SoccerWise - Izzy Rodriguez (KC & USWNT) On First Call-up & Goal, KC Current's Shield Push & Your Summer Reading List

Episode Date: July 9, 2025

With a week off for July 4th celebrations behind them David & Jordan come back to the show the only proper way with a NEWLY MINTED USWNT goal scorer from Kansas City in Izzy Rodriguez. She joins the show to talk about her experiences with the USWNT last week, best book recomnedations, how CPKC Stadium has changed the club, and much more. Soccerwise Live 2pm ET Every Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday on Youtube/Twitch/Twitter

Hey everybody, welcome back to SoccerWise. David Goss in Jordan with you. I think we missed last week Jordan. So first time in a week that we're back with everyone. We had all these interviews lined up, they got pushed, and now we get to do all these fun interviews. Because today is going to be Izzy Rodriguez. We're really excited for all of you to hear it. We've obviously already sat down with her, the magic of television, and talked with her. She's phenomenal.

And I think we're really excited to do this from the start. And we're glad that we were able to put it together. And we did our July 4th. Did you set off fireworks? Is that your go-to? So many fireworks. Did you really? fireworks? Is that your go to? So many fireworks. Did you really? No, I didn't. I was in California and that's probably not allowed in California, especially where I was in the Hill country in the North.

And they've had too many fires to do that. So I, I just went to a pool party at my friend's house and it was like me and everybody in the town's kids and I was like wow, this is the stage of life we're in. Now I will still ask this. There you go. Also in general, pool parties are just good vibes, right? Everyone's like kind of just hanging out.

Oh yeah, hanging out, good music, dipping in and out of the pool, eating good food. Yeah, in true 4th of July fashion, she has a taco track that comes, and we have street tacos. So it was perfect. Just made to order whatever you want. Yeah. That's dangerous. It's kind of fancy.

It was dangerous. What'd you do, Gus? I would be treacherous. I was out on Long Island. My natural environments not really anywhere near where I grew up. My sister's birthday is on July 4th. Okay. So we always hang out on July 4th. It turns out, if you are born on July 4th and you send a letter to someone, maybe the National Park Service, maybe the White House, I'm not sure, you get an American flag because you're born on July 4th.

Whoa, cool. I don't think she's ever done it. I have another friend who was born on July 4th who told me this and was like, "'Oh, does your sister have their flag?' And I don't believe she does. So maybe that should be my gift one year. I was going to say, get her that as her gift.

She doesn't listen. It's okay. I can still do it. But it was really fun and it's always good to hang out. It was a good weekend as well of like, I love the put a game on even if you're not focused in the background. So Euros has been great for that of like, boom, it hits noon. Like I'm not 100% locked in analyzing whatever, but it's just like that thing where you're like talking to someone, you're walking around, and then you're like, oh right, like the polling game's on.

That's sweet. That rolled into some club World's Cup stuff, which we both have been following very intensely. And then the Mets played the Yankees all weekend which brings me back to my childhood. Wow. Yeah it is. It's just like uber New York for the July. I was in it. I was in it. You were in it. Yeah and it is as a child it was the most nerve-racking series every year because it dictated what the environment in school would be like for the next X amount of days. And the Mets won two of three. So I am thankful for all those children who now get to go

into summer summer camps and whatever, sleepaway camps and be like, we're the better team for a little bit. Obviously with the Euros on, we're getting to watch some players that we normally cover, not as intensely. I've watched a bit, got some Iceland game in to sort of watch some of the players that are going to be coming. 10 WSL, which I think is going to sort of watch some of the players that are going to be coming to NWSL which I think is gonna be really really cool and we are currently recording as England takes apart the Netherlands after being taken

apart by France for the first half hour or so of that game which I was not shocked by but it was one of those where it's like you see Cascarino on the field in that environment you're like yep that's that's what I thought I thought she was going to be the best player on the field yeah yeah yeah and it's oh it's always cool to watch I think that but like even watching Germany yesterday there's like moments where they cut to Anne Ketrenberger you're like hmm that's the wrong jersey it's like out of place a little bit but I know you where do I know you from? Exactly where do we know each other from? And Copa America around the corner as well.

So we'll have even more international soccer and obviously no end of yourself but we have another interview lined up for next week that we will be doing but let's jump into our interview this week and of course who else to talk to but someone who is from the shield leading and just came off her first US women's national team camp a goal scorer in her debut and the one and only Izzy Rodriguez. Thanks so much for having me. That was a great intro. It's gonna be permanent now. It might be top line on I I couldn't even believe that it happened one to even just be Getting a cap a start having that moment and the national team experience and then getting a goal Was a cherry on this on top and it was incredible embracing all the teammates that were there

I can't imagine a better moment to have Before we get into this like time being off, let's just stick with this because this is the you know, the moment that we need to talk about. You go into camp, you debut, you get a goal, all of the things, right? It is a dream come true. What will you remember about that day? Like the feelings going into the game, take us through what it feels like to experience your first cap.

It's something I don't think anyone could even put into words, but when you're there and the amount of fans that are there and the cheers that are going on and I was fortunate to have my family in the stands as well. Those moments, I think just the energy you feel from the crowd is something that's like no other place. We get a little bit of a glimpse of it in Kansas City because of our fans, but I think that that experience was absolutely insane. I get chills thinking about it still.

I think literally just completing a first pass, I was like, wow, I made it. It gave you that moment, like I'm here, I made it. It's a dream come true. It's something we all think of since we've been little girls. That moment was just incredible. Do you have a national team moment as a fan or as a young player, young person that you were like, that's what I want to do. That's where I want to be that you connect to when you finally get there.

