Tag: Portland Thorns

Who is Supporting the Supporters?

Posted on by RJ Allen

Supporters Groups are a common sight dotting the soccer landscape. They are one of the most ubiquitous things found in the game no matter the league, the continent, or the crest players on the pitch.

But who is tasked with supporting the Supporters Groups in the US?

That duty falls to the Independent Supporters Council (ISC). ISC is an organization founded in 2009 to – according to their mission statement, “advocate for the fair treatment of home and away supporters, promote supporters culture, and oppose both racism and bias inside stadiums in North America”. Members include supporters groups from MLS, USL, NASL, NPSL, and NWSL.

Four of the NWSL teams have supporters groups in the ISC: Cloud 9 from Sky Blue FC, Rose City Riveters from the Portland Thorns, Chicago Local 134 from the Chicago Red Stars, and Triangle Soccer Fanatics from the North Carolina Courage.

The ISC had their annual meeting in Atlanta, GA from January 27-28.

I was lucky enough to sit down with Jen Muller from Cloud 9 and Gab Rosas from the Rose City Riveters to talk about the meeting, the ISC, and supporters culture overall and in the NWSL.

Backline Soccer: A question that a lot of new soccer fans often ask is what is “supporters culture” and how does it differ from just being the fan of a club?

Gabby Rosas: It’s sort of the next step. You can love the club and not be in the SG. The SG is more/less organized, passionate fans who want to cheer on the team home and away to the point they are personally invested in each match and each season.

Jennifer Muller: Exactly. Supporters are the people that help create the atmosphere you hear and see at games. We do everything from make banners and tifo displays to play drums and sing for the full 90 minutes.

BS: One thing people might not understand is the difference between an independent supporters group and one that is run by the club. Can you each give your take on why being independent is important?

GR: I think of the groups run by a FO (the club) as more of a “fan club”… they usually try to set up player meet & greets and are a bit more focused on getting autographs and photo ops. A supporters group, as Jen said earlier, makes the noise and displays at the match. I think they are on different levels.

JM: Exactly, that’s not to say we can’t work closely with the team, which we do with Sky Blue. But it’s important to remain independent. It’s just the business of pro sports that front offices have turnover. People come and go, but supporters are the constant.

BS: Do you think active supporters culture and not just fans of the team is important to the health and longevity of that league?

GR: I think that’s a slippery slope. The problem woso has had in this country has been trying to be too targeted with hitting certain demographics.

GR: I think women’s soccer has always had supporters, but I think that the league getting past year 3 has shown people that this is worth the investment.

JM: But I think an active and strong supporter culture can help break that cycle of appealing just to that certain demographic.

GR: Sure. I agree with that.

BS: Let’s switch gears from the NWSL to something a bit larger. Both of you went to the Independent Supporters Council meeting in Atlanta. Why is being in the ISC important to each of you and your supporters groups?

GR: I think the ISC, like a lot of other collective bargaining groups, provides a lot of support both in networking and structure. It is great to have access to a large network of SGs across the country to find out how they do things or learn about their successes. The structure can provide assistance as the NWSL SG culture grows and SGs interact with more Front Offices or even the league.

JM: For smaller clubs like Cloud 9, the information shared at the meetings and throughout the year is invaluable to us. I also see our involvement as a way to help open the NWSL up to a larger audience among soccer supporters in the US.

GR: That’s an excellent point!

JM: Maybe a supporters group of a team from another league sees our involvement and realizes that we’re trying to build a real supporters culture here. They might be more inclined to check out a game that’s local to them.

BS: How have the groups from more established clubs reacted to having NWSL groups there? One of you being attached to an MLS club in Portland, the other not being attached to one in New Jersey, I do wonder if there are any differences.

JM: Though we’re not attached to an MLS club, I came into the ISC as a board member for the Empire Supporters Club, which is an SG of the New York Red Bulls. So I already had contacts on the MLS side. Which has made things a bit easier. This was the first year we had more than one NWSL rep at the meetings so it gave us an opportunity to address the rest of the members and basically explain the league and where supporter culture is at the moment. I’d say the response was positive. We were welcomed and wanted at the meetings.

JM: And we were encouraged to reach out to those that are not members to encourage them to join the ISC.

GR: I agree, the reaction was positive. I think a lot of MLS SG organizations are familiar with being in either start-up mode or in a position where you are looking to grow.

JM: Right. And they are very willing to share their knowledge for those of us just starting out.

GR: Totally. Best practices, some roadblocks they have come across themselves.

