SoccerWise - Retirement Day Across NWSL, USWNT Roster & How The 2025 NWSL Season Stacks Up

Episode Date: October 15, 2025

With the playoff push at its peak right now Jordan & David jump on with a lot to talk about. First they delve into the flurry of retirements being announced from Christen Press to Lauren Barnes. Then they check in on standings to see how the playoff race is shaping up, and look back on 2024 to give context to the current season. Finally of course the crew digs into Emma Hayes latest lineup selection.

Hey, everybody, welcome back to soccer-wise, David Goss and Jordanjali with you for this one. I saw someone write it out that way, and now it is stuck in my head, Jordan. We've got a big show coming up, a lot to be excited about. We're also on the verge of a international trip for you. So we've pre-recorded some interviews that we'll be running next week that we're really excited about as well. But it is retirement day, apparently. Everyone is retiring.

So if there's news you'd like to give me, just, you know, be warned that I'm already fragile. No, no, no news. No news on the retirement front. I'm good. I'm good to go. Cool. It is bizarre, and we'll talk about this as we go into it. I'm sure you've experienced this already.

life using that phrase for people who are very young and going to do many things in their life. It's very strange when I tell, I retired when I was 29 and I remember being like, I'm already retired. I'm retired now. And I can't pay for anything. Do not invite me to your pickleball classes. No, I can't pay for it. I will be retiring and then working six jobs at a time to make sure that I can pay my mortgage. Which has changed a little bit now. Yeah, it has changed. For some of these players, which is good to hear.

And we're going to talk about some of the great characters, some of the great pillars of the league that are announcing their retirement today. We will talk about the playoff push. Of course, we got a little bit more clarity this weekend. We've had some big bounce back performances from teams like San Diego and Orlando. Then we're going to talk big picture about just where the league. stands this year compared to last year because it's been hard for me to contextualize a little bit of like, why do I feel better about Louisville than I did about maybe the bottom of the playoffs

last year? Why do I not feel like there is the same championship contenders that we talked about last year week after week after week? Then I went and looked at numbers and it turned out those feelings have some backing to it. So we're going to talk about that. And of course we will mention the U.S. women's national team who announced their roster earlier today coming up for the next three games under Emma Hayes and talk about the weekend to come in NWSL. But first, we got some big news today, the Coachella Valley Invitational, which is a preseason tournament that happens, you are correct, at Coachella, which is in Palm Springs in California, has announced the teams that will be participating coming up in

26, and one of them is going to be Denver Summit. So the first time we see the summit on the field officially in their jerseys doing their whole thing is going to be at Coachella against some other big NWSL clubs like Angel City, like the Portland Thorns, like Seattle Rain. And I think, Jordan, it's going to be a pretty cool moment. Yeah, this Coachella tournament has been happening for a few years for the men. But I like that last year, I think it was the first year last year with NWSL teams. And it is just as a player, I'll say, Goss, when you're at that phase in preseason, season where you're just, and especially if you're in a cold climate, you just want to go somewhere where you can like walk outside and be in shorts and like feel like a soccer player who's

not bundled up in all the layers all the time. So I am excited that this just continues to get bigger, this Coachella tournament for the women. And it will be really fun. It's something that I know you and I are looking forward to. I think Denver Summit fans are really looking forward to seeing the summit when you just said that the jerseys like that's a cool thing to think about the jerseys on the field for the first time and the players so what a cool experience and nice to know now what teams are being are participating in it it is angel city Denver summit Houston dash Portland thorn San Diego in Seattle rain so a good test for Denver right out the gates and as you mentioned for anyone whether you're a player executive agent or fan

It is a pretty perfect, like, spring breaky, get away from cold, go watch soccer. All of the fields are set up next to each other with the mountains in the background, and you get a little bit of nice weather, and you get to hang out and watch soccer. So, I think, what? I think pitchside coffee should bring their trailer out there for a little afternoon pick-me-up. You are all over the place right now, because we are going to be talking pitch-side coffee next week. No, I know. This is a preview for that.

We can talk about it. I know. This is a preview. We will have Kristen Hamilton on the show, who is one of the founders of Pitchside Coffee. I fully agree with you. Let's make this the robust soccer. Like, in my mind, because I, my wife worked at the NBA, and they had something called the Summer League. And I know talking to Susanna earlier today on kickback committee, she talked about spring training for baseball teams and traveling to an Arizona or Florida. Like, to me, this is the clear one for soccer, which is it's a place you want to be at a time you want to be there. and you just get to, like, be around all the soccer and get the vibes and get excited for the season.

So the tickets are officially on sale tomorrow. So you can go out and get those. Now we know our NWSL teams. A bunch of the MLS teams have been announced as well. I think 12 or 14 of them are already out there. So if you're thinking about planning a trip, it could be a pretty good one for 2026 and beyond. The players now that we know won't be around there, at least not playing, are some big names. Let's start with Kristen Press, who just announced her retirement in a letter, I believe, on the athletics.

She has her own show, so many of places for her to say it. And Kristen Press, of course, two-time World Cup winner, 157 caps and 64 goals in her international career, and has been a big-time player with some of the biggest teams in the world on the club side, played in Scandinavia for a couple of years, played for Manchester United, and then, of course, here most famous for her time with the Chicago Red Stars. the Utah Royals and then most recently Angel City where it has not been a perfect straight line injuries have delayed her ability to play as much as she would like to but has been a huge presence around that club and now one of the all-time U.S. Women's National Team Greats is hanging up her boots.