I think that's a hard one to pick, but I think the half field shot from Carly Lloyd is something I feel like everyone's going to remember and be like, wow, I wish I was her. I think that was so cool. And that was just a propelling moment for women's soccer in general as well. And one of the most recent ones I can think of that I was like, wow, this team is amazing. Yeah. We, you score the goal. You guys are known for goal celebrations in Kansas City.

Is this, is this your goal celebration? Do you think about it or was it just one of those moments where you're like, Oh my gosh, I just scored a goal. I don't know what to do. A hundred percent that. Um, I usually when I score, have no idea it's coming. I think that was again, a shock just to be like first game, first everything. But if you've looked at any of my goals, I can tell you every time I score it's the two hands up jumping up and down That's my first reaction. I know I need to get better at it and Lo keeps telling me I should probably find another Celebration, but it's the only thing that comes to mind because usually it's pure adrenaline pure shock that I'm anywhere near the goal at that point

Just asking two more experts than me as a defender is it like uncouth to come up with goal celebrations? Yeah, I don't think I've ever really planned one. I think we've actually had one in the making with Kansas City that the next time I score we'll try this. It's been in the making now for like a year though since it hasn't happened this season. So hopefully maybe there's something we'll try. It involves no dancing, I'll tell you that, because that is, I can't dance. I hope more than anything I am on that game. So I can talk about how long this was planned because a year in the making, you know,

there's a lot of anticipation for what this could be. 100%, I hope that it's not super disappointing now that I've been hyping it up. Nope, nope. I'm excited. I'm curious. So you get called in, obviously first camp. Did you have anyone that you talked to in preparation asking questions about what it's like or how you should come in?

Like who do you lean on in a moment like this? For sure. I think having teammates there, Claire Hutton and Michelle Cooper were phenomenal and then Lo going in the camp beforehand, kind of giving me all the newbie information too that she had to go through was amazing. I think I had all the information I needed and I knew going there was going to be a lot in the first couple days, but luckily I was able to play with a lot of those ladies too growing up in the U17s, U20s.

So going there didn't feel super unfamiliar with people at least. And they were also welcoming and like it's nice to catch up with everyone. But definitely leaned on my KC teammates to just help me through the process in the first couple days. I love that the first person you said was Claire. I know it seems crazy a 19 year old and I'm asking her for all the advice in the world. Yeah, well she is very much wanting to be experienced and mature. I've had a few conversations with her and she's like, I'm an adult now, you know?

So I think she probably really appreciates you leaning on her. You mentioned that everybody was really welcoming. I remember when I went into the national team, it was not that way. It was very intimidating. It doesn't feel, did you get that sense of intimidation or were they nerves or they, you know, there's a difference between good nerves and not good nerves. Like tell me about the environment now with the national team. For sure. I think instead of intimidation, it'd be more intensity.

Like there's still that intense environment. Like you want to be on mentally and physically like the entire time you're there going into trainings, like everything is let's get it done. Let's get it done. Well, um, meetings, there's going to be a ton throughout the day and just being really focused, especially as a new person, you're coming in and you're getting so much information at once. But everyone was so open to me asking questions or to me asking, okay, what do I

do here? What does this look like? So I'm prepared ahead of time. So not necessarily super intimidating, but it was definitely intense still along with the welcoming feeling and like everybody being open to me asking for help, but it was definitely intense. You mentioned for the camp it was a lot of new faces so I assume there's a lot of like people meeting people. Some you've played with, some you maybe know from other spaces but was there anyone that you didn't know before that maybe you connected with or anyone you've played against where you're like oh they're way different when you're having fun with them in a locker room.

For sure. I think there's a lot of some of the newer players too that we all like, Lily Real, Sam Mesa, Jordan Bog. I think those people hadn't really met before in coming in. I think we were all able to bond a bit on being the new girls and everything and having those extra meetings together. So I think that was a really cool experience

because you only know them from playing against them and kind of being able to get that bonding Experience and all this get to talk about our club environment and kind of what we're bringing to the table here So I think that was really cool to be able to meet some of these ladies and kind of develop those bonds so we can further That in the future. Maybe there'll be less of a crunch on the same as a tackle next time you play against there Gosh her trajectory has been incredible. It's so cool to see her in that mix and hear her name amongst those people that you were just talking about.

It feels like for a long time, Izzy, that the US women's national team was a little bit unattainable, right? You knew that it was really hard. If you played well, there was still this little, it was really, really difficult under Hayes. If you perform, you're going to get a shot. What do you think that does to the mentality of players? You can speak specifically to yourself or in general. And how does that make the competition more fierce?

I think it's super motivating. I think everyone has an opportunity to go into their club environment and if you're performing she is gonna notice. She always tells us she watches every game, she spends the whole week almost watching all the games just to catch up and see how people are doing and if you're not performing somebody else is gonna get a chance. So I think that makes all of our games even more competitive. I think this year you're seeing really competitive games, things kind of happening out of nowhere

just because people do want to have that opportunity now that there's a chance to do that. So I think it's super exciting. It brings out a lot of motivation in people and then the competitive part of it. Like you said, we're going at it every weekend. One of the things that's sort of become a little famous under Emma Hayes is a lot of players that she's let, she's had debut have come off the bench that's sort of become a little famous under Emma Hayes is a lot of players that she's let She's had debut have come off the bench and she sort of grounds them It seems like and has these moments on the sideline yours was not off the bench

So I'm curious. Did you have a similar moment as you were find out? Okay, I'm starting in this game Yeah, I think during training she was just telling me to develop my relationships with the people around me That was gonna be the most new thing During training, she was just telling me to develop my relationships with the people around me. That was going to be the most new thing, I think, was playing with all these new players. But she just said, focus on your relationships, stay close to the players, develop those relationships, and just stay connected because I think that was going to get you through a game of not feeling like you're on an island, you're a new player, you're not fitting in, but just stay close to the players around you and develop those connections.

