You're listening to the MIB Media network. And this is the women's game. How many more seconds remain before Gotham are crown champions? But rain, if they could just get a shot on goal. They've done it. Gotham have done it. Gotham FC, the 2023 champions. 2022. They finish bottom of the table with 13 points, and this will be their first NWSL trophy in their history. Our hello, everybody. This is Sam Ewiss, the host of the women's game, and we are here today for a very special episode of the women's game. This is like N WSL preview 101. The upcoming 2024 season promises to be the biggest, the best, the most competitive, and genuinely so fascinating in terms of all the new faces, teams changes, and yes, even stadiums. I want to break it all down ahead of the season, and I'm joined on this podcast by my old World cup partner in crime. It is a joy to see you, Roger Bennet.

Oh Sam Ewis. My excitement levels. I think they were about in eleven.

I'm so excited that you're here. Thank you so much for coming on this episode to break down the NWSL season with me.

It's great to be here. The last time you and I really talked because we only ever talk into microphones to each other was during the glorious World cup of 2023. Since then, you've established yourself as the editor in chief of the women's game. Just pointing out one tremendous new show after another. Gotta tell you, in all sincerity, I loved watching what you're know the interview, Sophia Smith, Jill Scott, Crystal Dunn. It's been magical to witness. But the thing I love most is, and I found this hard to believe, this is actually your first ever desk job.

That is true, Raj. It's an overwhelming transition into the real world. I did have one short stint working at Dunkin'donuts in Hanover, Massachusetts, but my gosh, they can't get me out of the game. Ball is life. This job has been full of so many learning opportunities for me, and I am so happy to be here with you, the OG of men in blazers from whom I just have so much to learn. We have so much to discuss about the upcoming NWSL season, but what have you been doing since mid November when the 2023 NWSL season ended?

It feels like, honestly, I've just had your voice in my ears. Both the shows that have been going out and also the shows that we've been testing. I just listened to a show where you talked to becky salivarian about this transition in life where you are now a normal person, which I just love that concept. 1 minute you're a footballer, the next you're a normal person. And I guess I've been normal personing I didn't know I was until you framed it. But mostly being hurt by Everton Football Club and being prepared to be hurt by Everton Football Club some more in the future, which is the huge and it's why I'm so delighted that another narrative is about to come into our life. Full charge, full steam. Just the NWSL coming back and giving us its loving embrace. Sporting joy back in my life. I'm actually going to be at the Challenge cup final on Friday night to watch Gotham unleash it super team upon my mate Naomi Germa and I can't wait.

What an incredible start to the NWSL season. My money is on Gotham. Literally all of my friends are on Gotham, so I need like five or six different to get me through this season. But okay, Roger, let's dive in. I want to unpack all of it. We are here to talk about, preview and celebrate the upcoming 2024 NBSL season, and this podcast is for everybody. For those of you who still miss the Boston breakers, or maybe you have an old, frayed western New York flash scarf. I know I do. And even all of you brand new.

Bay FC supporters, whether you like Sam Ewiss and know everything about football of any kind anywhere in the world ever, or more like me, who knows nothing about anything in the world at all. To be honest, if you're listening to this show right now, you're in the right place.

We are going to break down what to expect as the NBSL season kicks off this weekend. There is so much to be excited about going into this new season. The league actually now has 14 teams, including two new expansion teams, Bay FC and the Utah Royals. And that means every team will now play 26 regular season matches, which is up from 22 last year. And if last year taught us anything, it's that this league can be unpredictable. The New York New Jersey Gotham went from a last place finish in 2022 to its first championship last year.

Chaos League, which is why I love it. But that Gotham storyline possibly the fastest glow up since Oliver quick got himself invited to salt Berm for the summer. And Sam, the one thing this league probably could do is get itself a tagline. I was actually thinking, inspired by you and inspired by you alone, could we like, stay with me here? The greatest show women, which is like fusing the game we love with what's his name? Hugh Jackman. I can make him picture Jackman. Sophia Smith just belting out a million dreams.

I knew you were going to bring the greatest showman into this somehow. You know how much I love that movie. And Hugh Jackman and the idea of Hugh Jackman duetting with Sophia Smith. Somebody called the NDB cell. We have to make this happen. Like I said, there are already so many things to be hyped about for this season that's coming up, starting with the massive new TV deal that will make matches more accessible to an even bigger audience. Over 100 games will be broadcast across four networks and on NWSL.

Plus, I cannot emphasize enough just how important this new reality is. Just the ability, and this is thrilling to me, to be watching ESPN or even ABC and be able to watch a game.

I know having games streaming on those major networks is huge for the NWSL. ESPN has been running ads for the league on its network using, unfortunately, the Hugh Jackman Free slogan. It's so on. And I personally like that the commercials are really focusing on the game itself, showing the athleticism, the speed and the physicality of the NDBA cell, which aren't always the aspects that get highlighted in women's sports.

Yeah. By the way, ESPN, I know you're listening to this get on the Jackman train. We've just gifted you the greatest show, women. My work is done. Plus, if I was to nitpick, I do think every single commercial should have a cameo from Ali Krieger, just in life in general. But the challenge for the league is, is that one now it is sprinkled across these networks. There's going to be a lot of human beings encountering the league for the first time, which is wonderful. But for diehards, the act of discovery is so bloody difficult. It's great that there's so many new partners, but your fans, who want to watch every game every night, honestly need to have one of those, like having crime movies. So those red yarn connected cork boards that you see in murder documentaries, just to figure out where the games are going to be broadcast and when.

That's a fair point, Raj. But instead of everybody going and ordering some red yarn on Amazon, you all can just come and follow us. Here at the women's game, we are putting out graphics every week that is meant to solve this exact problem. Across women's football, I think there has been a lack of discovery options, a lack of information on how and when to watch your favorite teams play. So we are working behind the scenes to put all of that together in a very digestible easy to read graphic that's going to show you. All you have to do is turn on your TV, click around a little bit and you're going to know exactly where you need to be and when.