Yeah. And it's one of those where I'm just happy for her because she gets to do it on her own terms. It was a really difficult ACL injury with a lot of hiccups from Kristen Press coming back from that. But she's, there's got to be so much pride in her end of this all career, 121 appearances, 49 goals. I'm sure she's hoping that she gets a chance to get that 50th goal come these last couple of weeks of the season. But I think the thing that most of us will remember about Kristen Press is the way that she could just start on the right side, cut inside, and just, it was like clockwork, the way she could bend the ball with her left foot to the far post.

I mean, she could do it either foot, but I will remember this last goal that she scored in NWSL where she came in and within 24 seconds scored for Angel City was a game changing goal for them. And, you know, that is Kristen Press to a T. Steps up in big moments was a huge part of the national team for a long time. And yeah, just happy, been through injuries myself. It's just nice when you get to do it on your own terms and you feel like your body is healthy and it's actually your choice and not your body just breaking down and you having to

step away because of that. Yeah, it is, I think when she made this announcement, and of course, we've talked about her a lot over the last two years, hoping to see her more on the field, you go through the highlight reel in your head and you see all of the goals and her ability to take defenders out of the play in so many different ways at such high speeds and then that two-footed nature and the ball striking ability was one of the greats. And I think, sort of helped continue the era through to 2019 when it looked like some of the great attacking players, Abby Wombeck specifically, but some of the great attacking forces of the national team were either injured or we're moving towards retirement and it's like, well, who would be next in that

list? And it felt like Press was that player a lot of times and was able to carry the attack in some huge moments. And of course was part of two of the World Cup winning teams, which is pretty great moments to be a part of and pretty good groups to be a part of. of as well. Can I tell a cool story? I believe in the semifinal. Actually, check this. She scored a goal, I want to say in the semifinal of the 2019 Women's World Cup.

And I had a really fun role for that World Cup as I got to cover the team from a fan's perspective. And that meant when I went to the games, I sat in the parents section, the family section. And so as, you know, I got cool videos of Lindsay Horan's parents, Sam U.S.'s parents, Sam U.S. his parents when they scored their first World Cup goals and Kristen Press's dad was sitting right in front of me when she in these things just like it felt serendipitous that I was sitting next to the people all the times when it happened and I got this awesome video of her dad getting

to celebrate her goal right after she scored it and got to share that with them right because that is a moment that would have just gone away and never been seen but to be able to gift that to them in a way was really like not about me but for them to have that moment for the rest of their life was really special to be able to give them so was it the semifinals yep scored in the 10th minute against england to go up one zero then they conceded nine minutes later and then Alex Morgan scored 12 minutes later to go back up to one I assume that's the tea sipping celebration because it was again England.

Yeah. And I don't remember that that happened before the 2019 World Cup. Like, I think that was the moment I established it. Yeah. So, yeah, that's a, first of all, great memory. And very jealous of that one. I actually interviewed you, I think, while you were in France. We had you on maybe it was extra time at the time.

It was extra time. Yes, yes. To talk about the World Cup and preview a bunch of stuff. And you were having a pretty good time being in France, which sounds like a cool thing to do. And they obviously went on to then go with. the World Cup and a huge goal for her in a huge career. Not the only, though, legend stepping away. So Lauren Barnes, 13-year NWSL career captain of Seattle, the first NWSL player as of this weekend

to make 250 career appearances in the league, 238 of which starts her 20,940 minutes is the record in the league. And then it all goes from there. first player to win 100 games across their career, 2016 defensive player of the year, defender of the year, three shields overall in her time with Seattle and Lou Barnes now announcing that she is going to step away from soccer at the end of the season. I said it. We had some of the biggest names and some of the pillars of the league.

And I think this is what you're talking about when you say a pillar of NWSL. This league was built on Lauren Barnes's back, really. What she did on the field, but a lot of the things that she did off the field, and I think on the field, she will go down as a player to me that has been maybe the most underrated when it comes to the consistency in her performances, game in and game out. Seattle isn't a Shields team two years back to back with just the offense they had, right? It's with the defense that they had to, and Lauren Barnes was a huge part of that. she is one of those players that everybody who plays with her says how great of a teammate she is and you can tell like that culture in Seattle is rooted in Lou and what she can provide for this team and I and I talk consistency 300 238 starts out 250 games she's only not started 12 games yeah

Like that is, if you want your mind blown out of a 13-year career, you're only not starting 12 games. That is, you know, easiest person on Laura Harvey's team sheet every single week. Captain, I think maybe Jess Fishlock spilled the beans on Friday when we interviewed her post game and she said she will, she will be missed or she will, she said something in the past tense like she was already gone. And I was like, oh, well, I guess she's retouched. tiring and here it is the and i just i think this is going to be a great celebration for her in seattle one that this city just adores her and really really uh loves that she's been their captain for so long so i hope that she really feels that on on i think their game is on sunday i don't know this weekend when they're in seattle and um i feel like it'll be a really special

moment for her so their game is on friday october 17th Oh, I should know that. I'm on that game, but I got my game switched. They are hosting Utah. They also do have the possibility of hosting a playoff game. So it may not be the last home game for them. And they are currently sitting in fifth right now. They are one point behind Orlando for third, or excuse me, one point behind, tied on points with Gotham in fourth, which would mean a home playoff game.

