SoccerWise - Boston Legacy Hire First Coach, NWSL Midseason Reset & Contract Extensions + USWNT Camp

Episode Date: June 25, 2025

It is a big week in NWSL as we sit at exaclty the midway point of the season and head into the summer break with news breaking on and off the field. Jordan & David sit down to talk about the huge news around Boston hiring their first coach ever in Filipa Patão from Benfica. Then they run through the biggest result of the weekend Louisville's statemnt victory over Orlando, and finally they walk through the bubble players who need to shine this week for USWNT.6:53 Boston Legacy Hire First Coach From Benfica17:20 Louisville’s Bounce Back Statment Win25:35 Portland’s Injruy Woes Continue28:10 Midseason Reset28:30 Has KC Clinched The Shield?32:43 How Wide Open Is the Playoff Field?37:30 Giant Contract Extensions Across NWSL47:00 Last Chance For USWNT Bubble Players Soccerwise Live 2pm ET Every Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday on Youtube/Twitch/Twitter

Welcome everybody back to SoccerWise. David Goss and Jordan Angeley with you for another big show as Jordan continues to grind through 557 soccer games. It's the summer of soccer, but other people just say it's the summer of Jordan. I have heard people saying that, and it's weird that they have said that. Actually, I can't remember what it was. Someone, I don't look at Reddit.

I know there are people who go on Reddit and they look and see, they look at what people are saying about them commentary wise. But someone said something about some game and they were like, actually, where's Jordan Angeley? She's always willing to do a soccer game. Summer is true. And I thought that was funny because it does feel like I do the most and here I am doing the most. It has been fun on the outside because it feels like we're hanging out every day. I'm watching NWSL, I'm watching Club World Cup and you're on all of them.

It's been really fun. Honestly, I did not think I was going to get a shot at the Club World Cup and it has been, I've always dreamt of working a World World Cup, and I didn't foresee it being like this, but it has stretched me in a really good way and made me, I think, better. It's been really fun meeting new people, and everybody's in the same space, so it's a play pickup with some legends, pickup soccer with some legends this morning. Just all the little things. Not you though, because you don't play pickup.

I know. I told Goss yesterday, everybody listening, I told Goss yesterday, I don't play pickup. And then this morning I get on I said, you know what's funny is I actually just click pickup. It was really fun. So maybe I will play. Maybe I will play in Austin. Can I say that? I played on... Yeah, we're going to Austin. We don't have full details announced. We will hopefully have that done and fully rolled out to announce over the next week. But we will be live in Austin to do an event. Jordan will be with us.

Tom will be with us. We have some other really special guests who are going to be joining us as well. I played on Monday. I live in Miami. I'm in New York right now, so I played with my old co-ed team, which is actually named after my wife. And she is the namesake of our team, but she was not there. The name is AllMegansFriendsFC. That's a great name. She also made that name when she didn't know anyone on the team. She just they were like she started a team in her friends league, which is

like a nonprofit that he runs. So she started a team in her friend's league which is like a nonprofit that he runs. So she made a team and then he was like what's the name of the team? She's like I don't know. He's like just pick a name and that's what she picked out of nowhere. It's good. And so we all AMFFC. It says it on the inside of my wedding band. It says AMFFC. I love that. But I was supposed to come in as the good in the heat person, because it's like 101 degrees. False. There is no getting used to that. That's what I don't understand.

Like Club World Cup combo people like, oh, teams coming from South America. They're used to it. It's like, is anyone used to playing in a like in a swamp like atmosphere? No matter how many times you play in it, it is always hard. And even, you know, even the, like, we don't play at 3 PM. Like these 3 PM games are nonsense. I don't know why, I know why we did it, television. That's why we did it.

But that just can't be going forward, something that they do, especially next year during the World Cup. The games have to be later. The altitude thing though is real, right? Which is you do get used to altitude. Oh yeah, for sure. The first, I was just talking to Lindsay Heran.

There it is. Lindsay heaps about it. And the first time you get back and you train in altitude, it's like there's something that happens in your lungs where you almost can like – this is gross – but you can like taste your lungs widening and like breaking apart. It's like this – it almost is like a blood taste in your throat. Yeah. I get – I say metastasis.

Yes. Yes. And you get through that and then your lungs adjust and it gets better and it's such a benefit when then you have to go anywhere else in the world but those first couple of trainings you're just like it's so impressive it is utah's advantage which hasn't worked out so far this year it will be denver's advantage next year uh as well it has to be a part of not asking you this as a Denver person, but it has to be a part of your tactics, right? Yeah. I mean, the Rapids have had for years.

