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Buy our scarves and more merch at the xOG store now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW2" to get 50% off an annual membership! The final of the USWNT's cold, unpleasant friendlies against Japan concluded on a high, with a close-to-A-team squad taking down the Nadeshiko 3-0 in Commerce City, Colorado. Was Japan held back by altitude and sub-optimal personnel choices? Is Rose Lavelle the preferred option to defend from the front with Sophia Wilson? Did any player's stock rise higher than Kennedy Wesley's? The guys reflect on a week of highs and lows for the Stars & Stripes, and what comes next when they face Brazil in June. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy our scarves and more merch at the xOG store now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW2" to get 50% off an annual membership! Emma Hayes rotated heavily when the USWNT headed up to Seattle on a cold, rainy, windy Tuesday evening, and lost 1-0 to a Japan who just looked better, especially without the ball. What are the lessons here? What should we expect in Colorado on Friday? The guys ponder a tricky performance and its stakes for the World Cup in 2027. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy our scarves and more merch at the xOG store now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW2" to get 50% off an annual membership! The U.S. women's national team got past Japan 2-1 on a cold, wet Saturday in San Jose, and this might portend a lot for the World Cup knockout stage in 14 months' time. The guys try to determine what looked good, what needed work, and whether Emma Hayes is committed to this group going forward, or if there are some positions that can still be challenged for. (Yes, this is mostly about Lindsey Heaps.) Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy our scarves and more merch at the xOG store now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW2" to get 50% off an annual membership! The three-game week so early in the NWSL season did a number on many teams, especially ones that traveled. After the guys round up the weekend's slate—including Eric being pitchside for the Denver Summit's record-breaking home opener—they dig into the top-of-the-table clash between Angel City and the Houston Dash. Are these teams really good? What has Houston changed since last year? What are Angel City doing well and what's smoke and mirrors? Early-season weirdness abounds! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Get exclusive xOG merch now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW1" to get 50% off an annual membership! Wait, WHAT?!? The Portland Thorns beat the Seattle Reign 2-0 in their Cascadia Rivalry home opener, but did it playing with only nine players for 40 whole minutes. This is unprecedented for a number of reasons. After whipping around the rest of the league (where wind, red cards, and a host of other silliness drove results), the guys try to figure out what signal can be pulled from the noise of a raucous derby that saw the shorthanded squad take home all three points. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get exclusive xOG merch now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW1" to get 50% off an annual membership! After months of rumors, speculation, and journalistic teases, Catarina Macario has finally made the move to the NWSL, joining her hometown San Diego Wave for a record-breaking five-year, $8 million contract. How does she help the Wave? What is still left to be done for San Diego to remain a contender? The guys ponder it all. Plus, Eric shares his wild weekend hitting three NWSL games in three days, including the Boston Legacy's inaugural home opener at a cold and windy Gillette Stadium. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! Two Championship titles in three years. Are Gotham on their way to a dynasty? Maybe, if they can win the big one without squeaking into the playoffs. Jenna Tonelli of Sports Illustrated joins the guys to make sense of the arrivals of young prospects Jordynn Dudley and Andrea Kitahata, and how the roster can stay balanced while improving on their goalscoring record. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! RECORDED BEFORE THE PENELOPE HOCKING TRANSFER The Kansas City Current put up the greatest regular season campaign in NWSL history last year. And then Katie Stengel knocked them out of the first round of the playoffs at the death of extra time. There's still one mountain yet to climb for this group, and they'll attempt it with a new head coach, Chris Armas. Not only that, they'll add yet another megaweapon in attack, Croix Bethune. Was the cost of Claire Hutton worth it? Cindy Lara of KC Soccer Journal and The Tea(L) offers her thoughts on where things in Kansas City stand, and if the Current are favorites to repeat as Shield winners. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! The Portland Thorns nabbed third place and a semifinal berth in 2025, all without Sophia Wilson and Morgan Weaver. Then, they fired head coach Rob Gale. In at the last minute comes former Tottenham Hotspur gaffer Robert Vilahamn. Out goes midfield maestro Sam Coffey. Not much offseason happened beyond that. Will the returns of Wilson and Weaver overpower the team's midfield deficiencies? Phuoc Nguyen of Stumptown Footy walks the guys through the thinking of owner Lisa Bhathal Merage and GM Jeff Agoos, and what realistic expectations should look like. (Though Sarah Lowdon didn't get the permanent job, we've decided to leave in a lot of our discussion surrounding Lowdon's coaching work in setting up the 2026 Portland Thorns.) Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! Some major contributors will be absent from the Orlando Pride's 2026 roster, and not too many players have come in to replace them. So how does Seb Hines keep the team performing at top-4 levels? Abigail Segel of Defector and The IX chats with the guys about the changing vibes of the group, and the quality that still remains in their ranks. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! No team overperformed their xG more than the Seattle Reign last season. What's more, they only brought two new players into the roster. How can they hope to make it back to the playoffs? Kari Anderson of Yahoo! Sports joins the guys to piece together Mia Fishel's role, and whether the suite of promising youth talent can build on the successes of 2025. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! The San Diego Wave under Jonas Eidevall are possession monsters. But with an all-Brazilian front three of Dudinha, Ludmila, and Gabi Portilho, will transition and directness work their way into the Wave's tactics? And how will they handle a largely new backline? Bridie O'Toole of Busy Watching Women's Soccer talks to the guys about San Diego's new identity, and how even only four seasons of history has been largely moved on from. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! Racing Louisville finally broke the ninth-place curse, and nabbed their first-ever playoff spot along with Bev Yanez named Coach of the Year. Several new faces join the ranks, but is there anyone who can help push Racing back up the hill to the postseason? Bekki Morgan of Butchertown Rundown and NWSL This Week takes the guys through the new signings, whether the likes of Katie O'Kane and Kayla Fischer can maintain their breakout heights, and what the club does in the absence of Ary Borges and Janine Sonis. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! The North Carolina Courage have a new head coach in Mak Lind, and a new face of the midfield after Denise O'Sullivan's departure. What is this team going to be now that the final vestiges of the old regime have departed? Dr. Meredith Shea joins the guys to marvel at Manaka Matsukubo, the arrival of Ally Schlegel, and if one of the most successful franchises in the NWSL can get back to the promised land. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! The Houston Dash were eerily quiet this offseason, and it's hard to separate the newly restarted sale process from only a handful of college signings coming in. Can they build on their respectable showing last year to make an honest playoff push in 2026? Dr. Meredith Shea talks to the guys about the potential and the pitfalls that await the Dash in the coming months. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! The Utah Royals have brought in some Japanese stalwarts like Narumi Miura and Miyabi Moriya, as well as Mexican attacking talent Kiana Palacios. But is that anywhere close to enough to get them to the playoffs? Catalina Bush of ASA Viz Hub chatted with the guys about the clear strategy behind Utah's roster construction, and how it likely won't be enough for respectability in 2026. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! Angel City are kind of exciting again! They sport one of the youngest rosters in the game, and with a full offseason, head coach Alex Straus is confident he can mold them into a winner. But are additions like Emily Sams and Ary Borges enough to weather any hiccups further up the field? Trebor Tracy of Angels on Parade joins the guys to talk about the state of the NWSL's loudest club as it gets ready for its fifth season. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! Bay FC weren't good last year, but they certainly weren't the second-worst team in the NWSL. After some major organizational shakeups—including a new head coach in Emma Coates—the club has added multiple impact players, the most important of which is Claire Hutton. Everything Bay Goals co-host Anna Daccache walks the guys through all the moves both on and off the field as Bay gear up for season three. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content! Sooooo how's the 1,000-day plan going? Chicago Stars FC have been one of the worst teams in the NWSL for three years running now, fluke 2024 playoff berth notwithstanding. They've shipped Ludmila to San Diego, and haven't brought in reinforcements. Lesley Ryder joins the guys to hunt for any signs of hope, and whether Laura Ricketts and Richard Feuz can be trusted to build a winner in the years to come. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Join Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content! The Denver Summit are like the Boston Legacy: they are an expansion team with no drafts for roster-building, a new precedent in the NWSL. Unlike Boston, they hired a longtime GM in the league, a head coach with top-flight American soccer experience, and a slew of league veterans to patrol the backline. But what about the rest of the roster? How do you build a team from scratch when all you have is $4 million to sign 26 players? Catalina Bush and Kieran Doyle-Davis of American Soccer Analysis join the guys to sort out Denver's strengths, weaknesses, and what can be reasonably expected of this unique women's soccer experiment. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! The Boston Legacy are arguably the greatest mystery in 13 seasons of the NWSL. Without any drafts to acquire talent—and with a young European sporting director focused on bringing new players into the league—we don't have many benchmarks against which to judge their potential. Boston Globe reporter Emma Healy came on the show to try and shake out what the Boston Legacy are as they stand on the precipice of their inaugural season. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy official xOG merch now! Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! The guys are knee-deep in season preview content, but they catch up with some news around the league, from the Thorns' hire of Robert Vilahamn as their new head coach, Aubrey Kingsbury's pregnancy, Gabi Portilho's transfer to the Wave, and the risible new docuseries, The Final Third. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! For the first time since she took over, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes didn't call in any uncapped players in this international window. Is she homing in on her core pool for World Cup preparations? The guys ponder who's in and who's out. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! Now that the dust has settled, the guys parse the mammoth Croix Bethune and Claire Hutton transfers for all involved. Who wins? Who loses? Where does this all leave the Kansas City Current? Plus, we catch up on a bunch of signings over the past three weeks. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! We're back! The guys once again closed the 2nd annual American Soccer Insights Summit in Houston over the weekend, and brought Houston Dash analyst Chloe Dhillon and ASA VizHub creator Catalina Bush to talk about the state of data in women's soccer from the public and private sides of the industry. Needless to say, there were plenty of insights to go around! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
TRIGGER WARNING: Beginning around the 42-minute mark, there's a discussion of ICE's execution of Alex Jeffrey Pretti. Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! RECORDED BEFORE EMMA HAYES' COMMENTS ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS We start off with the easy stuff: Trinity Rodman remains with the Washington Spirit. The guys break down all the nitty-gritty of her contract now that more details have come to light. Then, they marvel at the brazenness of NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman's comments to the press last week, and that she said the quiet part louder than any sports commissioner ever has before. Finally, after a quick analysis of the USWNT's 6-0 smashing of Paraguay at the weekend, we lament the lack of acknowledgment by U.S. Soccer and the players of the execution of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Akshay Easwaran of US Soccer joins the boys to talk about Glass Onion, their new package for synchronizing identifiers among soccer datasets. More info can be found at https://ussoccerfederation.github.io/glass_onion As always, enjoy the soccer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! RECORDED BEFORE CLAUDIA MARTÍNEZ NEWS First things first: Meghann Burke has offered news on the state of the union's grievances against the league! The bad news is it's gonna be awhile before anything is resolved. Then, the guys move on to signings. Denise O'Sullivan has moved to Liverpool. Macey Hodge has gone to Racing Louisville. Melissa Kössler and Maja Lardner offer good respective case studies on how to contextualize data in international transfers and college signings. But seriously, WHAT IS GOING ON IN SAN DIEGO??? Four starters have left the club in the last month, not to mention earlier departures of María Sánchez and Naomi Girma. Ludmila and KiKi Pickett have come in (and Trinity Byars should finally be available), but what is the state of the roster right now? Are things as bad as they were even in the post-Jill Ellis era? Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! The NWSL hot stove is officially lit! The headlines this week are Sam Coffey's transfer to Manchester City, with Lindsey Heaps coming the other way from France and signing with her hometown Denver Summit. What do these deals represent for the Thorns and Summit respectively? Did Portland get fleeced? Is Heaps the marquee signing on the field that she will be off the field? The guys dig into this, plus Emily Sams, Ary Borges, Savannah McCaskill, Kailen Sheridan, and many more. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at [email protected] Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