But yeah, this is a club where a little bit of a downturn, the last two years, but the level of consistency, and Laura Harvey is a huge part of that, but you talk about the spine of a team. And this is the type of player that you could rely on, and the floor was always really, really high, and

that is how you build championship teams, and that is what allows the movement of star attacking players or change of ownership. Like, a lot of stuff has happened in Seattle where it hasn't been perfect, but the team has remained competitive, I think, year and year out. And you look at

Like three rebrandings since she's been there. They rebranded and they rebranded back in name and in logo. But they've always been competitive all those years. And I think this is a huge part of it, having like a core like this and having a staple player that you can build everything around. So a huge moment for her, for the club. And congratulations on an incredible career. We look forward to seeing what she does next. And the other player announcing retirement is Kristen Hamilton, who I mentioned at the top of the show.

We will have on next week in our episode. It's the international break next week. So we're going to have Kristen on to chat a bit about her career, everything she has been through. She has won four shields and three championships across three different clubs. She currently plays for Kansas City. So it could be four shields and four championships before she retires an unbelievable career on and off the field.

Part of some of the great teams in history and has a little bit more of a chance to make some history this year. but we're really excited to have her on and let everyone sort of hear the stories of what she's been through and what her career has been like. Yeah, it's a fun conversation with Kristen and a friend of mine and just someone I'm so, you know, the other two I know

and have been in the league with, but also had conversations with my role as a broadcaster a number of times. But Kristen was my teammate and to see what she was able to do from really a player from Denver, university who scored a lot of goals and wasn't really that hyped coming into the league to now being only one of three players who has won three shields. It really tells you that their,

you know, success looks very different for a lot of different people. And sometimes when you bet on the right people, they, they will show you what they're really worth. And it's been cool to see Kristen have such a successful career. She was the last player drafted in the 2014 draft, not the last of the first round, the last of the entire draft. And now 11 years later, she has seven championships and could be on her way to her ace. So congratulations to all three of them on their careers. Send us any memories you have of these players or any favorite moments you have of them. And we'll go through them on the show.

You can leave them in YouTube comments. You could send them to our blue sky wherever you want to hit us up, comments on our Instagrams as well. Let's talk about the current playoff push that we. have with this league it was a little bit of a hold steady at the playoff line this weekend north carolina a one one draw with washington louisville a one one draw with chicago now on the face of things you could say maybe overall that's a good thing for north carolina right they hold their own against the second place team in the league and louisville not able to take a full three points against chicago they are still sitting four points apart from each other on the other

the Gallander's starting to run out. There's not a whole lot of time left. We'll talk about the weekend coming up. Louisville has Gotham, so that is a tough matchup. But I would say overall, North Carolina, it was a lot of the same story. They played a really good Washington team, a full squad for Washington at home in the rain,

and they were more aggressive in possession. They had a lot of the game, and they don't generate a ton of dangerous chances. They're only able to score the one goal. and overall, you're looking at these chances and thinking these could be the difference between making the postseason and not. And I think that's a story that we're going to say about North Carolina when we come out of all of this in the end. It feels like that. It feels like it's just going to be, even if they get the two results that they need, it feels like it's going to be too little too late for this North Carolina team.

And a lot of that has to do a chance generation and shot creation. and we've been harping on that what for the last since caroline left this team right and that has been difficult for this north carolina team to replace that to have a duality to the way that they attack it's hard because we talked about could they get a result in the washington or in the gotham game right they have got them the last weekend of the season i believe and this result on paper like you're thinking that's a good result that's a playoff result that makes you feel like you can keep yourself alive and it just push it to, you know, you never want this, but like we could then be in overtime and are we the fitter of the teams? Do we have the ability to get it to penalties? And then anything can happen. And I think those are some of the things that you start to think of when you're in this time of the year is the mentality of the group. And so it does feel like mentally this North Carolina team has belief. It's just, are they going to be able to get six points in the next two games? yeah um which would be necessary for them to try and make it through um i thought it was interesting

i think jill was on the call for this one and it did mention the lineup shift for north carolina along the back line which they've gone off and on having jacob's start and not having macy ball in a game in which you knew the threat was going to be washington on the counter because cuasi and rodman and kentori and then of course croy baton and i thought that was an interesting to bring up. I also thought it was very interesting that after the week in which it sounds like Casey Murphy is leaving, got back into the starting

lineup, don't really know what that means. So there's just a lot of interesting things going on with North Carolina, but overall, you watch the soccer, Monaca playing at a really high level, impressive. I mean, Jackson Coyama and Monaca was the midfield for

this. I love that midfield too. You could not have a younger midfield and they went toe to toe with Hirschfeld, Nerumi, and Croy Bethune. And I say toe to toe. Like, you watch this game, they were arguably better,

but there is not the final third quality. And that's not from them. That's the help around them. Jane Shaw clearly wasn't it. Ashley Sanchez scored a goal that got called off, which was tough because she kind of celebrated. And then it got called off. So you kind of got the worst case of both scenarios in that one.

But, like, you're still, and I think Linahan's given them some good running and stretching the field, but we're still looking for that fun. final piece. It's going to be hard at the end of this year for North Carolina because I do think they have good, really good pieces. And I hope that they can build on this. And maybe we are talking in two weeks that they're in the playoffs. Maybe that is the case, right? Crazier things have happened in NWSL. But Macy Bell, I think, has had a really good year, especially for her first year as a

starting player in NWSL. Riley Jackson will, I don't think with how other teams have performed. I don't know if she'll make a team of the year. But I think. think she has been one of the most impressive young players in this league. Not even young. Actually, Goss, not even a young player. Not even a young player. And I mentioned it last week, but Monaca is MVP quality this season. MVP quality.