Oh, Sam, I do love, however, the mental picture of Julie Fowdy in a basement with just like the murder crime Red yard corporate. So do it either way, whichever way you do, just do not miss a bloody game.

Well, we are here for you at the women's game just last week, though, Nike revealed its kits for the league. And each team now has a primary and secondary kit. And for the first time in nwcl history, every single team got brand new shirts. This year. I think it's awesome and it's so great to see a brand as big as Nike continuing to invest in this league and working specifically with each club to design something that isn't just a template option. Instead, every club has some kind of story to tell. Every jersey has some connection to the city.

Yeah. Another sign of the league's growth really. Last year, NWSL was added to the FIFA 23 video game for the first time. Which is honestly, it's an enormous symbolic step of growth. Just the number of eyes, the human beings who adore football never watch a second of the actual game and experience it purely through FIFA. So for the league to be in there. And also going back to your thing about the kits. These new kit designs were inadvertently actually leaked by an update to the EAFC 24 game, which I just love. It's a little bit like the winner of the mass singer being revealed by whichever dry cleaner has access to the Miss Cleopatra costume.

Okay, Roger, well, let me ask you the big question. What is your favorite of the new kits?

I thought you'd never ask. I am actually going to go with your former club, who I still believe are the greatest name team in sports. Your North Carolina courage. The kits have actually worked in a reference to North Carolina state motto, which I love to be rather than to seem. And that triangle pattern is a literal nod to the triangle region where the team plays. I'm also reasonably sure that if you lay the shirt over a map of North Carolina by that cork board with the red yarn in your basement, it'll lead you to a secret underground barbecue restaurant. Just saying. What's yours?

Do you have like a barbecue whisperer telling you this stuff? I love North Carolina barbecue.

I just think NWSL, the one thing it needs to make it go over the top in this demented society of ours, is just more conspiracy theories.

I'm here for that well, you know, I love the North Carolina courage and I love North Carolina courage conspiracy theories, but Kit wise, I'm going Orlando. I'm such a sucker for the oranges on the jersey. I think that was like the most original and different and really such a cool jersey. I've never seen anything like that before. I'm not necessarily known for my fashion sense per se, but you might find me wearing an Orlando citrus jersey this year.

You've always said to me from the very first time I met you, you shouted, football needs more fruit. So thank you, Orlando, for turning that around and bringing it into our loving arm shirts. EA Sports broadcasters honestly, it all just feels like such a big season for this league as it tries to grow in its own way but also shift that balance of power. The Women's Super League in England and with that powerhouse Barcelona, who are the gold standard in Europe. This is a season in which we're looking for signs of both growth but also affirmation, statements made by NWSL that it is a growing force of this ever shifting world football landscape in which there's constantly more competition, constantly more challenges in the women's sports place, which is an amazing thing, but it's mean. It's a reality in which they can never sit pat. They just have to keep surging.

Well, the NWSL, like you said, it's had big money transfers this offseason, blockbuster managerial hires which we're going to get to in a few minutes. Companies like ESPN and Nike have learned that this is a league worth additional investment in. And I find it so interesting to hear you talk about how this growth, we need to keep pushing and keep growing and keep expanding everything. And that's why I wanted to bring up this second top flight women's league, the USL Super League, which is a division one professional league just like the NDSL, and that's launching in August with eight teams.

Yeah, I mean, this is complicated and it's technical, and this is not why we watch football for these kind of behind the scenes business stories. But we do need to note this because it is just the seeds of growth all over the place. Teams are primarily on the east coast, save for the Spokane Zephyr, who may spend the bulk of the season making sure their seats and trade tables are in the upright and locked position because they're going to be repeatedly flying cross country, God bless them, racking up the air miles as well as the points. The USL season stretches from August to next June, like the season in Europe, so the two leagues won't actually play against each other competitively concurrently. But this still helps the USL to position itself as a competitor to NWSL. The extent it will, we honestly do not know right now. But think of it like the Pierce global media to the NWSL's wastar Roiko. I mean Sam, how do you understand this shape, the contours, the possibility, the reality of this new league? Will it bring more opportunities? Or is it just like spreading everything too thin and the competition may not be a positive for the women's game?

I think that that's exactly the question, and I'm so interested in that discussion. It's definitely complicated. I mean, sure there will be more professional roster spots for more players to get opportunities with the addition of this USL, but I can't help but feel this sense of protection over the NWSL. I'm not really sure what to make of a quote unquote competitor league, even if they're on different models, different seasons. I can't help but have a few reservations. I just feel like women's soccer was in such a precarious place for so long, with a few leagues and iterations before the NDB cell folding and now that we're crushing it, I just want to protect that and feed the NWSL and give them all the attention and all the players. So I don't know every in and out. I'm totally open minded. I'm not necessarily a skeptic, but I want to keep a close eye on how the USL impacts the NWSL. If at all, are the leagues going to compete for sponsors? Are they going to compete for owners that want to buy in? And worst of all, are they going to compete for players and start diluting both pools of players?

I really just want women's soccer to continue growing and succeeding here in America, and if the USL is going to help with that, then great. But if it muddies the water, then I'm not so sure. I definitely need more information. But for right now, it does seem like the NWSL is in such a great spot.

So not to be reductionist, but essentially Sam saying USL question mark, but if someone's offering a franchise, she's open for business. And I pray that you're right, because NWSL is not only competing against USL, it's not only competing against the other great women's football teams and leagues around the world, but also we're living in this incredible golden age of women's sports where there are so many remarkable superhuman role models for the audience to invest their emotional energies in. Caitlin Clark, Coco Goff Asia Wilson there are so many role models to just devote your fan life to now, but here our mission is to cover everything NWSL and set you, dear listeners, up for the season ahead and the storylines you need to know before a ball is kicked. As I mentioned, Gotham will face San Diego wave in the Challenge cup on Friday night. The Challenge cup, which much like Beyonce trying out an all new format this.