BS: Right now there are four supporter groups in Cloud 9 from Sky Blue FC, Rose City Riveters from the Portland Thorns, Chicago Local 134 from the Chicago Red Stars, and Triangle Soccer Fanatics from the North Carolina Courage. Do you see more adding in the future?

GR: Very near future.

JM: Yes. We’ve started reaching out to the other groups already.

BS: Over the last four years of the NWSL what do you each think have been the biggest challenges for your supporters groups overall? You come from different markets so I’m wondering what challenges you might face that are different and the same.

GR: Ohhhhh. That’s a tough one

JM: Yeah, this may take a while.

GR: I think the Riveters have done a good job of becoming our own thing. I think, at first, there was some worry that folks would see us as the “lady timbers army” or something. Having such a large organization with us means we have to constantly work to find our own direction.

JM: One of the biggest challenges is introducing the concept of supporter culture to fans that might not be used to it. Teams that have MLS (and now NASL) ties are already starting with an established base of fans, whether it’s the supporters club itself or at least fans with knowledge of the supporter culture. The unaffiliated teams such as ours are starting from the ground up. There’s a decent amount of fan crossover with Sky Blue and the three MLS clubs that are in proximity (the two NY teams and Philly). But when we first started to really get organized in 2015 there were (and still are) a lot of people that didn’t know what to make of us. Last year we saw a big boost and that had a lot to do with the team being behind us 100%. We probably work a bit closer with our front office than in a place like Portland because we need to lean on each other to succeed. Sky Blue knows that if we grow as a club that will only help them in the long run by creating a better atmosphere and bringing in more fans. And if we can do our part in bringing in those fans (sometimes quite literally with our rideshare program), we’ll continue to have a team to support.

BS: Why should someone join a supporters group in the NWSL?

GR: I think you should join to make friends, expand your network. When you join, you meet folks who have a shared interest. Oh, and it is tons of fun to stand and chant for your team.

GR: Even if you aren’t one for being loud at matches, you can join and help bring awareness to woso in other ways.

JM: Even though soccer is a lot more popular now than when I was younger, people still find themselves without ‘soccer friends’. You’ll hear people say they want to go to games but they have no one to go with. When you join a supporters group, you basically get instant soccer friends. You can count on us to be at every home game. You can find people to have actual conversations with about soccer and not just talk about who their favorite players are.

JM: Gabby, that’s a good point. You don’t need to be in the section and making noise to be a part of a supporters club. Yes, our main focus is on game day, but we’re also a sort of social club.

GR: Yea, we’re a social club and we also want to give back to the community.

JM: Yes! Getting involved in community service and charitable efforts is something that many clubs do.

GR: Yea, I think there are a lot of ways to contribute to a SG aside from gameday operations.

GR: Are you a season ticket holder that sits in another section? That’s okay. If you’re buying SG merch, you’re helping to grow the group and enable it to do more.

JM: Yup. We have members that live out of the state and can’t even make it to games. But they still pay their dues because they want to contribute.

BS: Favorite team to play against because of the fun you have with/against the other supporters group?

GR: KC is both my favorite and I hate it because they have our number.

JM: Washington.

BS: Who is a player from your team who has shown their support back to you most.

GR: Oh. Man. Um. Can I say all of them?

JM: Yeah, they’ve all been great, but I’ll say Kim DeCesare. She hitched a ride with a few of our members to a game in Washington. She put the adventure on the Sky Blue Snapchat. But really they all give us a shout out at one point or another.

JM: And they acknowledge us on our road trips, which is important.

JM: That was the epic 7-hour tailgate in the rain with the Spirit Squadron.

GR: Yea, the players in the NWSL are fantastic about showing support right back

BS: OK this should be easier. Maybe. Favorite tailgate pregame food?

GR: Tacos.

GR: We don’t have traditional tailgates in Portland, though. We have a taco place across the street from the stadium.

JM: We’re still working on upping our tailgate game, which should start happening this year. Last year I was pretty consistent with my Jerk Style Chicken Wrap from Wawa.

BS: Favorite sign or tifo your supporters group has made?

GR: I’m still in love with the Super Heroes tifo from 2013. It was magical.

JM: This wasn’t a banner made for stadium-wide display. In the off-season last year, Christy Holly start using “Onwards & Upwards” in his tweets. So we took that and made a huge banner that we hung above the locker room. So only the players and staff would see it.

JM: Before the last game of the season we were able to take a group photo with the team under the banner.

BS: Final question before we let people know where to find you. If Captain American and Captain Canada battled in a 5 v 5 with teammates, who would you want them to pick?

GR: Tobin, Menges, Horan, Betos up top

JM: KO, Kai, Galton, Killion. It’s the Chaos and Order team.

