My grandmother is a sweet lady from Ireland. I’ve never heard her curse, but we as a family were all equally terrified1 when we heard “JAY sus, Mary, and JOSEPH!” Anyone in the 4 generations of my kin that are currently with us would prefer meet all three of them than have to go through what my morai was about to unleash.
Anyway, in 2031, the United States2+is hosting the World Cup. It was announced for sure on Friday that the tournament would have 48 teams in it. My opinion on Gianni Infantino should be pretty obvious, but if not, he’s the biggest throbbing vein of personified capitalism to ever shepherd world football. This is not a complement.
The move to 48 games is seriously little more than a money grab by FIFA. As a fan, it could seem cool because more soccer should always be cool, but given the number of federations that actually invest in their women’s side in any substantive way is currently far below 48. It’s fair to say that Infantino cares more about the development of women’s soccer3 than any of his predecessors but it’s pretty obvious that he cares about it as walking dollar signs with titties rather than as a way to develop an international pathway to expand the opportunities of women to participate in the highest level of the sport.
The move to 48 games puts over 100 games in the United States and Friends, a market that frequently travels the best in the world for both versions of the senior World Cup finals, as well as is among the best in the world at supporting women’s sport. It makes almost too much sense for them not to take the opportunity to vacuum America cash out of our credit cards. But realistically, a mere six years out from the tournament, what countries can you say invest in their women’s section fully rather than treat them as an appendage?
Playing this many games in a month after grueling club seasons all to see Group A open with the United States beating Myanmar4 13-0, followed the next day by Spain welcoming debutant Puerto Rico5 to the World Cup with a matching score. That doesn’t help grow the game.
Infantino clearly never had a grandmother that could stop him in his tracks and knock the bad ideas out of him with a bit of light blasphemy. Here now the teams.
Kansas City Current Last week: 2
That was the Kansas City we’re accustomed to see, with the slight difference that the Current kept playing their game deep into the second half, rather than grab a lead and sit back. It was tough not to feel for Bay’s Jordan Silkowicz, getting hit for 4 due more to defensive disorganization and an indifferent midfield than anything else. The most telling part of the game was Silkowicz frantically yelling at her defense to set the wall correctly and them just…not doing in. With a blink, Debinha calmly converted the free kick. Temwa Chawinga scored, announcing the rest of you were in big, big trouble.
Orlando Pride Last week: 1
On the broadcast, there was again some confusion on how Orlando can’t score as easily as last year, and how teams have figured out Banda etc. I think it’s still just how Orlando is playing more defensively this year, replacing Adriana’s minutes with Morgan Gautrat, and giving greater defensive responsibilities to players on the field. The result is a team that is more comfortable holding possession than last year, that unfortunately plays a less interesting brand of football. Against North Carolina, Marta created 10 shooting chances for her team. She’s 40 years old.
Washington Spirit Last week: 4
Spirit’s depth was on display again, with Rose Kouassi scoring her first goal for the Spirit (off a wonderful bit of service from McKeown). She also assisted on Gift Monday’s late winner, and provided the pressure that caused the Schlegel’s own goal. With Croix Bethune, and Casey Krueger closing the game to work back into the squad, Spirit might finally be reaching normal health status.
Angel City Last week: 8
As they are rounding into form, let me give 5% of the good thoughts I have about them to Christen Press for scoring her first goal of the season, and 95% to Savy King quickly recovering. It’s scary seeing that happen to anyone, especially a 20 year old. Thoughts with her and I hope beyond hope that this is just a frightening little blip in her life. There is no circumstances where that game, plus 12 minutes of stoppage time, should have continued.
San Diego Wave Last week: 5
A draw after only starting two children this week. On the Kennedy Wesley red card; here are the guidelines according to Law 12 once the referee determines that a foul has been committed:
The following must be considered:
distance between the offence and the goal
general direction of the play
likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball
location and number of defenders
On 3 of the points, there really isn’t any doubt…Moultrie was close to the goal, and moving towards it, and Wesley was the only non-Sheridan defender left. The likelihood of Moultrie keeping the ball basically is 100% based on if you think a foul was committed at all. There was contact between the players before Moultrie went down, and it looked to me that she went to ground pretty easily. But I also think that Wesley fouled her enough to make it obvious that her progress was impeded. Realistically, your only choices here are play on, or DOGSO red for me.