How good have the Rapids been in end of the game moments? But they seem to not know. And I think they're getting closer now. They have oscillated between we should be heavy possession to make the other team run or we should be high pressing because we'll have more energy at high tempo of the game. And I don't know that there's like a clear answer on that. I think when you're in, this is just my, what I've felt as a player, when you're playing in games the first 15 minutes because it's hard to adjust at first and then you kind

of get in the rhythm of your game first 15 minutes and the last 15 minutes at altitude are the hardest and they should be the hardest and so that should be a tactic and if you see that next year with Denver NWSEL then you heard it here first. They were listening to SoccerWise just as all of you are. June 25th. Thank you all for being here. We've got a lot to talk about in this show. Speaking of first-year teams next year, Boston has a new head coach. We'll talk about that. We'll talk about the big results in NWSL

as we enter this long international break. So no NWSL game until August 1st. All of the teams having a week or so off, there are random friendlies that teams have organized or put together. Some are called tournaments, whatever it is that are going to be happening. And of course, we've got international soccer. So the Women's European Championship, the Women's Copa America, as well as the Afghan are all coming up over the next few weeks, which I am stoked about because the thing about this club World Cup is like, oh, it's noon. Oh, it's 1pm. Let's throw soccer on. So we're going to have Euros into Copa America, which is going to be awesome. And I have already made plans for watch parties for Euro games, because I'm really, really excited about it.

And the US Women's National Team plays this week. They do not have a tournament to play in. Emma Hayes has talked about what this camp means. It's actually pretty important for a lot of the players who are there. They are different names, as we talked about last week, but this is a huge opportunity for them this week. So we'll talk about all of that coming up on the show. Let's start with that Boston legacy head coach. So Philippa Patau is the first ever head coach of this new team that is entering NWSL next season.

Comes from Benfica, head coach there for the first team since 2020, has been part of coaching and the academy since 2007, went 156 wins, 28 losses and 15 ties across all competitions in those five years. It includes five Portuguese league titles. It includes two different cups in Portugal as well. And in 2023-24, it includes a run to the quarterfinals

of the UEFA Champions League, which is the furthest a Portuguese team has ever gone. It led to a nomination for what was, that year, the first ever Ballon d'Or Coach of the Year award that was given away. This year in Champions League Benfica made it out of the group and then lost in the round of 32. So it's a big name, it's a different profile than we've seen but not completely out of left field. We have seen obviously a European heavy

presence coming over to coach. I think of like a Jimmy Coon rats coming out of Belgium, young, less experienced, but sort of a similar level you could argue. And Benfica have been one of the best teams in the world. We've seen the growth of the Portuguese national team. A lot of that has come through the core of Benfica. And now for Boston, they have made their decision. So their head sporting director is out of Barcelona and now their coach is out of Ben

Fica. Jordan, it's not a setup we have seen before, but it seems like everyone's at least swimming in the right direction or the same direction in this group. That's a good point. It's interesting because this is a different league than any league that you just mentioned, right? You can have the greatest success at Benfica, but in that league, you're not getting challenged very much. And so this is just a change of mentality coming to the United States where every single

game you could lose. It doesn't matter if you're 12 points ahead of that team or 12 spots ahead of that team, you could find yourself losing on that day. And so I think I'm excited to see what she offers. There has been a lot of good talk, I think, especially that nomination for the Ball and Door for Coach of the Year. There's excitement about this female coach, for coach of the year. There's excitement about this female coach, Philippa Patel and what she can bring. But I'm also curious, just with the setup of this league,

now you have an international GM, you have an international coach. We have not seen that very often. And it is a brand new team as well. That's three things that I think make a difficult combination when you're starting out or it could be a home run. I don't know. Yeah. So I think one of the things well that's interesting about this is with the elimination of all drafts there's

a negative here which is two people who don't have a ton of connection to the league won't have these mechanisms to automatically pull players in, whether that's from college or from the rest of NWSL. The advantage there might be that they're not stuck having to bring in players that they're not fully familiar with and do the quick research because I think what we've seen and I think part think what we've seen and I think part of what we saw with, we're seeing with San Diego is

you can actually lean heavy international if you want. There are obviously international roster spot limits but with the opening up of things, it feels like you can start to lean back on players you know a little bit more and there is more freedom to develop the roster the way you'd like. And that might make things easier in today's NWSL

for these, for two people who don't have a ton of connection to the league in advance, then it would have been a couple of years ago where you had no choice. You had to build your spine out of expansion draft and you had to lean on your draft picks because they were gonna be top two picks to be stars for your team.

That's a great point. I didn't think about that in a different perspective. I think what we've seen, especially over the last couple of years with the increased number of international spots is internationals that maybe we didn't expect to come to the United States or players that didn't have big names coming here and making a difference. And so will we see some more Portuguese players? Will we see some more Spanish players? I think of it's been a difficult season for Utah,

but the Spanish players they brought in, especially essentially in Tejada and Zornosa, have been excellent. And can they build off of some really quality pieces that have the same style of play mentality known from the coach and the GM and that Latin style of play. That is exciting. There's restrictions, maybe more on the GM side than on the coaching side, but restrictions

to how you can operate. You can't just buy and bring over whatever player you want to. Yeah. So that, I think that will be interesting in the build, but yeah, I think Vital is gonna be a, it'll be great to have her in the league and to add another different flair, another different look to what this league is gonna be.

I just am curious because they have been so successful defensively. What does this team look like? And I think that's going to be the important piece. We can watch her play and see in league games how good they can be in attack, but clearly not great success when it comes to international competitions with, Clearly not great success when it comes to international competitions with, I mean, that one year, but bigger names and tougher opponents. Yeah. And that's going to be a huge question mark, which is the gap. And the parity in NWSL is unprecedented in especially a league like Portugal, where not

even every team is really actually hitting the standard of fully professional. And so maybe an ability to get up for a big game here or there to get through Champions League is one thing. Can you get your team locked in there every single week? Can you adjust? Let me give you these quotes and every coach takes over and has their lines. But I thought one of the good lines was I like to be, I don't actually know how to say this, chameleonic, like a chameleon.

