NWSL Challenge Cup and Angel City expansion

[govmentchedda]

Huge news this week out of L.A. and Utah.

First, the juggernaut North Carolina Courage were upset 1-0 in the first round of the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup by the Portland Thorns. Seems like an even bigger upset than Columbus over the Lightning last year in the Stanley Cup opening round.

Second, that quarterfinal game where the Courage were toppled by the Portland Thorns included the only goal of that round. Yep, the three other games all went to pens after nil-nil draws. It does appear that the league was not so sadistic to require 30 minutes of overtime before going to penalties.

Third, and definitely the biggest news, is that a group headed by Natalie Portman, Julie Uhrman, and Alexis Ohanian, (Mr. Serena Williams) are starting expansion team, Angel City (temporary name that may become permanent) in Los Angeles. The roster of minority owners is impressive, Serena, her daughter Olympia (2 yrs old), Kara Nortman, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Lauren Holiday, Abby Wambach, Glennon Doyle (Wambach's wife), and actors, Uzo Adubo, America Ferrara, Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria.

Next up is the semifinals, today at 12:30 EDT Houston vs. Portland, and then 10pm EDT Chicago vs. Sky Blue (the NY team). Games on CBS All Access.

The final is Sunday at 12:30 on CBS.

[Sabo]

Third, and definitely the biggest news, is that a group headed by Natalie Portman, Julie Uhrman, and Alexis Ohanian, (Mr. Serena Williams) are starting expansion team, Angel City (temporary name that may become permanent) in Los Angeles. The roster of minority owners is impressive, Serena, her daughter Olympia (2 yrs old), Kara Nortman, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Lauren Holiday, Abby Wambach, Glennon Doyle (Wambach's wife), and actors, Uzo Adubo, America Ferrara, Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria.

While reading this long list of investors, this immediately came to mind:

[govmentchedda]

Definitely has that feel. I get the sense they'll sort this out though.

[A_B]

I mean, 95% of them are just there as story fodder. I can't imagine they're all getting on the zoom call to agonize over every decision. Especially the 2 year old.

[govmentchedda]

I get the sense that they know they need a strong soccer side of management that they don't have yet. I also get the sense that they're smart enough to stay out of the way.

Meg Linehan is the Grant Wahl, Ken Rosenthal, Fatty McButterpants of NWSL and Women's Soccer. She writes (and recently started a pod) for the Athletic. Kim McCauley is also good on the women's soccer beat, but she doesn't seem to be as connected as Meg.

[rass]

We're not actually going to let him get away with that first paragraph, are we?

[P.D.X.]

Bummed this is behind paywall.

[wlu_lax6]

Per the brushes thread..Kara Nortman is my friend's wife (Her husband played lacrosse at w&l and got us not let in to a few places at my bachelor party). She is the one who pulled this together and is very impressive. Big time VC.

[govmentchedda]

Bummed this is behind paywall.

The games, or the Athletic pieces by Meg Linehan?

I'm bummed the games are behind paywall as well, and wonder if for some reason I can access CBS's streaming thing anyway. That being said, with games at noon and 10 p.m. eastern time, I'm not really a candidate to watch them live. It looks like the NWSL's youtube feed has 10-15 minute summaries available, and the final is on the main CBS this weekend, so that's free.

Sucks it'll start right as the EPL games are nearing conclusion. I wonder why they wouldn't just push the NWSL final back to 1 p.m. I mean, if it's already hot AF, at 10:30 a.m., why not move it to 11 a.m. Mountain time?

[P.D.X.]

The games. I'd think NWSL would've gone with a platform with better exposure.

[govmentchedda]

The games. I'd think NWSL would've gone with a platform with better exposure.

I think they were happy to get the opener and the final on the main network, but yes, not being able to access the games for free, or even free-ish, sucks.

[rass]

non-paywalled ESPN summary

I read most of the original The Athletic article. One of the players from the article gave up a real shot at making the 2011 World Cup roster to appease this coach.

