of the most packed sports towns in the country, this isn’t totally out of line. 
  • If you wanted a cushioned seat you better be ready to give the Breakers $990 for it.

What I’d Buy: Category B Season Membership – $360

The Chicago Red Stars

[table id=14 /]

Upsides:

  • The Red Stars give guaranteed seating to season ticket holders for the playoffs. It’s a nice touch for a team that is usually in the playoff hunt.
  • If you do go for the Fieldside VIP or the VIP Table, both come with waiter service.

  • 15% off Red Stars Merchandise is a great perk. 

Downsides:

  • The Harlem End / Local 134 Season Ticket section is standing room only. And the next option up is $80 more.
  • Because they don’t open all of the seating at Toyota Park, you are somewhat limited in what you are able to sit.

What I’d Buy: Sideline Club (126) – $320

Chicago Fire Comparable: Premier $595

FC Kansas City

[table id=15 /]

Upsides:

  • Payment Plan options are always nice to see.
  • Ticket Exchange Program is a good option if you want the perks but might not make it to all the home games.
  • Again, a team usually in the playoff mix bringing up playoff tickets. Nice.

Downsides: 

  • While there are two packages under $180 you have to go to the $180 level not to be sitting on the grass or in the supporters section. And knowing the Blue Crew, they are going to be up and active all game (as a supporters group should).
  • You will have the sun in your eyes for a bit if you sit on the east side.

What I’d Buy: West Elite (109) – $264

The Houston Dash

[table id=16 /]

Upsides:

  • Another team allowing for ticket exchange. Thumbs up.
  • Another team giving 15% off merch. Double thumbs up.
  • Any of the season ticket packages will get you on the Dash Season Ticket Member Ticket Wall, if you’re into that kind of thing.
  • I usually get nervous when I see the “..and more” but the Dash they seem pretty good at treating their fans well.
  • They give season ticket holders “inclusion in orange rewards loyalty program,” so that’s neat.
  • Actually, the Dash have the highest number of choices for season tickets.

Downsides: 

  • No one puts baby in the corner…except the Dash for General Admission. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s also not the best GA we’ve seen.
  • No upper bowl—again not the end of the world.

What I’d Buy: 100 Level East Sideline (127) – $276

Houston Dynamo Comparable:  100 Level Center Circle $980

North Carolina Courage

[table id=17 /]

Upsides:

  • You might be wondering why I didn’t put the perks next to the tickets. That’s because the list is so long if I wrote it out for each level it would add over 25 inches to this already crazy-sized piece. Here they are:
    • North Carolina Football Club Membership
    • GA Parking included in all season ticket member packages
    • Choice of game day experience items
    • Have your child participate as a player companion
    • Pregame field visit
    • Special gift delivered to seat
    • Photo on the video board
    • Pregame clinic
    • Luncheon with the head coach
    • Meet & greet with team captain
    • Holiday card photo op
    • Seat upgrade ability on game day
    • Ceremonial coin flip/first kick/Starting XI photo
    • Merchandise or concessions coupon
    • Ability to purchase additional tickets at the season ticket member rate
    • Invitation to offseason winter party
    • Special access to NCFC and/or NC Courage preseason games
    • Season ticket member gift
    • Flexible interest free payment plan
    • Invitation to meet the team event
    • Dedicated NCFC ticket representative
    • 4+ Season Tickets receive VIP parking pass
    • Exchange unused tickets for any NCFC and NC Courage games (Specific to each team)
    • Voting rights and input on selected matters that primarily affect fan experience
    • Ability to donate unused tickets to charitable Kicks for Kids Night
  • “Voting rights and input on selected matters that primarily affect fan experience.” I’m pointing this one out because I am that impressed with it.
  • Luncheon with the head coach, meet & greet with team captain, holiday card photo op—also really nice.
  • Their base level covers a ton of seats. Really gives you options there.

Downsides:

  • No supporters section for the Courage (It’s in black on their guide) like for NCFC. Might come later, but it’s a small strike against them for now.

What I’d Buy: Premier / Terrage Midfield (107) – $276

NCFC Comparable: Premier / Terrage Midfield – $399

The Orlando Pride

[table id=18 /]

Upsides:

  • Having the “ability to email your tickets to friends and family” is a nice feature for those who can’t make all of the games.
  • If you have the cash, the West Club gets you “a beautiful indoor, air conditioned space with reserved outdoor seating.” In the middle of a Florida summer, it might be worth the nearly $800.
  • Another team with playoff tickets on the brain.
  • A nice-sized supporters area, even if it is standing room only.

Downsides: 

  • Small downside, but if you like to sit up high, the upper part is not open.

What I’d Buy: Sideline E (32) – $240

Orlando City Comparable: Sideline East Field Level – Sold Out

The Portland Thorns

[table id=19 /]

Upsides:

  • For $132 a season, Portland might be the best ticket in the NWSL. Portland is by all accounts a fantastic place to watch a game. Good atmosphere and good seats (no sitting on grass here).
  • Having preseason games included is a nice touch. Portland will be hosting a preseason set of games, and it’s looking like it may become an annual thing.

Downsides: 

  • Highest single ticket premium option. Though they get 13,000+ at every game, so the market will bear it.