NOT A PATREON MEMBER? Use the code "XOG" to get a year's subscription for 50% off!!! The NWSL offseason is officially in full swing. Teams have given roster updates, and extensions/re-signings are being announced along with significant deals like Ally Schlegel's to North Caroli—oh, who are we kidding? There is only one story in the league right now, and it's one that will affect every other deal for the rest of the offseason no matter how it ends. Trinity Rodman was ready to re-sign with the Washington Spirit, until the league rejected the terms of the deal. The players union is now appealing the decision. How did we get here? Does the league have any defensible case? Should the union lose, what does that mean for the future of free agency in the NWSL, and of its ability to attract and retain top talent from all over the world? This story is nowhere close to done, so strap in! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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NOT A PATREON MEMBER? Use the code "XOG" to get a year's subscription for 50% off!!! The U.S. women's national team took down Italy 5-0 on aggregate across a window that saw the 26th and 27th players get their first caps under Emma Hayes, an all-time record for a U.S. head coach. What has 2025 meant for the USWNT, and how has it set themselves up for the next phase of their World Cup preparations? The guys also do a quick news roundup from the past two weeks, including the Rob Gale firing, the Hailie Mace and Jess Fishlock signings, and other bits and bobs. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fly Bats, fly! Gotham FC won their second NWSL title on Saturday, squeaking past the Washington Spirit 1-0 on a miracle goal from Rose Lavelle in the second half. Did the Spirit deserve to lose? Did Gotham deserve to win? What ultimately separated the two sides, how should they view their seasons as a whole? Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It was more than 90 minutes of dross, capped by a moment of magic: 2023 NWSL champs Gotham FC squeaked past 2024 champs Orlando Pride thanks to Jaedyn Shaw's free kick wizardry and little else. Neither team played well. How much does that inform Orlando's offseason outlook? How can Gotham find the juice to get past a peaking Washington Spirit in the Championship game? The guys muse over all of it. Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Washington Spirit are headed to their second straight NWSL Championship game on the heels of a commanding performance against a depleted Portland Thorns side. Were Washington good, or were Portland bad? What will the Thorns need to do in the offseason to get back to the playoffs? And what do Trinity Rodman's contract negotiations tell us about the state of the NWSL's ability to retain top talent? Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our second semifinal preview looks at the other two recent champs, Orlando and Gotham. Gotham has the better and deeper roster, but are they invincible? Orlando still has the core of their world-class defense, but can it slow down the likes of Jaedyn Shaw and Gabi Portilho? Will Esther be available from first whistle, or could she be a late-game changer? The guys tease out all the possible scenarios. Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The first of our two semifinal previews drills down on the Portland Thorns coming to Audi Field to try and force an upset on the Washington Spirit. The only trouble is that Washington now has the depth the Thorns are so sorely lacking. How can Olivia Moultrie and co. fight uphill against the most complete remaining attack in the NWSL playoffs? Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Everyone knew that the Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave could go any number of ways. But a raucous home crowd and a moment of magic from Olivia Moultrie and Reilyn Turner pushed Portland into the semifinals. How have the Thorns managed to get so far when so many key weapons haven't been available? What do the Wave need to do to keep their rejuvenated success going in the seasons to come? The guys tease it all out. Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