That sounds good. I don't. I think you said it right. I don't know. Chameleonic? Okay. I have a lot of colors. You need to have this type of capacity to change a little bit when it's necessary to

win. It's not a problem because having an identity is the best tool to win. This is my identity. So it goes a little bit to saying adjusting to the game, reading your opponents, not always trying to enforce one style of play. Patel started her press conference saying, first of all, they're going to see that my teams are very, very competitive, very intense, very aggressive. I like to press I

like to win the ball fast, because I like to have the ball. I was a player. So the thing that I like, I like most in football is having the ball for me, it does not make sense to have a game where you are without the ball. So they're the things you want to hear. It's the thing every coach is going to say. I think it goes to what we know at least that Benfica has created as a club

on the women's and men's side over the last hundred years of the way they see the sport and it's that DNA is locked in pretty strongly. And I think hearing the idea of being open to adjusting, and it's one thing that we've seen with Juan Carlos Amoros, right? Is heavy adjustment to opponents at times, trying to do so in a framework of, of a shared identity or consistent identity, uh, is what you are trying to build. So we don't know a ton.

It's going to be really interesting. Um, I think those questions of shifting to the parody driven NWSL and the talent in NWSL and as well as, you know, all of the travel and the assessors, all that, this is all going to be a big part of what this team does. And they can start signing players on July 1st. Yeah, just a week away, not even a week away. So not a bad time to have have a full time coach. Absolutely. The last comment I'll say is those with what she was saying there.

The hard working, that this team is going to be aggressive and have what was the exact quote here, very competitive, intense. That's Boston. And I think I don't know if that was meant to be said, but like this Boston is a city where they want their teams to have that grit and that feistiness. And I think that that's gonna fit really well

into what Bostonians like. And so kudos for her for nailing that one. And this is not the reason you hire a head coach, but it is a market that has a massive Portuguese population, a massive Portuguese speaking population as well. Um, cause you have a ton of Brazilians. I know the Brazilian women's national teams played a bunch of friendlies in the Boston area and always draws a good crowd. So another connection, um, there, and, uh, it, this is our first chance to see free agency

So anyone whose contract in NWSL ends this season They are available to sign a pre contract starting on that July 1st So the NWSL players they start to get connected with when they start signing players and then you talk about European players I will say this one time and I won't say it again. If Kika Nazareth signs with this team, it was all worth it. Moved from Benfica to Barcelona. So you got both clubs involved there that your front office is a part of.

One of the best young playmakers on the planet and a big reason why it's always worth watching the Portuguese national team. It would be sick if I had a plug right here to be like, they are in this group at Euros. I didn't even think about that. Maybe I can help you out. But no, it's OK. We I already failed it. But I appreciate I appreciate you attempting to step in.

So Boston Legacy, they have a head coach. Denver does not have a head coach. And July 1st starts the ability for these clubs to start signing players and start to build their roster going into next year. And of course, with no draft, all of the players are gonna have to be signed via some form of transfer or free agency. A ton of players signed extensions

in advance of that July 1st date. We'll talk about that coming up in a moment. But let's talk about the games we saw this weekend. And let's start with the biggest one. We have talked about Racing Louisville a lot over the last few weeks. They had this big test that they failed against Kansas City. They come back and they play the reigning champions in Orlando. They do so at home. They do so at a time when Orlando still sitting in second place and is still one of the teams to be in the league. And they come out and they get a two zero win

in this game. You were on the call for it. There was only one change to the starting lineup for Louisville. They brought Ari Borgeson. We talked about what they looked like the last 15 minutes against Kansas City with her on the field. She gets the opportunity from the start and Louisville are able to score off a corner kick. They score off a penalty kick one in the first half, one in the second half, and they're

able to get a 2-0 win Which is their statement win like we have said all of the results have come against teams that Are below them so to get this win Jordan This was like the perfect way to close out this first half of this season for this was we talked to Aaron right at Halftime and she said all week they had been talking about the necessity of getting three points of going into the this international break on the feeling like they are progressing that that they deserved to have nothing they deserve to have a win, but they could feel their momentum going in

an upward trajectory. And they wanted to continue that. And I thought they hit the they hit the mark on this one, The defending in this game, and it wasn't just the pressure on the ball. It was, you know, I think about Lauren Millay and Ellie Jean and it was Ellie Jean stepping and pressuring Banda, but then dropping off and Millay coming in to then get pressure on Banda. So it was always pressure cover in every situation.

