Tag: Sky Blue FC

Allie Long: Players Have “Done Everything We Can”

Posted on by Backline Soccer

Allie Long, as well as every player that took part in Sunday’s record-breaking game at Red Bull Arena, had the same message to US Soccer, the fan and investors. They have held up their end of the bargain and now it’s time for everyone else to do the same.

“Now it’s up to people that have the money to market it,” said Long when speaking about the growth of the women’s game in the United States. “People with money who want to invest need to come up. I feel like we, as players, have done everything we can.”

Long, now in her 10th year as a professional player and 15th as a national team player, has seen the ebbs and flows that come with World Cup victories. Carli Lloyd expressed a similar view citing the rise in attendance four years prior but no investment to retain interest.

Money seems to be prevalent in the men’s game as MLS signed a lucrative deal to bring an expansion team to St. Louis. All of this despite the massive failures of the men’s national team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. On the women’s side the US has raised the top trophy twice in a row and won the competition four times, yet there still lacks an investment to push the game forward.

“We won the World Cup back-to-back,” said Long. “If you’re not coming to games now… We can’t physically give more than what we have on the field. We’re trying to promote it, trying to grow this league. And I’ve been saying, if anyone was inspired by the World Cup, if you’re a kid that wants to play on the women’s national team, the NWSL is crucial for any player that wishes to ever play at that level.”

Whether the investment will follow remains to be seen. Red Bull has been hovering over Sky Blue FC for many years but has yet to either invest in the team or partner on a long term basis. ESPN as well could play a significant role if an expanded TV rights deal is negotiated. 

Long is correct that the players have done everything physically possible to put a marketable product on the field. Now it’s up to the businesses to help them take it to the next level.

Red Bull Arena Produces “Great Atmosphere”

Posted on by Backline Soccer

Sky Blue FC’s first game at Red Bull Arena was a resounding success with the players raving about the atmosphere in front of a record-setting crowd.

A 1-1 draw against Seattle Reign FC, which saw Sky Blue take a surprising lead in the first half, sent the over nine thousand in attendance into a frenzy. Fans hung on every pass, including near the end of the game when soccer legend Carli Lloyd nearly gave Sky Blue their first back-to-back wins in almost two seasons.

“Great atmosphere, broke a record and just goes to show you how far Sky Blue has come,” said Lloyd who has performed admirably for the team since returning from the FIFA Women’s World Cup. “The biggest thing is just the fight and belief in one another on the pitch. We’re fighting to the final whistle and I think that’s what you need in this league to be successful.”

Few teams have had the roller coaster ride that Sky Blue has had over the past few years. They’ve reached the lowest of the lows both on and off the field with just one win in all of 2018 and an off-season which saw major questions raised about their ownership.

Sunday’s game at Red Bull Arena was a much needed bright spot for a fan base that has shown loyalty, but also for the players who have seen the lows and now came off the field on a high after playing in front of such an excited crowd.

“Off the field we’ve made some tremendous strides,” said Lloyd. “I know that the ownership is taking more of a lead as well. I’ve known Alyse (LaHue – team interim General Manager) since the Chicago Red Stars 2009 WPS days and she’s fantastic. She’s pushing the bar and it’s just great to see.”

There is little doubt that the USWNT winning a second consecutive Women’s World Cup title has had a positive effect on attendance and perception around the league. Several teams have seen record attendance, with Sky Blue’s game setting new records and making fans clamor for more games in Harrison, New Jersey. But the work will need to continue as Lloyd has seen the failures of previous cycles after attendance boosts.

“We saw this in 2015 as well,” said Lloyd on the attendance boost. “The biggest challenge is how are we going to sustain that. When next year there’s Olympics and the year after that where there’s nothing. I think we have to get to that point where we’re kind of sustaining.

“It’s great, the big increase in numbers, right after the World Cup but we saw that dip down after the last one. The word just has to get out. I think ultimately there are so many people in this country that don’t know there’s a women’s professional league.”

Sky Blue has just three home games remaining in 2019 with little to no chance of making the NWSL playoffs. However Sunday’s performance, mixed with a stunning late upset of Chicago midweek, may be just what the club needs to make people believe in the future.

The team will travel to Houston to play the Dash next Saturday and have another chance at stunting a team’s playoff hopes.

Staying on Cloud 9

Posted on by Backline Soccer

Sky Blue FC made headlines in 2018. Everyone was talking about them for the rest of the season, tuning in to their games, tweeting and re-tweeting articles and comments. They were all anyone could talk about.

For all the wrong reasons.

