FootyPop: A Weekend Full of NWSL Chaos, Excitement, and More!
This past week was full of hype for the beginning of the 2023 NWSL season! It culminated in the weekend with six games, all of which were thrilling. In addition to NWSL news this past week, we’ve seen some World Cup updates and other stuff. So without further ado, catch up on the last week of key women’s soccer news:
High of the Weekend
Of course, our high of the week was the return of the NWSL. However, along with the standard excitement, there were some record-breaking moments!
A record-setting start to the season!#WePlayHere pic.twitter.com/dbPF2x5uvH
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 26, 2023
First, San Diego had a record-setting crowd of over 30,000 fans in attendance!
The Washington Spirit also broke its attendance record with more than 11,000 attendees. But that’s not all–Angel City, too, sold out BMO Stadium for their home opener!
Racing Louisville became the first NWSL team with players from six different continents. Sophia Smith scored a goal, which means she’s scored in three consecutive season openers for the Portland Thorns.
Overall, opening weekend was epic. We saw chaos, we saw potential, and we saw a ton of young players debut!
Low of the Weekend
According to @diariARA, Jorge Vilda and the @RFEF are not equally upset with every member of “Las 15”.
In fact, there is a BLACKLIST of three players above everyone else:
Aitana Bonmatí, Mapi León, and Mariona Caldentey. pic.twitter.com/PM3zvbv5bS
— Women’s Transfer News (@womenstransfer) March 24, 2023
In World Cup news, more about the Spanish team’s situation has come out. To catch you up, many of the Spanish team’s key players left the squad last year and asked for the coach to be removed. He wasn’t removed, and the Spain national team made up for the lost players by calling up a much younger squad.
Recently, an article stated that Coach Jorge Vilda is more upset with some players than others. Aitana Bonmatí, Mapi León, and Mariona Caldentey are blacklisted from the team.
It’s hard to hear more of this unfortunate news out of Spain, especially when the World Cup is approaching. With all this national team chaos, when will enough be enough? Some of the top teams in the world won’t be at full potential due to organizational and coaching problems.
News of the Weekend
Women’s World Cup Adidas away kits are here 👕 [THREAD]
Japan 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/B8xiN4iBHh
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 23, 2023
Adidas released the kit designs for the World Cup… and they’re straight out of our dreams. They’re inspired by the environment and landscape of each country and turned out absolutely stunning.
View this post on Instagram
Also, in World Cup news, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands made a bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup!
Fail of the Weekend
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Yes, we are happy VAR is integrated for the NWSL now. But… it could definitely take time for it to work seamlessly. ACFC’s Jun Endo scored a beautiful goal that VAR reviewed and turned back because of a foul way farther back on the pitch.
Was it clearly and obviously a mistake on the center refs part? Many think not.
Overall, VAR will be great in mitigating violent and reckless play, but it’s definitely cause for fail of the week when it sparks so much controversy over a justifiable goal that would’ve put Angel City up 2-0.
Goals of the Weekend
A beautiful goal from Alyssa Thompson off an assist from Dani Weatherholt for the Play of the Match from #LAvNJNY!#WeAreAngelCity pic.twitter.com/E8auH5rE0I
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) March 27, 2023
Two of the league’s youngest stars scored fantastic goals in their home openers. Check out these bangers from Angel City’s Alyssa Thompson and San Diego Wave’s Jaedyn Shaw.
JAEDYN SHAW IS THE TRUTH 😱pic.twitter.com/SRJ7F1LwcL
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) March 26, 2023
Player of the Weekend
End of an era 🇺🇸🙌
Ali Krieger has announced that she will retire following the 2023 NWSL season.
What an amazing career, congratulations @alikrieger! 👏 pic.twitter.com/rNtRTZHoOX
— ata football (@atafball) March 23, 2023
A World Cup legend announced her retirement! Ali Krieger stated she’d be leaving professional soccer at the end of this season. However, in Gotham’s match on Sunday, Kreiger subbed off in the first half due to injury. We hope this doesn’t mean her last season isn’t cut short in any way!
No matter what, though, it’ll be exciting to see what she does in her post-pro soccer career!
Signings of the Weekend
Born & raised in SD.
Welcome the youngest player in @NWSL history, Melanie Barcenas. pic.twitter.com/zfAPZIo4hf
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) March 21, 2023
More in NWSL news, San Diego Wave beat the Washington Spirit’s record for the youngest player in the league when they signed 15-year-old Melanie Barcenas last week. Barcenas is a San Diego native with a history in the USYNT.
Official. ✍️
Sinead Farrelly signs a contract for the 2023 season with an option with Gotham FC.
— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) March 25, 2023
Additionally, Gotham FC announced the signing of Sinead Farrelly! This marks Farrelly’s return to pro soccer after publicly releasing her story of abuse by former Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley.
Transfer of the Weekend
Atlanta-natives Croix Bethune and Hannah White announced they’re transferring from USC to play for @UGASoccer. They’re rejoining their old coach Keidane McAlpine. Georgia is making massive moves ahead of next fall. pic.twitter.com/StEMFDpXY9
— Lis Schendel (@lis_ashlee) March 24, 2023
Two Trojan stars are headed south! Croix Bethune and Hannah White announced they’d play at the University of Georgia next fall.
What to Look Forward To
NWSL
Saturday, April 1
Kansas City Current vs. Portland Thorns at 12:50 PM ET/9:50 AM PT
Chicago Red Stars vs. Houston Dash at 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT
Racing Louisville vs. Washington Spirit at 3:00 PM ET/12:00 PM PT
Gotham FC vs. OL Reign at 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT
San Diego Wave vs. North Carolina Courage at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT
Sunday, April 2
Orlando Pride vs. Angel City FC at 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT
Fav Social Media Post
— Kim McCauley (@kimischilling) March 25, 2023
With Debinha leaving fellow Brazilian Kerolin at the North Carolina Courage, and then the Courage dominating Debinha’s new team… there was really no other answer than the creation of this meme.
Featured image via @weareangelcity on Instagram
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