You put her on a team who scores more goals and creates more chances, and her numbers are wildly higher. And they're already pretty good. So I think there is hope for North Carolina, but the hard thing is going to be if they don't make the playoffs. and there's no change in the off season. So hopefully they can build around those players. But, and that's coming off a 1-1 draw to Washington.

You should feel a little bit like more happy about this. But I don't know. It feels, it feels difficult. Yeah. And as we said, that based off the calendar, that's based off all of it ticking down. And then Louisville on the flip side, the 1-1 draw with Chicago, a game that you'd love to come out of and say, okay, we've put all the distance between us and ninth place. are safely firmly in the playoffs that is not the case and now louisville goes in to a game against

gotham but in this playoff race in this playoff conversation it is not just um louisville that we're talking about because the teams in front of them also are struggling to win the portland thorns lost one zero to orlando it makes it three straight losses it makes it five winless for them and it's a slide for Portland at the worst possible time of the season and and it's a team that is floundering right now. So one point ahead of Louisville, tied with San Diego on sixth and seventh. And it feels like, to me, a couple things. But one is these young players kind of hitting a wall and getting performances out of each of them.

And you look at a game like this, no goals, Tordina up top, Turner on the right. Like there's a lot of, and of course, Olivia Moultre pulling most of the strings, there's a lot of responsibility on these players who have not felt this in this way through a season like this before, and I understand the Sugita trade may be not relevant to this, but that's the type of support you could have for those players in a different scenario. It just does, it does feel like if they had one veteran in the attack, one veteran in the attack, right? If it was an attacking midfielder, if it was a nine, I know coffee likes to add into the attack, but I feel like that would balance them out a little bit more to have that ability, that

doesn't have to all be on these young kids and they're professionals right they chose that they chose to have this path you choose with it to have some of the responsibility but you just think if if wilson was in this even morgan weaver if morgan weaver is in this group right just you take a little bit of that weight off of these players who are having to carry so much weight and it does feel like it's slipping at the wrong time for Portland um and they've got a couple chances to right the ship, but it's getting, it's getting down to the wire. Yeah, and M.A. Vinola has actually been a good ad as we talked about. Athleticism, aggression, a little bit of that experience as well,

but not a pure chance creator or finisher in that team. And so it hasn't been enough to elevate this group over the top. I think I saw something about Rob Gale talking about a ground coverage number eight to play alongside Sam Coffee that they just weren't able to land on and get in. you could understand that being a hole maybe they'd want to fill. And maybe that's part of the conversation of if that wasn't a starter in Sugita, now they're looking for a starter. But that's all stuff that's going to happen next year.

And I think for this Portland team, I think back to in San Diego in a similar spot, last year with Chicago, where they flew a lot higher than we expected. But the downturn at the end of the year was so bad that coming into this year, it was like a connected point, even though they made the postseason. And like last year in August, we were like, oh, Chicago is one of the surprises of the year. They're having a good season. And then they limped into the postseason. They got blown out in the opening game against Orlando.

And it was almost all a negative rather than a positive. And it carried over to this year, they weren't able to shake it off. And I worry for a Portland team that's built a lot of good stuff on young players and San Diego as well, who we'll talk about in just the moment, that that negative downturn at the end of the season could color a lot of what's happened to them. Before we get to San Diego, though, let's talk about Orlando, who have turned it around

and they've officially clinched their playoff spot and they jump all the way up to third. It is the nature of this year that it can happen really fast, but I think we should touch on the fact that this is a club that had qualified for the playoffs one time in their entire history before last year. So back-to-back playoffs is nothing to sneeze at and should be celebrated. Nothing to sneeze at.

I liked that. I hadn't heard that in a while. Yes, I feel like this Orlando team should celebrate. And especially from where they're at right now, they get points out of the last three games in a row, two wins and a draw, that draw versus Houston. They've got to feel like maybe they are gaining a little bit of momentum. And for Orlando, it's not that the chances haven't been there.

It's just they haven't found the final piece in the attack. for some reason this year, it's been difficult. I mean, we know that without Banda, but also the other players haven't had the same output that they had last season. So with Marta back, and it felt like in this game, Marta got a little angry, and then she figures out a way on a set piece

to make Portland punish themselves, really. But that's what you need. You need a player, especially when you have a Marta on your team to step up and to drive the mentality of the group was something that she did really well last year. And Orlando should be proud. This is a club that knows anything can happen in the playoffs. So get us there.

And I think they're going to continue to count on themselves, even when everybody else isn't. And I would say they are not only the experience from last year, as I'm wearing a purple shirt, which I didn't realize until we just started talking about this, not only the experience from last year, but their style is very playoff heavy, which is really good defense.

defensively, high floor defensively, like, you're going to have to take it from them. And while the attack is not as flowing as you'd like, that's also how you describe the playoffs. Like it is very rare that it is easy to score goals and you do end up in set pieces and counterattacks and messy goals. Like all of it fits them. And that is to say to your point of like, just get there. Get a home game if you can. Get two if you can sneak it somehow and, you know, upsets happen and whatever it is.

and put yourself in a spot where you can contend. And, like, if they win a playoff game or two, I mean, it's already a successful season in my mind of linking the two years and, like, you're going to have ups and downs in all of this, but it feels like in the Ovaeis signing and everything else they've done, Shavushi even as well, like there is a plan to keep this success for multiple years and turn it into an error or a dynasty or whatever, and I think they're still on board for that.