Especially those two, but the whole back line was excellent. Really good. I thought Taylor Flint had another good game and this Louisville team for as aggressive as they can be, I thought it was perfect against this game. Against Orlando, they frustrated Orlando and there were no answers. I actually didn't even have, I couldn't find answers either. I was, Marta left the field and I'm like, she's frustrated because she couldn't figure it out. But I left the game frustrated

because I couldn't figure it out. I don't know what you would have done if you were Orlando to find the key that unlocked that defense because Louisville did a really good job and sometimes You know, it's easier to destroy than to create and I thought they destroyed really well There I think though what you said to me was what stood out which was the balance of When to press and when to sit and there was no balance in the first 20 minutes against Kansas City and they were exposed Over the top and That's the same thing Orlando can do

I it looked like a lot of the triggers where one ball was played into central midfield where they actually have in it a number advantage Because it's three against two for the most part for Louisville That's where they started to pressure and then the back line reading Okay When the when the attacking players head goes down then we could step and then we could all move forward. A lot of that came in midfield where, against Kansas City, they were trying to pressure the back line. Full backs were pushed high up the field.

Center backs were on the midfield line and there's just too much space. And Banda had one or two opportunities where if the ball's played a little cleaner, she's in on goal or she did get better. Yeah, she did get a few looks that maybe she finishes better more often, but it didn't feel like the trend and it didn't feel like Louisville was like getting broken open and was all over the place. And then I thought their lines were really clean.

And that was the other question mark coming out of, coming into the Kansas city game was like, well, can they play differently? Like the success had been predicated on high pressing and therefore making the opponents uncomfortable. That doesn't necessarily mean that as a group you can go back into a different style and play well. I think some of that is like there is a set of, you know, belief in the group and connection

that comes with results that like, yeah, we're in this together. I think you talked about it. The center backs are playing phenomenal. That's making life a lot easier. And I think in central midfield, you really do have in Flint and DeMello and whether it's Borges or O'Kane, you have three players who work so hard, but can also get out of pressure. So you've got that assistance as a back line of like, I've got a safety valve in possession and I've got support out of possession. And so I think this was like everything you're hoping for from Louisville and the type of performance

that makes them feel like a real team and not a gimmick. When was it we talked about this? Two weeks ago? They needed this because we talked to Janine Sones, Mora and I did at the beginning of the year and it was right after, I honestly think it was the second week of season and they had played North Carolina, had a lot of opportunities but couldn't find the final answer in the attacking third. And she just, there was a belief that she was speaking to within this group. And even this week, Bevyanez told us there is a feeling within the locker room, a belief within this group that reminds me of that when I played for Seattle and we won back

to back shields. She said, there's just something like an intangible and this group has it. And we haven't often heard that about Louisville, right? Because things haven't gone right. And when things don't go right, you tend to, things tend to split and you don't often all get to get along or whatever the case may be. There is something special brewing in Louisville.

And I think this win is a combination of all those things coming together at the right time. Now do they use this break to add pieces? I think they need to add a couple of pieces. But also continue to get better. They will have games, but what a great place to be and Bevionez and this whole entire squad should be really happy with how they progressed. If they can add pieces that excites their fan base

and you come back from this great run on August 1st, hosting Kansas City, like that building should be jumping. And it's a fair on the fans in the market to be like, hasn't really been good enough. And like, we are not inspired to run to the stadium and fill it up but we know what that experience is like when it is crowded we know the support the team has and the sport has in that city and To play the shield leaders and we'll talk about it a little bit whether they're already the shield winners

On that first game and a chance to get revenge and you're coming out of the summer break and all of what's happening, that should be a really cool environment. And like, my hope is that's what the club's focus is right now is off the back of this from a marketing and promotional point of view, like you have to be hitting everyone saying, be in the building for this game. And you have to inspire the fans as well by saying,

we know we're good and we're going to do what we can to support them and be able to get this team over the line. So big games coming up for them after the break. By the way, sidebar, July 3rd, Spain plays Portugal in the opening game. I know. I looked at that. I was like, wow, this is quite the group.

I wasn't going to go back to it, but it's like, oh, Spain, Portugal opening game. That's pretty cool We'll talk I think maybe we'll do a little bit about euros and Copa America as it as they roll along To cover here because the groups are awesome There's a lot of fun games one of the other big games to mention Gotham 2-1 win over Bay at home Roosevelt's first start in her return and now will be with the US women's national team as well so a big result for this Gotham team these are two teams I think sort of

sitting in a similar line it was an odd weekend I think from a results point of view of like I thought Angel City played really well and pushed Kansas City but overall it was top half table teams playing bottom half tables of the team and there was really no upsets outside of maybe that Louisville game and I think Gotham Bay maybe one where the two teams are in a similar area and big to see Roosevelt healthy and I think Emma Hayes has already talked about how big she can be for the national team. One other really tough note, Kaia Hanks we talked about her injury a little bit last week it is official that she has torn her ACL so it was unavailable for the

Thorns 1-0 win over the Stars this weekend. And I mean, it's heartbreaking to see anyone get hurt. And unfortunately, we talked about this maybe more than we would like to on this show. But I think for a young, exciting player who was just so key to what has become this identity for Portland, it's really tough to see after the year they've had and the start that she had. And you don't often get this opportunity like she had to, right?

To come into a place where their leading goal scorer wasn't available and you get to be that new person. You get to come in with a different way about going things, a different way to go about things. Ha ha, words. things a different way to go about things. Words. And I thought she did such a good job of coming in being herself, but also challenging the standard. And I said this on the broadcast and I'll say it again.