BS: If someone would like more info or to get in touch with your supporters groups, where can they reach you online?

GR: Can find the Riveters at @PDXRivetersSG, I’m at @gabpdx, website is www.rosecityriveter.org, email: info@rosecityriveters.org.

JM: You can go to Email: info@cloud9sc.com, Web: cloud9sc.com, Twitter: @cloud9sbfc

Thanks to both Jen and Gabby for taking the time to speak with me.

Around the World of WoSo: Crummer to Seattle and Canberra takes Prem

Posted on by RJ Allen

Seattle Sign Crummer:

Laura Harvey has signed Australian Larissa Crummer, who is 21 years old and has emerged from a defender to talented forward since turning pro in 2013. Her previous club experiences were with Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar before signing on with Melbourne City in 2015.

Crummer’s profile went up significantly when she scored City’s first ever goal in the W-League in September of 2015. Crummer won the Golden boot for that season, scoring 11 goals, three ahead of former Reign great, Kim Little. The young forward also made her Matilda debut in the summer of 2015, appearing twice in the Women’s World Cup in Canada. Crummer will be a nice addition to the Seattle forward group that has vet Bev Yanez and two rookies in Katie Johnson and Arielle Ship.

Adelaide Shock Sydney:

Sixth place Adelaide United spoiled Sydney’s chance of finishing first and grabbing the premiership this past weekend. Two players who made sure of it were Adriana Jones and Sofia Huerta, who each scored to put Sydney away in a convincing 5-2 match. All season, these two have been almost unstoppable, with Jones tallying nine goals and two assists while Huerta grabbed eight goals with five assists.

With the win, Adelaide finish the regular season out of the top-four. But they should be proud of how they finished the season, absolutely energized and scoring 17 goals the last three games. Meanwhile, Sydney falls to third place but will be in the semifinals this upcoming weekend. While the Premiership isn’t up for grabs anymore, the Championship still is. They must re-focus and re-group if they want to beat Perth on Sunday.

Henry Loaned to PSG:

Portland Thorns midfielder Amandine Henry has announced her loan to French giant, Paris Saint-Germain this past weekend. In her brief time with Portland in 2016, Henry played in nine matches, grabbing one assist and helping the Thorns to the NWSL Shield.

Henry has plenty of familiarity with the Division 1 Feminine league, as she spent nine successful seasons there prior to coming to the NWSL. Now the 27 year-old moves on to PSG for six months, joining the likes of Shirley Cruz, Veronica Boquete, Marie-Laure Delie, Erika and Laura Georges. Last season PSG finished second to Lyon, who once again will be serious challengers for the title.

Canberra Wins Third Premiership:

Canberra United have secured its third Premier in program history. The best team in the regular season with seven wins, two draws, and three losses, they scored the most goals in 12 games, accumulating 33 goals in that span, with a 2.75 average per game. United also have the Golden Boot winner in Ashleigh Sykes, who scored 12 goals and added two assists along the way.

Ending the regular season with a 5-1 thrashing of Melbourne Victory pushed Canberra to first, while keeping Victory in last place and ending a disappointing season to say the least. United still have unfinished business as they meet Melbourne City for a semifinal match on Saturday.

Riley to NC:

The North Carolina Courage (formerly known as Western New York Flash) are the newest team in the NWSL, but they are also the defending champions. The coach that led them was Paul Riley, who previously coached the Portland Thorns (2013-2015) but only managed to make the playoffs once in those seasons. Riley led the Flash to a championship in 2016 which surprised many, so it’s no wonder the club wants him back.

The NC Courage are bringing back most of the roster from last year, including Sam Mewis, Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald, all who were major influences for WNYF winning the title. It may be a new club with a new location, but to have so much of the same personnel and now coach has to be exciting for the fans, old and new.

Dydasco Re-signs with Spirit:

The Washington Spirit finally have some good news to share with fans, as they have announced that Caprice Dydasco will be back for the 2017 season. Dydasco went down with a knee injury in the NWSL Championship game last October and has since been recovering and preparing to get back on the field as soon as possible.

The 23 year-old defender played in 14 games last season for the Spirit, starting 12 of those. Taken in the third round of the 2015 NWSL College Draft out of UCLA, Dydasco has shown improvements in each of the last 2 seasons. She has worked her way into the starting eleven, and with the crazy off-season Washington are having, Dydasco could be an important piece when she returns.

Around the World Of WoSo: NWSL Semis Go Bananas

Posted on by RJ Allen

Washington Advance to NWSL Championship:

The first ladies of professional soccer have finally advanced to the National Women’s Soccer League Championship after beating the Chicago Red Stars over the weekend.

