This week we look at the first half of the 2019 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season (approximately), as five clubs have played half of their 24 game 2019 regular season schedule, with three playing 11 and Orlando Pride with 13 in the books (after games on July 14). At this point in the season, North Carolina, Portland, Reign FC and Washington would make the playoffs—with the top three playoff repeats from last season and Washington replacing 2018 NWSL semifinalists Chicago Red Stars.
2019 NWSL Season Preview
North Carolina Courage (6-4-2--22 points—Tied for First)
Though the Courage does not seem as dominate as last season when they didn't lose until their 13th game—which was their only loss of the year—but two losses by the midway point in 2019 and joint first with Portland is still pretty solid in a chaotic campaign during a World Cup year. The big story in Carolina is that Kristen Hamilton—who has been with the club since 2015—emerged during the time that the internationals were away at World Cup in France as a legitimate scoring threat. She scored a hat trick in Orlando in a 3-0 victory on June 1 and then scored four in a 5-2 win over the Houston Dash on July 5; she was named League Player of the Week (for Week 12) by the NWSL Media Association. Her four goals against the Dash tied a single game NWSL record with most goals in a game and she was the first Courage player to score more than 3 goals or more twice in a season. She is now second in the NWSL with seven goals this season along with two assists. She scored only 6 in four previous seasons—3 in 2017 and 3 in 2018. Her productivity has helped the Courage to the top of the league scoring table with 26, three ahead of Portland. Lynn Williams is tied for fourth in goals with 5 goals (and 4 assists) with Utah's Amy Rodriguez, followed by Crystal Dunn tied for 6th on 4 goals (with 1 assist) followed by Brazilian import Debinha—though both internationals missed games for World Cup—with 3 goals and 2 assists, while defender Jaelene Hinkle has 4 assists. Hinkle, Merritt Mathias and Williams are tied for the league lead in assists with their 4 each, while Williams now leads the NWSL all-time with 23 assists. Crystal Dunn returns to the squad as a WWC winner in France, having been a late cut from the 2015 American World Cup side. Attendances in Cary are strong and the club brought in 6,216 to see their 2-0 win on July 13 against Reign FC, who were leading the table at the time.
The Courage should continue to roll through the rest of their schedule and finish in the top two, now that Women's World Cup players in France, including goalkeeper Steph Labbe (Canada) and Abby Ercig (New Zealand) have returned, whileAbby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis, Jessica McDonald and Dunn are scheduled to return for their next game on July 21 in Chicago. They will also have a chance to defend their International Champions Cup tournament title from last year in August against Lyon of France, Manchester City of England and Atletico Madrid of Spain, which they won last year with most of their starters away on international duty.
Portland Thorns (6-4-2—19 points—Tied for First)
Portland found a solid forward in June in Midge Purce and consolidated a playoff position, though dropping points in late June and early July at home against the Reign FC (0-1) and in a 1-1 tie in North Carolina and 0-0 tie with Utah at home are typically unlike this side. World Cup players Tobin Heath (U.S.), Haley Raso (Australia), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Caitlin Foord (Australia), Adrianna Franch (U.S.), Emily Sonnett (U.S.) and Lindsey Horan (U.S.) should safely see former Chelsea women's side assistant Mark Parson's team into the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season and six out of seven in the league.
Midge Purse was a revelation during the World Cup period, scoring 6 goals in 8 games, after the Harvard graduate had previously scored 1 in 44 matches with Boston in 2017 and Portland in 2018. She is third in the entire league in goals. Tyler Lussi—the ex-Princeton University player—has two goals this season, matching her Thorns total as a backup in 20 games over the 2 previous season, including a pulsating header at the end of injury time in a 4-3 Thorns victory over Orlando at home on July 14 in front of 18,909 fans.
The Thorns have finished their road journey of 7 consecutive game and return to an expanded Providence Park—adding a majestic upper deck on the far side for 3,000 more seats—bringing the stadium to just over 25,000 capacity now. (see picture)
Providence Park in Portland Oregon added three new levels to the far stand for the 2019 season: Photo Courtesy Arianna Grainey Photography
Reign FC (5-5-2--20 points—Third)
Though Vlatko Andonovski is one of the best coaches around, with two NWSL titles to his resume in Kansas City, no one expected the Reign to jump from seventh place with only 6 points after 5 games in late May to head the table in early July. They took 3 straight 1-0 wins on the road—all shutouts from new American goalkeeping acquisition Casey Murphy from Montpellier in France—and were unbeaten in 8 games (with 5 one goal wins) from May 4 through July 5, despite missing Megan Rapinoe and Allie Long of the U.S., Jodi Taylor of England, Rumi Utsugi of Japan and Australians Steph Catley and goalkeeper Lydia Williams to the Women's World Cup.