RECORDED BEFORE SARAH GORDEN'S STATEMENT ON ELIZABETH EDDY'S NEW YORK POST ARTICLE The U.S. women's national team logged three more friendlies on their way to the World Cup, and had a full spread of results. Should we get too down about the 2-1 loss to Portugal? Should we get too high about the 6-0 demolition of New Zealand? Or was this window about continuing to get burgeoning talent more playing time? The guys give you the lowdown. Plus, we discuss the late-breaking news about Seattle Reign head coach Laura Harvey's new coaching "strategy"! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Four more teams punched their tickets to the NWSL playoffs, while Racing Louisville and the North Carolina Courage are staring each other down. Meanwhile, the Orlando Pride grabbed an emphatic win on the road against a rotated Washington Spirit. What are we to make of the Pride's regression in 2025? How have they coped without Barbra Banda? And can they return to the Championship game in a tight playoff field? Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Visualizations by Catalina Bush for ASA Viz Hub Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Savannah DeMelo's collapse on Lumen Field on Sunday quickly became the most important story in the NWSL. DeMelo was responsive and alert before she was stretchered off the field, and thankfully, the league tried to learn from their poor handling of the Savy King incident by suspending the match. The guys offer some quick thoughts on DeMelo as a player, and what has made her special throughout her career. After the whiparound, the guys dive into Gotham FC's decisive 2-0 road win over the San Diego Wave. Can Gotham continue this rich vein of form, now that most of the attack is healthy and Jaedyn Shaw is among their ranks? What can the Wave do to stop the bleeding, aside from another swing of luck? Who can stake a claim to a top-four place by season's end? Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get exclusive bonus content! Watch Episode 1 of Anatomy of..., our new video series, and like/subscribe to our YouTube channel! Follow us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A very intense Labor Day shaped up for the NWSL. After the guys whip around the league, they drill down into Angel City's first-ever results against Bay FC, a 2-1 victory at BMO Stadium. Then, they explore Alyssa Thompson's likely transfer to Chelsea. What do we know right now? How likely was it that Thompson wanted the move? What makes this a good deal for Angel City? And what could make this a disastrous deal for the club? Join our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The NWSL acted semi-normal this week, so we can concentrate on the actual soccer. The guys whip around the league and touch on the Morgan Gautrat loan to Newcastle before examining Racing Louisville's 1-0 squeaker against the San Diego Wave. What have these two teams already accomplished this year, and what more can we expect from them in the weeks to come? Everything's coming up roses for Jonas Eidevall and Bev Yanez! Join our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
RECORDED BEFORE THE ALYSSA NAEHER - LIZBETH OVALLE INSANITY For the second week in a row, we do not have a featured game of the week. That's because external forces have pushed the soccer out of the spotlight. Both Kansas City - Orlando and Gotham - Houston experienced triple-digit heat indexes at kickoff, and for the third straight weekend, the NWSL saw more than half its fixtures end in draws, a first in league history. The guys dig into the league's handling of the CPKC Stadium fiasco, and how climate change could affect games for years to come. Join our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The NWSL is back! And boy oh boy not much happened, until everything did. The guys dissect the blockbuster transfer of Ally Sentnor to the Kansas City Current (01:48) then whip around the rest of the league (26:41) before hitting their featured game of the week, the Washington Spirit's 2-1 victory over the Portland Thorns. (34:28) There's tactics, and then there's Trinity Rodman scoring in her first game in four months. We wrap things up dissecting the other insane game of the weekend, Brazil's shootout defeat of Colombia in the Copa América final. (45:20) Join our Patreon for as little as $6/month and get exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The USWNT tore off a couple friendlies over the weekend, hammering the Republic of Ireland 8-0 across matches in Commerce City and Cincinnati. There were few learnings to speak of, but that doesn't mean the guys don't try to dig a few out. Most importantly: will anyone become the new left back? Anyone???? Join our Patreon to get all our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The U.S. women's national team put two more friendlies in the books. What can a 7-0 aggregate scoreline against China and Jamaica really tell us about the side, two years out from the 2027 World Cup? Has Phallon Tullis-Joyce grabbed the starting keeper job? Did Kerry Abello prove herself enough to be called back in? Could Alyssa Thompson even be the better option than Mallory Swanson on the left wing? The guys try to find sticky answers to all this and more (2:50). They also rant about the meanings and attendant absurdities of Alex Straus's arrival at Angel City, Jonatan Giráldez's departure for Lyon, Jessica Berman's and Michele Kang's DEI "gaffes", and the ugliness of Curt Johnson's hire by the Denver expansion franchise (31:20). Join our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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