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Now enjoying: “Modifications” by David Bowie.
“Time might change me, but I can’t hint time.”
I’m Emily Olsen right here with Meg Linehan and Steph Yang — welcome to Full Time!
NWSL Leaders: A high-stakes conflict in Kansas Metropolis
Two groups on the precipice of an NWSL document will battle it out this weekend. Whereas it’s very doable each might stroll away with one other recreation of their unbeaten streaks, tying the 2014 Seattle Reign, the match between the Kansas Metropolis Present and Orlando Satisfaction on July 6 may outdo the Independence Day fireworks.
The historical past: Within the 2014 season, the Reign went on a 16-game unbeaten streak en path to successful the NWSL Protect. In the present day? Each the Present and Satisfaction sit on 15-game unbeaten streaks on the high of the league desk and reached this level after large turnarounds from 2023.
- Orlando ended final yr in seventh place with a 10-1-11 document and -1 purpose differential.
- KC was in eleventh with an 8-2-12 document and -6 GD.
A number of elements led to every workforce’s flip of fortune, however each had been undeniably boosted by golden boot, MVP-contending, all-around scoring powers. Barbra Banda in Orlando and Temwa Chawinga in Kansas Metropolis have gone toe-to-toe within the league’s purpose scoring class. (We might have talked about this earlier than.)
After a two-goal weekend from Chawinga and one other tally from Banda, the leaders are tied at 11 objectives apiece. But when water hazards counted as a tiebreaker, Chawinga can be forward … or behind? … after she knocked a shot over the confines of CPKC Stadium into the Missouri River. (Don’t fear, somebody went in and fished out the league’s unofficial first river ball.)
One other angle of the primary river purpose in @thekccurrent historical past!
📺 @SportsonPrime pic.twitter.com/vPEiBZilRL
— Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 29, 2024
Additionally value noting: The Satisfaction and Present have taken barely completely different routes to get right here.
- Orlando has benefited from the fruits of longer-term efforts from normal supervisor Haley Carter and head coach Seb Hines to construct a aggressive roster, including Banda whereas additionally having fun with a rejuvenated Marta. The Satisfaction constructed on their mid-table 2023 marketing campaign and hit the bottom working this season.
- KC, in the meantime, has extra quickly ascended by bringing in former U.S. girls’s nationwide workforce coach Vlatko Andonovski, who went from maybe his lowest skilled interval following the 2023 World Cup to gleefully diving into his forte: the meat and potatoes of day-to-day membership administration. The Present additionally benefited from their very own high-profile signing of Chawinga, who leads in photographs and photographs on purpose, and is third total in assists with six.
If nothing else, Saturday could possibly be an unimaginable show from two of the very best forwards on the earth proper now. Watch it: 7:30 p.m. ET on ION.
Teaching Carousel: Time to fail and repair?
Per week after the San Diego Wave fired head coach Casey Stoney for the sake of the membership’s “ambition,” the Utah Royals adopted go well with by releasing head coach Amy Rodriguez and goalkeeper coach Maryse Bard-Martel. The Royals, who sit final within the league, additionally stated president Michelle Hyncik will depart the workforce to transition to a “new alternative” inside membership proprietor David Blitzer’s workplace. Some key info:
- Utah is 2-2-11 in league play.
- The workforce has a -20 purpose differential, scoring seven objectives and conceding 27.
- Most not too long ago, the Royals battled to a scoreless draw with the Portland Thorns, however the effort wasn’t sufficient to avoid wasting Rodriguez’s job.
Utah will begin recent with one recreation left, towards Seattle, earlier than the Olympic break. As an enlargement workforce with new homeowners, new teaching workers and new players, the one particular person on the membership with a number of years of NWSL expertise of their position was the gear supervisor, in keeping with Rodriguez. Final month, she joined Meg and Tamerra on the Full Time podcast and expressed the challenges of main an enlargement workforce.
Rodriguez didn’t get a lot time to determine it out. And whereas Stoney had extra of a runway in San Diego, her time was additionally as fast as a Bomb Pop melting on a sizzling summer season day within the grand scheme of issues.
We’ve seen loads of teaching modifications prior to now with the NWSL. For a really unlucky stretch, groups had been repeatedly firing workers for misconduct. And whereas that also occurs — together with this season with Houston Sprint assistant coach Matt Lampson — the pinnacle coach firings this yr have all gave the impression to be results-based.
These current strikes have made us surprise, although, whether or not feminine coaches are given the prospect to fail and repair. I’ll toss it over the Meg for extra on that …
Meg’s Nook: Is the NWSL harder on feminine coaches?