What I’d Buy: Touchline Reserved (119) – $275

Portland Timbers Comparable: Sold Out

The Seattle Reign

[table id=20 /]

Upsides:

  • A “Members only Stadium Entrance” can be nice to get in quickly.
  • One of the only clubs to include a scarf with the season ticket package.

Downsides: 

  • Seattle is hampered by where they play when it comes to ticket packages. But over $150 between “Upper Grandstand” and “Premium Grandstand” seems steep.
  • At $750 a person for the 4 person “Pitchside Experience,” it’s at the top end for most of the fieldside tickets.

What I’d Buy: Lower Grandstand – $264

Sky Blue FC

[table id=21 /]

 

Upsides: 

  • Midfield Elite seats get backrests. 
  • If you are a fan of sitting with Supporter Groups, $155 for the base package is one of the lowest prices in the league.
  • Having been to the field before, I can say there aren’t many bad seats. Even in sections 1 and 9 seeing the full field isn’t as much of a problem as it can be in other places.

Downsides: 

  • They don’t list their perks on the website, that I could find.
  • The jump between their highest metal benches and field seats is sharp.

What I’d Buy: Supporters Bleachers (9) – $155

The Washington Spirit

[table id=22 /]

Upsides:

  • The “Standard” covers a lot of the bleachers, so a lot of viewing options.
  • At least if you buy season tickets, the price will remain the same all season and not fluctuate like single game tickets will.

Downsides: 

  • Over $200 for the starter option is not ideal. Less so when it’s on grass.
  • If you want a backrest you have to pay premium price.

What I’d Buy: Standard (108) – $270

Around the World of WoSo: HAO to Arsenal; Pride Trade Hat-Trick

Posted on by RJ Allen

HAO Commits to Being a Gunner:

Long-time United States Women’s National Team midfielder Heather O’Reilly has announced she will be playing in the Women’s Super League (FA WSL 1), England’s top league for women’s soccer. Simply known as HAO, she recently retired from international play, but at just 32 she still has plenty left to give to the sport. O’Reilly played college ball at UNC, won three Olympic gold medals, was crowned World Cup champion in 2015, and accumulated 231 appearances over 15 years for the National Team.

The one thing left to try would be a move overseas, to experience something new and to have a different kind of challenge. The club she chose is Arsenal Ladies, a club that has a stellar reputation and a few connections to the NWSL here in the states. For one, they are the most decorated club in the WSL, earning 43 titles since the debut in 1987. Secondly, they’ve had legendary coaches and players throughout their history; including Kelly Smith, Katie Chapman, Faye White and current Seattle Reign coach Laura Harvey.

With the addition of HAO, Arsenal once again has an impressive roster to compete for the championship. They have plenty of star power to chose from; Fara Williams, Jodie Taylor, Danielle van De Donk, Asisat Oshoala, and Kim Little. HAO brings an explosive element on the wing, relentless energy, and unmatched passion. I’m sure fans cannot wait to get the season started.

Sky Blue Lands Corboz:

Daphne Corboz has played in the WSL for Manchester City since graduating Georgetown in 2014. She earned 15 starts and tallied two goals for the club. The young midfielder recently won the league with City in 2016, the first major trophy for the club since joining the WSL in 2014.

Corboz is the latest addition to a talented Sky Blue squad that boasts Kelley O’Hara, Christine Rampone, Natasha Kai, Leah Galton, Raquel Rodriguez and Sam Kerr. In the College Draft, Sky Blue got some more serious young talent, including USC duo Kayla Mills and Miranda Freeman. They later chose Kailen Sheridan out of Clemson, and Madison Tiernan from Rutgers.

Corboz adds another technical component to the midfield along with a creative fire that is always burning. I think Sky Blue could finally return to the top of the table in 2017 after a three-year absence.

W-League Doesn’t Disappoint:

In last week’s fixtures, plenty was at stake as it nears the end of the regular season; premiership still undecided, home advantage, a spot in the top four, and momentum going forward.

The top four are as follows; Sydney FC, Canberra United, Perth Glory and Melbourne City FC. The weekend saw Sydney lose to Newcastle, Canberra dropped by the Western Sydney Wanderers, Glory lose to Adelaide, and City win a crucial game against Brisbane.

As far as points go, the top three are secured, but Melbourne City needs to draw or win to officially grab the fourth spot. Sitting in fifth are Newcastle with 15 points, so they need a win to give themselves a chance.

One player who has stood out this season is Sofia Huerta, who plays for the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL March-November. Last week she scored a hat trick to lead Adelaide United to a wild 10-2 win over Sydney Wanderers. In just 11 games in the W-League Huerta has tallied seven goals and four assists, leading Adelaide United to second in the league in total goals scored with 26. Chicago fans will look forward to her return stateside in the next few months.

Americans Head Overseas:

Two recent graduates and collegiate stars here in the states have announced they will play overseas. If you follow NCAA DI soccer you should be familiar with Savannah Jordan and Lindsey Harris. Both were crucial to their respective team’s success, especially this year.