But the margins are tight right now between. all of these teams. San Diego finally getting a win as well and finally scoring goals. Maybe that's even more important. They went down 1-0 at Utah after a 45-minute weather delay in 45-degree weather and rain, so not ideal for a San Diego team. They went down 1-0 in the first 10 minutes. They came from behind and they won 3-2. Doudinia now has two goals in the last three games for the young Brazilian. As San Diego, I think for this one, this is a gut check game. of like everything I just said, and yet they're still able to overcome and get a win is really impressive.

San Diego has, there's been a couple of games this year where it feels like they come with the right mentality at Portland was one of those games a few weeks ago. And this game was like that too, where it was like they're so over focused on themselves and setting the tone that I think that helps drive them throughout this game. And they weren't, I mean, I'm sure Ken Zadali is going to. going to say that she shot that all day. But it's hard to believe that that goal was a shot that she had. But these are the types of goals at the beginning of the season gosh. Those are the things that were that San Diego was generating. Own goals. Crazy shots that end up going in because

they had such a crazy XG differential in a positive way. Now they've been on the other side of things. So you got to think also they've got to be like the dam has broken and our luck is back. And they have continued to, you know, not, not create a ton of chances. They created more in this game than they had in some previous games. But and to know that you're doing that, continuing to create chances, but also you have a little bit of that luck on your side, that you can create an own goal in situations, that you can be so dangerous in the attack that defenders are throwing themselves at the ball

to make sure that it doesn't go on frame and ends up going in. You like, but you like that as a team, right? it gives you a little bit of confidence that you're doing the right things. And then it's nice to have a player like Dugenia who's come in. And I would say the first couple of games were eye-opening for her, but how quickly she's adjusted. It's a hard finish she had on that first goal, really difficult finish and somehow finds the back of the net.

And San Diego needed that in that moment. So I would say this is what, it's kind of weird, maybe not giving up the two goals, especially with Kail and Sheridan. She's always so good. but on the offense, this is what we've, we've been expecting from San Diego. They've set the standard really high, right? They're going to be a goal scoring team.

So can they continue that momentum into these last two games of season? Yeah, I think on the two goals, one, it felt like the first one was maybe the weather of like, you don't know how that ball is going to bounce at altitude off a wet field with freezing rain, all that type of stuff. And then the Tanaka goal, a messy free kick or restart that ends up in the box, all of that but to your point they battle back they create chances they make life hard and they're able to get over the line and again this team like Portland a lot to like about this year it is not perfect but can you resurrect the end of this season in a way to say we're going into the off season in a positive nature and there's belief that we have built something strong and it's just about adding to it and some really cool news for them we'll get to the national team that Kennedy Wesley called up to the latest U.S. Women's National Team roster for the first time in her career. One last game to mention here, June Endo with an insane assist.

As Houston lost 2-0 to Angel City. They were defending a corner kick. If you haven't seen it, the ball's played out. And it's a back-heel flick of a bouncing ball at pace to lead your teammate into a goal, an unbelievable goal. I actually say last game, and I shouldn't, because you were on the call for Kansas City against Gotham, 2-0. win for Kansas City. I put in the rundown at the top sort of like championship preview question

mark. I felt like coming out of that game and I don't think this is the context which this would be decided because your ability to play against Kansas City doesn't decide your ability to match them in a final or meet them in a final. I felt like Gotham stuck with them as well, if not better than any team we saw. I did not feel like Gotham looked like they were going to win that game. I agree with both statements, but you just had. One of the things that I feel like maybe Gotham in the end is going to be more pleased about is I don't think they were as dynamic and they didn't have as much differentiation in the way that they attacked. And so that can be a wrinkle that they add in if they do face this Kansas City team in the playoffs. Because how long did it take to get midge purse isolated in the channel and going one v.1 against Izzy Rodriguez?

is. That has to happen sooner. I don't think that they did a Gotham good enough job when they had the ball to keep it to overload a side and then isolate, which they can be so good at, especially when you have a 1V1 artist like purse. So there's a lot of learnings from this Gotham team coming out of that game against Kansas City. And, you know, Kansas City is going to be confident about the way they disrupted the play. And that's something that they've been very good at all year. Their defensive mentality and how aggressive. if they are in defending, helps them set the tone in games and not just set the tone, almost like decide at which pace the game is going to be played. So I think, I don't know, I don't know if anybody beats Kansas City in the playoffs, but I feel like Gotham is going to be pleased that they have ways that they can get better the next time that they play them. Washington, of course, would be the obvious other one of like, if we're talking about championship favorites. But if Gotham finishes in the four or five seat and it's a second round against Kansas City at Kansas City, I don't think they will be scared of the moment. And one of the

things that I thought was impressive before they conceded. So this wasn't them chasing the game. I thought that Gotham played as high a line successfully against Kansas City as anyone. And part of that I think is Jess Carter's and Emily Sonitz's ability to cover ground. And part of that I think was having the two more defensive midfielders allowed them to close down really quickly. And so everyone's trying to figure out how do we play our game and not get crushed by Schoingo on the break or Cooper on the break or Bia on the break. Like it's a constant alley Sentinel, it's a constant wave of pressure. And it felt like Gotham was the most comfortable, but then outside of that, you need your own chance creation to come as well. Let's talk about the

overall picture of what we are looking at. And to the context of what I was talking about in the open of this show. In 2024, the bottom three teams that made the playoffs were Portland, Bay, and Chicago. Those are the last three teams in. Portland and Bay finished on 34 points. Chicago finished on 32 points. This year, still with two games to play, San Diego are on 34, Portland are on 34, and Louisville are on 33. I never like to say for teams below the top two or three like, okay, so when they win out, games in hand, and throw six points on there. But the assumption is all three of those teams will get some more points, and all three of them will finish higher than their counterparts did last year.