Each head coach is conscious of the precarity of their job, however this NWSL season is already one for the books with regards to groups choosing change. We’re solely about midway by way of, and we’re as much as three head coaches gone … and it seems like we nonetheless might see some extra earlier than the tip of the summer season.
With the information this week about Stoney and Rodriguez, although, I saved pondering again to an interview Steph did with former Boston Breakers head coach Lisa Cole (who’s now part of Emma Hayes’ USWNT technical workers) in 2019.
Cole stated then: “I simply suppose there’s completely different requirements for ladies. We’re let go simpler and it’s tougher for us to get employed.”
It’s not an ideal abstract of what’s occurred to this point this season — Mike Norris was the primary head coach to go after the Thorns’ tough begin, however he was additionally moved into a brand new position, not fired outright. Stoney and Rodriguez had been outright dismissed, and from the surface, the foundation issues with each the Wave and the Royals really feel extra roster-related than tied to choices by both supervisor. Utah struggled to signal any main worldwide expertise main as much as its inaugural season, and the Wave had a quiet offseason with none main additions till the Maria Sanchez commerce.
On the identical time, outcomes are outcomes. Rodriguez’s tenure ends in a 2-11-2 document, however I additionally anticipated extra loyalty to a former player. Stoney’s departure stays much more baffling as San Diego’s struggled to attain objectives this summer season. Contemplating her document, Stoney must be in excessive demand for her subsequent position, not less than — however Rodriguez may hit that wall Cole described with regards to getting employed once more.
On the finish of the day, the NWSL is again down to only three girls among the many 14 head coaches throughout the league proper now. That’s a tough stat.
Roster Ruminations: Alex Morgan’s Olympic snub and the passing of time
The introduction of Emma Hayes to the USWNT has been each a crucial change and an abrupt wake-up name.
As a lot as that is not the workforce that failed on the 2023 World Cup or 2021 Olympics (or 2016, for that matter), it’s additionally not the workforce that received the 2019 or 2015 World Cups. Or the one which clawed its strategy to gold on the 2012 Olympics. Actually, Hayes’ 18-player roster for Paris, plus 4 alternates, doesn’t characteristic a single Olympic gold medalist.
“Flip and face the unusual,” because the late, nice David Bowie as soon as sang — and few issues will likely be stranger than not seeing Alex Morgan star in a serious worldwide event, one thing she’s accomplished since 2011.
Now that the mud has settled, I hope we are able to agree: Whereas the preliminary shock of Hayes leaving the World Cup co-captain off the Olympic squad was fierce, it was an inevitable actuality primarily based on each Morgan’s present type and Hayes’ not-so-subtle transfer towards youth. This illustrates the primary level:
A barely deeper dive into the youth side:
- Hayes named the youngest Olympic roster for the USWNT since 2008, when the workforce received gold in Beijing.
- The present roster’s common age: 26.8, 4 years youthful than the workforce that went to Tokyo in 2021 and settled for bronze.
- The typical caps per participant in 2021 was 111; for this workforce, the common is barely 58.
Regardless that Morgan’s omission is sensible, it doesn’t take the sting away. So on this, the day earlier than her thirty fifth birthday, not less than we are able to relive a few of Morgan’s finest highlights on the worldwide stage. 🥹
Full Time First Appears
Not enjoying games: The Olympics are inching nearer every single day. Exterior of the Morgan information, Hayes backed Korbin Albert as one of many midfielders to nab a coveted roster spot. The 20-year-old’s inclusion on the Olympic roster was not essentially a given, for each on- and off-the-field causes together with her earlier incidents of sharing anti-LGBTQ+ content material on her social media — one thing she later apologized for after stress from present and former gamers, in addition to followers. Elsewhere, defending champion Canada and Australia introduced their rosters for the event this summer season.
Making strikes: Manchester United’s woes proceed as England goalkeeper Mary Earps, who led the workforce to a World Cup closing look final yr, is transferring on. Earps has joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free switch, signing a two-year contract. The 2-time Finest FIFA Ladies’s Goalkeeper will certainly add some stability to PSG’s backline subsequent season. Jessy Parker Humphreys defined what the blunt break-up says about United.
International aspirations: Michele Kang’s rapidly rising dominance within the world recreation is not any secret. Since buying the Washington Spirit in 2022, Kang has purchased controlling stakes in Lyon and the London Metropolis Lionesses. And she or he’s not precisely slowing down. Final week, Kang’s Lionesses named former PSG boss Jocelyn Precheur as head coach and added ahead Kosovare Asllani. Katie Whyatt detailed the promise and pitfalls of an intriguing challenge.
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(High picture: Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA In the present day)