After their 1-0 win over Portland on the road on July 5, with a goal from Celia Jimenez Delgado of Spain, who came back from the WWC and scored her first NWSL goal, Andonovksi said: "Once again I'm very proud of this team. Every game I walk away from, they make me fall in love with this group more and more. They're tremendous. The heart, the intensity, the desire they have on this team is unbelievable. The three points are big, especially when you play Portland away. It's never an easy environment, but we managed it well and I'm happy with the outcome."
Bethany Balcer came onto the scene during the World Cup and has 3 goals and 1 assist while Jess Fishlock has posted the same numbers since returning from Lyon and French Ligue 1 and Champions League title wins. The bad news is that Fishlock tore her ACL against Utah and is out for the season. She's not the only one—with Taylor Smith and Jasmyne Spencer also out with torn ACL's, while backup goalkeeper Michelle Betos ruptured hers. In addition, Jaycie Johnson (knee), Scout Watson (concussion), Darian Jenkins and Morgan Andrews (both hamstrings), Rumi Utsugi and Steph Cox (calf problems) have missed games and the Reign's current third place position is even more amazing. In addition, Andonovski announced on July 14 that Australian international goalkeeper Lydia Williams will be out for two months or more because of an ankle injury sustained at the Women's World Cup: "I'm sure pretty soon that it's going to come out, but Lydia Williams picked up an injury during the World Cup that will sideline her for the next 10 to 12 weeks." Andonovski summed up his roster situation succinctly: "We haven't had luck with injuries and health of the team."
The injuries have necessitated some player moves. They acquired Canadian international midfielder Rebecca Quinn from Paris FC in France, where she played the second half of last season and at the 2019 Women's World Cup after time with the Washington Spirit in 2018. They traded Australian international defender Elise Kellond-Knight to Washington Spirit for goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme, as they were desperate for a backup for Murphy, with Williams and Betos out.
The Reign astutely picked up Schuyler DeBree on July 15 from AC Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic. Another recent college grad who spurned NWSL for a spot in the Champions League, the ex-Duke player may have parlayed the European trip into a guaranteed contract and better terms, DeBree, 22, was drafted by the Washington Spirit in 2018 with the 11th overall pick, but did not play for the Spirit. She won the 2018-19 Czech First Division with Sparta Praha. DeBree has also been involved with the U.S. Youth National Team from the U-14 level in 2010. DeBree played against Reign FC with the U.S. U-23 squad during the 2019 Portland Invitational Tournament during preseason. De Bree said: "I have only heard the best things about the Reign FC organization, including the coaching, soccer environment and commitment to professionalism. I am incredibly excited to be a part of such a respected organization and have the opportunity to grow as a player and person within it."
The Reign FC also signed New Zealand international forward Rosie White, who played in all three matches at the 2019 Women's World Cup in France. She played for the Boston Breakers in 2017 and the Chicago Red Stars in 2018. She was released from her Chicago contract to focus on training for the World Cup with the Football Ferns, so she was available to sign. She played for Liverpool in 2015 and 2016. White made her senior national team debut at the age of 15 in 2009. She made her 100th appearance for the Football Ferns in May in a friendly against the U.S. Women's National Team.
Even with World Cup Golden Boot winner Rapinoe returning, Andonovski feels that she may not be at 100%: "She's not physically in her best after playing all these games (at the World Cup) and she had a little tweak in her hamstring, so we're going to be careful managing her minutes."
Off the field, the Reign's new home in 2019 of Cheney Field in Tacoma is located in a picturesque setting but competing against a USL men's Division 2 team and long-time minor league baseball team in a smaller city has not resulted in strong gates, even compared to what they drew in Seattle, which was never stellar. It's hard to see 2019 Women's World Cup star Megan Rapinoe as lasting long in a city that doesn't even have its named tied to the club—it's just Reign FC. She could be looking at a high profile move to Europe either before or after next Summer's Olympics. Attendance has been passable at 3,605 to date, ranging from a high of 5,323 to a low of 3,032 for 5 games, down from 3,824 last season in Seattle (8th in the league). Megan Rapinoe's return will certain help at the gate, but attendance overall is down after the move from a large market to a smaller regional city, that essentially is being introduced to the club—this is worrisome. North Carolina head coach Paul Riley, who coached in Portland for two seasons, gave his thoughts on Cheney Stadium compared to Memorial Stadium in central Seattle, where they left last season, after his side's 2-1 loss on May 26:"I would much rather play here. The locker rooms are much better. I just like the atmosphere better, to be honest with you. I don't know what it's like for the fans, but seeing the game and watching in a baseball field is pretty tricky. The grass is good. They've done a good job. I thought the field was really good. We thought it would be a lot worse, having seen it on the TV, but I don't think it played into the game at all. It's smaller than we're used to, but we've been on a lot smaller baseball fields. We played Seattle a couple years ago (as the Western New York Flash). Do you remember that? The postage stamp? It was fine. It's a good place. It's definitely better than what they left, no question." In spite of the aesthetics, the problem is trying to bring Reign fans from their Seattle days down the interstate to Tacoma, a drive that could range from 30 to 90 minutes depending on where they live.