I feel like this Thorns team is saying we have been great, but we get to be our own. We get to be ourselves and we get to decide what the Portland Thorns are going to be like now. And young players like Kaia Hanks were a part of that at the beginning of this year and it just breaks my heart, honestly, for her to have to go through this because of the opportunity that she really grabbed with two hands and said, alright, watch out, NWSL, I'm going to come after you and just it just stinks. I wish I wish I could just not I could cure it and just make it not ever happen again. Yeah, magic it away. It feels like we're talking about it too often. I mean, for Portland, we're talking about what for this year and obviously two or three were announced at the

exact same time, which they didn't happen at the exact same time But all in preseason now I'm thinking about I think it's three because Morgan Weaver we We don't know exactly what kind of knee injury that was correct Yeah, it was just a surgery that she needed to have so I'm not quite sure If they ever specified what the injury itself was but yeah, that's three ACLs in a year for one team. That is, that's something that I hope they're looking into because that's not good enough. It's gonna happen, but it shouldn't happen that often.

And for this Portland team, they have shown they can punch, I think above what we expected. This year, they've been one of the surprises They currently sit fifth in The league and that takes us into our conversation, which is we are at the exact midway point So this international break comes 13 games into the season with 13 more to go So every team has played every opponent one time home in a way obviously different timing difference I'm not like a perfect I guess you're never gonna get that but like this is as close as we're going to get to a true midway point.

There's a couple big conversations to be had. I think the starting point is Kansas City Current are eight points ahead of Orlando in first place midway through. For reference, Orlando in second place are eight points ahead of North Carolina and Gotham who are tied for ninth right now. So the gap between first and second is the same as the gap between second and out of the playoffs. Is eight points unattainable for anyone, whether it's Orlando or someone even coming from below, to catch Kansas City and are they going to win the shield this year? The soundboard is working.

They're going. They're going to win it. I don't see anybody with unless something wild happens. I don't foresee Kansas City doing anything but winning the shield because they have just even with injuries, right? Ilana Cook goes down and we're thinking, all right, defensively they have this unit that now has a little bit of a wobble. Yeah, they look like they handled it really well.

They are, you know, Gabby Robinson is probably close to being back after her ACL last year and you hope that she can come in and compete in the back line. I just feel like line by line and the depth of this Kansas City team. I just don't know if anybody can stop them. So I say, I think they're taking the shield. To add into this of the 13 games left, seven are at home. So slight advantage left at home, including against Orlando and against Washington, which are two of the teams that are chasing them. And they finished the final game of the year at home against San Diego.

So the teams directly behind them, they have to go to Kansas City. Kansas City has in theory played their harder side of the schedule, having seven of 13 on the road to start the year. As you said, they've been able to mitigate injuries. I mean, Dubinia, it feels like is a big one in that she's going to be out for the rest of the year. And so not, oh, she's going to come back. They said August, she should be back. Nevermind. Yeah. She should be back. Okay, then that's great. They have shown no inability to cover. And

I also feel like they've shown a willingness to push things like I wouldn't be shocked if they make some more moves this in this window and say like how can we solidify things and how can we make sure that nothing drops off with us and that we are in our best position to host all the way through to a championship which by the way is going to be at Bay I don't know if we ever talked about it okay great sounds like a good show i wish i had i wish i had been there you're asking me to remember what we talked about now this is this is when you know we we have definitely talked about it i can guarantee that we have back to kenton city they're they're always making moves yeah and they're making moves

for veteran players they're making moves for experienced players they're making moves for international even rocky rodriguez honestly it's not been easy for rocky in the last couple of years They're making moves for veteran players. They're making moves for experienced players. They're making moves for international. Even Viggen and Rocky Rodriguez. Honestly, it's not been easy for Rocky in the last couple of years. I thought it was an interesting move because she hasn't been playing that much. When she had, I felt like she was out of position and they were asking in Angel City something of her that just didn't think she was a 10. Now she's played in the last couple of games and helped keep the rhythm and granted with Kansas City, if you're a midfielder, you know, you have

options. Right? You know, you always have an outlet and a player to play to. But it's moves like that, that have been really smart getting it doesn't matter if it's a new player that we've never heard of or a player that everybody knows, they are always making well, last year, Almuth Schulte at the break, which was a we've never heard of or a player that everybody knows they are always making moves. Last year Almuth Schultz at the break, which was a player a lot of people were looking at trades for Alana Cook, right?

Like they have gone out, they have flipped players to move things around. So I think we're both saying it now because I'm in agreement. I think it's over. I don't think it makes it, I think it's still going to be fun to watch. Because I don't think they're can turn it off. Like there, if anything, they're going to play freer. The second half of the year where it's like let's go to after teams, let's be the show that we are. And I think the atmosphere at home as well just makes it so you can't

really turn it off. Now we go into the next convo, which is two to seven is separated by five points. And as I said, two to nine is all within that eight point gap, but the five points two to seven feels like the top four did last year of like, we have no idea what's going to happen and anyone can jump anyone. And it feels like that sets up for the rest of this year, which is there's not a huge gap

between a lot of these squads. You could try and predict and look at some and say, I think Washington gets healthy and starts to push towards the second half of the year. Some people would quote some of the underlying numbers with San Diego and say that they're outplaying those numbers and maybe they regress to the mean. Orlando as well has dealt with a couple little injuries.