Year, well, I am old enough somehow to remember when it was previously a twelve team, three group tournament. Just last year it ran from April to September and the teams that made it to the final had nine extra matches to squeeze in during the regular season. Starting this year, it's been cut down to a single Super cup style match between the defending NWSL champion, New York New Jersey Gotham and the San Diego Wave, who won the NWSL Shield for having the best regular season record last year.

Oh, this is Conor McLeod versus the Kergan. And just like the Highlanders Immortals, there can be only one Challenge cup winner, right?

And San Diego have the unshakable Naomi Gurma, the first straight up defender to win US soccer female player of the year, and goalkeeper Kaylin Sheridan, who finished last season tied for the most clean sheets in the league.

God, can I just say, I adore Naomi Gurma. I have rarely seen a young athlete enter a league immediately step up and also lead to become one of the most consistent, tenacious, but also one of the almost an intangible on this team. I watched this game in the stadium last season and just watching her just cover tackle everybody almost single handedly is one of the most remarkable joys in sport. To go and see her play live and really appreciate everything that she brings to the field. But Gotham, they've got to be going into this season, into this game more optimistic than the bloke who sings Lil Boothang, Rose Lavelle, keeping it chill like Sauvignon Blanc.

Yeah, Gotham has an almost infinite number of showstoppers. They made so many moves this offseason and brought incredible players to York slash New Jersey. So we set up a phone number at great expense. At great expense. We set up a phone number at great expense for the women's game. We asked you all to call in. That phone number, in case you missed it, is 855-61-1405 and we asked you to tell us what you were most excited about for this NWSL season. So many of you mentioned this Gotham roster. Hey Sam, my name is Mallory. I'm a fellow mask calling from Worcester. As a huge Gotham fan, I'm curious to see how having all this national team talent will mesh. Do you think this will click with them really quickly on the field? And do you think this can have benefits for the US women's national team since a large group of them are constantly training and playing together now? Love the podcast and thank you for representing Massachusetts so well. Thanks Mallory. And you're right, Roosevelt is one of the massive signings Gotham made during this offseason. They also brought in her Seattle rain teammate Emily Sonnet, along with Tierna Davidson from the Chicago Red Stars and the Portland Thorns as Crystal Dunn.

All of those players have so much US women's national team experience. Yeah.

Gotham general manager Yale Averbulk west has been working the phone a bit like Lionel Ritchie calling every single Grammy winner he knew to record Rhea the world. By the way, when I say a bit light, I mean just like Gotham, they're already formidable. They're already winners. Veteran leadership from Kelly O'Hara and you're the women's game good vibes FC co host mighty Lynn Williams. And it goes without saying, after being with Lyn, potting with me is a downgrade. But also on that roster, the firepower Spanish World cup winner Esther, NWSL championship MVP Midge purse and the pride of Wake Forest University, Katie Stengel. Everybody bloody plays there. And these new signings have elevated this team to full on. I mean, it's like LeBron era Miami Heat. This is a bona fide super mean. I don't quite understand how they pulled it, Sam. Like how you understand how they pulled it off. Other than the fact you said everybody who is your friend plays there, maybe you are the common denominator. How did this happen? And also, is there almost a threat that you can have almost too many big guns for the chemistry to actually jump?

I think we've seen in sports before that that can be a threat. But going back to Mallory's question, I do think that familiarity is key. And a lot of these players have experience playing together already on the US women's national team. Now they're going to go back to Gotham and be training together every day. And I think that the chemistry that they're going to be able to build is going to help Gotham. It's definitely possible to have too many stars, too many cooks in the kitchen, but I think in this case, none of these players have big egos. They are all just going to want to work together to make this work. They're going to want to train together every day, work hard. And I'm wondering if that's even going to go and relate to the US women's national team too. If we're going to see that kind of Gotham connection go into the US women's national team.

That's amazing. Genuinely. By the way, when you say none of them have egos, Ruth Lavelle is unbearable. When you're with us, your first thing you're told is do not look at her in the eye. Doesn't like to be looked in the eye and only speak when spoken to. But I love you for spreading that myth. There are no egos on that team. You're asking a great question. The Spain team that won Euro World Cup Euro around 2010 World cup on the men's side, a lot of the reason they said that they were so superlative in that period was that they drew almost all the players from Barcelona and Real Madrid, and it was that club familiarity that led them to greatness. So it is fascinating to think about how Gotham can thrive through that familiarity, but also how the US women's national team can be empowered by this unit, just gelling together week in, week out like a club team.

Well, in my experience, this Gotham team that has so many US women's national team players reminds me of my 2018 2019 North Carolina courage team who won shields and championships. It seemed like year after year and there was a number of us at any given time, between four and seven of us were regularly going into US women's national team camp. Not only was that team star studded, but we had chemistry. We had that connection and it kind of like 2019. The courage won. The US women's national team won. That familiarity, I think can be really important for the NWSL, for Gotham, and for the US women's national team. Another team that hopes to earn that super team label is northern California newcomers Bay FC, one of the two expansion teams that are joining the league this season.

Yeah, just last December, Bay FC, they only had twelve players on the roster, which is ten less than the league's minimum of 22. So I think a lot of their fans were probably sweating it. Yeah, they love the very, very fine Bay FC baseball jackets, but they wanted more human beings. And boy, have BFC made up for lost time. They've gone on a spending spree, the likes of which have only been seen when Tom Bloody Hanks bought bunk beds and pinball machines for his apartment in big. Their general manager, Lucy Rushton said the goal was to go after, quote, the best six or seven international players that we can potentially target. And Sam, how they followed through on that. It's really game changing.

They really followed through on that. They brought in six time african women's footballer of the year, nigerian striker Azasat Oshwala from Barcelona. They brought in scottish defender Jen Beatty from Arsenal. And just in January, they paid a record setting $785,000 to bring zambian international Rachel Kundanji from Madrid CFF to the San Francisco Bay Area, making her the first african player, male or female, to set a new transfer fee record. Bay FC almost doubled the previous record, the $400,000 that Barcelona paid for Kira Walsh to say Asiluego to Man City.