And I think that, to me, mentally helps sort of adjust the, like, I feel like Louisville's had a good season. I feel like they're right there. Portland and San Diego, like I just said, and yet they are teeter on the edge of being out of the playoffs. And I think some of the context there of it is tougher to make the playoffs. this year than it was last year is necessary in breaking down what these teams are and what their 20-25s are.

It felt like there were almost like three categories last year, didn't it? The top teams, the teams in the middle, and the bottom teams. And now it, and those were pretty even. Mm-hmm. I would say pretty even. Maybe, maybe the teams in the middle was the biggest of the, of the group. But this year, it feels like there's a top team. there's two bottom teams

and even those bottom teams right now are not really playing like bottom teams and then there's everybody else it really feels like there's everybody else and I think as the season's progressed we almost feel we feel like Washington should be in that top tier

but points wise they're not you know they're kind of in no man's land they're not by anybody else so it does it's going to be a difficult it has been a difficult year to make the playoffs but also gosh it's been interesting the way that just this season has played out those teams who needed points off of each other don't have opportunities at the end of season really to get points

off of each other they've already played each other right so now it's like the teams in the middle are playing the best teams and they're playing the worst teams so there's not and it's gotham Washington and chicago and utah who are going to decide the playoffs pretty much so there is not a lot of there is movement but it's not those six-point games that we talk about where, like, this could really open up the standings and create separation. There's not really that as much as we've seen in other years, and that's just by happenstance. So the top last year, Washington, Gotham, Kansas City was 56, 56, and 55 points. With North Carolina was the one last year in that weird middle ground. They finished on 39 in fifth

place. This year, Washington are on 44. Orlando's on 36. Gotham's on 35. Seattle's on 35. But Like, they are one point ahead of the bottom. So, like, there is no reason for me to have hit that cutoff line just trying to do comparisons. And you probably end up, my guess would be, none of these teams get over 39 points. And so the third, fourth, and fifth team in the league this year will all be worse on opponents total than the fifth place team last year. And you don't think Orlando will? I could be wrong. They could pick up four to six points.

Based off the margins of what I'm seeing, I'd be surprised if it happened. And I think the one thing that popped out to me is then 10th and 11th this year are better than they were last year. And they will probably finish somewhere between three to six points better. But the points that are now available in the playoff race territory have come off the fact that the three through five is not nearly as competitive. overall do we make anything of this is the league better is the league worse were those better squads and this year they're not the same is the bottom better like is there an overall feeling about the league this year versus last year or is this just the way it falls sometimes i would say it's probably still like some growing pains too like as you expand i would say last year

maybe there is a bigger gap because teams are trying to imprint their identity. Even think about Louisville, right? They're trying to, Bev's trying to figure out what to do. Now this year, she's figured out what to do. And this team has honed in on that. I would say more teams has found their identity. So there's, they're more willing to get points. Like, it's not a ton of points, right?

I think Kansas City runs off with, we know who we are and we'll take points from everybody and anybody who comes in our way. But the other ones, I just feel like because they know who they are, there's not this like, I don't know. There is consistency, even in the wins and losses. Do you feel that? Like there's consistency with, not performances, but like this is what they're going to look like in the wins, in the losses.

And so they can kind of hone in on that. And it feels like maybe next year, I guess it all depends with expansion and players moving around again. If they can keep those identities, I think we might see again just, teams solidifying themselves a little bit more like we did last year. Yeah. Yeah, I think there's not as many easy wins and easy points, and that cuts some of the point totals.

And then I think when you look at the top teams, quote, unquote, and let's just say, right, two through five, Washington, Gotham, Orlando, and Seattle, I was reading last year for a second. They've all had injuries. They've all moved massive players in or out. So they've changed their rosters heavily. to start the year, and then they've changed their rosters during the year, and some of that's positive, bringing in an Ovali, bringing in a Jaden Shaw.

They're still learning curves in time it takes, where last year it felt like the top three, four teams played at like a playoff pace the entire season and were loaded from the start of the year all the way through, and then this year it feels like more teams have figured it out on the fly. I mean, Gotham was in 10th place. like not that long ago and it's like okay this season's a bit of a wash for them and they might finish

third. Yeah. Like reasonably finished third this year and they have figured out on the fly the entire season the way they put this together coming out of the super team identity that they were Orlando of course losing Adriana

at the beginning then losing Banda changing some pieces out moving some stuff around again a team trying to figure it out might finish third as well. So it has been, I think, a much different year. We talked a little bit coming into this year about the expansion and the lack of the expansion teams. It's funny to me that they finished in the playoffs, and yet it feels like this year is tougher overall top to bottom. And some of that's

two expansions. Some of that's not. Obviously, Utah, the first half of last year, was easy pickings, but other teams have been easy pickings, including Utah in the first half of this year. So I think overall big picture. I feel like the bottom has come up. More teams have more identity and are more consistent, like you said. And that's probably where things sit. It is really hard to tell, though, then is Kansas City so good that no one's close to them? Or is Kansas City the team that was best set up to take advantage of what was available, the easy points that were out there, and the total got such a huge gap that when we get into the playoffs, the games will still feel tight or if they will be a team that is ready to sort of storm through teams and run to

