In the three days since we last talked NWSL soccer, the only changes on the local women’s soccer league’s landscape are four teams being closer to a 23rd game, four others falling 72 hours closer to the ends of their seasons. While we’ll get at least one more week with Kansas City, Western New York, Portland and Sky Blue after this weekend’s games, we’ll have to say goodbye to Boston, Chicago, Seattle, and Washington.
And rather than coming back next year, restarting these NWSL posts, regretting that I never thanked these teams for their parts in the NWSL’s first season, I want to summon the spirit of Alanis Morrissette and ...
thank you India,
thank you terror,
thank you ...
... all the teams that we’re not going to see after Sunday’s games:
FOR DIANA MATHESON, THANK YOU, WASHINGTON SPIRIT - It’s a shame Diana Matheson didn’t have much of a profile among American soccer fans before this NWSL season (what do we care about a Canadian star with 152 caps, am I right?). At least, it seems like she didn’t have much of a profile down here, because few talked about Matheson’s allocation to Washington as being a boon to the otherwise dispersal-deprived Spirit. Coming into the final week of the regular season, she’s scored eight of her team’s 15 goals.
More generally, her success is a reminder of how insular U.S. women’s soccer culture can be. Matheson has been Washington’s best player. Desiree Scott and Lauren Sesselmann have been crucial to FC Kansas City’s success. Sophie Schmidt’s provided valuable goals for Sky Blue. Portland’s Karina LeBlanc has been the league’s best goalkeeper, and Kaylyn Kyle’s been transformed into a valuable central defender for Seattle.
Canada is more than Christine Sinclair, which we all knew. But in the buildup to this season, we were so focused on the U.S. allocations that we overlooked the extent to which Canada’s allocations would influence the campaign. And Australians, too, for that matter! So thank you, Washington, for providing the platform from Matheson’s success.
thank you frailty thank you consequence thank you Diana Matheson!
FOR REINCARNATION, THANK YOU, SEATTLE REIGN FC - Because I’m based in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle’s horrible start caused a lot of curious, well-meaning colleagues to inquire about the future of Reign FC. Would Laura Harvey be fired? Would owner Bill Predmore just walk away? Would the NWSL revoke their franchise and give it to the Sounders?
And of course, the right answer at that point of the season was:
Over the summer, Seattle not only improved on the field but off. The crowds at Starfire Sports started to come around. The energy around the franchise changed.
Missing Megan Rapinoe, Hope Solo, and Amy Rodriguez (otherwise known as their entire original U.S. women’s national team allocation) ultimately left Seattle’s season D.O.A., but come summer, the team was reincarnated as something that defined itself by something other than playoff ambition. So Seattle, thank you for not defining yourselves by your spring results.
thank you `Pinoe’s hair thank you Solo’s glare thank you, thank you Fishlock!
NWSL Standings
| Pos. | PST Rank | Team | GP | Pts. | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Kansas City | 21 | 38 | +13 |
| 2 | 2 | W. New York | 21 | 35 | +15 |
| 3 | 4 | Portland | 21 | 35 | +6 |
| 4 | 5 | Sky Blue | 21 | 35 | +5 |
| 5 | 3 | Boston | 21 | 30 | +2 |
| 6 | 6 | Chicago | 21 | 27 | -5 |
| 7 | 7 | Seattle | 21 | 18 | -13 |
| 8 | 8 | Washington | 21 | 13 | -23 |
FOR THE CHALUPACABRA, THANK YOU, CHICAGO RED STARS - During the year without a women’s professional league, some of us forget how good Lori Chalupny is. We remembered how goos she was, but as the Red Stars became more dependent on her throughout season, we were jolted awake, as if a 5'4", red-headed dervish had wedged a shoulder into our rib cage, knocking us out of our WPS-induced slumber.
And it’s no coincidence that Chicago, as they allowed themselves to rely more-and-more on Chalupny, climbed the table. It’s also no coincidence their playoff hopes effectively ended the moment Chalupny’s ankle was hurt in Portland.
Most media members’ MVP ballots are going to have Lauren Holiday one, Abby Wambach two. After that, Lori Chalupny may have been as good as anybody in the league. And for giving the former U.S. international a chance to show she’s still international-quality, thank you, Chicago.
how `bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out? how `bout, Tom, giving Lori Chalupny a try out?
FOR SURVIVING THE ONSLAUGHT, LEARNING A LESSON, THANK YOU BOSTON - Despite a roster with talents like Sydney Leroux, Heather O’Reilly, and Lianne Sanderson, Boston’s first season is going to be be remembered for charge people to access their games online. While other teams made streams free, the Breakers charged for theirs, a decision only made worse when NWSL mandated teams to make games available online.
Boston entered a agreement with their broadcast partner, MediaBoss Television, before the NWSL sent out its mandate. From their point of view, they felt locked into a commitment, and while the situation created a ton of negative publicity, the club told Equalizer Soccer that pay-per-view helped them offset costs.
