Ah, the problems of not having the normal season:
Summer scheduling is an annual challenge for the NWSL. This summer’s Men’s Club World Cup includes games at three NWSL team stadiums. There is another Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027, followed by the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
This USWNT is not optimal.
Lily looks positively European in the middle, not hogging the ball, knowing where teammates are and passing quickly to them. The rest were mainly ball-hogging (like Messi-wannabes) and failing (like AYSO 10 year-olds).
You want to play soccer AND have kids? Sorry. Go to America where they tolerate such things.
Thought this headline was funny, though:
Well, which is she, the former one or the current one? Abbott and Costello, help me out here!
NWSL wants a second division. No, not for pro/rel; just a minor league for development.
ESPN calls the US system a “pyramid.” More like layers of clouds that never touch each other.
Posted about the NWSL in the other thread, but I’ll post here as well:
Saw this:
Eight of the top 20 teams in the most recent Opta power rankings are from the NWSL – twice as many as any other league.
Not sure how these power rankings are determined if NWSL teams don’t play Euro teams.
Saw this:
NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Esther González, who won the 2023 World Cup with Spain and leads the NWSL this season with seven goals, prominently made the claim two years ago that every NWSL game is like playing in the Champions League, or against Barcelona. That is why she left Real Madrid for the NWSL.
Fun fact: Gonzalez is 32, so NWSL is also a retirement league.
Nice, two soccer players becoming moms this year, the perfect time for women’s soccer players to have kids: two years before the next WC.
My wife was just recounting a story of her having a job interview (in the early 1990’s) where the guy said, “there is some light travel, but I probably cannot offer you the job because you might want to start a family.” And, true enough, Euro Leagues still think this way. That means Mallory Swanson will probably never play in Europe, cuz kids.
Mallory has been out since the end of last NWSL season and chose just recently to announce pregnancy. Sophia hit out right away, getting married and pregnant (or vice versa, no judgment) less than a month apart. Interesting the differences in announcing. Wife and I told people as soon as we knew, which was, “I missed my period, I’ll pee on a stick, oh, look at that, (calling on phone) ‘Hi Mom, I’m pregnant!’”
Well, this will help deeper teams, who can rest players and still beat the crappy competition.
I mean, what are Confederation qualifiers for? Supposed to be an accomplishment to qualify for the World Cup.
Not a doctor IRL, but that sounds like a sudden cardiac arrest.
I haven’t seen the video, though
Women’s Champions League final tomorrow, on DAZN. Not sure if free, but should I waste time signing up for DAZN if I can’t watch for free, or, even better, watch a replay whenever I want?
Also on DAZN’s You Tube “channel.”
I think it’s ok.
Real problem is getting media attention, since the public (and the media) love a pretty face/body for a pic with an accompanying article. Some of the players are pretty, but they don’t seem to want to exploit it as past players have (Morgan nudely painted in S/I, for example). And good for them!
Maybe S/I will try to sell some swimsuits for expectant mothers. They like the beach, too.
Sort of a strange announcement given FIFA and the USSF haven’t said anything
Agree that this announcement is weird.
Um, is this a protest in support of Women’s soccer?
If so, it goes here.
Or a protest against the extremely high ticket prices?
If so, Club World Cup thread?
I meant to post it in CWC thread. Must have fat fingered
Oops:
Not sure where to put this, but it seems to affect women’s soccer the most:
In short, it is a free soccer development league for the MLS and the NWSL. maybe some Mexican teams, too.
Probably should cease being considered a professional pipeline and make college merely a place where students can play a sport whole going to college. Rules are too different (still counting down, unlimited subs, etc.), too many matches in too few months.
I can even imagine NCAA Soccer as a league where retired soccer players go to get an education while still playing, since there shouldn’t be rules against professionals playing. Cuz, many of them still need some kind of education after playing for 20+ years without one.
Meanwhile a great second-best-in-the-world tournament, Euro '25, will start on 7/2, with 16 of the top 30 teams in world ranking.
Hermoso, of unwanted kiss fame, left off of Spain, cuz old (35, plays in Mexican retirement league) and there are apparently seven better players at her position. That is depth.
Bump for W Euros.
And for Lily getting the recognition she deserves:
Iberian derbi today.
A milestone for women’s soccer: first £1 million transfer fee.