the final. And that is what we have on deck to watch. Big game this weekend, Washington against Orlando. That's two verse three. And then Gotham facing off against Louisville, as we mentioned, Louisville in this, if they get a win here, it probably seals things for them in the playoffs, a tie as well. Really, really strong. But these are the two biggest games you could argue of the weekend. And there are games where if I'm coach for Louisville, if I'm, if I'm Bev Yanez, I'm thinking this is a playoff game, right? Like we are treating this like such. And I would say even for Orlando, you're thinking about playing a Washington team

who's going to be in the playoffs, both of you are going to be in the playoffs. How do you properly manage the moment? And also I think Orlando has to think about, I can't remember. number the points now. So this might not be relevant. But I think it is because they're just, they've just clinched the playoffs. They haven't clinched their spot is gold differential is going to be huge. So can you keep this game low scoring? No matter what happens, like you're focusing on defensive structure, being good in attacking the moments. I think same with Louisville against Gotham. You're playing it like it's a playoff game and making sure that you have the right

mentality going into this. I think Louisville is going to feel in a way, Goss, after that one-to-one draw against Chicago for so long, we were talking about Louisville giving up goals late. But the boost, it gives a team scoring a late goal like that to secure a point in a dire moment, that brings and breeds so much confidence within a group that they know that they can get themselves back in a game. And they're creative. creating a lot of chances. So I think for Louisville, it's about, okay, how do we continue to create but not give too much up defensively? And I think that's why I feel like those two are going to be very playoff like games with the tactics and in the mentality of the groups. Yeah, I don't think I mentioned

that it was a Joseph goal in the 85th for Chicago and then a bolster goal off the bench in the 93rd for Louisville to get that win. And Emma Sears clearly the leading goal score on this team by and far. And then over the last six weeks, it's been Weber, Fisher, and Bolster, like, by committee, you'd ideally want someone to land as the consistent goal score for you. But if that's not the case, at least different players are putting the ball in the back of the net and you have a couple different options. And this is, as you said, a huge opportunity for them. They are at minus four goal differential right now. Louisville and North Carolina is minus six. So you assume if North Carolina basically needs to win both games to even.

get you in a situation with a tie, they will be at that at worst, negative four, because to win games, you have to be plus one. And so they are probably approaching Louisville's goal differential. And if it does end up being in a tie, the way you play in these games could be really, really big. On the Washington-Orlando side of things, a huge opportunity to see a potential playoff preview for these two teams. I think for Washington, what do they look like trying to break down a low block?

Like, that's the threat with this Orlando team. and where do they commit numbers? Maybe what does the DNA look like of a midfield in a game like this? Or, you know, they have a lot of different options between GIF Monday and Sophia Cantore and then, of course, in midfield with Lacey Santos and then Naurumi and Kroy. It would be interesting to see how Adrian Gonzalez looks at this matchup and says, this is the group that I want out there for this one. I think in my head, it's a game Naurumi starts for sure.

and maybe it's one that Lacey Santos starts on quote unquote the wing because she's coming inside and linking up and connecting and you already have a Rodman who's going to stretch the field on the other side. But in all of that, Kawasi's been great, Monday's been great, and Kentori's been great still as well. Good problems to have if you're Adrian Gonzalez. And I think he should be given credit for how well he has managed those groups and the group of players that he has and picking certain Rocks,

that help get them the results and whatever team they're playing against, right? Giff Monday wasn't starting. And then she starts game against Houston and she goes hat-trick, right? This is, this are, these are the things that I feel like he's just really hit the nail on the head when it comes to team selection. So that's going to be important for them in this one against Orlando. And I like the idea of Santos just to try to pick the lock coming inside. You have two tens in that situation.

and Carl has been really aggressive and great in her ability to add to the attack. So then she can get a little bit more in the attack and help out in that role on the wing. So these are good. These are really fun games going into the playoffs that you already have to playoff games before it even starts. That's what we like. We like more playoffs as much as possible. And because it's so tight, gosh, because it's tight, they're going to be, they're not just like potentially playoff previews. It's like these teams need points too.

Yes. They need points. The potential for things to get bad for some teams quickly as well. Like I said it, but the idea here is if Louisville wins this weekend and everyone else gets a result and Orlando loses, Orlando could drop from third to eighth just on this weekend. If that's how tight that is. And so like you said, they are playoff games for all these teams. They're first standings. They are to secure a spot in the postseason. They are to secure a home game, and they are potential previews of the team you will be facing or matching up against. So there is a lot to play for all of these teams, and it's going to be a lot of fun to watch. So we have the two Friday games, both of them at 10 p.m., North Carolina Bay, Seattle, Utah,

then a spread-out Saturday set of games, a noon kickoff between Washington and Orlando. Then the two night games, of course, on Ion, and then Sunday. two games back-to-back, Gotham hosting Louisville and then Angel City hosting a Portland Thorns team desperate for a win. Let's close out with our U.S. Women's National Team Conversation. We have an official roster from Emma Hayes for the next three games. It is two against Portugal. One of those is in East Hartford, Connecticut. And then we have a final game at CP Casey Stadium against New Zealand to close this out.