These moves to me are so unbelievably significant. You may remember earlier, dear listeners, I talked about that kind of balance of power. Where are the best players? Which league are they playing in? We all heard during the World cup the broadcasters often delighting in the fact that they were playing in Europe and not in our own domestic league. This is game changing. And the 23 year old Kundanji, who scored an incredible 33 goals in 43 games, all comments for Madrid last year, was signed to a four year deal. She said, quote, I want to give BFC fans what they want to enjoy seeing me playing and scoring. But in a devastating turn of events, she proceeded to suffer a serious knee injury in Zambia's olympic qualifier game against Ghana. Had to be stretched off the pitch.

I know that was heartbreaking. It's devastating that she won't be part of the team when they take the field for the very first time in just a few days.

Reports in the zambian media have the recovery time being six weeks. Please God, that is true. We wish her all the best in that period. And the league's other expansion team, the Utah Royals, bringing football back to the Beehive State for the first time since the original recipe, Royals were simultaneously shut down, shipped off to Kansas City to become the current move known throughout the sporting world as being all modeled and.

As an expansion team. The Royals had the first pick in January's NWSL draft, and they selected the University of North Carolina's Ali Sentnor, who came back from her own ACL injury to become the ACC's midfielder of the year.

Yeah, my favorite Alice sent nor fact is that she is, I believe, so far, and I'd love to be corrected on this because I'd like this to happen more in life because it's glorious. The only pro soccer player who's also been named Sports Illustrated Sports Kid of the year bite your arm off to be Sports Illustrated Sports kid of the year, which she was just in 2019. That is some. By the way, that's a very tiny amount of time to go from being a sports kid to being a professional footballer. And I love it and I cannot wait to see cent nor take the field. But I also learned that she's from your hometown, Hanson, Massachusetts. Sammy, I just love this so much. She said, quote, I don't know if you've heard this, she said, sam and Christy muys went to my high school and had some of their old textbooks in middle school, which I thought was the coolest thing. I believe she's also in the press. She's called you a mentor, Sam, who she's texted with what is the best piece of advice you've given? Ali sent.

Ali Sentor is just the sweetest girl. I don't even recall giving her advice. I find it so touching that she called me a mentor. We have trained together a couple of times at an indoor facility in Hangham a few off seasons ago. I've texted back and forth with her a few times and really just lent my support. I wanted to wish her luck for the draft and then lo and behold, she gets drafted first. She doesn't even need my advice. She is doing so well. Allie actually helped Christy and I out at a clinic that we put on in 2019. She was out there coaching, grabbing balls. She's so humble and she's just such a nice, handsome girl. I'm so thrilled for her. And you know what else, Roger? I'm thrilled that the NWSL will not be without a Hanson representative this season.

I need to get you a sweatshirt that just says nice Hanson girl on the front. I love that idea. I also love this idea that we will soon drive into Hanson and once you know you're about to get into the town lines because of the several Duncans that are just littered around there. There are just giant statues like Paul Bunyan style in Minnesota of you and then Christie and please God, very soon there'll be a giant Alice sentinel and it'll just say nice, handsome girls as you speed past them. That's the kind of town I want to live in. But while Gotham and Bay FC were attacking their rosters, we're going to make this happen. By the way, a giant Sam muis on the town lines. Welcome to Hanson. I would love that. Maybe with an ax over your shoulder going to make this happen. But while Gotham and Bay FC were stacking, by the way, you just said yeah. And I'm not sure whether you think it's a nice idea or whether it would be the most mortifying thing either. But either way, I do want to make this happen. Sam.

I think that nice, handsome girls don't necessarily want statues of themselves. But if there's nothing I can do about it, I will be there for the opening with giant scissors.

I'm going to work with Bob Muys on this idea about making this one happen. But while Gotham and Bay FC were stacking their rosters been like doomsday preppers stockpiling canned goods, the Seattle rain actually lost some irreplaceable players and has gone through an enormous rebrand.

After spending four years as ol Rain and using the same lion badge as Olympic lionesse, the club released a dramatic video announcing that the restoration has begun and the club would be returning to its iconic queen logo and the Seattle Rain name.

It's a bit like Snoop Dogg realizing that calling himself Snoop lion was just never really going to catch on. Seattle Rain, just remember, you're always the.

Do g. And so, although they've reclaimed their identity off the pitch, which I love, the club has to figure out how to move forward without Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnet, and Sam Hyatt, who all left for Gotham. The legendary Megan Rapino also retired at the end of the season, a decision she made even before she tore her Achilles just six minutes into the championship game. It's almost impossible to overstate what Megan Rapino meant to this game as a player, as a tireless agent for change and equality, and as an ambassador for the sport itself.

Megan Rapino's list of accomplishments is actually longer than your average CVs receipt, and that counts as being an all time hair color icon. You think about your pink hair pantheon and you got Minaj number one, Princess Bubblegum, definitely right behind there, Megan Rapino nestling in there at the top. I will not be taking any questions.

Well, we have an interview dropping with Megan Rapino tomorrow on the all newly named friendlies with Samuels brought to you by the women's game. So come back here tomorrow. We have this great interview with Megan Rapino coming out right here on this podcast feed. And around 175 miles south, down the I five from Seattle, we have the always formidable three time NWCEl champion, Portland Thorns. They have a new ownership group after being purchased by entrepreneur and swimwear magnet Lisa Bethal Mirage, whose Raj Sports group also co owns the Sacramento Kings in a deal worth a league record $63 million. The team will continue to play at Providence park for the next decade, but the new owners have pledged to build a new training facility specifically for the.

Thorns Sam, how does one apply that job to become a swimwear magnate? Genuinely, I'm curious and fascinated, but I'm also fascinated by the Thorns and this whole new approach to life, the whole new leadership group and the immediate steps club bringing in Jesse Fleming. I mean, just the tenacious captain of Canada's national team, coming in from Chelsea to join fellow Canadians, our friend Janine, Becky, and also who's, you know, at this point, I don't know where the player ends and the institution begins. She's an incredible human being, a member of whatever ageless secret society Tim Ream and James Milner also belong to. I mean, with Fleming arriving, the Thorns are essentially Canada South.

