FootyPop: Amy Rodriguez Becomes First Former NWSL Player to Become Head Coach
This past week the NWSL Challenge Cup kicked off; there was more NWSL excitement, including the SoCal rivalry, an English team getting promoted to the Women’s Super League, another devastating injury taking an English star out of the World Cup, and so much more. Check out our recap of the past week’s essential women’s soccer news!
High of the Weekend
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/fpRUknBl6u
— Bristol (C)ity WFC 🏆 (@bristolcitywfc) April 23, 2023
The Bristol City women just got promoted to the Women’s Super League! They were relegated down to the Championship last year, but after winning the league this season, they’re heading back up–now that’s a redemption story!
IT IS HERE!
The full schedule for the UKG #NWSL Challenge Cup can be found here: https://t.co/vYKUSO0qmh pic.twitter.com/225gH4hcxj
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 19, 2023
Additionally, the NWSL Challenge Cup kicked off this past week. The most surprising result was Kansas City’s 2-0 win over the Houston Dash, with both goals coming from Cece Kizer. The Current hasn’t had the hottest start to the NWSL regular season, but if they can stay consistent like they did week through the Challenge Cup and league matches, we could see them move up the standings.
Low of the Weekend
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It seems like every week, there’s at least one injury that’s making headlines. This week, Arsenal was struck again. Leah Williamson, also captain of England’s WNT, tore her ACL in Arsenal’s match against Manchester United last Wednesday.
This means she’ll be out of the World Cup, joining Beth Mead and Fran Kirby. The amount of injuries recently is completely unsustainable, and there needs to be more of a push to resolve this ACL injury epidemic.
News of the Weekend
The first American born NWSL player to become a head coach in the league. pic.twitter.com/OXa46sb5Xw
— Utah Royals (@UtahRoyalsFC) April 22, 2023
Amy Rodriguez will become the first former NWSL player to become a head coach! The soon-to-return Utah Royals appointed her head coach; she played for them from 2018 to 2020.
Fans are excited to have Rodriguez back for the Royals, and we can’t wait to see what she’ll do as head coach!
Fail of the Weekend
Both Cece Kizer and Lo'eau LaBonta say they had no issues with Matt Potter, who was fired today from head-coaching position with KC Current.
LaBonta: "We had no knowledge that this was going to happen. As players, we had no say in it. That's where the shock came from."#NWSL https://t.co/pEpw1pKvki
— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) April 20, 2023
There isn’t a ton of background information here, so maybe it’s not a complete fail… but the Kansas City Current sacked head coach Matt Potter this week. Lo’eau LaBonta and Cece Kizer pointed to how they barely knew before the news was public and had no issues with him as a head coach.
Just another odd situation between players and management that seems like it could’ve been handled more smoothly.
Game of the Weekend
The Angel City FC fan experience: you’re going to be miserable but at least you’ll have fun
— Lis Schendel (@lis_ashlee) April 24, 2023
The budding rivalry between Angel City and San Diego Wave happened this weekend. It’s always a fun matchup, no matter what, but Angel City fans are probably dying inside after having more chances in the second half but losing 2-0.
Goal of the Weekend
A genius at work 🪄
🇳🇴 @CarolineGrahamH's 1st-leg winner at Stamford Bridge is awarded #UWCL Goal of the Week ⚽ #UWCLGOTW // @Heineken pic.twitter.com/QINbcF6Go6
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) April 24, 2023
Caroline Graham Hansen scored our goal of the week this week in Barcelona’s Women’s Champions League semifinal match against Chelsea, just four minutes into the match.
Barcelona out-possessed and out-shot Chelsea and ended the game with just that one goal. In the other semifinal, Arsenal came back from being down 2-0 to tie Wolfsburg.
Team of the Weekend
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OL Reign was on fire this weekend, winning 5-2 over the Red Stars. Two players scored braces, Bethany Balcer and Jess Fishlock. It was actually the first match in OL Reign history where two players scored twice.
Player of the Weekend
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Lynn Williams and Christine Sinclair both reached 60 goals this weekend! We have to shout out Lynn Williams, though, as she is clinically underappreciated. She NEEDS to be recognized more at the national level. Williams simply scores goals and tons of them. She’s already scored four goals in four regular-season appearances!
The wait is over…
Welcome back, @julieertz 👏 pic.twitter.com/urVFNI06cG
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 24, 2023
Additionally, it was exciting to see Julie Ertz back in NWSL action for Angel City. Her presence on the pitch was felt from the get-go and hopefully can find some success with Ertz in the midfield.
What to Look Forward To
UEFA Women’s Champions League Semifinals Leg 2
Thursday, April 27: Barcelona vs. Chelsea at 12:45 PM ET/9:45 AM PT
Monday, May 1: Arsenal vs. Wolfsburg at 12:45 PM ET/9:45 AM PT
NWSL Regular Season
Friday, April 28: Houston Dash vs. North Carolina Courage at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT
Saturday, April 29
Racing Louisville vs. OL Reign at 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT
Chicago Red Stars vs. Washington Spirit at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT
San Diego Wave vs. Orlando Pride at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT
Portland Thorns vs. Angel City at 10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT
Sunday, April 30: KC Current vs. Gotham FC at 6:00 PM ET/3:00 PM PT
Featured image via @utahroyals on Instagram
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