Tag: Western New York Flash

Great Moments In the NWSL: The Flash Face The Thorns in the 2016 Playoffs

Posted on by RJ Allen

It was destined to be a great match in Portland. With over 20,000 fans stuffed into Providence Park, the Portland Thorns were hoping for a smooth road to the championship match. They had won the Supporters Shield with 12 wins and 41 points, just edging out the Washington Spirit. No NWSL team had yet won the Shield and the championship in the same season; the Thorns were looking to be the first. 

Meanwhile, the Western New York Flash came into the match as the underdog. They finished the season fourth on the table with 32 points, barely holding off the Seattle Reign to qualify for the playoffs. While they had looked good at various times throughout the season, and had remained within the playoff bracket for most of the year, it was going to be a tough task to take down the Shield winners.

As soon as the match kicked off, fan predictions started to fall into place. The Thorns had an excellent chance within the first minute of the match. Sabrina D’Angelo—the goalkeeper for the Flash—came out to clear the ball and botched it. Thankfully for the Flash, Mewis ran in and provided the clearance. It was a close call for Western New York. The message was clear: these teams weren’t fooling around.

The game broke open in the 16th minute. After a long throw-in from Jess McDonald, the ball bounced around in the 18-yard box before finding the foot of Sam Mewis. She slammed the ball into the back of the net and much to everyone’s surprise, the Flash took an early 1-0 lead.

But the scoring was far from over. The Flash found their second goal of the match when Jess McDonald crossed the ball into the 18-yard box. She connected with Makenzy Doniak, who headed the ball into the back of the net for Western New York’s second goal. 

The Flash didn’t have long to celebrate. One minute later, the Thorns sent a long ball down field. Christine Sinclair turned with the ball, beating her defender, and with one step shot the ball into the corner of the net. To make matters worse for the Flash, head coach Paul Riley made physical contact with the fourth official after the Thorns’ goal and was ejected from the game. With their ringmaster sent off and their clean sheet forfeited, the Flash finished the half with a 2-1 lead and a determination to hold on. 

The Flash had a couple of good shots early in the second half, but Thorns keeper Michelle Betos kept them off the scoreboard. She made a couple of incredible saves, showing why she was considered one of the best in the league. Still, it wasn’t enough to just keep the Flash out; Portland still needed at least one goal to force extra time—two if they wanted to win in regulation. 

In the 78th minute, the Thorns got what they needed. Tobin Heath sent a long ball into the box on a free kick for the Thorns. D’Angelo came out to get the ball, but she didn’t get control. The ball bounced around in the box before falling at the feet of Emily Sonnett, who gave Portland their equalizer. 

At the 90th minute, the match was still tied 2-2. That meant 30 more minutes of play. And regulation was nothing compared to what was waiting in extra time.

In the 98th minute, the Flash found their third goal of the match. Similar to their first goal, the ball came off of a long throw-in from Jess McDonald. Mewis then flicked the ball over to Lynn Williams. The 2016 Golden Boot winner kept the ball on the ground, but got enough power to slide it past a few defenders and past the fingertips of Michelle Betos. The Flash now had a 3-2 lead. 

But that wasn’t the last time we saw the Mewis-Williams combination. Six minutes later, the Flash came charging down the field with Sam Mewis in the middle. She passed the ball to Williams in the box, who was quicker than her defender. She sent the ball into the back of the net for her second goal of the match and the Flash’s fourth. Providence Park was silent. 

Once again, the Thorns bounced back quickly. Just a few minutes later, Portland defender Meghan Klingenberg sent the ball into the 18-yard box. It bounced off the head of Dagny Brynjarsdottir and landed in front of Horan, who slotted the ball back for Portland’s third goal of the match. Horan immediately picked up the ball and ran back to the line. The Thorns still had a lot of work to do.

In one of the final plays of the game, the Thorns nearly found their equalizer. Sonnett sent a desperate long ball towards the Flash goal.  D’Angelo tried to punch it out, but she missed. Horan got her head on the ball, and nearly put it away, but Abby Dalhkemper cleared it off the line. A few seconds later, the final whistle blew. 