But these clubs are getting major subsidies from U.S. and Canadian soccer. It’s not unreasonable for the fans or federations to demand things like free streams, implying some of the subsidies go to things like quality equipment, consistent internet connections, and a certain standard of on-air personnel (all of which have been a problem with Boston’s pay broadcasts).
To the Breakers’ credit, it appears they’re shooting for a free stream next year. And at times, it seemed like they were more frustrated by this year’s arrangement than the casual fans who tweeted their displeasure with even pay-walled Breaker broadcast.
Regardless, thank you, Boston, for surviving the swell of negativity. And thank you for making it a learning experience (potentially).
Aaaaaaye yeeeeeeaaaaaah! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah! Yeeh, yeaaaah!
RANKINGS OF POWER
In reverse order. The underlying logic: Tomorrow, neutral site, who do we think is more likely to win:
8. Washington Spirit (last week: 8) - This was tough. Keeping the Spirit eighth after a six-point week? That hardly seems fair, but in my heart of hearts, I believe that if they played team number seven on at a neutral site, they’d likely lose.
But let’s stop being such bummers about this. For weeks, I’ve been writing nothing be negatives about the Spirit, recycling the same analysis, the same point of view, because nothing was changing.
Now something’s changed. Two games! Two wins! Two home shutouts! Who cares about some stupid power ranking when your win column goes from “1" to “3" in four days.
“Keep your rankings, Farley,” I’d say, if I were them. “We’ll take our wins.”
7. Seattle Reign (5) - Between kickoff in Rochester and Matheson’s late goal in Maryland, Seattle’s run-in went from “playing for pride” to “yeah, I guess.” A season-ending derby on Saturday against Portland could charge the batteries.
6. Chicago Red Stars (4) - Jackie Santaceterina’s second half brace salvaged a point against visiting Sky Blue, but the reality of their week was still bleak. They lost at Washington and didn’t get full points at home against a previously struggling Sky Blue.
5. Sky Blue FC (7) - We’re giving them major credit for taking a point at Chicago, but more importantly for Jim Gabarra’s side, this weekend represented progress from their previous performances. Remarkably, the team still has a chance at a home playoff game.
4. Portland Thorns FC (3) - Portland seemed happy with a draw in Rochester, and after losing three days earlier in Boston, that feeling was understandable. The change of approach, however, was a bit concerning for Portland fans, as the Thorns shouldn’t have to completely shift gears just because Alex Morgan is out of the lineup. Christine Sinclair and Tobin Heath is more than most teams have at their disposal.
3. Boston Breakers (6) - Cat Whitehill’s got seven points from three games as Breakers’ coach, and in taking wins over Portland and Kansas City, the Breakers are playing better than they have all season.
2. Western New York (2) - Didn’t play particularly well against either Boston or Portland but managed to hold on to second place. A full week off should recharge the team head of a tough finale against the Breakers.
1. FC Kansas City (1) - They’re 10-match unbeaten run is over after their worst performance of the season, but it’s going to take more than one banana skin to knock them off this list’s top spot.
League Leaders
| Goals | Assists | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lauren Holiday (FCKC) | 12 | Lauren Holiday (FCKC) | 9 |
| Sydney Leroux (BOS) | 11 | Lianne Sanderson (BOS) | 7 |
| Abby Wambach (WNY) | 10 | Abby Wambach (WNY) | 7 |
| 4 tied at | 8 | Heather O’Reilly (BOS) | 6 |
| Katy Freels (SBFC) | 6 |
COMING UP THIS WEEK
Saturday, August 17
Western New York Flash vs. Boston Breakers (8:00 p.m. Eastern) - A Flash win gives them home-field advantage in the semifinals (and the entire playoffs, if Kansas City loses). The only problem: They’re 0-1-2 against Boston this season, their loss coming in Rochester earlier this season (2-1, Apr. 27).
Seattle Reign FC vs. Portland Thorns FC (11:00 p.m. Eastern) - By the time the teams kick off in Tukwila, Portland will know if their quest for a home playoff game’s alive. They need to out-point Western New York to have a chance at the second seed, and since goal difference will be important should they end up tied with Sky Blue, Portland can’t settle for merely a victory. But given how Thorns FC have played over their last four games (1-2-1), any win is a good one for Portland.
Sunday, August 18
FC Kansas City vs. Chicago Red Stars (4:10 p.m. Eastern) - This one only matters if Western New York wins on Saturday. If not, FC Kansas City will have already clinched the league’s top seed. And if the Flash beat Boston, the Blues need only a point to stay in Overland Park throughout the playoffs.
Washington Spirit vs. Sky Blue FC (5:00 p.m. Eastern) - Whether they have a chance at something beyond the postseason’s fourth seed, Sky Blue has work to do. Last week in Chicago was progress, but they’re still not ready for the playoffs. Jim Gabarra has 90 minutes to find a postseason solution.