[govmentchedda]

That full article is maddening. Fuck that scouser.

[wlu_lax6]

This league is having all kinds of problems. The stuff the Athletic has been writing is not good. Referees and the Washington Spirit nightmare (including Ben Olsen getting the president role)

https://theathletic.com/2856701/2021/09 ... query=nwsl

https://theathletic.com/2816877/2021/09 ... query=nwsl

https://theathletic.com/2764932/2021/08 ... query=nwsl

[wlu_lax6]

So Washington Spirit hire former USMNT Lee Nguyen to technical staff. He may be a great choice but a bit tone deaf right now.

[rass]

Defector article about the dysfunction at Chicago Red Stars

It mentions a couple of times that former longtime coach Rory Dames was a big presence in the Chicago youth soccer scene and a SafeSport investigation related to his work there, but doesn't reference this bit of info from his wiki:

Dames is married to Sarah Uyenishi. Uyenishi played soccer for Chicago Eclipse Select starting at age 14, where Dames was her coach. They have two children. A SafeSport investigation was opened in March 2019 based on receiving “a report alleging that Responding Party Rory Dames had a relationship with a former player, while she was a player on his team, and subsequently married and had a child with her.”

The one NWSL game I saw was one my oldest's youth team attended. It was against Chicago and I wrote in that post that Christen Press seemed to blow off the kids and knowing what she and the rest of the players were going through I feel sort of bad about that. Sorry Christen!

NJ Governor Phil Murphy still owns the local team and there have long been rumors/stories about the housing conditions that sound a lot like that article.

[rass]

Rapinoe with a non-contact injury less than 3 minutes into the NWSL final and her final game and she’s leaving the pitch. Damn.

[govmentchedda]

Ugh

[rass]

BOS Nation off to a rough start

[wlu_lax6]

Yeah that is not great. DC has a team in this league called the Power. They play at Audi field. Not sure the DC Metro area can support 2 women's pro soccer teams. But attendance is up at the NWSL, so who knows.

[A_B]

Screenshot 2024-10-24 at 11.05.38 AM.jpg (46.31 KiB) Viewed 2439 times

Just dropping this in here. Perfectly fine logo. nothing just slightly off at all. nothing anyone would be driven crazy by, for sure.

[mister d]

I was going to make a Winnipeg Jets joke but I like those colors together.

[Steve of phpBB]

Apparently they're doing that because the Ricketts family or some other owners don't like the connotations of "Red" Stars.

Which is really something in light of the comfort and support they are giving the Red Army in Ukraine.

[A_B]

The A is off center.

[P.D.X.]

6-pointed star is fine... the axis of them being a different angle than the background diagonal is what bugs me

[P.D.X.]

The A is off center.

nice catch!

[A_B]

The A is off center.

nice catch!

Wasn't me I just clipped the image from a tweet. Honestly figured Mister D was gonna be a mess about it.

[mister d]

Thanks, I was blissfully unaware.

[govmentchedda]

A new Chedda v. AB rivalry has arisen this fall. Happy to report the dashing ladies of the Tampa Bay Sun beat the outmatched Lexington SC last night 3-1, besting their earlier 3-2 win in Lexington in September. Will they go on a thirty two year win streak? Too early to say for sure, but all signs point to yes.

[rass]

Just dropping in to say that Portland’s manager looks like a villain in 90s or early aughts movie.

[phxgators]

Just dropping in to say that Portland’s manager looks like a villain in 90s or early aughts movie.

Looks like the guy that played the Penguin in the Gotham TV series

[rass]

Just dropping in to say that Portland’s manager looks like a villain in 90s or early aughts movie.

Looks like the guy that played the Penguin in the Gotham TV series

Looks like a guy who blew up his dad and younger brother after his dad passed him over in the line of succession for his criminal empire.

This is a great day for a dude who attended one Sky Blue FC game back when they played on one of the Rutgers campuses.

[mister d]

Looks like a guy who blew ... his dad and younger brother after his dad passed him over in the line of succ...