In a cold and rainy game, this was such a great matchup to have on TV for all kinds of fans to see. Casual, extra passionate, and new fans to the league all had the opportunity to tune into FS1 to watch the 2016 NWSL Playoffs get underway.

The crowd on hand was very impressive as well—officially 4,249 fans filled the Plex to see this one. Washington drew first blood late in the first half, courtesy of veteran defender and captain Ali Krieger. The right back used her head to find the back of the net in the play following a Spirit corner kick. And it shouldn’t be forgotten that the service was absolutely PERFECT from fellow defender Shelina Zadorsky. The Spirit controlled the tempo in the first half, having several scoring chances, but the post was busy all night-stopping both teams on more than one occasion. The biggest chance perhaps came from Crystal Dunn minutes into the second half, but her shot was of course denied by the post. Chicago finally found their breakthrough in the 81st minute when Christen Press grabbed the equalizer on a beautiful volley from Casey Short. It seemed to energize them for a short amount of time, actually pressing Washington quite a bit until the end of the game.

Heading into overtime, the Spirit had the momentum despite giving up a late goal in regular time. In the 111th minute, that momentum and hard work paid off as Christine Nairn worked her magic in the midfield to find Francisca Ordega for the game winner. I must say, Nairn played a very solid game, as did Krieger.

They finally advance to the championship game, and it is well deserved after that performance.

WNY Stun Portland in a Seven-Goal Thriller at Providence:

In arguably the toughest place to play in the NWSL, Providence Park is home to the Portland Thorns and 20,000+ fans as backup on any given night. But Western New York didn’t care about the atmosphere, the opponent, or expectations.

They not only went to Portland and won, but they did it in incredible fashion, scoring four goals on a defense that allowed only seven goals at home all year. And The Flash only won on the road three times this season—not exactly a great road team…until now.

The scoring stared early and came often. WNY was led by the 2016 Golden Boot winner, Lynn Williams, who scored twice in the first overtime period (including the game winner) and seemed to be everywhere on the field at once. Samantha Mewis gave WNY the early lead in the 16th minute, and just before half, in the 38th minute, Makenzy Doniak doubled the lead. Although this was certainly unfamiliar territory for Portland this season, those who have followed the team will note that this was the third time in three NWSL semifinal appearances that the Thorns found themselves facing a 0-2 scoreline. But Portland refused to see their season end quietly, and one minute later Christine Sinclair pulled one back off a furious volley to breathe life into the Rose City. In the 78th minute, after a scramble in the box, the Thorns found the equalizer by way of rookie center back Emily Sonnett,  forcing the match into overtime.

Heading into overtime, it was anyone’s game. Ultimately, the speed and physicality of the Flash had took a toll on the Thorns. Overtime was William’s time to shine—she scored twice in the span of six minutes to bury Portland and all their hopes of a championship this season. Portland managed to score one more two minutes later, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

In front of a record playoff crowd of 20,086, WNY stunned plenty of people, myself included. This was sweet redemption for WNY coach Paul Riley, who was in charge of Portland the previous two years, now heading to the final in his first year with WNY—though he won’t be allowed on field, due to the red card he picked up.

The Championship is set for Sunday October 9th, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Curse of the NWSL Shield:

Four years. Three different Shield winners. Zero championships. That’s enough to constitute a curse, right?

A small sample size, but the numbers and outcomes speak for themselves.

In 2013, the WNY won the first NWSL Shield, then the next two years the Seattle Reign were declared Shield winners, and now in 2016 the Portland Thorns were crowned. All, of course, having high expectations and sights set on a championship for their respective clubs.

But here we are. Another year, another shield winner bowing out in a semifinal or final and coming away with nothing. So it rightly begs the question: Is winning the Shield a curse?

I honestly think it might be a thing. It might be a coincidence or just how it turned out. But let this be a warning to other teams who chase it next year. In this league, a regular season title is a nice accomplishment, but ultimately you want a championship trophy and a star, not some silver platter and a footnote in history. Speaking as a Reign fan, it’s not good enough. It’s not ever satisfying enough. 

So, yes winning the shield is indeed a curse. Now we have to wait another year to see if it can be broken. Thanks, Portland.

NWSL ROTY announced:

The NWSL Rookie of the Year is Raquel Rodriguez.

The Sky Blue midfielder played in 18 games (starting 17), scoring one goal and making one assist. To be honest, I was surprised at this pick. I had a few other candidates in mind that I thought contributed more to their respective teams.