So we mentioned off the top, this is a bit of an international break in NWSL. So everyone's on vacation. This was a unique vacation for you and going to a US Women's National Team Camp. Wait, wait, wait. Best vacation ever though, really. 100%. 100%. It was the best reason to miss the week off, for us to say.

We'll put it on the trip advisors for people looking looking for good weekend vacations join the US women's national team go 3-0 travel across the country and it's gorgeous listen we could make this an experience we could probably sell it for a pretty high number if sure if anyone wants an Airbnb call us and let us know if you're looking for your next thing. I'll give it a five star rating. There you go. But the other thing I was going to ask you is we are in summer vacation now and one of

the big things in summer vacation is people are looking for their summer reads. We have heard you are a big reader. Do you have something you're reading now or any top recommendations for people? I have my good reads up so I'm ready to plug in. Yes. 100%. I am reading The Woman right now by Chris and Hannah. She, yes, so good. Nightingale, I am probably halfway through The Woman right now, but Nightingale I just read previously and I think it ranks in the top ten

books I've ever read. So I'm kind of on a binge of hers. I've heard The Great Alone is really good so she's probably next to me. So I'm gonna just throw out her name and say any of those books go ahead. Read all three of them? The women? When you're done with that I can't wait to talk to you about it. It's making me emotional thinking about it. I can't wait. I've only read Nightingale so I'm behind both of you. Where do you, how do you find books? Is it just recommendations? Where do they come from? Yeah. For sure.

I think our whole team reads a lot of books. We just share. We pass them around. It's fantastic to have that environment because I never feel like I'm like, oh crap, what do I need to read next? I also really like the Throne of Glass series. That kept me busy for a really long time because it's eight books and they're all really thick. But I kind of just am open to anything. Okay. Is there a book club?

What's a book club? What are those? Oh yeah, is there a book club? Sorry. There is not right now, but honestly we should make one. I think we're all just always all over the place and then we never read the same book at the same time. So it's like somebody recommending and then we just pass it through the entire team. But honestly, we should probably start reading the same book and make it a lot easier to talk about because right now the only thing we all talk about is Love Island, I feel like. Oh, well, that's a new topic. Are you watching England or you watch it the UK or you watch in America?

I'm watching the USA one. We all talk about it every day. We have a group chat. It's like a debrief every morning in the locker room. Mm-hmm. Yeah. The US should have done a Love Island theme when like all the new people came into, you know, a bombshell enters the villa and it's just you walking into training. That would have been hilarious. That would have been good crossover content. For sure. It is the only thing people want to talk about. That has been my experience so far over the last few weeks. So I need to get up on it. But we want to talk to you a little bit about Kansas City because the reason you end up in the US camp is because of your play with

Casey and partially the success of the team and success individually. Starting individual, just talk to us a little bit about since you got drafted and over the last few years how your games evolved and how you sort of have settled in and found your level in the pro ranks. Yeah, I think I'm a player who likes to learn and likes to change my game in the best way possible as I go. I like to embrace things I'm really good at, but every and likes to change my game in the best way possible as I go. I like to embrace things I'm really good at, but every year here I think I've picked up

on whether it's new coaching styles or new tendencies from players that I'm learning that I'm like, oh, I wish I could add that to my game and develop that part. So every year I think that's just been something I focus on is taking in all the information I can and continuing to learn because once you stop learning about the game and learning about yourself, that's kind of when you're going to start plateauing. So don't want to do that anytime soon. But I feel like that's been the biggest thing and especially the last two years, just being able to play against some of the best players across the league every day in training.

And then in the games, I think that has helped me develop immensely. Who, I mean, we could go through your whole team, who's hardest to play against in training, but who do you feel like has elevated your game substantially over the last couple of years? I'm going to just specifically say Michelle and Nichelle at this point, because I play against them the most in training because being right forward and then the left back, you're up against each other in every drill possible which is kind of annoying but they're really both super hard to defend because they're really technical you never really know what they're gonna do they're really great with their

bodies and then they defend their butts off too so it's not fun I know me and Michelle have a game usually where if we're scrimmaging and I make run forward she's always gonna track me back and then she makes a run and I'm tracking her back and we're like why are we doing this to ourselves we're just running for no reason at this point. So it just becomes cat and mouse but I think those two players have really helped me develop because I've had to really hone in on 1v1 both attacking and offensively against them. You signed a new contract extension and Michelle Cooper did as well.

Is there a connection there of like, we are sort of these two players in this, let's be a part of this together? We didn't have that conversation beforehand, but I am so glad that we are both there together. We're both from Michigan, we both trained together back home, so I've known her for a really long time. So having the comfort of her being

on the same team for another three years, I love it. I love playing with her. Don't love playing against her all the time but I have to do it anyways. So it's super fun. I'm glad we both get to experience another three years here together. Yeah. Where do you guys do you train in Michigan with that the guy? There's like a lot of pros that go there. What's it called training? His name's Aaron Bird, too. Yes. He's been incredible It's a super fun environment to go back to and I think it's just you still are playing soccer in the offseason But it's like a nice break from your team training. So Yeah, absolutely. I love that and it keeps you going it keeps you like

Motivated in the season where you're like I want to rest but I need to get better and that's always a tricky place to be. You mentioned the growth of like yourself and these players around you but the club is, oh my gosh, the club over the last few years has grown so much. What have you loved about the ambition of this club and some of these changes that you've gotten to see over the last few years. Yeah, every year I think we have everything we need. The ownership comes along and they're like, Oh, we're adding this now. And I'm like, wow, you guys are so invested in making this the best place to be in the world. It's incredible. I'm like, wow,

I never even thought that we can need that. Um, so the investment shows, I think it shows with how the fans are showing up. I think it shows in our performance. The culture we have here, I think it's something everyone wants to be a part of right now. So I think that just shows how much the investment is like putting into perspective to all these people about wanting to be here. And obviously a big conversation is the stadium and the atmosphere, the environment, one of its kind, first of its kind.