First up is Jordan, who attended Florida all four years, playing in 94 games, recording 81 goals (23 game-winning) and grabbing 27 assists as well. The exciting forward has blazing speed and is a joy to watch on the ball — combine that with excellent finishing ability and she is a quality player. Jordan has signed with Glasgow City FC, the top club team in Scotland. City is the defending champions, a 10-year reign that is impressive and has earned them plenty of UEFA Champions League experience.

Another top player to find a home overseas is UNC grad Harris. She was UNC’s first choice goalkeeper her senior year after rotating the previous three years. Harris is known for making big saves, similar to another former UNC and now NWSL star with Orlando, Ashlyn Harris. Apart from a few keepers, UNC is primarily known for producing excellent talent in field players, but Lindsey Harris made a name for herself in those three years. Harris has signed with Iceland side FH for the upcoming season. FH have won the league once in 2011 and were runners-up the last two years.

DMath to Seattle (This is Not a Typo):

For much of this NWSL offseason, Washington Spirit has been the front-runner for headlines due to all the high-profile departures since November. Six key players for the Spirit will be elsewhere come April; Ali Krieger, Crystal Dunn, Christine Nairn, Megan Oyster, Estefania Banini, and now Diana Matheson. The Spirit have sent Matheson to the Seattle Reign. In return, they have acquired the rights to Arielle Shipp, who was Seattle’s third-round draft pick out of UC Berkeley.  

Commonly referred to as DMath, she spent four years in Washington, helping them to the playoffs the last three years; most recently to a Championship title match. Matheson is the Spirit’s all-time leading goal scorer with 23 goals and 12 assists in 67 appearances. The tiny and reliable Canadian midfielder will be re-united with another former Washington player in Christine Nairn.

This move will certainly help Seattle’s midfield, which saw Kim Little and Keelin Winters depart in the offseason. This addition along with Nairn, Jess Fishlock, Beverly Yanez, and Megan Rapinoe, makes me wonder, can the Reign return to the top four?

Orlando Wheeling and Dealing:

Tom Sermanni has made not one, not two, but three trades within the last week. In his latest attempt to avoid the 2018 draft, the Orlando Pride coach has sent a first and fourth-round pick to Portland in exchange for recent UConn grad and talented forward Rachel Hill. Sermanni’s second move was picking up Houston forward Chioma Ubogagu for a third round pick. His last and biggest trade was sending second-year player Sam Witteman to NC Courage for Australian defender Alanna Kennedy.

The Pride’s main agenda in their second year seems to be centered on the forwards and defenders. To be honest, it’s a bit confusing considering the midfield is the weakest position in my opinion. Nonetheless, they’ve certainly got my early vote for one of the best defenses in the league after adding Krieger and Kennedy this off-season to complement Steph Catley and Laura Alleway. Certainly, only time will tell how well these trades will work out, but Sermanni seems to know what he’s doing.

Join the Pride: The 2017 NWSL Draft

Posted on by RJ Allen

Going into the NWSL draft this year, the Orlando Pride no longer have the luxury of having a draft pick in the first or second round. The first-round pick was used in the trade to bring in now-retired player Becky Edwards and breakout player Kristen Edmonds to the squad. Additionally, the team parted with the second-round pick as part of the deal to acquire Sarah Hagen. The newest team in the league ended its inaugural season falling flat by finishing ninth on the table; the Pride’s last win came in July during Week 12 of the season. Orlando can only improve itself using the draft with the second pick in the third and fourth rounds.

After speaking with Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni earlier last week, he indicated the club was hoping to add depth with quality players in the late rounds like the Pride’s fourth round selection, Dani Weatherholt; taken with the 31st pick last year.

“The big issue we have this year is we don’t have a draft pick until the third round. So most of the things we are looking at are probably going to be ineffective because the players that you’re hoping to get are probably going to be gone by the time our pick comes around.” Sermanni stated, “So ultimately, it’s still going to end up being just a little bit of a lottery for us because we don’t know exactly what the situation is going to by the time our pick comes around.”

One of the main issues facing the Pride based on last year’s performance was the thirty goals the team gave up. The positions which will be the targeted by Orlando are down the spine of the team. It is looking to upgrade center back, defending midfielder, and attacking center midfield. However, Tom has said he will want to take the best available player even if the player falls outside one of the team’s immediate needs.

Personally, I’d like to see the Pride focus on the midfield. An upgrade in holding mid would provide some protection to the backline; additionally, the team would also try to find an attacking mid to facilitate the offense. We’ll find out who joins the Pride on Thursday, January 12.

Breaking: Alex Morgan heads to France for Champions League

Posted on by RJ Allen

Alex Morgan, of the Orlando Pride, is heading to France for the end of the Olympic Lyons 2016-2017 season.

Morgan has played in the NWSL for each of the first four seasons. First with the Portland Thorns, and then in the 2016 season for the Orlando Pride.

Morgan explains her reasons for leaving in this piece in The Players’ Tribune.

Below is a portion of the press release from the Orlando Pride.

ORLANDO, Fla. (December 20, 2016) – U.S. Women’s National Team (U. S. WNT) forward Alex Morgan has communicated her desire to play the first half of 2017 in Europe, and will join French side Olympique Lyonnais. Morgan will return to the Pride following the conclusion of Lyon’s 2016-17 season in May.