Sky Blue FC, out of Piscataway Township, NJ, has certainly had its ups and down. As the only club still left standing since women’s professional soccer began, it has quite a history. I was fortune enough to interview Jennifer Muller, the current pack leader of Cloud 9 – the supporters’ group for Sky Blue FC. Not an easy task the last two years or so, Jen and other members of Cloud 9 have continued to show up and show out for their club, through the wins, the draws and the losses. Through Sam Kerr’s comments about conditions; through exposes, articles and the tweets. Through players unwilling to play there. Through owner and Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, promising to make things better. Through Sky Blue FC finally finding its feet and winning games. Cloud 9 is comprised of people who are loyal, want to see success and love this team beyond reproach. Pretty much everything you could ask for from a Supporters Group. 

Muller gave me a little overview of how she became interested in the club and ultimately ended up helping get the club’s SG off the ground officially in 2015.

Like any new SG, it wasn’t a smooth road. “It was pretty hap hazard. We were in the bleachers near the beer garden, and we’re thinking maybe we would be able to get people interested in joining, but it was hard to get off the ground.” A rough beginning saw some light at the end of the tunnel with the 2015 Women’s World Cup. “That first game back, with all the national team players back, there was a huge boost. They sold out that game and were able to get people to move in and it was great.” Muller’s love for Cloud 9 shone through as we discussed her role with the club and how things came about. In 2016, Cloud 9 saw membership numbers go up as people became more and more interested in Sky Blue FC. “New members are typically people who are already soccer fans but are the person in their friends group who likes soccer, so they don’t have anyone to go to games with.”

One of the great things about supporters groups is the instant access to people who are open and friendly and welcoming to anyone who is coming to their first game, 10thgame, or 100thgame. Cloud 9 doesn’t just have NWSL fans; they also have a crossover smattering of MLS fans from the New York Redbulls, New York City FC and even the Philadelphia Union. Because Sky Blue FC is nestled in such a small but unique location, they’re able to get those different types of members, who in turn tell their friends. “It’s a lot of word of mouth, boots on the ground, kind of thing.” Muller tells me when I asked what their marketing looked like. “Social media plays a big role in letting people know about the club.” With 12 games left in the season, Cloud 9 will continue to support their club and do everything they can to attract new fans.

And that starts with letting people know what it’s like to be a part of Cloud 9. I posed a few questions to some members of Cloud 9 about their experience in the group. They provided their answers below.

Danny Kane:

When did you first hear about the club?

1) I started watching women’s soccer a decent amount around the 2012 Olympics, but had no clue who the club teams were. Around 2014/15, Jen Muller started telling me about Sky Blue. I went to my first game after the World Cup (Yurcak is inconvenient as hell for me, so it took a bit to convince me), got season tickets in 2016. On the one hand, it’s great that supporters bring their friends. On the other hand, how the hell can a pro team rely on that? I’ve never seen Sky Blue advertised. Cloud 9 members have brought in a ton of fans, including many new members, but we shouldn’t be the team’s best advertisement.

What made you want to become involved?

2) I support women’s soccer. The 2015 World Cup got me sufficiently hooked I wanted to make as many games as possible. At some point when things went to hell last year, I was loyal to my friends in the section, and especially our players, so I was gonna make it as much as I could, even if it wasn’t fun, which is where I’m at now (though the last 2 games have me a little optimistic)

How has your experience been, being in a Supporters’ Group?

3) The SG is great. We pump each other up, we keep it as fun as we can, and there’s no feeling like leading the support, especially after a tough win. I can’t imagine watching a game anywhere else. 

What is the ABSOLUTE one thing you want people to know/understand about being a Sky Blue fan?

4) It often sucks. Ownership doesn’t care (remember, the progress we made this year brought us back to the status quo that Sam Kerr actively tried to leave). Our field is in the middle of nowhere. We haven’t had a decent chance at playoffs in at least 2 years, and haven’t made playoffs since I’ve been watching. I love our players, and I often love going to games. But it’s a weird feeling to be okay with one of your favorite players leaving, because she’s in a better place. I didn’t renew my season tickets this year, because I don’t trust the ownership. I think Alyse is a huge upgrade over Tony, but I don’t think she was put in a position to succeed. So I go to basically every game, but I don’t trust the team enough to commit to them. And I don’t know exactly what I want. A field with adequate facilities would certainly be a start. The feeling that our organization is as professional as our players (and that our players are treated like world class professionals) would be ideal. When I feel optimistic, it’s always tempered, because I don’t think we’re anywhere near that ideal.

Michelle Fowler, who is one of the new members this season.

When did you first hear about the club?

I’ve been following NWSL since its inception, so I was made aware of Sky Blue through watching NWSL YouTube streams. 

What made you want to become involved?

