SoccerWise - Utah’s Rise, Houston’s Slide & NWSL Parity Questions

Episode Date: May 13, 2026

Utah continues its incredible start to the season, Louisville picks up a statement win over Portland, and Houston’s early-season momentum may finally be fading. David Gass and Jordan Angeli break down another wild NWSL weekend, including Kansas City’s resurgence behind Temwa Chawinga, the current state of the league, and why there may not be a clear NWSL super team this season. Plus, a preview of a massive San Diego vs. Washington showdown.00:00 Intro + Weird NWSL Weekend03:49 Utah Royals’ Incredible Start16:10 Louisville Bounce Back vs Portland22:47 Houston Dash Concerns Growing27:46 Kansas City Rolling Again31:16 NWSL Parity & The State of the League39:31 San Diego vs Washington Preview44:00 Portland vs. Angel City + Utah vs. Louisville

Hello, everybody. Welcome back to Soccer Wise, David Goss and Jordan Angeli, with you for an action-pack NWSL episode you could argue. There might be more action than some of the NWSL games this weekend. It was a weird one. Some zero-zero-zero draws, some one one that, I don't know, maybe it felt like no one knew who wanted to win or no one wanted to win, whatever else going on. We do have one game coming up in a couple hours that we won't obviously be talking about as much as the boss. and Legacy face off against Orlando. We obviously had the one midweek game last week as well. But we will preview a weekend to come that has some huge games, especially Friday night.

So buckle up for a late Friday night on the East Coast and a nice little action-packed one on the West Coast. And we're going to talk a little bit big picture about where the league stands eight match weeks into the season. Jordan, how are you feeling? You ready to rock? Ready to rock. I'm doing pretty good.

It's been beautiful outside. It feels like we're just dipping our toes into summer and I'm here for it. I just. A little fall spring or true spring, one of the two. True spring. You know, after our snowstorm last week, it just feels good that. Oh, yeah, I forgot. Did you get nine inches or whatever it was?

I think in Denver where I was at, we probably got like four. But my parents and my sister got a good amount, like so much that we made. a snowman bigger than me. Wow. I made a snowman bigger than me with my niece and nephew. Okay. Yeah. And the amazing part was Denver went and played an NWSL game that was weather delayed

and it had nothing to do with that. No, nothing to do with it. It was its own weather on the side. We had sheets of rain in Orlando. Like you could barely see the field that felt like. That was wild. For a little bit. I love that Mike Watson, Lori Lindsay on the call.

We're like, this is the worst rain. It's like, they spend a lot of time in Orlando. They're in Orlando. Prime loves Orlando. They love the 8 p.m. Eastern time kickoff, which is a lot harder to do on the West Coast. And yeah, they love a little Marta and Barbara Banda and everything else. And it rains fairly often there for games. So for this one to be an outlier, I think shows how bad it was.

And you could see it on camera. Then we had a full slate of games on Saturday and Sunday. As I said, that Denver one moved around a little bit. So we're going to dig into all of that. Reminder that we have turned on our new soccer wise woso page on Instagram. We got a ton of interviews that we've been putting out over there that we've been doing over the course of the last few weeks. We'll continue to do going forward. Really fun opportunity to talk to the players, the coaches, executives, all the people who really make this league go.

For us, we love to talk the soccer. And so we don't want to fill up our episodes with interviews as well. But we also love to talk to all of the characters. that, you know, make us engaged with this sport and especially this league. So it's a really fun opportunity. We've got power rankings over there, working on some data stuff as well. So there's a lot to consume if you care about NWSL and women's soccer in general. And so pushing everyone over there as well as our clips.

I know you're going to be on the kickback committee with Susanna this week as well. And you're going to talk about some of the big news around the world of WOSO, including female coaches coaching in the men's first divisions in Europe, including the Champions League coming up on the women's side in Europe, and then obviously all things NWSL. So let's dig into the weekend, though, first. And we've got to start with the tip of the cap to the Utah Royals. We have said, we're waiting for you.

You tell us when to come in. And Kate Delfava said in the preseason, she's like, we know, we know the MO, and we're going to try what we are best not to hit that. And it's funny we're doing this this week because it's the first time this season they've not scored a goal coming out of this weekend. But it did extend their undefeated streak to seven games to open up the year. It was a zero zero draw on the weekend with Bay FC, which has kind of become Bay's M.O. To an extent. And it helped, though, this team move into, I was trying to say, I think they're fifth right now in the standings.