“We are obviously disappointed that Alex will miss the beginning of the Pride season but understand her wishes to play in Europe and we look forward to her rejoining her teammates after Lyon’s season,” Orlando City SC Founder and President Phil Rawlins said. “This in no way affects our plans or commitment to growing Orlando Pride and we will continue providing the team the best available players, training resources and staff to become a championship contender in the NWSL and a leader in women’s professional soccer.”

“My decision to play for Lyon was not an easy one, but it is an important step in my evolution as a player,” Morgan said. “I want to thank the Pride and our incredible fans and community for their continued support. I look forward to returning home this summer as a better player and leader to join my teammates at our new stadium as we compete for a NWSL Championship.”

Morgan and fellow U.S. WNT players are annually allocated to NWSL by the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF). Currently, the USSF and the U.S. WNT Players Association are negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, with the current agreement set to expire on Dec. 31, 2016.

Predicting the Pride: Pre-NWSL Draft

Posted on by RJ Allen

Head Coach Tom Sermanni’s first season in the NWSL fell short of the team’s pre-season expectations with a ninth place finish. The less-than-stellar result can be attributed mostly to the team failing to win a match after the long Olympic break. Looking for a quick turnaround in the 2017 season, however, the NWSL’s new kid on the block has already made one big move this off-season.  In a much-critiqued trade with the Washington Spirit, the Pride picked up defender Ali Krieger, and hopes that she will be able to bolster its backline, one that gave up thirty goals in its first season.  As far as its existing roster goes,  the team hedged its bets by offering contracts or picking up the options of all the players except for backup goalkeeper, Kaitlyn Savage.

But, Sermanni’s off-season work is not done. Going into the draft on Jan. 12, fans should expect more roster moves and news. Here are three options the team might take.

Option One: Full International

Sermanni hasn’t been shy about utilizing all five international spots on his roster. However, four of the spots are already full; Australian defenders Steph Catley and Laura Alleway hold two, as well as Brazilian defender Monica, and, a late addition to the inaugural season, Lisa De Vanna, captain of the Matildas, who only notched 154 minutes for the Pride in 2016. All of the internationals but De Vanna are currently playing in the Australian W-League, while De Vanna is focused on her coaching license. Still, without a midseason loss of national team players to a major competition like the 2016 Rio Olympics, or even next summer’s women’s Euro, Orlando could feel that 2017 is the year to load up on foreign talent.

But the Pride’s worst kept secret is their desire to sign talented attacking Australian Caitlin Foord. It would not be a surprise if Foord is wearing Orlando purple next season once her rights with Sky Blue lapse. Even if the team fails to add Foord, expect Sermanni’s international connections come into play in finding another overseas player. Additionally, ownership could look to add another Brazilian player to join the squad such as, former Florida International University standout and one time teammate of Monica while at Ferroviária, Thaisa Moreno. 

This view has players like Kristen Edmonds and Jasmyne Spencer maintain a high level of production for the team, while Dani Weatherholt and Sam Witteman, coming off a loan with Apollon Limassol, continue their development by earning more minutes on the pitch and working their way into the starting XI. The Pride would also look to have Maddy Evans back in Orlando as the team is in contract negotiations for her return next season while she spends time on the W-League’s Brisbane Roar. Even by embracing the team’s full complement of international players, the Pride will still the domestic players on the roster to contribute.

Option Two: Wheeling and Dealing

While this year’s college draft is deep with talent at almost every position, Orlando’s ability to take advantage of this is somewhat limited right now, as they won’t see any picks from the highly-sought-after first two rounds. Granted, there’s no way to know know which players will declare themselves available for the NWSL, but a team like 2016’s last place Boston Breakers–who currently hold seven of the first twenty picks this year–are in a good position to boost the talent on their roster. And Orlando could use a similar boost.

Yet even though Coach Sermanni was pleased with his first draft class and his ability to identify young talent is something he’s known for, the only way they’re going to get a chance at any of the highest-ranked players is to trade for draft picks.  Sermanni has shown that he is interested in making trades, but if the Pride want to jump into the first or second round, he’s going to have to let go of more than just their spot in the Distribution Rank Order.

Since Orlando only have a third and fourth round picks, are there any players the team is likely to part ways with in exchange for a draft pick? Someone who might be valuable enough for another team to enter into negotiations?

One name which stands out is Lisa de Vanna. De Vanna is still a talented player with pace who is great with the ball at her feet. She can quickly bring leadership and a veteran presence to a team locker room. 

Another player to use as trade bait this off-season is Josée Bélanger. With the acquisition of Ali Krieger, Bélanger’s role on the roster becomes ambiguous. A versatile player, Bélanger has speed to get forward as she’s playing on wide, and could be a valuable player on the trading block. As an added bonus, she’s a federated player, so she wouldn’t impact the team financially. That being said, she is also worth keeping for those same reasons, not to mention the possibility of Sermanni moving her into the midfield to aid the Pride’s attacking capabilities.

Option Three: Roll the Dice Draft Style

The final option for Sermanni and the Pride is the most simple one.  They could release some of the least productive players and add others, and then fill other needs with smart picks in the third and fourth round of the draft. Fourth round draft pick Dani Weatherholt who played 786 minutes for the team is proof that quality players can still be found in the later rounds. Sermanni himself has come out and publicly praised Weatherholt a number of times for her development, versatility, and work ethic. He rewarded her efforts with nine starts in twelve appearances for Orlando. Essentially, it wouldn’t be out of the question to keep the players the team has and identify a few key players in the later rounds of the draft.