When former players started speaking out, and articles written, about the conditions players were being subjected to, I saw how much Cloud 9 fought for the players. I admired the commitment of the SG to keep the story at the forefront and demand change. I wanted to be a part of that support, even in some small way. Joining Cloud 9 and showing up was the best way for me to do that. 

How has your experience been, being in a Supporters’ Group?

It’s been an awesome experience, better than I thought it could be.  I was very nervous to go to the first tailgate/game alone. But, I didn’t have to be worried. I was greeted right away by Jen. Several others came over, introduced themselves and made me feel very welcome. It’s a very accepting group and you can just be who you are. Most of all we have FUN, no matter the result on the field. You feel like an active participant when you are singing and chanting and you see the players appreciating it. 

What is the ABSOLUTE one thing you want people to know/understand about being a Sky Blue fan?

Our players come to do battle every game and they do it with a lot less than most other teams in the league. They appreciate every fan in the stands and fight for you. It makes you want to cheer a little harder for them and makes every win just a little sweeter. It’s more than worth the price of admission!

Margaret Ligouri

When did you first hear about the club?

I first heard of Sky Blue and the NWSL one night when I was watching old USWNT videos when I was in college. All of a sudden, I saw a video for a league game, and I did a little digging and saw there was a team that played practically in my backyard. I could see all my favorite players, in person, so close to home. It seemed too good to be true.

What made you want to become involved?

I became involved in supporters groups and with Cloud 9 because I didn’t want to go to games alone and I want to be as involved in supporting the league and the players as I could.

How has your experience been, being in a Supporters’ Group?

I could not have imagined then, what a greater impact being in an SG would have on me. In Cloud 9 I’ve found my soccer family, people who get me and accept me and share my passion for soccer. I came into the WoSo community right around the time I graduated college and being a part of a group like Cloud 9 helped me transition away from college life and not feel so intimidated by suddenly being out in the world, with no idea what to do.

What is the ABSOLUTE one thing you want people to know/understand about being a Sky Blue fan?

The absolute one thing I want people to understand about being a Sky Blue fan, is that we know things suck, we know we’re the butt of a lot of the jokes around the league, but we don’t care. Our club has the richest WoSo history of any club currently in the league, we’ve been around from the very beginning and that’s why we fight so hard for it. Yeah, we want the players to have the environment and support they deserve, and we want to win, but we also want to preserve the legacy of women’s professional soccer in America, and that means doing what we can to keep this club from falling apart. And that’s what it is to be a Sky Blue fan.

Jen Muller, Cloud 9 President

When did you first hear about the club?

My first exposure to the team was in 2008 at a post-Olympics USWNT game at Giants Stadium. That week was the initial allocation for the WPS and Sky Blue acquired Rampone, HAO, and Tasha Kai. I remember Kai wearing a Sky Blue scarf as she signed autographs after the game. I was (embarrassingly) only a casual fan in the WPS days and didn’t really start going to games until 2014.

What made you want to become involved?

I went to a few games in the 2014 season and noticed there wasn’t much of a supporters’ presence. I met Melissa Correa, who was basically carrying the torch for Cloud 9, at the WC Qualifiers in Philly and asked if she wanted help in getting the club off the ground as a proper SG. I tried to bring in some of the things I learned being a board member for the Empire Supporters Club (RBNY SG) and this whole thing has snowballed from there. 

How has your experience been, being in a Supporters’ Group?

Being a part of Cloud 9 and watching it grow over the past few years is something very special for me. When I was first introduced to supporter culture it changed my life. Seeing that happen for people in Cloud 9 warms my heart. 

What is the ABSOLUTE one thing you want people to know/understand about being a Sky Blue fan?

It’s not always easy being a fan of Sky Blue. Between having a less than optimal record, a less than professional stadium, and owners who still have not convinced us that they are willing or able to raise this team out of the depths of this league, it can get draining. But, no matter how bad things are on or off the field, at the end of the day we are here for the players. They leave it all on the field every game until the final whistle. We do our best to do the same for them in the stands.

What more could you ask from a Supporters Group who continue to show up, game after game, loss after loss, and remain beyond proud of their club and their players. As fans, it’s easy to switch allegiances and root for clubs who consistently win. But for members of Cloud 9, it’s not about the records or what people think about them; it’s about the players and showing them that their Supporters’ Group will always be there to love and support them, even when everyone else has written them off. After all, every cloud has a silver lining. 

Sky Blue Fire Head Coach Denise Reddy

Posted on by Backline Soccer

The season only gets darker for Sky Blue FC as they have announced on Twitter the firing of head coach Denise Reddy. The team will begin an external search for a replacement.