What has it meant inside the club or for the players to have this now? And I don't know, how invincible do you feel? Cause sometimes it just feels like you guys are playing downhill in both halves when you're playing at home. It's so much fun. I think we just, we take that energy, all the fans are bringing in,

we just use it on the field and that's been huge. I know hearing from some players on opposing teams, they like hate coming in. They're like, the fans are right in your ear the entire time. It's so loud. It's really hard to come into and play and we always start off super strong. And I think that's something that we culturally wanted to make as well that this is our home field and we don't want to take any losses here. We want to make it really difficult in every team that comes into our stadium. Which way do you like going towards the river or towards the stand in?

I feel like I like going towards the fans because I think they the cheers they're having and everything but I do know occasionally the fans like the river balls so sometimes they like us going the other way. Have there been multiple because I just remember the one. There's only been one I will say when I skied a ball in our last game it became very close and I was like why is everyone cheering I just totally missed the net. Turns out it was like a foot from going in the river so that's why everyone was cheering. Hey that's gotta feel good you can succeed in two ways,

hit the back of the net or miss everything. Yeah, it was like a miss so far that it still got cheers. Over the past couple of years in NWSL, Izzy, we've been able to watch, you know, last year you and Orlando and then Orlando kind of sneak away towards the end and feel like they had this, you know, the only way I can say it is like this aura

about them. You guys this year have that about you. Like everybody feel, it feels like there's a fear factor when teams play you. Do you guys have that? Like, do you feel like you've cultivated that environment or what do you feel like that stems from? I think this year, especially that stems from we,

as much success as we had last year, we left like feeling empty a bit, like we wanted more. And we came into this pre-season feeling really hungry that we wanted to end on top. We wanted to win a championship. We wanted to do that last year at home when we could have. So I think there was a lot of like hunger and bite to what we wanted to do.

And we're coming out here and just focusing on getting the job done one game at a time. I think that's been our biggest thing is not looking too far ahead because the most important game is the one right in front of us. And if we don't take care of business in that one, then the next one doesn't really matter at the point where we stand right now. You mentioned last year, you kind of were in a similar position. Obviously Orlando was was alongside you, but you know, you went into the summer break as the hottest team, as the biggest story, the highest goals scoring, all of that.

Does it feel different right now than it did 12 months ago? I think we have a little bit more connection and chemistry on the team just because we've had more time to work together than we probably did last year. And then I think we're as long as we're scoring goals, just like we were last year, but we're also defending really well. And I think that's something we were working towards last year. And we started the year a little bit stronger in this year. We take a lot of pride in our shutouts and, and sliding stop goals and making

saves and things like that from top to bottom. So I think that's something that's really helped propel us this year to maybe feel like we're a little more short up. When you, like there's just so many good players on your team and the way you guys work together, it's hard to say there's an unsung hero, but do you feel like there's someone

that doesn't maybe get the credit that they deserve maybe within your group because they're not scoring all the time or within the league, in the role that they play and their consistency like who would that be for you? Yeah playing next to her all the time I think sometimes she doesn't get the credit is Kayla Sharples. I loved playing against her and with her and I think that she's starting to get it now I know she just got best 11 for the past month so I'm really happy for her but I think she's commanding back there and she's developing and I swear she's almost

a lefty at this point now with the way she's hitting the balls with her left foot. So I think that's someone who for our team has been incredible this year. She stepped up when she needed to. She's really taken control of the back line. So I'm going to say her for sure. And then I think Vanessa DiBernardo is just somebody too in the whole league that has been an unsung hero her entire career. She puts in a lot of work, she does a lot of the dirty work, she's playing some of her best

soccer so I think that's somebody that I always like to shout out because she's incredible and she's awesome to learn from as well. Jordan picked her on this preseason show for midfielder of the year for this year. Yes. We're trying to. We're trying. This is the thing Izzy, everybody I talk to at Kansas City, multiple people have told me Vanessa DiBernardo is the best player they've ever played with. And I'm like, whoa, that's, you know, this league has had some really good players and players have bopped around and it's just a big compliment coming from teammates to see, like, even though it might, it doesn't always show up in the stats sometimes.

For her it does show up in stats. But it just feels like she is the engine, the heartbeat, sometimes the soul behind this team and the way she sees the game maybe is underappreciated by others. Yes, yeah. She reads the game like no other. I think being able to listen to her when we come into a huddle and be like She's seeing this this and this and I'm like wow That's like four steps about probably before what I was thinking so I'm glad you saw that But no, she's incredible

I think having that expertise on the field and whether she's coming on a sub or starting the game and playing 90 minutes I think she's putting in the effort and and really helping the team long Let's go off the field for a second though. Obviously Vladko Ananavsky, huge name in the sport and he's been on this incredible journey coming to the United States, indoor soccer, ended up U.S. national team coach at a World Cup and now with Kansas City.