I can’t deny Rodriguez has had a great last calendar year, from winning the College Cup with Penn State, to being a consistent starter in this league, to now winning ROTY. She helped her team compete all year, and although they finished seventh in the table, that doesn’t quite represent how well this team performed.

I look forward to seeing how she further develops in this league and with Sky Blue.

Parsons Grabs Coach of the Year:

While Portland won’t be competing for the championship, they do have a lot to be proud of, including winning the shield, And now their new coach has earned some hardware of his own.

Mark Parsons has rapidly evolved into a winning coach and one that is very well respected across the league. He led the Thorns to a 12-3-5 record and gave them a home-field playoff berth for the first time in club history. Parsons put together a very impressive and diverse squad in just a short amount of time after taking the job. Boasting the likes of Christine Sinclair, Tobin Heath, Amandine Henry, Nadia Nadim and Dagný Brynjarsdóttir, Parsons managed to apply a system that worked for all of these high-profile players.

I think this was well deserved for Parsons, a coach who will only continue to do great things for this league.

BYU Senior Can’t Stop Scoring:

Ashley Hatch has played in 12 games this season and already scored 15 goals with four assists to help her team to a 10-1-1 record.

The senior led her team to a pair of huge wins against Ohio State and defending champion Penn State. Hatch scored a hat trick in the 3-2 win earlier in the season at #5 PSU and grabbed a goal in the win at #19 OSU as well. She netted her THIRD hat trick on the year on Monday as they defeated USF handily 4-0. I approve of her new nickname of Hatchtrick.

It’s fitting and well deserved. BYU faces Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine this week. Can Hatch continue her scoring ways?

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: Defense

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 examines the defense.

Goalkeeper

Few positions on a National Team can be as impenetrable as goalkeeper. A goalkeeper is a long-term investment, and once a #1 is established, she can hold that spot for years longer than field players. For the majority of its 31-year lifetime, the USWNT has had three main goalkeepers: Mary Harvey, Briana Scurry, and Hope Solo. Harvey came aboard in 1989 and led the team to victory in the 1991 World Cup. Scurry received her first cap at age 22, became the starting goalkeeper before the 1995 World Cup, and held the spot for a decade. Solo made her first appearance at age 18 and took the regular starting position in 2005. Her ambitions for her career after the Rio Olympics have been unclear; often ambiguous, her statements about the future have ranged from assertions that her best is yet to come to more vague words that imply the time has come. Regardless, it’s clear the U.S. will soon be grooming a new #1, and probably should already have started.

The current backups, Alyssa Naeher and Ashlyn Harris, are both more than capable of holding the spot and performing well. However, as stated previously, the USWNT likes to find its goalkeepers young, allowing them to mature into the role and gain plenty of experience while doing such. With the record the U.S. has and the reputation both Scurry and Solo hold, it’s hard to argue with that. So which young NWSL goalkeepers could we see in U.S. colors soon?

Jane Campbell leads the discussion of probable Solo replacements, but the Stanford senior hasn’t played in the NWSL (yet). Abbie Smith is another talented college and Youth National Team goalkeeper who should be in the mix. Known for her booming goal kicks and punts, Smith was on her way to living up to her reputation as a top-notch keeper when she took over for Libby Stout on the Boston Breakers, but a knee injury in May took her out for the season. Assuming she regains her form, Smith should be on the USWNT watchlist.

The best option may well be Katelyn Rowland. A U-20 Women’s World Cup veteran like Harris, Naeher, and Smith before her, Rowland also starred at UCLA, setting NCAA shutout records and picking up two assists as well as leading the Bruins to the 2013 NCAA Championship. After a season and a half of serving as backup to Nicole Barnhart, longtime Solo backup herself and possibly the league’s best goalkeeper, Rowland made the bold move to leave FC Kansas City and assert herself as a #1, seeking a midseason trade to the Western New York Flash, where she soon secured the top spot. Rowland is an excellent shot stopper who rarely shows indecision off the line. As she earns more playing time at the professional level, Rowland should continue to grow and work her way into the National Team pool.

Centerback

The centerback position is fairly deep on the National Team currently. Becky Sauerbrunn is seemingly set to go another cycle with Julie Johnston at her side, while Whitney Engen is ready as backup and Emily Sonnett waits in the wings, not to mention Ali Krieger who spent a game and a half at the position this year for the team. It could be difficult for anyone to break into that group, but that’s not to say that the opportunity doesn’t exist.

Megan Oyster leads the pack. After a strong rookie season, Oyster started this year where she left off, helping propel Washington to the top of the table. However, after a dreadful game in Portland, Oyster has since struggled at times to regain her form, particularly when she was called upon to anchor the backline after the departure of her Rio-bound teammates. That said, her good performances far outweigh her mistakes, and Oyster has it in her to compete at the top.