Reddy joined Sky Blue in 2017 and has been at the helm for two of the worst professional seasons in recent American soccer history. Last year Sky Blue grabbed just one win, coming on the last day of the season, and finished with a record of 1-17-6. This year they have started equally bad with no wins through the first nine games.

All of this has happened despite bringing in US Women’s National team legend Carli Lloyd. While her contributions have certainly diminished when compared to her earlier work, she was meant to be a mentor to younger players such as Julie James and Raquel Rodriguez. Instead frustration has boiled over with ownership and off-the-field issues such as poor training conditions taking over most of the discussion.

Reddy herself had quite a resume before joining the team. She coached in the W-League with Jersey Sky Blue and the Chicago Red Stars before jumping to Europe with Vittsjo GIK and Linkopings FC in Sweden. She returned to the newer NWSL in 2016 as an assistant coach with the Washington Spirit and then as the head coach with Sky Blue in 2017. 

What may have appeared to be a chance to get in on the ground floor with a young team quickly turned sour with little hope of getting better. Reddy coached through the diminishing fan base, awful press and lack of resources. In the end, the results weren’t just bad but some of the worst possible. Now she steps aside with little news on who will be the replacement.

Interest in the job is more than likely at an all-time low. The team will more than likely look within the league for an option but there is a possibility that more news is imminent that could involve far more than just changes to the coaching staff.

Sky Blue Continues Journey to Invisibility with Bumbling Loss to Orlando

Posted on by Backline Soccer

It hasn’t been easy for Sky Blue FC and it got that much harder after a 2-1, self-inflicted, loss to Orlando City on Saturday. A handball and own-goal are how the Pride scored their goals, leaving the New Jersey crew to wonder if luck is also against them in yet another disastrous season.

“I’m going to give a lot of credit to Sky Blue,” said Orlando head coach Marc Skinner after the game. “I knew they were going to be dangerous, that’s why we paid them respect and sat deeper and didn’t let them have the spaces because I think they’re pretty good.”

Sky Blue wasn’t lifeless in this game. Jen Hoy had the game’s first opportunity in the ninth minute but Orlando goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer was more than up to the task. Later on in the game, when trailing, lazy defense opened up an opportunity for Hoy to feed Raquel Rodriguez at the top of the box. The shot was saved by Hopmeyer who all but kept Sky Blue from their first win of the season.

Both of Orlando’s goals came from defensive mistakes. The first in the 32nd minute when Elizabeth Eddy threw her body in front of a shot which deflected and hit her arm. The referee made the call, awarded a penalty kick and was converted by Chioma Ubogagu. The second came late in the contest when a cross from Marisa Viggano deflected off of Gina Lewandowski for an own-goal.

Orlando escaped New Brunswick with their first win of the season and leave Sky Blue in a darker place with no answers to their dismal play. Next is a trip to Chicago on July 6th where Sky Blue will play a Red Stars team that has their sights set on leaping into playoff contention.

Sky Blue Remain Dismal with Loss to Royals on the Road

Posted on by Backline Soccer

All of the attention may be in France with the World Cup but NWSL’s regular season rolls on and Sky Blue FC continued their dismal play with a 1-0 loss to the Utah Royals on Saturday.

A long range shot from Amy Rodriguez in the 16th minute decided the contest for Utah. Rodriguez sprinted into a wide open midfield and blasted the ball past goalkeeper Didi Haracic who appeared to be surprised by the long-range power.

“I felt like the Jersey defense kinda set off me a little but,” said Rodriguez post-match. “I just took my space, head up, and thought I could go for it. I honestly didn’t think I could score from there.”

Haracic had a busy day in net, stopping an early free kick attempt by Vero Boquete and giving Sky Blue a chance to grab the momentum. They did put up a bit of a fight before the second half when Nicole Barnhart of the Royals was forced to make a tough save on Raquel Rodriguez’s free kick. 

“For the most part our backline was very organized,” said Barnhart. “The chances they got were mostly from outside the 18, nothing too close to the goal. Our backline was willing to put their bodies on the line a couple of times and block a few dangerous chances that they did get.”

The loss drops Sky Blue to a woeful 0-6-2, 11 points off of the playoff pictures and no signs of improving this campaign. Despite signing Carli Lloyd last season, the team was only able to grab one win but it doesn’t seem like they’ll be able to do much better in 2019.

Meanwhile, Utah is looking strong with their second win in three games and just one point back of the Washington Spirit for the top spot in the standings. They’ll have that form put to the test next week as they travel to Portland to play the Thorns.

All Play and No Goals Makes Sky Blue an Exciting Team

Posted on by RJ Allen

Sky Blue FC may not have unlocked the key to scoring goals and winning games yet in 2019 but they have proven to be one of the more exciting teams after this weekends goalless draw to the North Carolina Courage.