I'm curious, one, what is he like as a coach? What's the experience working under him? And now maybe a few weeks later, after having been in an Emma Hayes camp, what is sort of the differences or similarities of the two? Yeah, Locke has really helped me develop as a player individually. I think he likes doing that with players. He likes to develop them. And I think that's been a huge part of my game is just kind of building off of what

he's teaching me and helping me with and bringing A competitive side out of me. He is incredible in the way he remembers things Do I think when we go through film he is like in the 60 second minute at this time? Can you go there because I want to look at this sir When you were jumping for a header here I think you could have gone like point five seconds earlier and you would have won the ball like things like that I'm like your brain is Incredible the way you remember those things. I don't understand it and I don't, it's awesome. So it's nice that he can go back and kind of remember those details and help us

because I think that's been a huge thing of just remembering the small things in games and how can we get better just a little. We win a game and a lot of people are like rah rah that's awesome but okay what was the details we could have gotten better at? So really good at that. I think our environments and training are super competitive. They're really organized and professional And I think that's super important to have that professional environment too because it makes all of us feel like we're there to work And we're there to have fun as well And then and Emma I think I haven't had a ton of experience and trainings We didn't really have too, too many

while we were there. But I think she also just likes to think of people as people as well. She's super involved and I think getting everyone involved, the trainings too, she wants to make them really efficient and really well thought out. So I think they have that similarity as well, is like they want things to go well

and they're very detail oriented to well. I think we have a similarity as well. It's like they want things to go well, and they're very detail oriented to well. I think we have a lot of details in our tactics and the structure. And I was studying iPads the whole time I was there to make sure I knew exactly what she wanted from me. So they definitely have those similarities as well. The crazy thing about what you said about Vlachko, he has a wild memory. He on a coach call one time, told me about the first game that he ever played Seattle and what the score was

and when people scored and who scored. And Laura, like his interaction with Laura, I was like, how is the first year of NWSL? And he remembered all of those details. It's kind of scary. I'm like, Vlako, I can't even remember the game I did yesterday. Yes. And you're remembering this from 12 years ago.

Yeah, he is just a wonderful man. He has such great personality and has done a good job of building your whole GM, your staff, building this team. And one of the key pieces, we're not getting through an interview without talking about Tim Watt and being Tim Wwa's teammate, right? You get to play on the same side of her as her. How much of adjustment was that of, okay, she could do things that nobody else can do

in trying to adjust to her style of play, but also like, you get a front row seat to watching her do this. It's got to be pretty fun to watch. A hundred percent. She makes me look good so many times. Um, balls, that that balls that probably weren't very good. She makes me look good. So I really appreciate that, but she's just a fun player to be around too. I think she brings so much joy to the game and the way she's so passionate about her on the field play. She enjoys being around us.

I think she's really embracing Kansas city too. So really thankful, I know Blocko's had an eye on her for a really long time and trying to get her around. So I'm really glad he brought her here and she's going to be here for a while as well. So I love playing with her. I think she's so fun. She does the dirty work too, which I feel like is huge. You don't always get that sometimes. So I love being around Tenwa. I'm super glad she's a part of Kansas City's team and nobody else's team. That makes me really happy. But yeah, she makes us all look good. Do you ever like know a right back or go up to them before the game and just be like,

I'm sorry, like this is going to suck. I have definitely heard a lot of, especially last year when she was new and you didn't really know what you were going to expect. She I had many people I feel like after being like, what the heck just happened? Like, what am I supposed to do? I wouldn't know what to do. That would be like, uh, help me. Help me. Sometimes you just gotta be like, yep, that was good. Yeah, seriously. You do good do good, good offense beats good defense no matter what. And she's got that going on. Yeah. Do you let's talk about goals because

the season, you know, we're about to enter the second half of the season. Goals for you is he for the rest of the year, goals for the team and what you guys are looking towards as you close up the season on a high note? For sure. I'll start with as a team. I think looking ahead, we don't want to get too far ahead, but we want to win the shield. We want to have a home quarterfinal, semi-final. We want all those things because those are big advantages. So I think as long as we're kind of in control of that, if we can continue playing and continue winning and continue having these performances,

it'll come out at the end. And hopefully that's where we're at the end and we're lifting some trophies. But I think as a team, we're just gonna focus one game at a time again. It's gonna be a long second half of the season and people are gonna make changes. There's movement and players too.

So we're gonna have to adapt and go from there. And teams always seem to adapt against us too. So what we did one game against them, it's gonna change probably. But, But and then individually I think just staying healthy and continuing to make whatever impact the team needs me in the game and keep being competitive, keep performing. Hopefully that continues too with national team success in the future. Hope that continues but I think it's just going to be performing the club level because right now we got two months of that stretch of performing in some games and enjoying it too

And scoring the goal so yes, yes, yes, just wait for the goal at least one I am curious because you mentioned the opportunity to host quarterfinal and semi-final. It does take me back to last year of course CBKC Stadium hosted the final. You didn't get a chance to be there. What was your experience around that game? Did you stay in town? Did you go to the game? Did you watch?

Like, how was that for you? I didn't stay in town. I left before the final. I think it was like a wedding shower or something I had going on that since I can make it, I was going to get home to make it since you don't really get to attend a lot of those things. But I know around the city there was, I heard from a lot of our fans that it was still really cool to be a part of. Obviously they wanted us to be in the final and I can't even imagine what that environment would be like, but they said it was still so cool to host a championship and I mean the game was really good.