And all of this, fourth, even better. All of this, though, Jordan, is the best start in Utah history and probably the most consistent run in the club's history, even with some of the hot finishes they've had over the last two years. Well, think about the last two years. It's taken them more than half the season to get five wins. Yeah. And they've already gotten that and two draws to go with it. So, yeah, I, you know, the one year, Utah, the one year I don't back you. And I don't say I believe in you from the start that I was a little hesitant.

is the year that you decide to come out hot and really prove us wrong, I guess. You know, I just wanted you to prove me right earlier in your lifespan of being a club, but it's been fun to watch Utah. And I think over the last, now it's been almost two years under Jimmy Coonratz, you see the things that he really wants to implement. And they haven't had, I would say,

things, the personnel, and they haven't had the fitness to be able to do what he has wanted them to do. And it feels like right now, I'll knock on this desk, that is wood of mine, they have everybody. It's like a Shakespeare line. They have fitness in their group, not only physically, but the players that are available. And, you know, I think last year I had said Kaylee Real was going to be. defender of the year. And now with her healthy, you can see why I said that last year. It's because they have really solidified a lot of things and a lot of it has to do with just having available players. So yeah, Utah's been like we round of applause to Utah for just

toughen it out and figuring it out. And one of the issues on top of the fitness that we've seen in the past was the soft goals against them in their down moment. And so they had all these ideas that in possession, if all the levers work and everything goes the right way, we'll score goals, we'll create chances. And all of the mistakes in that over the last two plus years have just been Achilles heels brutal, where it's like, okay, didn't create the chance we wanted. Now we reset. Now we rebuild. It's been scrambling. And then it's been personnel issues, right?

Mandy McGlynn had her run of form last year where it was soft goals and mistakes out of the back. And so this team was just always against, like up against it, even before they were really able to find form. And that was on the season overall and then in matches individually. And then you look at a team this year where real coming back has been a huge piece of this. Naurumi coming to this team, I think now is a massive piece of this as well, where they are able to clean up mistakes, even if it's giving up a set piece, it's okay because it's not an open field opportunity.

They've been able to clean up mistakes while being danger. as well. And we talk about balance sometimes with some teams. Boston's a big one right now of like, do they have to overplay to create chances? And Utah has found that on both sides of the ball. So I'll speak to the other side of the ball and just the balance that they've found in the way that they attack is they have outside backs who serve really purposeful roles in what they're doing. Their right back, they want their right back to get as high as possible. And oftentimes they're building in this really wide three back. And so it's pushing Yanni Thompson all the way to almost she looks like a winger at times.

She's all on the back line. And they can be really bold with what they're doing with her because Monaghan likes to tuck inside and play in the pocket. And it really works on that side. On the other side, they bring in Miyabi, who is comfortable with Tanaka, who knows Naurumi. And you have this Japanese connection with them. And Miyabi wants to play in that like internal channel. And so now you can isolate Chloe Lacos in that left wing spot and get her running at players, which, no thank you. If I'm a defender, I don't want to defend that.

And she knows that. And so Lacosos goes right at defenders all the time. And so you have this really nice duality to the way they play. And we briefly touched on this, but because on how much they commit to when they attack, they are going. And they are saying we're throwing as many numbers as forward as. possible because they have that really high line of attack that pushes back the back line. It's oftentimes the second wave that then keeps the ball alive and then Utah can to stay in possession and keep the pressure on and that has to do with their fitness. Like you mentioned some

of these players who come in and provide for them, Nerumi being one of them, I think are true like can play that true eight for this system. But it's next to her and Ana Tejada, she's fitter than she's ever been. And she can cover ground and she can win the ball back and easily just like, she doesn't have to do more than you need her to do. She doesn't have to be Naurumi. Which I think she's been the example of the issues with the balance in the past. Like as an individual, it's her experience has been the team experience. Yes. And it's been, she's been stretched so much. Like she is, I've, I've always really liked her as a player, but she's had to play as a holding midfield. She's had to play as a centerback. She didn't play for a little bit. She, you know, she's had this experience that

hasn't been easy. And it feels like now, because the pieces are in place and, and, um, Jamie Coonrots, gosh, brain fart, Jimmy Coonrots can play the way that he wants to with the pieces that fit the system that he wants to play in. It's actually taken a load off of her and every player. It feels like not every player has to pull as much weight, maybe Tanaka, but I think. think she's worthy of pulling that late. And it just, it's a real joy to watch. It's been fun to watch them. The other thing for Tanaka, which has just been a godsend for this team, is that last

year she spent some time being that center forward. So having the responsibility to pin centerbacks and play high. She's at her best underneath when she has a second to pick up her head. And with the way the wide players, especially Chloe Lacoste, attacks back lines with their speed, it creates a half step where Tanaka has space to work. You saw it super obvious in the goal last week against Houston, the opening goal where it's like the slide rule passed to perfection. But can you imagine Tanaka having that much space towards the top of the box last year to operate? And that's where now that this team is cohesive and the backline can step up and everything can go

forward, it's created this bubble underneath for Tanaka to operate where she can be at her best. And so it's now moving your best player into her best position with the confidence behind her. And I think with Tahada, part of this issue has been they had that spell at the end of two seasons ago where they were a high possession team. Their best run. Yeah. The game became predictable for her. And I think one of the things I was talking to someone about in light of Boston sort of like, okay, as players specifically coming from Spain, what has been the challenges and experiences in NWSL? the speed and the physicality is obviously an issue.