Imani Dorsey provided the nail-biting moments for the team as she made incisive runs that broke the vaunted Courage defense. Good goalkeeping and luck kept her off the score sheet and Sky Blue of the win column after a well-played road game.

“I’m really proud of our effort,” said Dorsey after the game. “I think we are building each week and we are learning that we can weather the storms and also take it to teams.”

The team weather more than just an actual storm as North Carolina unleashed a barrage that nearly saw them take the lead. Had it not been for the lucky goal post, it could have been a very different game for Sky Blue.

“We bombarded Sky Blue for 25 minutes after the rain out,” said Courage couch Paul Riley. “I thought during that time we would get a goal, but the ball never really bounced our way at the end of the field.”

In the end it is a share of the points for both teams but feels like a major step forward for Sky Blue. The team traveled to the defending champions and were able to stitch together a performance that led to a result that may be far more impactful come the end of the campaign.

Now they will return home to play a Washington Spirit team that has not shown much since both sides met to start the season. It is a chance for Sky Blue to not just grab their first win, but maybe affirm that this year will not be a waste like 2018.

“I think we can diversify our attack a little bit more,” said Dorsey. “The chances we are getting on goal are quality and we are really creating opportunities for ourselves. I’m happy for us.”

Sheridan Playing Too Well for Sky Blue

Posted on by RJ Allen

You may not have noticed, because Sky Blue FC is in their unfortunately usual form, but Kailen Sheridan is playing incredibly well. The superhuman goalkeeper for Sky Blue did everything humanly possible last week against the Houston Dash to keep her team in the game, only to have her own defense produce the play that led to their second consecutive loss in 2019.

Sheridan, a Canadian international, joined Sky Blue in 2017 and has made 20-plus appearances in each season she has played. Despite the team not being incredibly competitive over that stretch, she has proven herself to be an asset and finally made her way into the international first team in 2018 following an injury to Erin McLeod.

For an example of the difficulty Sheridan faced this past weekend, the Dash had 19 total shots with 11 of them on goal. She parried all but one, which was a result of a defensive error in the final 10 minutes. Sheridan was able to stop the one-on-one attempt but her own defense deflected a Sofia Huerta shot into the net. Despite showing an ability to stop just about everything else before this, was unprepared to have to stop her own team’s chances as well.

The frustration showed on Sheridan’s face. Sky Blue has mustered little offensively and the team’s best player, Carli Lloyd, missed a penalty earlier in the game that would have at least seen Sky Blue share the points.

Sheridan has played too well to be left in obscurity like this. Continuing to play on a team that has been ravaged both on and off the field may hurt her future chances as a starting keeper for the Canadian National team.

For now she will need to continue as a force for futility and hope that Sky Blue match her intensity in the games to come to dig themselves out of a situation that started some time ago

Song Remains the Same for Sky Blue to Start 2019

Posted on by RJ Allen

If fans of Sky Blue FC were hoping for a spark to distract from the off-season craziness they didn’t get it on Saturday when the team dropped two second half goals to the Washington Spirit in a 2-0 loss. The game was eerily similar to many of their 2019 games where the midfield was erratic and chances at goal were few.

Not too much blame can be put on head coach Denise Reddy. Her team had difficulty signing draft picks in the and the constant state of flux around the team may be making it impossible to stay focused on soccer. However, the tactics could have been altered against a Washington team that had their own problems in 2018. Instead it was much the same as Sky Blue suffered from mental lapses at key moments of the game.

“There are so many things that are different,” said Washington Spirit captain Andi Sullivan when describing the week one winners. “So many new faces, coaching staff is different, everything is different. So on the field, it feels like a totally different team and it’s a fresh start.”

That quote may sting both fans and players on Sky Blue who see many of the same issues from 2018. Washington made significant stride to avoid their horrid campaign, yet Sky Blue seems to be on the trajectory towards another disappointing run.

It is just week one. However it is difficult to separate the issues of last year from what plagued the team on the field against the Spirit on Saturday. In fact, it could be stated that Sky Blue has adopted many of DC’s issues quite literally. Three out of the five players brought in this off-season where from the Spirit last year.

Going into this week’s game against Houston, Sky Blue’s home opener, the search for progress will be paramount. A result of some kind would be optimal but a sense of growth and optimism is what is sorely needed.

Backline Chat: The NWSL is back!

Posted on by RJ Allen

Charles Olney (@olneyce): Welcome to the first Backline chat of the 2019 NWSL season. We have four matches under our belts, and a lot of material to cover. To kick things off, let’s stay big picture. Did anyone see anything this weekend that changed their expectations for the year? Or is the sample size still too small to draw any conclusions?