Maybe they start to get a little healthier. What do you make of this jumble and what this represents for the rest of the season? You could also add the next two teams in Goss because it's only, it's only 10 points if you include Bay and Angel City between them and Orlando. And Angel City are getting a full time head head coach and probably some other stuff like that. How the heck did they just drop to 11th?

Like that's how, this is how tight it is and how quickly they can go from, you know, top five to near the bottom. And we've seen that over these last couple of weeks. This will be interesting. I think with a new coach in San Diego, they've done really well and have outperformed themselves. But now you get some time with a lot of your big players

actually not leaving for European competition. Cascorino leaves, but you have Moroni, you have Dali. Can you work on some of the pain points, right? And these last couple of games haven't been scoring like we've seen them score. Can they figure those out? And I would trust Jonas Eidevall to have the right answers to whatever questions

he's seen his team have to go up against. So I feel like San Diego for me is a team. Orlando looks unconvincing to me right now and I'm curious about Washington is looks unconvincing to me right now. And I'm curious about Washington because there's been a lot of players that have been out and not able to perform and after another month, are we going to see those players back? Like we're now seeing Croy back, we're now seeing Hal back, we're seeing can we see Lacey back? I know she's going to Copa America, but that's a good sign because now when you come back,

you have her available in this team. With her on the ball, with Croy on the ball, they're much different. So I think that the push for home field advantage in the playoffs is going to be really fun because it's three spots. Yeah. home field advantage in the playoffs is going to be really fun. Because it's three spots. Yeah, I love that you brought up Angel City because they have had the weirdest results. Such weird. They've given up 95th minute goals. They I mean, on Friday night, you have the penalty kick saved. You also I think they were the longest team to shut out Kansas City in one game.

Yeah. CPKC stadium ever. And then they give up the 70th minute goal or whatever it was to be a, and they lose one zero where you're like, this team has belief in every game they go into. They can go toe to toe. You had the games in Orlando, you had the games at Washington, right? All these games where they came out, they played really confident soccer. And I think it just isn't cohesive enough yet, that the muscle memory in the in the tough moments is there, as well as the depth to

be able to sort of get you over the line. And some of these big moments. So I think they're they're right to bring up which is they are firmly in a playoff conversation. And as you said, those top four spots are going to be massive. Because look what happened last year. Like the two the top two seeds got through Kansas City and Gotham fell off that mark literally on the last week. They both had to go on the road. Both games went to extra time and they both ended up losing and one to PK shootout whatever but like you can't ignore that. And so the value is there.

It means everyone's chasing Orlando if we we're right, what we said. Everyone's chasing a top four spot as well to try and work your way through that first round. Look how huge it was for Washington. Like Bay surging at the end of last year, outplayed Washington for large stretches of the game. You get the late goal, you've got the crowd behind you, you get that moment.

And I think the outside experience of like, you created Rowdy and like, right? And now Washington is this like soccer hotbed. I think every other team wants to do that so that you get the opportunity. So the race is going to be massive. I think the way I feel right now is the bottom is not that far away. And I think that's why it's so close outside of Kansas City who are outliers. There are not as many easy points to take off of teams.

And so you have teams that are so close together because it is really tough to get results week and week. And a team like Stars are already making improvements. Let's talk a little bit about what we've seen come through so far. Let's talk about the extensions first. There's some big ones. The biggest one being Michelle Cooper assigned a three-year contract extension with Kansas City She has elevated her game this year. Yeah, and she has elevated to star player quality. She has elevated to She can be a top two or three option and there was a little conversation out there of like well another team Sort of offer her star player and is that the road take? And I think it's a real indictment.

I don't know if you're supposed to say that in a positive way. I'm using it in a positive. For Kansas City that she wanted to stay. She wants to be a part of this group. She wants to be a part of this club. I think we can see you want to be a part of this city if you are a soccer player. And I think it's really big for them

to have locked in Michelle Cooper for these next few years as she will start to play in World Cups and Olympics. And her profile will only grow and she can be a huge building block for them. It is a great move by Kansas City. You said it, that she's made huge strides this year. In the previous two years, it felt like Michelle Cooper has been, when she's on the field, she's had huge strides this year. In the previous two years, it felt like Michelle Cooper has been,

when she's on the field, she's had to think a lot because she's been playing in a new position. So she's constantly having to think, all right, am I doing the right thing? Is this one I should press? Is this one I should close the passing lane? When I'm on the ball, what are my decisions? You can, you just know when a player is thinking the game more than playing the game.

She's just playing right now. She's playing. She understands her, the requirements of her, and she looks like she is having a freaking blast every time she is out there. And so, lock her down, make sure that you have her, or if anybody else wants her, they have to pay a lot of money for her. And it's a great move by Kansas City. And for Cooper, I mean, they love her there.