And the way that the Spanish national team doesn't affect them is the game is fully predictable because everyone's on the same soccer brain and everyone has the same level of technique. And that's what allows them to hang in games where maybe they don't have that advantage. The problem is when you take a player out of that and you put them into another team,

if not everyone else is on that same soccer brain, they struggle. And so I think you saw what Tejada when Zornoso was in and that team was at their best to end two years ago, they were it was predictable I knew where you knew mistakes weren't going to happen so you could step in because if you get beat or if you lose the ball

Tahada can't chase you can't close down like those are the issues I think a lot of that has gone away with the Rumi coming in and being more predictable and cleaner and it has allowed everyone else to sort of take some risks and be the platform to that and then on top of all of that there's just belief and I think that's the part that I felt from Kate Delfava in the preseason which is understandable.

She's a captain, like, you know, she's been to NWS health finals, right? She has belief in herself. But it just feels like this team, even when it's been against them, they've had this level of belief that they belong and that they should be challenging pretty much since they've come into the league,

at least maybe past those first three months. And that part, it feels like now fits perfectly into, plus the results are there. Yeah. And I would think if your other teams in this league who are trying to work through some of these kinks, Chicago. That was the team I was thinking about with the belief issue.

Yeah, you find hope in this, like, actually just stick to the plan. Like, you hired this coach for a reason, and you have to trust in the system that they want to build, but you also have to give them the pieces to build that system. And I think Naurumi is a good example. I think bringing in Miyabi and Lacasseh. Like, she just came over, gosh, what, I guess it was at the end of,

of 2024, but then she got hurt. So it's, you know, it's, there is a method to these coaches madness. And sometimes it's really frustrating and it's hard when things aren't going right. But it's been really, I just felt really happy for these Utah players because they have grinded out some really difficult moments. And because of that, it feels like they're really united. And they truly do believe in yourselves. You mentioned what Kate Delfava said in the preseason.

And like, she knew it was there. And the fact that they get to see the fruits of that labor is great. They've only given up four goals this year, Goss. And I think that's another big thing is they have two really good goalkeepers. Mia Justice, I think when McGlynn was injured, showed that she could be a starter in this league. Hello, Columbus, Atlanta. And that competition, yeah, that competition is vital when you want to be one of the best teams in this league. If you look across the league, some of the best have a really good, as Saskia Weber

likes to say, one and a half, not number two, but a one and a half who pushes that first goalkeeper to be the best that they can be. And I think you see that with Utah as well. Five shutouts already on the season. As you said, it's been great defensively. They've scored in all but one games, the most recent one. That is the draw zero zero with Bay FC. BayFC sitting in 10th place right now in the league. They are a bit of a known 1-0-0-0 game coming for every team. So maybe not on Utah, totally in the inability to get the full three points there. For this Utah team, they will face off against one of the other groups we want to talk

about, which is racing Louisville this weekend, who were the darlings last year. And yes, I will say this for myself. I'm quick to fall. I did a Houston thing. We're going to talk about Houston and the struggles they've had. Last year I was all in for Louisville. Two years ago I was all in for Utah. Like, listen, why restrain yourself?

Just have this like open energy and love and then get hurt later. But the higher you are, the bigger you fall, but you get the heights and you need to open yourself up for that love. You know that cost. You need that in life. As a Knicks fan who's going through a full experience right now, I can tell you that, that is the whole vibe. But for Louisville, it's been a struggle this year. Friday night at home against Portland did not feel like the turnaround was where it would come. with the way Portland has played the season.

Going down one zero and six minutes to a Sophia Smith goal. Did not feel like where the turnaround would come. And then Louisville roar back at home. They end up making it a 3-1 win. Emma Sears, I think it was a stoppage time. Third goal, Kitty O'Kane with a brace. And to start the weekend, Louisville kind of shocks everyone and gets a big result for a team that is slowly starting to get healthy

and find back who they were last year. Yeah. You know, Louisville is one of those teams that, since their identity is so strong, teams know what to expect. But I think we talked about this at the beginning of the year when I think I put them lower on the table than you might have.

I think I had them eighth or nine to. Yeah. And I was like, well, can they get better at the things that they're already good at? And can it not be predictable, right? That's one of the hardest things is you go to Louisville and you know that this is going to be a dog fight and you have to be willing to put in the fight. And I felt like for most of the game, Portland looked up for it. And the thing about Louisville is they're going to have to figure out a way to have more chances than I think that they've had in previous years.