Allison Cary (@findingallison): Too small, for me. Everything I can comment about this weekend, I can also blow off as a bad game. Or a good one

RJ Allen (@TheSoccerCritic): It looked very Week 1 of the season to me. But I do think Portland and Houston were stand outs for me so far in this season. Both looked better in some ways already than their 2018 form.

Luis Hernandez (@radioactivclown): It’s still early. Most teams looked to still be in preseason mode. I felt Portland and Chicago looked the best while North Carolina was exactly what I expected.

Charles Olney: The closest I can say is that Orlando might be even worse than I was expecting. But that’s really only one the evidence of a single half. And as Allison says, anyone can have a bad half. Still, it was a REALLY bad half.

Luis Hernandez: The second half was better. I’ve watch Orlando a bit in the preseason and I know what Skinner wants to instill. It’s going to take time.

Allison Cary: I feel like the Houston game is one they would have lost in the past. Granted, they almost choked. But it meant something to me that they didn’t.

RJ Allen: Houston played like a team with a plan and the ability to (mostly) complete that plan. Which is an upgrade for them.

Allison Cary: Exactly @rjallen, completely agree.

Charles Olney: I feel like Houston did a lot to push off the unlucky loser dynamic last year, when they actually got results in lots of games that (to my eyes) they shouldn’t have. But I agree with Allison that there was something specific about those final minutes that felt different. There was definitely an intensity, combined with a joyfulness, in the Houston players post match. They knew they played well, and felt good about being able to repeat it.

Luis Hernandez: I feel better about Houston and less so for the Reign. That team can’t afford more injuries. As for the Dash, I still think they can do better but I was pleased.

RJ Allen: I do wonder if Washington looked better or if Sky Blue are just somehow worse. More matches are needed there, for sure.

Charles Olney: To dial in a little bit, let’s talk through each match briefly. Starting with North Carolina-Chicago. It was a rematch of last year’s semifinal (the #DrainageDerby), and North Carolina picked up where they left off. But Chicago managed to hang onto a draw. What were people’s thoughts there?

RJ Allen: North Carolina’s whole MO is to take a bunch of shots and have a few land. They looked a bit rusty which happens early in a season. Plus having McCall Zerboni not look 100% yet changes how that midfield plays. She is really what drove them forward.

Allison Cary: I thought it was North Carolina’s game to lose. After such a dominant season, not being able to get three points out of your home opener isn’t exactly where you wanted to start. But credit to Chicago for going toe-to-toe with them.

Luis Hernandez: I think North Carolina could have been more sharp in the attack, and if they had cleaned that up they could have beaten the Red Stars.

Charles Olney: This very much felt like a game that NC dominated – and I fully expected them to do their normal thing of reeling off two or three goals around the 60th minute. But they didn’t, and Chicago actually ended up with the final great chance. I do think that was more to Carolina being unable to put them away than any special performance from them.

But from Chicago’s perspective, getting a point away to North Carolina, in a game they didn’t actually play that well, is hardly a bad way to start the season.

Allison Cary: Yeah, I’m happy if I’m Chicago.

RJ Allen: That is the magic of Sam Kerr.

Luis Hernandez: However, I felt the Red Stars came in with a smart game plan and Chicago was able to get a result. Taking points from the Courage at Cary is going to be a win for any team.

Charles Olney: I do sort of disagree there. I don’t think Chicago really had a great game plan. The Courage ran right through them most of the game and they depended a lot on excellent performances from the keeper and center backs. Which…it succeeded, I guess, and maybe there wasn’t any better option available. But I don’t think it was a successful game plan. But we’ll have to see them with a full strength team to really draw any conclusions, I think.

Charles Olney: Okay, the other Saturday game was Washington-Sky Blue. In the matchup of the two bottom teams from last year, Washington managed to find a win. How much of that was due to improvements on their end, and how much was due to Sky Blue’s continued problems?

RJ Allen: 40% improvements and 60% Sky Blue being terrible.

Charles Olney: I’ll admit this is one that I’ve still only seen the first half of. But at least there, the quality on both sides was still pretty lacking. But Washington at least seemed to be reasonably coherent, and occasionally exciting. It was, as usual, hard to even tell what Sky Blue thought they were doing.

RJ Allen: Sky Blue just looked bad. And I’m not sure there is anything that can be done at this point that isn’t new ownership or moving the team to fix it. A lot of the changes are a bit like putting lipstick on a pig.

Charles Olney: You do have to wonder about a team coming straight out of preseason, when they’ve had a month to talk about their approach and style, with no particular idea of how to play. And a coach whose postgame comments make clear that she doesn’t have a vision, either. That’s bad, no matter how you dress it up.