You're seeing great soccer played. So I think the environment in Kansas City still showed out even though we weren't the ones in the finals so I think that was incredible to see because I know people are always like Is that if the team's not in it? Why why would we show up? But they really did show out and they brought the same energy that they would for our games They definitely brought energy Goss and I were there and they Brought some energy against Orlando as you would expect They were loyal to the end absolutely and they brought some energy against Orlando as you would expect.

They were loyal to the end, absolutely. But I think back to the North Carolina game and how electric it was and the thought of, you know, potentially an NWSL semi-final being in the building. There's just that, I mean, you're, I'm going to guess here because I don't follow college sports well enough, but I think you played in the Big Ten and still would play in the Big Ten. I don't follow it. There is that feel of like fall, cold, lights come on like it feels like playoff postseason time and I think that's what it would feel like. For sure I would love to have that in Kansas. I mean Midwest stayed again, played there, lived there my entire life and you get that feeling in the fall it's like that's when the big games happen.

Don't worry. We're not going to ask you about Ohio Michigan. We're going to leave that one for another interview, but we will, we will leave you, we'll leave you with one big question, which is, so you go away for the national team. We are told Daisy is a huge part of your life. This is your dog. Who is trusted enough to take care of Daisy? I have a big team of people, I will say that. I have a couple people I've met over Rover the past couple years.

I have the lovely woman I adopted her from as well. We'll occasionally watch her and then my teammate Bailey, Jake, her fiancé now, they just got engaged. Usually we'll watch if we're on a way trip. So honestly it's a big team of people Kind of whoever really wants to take her for the moment But on the two ladies I met on a rover actually watched her for this long trip because it was a long one And days not getting front-row tickets to to us

No, unfortunately, she she does not love people. I shouldn't say doesn't love, she's scared. She's terrified of people. It takes a lot for her to warm up to people so she would probably be running across the street if I took her to any sort of game. But I don't know if you can see but she's sleeping. Aww. Aww, yes. Hi Daisy. Daisy loving the interview, clearly. Yes, yeah. She's having a great time. Very interesting.

Well, we had a great time, so thank you for taking the time to join us. We're excited to watch everything the second half of the year. We'll of course have to have you back, hopefully to help preview playoff games and big matchups and everything else. But congratulations on the time with the US. Enjoy the little bit of time off you have left and we can't wait to see you back on the field. Thank you so much for time off you have left and we can't wait to see you back on the field. Thank you so much for having me at a great time.

Okay Jordan, this is one of the reasons that I say we shouldn't do too many interviews is like then you're like, well now I'm a fan, right? So now, but if you become a fan of people on every team, then it's hard to figure out who you're supposed to support and who you're supposed to, you know, cheer for and not hard with Izzy Rodriguez. It was cool to see her get her call up. You know, she's one of those players, late draft pick, and I think you watch as she develops into her spot and it's like, this is a good left back and we've had these conversations. I think it was great you asked that question of like how attainable the national team is

now where it's like she is doing her job at the best she can at her club and that has now elevated her to the highest levels you can possibly get to. I think that's one of the best things that we're seeing with this new era of the U S women's national team is we've seen that across the world and especially, I would say more men's international competitions. If you're performing well at your club, you're going to get an opportunity to play for your national team. I really feel like this is the first,

not first time, but the longevity of the opportunities that are given out. It's lasted a lot longer. It's been a full year of really experimentation and honoring this idea that, if you are performing, you're going to get a chance. And I love that because we're seeing players that I think a lot of us are like, okay, I think she could play in the national team.

You're getting that shot to play in the national team and play against competition. And granted, all the competition isn't the same level, but it's great to see, one of the things that Izzy said that Emma had told her is develop relationships of people around you, develop those relationships with the people around you, because you don't know if Izzy Rodriguez is the best left back of this team in combination with, you know, Sam Coffey centrally and Naomi Germa next to her, or if it's Germa on the other side and a different center back next to her.

Like those are the things that you're trying to understand when you give opportunities. And I love that players like Izzy Rodriguez are getting opportunities because they are performing consistently. As you said, it does feel like if okay, if you're in that class of best at your position, you're going to get a shot and then it's how you react to the other players around you. And then you're going to get, to do, get called in. The next camp is going to be massive because as we said, coming into this, Emma Hayes mentioned like, all right,

now it's time to solidify the core and start looking towards World Cup qualifying as well as the World Cup. So I think coming out of this now, the names on that next list are going to feel really, really big because they are clearly the ones who are going to have a step forward. And there's a lot of options. Like you look at this camp, you look at all the camps that have happened and there are very few players, I guess, in my head that haven't performed. So it's like, where do you find the Delta between all of this? One of the names she brought up was Sam Mesa, who we were really excited to see in this. And I thought she dominated the game against Ireland,

the way she was brought in against Canada of like, okay, let's close this thing down and win this and being trusted in that moment. And that's a position pool that we have said, like maybe there is a gap in an opening for one more player in there. And I felt like Sam Meza did everything she could to take that step of like, I can sit a little deeper, but her passing when they when

they recovered the ball, I thought was really, really clean. And I thought she helped move the game from right to left, which is massive with this team because people can overload against some of these wingers. The biggest thing for me, Goss, is when I see all these players come in is they've already been in and now they have that newness and that freshness. Like they understand the environment because you don't know going into a World Cup, what the heck is going to happen every time we've gone into a big tournament.