But who could the Pride draft that would benefit their 2017 roster? Well, we’ll talk more about that in our draft preview.

Ali Krieger traded to the Orlando Pride

Posted on by RJ Allen

Ali Krieger, former captain for the Washington Spirit, has been traded to the Orlando Pride.  In exchange for her rights, the Orlando Pride have swapped places with the Washington Spirit in the Distribution Ranking Order (DRO). The DRO is how newly allocated players are paired with teams.

Bill Lynch, owner of the Washington Spirit, had this to say in the team’s press release:  “On behalf of the entire Washington Spirit organization, past and present, I would like to thank Ali for her extreme commitment and leadership over these four years. She has played a major role in our efforts to build a strong foundation for the future. We wish her well both on and off the field.”

Orlando head coach Tom Sermanni, who coached Krieger on the USWNT before current coach Jill Ellis took the reins in 2014, was quoted in the Orlando press release as pleased with the results of the trade, saying, “We’re ecstatic to get Ali Krieger to the Club; she’s one of the best players in the country. She’s extremely experienced, a great leader, great personality and a great signing for us leading into 2017, I think she’ll help both on the field and off the field. She’s a real, thorough professional so her preparation will start to influence and help our younger players. Her focus and her quality in her training and play will be a huge asset to the team.”

News of Krieger’s trade broke yesterday, pending league approval, and was made official just before 5 pm EST this evening.

A Brief Look at Attendance Trends in the NWSL and MLS

Posted on by RJ Allen

In their fourth season, the NWSL has managed to do something that the MLS was not able to do in their first four years: find growth in attendance. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at attendance between NWSL teams that share cities with MLS teams and see if those numbers might mean anything for the future of the league.

 

Breaking Down Attendance

 

new Figure 1 NWSLKey NWSL

New Figure 2 NWSL

Overall, the NWSL is struggling to match the numbers of MLS teams in the same cities. They’re only averaging 1/4th of what the MLS is averaging. Plus, the MLS teams reached 50% stadium capacity by their 4th year and 64% by 2016, while the women’s league is only at 27%. However, the NWSL is experiencing a greater amount of growth than the MLS experienced in their first 4 years. As you can see in Figure 2, the MLS teams who are either partnered with an NWSL team or in the same city as an NWSL team have only had, on average, a 6.4% increase in attendance from their inaugural season into their 4th year (the MLS as a whole saw a 20% decrease in attendance overall). While, the NWSL has seen a 30% overall increase in attendance. Even though the literal number of people attending the games isn’t as high as the men’s league, the fact that the attendance increase has been so high over the past four years should say a great deal about the overall future of the league.

new Figure 3 NWSL

Figure 4 NWSL

 

*For Figures 3 and 4, the “MLS Same Year” category corresponds to what year 2016 was for that specific NWSL team. Ex: 2016 was the Houston Dash’s 3rd season, so the “MLS Same Year” percentage is based on the Houston Dynamo’s 3rd season.

The three teams who lead the league in overall attendance in 2016 (Portland, Orlando, and Houston) are the same three teams who are partnered with an MLS team, suggesting that partnering with an MLS team provides the resources and brand recognition that leads to more ticket sales. You can even see in Figure 4, that the percentage of attendance compared to the MLS is significantly higher in partnered cities than in non-partnered cities. This is further evidence that a direct partnership is beneficial to an NWSL team. Though, it will be interesting to see if these numbers will hold for Orlando given they are only one season old.

Another interesting result to point out is stadium capacity. As of right now, 6 of the 10 teams are averaging above 70% capacity per game, although the average capacity of the NWSL is at 34%. This is obviously due to some teams playing in much larger stadiums than others. We do need to keep in mind that the smallest MLS stadium holds 18,000, while most NWSL stadiums hold between 3,500-6,000 people. In terms of potential for growth, I would hope that in the future a few of those six teams would look for larger stadiums to call home since they are doing a decent job of filling the space they have currently.

 

Breaking Down Each Team

 

1. Portland Thorns

Population: 609,456

Stadium Capacity: 22,000

MLS Team: Portland Timbers (Partnered)

Portland is the gold standard for an NWSL team, but they should essentially be ruled as an outlier for all statistics surrounding the league. They are tripling the average attendance for the league at every home game. They are also the only team in the NWSL that can come close to rivaling their MLS team in attendance. Portland is an all-around amazing soccer city. This could be due to the success of University of Portland soccer program and a lack of NFL and MLB teams. Whatever the case may be, just keep up the good work, Portland.

 

2. Orlando Pride

Population: 255,483

Stadium Capacity: 61,348*

MLS Team: Orlando City (Partnered)

The Orlando Pride currently has the 2nd highest attendance in the league. Although the home opener (which was 23,403) is definitely an outlier, their last three home games have been 7052, 7247, and 5842, which is still higher than the NWSL average. Both the Pride and City are doing a fantastic job at keeping their attendance high, but it is difficult to gauge whether or not they will sustain these averages since they are both less than two years old. Due to the size of their current stadium, their stadium capacity percentage is pretty low. Of course, this will change as of next year when their new 25,500 capacity stadium is built. Hopefully, this will make the atmosphere of the women’s games more exciting to attend and will drive the men’s team to sell out every home game.