Allison Cary: Neither team really looked “good.” I feel like they’re gonna be hard to judge until they go up against other opponents, but if I’m Sky Blue I’m pretty terrified.

Luis Hernandez: The Washington/SkyBlue game was really hard to watch, and I’m not taking Yahoo Sports stream.

Charles Olney: We’ve spent a lot of time on these chats feeling sad about Sky Blue, so let’s turn our attention to the positive side. Do people see this Washington with a real chance to break out from the bottom tier? Or not? Or, again, still too soon to know?

Luis Hernandez: I can’t say too much against the Spirit since they won. I’m reserving judgment on them until they play a game or two more.

Allison Cary: I think it’s too soon but… I’m not encouraged.

Luis Hernandez: It just isn’t an accurate indicator because of who they played.

Charles Olney: The Spirit have Utah next weekend, which could be a good match to tell us a lot about both teams. Or maybe will end up being another game that will just leave us scratching our heads for more data.

The one thing I’ll say for the Spirit is that, whatever the history behind Burke as a coach (which I continue to think has not been taken nearly seriously enough by the team), he seems to be pretty popular at the moment with the players.

Allison Cary: Yeah, I’m not really a fan but I guess I’ll give him a chance to change my mind.

Charles Olney: The real test will be when things go poorly for a while, so it’s absolutely something to keep our eyes on.

Charles Olney: Okay, turning to Sunday’s games, the first was Orlando-Portland. As we’ve already mentioned, the first half was very good for Portland and very not good for Orlando, but the second was much more even. Thoughts on what that tells us?

I’ll start with the controversial statement that Tobin Heath looked very very good, which is a good sign for the US this summer, but a bad sign for other NWSL teams.

Luis Hernandez: It’s going to be a rough year for the Pride. Portland was Portland. Very good. Talented. Deep.

RJ Allen: Orlando is not a good soccer team and hasn’t really been since they were founded. For a team that has some of the best players in the world it is not a good sign. I understand it takes time to build a team and with a new coach it takes more. But they do not have 1-20 a good or solid roster.

Allison Cary: Even if they aren’t as bad as they were in the first half, Orlando is not gonna be able to compete with the top teams in this league.

Charles Olney: In some ways, I wonder if that great run at the end of 2017 actually ended up hurting the Pride overall. I think it’s pretty clear on the evidence of the past few years that this roster isn’t actually a world-beating group, but for a couple months they just looked that way. But because they had that success, they maybe stuck with the plan longer than might have otherwise happened.

Luis Hernandez: Orlando had to field supplemental players in the first match. What else do people need to know?

Charles Olney: That said, it was pretty clear this offseason that things needed changing, and they didn’t change much, so maybe not.

Allison Cary: Yeah, they didn’t fix their problems from last year. Even with a new head coach, they needed to do more. It’s gonna be a long year.

Luis Hernandez: The main problem from last year was that they underachieved.

Charles Olney: I do think there’s space in this squad to set things up for the next few years, in anticipation of the team that will come after Morgan and Marta leave. But it may be a bit of a slog.

RJ Allen: The league wants Orlando to be a good team. They might even need Orlando to be a good team. So I hope they can get it together.

Luis Hernandez: I know sports isn’t about patience but that’s exactly what everyone will need to have for the Pride. The roster isn’t even complete.

RJ Allen: That makes it so much worse though.

Luis Hernandez: And look at the first ten matches for Orlando, it’s brutal. Hi. Let’s play Portland at home then travel to North Carolina then to the Reign in one week.

Charles Olney: For Portland, any other thoughts? They looked good, certainly. Better than I was expecting for them out of the gate. I do really worry about what they’ll be able to do during the World Cup, but if they can play this well outside of that window it may not matter.

RJ Allen: I do think they dip a bit during the World Cup but I think they will still end up in the playoff picture and end strong.

Allison Cary: They looked impressive, albeit with very little resistance.

Luis Hernandez: Yeah, I wanted to call out Kling for a dirty foul on Morgan that didn’t get called.

Allison Cary: Yeah, that was a bad missed call.

Charles Olney: I think we’re all pretty sick of rough play going uncalled. This was just one more example.

RJ Allen: A lot of players in the league play to whatever level of reffing there is. Kling is one of them. If they let her get away with murder, she and a lot of other players will go for it.

Luis Hernandez: The Thorns need to grab all the points while they have their starters. They will make the playoffs. I didn’t think they would until Sunday.

RJ Allen: Can we talk about the surprise front runner for best match of the week now?

Charles Olney: Absolutely. In the final game of the weekend, Houston drew with Reign FC. I was able to make it up to Houston for this one, and it was one of the most enjoyable games I’ve attended in a long time. We’ve already talked a bit about Houston, but any further thoughts there, or about the Reign?