I can think of a number of players going into those tournaments who have gotten injured and have not been able to participate. You know, I think my mind goes back to like Lindsay Tarpley and Abby Wambach and you know, those names But now no matter who like I hope that doesn't happen. But if that were to happen There are really good options and there is depth in in understanding Izzy Rodriguez comes in and she she is good with these players around her and those are the players we chose So we're maybe going to choose her over Alyssa

Melanson because those that chemistry wasn't there and you get to develop that understanding as a coach and write all your notes about the relationships that those players had. So I think that that to me is one of the biggest benefits of this is just you never know what's gonna happen and it prepares you for the unthinkable. And yeah, I agree. I think because players are going in at the top of their game, they're performing really well. And they're understanding that just like most players do when they get that shot at the national team, like this is a dream come true and I want to do my best. And you know it doesn't feel like there's a lot of pressure on them because of the where we are in the cycle. So they also can play a little freer. And I think as Izzy sort of said like even just the fact that Claire Hutton is ready to

to sort of tell you what what happened which is absurd but is the world we live in. But I think it also goes to show that newness of, okay, after you get that first experience, then you know the ropes. And now all of these players have had that first experience. So for the next two years, in reality, you could only call up players, no matter who's hurt or what happens or who's out of form,

who at least have one taste of what this is and are not coming in blind and understand what training looks like and how the hotels are going to be set up and how travel works and how to look at the iPads have looked at the iPads and sort of have an idea of how you see things tactically or maybe can pick some of some of it up now before they get to camp because they sort of understand the language you're using and what you're trying to build. And I think that is absolutely massive as well because you don't know what thing, you

know, a year ago we would have said like triple espresso, put it down in pen and move on and now we haven't seen that a single time. And yet there is still a high level and I think as you said, just stuff happens and you have to continue. Let me ask you this question. I'm going to ask it poorly and you can go wherever you want with it. Is Alissa Thompson good enough right now to be the best attacking player on a World Cup winning team?

Because that is how the last two weeks have felt to me as well as the last five months going back through She Believes Cup, but for sure those Brazil games. Yeah. I do. I sure those Brazil games. Yeah. I think she could be. She is playing with this confidence that... confidence is such a finicky thing. When you have it, you are flying. When you don't have it, all you want is to get it back. And right now she is, like if the World Cup was right now, I think this US team would be a challenger, right?

They would be challenged as we've seen from some of these teams that are in Europe. Spain, France, Germany. Yes. But they would be a challenger and she would be their key cock. She would be the player that initiates everything for them. And it has been, you know, I think, I hope that what we see from her is different than what we've maybe seen from players of the past of really young players who have a couple of good early seasons and then take this dip and then have to like reinvent themselves

and come back. I feel like she's reinventing as she goes and finding ways to solve problems as she goes because because she's been playing in a league so consistently that makes her adapt. She's now growing exponentially more than maybe other players in the past who didn't have the the likes of a league with such good strong competition all the time. So yeah, I think it's fair to say that. You know, if, if the world cup was now in the U S were in that competition, she would be there it girl. Yeah. And, and none of it's in a vacuum, right? And that's part of this, why this is possible is like, yes,

she could be that player on a team with the spine of Naomi Garma and Sam coffee and Lindsay heaps, right? Like that, all of that helps. We've seen her do it a team with the spine of Naomi Garma and Sam Coffey and Lindsay Heaps, right? Like that, all of that helps. We've seen her do it though with a couple of different partners. I think part of what we saw with Angel City coming into this is she has been isolated a lot and had a lot of pressure on her in her very young career. And you talk about reinventing yourself.

Like she has almost had to find herself for the first time in reinvention of like, okay, I can't just be- Which might be a benefit. A hundred percent. I think it really has like, okay, I can't just be a benefit. A hundred percent. I think it really has been, which is I can't just be a straight line runner and be a back plus finisher because no one else is, is doing some of that. But also like who am I as a player and how do you link up and get control while also getting into open spaces and being able to run and get on the ball. But that confidence, you feel it as a fan of like,

she's attacking the edge of the box with a little bit of pace. Like you just feel like she's gonna blow right through that defender. And if she wants to get to her right foot and get a shot away, she's already there. She wants to get to the left foot and get to the end line. She's already there and it's-

Exactly. And some of that is like not just confidence, it's ability and skill and like she might be that forever, but it has been really impressive for me to watch that and be like okay and Michelle Cooper has elevated her game and and Lindy Indolo obviously had a huge camp and he has me Ryan played well and Olivia Moultrie there's a lot of options but I think it feels very obvious to me that like you're looking at one where if everyone's healthy she is still fighting for her spot.

But gosh we live in the United States we should have a lot of options. You're looking at one where everyone's healthy, she is still fighting for her spot. We live in the United States. We should have a lot of options. We produce some of the best women's players consistently. There should be options because when there's options, there's competition. That breeds intensity that Izzy Rodriguez talked about. It's not intimidating, it's intense. You have to have competition for it to be intense.

And I think that is naturally like continuing to evolve and make this team better and because they know like, if you're not performing the next player, you're the player is going to come in and they're going to play well. And so you better keep your spot. On top of that, I would say, so one, I'm really excited to see the year and a half of everyone spending time fighting for spots going into a World Cup, going into a CONCUFW, and all of that. And as well, I think it's one of these moments where there are

players in these camps that are not locked in starters on their own club team, because there are multiple players on their club team that could play I think that's where you feel a little better about expansion coming of like there's enough There is enough talent if teams do the right thing and invest correctly And I know in saying that we're now flipped with like some of the bottom of the table Chicago being the main one feels really far away. I think a lot of that is self-inflicted It is not the reality of the player and talent pool. I think that's really exciting.