And they did that. They, they 20 shots, eight of them, well, five of them on target, which for this Louisville team, I think playing a Portland team who hasn't given not very much in the opposite direction was to me a sign that, okay, they're, yes, they're going to hit you in transition and they showed that. But when they don't do that, because MS here started on the bench, like, how else can they hurt you? And they showed that they can get numbers forward still. And I would say in the last couple of games with that Malay brace two weeks ago and then

KD. O'Kin getting a brace, they are adding and layering a little bit of possession into what they're doing. Not a lot. I'm not saying a lot because I don't think they need a lot. But that little bit has helped them regain the ball high, sustain attacks, and then get more shots on target, which they're going to have to be able to do because you can't rely on just a few shots in transition to continue to win games. Yeah, it is that sort of that progression that we were hoping to see.

I think part of it was, and I some of my belief, which I don't know, maybe was short-sighted or whatever was the young players they had brought in, it felt like were specified to the system, where last year, as they found the system during the season, it's, okay, can we like make these pieces fit? But it's not custom-built. But the issue with this year was with the injuries, none of those players got a chance to, like, slowly come along and learn the league

and, like, find where they fit off the bench. It was like, okay, you're a starter now, and the entire game is reliant on you, or you're playing out of position. Yeah. Obviously, the return of Aaron Wright is like everything to this team. It puts Flint back in position and her ability to just like clean things up at the back and manage the back. And I feel like it has unleashed the fullbacks to go back to, well, you're our advantage,

which is as aggressive as you play, more numbers in the attack, we're whipping and crosses, we're high for counter presses. I mean, I think they press off opposing goal kicks as well as, if not better than anyone. else. But that only comes if you're high up the field and willing to take those risks. And if you're scared of getting beat over the top, then you just can't be that team. So it feels like a lot of that has started to mix together and fit together now. Even without this, right? It was a 1-0 loss the week before. It was, I think, two 1-0 losses, one of them at Washington where I thought they at least went toe to toe. So it's been coming for them. The goal scoring is not guaranteed where

I think with some teams, you watch them and you're like, okay, it's all right. It'll, you know, it'll come at some point. Because they don't have a true elite finisher, there is a world in which Louisville outplays teams consistently and doesn't get the three points that they deserve because they don't have that one position, but you'd rather be out playing teams than not at this point of the season

and figure out that part later. Yeah, I will say, too, because of, it was a three-to-one win. It didn't feel like a three-to-one game. Like, Portland definitely had their chances, But the thing about Louisville that I'm really, I liked last year, but I'm continuing to just put more stock in this goalkeeper is Jordan Blumer. When you can make it predictable for her, she is going to make big saves.

And yes, Aaron Wright has something big to do with that. They actually went with two like speedy centerbacks with Peterson and Wright in this game to try to try to mitigate Sophia Wilson. She really got two breakaways that she scores one. and I think the other one gets saved by Bloomer. But I just, I love the intensity of Jordan Blumer and how much she brings to this Louisville team. It's hard for a goalkeeper to like set the pulse for a team, but I really do feel like she is their energy giver.

Like she gives off so much electric energy with her reactions off of saves that I think it gets them in the right mindset. So I would be remiss if I didn't talk about how excellent she's been over the last few weeks. And I think she will keep them at a place where, you know, they're climbing the table right now. They're not where they want to be. But if they get to where they want to be, a lot of that will have to do with Bloomer. Portland, such a hot start to the season that they remain in first place. They also announced, I think, today, that McKenzie Arnold's contract has been extended. So she will be there through the 2027 season.

So I think it was an option for next year that's been triggered for this team. So she will be back. The expectation is I think she'll be the starting keeper for Australia at the World Cup. So I had a big opportunity for her to sort of be a part of this Thorns group ahead of that and then coming out of that next season and was one of the big signings over the last few years, one of the few real experienced players in what is a very young group. So Portland will look to bounce back this weekend. That's one of the games we'll talk about coming up in just a little bit.

But before we talk, it's a more big picture. We have to touch on what happens on the other side, which is what will happen with Utah in three weeks and then I'll have to come back here and do this. It is, my beloved Houston, Dash. The fall off has come now. Finally, they have failed to win in the last four games, three losses and a draw, two losses in the last week by itself. So they lost on the weekend four one to Denver. That one was at home in a weather delayed game. that came off the midweek two zero loss to Utah.

In the Utah game, I think one where Houston would feel like they played well and don't have the result to show for it. And some of that I think is there was so much great individual moments and quality in the opening stretch that when they played well, they got the goals for it and they were leading and then the game states fit them. And right now that's not the case. And you are starting to see some of the mistakes at the back. which is always going to happen if you try to be a high possession team

or you try to be a team that plays through pressure. Because for Houston, a lot of the chances they create is you press us and we're brave enough to play through it. And when we play through it, then we've got the space to work. And right now, when they do break, they're not creating the chances they want out of that. And then on the flip side, the mistakes will come when you try and do that and they're getting killed for them.