Allison Cary: Injuries suck

RJ Allen: Two subs for two hurt players in quickly is going to hurt any team. I think Seattle handled it about as well as you could.

Allison Cary: Yeah, especially considering who they lost and who was already out.

Charles Olney: I’ve got a full post coming up on the site about this game, so I won’t repeat myself too much here. But the main point I do want to hit is that I saw qualities from both of these teams that helped answer some of the lingering questions I had about them.

RJ Allen: Houston had 8 shots on goal. 8! And they were good chances too.

Charles Olney: Houston actually possessed the ball really well, which is a huge change from last year. They also pressed well, which is different, and gives them a new angle. Those suggest a team who isn’t just hanging on. They think they’re good enough to outplay the opposition. That’s great.

For the Reign, the first half was really rough, but the second half showed that they should be very good again. Even accounting for injuries, and for the strange poor play from Theresa Nielsen. They’ve got a real player in Darian Jenkins. They’ve got a potential replacement for what they’ve traditionally gotten from Rapinoe (playmaking from the wings drifting inward) in Shea Groom. They have real depth in the defense, with McNabb and Celia both performing well. But oh boy do they need to get Fishlock back and/or need better performances from Andrews and Kellond-Knight.

RJ Allen: Charles took the words right off my keyboard.

Luis Hernandez: The game I felt was officiated well. I don’t give credit when that happens but I kind of feel like I need to since I’ve been bashing the refs in Orlando.

RJ Allen: Also maybe have Allie Long take the Seattle PKs?

Allison Cary: Yeah that PK from Taylor was… not good.

Charles Olney: Okay, we’ll wrap up with the conversation about matters ON the pitch there. But let’s also take a moment to discuss everyone’s favorite topic: streaming. How was the experience using Yahoo for the first time?

RJ Allen: My Roku played the Yahoo app without issue. The only problem was the steams on day 1 being switched and then switched back.

Luis Hernandez: I had difficulties casting to my TV but I could watch on my laptop. I didn’t try to use the mobile app

Allison Cary: I just watched on my laptop. It was fine.

RJ Allen: Chromecast doesn’t allow Yahoo steams to be cast, so I’ve been told.

Charles Olney: Everything also basically worked for me. I do have some nitpicks: the streams swapping, some difficulty actually finding the streams on the app, technical issues causing problems with the replays (both during the broadcast, and with attempts to watch the streams after the match was over), and the obligatory name-flubs and other commentary issues. But it’s far better than the go90 rollout. And we heard some nice new voices in the broadcasts, too.

Luis Hernandez: I wasn’t expecting Dan on the broadcast.

RJ Allen: Having someone with as much woso knowledge as him back, was nice.

Luis Hernandez: I’m going to try the other options as the matches come up. Or invest in a Roku.

RJ Allen: Roku’s are the best.

Charles Olney: On the whole, it sounds like our experiences were okay, though there could always be improvements. I certainly would like to see more and better options for streaming, casting, and watching. It continues to frustrate me that the experience on the league website is clearly superior to the official one through a huge tech company. But que sera.

RJ Allen: VPNs are good my friends.

Charles Olney: Alright, any thoughts on the matches coming up this week? We’ve got North Carolina and Orlando tonight, and four more games on the weekend. Any that particularly catch your eye?

Luis Hernandez: I’m looking forward to seeing Utah.

Allison Cary: Orlando is gonna get killed.

Luis Hernandez: Which match Allison?

RJ Allen: Both.

Charles Olney: Both.

Allison Cary: I meant NC, but both.

Charles Olney: I actually would be a little surprised if they lose both. But not that surprised.

Luis Hernandez: I think they’ll fare better in Tacoma.

Charles Olney: To me, Chicago-Portland looks like the game of the week, and could give us a real sense of where those teams stand at this point. But I also am excited about Utah and Washington, as a game with two teams that have some potential to make big improvements this year facing off.

RJ Allen: I’m just glad the NWSL is back and we can talk soccer weekly.

Allison Cary: Amen

Charles Olney: RT @rjallen

Luis Hernandez: Are we expecting a Chicago win at home or a Portland win on the road. RJ picked a draw.

RJ Allen: Spoilers!

Allison Cary: Portland win. Because why not.

Charles Olney: Draw seems like a fair call. I wouldn’t be surprised at any result, though.

Luis Hernandez: I expect Chicago to find a way to win.

I also expect Kerr to get fouled like it was going out of style.

Allison Cary: Fair prediction.

Charles Olney: Alright, with that we’ll call it a wrap for this week. Thanks to everyone for joining us. And as always, feel free to hit me any of us up on twitter with questions or comments.