Like you said, there should be enough players. Ali Centenor, like Olivia Moultrie, Yasmin Ryan, all these players are fighting to get into a starting lineup for the US Women's National Team. And some of them play in the same spot on the same club team. And like, you can push more of those players through. It was really, really fun to watch these games.

Let's finish off here just real quick on Kansas City. She said like, you know, the shield is the goal and it feels completely reasonable. I liked how when we asked about last year versus this year, she went straight to the defense. And like, it's one of those things that they were saying last year, but you couldn't see it. And then this year immediately out the gate and Lorena, a part of that. But I think overall, this team has found a balance

and ability to be dangerous while being composed and clean in their lines and therefore conceding less chances while still creating a number of chances. Do you think that's just time together? Do you think it's slight changes in personnel? Like what do you make of their improvements? Time, changes in personnel, yes, because they identified that they needed center backs. As a center back, it is a position that you look at and you think, okay, you can see everything, right? So you control a lot more than I think people really understand. You control the line of confrontation

If you don't like where they're pressing you're pulling players back and you're being vocal about that You're telling the midfield in front of you when to step where to force like there is a lot of communication I like that Izzy spoke about Kayla Sharples and how commanding she is back there. That was a really interesting piece little nugget I I thought because you don't always get that when you're watching a game like you get that when you're in the stadium and you can see that happening but it's time and it's understanding the nuances of Kayla likes to step in this moment but drop in this moment or she's a little more apt to step. So now Elizabeth ball is dropping right and I think as a team, just being one of their

advantages is they've found this formula, it seems like. If they score first, they can defend and actually give up more space because they've created a lot more cohesion. And she's mentioned Vakos plan is very detailed. It's like I've had conversations with him of the details that he goes into. And it's, it is beyond what I would have even thought. And it's very interesting to hear him speak about that, but that takes a while to execute and especially when you're, you know, players getting injured and then a new player is coming in. And I think one of the reasons that it's worked with Alana Cook going out with

the ACL and Elizabeth Ball coming into that spot is because she's already been there and she understands everything that he is asking of her. So it has been, I liked that she said that, that one of the things that we were really proud of is our shutouts. And that is different than the team last year, right? You think of that barn burner four to three start of the year and you're like, whoa, this is a different team than that was. Yeah, I think last year you sort of said it well

in terms of this year, this formula of like score early, drop deep, it creates transition space. Last year it was like, can we light the game on fire so there's transition space, but we'll give it up too. And this year they have this ability. The other thing is, I think with Bia being healthy with the way Dubinio was playing before the injury and obviously the elevation of Michelle Cooper's, they're also better in possession.

So I think there's like less of a fear factor internally of like, we got to get out, we got to open up the game to get chances because if the game closes down We're in trouble like we don't really have a plan B offensively And I think that allows you to have that little bit more comfort to be able to sit in and the blackout conversation It's interesting because it's it goes back to some of the national team talk Which is like you just don't get enough time with the national team and some people are made for it and some people aren't And I think when you are around and hear about Emma Hayes, like she seems perfect for it, which is creating an atmosphere and environment and being able to push little buttons here and there. But if you want to say like, I

need my left center back to know when they need to take two steps left to close down that channel and when to come inside and how to react off the right center back step and all of that, you may not get enough time. And I think we saw in twenty twenty three amongst other issues, which was the lack of experience, a quick change over in generation. It didn't feel like the players were playing that free. Yeah. And you do feel like they're playing free in Kansas City. And I think it's now the system and all of it is so innate that they're not thinking about it anymore.

And so they can play the way they want. And then when you go muscle memory, you come back into the style and all of it is so innate, they're not thinking about it anymore. And so they can play the way they want. And then when you go muscle memory, you come back into the style and system. I just thought of something with the national team and how different it must be for Emma versus Blocko. Like there was a lot of pressure on Blocko to win a World Cup. And he came into a, like that was,

it was a long run up to the World Cup. Whereas Emma was like, you're hired, here's the tournament. And so there might've been a more short term pressure on her, but now the long term is relieved and she can live in this freedom of like, all right, we can actually create an environment that I want in a, in a free way, like without the pressure because the pressure will slowly build back

when the World Cup is in the close vicinity. And I feel like with Blocko, he now we're seeing that with him at a club level. The success, they trusted him, they wanted him to have this. There is long-term stability there, so he he can be free and he can operate maybe the way that is a little bit more authentic to him. And yeah, it's been so fun to watch this Kansas City team and to see the moves that they have made and how all the pieces work together. Yeah, and all the goals they score. Let's just just be real all the goals they score don't hurt either I'm gonna leave it on this I know we've discussed this a couple times because the work you were doing around

the Club World Cup but like I am excited to see eventually one day this Kansas City group against anyone in the world because you are now talking about a squad that is internationals down the board. Like you could start seven, eight, nine full internationals in this team in their natural positions or you could have some come off the bench. And that's an easy way of saying this is a deep group. This is a really good group. And I'm excited to watch them for the second half of the year. I think they play Louisville right out the gate.

I think they play Orlando as well right out of the gate to start the second half of the year. I think they play Louisville right out the gate. I think they play Orlando as well, right out of the gate to start the second half of the year. So we're gonna hit the ground running with all of that. And it's gonna be a ton of fun, but we're gonna continue to cover all things women's soccer here. We're gonna do a little bit more Euros facing show next week as well,

but with another interview coming out of NWSL. So I think that's gonna be really, really fun, as well as keeping it all part of our weekend recaps and everything else going on. So thank you once again to the Kansas City Current and Izzy Rodriguez for taking the time to join us. As always, thank you to you Jordan for being here and thank you to all of you for listening and we'll talk to you again very, very soon. you