Gotham FC Last week: 3
For the second week in a row, Gotham’s entire game plan was thwarted by a lower table team just playing feisty defense against them. Chicago wasn’t able to do much except annoy them into a draw, but a Taylor Flint thunderbolt while being just a physical as the Women from Jersey got Louisville all 3. That’s what you get for earning a point last weekend, ladies.
Portland Thorns Last week: 7
Some more thoughts on Moultrie. Unfortunately, I don’t know many people that follow women’s soccer in my day to day life6, so to scratch the itch I consume a lot of online discussion on Woso, between Substacks, BlueSky, Reddit, and Twitter. One thing I’ve noticed is that Moultrie gets what I think is a puzzling amount of hate in these online spaces. I think it’s a combination of her having to sue her way into the league, her being touted as a phenom when she’s merely very good, and her being seen as being socially out of place for the league7. She’s only 19, still has room to grow, and a lot of the criticism around her to me feels forced, and more based on personal feelings towards her, rather than her actual play on the field. She wouldn’t be the first player to have their positives muted and they negatives enhanced by whatever vibe the general crowd pulls from her.
Seattle Reign Last week: 6
North Carolina Courage Last week: 10
Random thoughts:
Feli Rauch’s goal was something I’ve never seen from her before.
Jaedyn Shaw looks like she hates whatever set of circumstances lead her to playing on this North Carolina team and in this system.
This system which has changed formation and mentality the last 3 games, getting 7 points of 9. Friday, they only held the ball 37% of the time, a Nahas low.
Is Ryan Williams the most dangerous passer in the NWSL? I don’t think so, but this scratched my brain in a good way:
Houston Dash Last week: 11
Maggie Graham walks away with a goal, Yaz Ryan walks away with a shiner, and Houston walk away with a win from Seattle. The first half was dire, the 2nd more open and enjoyable to watch. And let me say as a Dash fan for at least a few more months before Legacy ask me some uncomfortable questions, I’m fine with a boring, slightly frustrating win over what has been happening the last few weeks.
Racing Louisville Last week: 12
Last week, I pointed out that Louisville was 2nd in the league in xG difference despite sitting in 11th place in the league. Well, now after earning a win against Gotham, they are 4th in the league in xG difference, and sit in 9th place, their ancestral birthright. Bev Yanez again only used 2 subs, hoping they can hold it together with Reign and Angel City coming up before the international break.
Bay FC Last week: 9
“Sometimes good, sometimes shit” is missing half of the equation at this point.
Chicago Stars Last week: 14
Chicago had their best offensive output of the season (2 goals, 2.2xG, and 48% possession, all season highs8). Goal scorers were Sam Staab and Julia Grosso, releasing their goal dependence on Ludmilla and Joseph. They scored in the 2nd half for the first time this year. They were playing a battered Washington team that had 13 player injuries at home. And lost 3-2. Happy Pregnancy to Mal Swanson.
Utah Royals Last week: 13
Utah is at sea right now, and it’s really not fun to watch or critique. Alex Loera is back.
Boston Legacy Last week: 15
It was a week ago now, but here is a pretty good interview by Mariam at She Scores Bangers with Dome Gausch.
Denver NWSL Last week: 16
It’s always interesting to me to see teams how build from the ground up. Since hiring Jen Millet as team president a month ago, Denver haven’t done much yet. They have however jumped into one NWSL tradition with both feet…they added a celebrity investor! Welcome to the league Mikaela!
From my aunt (my dad’s older sister) to the wee-est of baby cousins. If anyone out there has Irish grandmothers, you know this without being told, but she stands about 4’8” at this point.
In whatever manner it still stands.
Especially since he feels like a woman while getting kickbacks from countries that have terrible human rights records vis-a-vis women. And no, I’m not excluding the US here…we suck.
8-10th best AFC team (they have 6 slots now).
6-8th best CONCACAF team (they have 4 slots now).
Even the team I play on every week is full of mid-career moms. They know who Alex Morgan is, but it’s unclear if they know she’s retired. They are sick of Barcelona though.
I don’t think there is a conscious anti-Mormon feeling here at all, but she does give off socially awkward vibes to me, an extremely socially awkward person.
Well, 2nd best for possession, they had 54% of the ball against Louisville.