The coop call that they do, I would say for that alone if I was a player. She fits in perfectly. I think that what you mentioned, she looks more comfortable on the wing this year, but also it feels like she also now has fully understood like, okay, you can come inside a ton. Like the way this team is built, Shewinga does it, you can do it, it's just that mix and match. And now we're seeing the center forward from Duke

and the winger from Kansas City fuse into one and become this consistent goal dangerous or goal creative player. And I think for Kansas City now you're looking forward and like from a young player perspective, you've got Hutton, Schwinga and Cooper locked in. And you don't have an expectation to change anytime soon, but like when you're ready to flip this roster,

basically when you have to, I think that's a core that can be competitive no matter what's around them. And that gives you the license to sort of redo things when you have to when players choose to retire or want to move on or whatever it ends up being. Some other big extensions as well. Haley McCutcheon just signed as we were getting ready to record this and I think Orlando in Haley Carter's statement about this which is clear is can literally play every position. And so again, you're talking about locking in core pieces for Orlando. You don't know what's going to happen all the time. Injuries have been a bit of a concern. We don't know what happened with Ohane yet. A really unfortunate injury to see her go down early in that game against Louisville,

but Haley McCutcheon can therefore help you fill every spot, whether it's playing there or helping move someone into that position and has been a big game player for them over the last year. I've loved Haley McCutcheon. The ground that she covers alone is integral in what Orlando want to do because there is a freedom into the way that they attack, but with that you have to have defenders who can cover ground, can close ground, But with that, you have to have defenders who can cover ground, can close ground. And she's both sides of the ball. She's been excellent. So I am I'm imagining between now and the first goss. We're going to see a lot of this because with the knowledge of free agency

and not just that, two new teams that are wanting and desperate to fill their their squads. You have an advantage if you have the player already to get them on a contract before they have any of those negotiations because if that would have been in a couple more weeks, Haley McCutcheon probably could have gotten more money or could have seen the offers from other teams along with everybody else. So you try to lock it down as quickly as you can. And I would say for Orlando, she has become a core piece

of what they're doing. And it's not the flair, it's the consistency that she brings. Yeah, big signing and I think a player, as Michelle Cooper would have been in a different way that any expansion team would have looked at and said, knows the league, knows how to win, like that's the type of player you're looking at.

The other big extension that we just saw was Jalen Howell signing. So coming over in the trade to Gotham, unavailable right now because of the red card, but had played every single game pretty much, which for her is huge on its own because of the injury issues that she had in Louisville. And then coming over from Seattle last year

in the Lin B and Dollo trade. And this is a core piece now in the spine for this Gotham team. We've talked about it a bit on this show. Think had been played slightly at a position so far this year. And so my hope would be some of the conversation was like, our belief is you are a six

and we're gonna get you there as people get healthy. And as the team sort of comes to. and I think we've seen some difficulties for her trying to fit into a new team, especially with no Roosevelt of like trying to help in the attack, but a big opportunity for her to have some stability and like see the best of jail and get consistent minutes to be valued. I think she feels very valued in Gotham that she adds a lot and she wants to add to the attack. So that probably for her makes her feel like you just don't see me as a one-sided player. So for Gotham, we'll see, right? I don't think they found the right midfield combination yet,

and we'll see where they end up playing Hal, but for her to have that stability of knowing, you know, I've got a few years now here in Gotham has got to be a bit of a relief. One last one to touch here, Taylor Malam's signed an extension with Chicago. So to go along with for Chicago, Samantha Carey, Angel Samantha Carey, as many people would know coming out of college originally signing from Sweden and Catherine Julia Hendritch signing from Germany so one extension two signings all defensive course stuff it feels like a few options at center back which they would have been starved for a

few months ago now you can consistently keep Lopez and Rokaro in midfield, which is probably what they're intending to do. And it's also just good to see Chicago do something that is more long term than just signing short term players on non rostering. Yeah, Malam has improved so much since she came into the league a couple of years ago and played every minute of the 2025 season so far. And it's been difficult for Chicago, but what I think for her, that's probably such a good sign of like we value, we, you know, we want you to be here. And we have seen how much you've grown, especially when they have signed two defenders at the same exact time. There's clearly they need to push the level in their back line, but also it gives you

them variety to bring Ricardo back into the midfield. So we'll see. This is going to be a very key month for the Red Stars. They have a few games too, and it'll be interesting to see how they can work out some of the players that they're bringing in but also like find some consistency with their lineup is going to be really key for them because it has been kind of all over the place in moments. I know Carrie has played in a back three and obviously you have a lot of center backs.

I do wonder if they try something like that as a way to do you end up with Ludmila and Schlegel up top and then you're trying to get some width from the wing backs as well as that stability through the center backs to then start to get crosses in, make the attack a little bit easier. Joseph could be one of those players that maybe you see as a converted wingback and then you can sort of balance the team a little bit of pushing Joseph harder up the right and a little bit less on the left. But they've dabbled with that at three backs. And they just needed to bring in more players to have a full roster to be available for them. One last piece of news. Maria Sanchez has officially gone to Tgress.

We've talked about this a ton on this show. It felt fairly obvious it was happening. Big signing for Tgress alongside Diana Ordonez. I think NWSL in the game is better if the region is stronger. I think Liga MX Feminaal becomes stronger with these players coming in. And so I personally think it's exciting. And I would love to see CONCACFW become even more competitive next year.