And that was the case with this Denver game. Mm-hmm. They are like a high risk, high reward. type of team. And so, yeah, they want you to press them, but also they want to press you. And if they get broken down, there's so much space because their, their outside backs are better attackers than they are defenders, that if you break those first lines, there is space to work into. And there's a little bit of, not chaos, but it feels like if teams, because the third, the third Denver goals come, comes off a 16-pass sequence. It wasn't as if it was,

was like a quick transition at all. It was Houston was back. But there does feel like there is a little bit of, okay, whose player is this? Like when there is movement off of the front line into the midfield, because there's responsibility for Colaprico and Graham or Puntagam or whoever is there to pick up some of these runners that come off the back line. But if that doesn't happen and the communication isn't there, because they are so fluid when they do go forward, it feels.

feels like if they get pushed back in this lower defensive position, which I think one of the Utah goals comes from that too. It's like they're not solid enough defensively in that lower block to be able to manage it. And it's a shame that we're sitting here talking about this because how like Utah are. Yeah. Houston at the beginning of the season, they were just relentless in their press and would win the ball back and then it's players running everywhere and you don't know who to track and you don't know where they're going to go and their commitment to get numbers and movement off the ball was there was a free flowingness to it that now when things aren't going right gosh when they get the ball it does feel like you can see them thinking do you know when that when you see

that like you're you're like okay they're trying to think of like how do we do this instead of just playing the game like it felt like they were truly just in a zone and playing the game and now it's like okay, how do we get out of where we are now back to there? And that can be the hardest thing to do in soccer is like get that confidence back. And they look like a team right now who's just, I mean, one goal in four games is brutal for them after the start that they had. And this one's especially tough because I think you could say the last two weeks with the North Carolina and the Seattle game, they were dangerous.

They created chances. They probably should have scored more than they did. it's the last two games where the chances haven't come as much. And the part for me that I felt I was sold on was, I thought the chance creation was repeatable. And, okay, so Van Zanton isn't always going to finish at a 120% rate. Fine, there's enough chances in there that this team will continue to get results when that happens because there will still be those repeatables.

Because Patterson will get forward and Olmark will be there or Raider will be there. Or, you know, Fossi now will be there. And even if all of them finish at a 30% rate, there's still enough chances there to get a goal or two a game. And so I think these last two games are worrying. Now, we should say for a young team, it's two games in a week. You're the only team that played two games in a week. That's tough. You add in a weather delay where the game doesn't start on time.

What do you do with the two hours while you're in the building? All of that, I think, really played against them. So you go at altitude to Utah on Wednesday night. You come home into a weather-de-laid game against a team. that didn't play midweek. So there's some like solace in that, which you can take and try and hide behind. But if you're Houston, that means you have to bounce back this week and come back with a big result.

So you don't want this to sit. And to do so, you are heading to Kansas City on Friday night, which is a tough matchup. I think it opens itself up to some opportunity, which is they're going to press you. But you are on the high wire there of any mistake right now. Casey looks like they did last year. and it's Schoinga and it's Cooper and it's Debenia, you know, attacking you in space. Do you think Kansas City should press them, though? I don't think.

I don't think they should. I don't think Kansas. I mean, she's sitting in a mid-block, but do you think they'll change? I don't think Kansas City has enough of an identity to change for their opponent right now. You can tweak. Yeah, just my thought, because if you sit in a mid-block and with Bailey Feist and Lola Bonta, way more solid now. It feels like, okay, you have a true six in Feist who can kind of be that ball winner, cover the channels into the center forwards,

which you're going to have to do with this Houston team and let Lola Bont to be the connector. But if you let Houston come out a little bit with the ball, then they're going to leave that space that you actually want to be in when you do win the ball back. So, yeah, you're right. They probably shouldn't change, but if I don't just, I don't disagree with you. I just don't know the example of when they have shifted that over the last year and a half.

And I don't know that you have enough. Maybe when they don't have culture capital built up to be like, hey, let's take our foot off the gas this game and figure it out. Casey looks a lot better. 3-0 win against Chicago this weekend. It is reductive to say Timmy's the wing is back and she's the best player in the world and that helps. But it does feel like a lot of that. And like we could talk about fights. We could talk about how competitive.

they've been. We can talk about Croy Buthoon getting more comfortable. Michelle Cooper coming up with you. Like there, yeah, there's a lot of stuff in there. But to me, it's like, Timush Wing is back. There is a six-mile gap between the reasons and then there's anything else you want to talk about.

Totally. Because she just, just her stepping out on the field brings fear to the defenders. Yeah. And when you're fearful, you're going to make decisions that you probably wouldn't make. And you have to protect the space and behind because that's where she's most dangerous.

So then that leaves, what, space for Croyvathune or maybe Ali Settnor or DeVinia or whoever you want to be that connecting piece. And so, yeah, it's a huge different. And then Schuenga to get a hat trick. First ever Kansas City hat trick, which I thought was pretty shocking. Are you serious? First ever hat trick, one, for her, two, for Kansas City. They have not had a hat trick.

Wait, I'm sorry. In two years, Timmer Swinger never scored a hat trick. That's what they said on the broadcast. She won the MVP and Golden Boot, like back-to-back years? Yeah, that's what they said in the broadcast. That is wild. I didn't hear that, so I had no idea. If you had asked me, I would have said this was like her fifth.