Kassey Kallman is another option. After being a key part of the 2012 U-20 World Cup championship team, Kallman is on her third NWSL season, where she currently serves alongside Engen on Boston’s backline. The two are quietly one of the better centerback pairings in the league, where their record belies their solid work.

Another option may be Cari Roccaro. A youth NT standout and once considered a possible number one draft pick, Roccaro’s stock fell considerably when it was revealed she had been playing with two labral tears in her hips and would undergo surgery in the offseason, delaying her NWSL debut. However, her former Notre Dame head coach Randy Waldrum took a chance on her and brought her to the Houston Dash, where she completed rehab ahead of schedule and soon earned a starting position. Still not yet back to 100%, Roccaro is a disciplined player who is comfortable pushing up into the attack.

Finally, Abby Dahlkemper deserves a look. A former UCLA teammate of Rowland, the pair has reunited at Western New York, where Dahlkemper has stepped up. Most promising from Dahlkemper is that although her youth and relative inexperience occasionally show, she has shown definite improvement in her sophomore season. She also brings significant youth national team experience.

Fullback

Unlike central defense, the outside back pool for the USWNT is extremely shallow. Ali Krieger appears to have fallen from favor, while neither Kelley O’Hara nor Meghan Klingenberg had good tournaments in Rio. Jaelene Hinkle is the only young player to have seen any time at the spot recently, and although her National Team debut wasn’t stellar, her allocated status and tremendous season for the Flash may earn her a return appearance.

Lauren Barnes was invited to camp earlier this year but didn’t see any playing time. Barnes brings versatility to the role, as she can play both fullback and centerback. She hasn’t had a solid 2016 for the Seattle Reign, but who on the Reign this year has? If Barnes can regain her form, either central or outside, she could work her way back into the mix.

Finally, any discussion of outside backs would be remiss not to mention the best pairing in the league: the Chicago Red Stars’ Arin Gilliland and Casey Short. The two bring exactly what Ellis likes to see from her fullbacks – fast players, comfortable with the ball at their feet, who will push into the attack and don’t shy away from taking the shot themselves. However, both Short and Gilliland are also strong on the opposite side of the pitch, something Ellis’ current wingback system lacks. They’re skilled on 1v1 defense and demonstrate great awareness of when to drop back. It would be baffling to see January camp without at least one of the two on the list.

Although some old faces will be departing, the options are there for the USWNT to have a strong defense once again, which, as they undergo that rarity of a goalkeeper change, is absolutely necessary.

Up next: Part Two of the series, which will focus on offense.

The Downsizing of Fat Fans

Posted on by RJ Allen

I haven’t always been a sports fan.

I grew up in southeast Wisconsin, a place where Sunday Catholic masses in the fall usually included a reference to the Packers during the homily. And sometimes a joke about the Bears or the Vikings, to the delight of almost all. But I found football boring (little did I know) and paid it no mind.

I played basketball and baseball until sometime around seventh or eighth grade. I was big–tall–and slow.

The thing is, I’ve always been large. Fat, really. And the journey to being able to say that without feelings of overwhelming shame, well, it’s been a long one. And the thing about being the fat girl is that we don’t really play sports.

To be fair, women’s sports wasn’t really a viewing option. Maybe some golf, maybe some tennis. But except for Olympic years and major tournaments, I can’t remember seeing a women’s basketball game on television, never a women’s soccer game nor a women’s hockey game.  

The bodies of female athletes that I saw on television were tall, toned, and definitely not fat. Toned, but not overly muscular.  Even their athleticism was marked by a kind of grace that I just didn’t possess.

I never saw myself reflected in the women I saw playing sports. I didn’t see the fat girls.

As time marched on I eventually stopped playing sports. I tolerated gym class while I focused on other activities. For a long time, I looked at sports as something with nothing to offer me.

My foray back into the wide world of sports began with the NFL. With the Packers, a Super Bowl win, and the excitement of being able to connect with my dad and brothers. And, yes, the allure of the family Fantasy Football trophy.

But it wasn’t until the Women’s World Cup in 2015 that I truly became a sports fan.  I’d never watched a soccer game before June 8th, 2015, when the USWNT bested Australia.  No one in my family ever played soccer. None of my friends did. And, yeah, my dad, the football and basketball fan, thought it was boring. He’d say, “They’re always flopping around on the ground!” or “What good’s a sport where nobody scores?”

But I watched that game against Australia, and I was hooked.

Immediately.