Seven goals. Six yellow cards. A head coach ejected from the match. The Western New York Flash defeated the regular season champs 4-3 and went on to win the 2016 NWSL Championship. In the offseason, they would be sold to an ownership group in North Carolina and transformed into the North Carolina Courage.

In 2017, the tables would turn, when the Courage made it back to the championship only to lose to—you guessed it—the Portland Thorns. 

NWSL Releases Home Opener Schedule

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

Well, wait no longer.

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

Other matches during Opening Weekend include:

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

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

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

Other home openers during Week Two:

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

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

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

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

She Saved Three: Three Thoughts on the Western New York Flash Championship

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Second Coming

In the first part of this decade we saw the raise of a young forward who had speed, grit and something indescribable about her. I don’t quite remember what I thought the first time I saw Alex Morgan play, but I imagine it was something like what I felt watching Lynn Williams’ performance in the post-season this year. Granted, the National and NWSL stages are wildly different in terms of size and impact, but with her play this year Williams has proven that talent is not confined to just the largest platforms.

Watching Lynn Williams play was magnificent. Only her second year in the NWSL, and already she plays as if she was made for the sport, as if she was created to play the kind of soccer that comes with the pressure of being the league’s tops scorer. The pressure?  It doesn’t even seem to register. 

Did she have moments of quiet, long stretches of minutes when she was not the focus of play? Yes, almost all players have those moments in games. And even more in a game situation where both sides played 120+ minutes in their semifinal matches just days before. 

Throughout the 2016 season, Williams and her teammate Jess McDonald formed what might be one of the greatest forward partnerships a player or team could wish for.  Between them, their stats include 21 goals and 12 assists during their 1650 minutes of play (out of a possible 1800). What they were able to do together might be go down in NWSL history as one of the best pairings of all-time, joining the ranks of Holiday/Rodriguez and Fishlock/Little, if, of course, they can keep this up for another season.

I will forward to see what she does when the USWNT jersey is on her back.

A Narrative of Loss

One of the points that members of the Western New York Flash returned to repeatedly over the championship weekend was the fact that their season had initially been discounted by the media.

Paul Riley was frank and amused by it, calling out media reps for it during the pre-game press conference on Saturday. In the post-game press conference, MVP Sabrina D’Angelo noted that the team had adopted that narrative as a sort of inspiration for their season, the chance that they would be able to write their own story because of it. And one Flash player reportedly laughed after the game, saying “They said we’d be ninth!” while celebrating their win.

Being the underdog, and the freedom it gave the Flash in determining their own story, might be why the Western New York Flash won this game. The power that comes from being united together behind a narrative of powerlessness imposed upon them from an outside source might have inspired Lynn Williams to put just a little more reach on her jump when she put the game tying header past Wys in the last seconds of stoppage time. Maybe there is magic in everyone doubting and you and, in believing against all odds you can climb the mountain with a boulder on your back.

Maybe the magic is in hearing the odds being stacked against you, and deciding not to listen.

She Saved Three

I’ve been thinking about the NWSL final for almost a week and that is what I come back to time after time: Sabrina D’Angelo saved three penalty kicks.

And not only did she save three penalty kicks, but she saved two penalty kicks taken by seasoned national team level players Ali Krieger and Diana Matheson. The third against Tori Huster, an NWSL veteran.

This might be one of the greatest penalty kick performances of a goalkeeper at the club level in living memory. She didn’t benefit from players just missing their penalty kicks while she stood in goal. 

She saved them.

It’s said that you depend on your goalkeeper to save one penalty kick and all your players to hit theirs. But Sunday night, D’Angelo did more than anyone could have ever hoped to depend on her for.

And for her performance? She was awarded the 2016 NWSL Championship MVP trophy.

Which, to much amusement, she dropped as she headed into the press conference with Riley and Flash captain Abby Erceg.

But when it counted? When her hands had to be rock solid?

She saved three.

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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.

 

[table id=2 /]

[table id=3 /]

 

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

Who would win? East or West?

The Future of the USWNT is in the NWSL: Offense

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

Center Midfield

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

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

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

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

Winger

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

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

Forward

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

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

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

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

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

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.