Yeah. Because there were all these games where they, especially the games year one where they were like 5-4, 6-4. Well, a lot of her goals too were like, she or her records were goals, consecutive games with a goal. Yeah, she scored every game. Yeah, every game or two a game. but I that's wild but fascinating to hear and it's awesome to see her back and healthy and obviously a big moment for Kansas City.

So the attempt for some of these big teams, Portland as well, for bounce back this weekend, but it brings us into our next conversation. It's just bigger picture state of the league right now and we've been doing these power rankings. We're going to continue to do them. Sometimes we'll do them in the show. Sometimes we'll chat about them afterwards. They will come out on Instagram and on Blue Sky Forest. every single week. And we kind of felt like there was a top four that we had built over the first few weeks.

That has toggled a little bit as there's been some up and down performances. Utah. Starting in there coming out, Utah pushing their way back into it. But I think it feels safe right now to say that there is not a super team in this league. And this is coming off two years where we had at least one, if not two. Orlando two years ago, Kansas City last year, and Kansas City shattering every record that Orlando had set two years ago. And there's a few different ways to look at this.

One is, okay, is this the quality of the top teams? Is this something there? Or is it the strength of the league or not? And I'm just curious where you land on sort of what the reasoning is for this and where we sort of sit right now. It's interesting because I think if a couple of results would have gone differently over the weekend. We might have been saying something different.

If Washington won instead of drawn, I think we might have. They drew, oh, they did win. They won one zero. They did win. I feel like, I don't know. Washington could be pressing as a super team. Portland not winning.

I think they kind of take themselves out of like a super team category. Oh yeah, Washington got that goal in that boring game. It was a brutal game. So boring. It was a brutal game to close out the weekend. And it was last game of the weekend. Claudio Martinez came off the bench. She scored.

She's got three goals, I think, now in her rookie year. The part of it that was super team-ish was you watch that game and you were like, it's either a draw or Washington's going to win, which has a little bit of the inevitability to it of like this team is very, very good. But they are not wiping teams. And it feels unlikely that this Washington team is going to grow a 12-point lead and clinch a shield with six weeks to go or anything like that. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And I think that then you just talk about that this is the, is it the depth of the league or is it just the shuffle of players because of free agency, you know, no expansion draft anymore, but now there's free agency. And so players are moving a lot more than they were. And now teams, and teams get to hold on players a lot longer than they used to be able to. So I think of, you know, a Utah team who now over the last two years, maybe

two for two years they weren't successful but now that they've had everybody together year three they look like they could be a team that makes the playoffs which is is big for them so i i would mix it in this category of overall like strict depth of the league but also um that's a confusing thing to me because the depth of the league doesn't also like it doesn't show up in like oh this team is way better than, I don't know, do you know what I mean? Like, I'm having a hard time articulating. I think we have, I think there's a lot of teams that on their day could beat each other, which makes it hard because like Louisville can be Portland.

Yeah, so there's no days off, which means for teams that are quote unquote better, there isn't the like, ah, we cruise through a bad game, but we still picked up six points this week and now we're moving on to the next week. I think there's also an element right now and I'm curious what happens post summer. with the hip rule where there isn't that there isn't three players that you'd say on the top three teams that they're going to win every game they're on the field for and therefore a San Diego can just lean on that right. San Diego needs to play 11 players to perfection to win. And that is there's an advantage there which is okay if we lose one player our season's not over.

The disadvantage is everyone needs to show up every single game at a really high level. the odds of that happening are not as high as Temwa Shawanga has played well for a whole month because that's what she does because she's the best player in the world. I think I figured out what I was trying to say. Okay. The 11s, like the depth of this league when it comes to how strong every 11 can look is there. Like you can look across the 11s and you're right. There's not there's not too many outliers where you're like, wow, that 11 is way better than that 11.

but there are teams that have roster depth that are going to, I think, push themselves farther this season. But there still is parity in this league. And I don't know. We talk about this a lot, I think, in expansion years because there is a shuffle. And there's also there's a lot of new coaches in the league this year. A lot of coaches who never lose before they come here. And now they're losing a lot. What does that do to a coach's confidence?

And like, does my system work? Can I get these players to play my system? Can we win? You know, just think about the mentality of some of those coaches like Martin Hogan or Macklind or these coaches who come in from places where they win championships every single year. Now you have to prove that you can do it. And you're doing it with a good 11.

How do you make them great? I think is another question. So there's just a lot of movement this year, too. I think the coaching side is massive because I think that's one where as much as we love to watch San Diego playing and they're probably the outlier and as fun as Houston was and what they've built, there are not a lot of teams that you can say, well, the system's going to win games. I think you could have said that with Casey Stoney in year one. Now there was talent there to help it. But I think you see that in a way that maybe a Felipe Patow and Nick Cushing have not stuck to their fundamentals as often early on. changes the consistency of the team's results.

