We have a full slate of seven games this weekend. All times are ET. FRI 4/19 8:00 SD at ORL – Prime SAT 4/20 1:00 GOT at WAS – CBS / Paramount+ 5:00 UTA at LOU – NWSL+ 7:30 BAY at KC – ION 10:00 HOU at POR - ION SUN 4/21 6:00 CHI at SEA – NWSL+ 8:00 NC at AC – CBSSN The undefeated teams so far are: KC (3-0-1), ORL (1-0-3), and LOU (0-0-4). The winless teams so far are: POR (0-3-1) and LOU (0-0-4). NC at home is enjoyable to watch. I do not expect them to play up to their standard at Angel City. I believe the Maria Sanchez trade request will hurt HOU more than the coaching change will hurt POR, so POR will probably earn its first win. This weekend, the two riverside games interest me most: UTA at LOU and BAY at KC.
@CoachJon how does it hurt Houston? Not saying it doesn't, but what do you mean by that? On the field, could they be any worse?
When I posted, she had yet to be traded to San Diego. Regarding playing worse, yes, they could be worse (they could be in 14th place instead of 11th) and what team wants to play with a teammate who they know does not want to be there? Even if she is one of their best players.
11th? 14th? Im referring to how they have been with her there. Just bad. PERIOD. I dont think its on her, but I suspect there can only be one "star" on that team. Salmon...gone. Sanchez...gone. Why?
Is this the year of the African in the NWSL? Banda for Orlando against San Diego looked good in her debut for Orlando. Other Africans on other teams excelling. Orlando is full of talent. It could make a run for the shield. SD looks better on paper than it was this evening. .
I watched the second half of the Louisville game, the full KC game and the second half of the Chicago game and they were all pretty good watches, although I was fairly preoccupied so I wasn't as attentive as I might have liked. Given how bad Chicago usually is, it was pleasant to not be offended. Does anyone know what's up with the Women's Cup (US Edition) this year? Louisville's website seems to indicate that it will be in August playing in KC and Louisville (just at the end/after the Olympic international window, whereas NWSL vs Liga MX will take up the rest of the window).
That was a weird game. It looked like San Diego was playing with lead in their cleats. Slow moving and passing, the whole team looked disjointed. And Orlando played so defensive, I thought they would push their advantage considering how poorly San Diego was playing. Nursing a one goal lead for so long was a risky endeavor, it payed-off this time, I don't think it will work often though.
Yeah, my impression was San Diego was badly losing the midfield battle to Orlando, especially surprising since San Diego was using two holding midfield specialists, van Egmond and Colaprico. I did wonder eventually if weather was a factor. Just before 7PM it was still 89 degrees (with 38% humidity). By 8PM, the temperature had dropped to 85 but humidity risen to 46% The other possible explanation is tactical — Jaedyn Shaw didn't make much impact on the game but that's a danger that some have pointed out when she gets shoved over to the wing to make way for Savannah McCaskill, a newcomer to San Diego's attack this year. There's a way to have them both play more centrally, but there's someone else occupying some of that space and to do something about it may provoke much wailing and gnashing of teeth among fans of a certain player... ADD — North Carolina lost to Angel City, but they're still one of the teams with the best style. Their problem, with Kerolin out long term, is not having players who can reliably put the ball in the back of the net. (I thought maybe Brianna Pinto was their answer but she didn't start)
I have a complaint about the NWSL app on my ipad. I have not used it since Sunday. Since then, the icon color changed, so I assume there is an update. When I opened it, the screen was all blue and said "Please Allow Tracking" with a button labelled "Grant". Apparently there is no way to deny tracking: I either grant access to tracking or don't use the app. If that is how they want it, don't BS with "Please Allow," Just say "To Use this App you MUST allow tracking." Better yet, DON'T requre tracking to let people use the app!
I guess I must have allowed tracking a long time ago, since I did not get that screen. But now having briefly checked out the new website on my computer, it does not seem to me very different than what I saw before. I do not use my iPhone much for soccer website visits, so perhaps the iPhone app is different.