We just got the roster an hour or so ago here on this Wednesday. And Jordan, I think first look for me, this feels like the fusion roster of there became a couple staples over the last six months while finding players of, okay, the Alyssa Thompson's, the emissiers, the Clear Hutton's, like, these are the next generation, but they've stepped into major roles. And then you are bringing back your 1A starters that you knew the Lindsay Heaps. the Lily Johannes is that would be there whenever the European season wasn't on vacation that were going to be a major part of this team. And this feels like Emma's first step in trying

to figure out what is my best 26, what is my best 11. Yeah, I'm just going through real quick of all the players that have less than 10 caps. And I, well, Yasmin Ryan has 12, but I think it's around 14 players that have less than 10 caps. So that, this is that fusion that you're talking about, but also there is such a strong contention of players that will be the next generation for this U.S. team. And I think having players like Sonnet, Horan, Lavell in that mix, even Emily Sands, who doesn't have a ton of caps or Trinity Rodman

or why am I blanking on, yeah, those three. Let's just go with those three. They don't have a ton of caps, but they also, they have really big experiences with this national team. So I like the mixture. I, you said it earlier. Congrats to Kennedy Wesley, who gets her first call up with the national team. And with no Naomi Germa, this back line, especially the centerbacks, is a lot of younger players, minus Emily Sonet, who could probably play in that.

So this is an opportunity for, I think, these players to hone in on if they can, be one of the starting center backs. Tara McKeon has an excellent, excellent season in NWSL. Will she solidify that in this camp? Kennedy Wesley will have an opportunity, and Emma Hayes, most likely we'll give her a shot because she's given everybody a shot, which is so cool to see. And then you have young Jordan Bug,

who's gotten a couple of caps, but most recently playing as a left bat or a left centerback for Seattle and looks uncomfortable. It looks a little uncomfortable, not on her preferred right foot. So will she get some opportunities to play on the right side and really show off her abilities? I think those are, I'm looking at that centerback spot to see how that all works out throughout this camp. Yeah, centerback feels like the biggest flux position. I would say I think the door is open on fullback and I think there are a lot of options, right?

Izzy Rodriguez not in this team, leading NWSL and assists, having an incredible season. and there is a list of players. I mean, we haven't seen Maddie DeLean in a camp at all. Is she a wingback? Is she a fullback? Is she a winger? Could she fit into this? And I think those are some of the positions where the list goes on and on

and center back with Naomi German's injuries, with Tiana Davidson's injuries. There's an opening there. And it's kind of this tough task, which is you're basically, you're trying to audition for Naomi Germa's partner without Germa available to play alongside you. And so you're sort of trying to find attributes that makes sense and then bring them in.

And I said this when Mickey Owen came into the team. I think San Diego is one of the better teams on the ball. They like to build out of the back. I think Emma Hay sees that at a club level and wants to bring that into her team. So that's where Kennedy Wesley gets pulled in probably. And we are told Kayla Sharples was also being considered. Makes a lot of sense as a player playing at a high level. But I think the door is like fully open on that position.

and there's probably five or six players in NWSL that you could say are not obvious but could get a shot at that spot. And I think there's 10 fullbacks that you could say could get into the team if they get an opportunity. Otherwise, not a ton of players that I'm shocked get left off. The big one would be Croy Bethune. And I think Croy Bethune is going to be in this group of players that there are 10 players who are the best players on their team who all probably should play the same position that all are, American and like how are we going to figure out who that is? And that's not we. That's Emma Hayes. That's going to figure that out because I have no idea. Yeah, but you look at Lily Johannes, Olivia Moultrie, Jaden Shaw. You talk about Katerino Macario, Ali Centauri, Yasmine

Ryan, even if you want to bring like Michelle Cooper into this, because some of these players can play wide or play inside, they all could be the 10 on a team that's successful and dangerous. But they all have to play on the same team when it comes to the national team, which is what Emma has built, which is a team with a ton of depth. A ton of depth. And maybe just on that Croy point, I think when I'm looking at this roster, the only player that, maybe Yasmin Ryan, because it hasn't been, it hasn't been really, I think you could look at everybody else, or even Allie Settnor.

I don't think either one of those have outperformed Croy Bathune in their given seasons. this year. But if, if I'm Croy Bethune, you're almost just like not worrying about it a little bit because she is a baller. And I think with that position in particular, and unfortunately with the injuries that Rose LaVelle has constantly had in her career, there's going to be a shot for her. And so you just kind of keep your head down and you support the team. Go win a championship. And that will probably get you a call in. Absolutely. Yeah. So it's a good roster. Good to see Lily Johannes on there, especially right after she scores a banger from, what, 50 yards, 45 yards out in championship league?

Yeah, but it's on a rope, so it doesn't really matter. She probably could have hit that from 70, and it still would have landed in the back of the net. Go watch that replay if you haven't seen it. Yeah, unbelievable goal in Champions League for her. Really exciting roster. We will, of course, be covering it. Jordan, you are going away.

You are going to be away in Portugal for the next week, which sounds terrible. So I feel bad for you. and I will be here. So we have our interview with Kristen Hamilton. We'll have some other stuff that we'll pull in for coverage of the women's national team games coming up. Maybe talk some big picture NWSL stories as well. We've got our kickback committee show that just came out

talking USMNT with Brian Dunseth. That's just about to drop. And we will have another show there on Tuesday where we will be covering all things around it. I'm excited for you. Have fun. Have a great trip. And we'll see you when you get back.

See you when I get back.