I think you bring up expansion just like from a base point of view. If Nichelle Prince is on Kansas City and Ellis Stevens is on Gotham, like, those teams are better than they are today. And those are two players that you've lost. And you look on the flip side at Denver and you just go down the spine and North Carolina would be better if Denver didn't exist and, you know, Orlando would be deeper. And it's not saying that because with free agency as well as with the options overseas, not all these players maybe would have stayed in NWSL, maybe.

they would have moved anyway and they would have moved in places that wouldn't have added the same depth as we see. But like you are one player short probably across the league in terms of depth because you've taken a full roster of players and added them to the league even with the international players that have come in. And I do think on the hip side of things, I think a bit of the unknown meant that teams, if they're going to use that spot, it hasn't happened yet. Like we have Trinity Rodman. We don't think so is under that. roster designation. We're not 100% sure. But the list of the Barcelona and Arsenal players who are on this Guardian 30 or whatever it is and all that stuff, those players haven't come in yet. And if they do,

now you can say, all right, expansion teams, every team has to be one spot deeper, but here's a million dollars to spend on that spot. Then maybe it ups things or maybe it just adds more parity to the league. But I do think the floor on the league is high. I think the floor on teams is low. I think the range of performances we get going through the season. And then part of that is midweeks being added. Totally. And that's where the World Cup break will be fascinating because it's this break with in a situation which we've had every summer, except normally these players are killing

themselves for the biggest competition of the year to then come back. And now there is international on the women's side, but it's not a World Cup. It's the men's World Cup. And so I wonder if you get players back after half, you know, a third of the season, physically fresh and working on ideas how good the soccer might look in July and August is going to be really, really fascinating. It's going to be a huge part of this season. Looking forward, though, we've got a big weekend coming up. So four games on Friday night, three of them, 10 p.m. Eastern time, all at the same time. And we are obviously going to highlight San Diego

against Washington. Washington played Sunday in Seattle. So my assumption is they're staying on the West Coast, which is not an easy thing to do. And now they go down to play against the San Diego team that I thought, especially in the second half was really good against Angel City. I thought that game in general was electric. It wasn't maybe the quality I expected to see from those two teams. And that's partially an issue right now for Angel City. But in terms of like the energy in that game, it was frenetic, it was chaotic. There is rivalry there. It feels like it matters a little bit different. And now this one has to be the same for San Diego. Because you mentioned it. If we had to pick one, I would say Washington are favorites to win the shield. I think

Washington are favorites to be a super team. They are already a dynasty in my mind because I'm not a trophy rings culture person and like going a back-to-back finals being second place back to back. Like this is an error of your team. But they feel like they have landed on a lot of things. Andy Sullivan coming back helps. I think the swap at fullback has really helped, whether it's Weisner are Carl at left side. It allows you to invert players. And it just feels like this team has finally started to click. And they have Degu Gleelmo as well who can play on either side and almost play that

internal channel instead of why. I like what Washington is doing. And so this game is going to probably challenge them. It should challenge them the most, right? Because San Diego is going to be a team who wants to play through them, who wants to have the ball to get all three of their forwards on the ball in isolation combined with their midfielder's godfrey has looked really good um i think there are so many pieces of this that are going to be interesting i i wonder if this backline can handle what yeah washington gives them the san diego

backline because um yeah just i just think about the game against orlando and how dynamic the front three looked and you not only have to have a really good back line, you also have to have a goalkeeper. And you could see the relief on Didi Hadichich when in San Diego wins that game. She's going to have to have a massive performance. And I think continue to have, you know, now that she's back healthy, a mass performance almost weekly in order to keep that spot. I do think that that is a hard spot for this San Diego team because they want someone who can play out of the back.

they've had and been used to that. And we'll see how that looks against this Washington Spirit team. It's going to be fun to watch because I think there's no world in which San Diego doesn't come out and take possession at home and sort of play higher up the field. And I think this is a Washington team where the issue this season was in ball dominant games, how do you create chances? The issue isn't really in transitional moments how do you create chances. San Diego can't do anything about it. They can't change the way they play because that's their talent. And so it's going to be, I do think, strength on strength with this,

which is can Kuwasi and Trini Rodman get out into transition and create chances and score? And if they don't, can Van Zanton and Moroni make them pay for the space that they provide when they step forward? And the issue for San Diego then is the finishing quality of with no Cat Macario in the team right now, that final chance hasn't been there as consistently as they would like. Duginia is the closest they have, but a lot of it is also chance creation from her. And I just think you're talking about like strength on strength across the field. And San Diego, okay, midfield, you're going to dominate the ball,

but you're going against Hal Herschfeld and Lacey Santos and Bernal. Or maybe we do get Andy Sullivan's first start. And it's like that is a clash of Titans that I'm always going to sign up for. And so I do think with a fun part of this is probably not, okay, who has the weakness that can be taken advantage of? It's whose strength comes out and dominates and plays at their highest level, which that's why I like watching soccer when it's fun. So it has real potential to be one of the best games of the year. That one Friday night, two games on Saturday, and then the two games on Sunday, we wanted to highlight Portland Angel City at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, and then Utah, Louisville at 8 p.m. So for Portland and Angel City, both teams try.

to bounce back from losses, both teams that came out hot, out the gates for Portland. Okay, up and down, it'll happen. You'll take it. I think you'd also take a Sophia goal in a week where you don't of like she continues to get hot and feel comfortable. And this is also another game states one where Portland don't need a ton of possession. Angel City would like it. They haven't been as dangerous as they want to be with it.