*the team’s Wikipedia page says the capacity for Camping World Stadium is both 60,219 and 61,348, but upon Googling the capacity it says 70,000, so I stuck with the middle number.

 

3. Houston Dash

Population: 2,196,000

Stadium Capacity: 7,000 (Expandable)

MLS Team: Houston Dynamo (Partnered)

Another example of the benefits of partnering with an MLS team is the Houston Dash. Since their inception, the Dash have never made the playoffs and have only been ranked in the top 3 twice out of 56 weeks. In short, their team is not the best, and yet people are still showing up to games. Their total growth since their expansion has been positive. They have experienced a small decline in attendance from 2015-2016, but the Houston Dynamo have actually been experiencing a decline in attendance for the last four years. This suggests that there is a larger problem happening in Houston and that the Dash are actually doing pretty well.

 

4. Seattle Reign

Population: 652,405

Stadium Capacity: 6,000 (Expandable)

MLS Team: Seattle Sounders (Not Partnered)

Seattle has the highest attendance among teams that are not partnered with an MLS team. They have experienced excellent growth since their first year (92%), but their year-to-year growth is decreasing in rate. When you look at the attendance of the Reign compared to the Sounders, you see a huge a problem. The Reign’s average attendance in 2016 is 4,427, while the Sounders are at a staggering 42,203. This is the largest gap of any NWSL team. This could be due to any number of issues, such as the quality of their stadium or lack of support and resources for the marketing and sales team to find the untapped market of soccer fans. Overall, it is clear that Seattle has a city full of people who love soccer; yet it is not being translated over to the Reign.

 

5. Boston Breakers

Population: 645,996

Stadium Capacity: 4,500

MLS Team: New England Revolution (Not Partnered)

Boston has had an overall above average growth, and more importantly, a growth that has been increasing in average every year. The Breakers also have one of the highest stadium capacity percentages in the NWSL. This is promising, especially because in the New England Revolution’s fourth year, they experienced a 13.5% loss in attendance. Can you imagine how great Boston would be doing in attendance if they had a winning season? One can dream.

 

6. Washington Spirit

Population: 90,676*

Stadium Capacity: 4,000

MLS Team: DC United (Not Partnered)

The Washington Spirit have had virtually no growth (4%) since their first season, yet they have the highest stadium capacity percentage at 95%. The clear issue here is that Washington is definitely one of the teams that needs to look at a larger stadium. With that being said, when comparing attendance trends of DC United and the Spirit, these were the only two teams that became a bit of a stretch to compare. Their stadiums are so far apart, you could almost argue that the Spirit are not even in a city with an MLS team. Regardless, it is still clear that the Spirit’s potential for growth is primarily dependent upon moving to a higher-capacity stadium.

*reflects the population of Germantown, Maryland: the home of their stadium.

 

7. Western New York Flash

Population: 210,358

Stadium Capacity: 13,768

MLS Team: None

The Flash are one of only two teams to experience an overall drop in attendance since their first year. This suggests a large problem. In 2013, their average attendance was 4,485. In the World Cup year of 2015, that number had dropped to 2,860. The drop could be correlated to losing players like Carli Lloyd and Abby Wambach, but big-name players have left other NWSL teams before, and the attendance for those teams has not fallen by almost 37%. With that being said, the Flash have grown from 2015 to 2016 by 25%, meaning they could be back on the right track for future growth.

 

8. FC Kansas City

Population: 467,007

Stadium Capacity: 4,626

MLS Team: Sporting Kansas City (Not Partnered)

While FC Kansas City is the only other team besides the Flash to show a decline in attendance overtime, it’s tough to actually read into year over year fluctuations because they have changed stadiums multiple times. A positive for FCKC is that if you take out their first year, their attendance is showing an overall growth. They are the highest team overall for stadium capacity (99%), which suggests they are another team who would benefit from playing at a larger field. FCKC is also the closest NWSL team to “Same City MLS” attendance in Year 4 (besides Portland) at 43%. These are all positive signs that Kansas City could climb the attendance charts in the future.

 

9. Chicago Red Stars

Population: 2,719,000

Stadium Capacity: 30,000

MLS Team: Chicago Fire (Not Partnered)

Chicago has had the second largest year-to-year growth at 74% but has the second-lowest attendance in the entire league. The Red Stars are currently in the largest city of any NWSL team. There are nearly 3 million people in the city of Chicago. They play in the same stadium as the Chicago Fire, who are averaging 15,000 per game. This is an issue. It’s an even larger issue because the NWSL headquarters are also located in the windy city. What is happening in Chicago? It’s possible that they’re in a city oversaturated by other huge sports markets (the Bulls, the Bears, the Cubs, the Blackhawks, etc.). This would suggest that population theory alone is not enough to sustain a pro women’s soccer team. But, it also makes you question the team of individuals working to promote the Red Stars. Chicago, you’ve got some work to do.