My Google history from that night included a lot of names of players I’d never heard of before (I’d really only heard of Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, and Hope Solo through cultural osmosis) as well as things like “What is stoppage time?” For reference, as a former basketball player, I was very concerned the first time I saw someone take the ball over the centerline, then back, then forward again.

“Isn’t that a foul? A backcourt violation?” I wondered.

Turns out, it was not.

Since June 8th, 2015, I have watched every single USWNT game.

I’ve watched as many NWSL games as I have been able (and while the ability to watch on YouTube is wonderful, are you seriously telling me that I have several hundred channels with my cable subscription, and not a single one is willing to broadcast the games?).

I went to a Chicago Red Stars game against Sky Blue FC earlier this year and had an amazing experience, and I took my mom to the July 9th USWNT match against South Africa. She’d never seen a soccer game before either, and she loved every minute of it. And when the Red Stars take on the Washington Spirit in their last game of the regular season later this year, I will be there, cheering my head off.

The USWNT turned me into a women’s soccer fan.

But I’ve also become more and more aware of my status as, what I’ve termed, a “fat fan.”

See, I’ve always been large, always been overweight. I think I was thin once, for about two weeks, after I was released from a hospitalization for pneumonia at the age of six months. I spent high school wearing super-sized Nike t-shirts and rocking the layered flannel look (and yes, I know–it wasn’t a look then; it still isn’t now).

I sit gingerly and carefully on seats that look unable to hold my weight–or I just stand–because I can still hear one of the kids back in elementary school taunting me about being too heavy for the desk chairs.  

I get anxiety about flying on airplanes–because what if they want me to pay for a second seat? Or what if I get sat next to someone who makes a big deal about my arms touching theirs on, or my thighs touching theirs. (Fat flying anxiety: it’s an actual thing.)

And on the one hand, becoming a fan of soccer has introduced me to the whole wide world of female athlete body types, and honestly helped me move toward overcoming my lifetime’s worth of shame over being the fat girl. But at the same time, I find myself continually reminded of who I am.

Life as a fat fan—and this isn’t limited to soccer; it’s just the sport I have the most experience with of late—can be complicated. As much as sports celebrate bodies and active lifestyles, and as much as soccer has helped to promote body positivity (thank you, Ali Krieger, and Christen Press, for your ESPN Body Issue comments in 2015 and 2016, respectively), I am always reminded of my size as a fan.

What it’s like to be a fat fan?

First of all, the official merchandise.

Now, this isn’t a problem so much in the NFL–I have no problem getting a Jordy Nelson or Clay Matthews jersey in the size that I want.

But I have noticed that it’s a problem in the soccer world. The USSF caps replica and authentic jersey sizes at 2XL. In both men’s and women’s sizes. (Let’s not get lost in the many problems with women’s jerseys, but seriously, that v-neck?). For a while, you could only get the 3-star jersey in the women’s cut. Which, as Serena Williams helpfully pointed out, doesn’t fit every body type.

But the 2XL in either cut doesn’t fit everybody (or every body) either.

So if you want to represent your favorite athlete or team, as a fat person, you’ve got to squeeze your body into a 2XL or go the route of finding non-licensed apparel. Which, yes, does exist. But, as a fans of the USSF and its players, we should try to avoid.

I have two jerseys: a 2015 away jersey with Ali Krieger’s name and number and a 2016 away jersey with Kelley O’Hara’s. I’m a defense girl; always have been. They’re 2XL and, yes, technically they fit, but they’re tight.

They’re tight and I feel uncomfortable wearing them. I spend the day pulling them down as they roll up, self-conscious that my fat back is showing. I spend the day feeling like Bruce Banner, just one moment of not paying attention to how wide I’m swinging my arms from bursting out of the seams. For the record, the 2016 jersey is just slightly better. I am comfortable wearing that one outside of the house. Sometimes.

But you know what would be so much better?

A jersey in 3XL.

That would fit just a little better and make me a little more comfortable. I’d still be fat, yeah, but I’d certainly feel a little more dignified. And what about fans larger than me? I know they exist. How hard would it be to offer a 4XL or 5XL option? How hard would it be to make fans of all sizes feel comfortable using their bodies to mark their enthusiasm and their passion for the sport?

The official NWSL team merchandise isn’t always better–though it can vary from team to team.

I’ve got a wonderful long-sleeve Red Stars shirt and a bright orange Sky Blue shirt that (after some deliberate stretching) fits okay. Team jerseys, depending upon availability, can range from topping off at L to 2XL, but never higher.

Which is a shame for multiple reasons. Not only are the opportunities far more frequent for people to go and see them play, but the league could benefit even more from increased merchandise sales to help support teams and players.