I know it's pretty crazy, but we can't skip through Portland without mentioning Sophia Smith, who won her first golden boot last season, leading the league with eleven goals in 16 games, including two hat tricks. And the league's assists leader, Sam Coffee.

Let the young Thorns cook. By the way, I adored your time with Sophia Smith. You and Sophia, you just brought out so much in Sophia that I found truly intriguing about how she does what she does. And I cannot wait to watch the Thorns. We'll talk about them more before the end of this show. But the other club that will start the season under a new owner are the Chicago Red Stars, who are in a place of transition. They finished the season last year. My father doesn't like to call it last place. He just says they were not winners. But in comes Laura rickets of the Rickets family, who co owned the Chicago Cubs. Laura bought the club in September for $60 million. She described the team as, quote, a really distressed asset, which, my lord, if you like distressed assets. Laura, let me introduce you to Everton Football Club because that phrase should be part of our crest. We got a voicemail from a Chicago Red Stars supporter. Let's hear it now.

Hi, Sam, my name is Tasha and I'm calling from Pittsburgh. I'm a Red Stars fan and the past couple seasons have been pretty tough, but I'm really looking forward to seeing where the team is going this year under Lauren Donaldson and the new owners and all of the new players that have come in. And I just feel like it's got a really good energy and I'm excited to see the project. Thanks. Love the show. Thank you. Tasha. I think you're right. It's not an exaggeration to say that Chicago have a massive challenge ahead of them. And they'll be working under new coach Lauren Donaldson, who is used to defying expectations in his previous job. As head coach of Jamaica's national team, the Reggae girls made their first ever appearance in the World cup round of 16, which so far is the only appearance in the knockout stages for any jamaican team, men or women.

I'm just jealous of anyone who can write reggae girls on their LinkedIn page. By the way, one early bright spot for Red Star supporters in the offseason is the longer waited return of another recent guest of yours, the mighty Mel Swanson, who agonizingly missed and was missed for most of last season after tearing a Patel attendant agonizingly during an international.

Friendly I know it was so hard to watch Mal get injured like that and then miss the World cup and be missing. For the Chicago Red Stars, who really noticed her absence last season, it's so hard to overstate how important she is to the Chicago Red Stars. Mal is one of the most savvy, attacking players in the world when she's in form, her ability to go at players one on one, her ability to create chances for herself and finish, she's truly a top, top player and I'm really looking forward to see her return to top form this year and hopefully help the US women's national team out at the Olympics. But her abilities is exactly why the Red Stars signed her to a historic $2,000,000.04 year contract with an option for a fifth year.

Is that what makes her so special? That she is a one person wrecking crick?

I think it is. In other words, Roger, it is her ability to create chances for herself. I have flashes of highlight reels of her dribling herself down the field, dribling 60 yards, beating three players. She almost doesn't need anybody else in order for her to score a goal, which is rare.

Yeah, and her husband, Dansby Swanson, shortstop with Chicago Cubs. Whichever Swanson's team has a better season is going to be getting an edible arrangement from the family. Ah, it's time for another caller with a question about Kansas City.

Hi, I'm Carrie. I'm calling out of Wichita, Kansas and I support Kansas City current. I think the thing I'm most excited for this season is besides the new stadium, of course, is just kind of showcasing Kansas City ball again. I think we kind of lost it last year, especially with all the coaches changing. But now that we have blocko back, I'm super excited. Thank you, Carrie. I agree that Blocko coming back to Kansas City where he had so much success in the NDBSL in 2014 and 2015, it's a huge move for a club that has their sights set really high but haven't quite crossed over that mark yet. Well, I feel like Vlaco didn't have the national team success that many of us hoped he would. He's a person with a lot of integrity and a coach with a lot to offer. I played for him with the national team for a few years and I learned a lot of tactical ideas from him. I always enjoyed training. I feel like film sessions and technical training sessions. He had so much to offer. And so in the NWSL environment where he's with these players every day, year round, I think he's going to challenge them.

And I think for Flacco that he has redemption on his mind. He had a poor showing at the 2023 World Cup. I think he's going to come out ready to remake his name.

I mean, it is fascinating that there are some managers who can excel at the club level, and the international reality, as we're finding for men and for women, is just a completely different beast that needs a completely different set of managerial realities. So Godspeed of Latko because it's current and this is really magnificent. And for me, going into it, one of the stories of the season, they are going to begin the campaign in their truly sparkling new home, 11,500 seat CPKC stadium that rolls off the tongue. The first stadium in our nation's history which is amazing, built specifically for a women's soccer club.

It's so cool. This is a massive step since so many clubs have to share facilities with other teams or in the case of the Red Stars, play at a stadium that's not convenient to the city where their supporters live. Kansas City building their own women's soccer specific stadium is unprecedented. It's such a strong investment in this team and in this league. NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said that she didn't think there was, quote, a more important investment that is being made anywhere for the future of our know, you.

Talk to players, mean, particularly in England, you talk to some of the women's Super League players and they talk about how they get the training ground not just after the men's team, but also after the youth teams. They have to come in at the oddest hours of the day just to train as players. Sam, how would they be looking at this? Is this exciting as a player? You're like, God, this moment. This is just a remarkable thing for all of us.

I think they must be. I think Kansas City's investment in that team has been incredible. They built the training facility and I was actually there in 2022 and I got to work out of that training facility. It's beautiful. The idea that the ownership there is willing to put that much money behind an NWSL team. And now to build a stadium which is way more expensive than building a training facility, it's incredible. I think the players must feel so validated that as a professional they are deserving of this kind of attention and treatment and professionalism. I'm really excited for this move that we're seeing in Kansas City.

Yeah, I know there's been a furor about the parking prices around the stadium, a choice that went over about as well as Wendy's surge pricing, but I've got to believe I've got a hope. I've got a dream. Big picture. This is a remarkable step for football in Kansas City, which is one of the most joyous hotbeds in our nation and also for the league as a whole. I can't wait, honestly, to get to Kansas City, and not just for some burnt ends, but also to savor that new cauldron. God, I cannot wait to get there this season. Another place I do want to go another place. I'm quite fascinated by the moves they're making, the Washington spirit, and I'm not alone. Let's take another caller.