 

10. Sky Blue FC

Population: 55,831

Stadium Capacity: 5,000

MLS Team: None

Last but not least, Sky Blue comes in at the bottom of the list with an average attendance of 1,811 in 2016. One clear issue: they are located in the smallest town of all the NWSL teams, which suggests the obvious, they have less people in their market. Another issue: they are currently sharing a field with Rutgers, so why aren’t they drawing more of a college crowd? Many people have criticized Sky Blue in the past of only focusing their marketing on youth, rather than a more diverse fanbase. These could be factors in determining why their attendance is so low. In my opinion (and it’s not an original one), Sky Blue should consider relocating to a reasonable sized market where they can access the resources to bring in a larger fanbase.

 

 

All this to say, there is a great deal of work that still needs to be done within certain teams. However, the NWSL has had growth that suggests a sustainable future. 

What Could Have Been: The 2016 NWSL All-Star Game That Wasn’t

Posted on by RJ Allen

All-Star games are a part of most major sports. A way to see the best of the best in that league square off against each other on two super teams.

Some leagues, like Major League Baseball, put some importance on the game by using it to award home field advantage in the World Series. Some leagues, like the National Football League, use it to give their players a vacation to Hawaii each year. Now, I’m not saying that a hypothetical NWSL All-Star Game should be used for either of those purposes, but with the proper attention given, it could make a great televised promotion (just an idea for next season). However, with no actual all-star game taking place, I am forced to imagine one for myself.

For the purposes of making two all-star teams, I’ve decided to split the NWSL into “East” and “West.” And while I use “West” loosely, there are few better ways to get two groups of 5 teams that make sense.

East Teams: Western New York, Boston, Sky Blue, Washington, Orlando

West Teams: Chicago, FC Kansas City, Houston, Portland, Seattle

There are may ways to pick two all-star teams from these two groups. But before teams can be picked there must be coaches. The simplest way I’ve found is to use the coaches from the top-ranked teams in each of the two “conferences” created for the all-star game. The number-one ranked Washington Spirit’s Head Coach Jim Gabarra would coach the East, while number-two Portland Thorns’ coach Mark Parsons would coach the West.

Once you have the “conferences” and the coaches, it’s time to create the rules. I’ve gone with a set that limits the number USWNT and international players to try to give a platform to players who have been outstanding in the NWSL.

1) There will be 18 players on each team: 2 goalkeepers and 16 field players.

2) Each of the 10 teams must have at least 1 player represented.

3) No team may have more than 4 players represented.

4) No team may have more than three current USWNT players.

4a) A current USWNT player is one who was named to the 18 person Olympic roster.

5) No team may have more than three current international national team players.

5a) A current international national team player is one who was named to the 18 person Olympic roster for their country.

5b) If a player plays for a national team that did not make the Olympics they do not take up an international spot

6) The NWSL will be broken up into “East” and “West” conferences, from which the all-star teams will be formed.

6a) East Teams: Western New York, Boston, Sky Blue, Washington, Orlando

6b) West Teams: Chicago, FCKC, Houston, Portland, Seattle

7) The game shall be 90 minutes with two 45 minute halves.

7a) If the game is tied after 90 there will be 30 minutes of extra time split in to two 15-minute halves.

7b) If the game is still tied after both halves of extra time, the game will go to penalty kicks.

8) There can be up to 7 substitutions.

The only rule that might be unexpected is the 7 substitutes rule. That is simply a functional way to let each of the 18 all stars on each team play if the coach wishes. Though the coach can decide not to play a player if they wish.

Now that pesky things like rules and coaching are out of the way, we can move on to the team rosters. There are many ways to pick the team: fan voting, appoint two captains and let them pick, have the coaches pick, some combo of either, etc. But since I have to power to pick the rosters, I’m going to create two teams that I most want to see play in the context of the rules I set out. (If you don’t like my picks, make your own all-star teams.)

The way I set it up, only 6 out of 18 players can be USWNT or international Olympians. Leaving two thirds of the NWSL all-star team to be NWSL players. While players like Heather O’Reilly are classified as NWSL players, not USWNT players because she didn’t make the 18, I think it’s fair to say over the last 8 months most of the minutes she has played are in fact NWSL minutes anyway. And players like Jess Fishlock, a Welsh international, are excluded because Wales was not qualified for the Olympics. It is a bit of a grey area but no system is perfect.

 

A few notes before I unveil my list:

I tried to take NWSL into account first and foremost. A lot of big names aren’t listed because of it. You don’t find Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, or Meghan Klingenberg on this list, partly because of the limits I placed on USWNT players and partly because I don’t find their NWSL play to be worthy of an all-star team nomination.

I fully admit that bias played a part in my picks. No matter how much I try to make this list as fair as possible, there are players who have gotten into the 18 of both teams that might not have if someone else were doing the picking. That’s just the nature of watching a lot of soccer and knowing who I enjoy. I make no apologies about it.

The limits I put on USWNT and international Olympians likely wouldn’t be there to this limit if the NWSL was doing the rule making. They want—maybe even need—Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, and other big names to draw fans. I don’t need their names to put butts in seats we don’t have.

 

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Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments who I got wrong and who I got right. If you want, give me your 36 NWSL all stars.

Who would win? East or West?