Jordan, and I think there's real question marks right now in terms of like the confidence of this Angel City team to play the way they want to play. Mm-hmm. Yeah, because it was coming so easily. And when they had space and behind to utilize the pace that they had up front, it felt like, oh, well, this is going to be an easy year. We're just going to trump right through. And now they've felt a little bit of resistance. And I think that this is where you really start to see if teams can hold their own here in NWSL is when you get a little bit of the friction. And so how is Alex Strauss working this team? It's going to help the, that they have, Maya Nusback. I do think she's been, she just, she brings the bite, clearly. Against the ball as a 10. She's as good as anyone in this league.

Yeah. And her late runs, when they do, when they can stretch the field and her late run coming into the box, it's hard to track. And she's done a good job of being an outlet to get the ball and drive at the back line to try to create and stretch the spaces for Angel City. So it'll help that they have her best. I do think Angel City is going to, they're going to have to find themselves with the ball in

playing through the midfield a little bit more. Like can you get the ball to Newsmore? Can you get it to Martin to switch the point of attack to get those isolations that you want? Because if you're just trying to build quickly and go quickly, it's going to be a difficult year. But if you can be brave to stretch a team to or to pull a team to one side and then switch and isolate, I do think that they can continue to find success. And especially with the outside backs of Portland, like they are good, but they are not excellent one-v-one defenders in what they do. So I think you can get after them in moments. And I think one of the things for Angel City, which

they're going to have to figure out is like, obviously Fuller scored a million goals last year because she was the center point of the attack. They didn't create a ton of chances, and she finished all of them. Then you start this year where you've now pulled her first. they're away from goal. And I just think all of her best skill set stuff is stuff happening in and around the box. And so she's not as comfortable. You've also killed

some of the space for Giselle Thompson to come into, which the first two weeks, three weeks, it didn't matter because of the rotations. You were getting enough pressure inside and this was some of this without Jan's daughter, which I think is a factor. It felt like Thompson was getting there. And then you watch the game this

weekend and there's a few times where she steps into the inside channel and gets the ball at the right time and is coming at pace into the box and is dangerous 1 v1, a great decision maker, all those things. But it doesn't feel like enough of that. And so I don't know if it's whether it's same personnel, but just the ideas of like, okay, let's play, maybe let's pull Fuller in a little bit more central and let's have sort of, or sorry, Riley Tiernan as well, of like let's have them more central alongside Jan's daughter and then the space is there for our fullbacks, but it just feels like there was acres of space in the opening month of the season. And for Angel City, all of that has shrunk. And it just feels like the game has gotten a lot tougher

for them. And then you see some mistakes at the other side, which they can't play through anymore because now that goal against goes from, oh, we're only up 3-1 to we're down 1-0 and we're chasing the game. But this one has huge potential because Portland, as you said, has their weaknesses, but like they're lethal in the other direction. And they've got to about four players in the attack who can go by themselves or can go as part of the group. And Angel City are going to leave some openings there. So I think this is one that also could have some fireworks. And then the final one of the weekend is Utah versus Louisville.

So the team that we just talked about of being the darlings of this season and everything they're capable of. And then Louisville on the other side who were that story last year and are starting to try and find their feet again. It'll be a fun one. And I think if you're Louisville, like, this is the exact matchup that you, like, lick your lips to because Utah's on a run and you love nothing more than just to destroy those types of things. And you're coming off a really good victory where you feel like you're gaining some momentum. There's some interesting matchups this weekend. This definitely, I mean, I think if you would have asked us a month ago, are you looking forward to this game? I don't know if we would be whistling the same tune.

And yet here we are. And the one thing that stands out is if Louisville is going to press. and go high all that. Doing at altitude is a huge test and we don't know the answer yet of if they're capable of doing that. And so as you said, they knocked off Portland's run. Can they knock off Utah's run now? But this is going to be like all hands on deck as tough a matchup as you're going to have at this point of the season, which is big for them as they try and return to the postseason. Well, we'll be back every single week to talk at NWSL. We love doing it. We're excited for the game's reminder Tuesday night game. So we didn't hit that one. But we'll be back with all

reaction we've got all our other shows covering all the other leagues world cup and everything else as well thank you to all of you for listening thank you to you jordan as usual for being here we'll talk to you again very very soon