Hi, this is Gina from Harrisburg. A huge fan of you, Sam, and of the podcast this NWSL season, I am most excited to take my son Henry to his first ever professional sports game, an NWSL game. He was born during the World cup and now he'll be about eight months old when he gets to go to his first Washington spirit game. So can't wait to catch all of the NWSL action this season, especially a few spirit games. Thanks. Well, depending on when Henry gets to his first match, he may see the club under their new manager, which has to be the biggest hiring decision in league history. The spirit of bringing in Jonathan Heraldes from Barcelona. Femini and Hales joined the club after Barca finished their season in June. I love this move, Michelle.

Love it.

Yeah. Michelle King is pulling out all the stops to make this happen for her original nwcl team. This addition to the NWCEl's coaching staff is a huge step in closing that coaching gap between the US and Europe. And honestly, I wouldn't be more surprised if we saw even more european players try to come here to play for Geraldas at the spirit.

I love the direction you're taking this. Barcelona are coming off a women's Champions League win. They play exquisite football. Just the tactical idea of their football is kinetic and bewildering, complex, nuanced, wonderful. It's exactly what we need our players over here to experience in the United States of America. Honestly, there's a good chance the trophy engravers will be etching Barcelona's names again on the Champions League trophy this year. Is Barcelona not only top their Champions League group, they're currently, when I say, dominating, this is to do them a disservice. The extent to which they are obliterating all comers in the league of feminine. They are unbeaten in 18 games, nine points ahead of Real Madrid. This is not a typo. They have a jaw dropping plus 71 goal differential. They've scored 75. They've allowed just four goals all season, I do believe. Yeah, I mean, this is not just about this gentleman, it's obviously about the playing staff that Barcelona have brought through, the recruitment they've done. But at the heart of it is just an elite idea of football created by an elite coach and it's. Honestly, it's what United States football. We talked about it all World cup.

The tactical idea, the tactical gap. Lindy Haran was among the players who talked about that tactical gap that the United States needs to catch up and to empower the games development in this nation over the next decade. I just applaud the spirit for leading the way here. This, please God, will be transformative for all of us at every.

You know what I keep thinking about is Trinity Rodman, who plays for the spirit. She's one of the young stars of the US women's national team who is just so full of potential. She's about to be coached by two of the greatest coaches in the women's game. Heraldes for club at the spirit and Emma Hayes for country with the US women's national team. Imagine this kind of exposure, this opportunity for her to learn and grow. And for a player who's already so naturally talented, I think we're going to create a monster here.

A monster for the force of good.

Next up, roger. We have Angel City.

Valemos.

This is a team at Angel City that showed its potential in the second half of last season when Becky Tweed took over as interim head coach. And they proceeded to reel off an eleven game unbeaten streak in all competitions. And a win in the last game of the season earned Angel City their first playoff appearance.

I've got to say, that string of results, there can be no better job interview than that. Becky Tweed rightly quickly lost the interim label and was named head coach in November.

Yeah, this Angel City team has all of the tools at its disposal. They're stadium bumps for games. Their ownership group is like movie stars. It must just have money to blow. And even their social media team crushes 13 going on 30 promos.

It's amazing, by the way, if that genuinely at the Oscars last weekend, I was like, how is the Angel City promo not for best picture?

I feel like expansion teams usually take a few seasons to get their identity sorted out, but this team built something incredible last year and we're all excited to see it continue growing. They have a great mix of veteran leadership like Ali Riley and Sidney Larue. And then they have the young sister starlets Alyssa and Giselle Thompson, who will probably pack the stands with their high school friends and be part of this team for years to come.

As we jump back across the country, your North Carolina courage, and I do contractually need to mention that you'll be at the wakemed soccer park because this is genuinely amazing. You, Sam Ewiss, of whom soon there will be an enormous statue on the Hanson, Massachusetts city limits, but you're also going to become the first ever inductee into the courage's Ring of Honor. You won two NWSL championships and three NWSL shields with the courage details that I could never forget. Really, because of my commemorative back tatoo that had ink to mark that achievement.

Oh, well, maybe it matches mine. We'll have to compare. Yeah, I mean, the Ring of Honor. This is such a cool thing that the courage is doing. I feel, not to overuse the word honored, but I feel really humbled and grateful for this opportunity. My time at the North Carolina courage was so special. We won so much, but I also had such incredible friends there. I was really connected with the fans there and to be recognized for my soccer career when I feel like it kind of slipped away from me before, I would have liked for it to. It just feels really special and I'm really excited to get to go back to the triangle area and celebrate with some of my former teammates and with my family and with the fans. So I'm really looking forward to. It's going to be fun.

I actually went to watch the 2019 NWSL final and was just blown away by the community around that team and the wonder, I'll be honest, I went to watch Sam Ker. We just filmed with Sam Kerr ahead of the final in Chicago and I went to watch her smite in what felt like it was going to be her last game. And we went down there, we ate all the Beasley's fried chicken and God, you just genuinely would not let anybody else touch the ball. It was incredible to watch you just absolutely obliterate all comers with wonder. And to think about you going down and being just inducted into that burning ring of honor is a beautiful, beautiful thing. Enjoy North Carolina courage fans. Enjoy Sam muis. I know I have a sense of how deeply meaningful it is for you, but also for the club. Coach Sean Nahass called you the foundation of this club. That's a quote. And said, sam Ewis helped to bring so many great memories into our history. I saw them. That is very true and it's not an overstatement and it's beautiful. It's an incredible achievement. I've got a huge respect to the courage for acting, stepping in in this moment and making, sealing this memory, creating an ending, creating a sense of closure and finale and just baking you into the history of the club.

It is classy, it is magic. It is deserved. I've got a lot of respect for everyone down there for pulling it off, and it now means that 120 fifth of the men in Blazers media network are forever part of the Ring of Honor.