And I think this is a real avenue to doing it. And I think Maria Sanchez ends on much more of a high than what the last few years have been. And so I think she'll have a lot of confidence going to T-Gress. Let's finish up the Little U.S. Women's National Team Talk. So they play Ireland twice this week and then Canada next Wednesday. We'll figure out our show schedule around all of that.

And as of course July 4th next weekend. But Emma Hayes coming into this camp gave an interview in which she said that she expects to have narrowed down her roster to the core players she will lean on a World Cup qualifying next year and the 2027 Women's World Cup coming out of this camp. We have talked a lot about how wide they have cast the net, how big the pool has gotten, how many opportunities players have gotten. And Emma Hayes sort of indicating like that phase is ending, which means that this week is a really big week for some of these players especially the ones that have a shot or are getting their first shot and this might be their last opportunity to break in to this

team so this is going to be two big games against Ireland the first one in Denver and the second one in Cincinnati. So Jordan for everyone this is obviously important. It was interesting that Emma Hayes actually specifically touched on one of my favorites, Jordan Bug, and said like, this is a player who will probably be with the 20s and 23s after this. Probably isn't ready for the full national team,

but we have her in mind for 2028 and 2031 and all of that. And I think when you look at this roster, there are some obviously that are probably in that conversation. There are some who I think even in this group are firmly entrenched. I would argue and Alyssa Thompson's in there. I think Ali Centenor is as well.

Like there are players who are firmly entrenched in the core group. Who do we think is on the bubble that, obviously it's not everything. Like the way you play in league will matter a ton. But who do you think is on the bubble that has these two, three games to sort of stamp themselves into that core group? When I look at this team and have heard Emma Hayes talk about what she's looking to add to the back line, right? Center backs, outside backs.

She's really talked about trying to get players in. So I, I see the runway for those types of players a little bit larger than if you look at the midfield group. If you look at the midfield group of this US Women's National team, it's pretty solid. And it has been, and I think maybe some are approaching the later years of their career with this team, but also the unity of that group has been good with Coffee, Heaps, Johannes, and this is where it gets interesting, right? Do you include, do you even include Rose LaVelle in that group? It sounds like Emma Hayes does, but if the thing, the if and the big if is she can't stay healthy. And so do you give opportunities to an Olivia Moultrie, Kroy Bafoon, Claire

Hutton? I think those three in particular, they have to, if they have good camps, I think they, because they've been in the mix a little bit, they solidify that they should be in this mix for qualifying and then World Cup. That they are a part of the core group. I think that maybe with outside backs, because she hasn't really seen anybody that she loves, I think it's going to be a little bit more in and out. The core is not going to be consistent as it is in some of the other position groups. Yeah, I think that makes a ton of sense. I mean, I think the attack is

deep. There's all these special players. They're gonna come and go where there's opportunity there, um, whether it is or isn't. And as you said, the back line, there's opportunity as well. It would be hard to believe that you come out of this camp and you say, we're locked at left and right back. And no one can work their way in, as well as so many people have gotten chances, you got to keep watching them in league play and figuring it out.

And I think goalkeepers are the same, just because it's such an unknown. But that midfield is the spot where it does feel like all of these players are fighting for that one more roster spot, maybe two more roster spots when everyone is healthy, they all bring different skill sets, which is interesting. And that will be something we'll have to watch how Emma Hayes manages of like, how do I say I have a core, but then also still want to tap back in and have a little more bite with

Claire Hutton coming into this camp, but have a little more pop in transition with Cory Bethune coming into this camp. And so I think it's going to be which one of these players can prove this week that besides their like elite skillset, they also bring enough other stuff to always be called in first and to like always be an option. And especially, I think you look at these three or four players, including if we're looking at Rose Lavelle, they all kind of play in different spots around that midfield. All of them play two spots, though.

So you're probably in a safe place to say, for the most part, we can bring one or two of these in. I don't think Croy does. She could play as a winger, is that what you mean? Yes, she is probably the least of it. But also, you would say, if she plays as a 10, are you dropping heaps deeper? If she plays as a 10, are you dropping a little honeys deeper?

So you still have some midfield rotation. But yes, that would be the one. That would be not as much. But Rose Lavelle has played a little bit deeper. Claire Hutton can play in a two, whatever it ends up looking like. And I think Moultrie is showing that she can play maybe three spots for this team if you end up wanting it.

So it's going to be a really interesting test for these players. There's also some really fun young players and like, I think Moultrie is one where you want to see her sort of like control games and dominate with what we've seen in Portland. Cory with them being back, going back to DC, playing at home against Canada could be a really, really awesome moment as well with her injuries and what she's gone through

and as we now are seeing her elevate her game once again. So a big week coming up for the US Women's National Team. No NWSL, so we're off for a little bit on that side of things, but obviously the free agency opening on July 1st as well as international transfer windows and then of course the Euros and Copa America happening so a lot of news constantly coming out we are going to have some fun ideas of what we're going to do to help bring you some continued coverage and everything else around that but if you want to listen to Jordan

just turn on any soccer game at any time and she will be talking and if not you can come here to Soccer Wise and listen to us together. Have fun on the next one and we'll talk to you all again very very soon. you