The NWHL, for example, also only offers up to 2XL, both in shirts and jerseys. But their merchandise is undergoing a revamp as they design new jerseys for their second season, and it’s possible that available sizes might change or increase nearer to the start.

But there’s actually a simple solution to this.

As a fat person, I’m used to sometimes paying a few dollars more for a size I want. Lots of places offer sizes up to 2XL at a set price, and sizes above 2XL with a slight surcharge. If I could go all day without feeling like everyone knows what color underwear I’m wearing, I’d pay the extra bucks.

The problem isn’t limited to federation and league products, either. The issue also exists within individual player merchandise, their personal branded lines. It isn’t an institutional issue but a cultural one.

And sometimes, yes, it’s simply out of the player’s control.

I can tell you, if there’s a player out there who offers their gear in larger sizes? I’m 100% more likely to buy from them.

Ashlyn Harris’s store via Sqor, when it first opened, offered at least one shirt that went into at least 3XL: the all-black Keeper shirt with her name on back.

It’s one of my favorites.

In contrast, Megan Rapinoe’s line doesn’t seem to offer anything over 2XL. Ali Krieger’s most recent t-shirt design only went to 2XL (and sold out in a day—congrats!). But when someone contacted Team Krieger, they did express concern over the issue of sizing. It’s interesting to note that the Krieger website includes a sizing chart that lists Bella+Canvas shirts being offered up to 4XL but the product itself is only offered up to 2XL. I love both players, and I support them both, but I can’t in good conscience buy a shirt from them that I’m not sure will fit me.

Hope Solo’s merchandise store seems to only offer options up to 2XL as well, but she recently put out a “Resting Pitch Face” merchandise line in cooperation with Girl Up. And with this product, her sizes went up to 3XL in one of the t-shirt options, and 5XL in the sweatshirt option. I was already a Hope Solo fan. I’ve got a (too-tight) t-shirt from the US Soccer store with her name and number in gold lettering, but am I considering plunking down more money for a shirt or sweatshirt that actually fits? That I can wear outside without feeling self-conscious?

You betcha.

And sure, there are the inevitable responses to issues like this. Why not just lose the weight? Why not be more active? Why not get healthier? Is it the responsibility of institutions or individuals to cater to fat people?

Well, those are questions that open up a whole host of other issues about the way society and culture views body types. But I can tell you this. I’m not unhealthy. My blood pressure is perfect. I don’t have diabetes.

Oh, and last summer, inspired by the USWNT during the Women’s World Cup (and in particular, Ali Krieger’s stories of her multiple comebacks after what could have been career-ending injuries), I actually did a C25K program and ran in a 5K in the fall.

Yeah, me. The fat girl.

So it’s not just that I’m lazy (I’m willing to admit that I can be), unhealthy (I’m not), or some other accusation someone wants to toss at me. And others who experience similar things aren’t either. The issue is that larger people exist, that we can be just as passionate as fans as everyone else, but we are continually reminded that sports just aren’t for us by the limited merchandise options made available.

We are literally being sized out of athletic patronage.

So, back to that last question: Should there be more size options? My answer is going to be yes. Yes, federations and teams and players should try to offer products in larger sizes. I’m not even saying that every product has to go up to 5XL or above. But one or two of them? Absolutely.

Why?

We’re fans.

We buy tickets. We squeeze ourselves into uncomfortable stadium seating that gouges into our hips, and if we look like we’re on the edge of our seats for the whole game, it’s 50% excitement and 50% because the armrests don’t hurt our sides that way. We buy merchandise that we can wear (snapbacks and scarves) or display (flags and signs) and merchandise that we’re apprehensive about wearing (jerseys, shorts, t-shirts, jackets, socks, etc.). We show up to games, and sometimes, honestly, sometimes we’re a little afraid or anxious about what other people think. Are our rolls of fat showing? Do we look ridiculous in this? Do people think we’re trying too hard, that we know less or aren’t truly fans because we weigh more?

We cheer and we root and we are so, so proud of our players and our teams and our leagues.

But sometimes?

Sometimes we don’t wear our gear at all. Sometimes we show up in things that fit us, things that make us feel like we don’t have to worry the whole day.

And then we wonder, the whole time, do people still know that we’re fans? Do they think we’re imposters? Do they know that we live and breathe and die by the scoreline? Our team’s place on the table?

Come the end of September, I’m going to be at that Red Stars game. And I’m going to be wearing some sort of soccer gear. I just wish I could be certain that I will be comfortable in it as I’m hooting and hollering and cheering the teams and the players on.

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.