Thank you, Roger. It does mean a lot to me and I am forever a North Carolina courage fan. So I'm thrilled that they're going to benefit, I think, from bringing in Ashley Sanchez from the Washington spirit. She's versatile, she adds vision to the midfield, but the team is going to miss the impact of brazilian playmaker Caroline, who was both the NWSL MVP last season and the runner up for the Golden Boot. Caroline is still recovering after tearing her ACL in the final game of last season. So let's talk a little bit about North Carolina's opening week opponent, the Houston Dash.

Yeah, the only team in the league whose name is both a verb and the punctuation mark. Bravo.

Houston are coming off a tough season. They finished 10th in the league, but they were also tied with Kansas City for the fewest number of wins. They did get a big offseason win when forward Maria Sanchez, who is also the captain of Mexico's national team, signed a new contract, a deal that made her the highest paid player in the league.

I just want to add how much I admire Houston forward Michelle Alozia, who is a rising star for both a club and a country. Nigeria. She made a World cup debut for the Nigerians at the last tournament. She's also juggling and I'm going to say these words, but it doesn't capture the enormity of how she lives her life because she's juggling a second career in medicine, putting her Yale microbiology degree to work simultaneously as a cancer researcher at Texas Children's Hospital. She's just a force of wonder, a force of good. But when I think about it, to be able to excel at one thing is incredible, and she does. But to excel at two of them, and one of them is cancer research is honestly someone that can do nothing of any merit is mind boggling. Huge, huge respect, huge, huge love. And, Sam, I know you just filmed with Michelle. That episode drops imminently, and I've got to tell you, I cannot wait for her to tell her story.

I know. I can't wait for that interview to come out, either. I had never talked to her in person before the interview, and it was so much fun to hang out with her. I think everybody's going to really love hearing from Michelle Alozia, but we do have another caller right now who wants to talk racing Louisville. Hi, Sam. This is Barbara from New York City. I am just calling about the upcoming NWSL season. I'm really excited to see what racing Louisville does under Beviennez. I'm really excited with all of the signs from the offseason. We have Taylor Flint, a lot of cool international signs, as well as baby ten year old Millie from New Zealand. So really excited to see how she plots all these new players into the already great team culture. And really excited to see them coming, hopefully to the playoffs this year. I grew up there, so really hoping the hometown team shows out this season. Go big perp. Barbara, thank you so much for calling. I know I am really excited about Bev Yanez's role for this Louisville team as well. Something that I'm noticing this year is that it feels like there's this new generation of female coaches who have recently experienced playing, whether it was in this iteration of the NWSL or professionally overseas.

Bev Yanez was appointed as racing Louisville's head coach in November, and it was just recently announced that Canadian Carmelina Moscado will be joining her there. Amy Rodriguez, U. S. Women's national team legend, is coaching in Utah, and Casey Stoney is a recent former player as well, who's coaching at San Diego. I think that it's so incredible for the players to have women in coaching roles on their teams because these women understand what the players are going through. For a long time in the league, there was only one female coach, or maybe even no female coaches. It was a lot of white men coaching, and it felt at times like they didn't understand what it was like, to be a professional athlete or to be a woman in this field. So I'm really thrilled that the league is making these kinds of moves towards these coaching roles, going to former players who are women who are totally equipped to be doing this job because they've done this job as a player.

Yeah, I mean, it's so amazing. We had Emma Hayes on the show. Her career was cut short far too quickly, but at the time when she came on, she was being linked to a lot of men's jobs. And we asked her about that and she know it's a completely different game. And to understand those differences is to appreciate them and even medically the space of ACLs, which is devastating the league. To have a true understanding of that is really what this game needs to go to the next level, and I cannot wait to watch all of it. There is one team I do want to talk about before we move on, and to talk about them by expressing my profound and deeply genuine admiration for Orlando Pride. Captain Marta. She's an incredible. Sometimes seems less a humor, more a life force for the power of good. She's entering a final year of a contract, possibly. I don't like to say this. I keep my fingers. It's not true. It could be. Her last season of professional football, she retired from international competition for Brazil after last year's World cup. She's been such an icon, such an inspiration, such a considered inspiration in not just how she plays, how she carries herself, how she trains, but how she speaks about the game, her role, how she wants to be followed, very conscious in this moment of a transition of leadership and hearing her emotionally articulate, yes, in her native Brazil, but also around the world, this six time FIFA World cup player of the year, that's only been better by some little guy named Leo, by the way, in the state of Florida, they've got all those world player of the year awards, the two of

them together, also mind boggling. But Marta is so good, so transcendent, that even, you know, not always good at the decision making. Finally did a good one. They gave her the Puskas treatment. They named a trophy after martyr. Whoever scores the best goal in women's football every year from henceforth will pick up the martyr award, which I love, savor every single moment we have watching this legend play in our league, America this season, and particularly to your Orlando fans, to Godspeed. By the way, Sam, word of admiration for your phone line. I'm loving these voicemails.

I know the callers know what they want, so let's hear from one more. My name is Drew Bremeyer. I'm calling from New York City and my question is, who do you guys think is going to be the golden boot winner of the league? And who's your MVP? Thank you. Thank you so much for that call, Drew. Raj, who's your pick for the shield?

Do you want me to crystal ball it, Samuel?

I do.

Well, spoiler alert, if you don't want to know who wins this league, stop listening now or just fast forward to the very end, because I am about to tell you, it's not very original thought, but there's just so much talent on that team. I've got to go. Gotham. I mean, all of those friends of Samuels arriving en masse like a battalion. Rose Lavelle. I mean, sonnet. Sonnet is. Sonnet is an incredible footballer. She's become just. There's another level of sonnet over the last twelve months. Crystal dumb. We all understand what she is. We all understand the ferocity with which she wants to constantly prove herself to herself. Tina Davidson, I think, is of all of those pickups, possibly one of the most sage and underappreciated. I mean, watching her for the US women in the W Gold cup, she was a force of nature, I think is going to thrive in New York City, adding to a roster. We talked about it already. It's got our mate Lynn Williams, it's got midge, Perth. I do expect Gotham to be the single most consistent force. So much depth there over the course of the season and to add the NWSL championship that they won in 2023 with a support shield win in 2024.

