NWSL fans aren’t happy about this one, but two years into the life of the domestic league, it’s a reminder: The women’s game still has priorities, and at the top of that list is the United States Women’s National Team. That’s why, three days before the league begins it playoffs next weekend, a number of players will be in Cary, N.C., playing a friendly for the U.S. against Switzerland.
The squad (which you can skip to by clicking here) features regulars like Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd, and captain Christie Rampone, but for stars like Hope Solo, Sydney Leroux, and potentially Alex Morgan (right), the call up means a particularly busy week. After playing late Sunday in Oregon, the Portland and Seattle stars will fly cross-country, play mid-week, then fly back West, where their teams may be preparing for next weekend’s NWSL playoffs. (Seattle has clinched a spot, Portland currently sits fourth).
With four NWSL matches this weekend, other call ups will face similar dilemmas, albeit with shorter travel times. With the league potentially needing to reschedule a game between Sky Blue and Houston (cancelled earlier this year amid lightning concerns), the Switzerland game is an unnecessary friendly wedged into a jammed league calendar.
It’s a conflict that overshadows our usual talk of surprises and snubs, and with only 19 women named to next week’s team, there some prominent names missing from the squad. The bigger conflict next week is about priorities. But with U.S. Soccer backing the nascent women’s league, many fans are asking for some perspective. Is it really worth squeezing in another meaningless friendly when it makes the NWSL look like little more than a staging ground between national team commitments.
Many of the 19 women called up for next Wednesday’s friendly will have to deal with that tension. The last day of the NWSL’s regular season is on Aug. 17, with four of the league’s nine teams in playoff games that following weekend. In between, those players with postseason roles will fly to North Carolina, take in two days of training under Jill Ellis, play on Wednesday, then return to their clubs for one or two days before a match that could end their 2014 season.
Take the likes of Morgan, Solo, and the rest of the players who’ll take part in Sunday’s NWSL game at Providence Park. Not only are their schedules strained, but they’ll likely have to make two cross-country flights in five days to meet their national team commitments. The group, which also includes Leroux, Allie Long, and Megan Rapinoe, will leave Portland after the game, fly to North Carolina, and presumably make the return trip on Thursday. In between, they’ll train and potentially face Switzerland, giving them little time to recover.
For hardcore NWSL fans, it’s a flap in the face - U.S. Soccer seemingly confessing that the league’s integrity is secondary to the national team’s concerns. And in this case, those concerns can’t be that urgent. Though the U.S. has World Cup qualifying coming up this fall, the Switzerland game isn’t necessary for that preparation. An event like this seems to be about keeping the steady, tour-like presence the national team has, one that allows the team to maintain the type of club-like camaraderie.
In time, those values maybe offset by the needs of a growing league. For now, U.S. Soccer is willing to schedule a friendly between the NWSL’s regular season and playoffs. For a two-year-old league, it’s an unfortunate reminder of how far it has to go.
Here’s the squad:
Goalkeepers: Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
Defenders: Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City)
Midfielders: Morgan Brian (Virginia), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (WNY Flash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
Forwards: Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)