The Future of the USWNT is in the NWSL: Offense

Posted on by RJ Allen

With the USWNT beginning a new cycle and the team in transition, it’s time for new blood. In this two-part series, I take a look at whose NWSL play has earned a call-up to National Team camp and the chance to make an impression on Jill Ellis. Part One examined the defense, while Part Two takes a look at offense.

Center Midfield

Of all the many, many takes offered after the USWNT’s early exit from the Rio Olympics, perhaps none were louder than those pointing out the issues in center midfield. Last year’s retirements left two gaping holes in the shapes of Shannon Boxx and Lauren Holiday. Jill Ellis never really tried to replace Boxx, a U.S. legend at defensive midfielder, who hadn’t been a factor for the U.S. since early 2013. Morgan Brian occupied the spot during the latter part of the 2015 World Cup and performed admirably, but since then Ellis has preferred her higher up the pitch. Holiday, although perhaps never used to her potential on the NT, was nevertheless a formidable presence in the midfield that has been sorely missed. Like fullback, the time is ripe for young center midfielders to enter the fray, and thankfully, the NWSL has plenty.

Leading the charge is Danielle Colaprico. Called to camp last year, the backbone of the Red Stars midfield was recovering from injury and did not see any playing time. Colaprico is possibly the best heir to Boxx’s crown—an intelligent defensive midfielder whose command of the field belies her diminutive size. She can drop back to defend on top of the centerbacks, restart the play, push into the attack, and make it look easy. Last year’s NWSL Rookie of the Year, Colaprico was a huge part of Chicago’s success in making it to the playoffs and is an equally large reason they remain in the mix this year.

The other key to Chicago’s strong midfield is Vanessa DiBernardo. Like her teammate, DiBernardo has been called up to senior camp but did not play. Strong in the attack, she has a keen eye for finding seams in which to send balls to catch her forwards at the perfect time on their runs into the box, and she has a rocket of a shot of her own at her disposal as well. As a member of the 2012 U-20 World Cup championship team, DiBernardo already has international experience.

Yet another member of that 2012 U-20 team, as well as part of the 2013 UCLA championship squad, Sarah Killion has been quietly working her way back toward another call-up. She’s been as instrumental in Sky Blue’s midfield as her teammate Raquel Rodriguez, while only receiving half the attention. Rather like Holiday, she can be a box-to-box midfielder, honing her defensive skills on one end while setting up plays on the other. Killion has excellent distribution and a calm presence on the field. She’s also taken three penalty kicks for Sky Blue this year, converting all of them.

Winger

Kealia Ohai has been on the fringes of the National Team since arriving in the NWSL in 2014. Often in the discussion but never on a roster, Ohai started off this season slowly, struggling to find the back of the net. Then, due to a diminished roster after Houston’s Olympians departed, Ohai moved to outside midfielder, and she hasn’t looked back. Tied with Rachel Daly for the team lead in both goals and assists, Ohai has been tearing up and down the flanks of any pitch she’s stepped on. Her speed and turns have bested every fullback she’s faced, including WNT veteran Ali Krieger, while both her crosses and diagonal runs into the box have led to goals. Ohai is playing with newfound confidence and leadership, and as a small, fast forward converted to winger, she should be right up Ellis’s alley.

Sam Witteman has been an intriguing player to watch on the Orlando Pride. The rookie, who played in seven different positions in 2015 for California, has continued her versatile play in the NWSL. No matter which line she plays on, it’s clear she belongs on the flank. Witteman has great service from the outside and plays with an intelligence that makes one forget it’s her first professional season. Going forward, she is certainly one to watch.

Forward

Apart from goalkeeper, forward is likely the hardest position to break into on the USWNT. Often the face of the team, from Mia Hamm to Alex Morgan, the team tends to carry a lot of depth at forward. That said, the years in between cycles are the best time for turnover, so now is the time for NWSL goalscorers to make their mark.

Shea Groom struggled initially this season as the lone forward atop FC Kansas City’s formation, but once Tiffany McCarty was inserted on the flank, the two found a chemistry that has pushed Groom to third in the league for goals. The scrappy striker brings a quality that is missing among the WNT’s star forwards—a willingness to sacrifice her entire body to push the ball over the goal line, regardless of what (or who) is in her way. Groom messes with defenses across the league, getting under their skin with her relentless pressure and tireless work ethic.

It would be hard to ignore any of the Western New York Flash’s high-scoring front line of Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald, helped out by Makenzy Doniak. Williams and McDonald lead the league in goals, and McDonald also leads in assists. The three have combined for 17 goals in 15 games, propelling the Flash to third place. The trio makes up the speediest front line in the league and can score seemingly at will from both the run of play and set pieces. It’s hard to imagine any of them staying under the NT radar.

Another forward worth a look is Bev Yanez of the Seattle Reign. Yanez brings a wealth of professional experience, culminating in a 10-goal season last year, earning her a place in the league’s best XI. A technically gifted player in the vein of Christen Press, she is underrated, with both a nose for goal and a playmaking ability that shouldn’t be overlooked.

As Jill Ellis continues to place her emphasis on offense, she is fortunate to have a vastly talented pool at her disposal in the NWSL. These players are just a few of those who’ve earned the chance to wear the crest for the U.S.