Well, I have to agree with you there, Roj. For the shield, I'm picking Gotham. I won't go back over everything you just said, but pretty much all my friends are there and all the talent is there. And if they don't win, I think we're all going to be devastated and surprised, but I actually think this is the last time that we're going to agree today. Who do you have winning the championship?

Who is going to win it all? In my heart and my head, they are both aligned, which is not a normal state of being for me. I've got to be candid, but hello, Portland. Your thorns, they're always there or thereabouts. They won the championship in 2022. They are stacked with talent. Sophia Smith, I adore watching Olivia Moultrie. I also adore her narrative, her story. I would love her development. Sam Coffey, Janine Becky back in the fight. She's one of the most noble and nourishing human beings I've encountered in the game. To watch her come back after missing the last campaign with an ACL, Jesse Fleming is a clenched fist, a warrior, a poet warrior. Added in the offseason. I have to mention, of course, Becky Sourbrune, just the Ruth Baker Ginsburg of football. The Thorns have it all playoff experience and they know how to grind it out when it matters most.

Becky Sourbrun is our girl. I love all those players that you.

Mentioned, but you're going against Becky Sauervin. Are you about to go against Becky?

Savannah, the North Carolina courage in me can't ever say anything good about Portland. I just can't do it. I know they're a great team. I do not have them winning the championship, however.

That's who I thought you were going. I was like, wow, Sam.

I have the San Diego wave winning the championship. I think that Alex Morgan, Naomi Gurma, Abby Dahl Kemper, but they also are signing young players. They won the shield last year. I think that if they have time to build up momentum to work in some of their new players, San Diego looked really good last year. Casey Stoney is an incredible coach. I think they're going to build as the season goes on. I think they're going to make a run at the championship.

I love Casey Stoney. I've got to be candid. Naomi Gurmer, I've already talked about my love of her and my admiration for her play. I think the Alex Morgan narrative is genuinely is, you know, late era Alex is rarely more prolific than when she's been written off. And yes, in the Gold cup, we all have witnessed her leadership, the way she's playing in a deeper role. But we also need to remember she was not a first string selection for this squad. I imagine that pissed her off something wicked. And what she does with that fury, I think is going to be definitive for that team.

Does she make your golden boot then?

My head is telling me and I can't wait to watch Bay FC's Assisa Oshawala. I think she's going to set the league alight. I hope she sets a league alight this year, joining from Barcelona in the offseason. But my heart again is going full on, Hashtag team sour Brune. And despite there being a bit of an empty void where my heart should be, I'm going to go on one and say becky sourbroon for Golden Boot. And when it happens, America, just remember where you heard it first.

Roger, I love that vote. Becky Sourbrun. If she wins golden boot, that will be incredible. No one will be happier than me, but I have to give it to Sophia Smith. I think Sophia Smith's ability to score goals, especially for Portland, is so, so good. I know that with the Olympics this year she might get out of rhythm with her club team a little bit, having to travel with the national team, but she's shown year after year that she's putting goals away for Portland. So I'm giving golden boot to Sophia Smith.

God, MVP time. I'm actually not going to go Becky Sourbroon for MVP because I can't be greedy and give it all. She's got a title. She's got the golden boot. Do you have your MVP in mind?

I do, and I'm keeping it in the family here. At the women's game I'm going Lynn Williams. I played more soccer with Lyn Williams than probably anybody else. I've seen her turn it on before and I just feel like we're going to see it again. When Lynn is in scoring form, she's unstoppable. She's one of the fastest players on the team. She can set herself up. She can just win the ball off a defender and set herself up to score. But I'm also thinking about her on this Gotham team and how much she's going to get set up by her teammates. She has some of the best players in the world who are going to be giving her assists, giving her crosses, setting her up. Lynn actually won the NWSL MVP before in 2016 and I just have a feeling that she has another MVP season in her. And what kind of a friend even are you if you don't believe in your people?

Lynn's MVP for me, I love that. Believe in your people. Tell you who I believe in for MVP and this is slightly me going off on one, but I believe this one actually. I mean, is almost as real as the Becky sour Boon golden boot. I would love to see a Jaden sure MVP season that 19? Yes, she's 19. I've rarely seen a footballer with that level of composure. She just seems to get better and better with every single start for the US women's national team. She's not even surprised when she scores. She's got that rare ability for an attacker to make it look as if she has the intelligence, the positional empathy to make it look as if the ball comes to them. I want to ask Harry Kane, how do you make it look like wherever you are in the box, you can make the ball come to you? And he just nodded and he goes, I don't know, really. I think Jayden sure does know. I think she's going to do the business on the club stage just as she has done at the international level. I cannot wait to watch her with just this preternatural calmness.

Just thrive and so on.

Well, unlike Jaden Shaw, Raj, I was always surprised when I scored. I could never believe that it actually really went in, but I think that that covers it. Raj, this was our nwcl preview pod.

We've not hit the big question. You're not really giving me the feedback on what you think about that greatest show women thing.

Well, I'm going to have to get back to you on that. Thank you so much for being here and doing this with me, Raj. And thank you all so much for listening to our first ever nwcell preview podcast. The NWB cell kicks off this weekend. You can watch the Challenge cup between Gotham FC and the San Diego wave live from Red Bull arena on Friday, March 15 at 08:00 p.m. On prime Video and then catch all the action for the rest of the league on Saturday and Sunday. Follow along with us across our social channels, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at women's game MIB. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at Women's Game MIB and subscribe to our newsletter delivered to your inbox every Monday. We will be back with our regularly scheduled pod tomorrow on this podcast feed that you can subscribe to now. That interview is with Megan Rapino. We'll see you there, Sam.

This has been gorgeous, and we now get to watch the real thing unfold before our very ICE.

I know, it's so exciting.

The Becky sour broom golden boot. Let's speak it into existence.