Washington Spirit (5-3-3--18 points—Fourth)
Washington tailed off a bit from their hot start to the season, with only one win and 2 ties in their last five games, but will look forward to bringing back 2019 Women's World Cup Bronze Ball winner Rose Lavelle, as well as Mallory Pugh from the U.S. World Cup winning side. Other returning World Cup participants for the Spirit include Cheyna Williams from Jamaica and their two Australian internationals Amy Harrison and Chloe Logarzo, with Logarzo in particular having had a good World Cup. Williams, Ashley Hatch and Jordan DiBiasi, a rookie from Stanford who has played for the U.S. at the U-18, U-19, U-20 and U-23 level, all are tied for the team goal scoring lead with 3 each.
The Spirit's defense has been strong, allowing only 11 goals in 11 games, tied for second best in the league with the Reign. Audrey Bledsoe, who won a W-League title with Sydney FC last winter, is fourth in the league with an 81.7% save percentage, just behind Casey Murphy (82.8%) and Michelle Betos (82.4%)—both of Reign FC, and Kailen Sheridan of Sky Blue FC (81.8%). Bledsoe leads the league in saves with 49 and is second in shutouts (5) behind Nicole Barnhart of Utah (6).
First year Spirit head coach Richie Burke should receive strong consideration for coach of the year for his wonderful reclamation project after last year's struggling performance. They will face pressure in the second half of the season from the teams behind them (as Utah and Chicago are only a point behind) but it will be fascinating to watch how they consolidate their playoff position and try to hold off the pursuers for the rest of the season.
Utah Royals (5-2-4—17 Points—Tied for Fifth)
The Royals have the best defense in the league, allowing only 8 goals in 11 games but also have the worst offense in the league, scoring only 8 times. Their 1-0 loss on the road to Sky Blue FC on July 12 from an injury time goal by Jen Hoy was a lost point that could be costly at the end of the season, and particularly harsh for Nicole Barnhart in goal, who was a minute away from a 7th shutout. Barnhart has been phenomenal all season and leads all NWSL goalkeepers in shutouts.
Former U.S. international forward Amy Rodriguez has been critical with 5 of the side's 8 goals. Kelley O'Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn and Christen Press (Americans) and Rachel Corse (Scotland), Katie Bowen (New Zealand) and Desiree Scott (Canada) return from World Cup duty will help. To make the playoffs this season, it seems that they need to sign a scoring threat for the balance of the year—likely from abroad—as Spanish international Vero Boquete has played well but only has two assists in 8 matches, unlike her proficient WPS days when she was the Player of the Year in 2011 with the Philadelphia Independence and four of her five goals were game winners.
Attendance is strong again in Salt Lake City, with the side drawing a league second best (behind Portland at 18,267) average of 10,790 after 6 games (up slightly from last season at 9,466), which is double the league average of 5,464 (down from last season at 6,024). The league and Utah should see a sizeable post-World Cup bump with people wanting to see the U.S. WWC winners as well as those American stars with other teams.
Chicago Red Stars (5-2-5--17 points—Tied for Fifth)
Four losses since the end of May and only one win—when Matilda star Sam Kerr came back to score a hat trick in a 3-2 road win in Orlando on July 30—has put them in the chasing pack but WWC winners—Alyssa Naeher, Julie Ertz, Morgan Brian and rookie Tierna Davidson—should come back energized. Chicago's 2-1 home loss to Sky Blue led by two interim coaches the week that Denise Reddy was let go on July 6 in front of only 2,374 fans was a low point. Goalkeeper Emily Boyd (ex-University of California and a U-23 national team player) let in 13 goals in 8 games, after only playing two games last season.
On the plus side, Kerr leads the league in scoring for the third straight season with 9 goals and 1 assist. Yuki Nagasato has 3 goals and 4 assists while Michele Vanconcelos (Murphy) has been solid in a reserve role with 2 goals and 3 assists; the former BYU forward has received quite a lot of attention when she scored on Mother's Day in a 3-1 home win over North Carolina as she has a daughter.
Savannah McCaskill's signing in mid-June in exchange for a first and second round pick in the 2020 College draft from Sky Blue FC was an inspired pick-up by head coach Rory Daines and gives the side another young developing talent, who some thought should have been on the 2019 WWC winning American side in France.
Houston Dash (3-4-5)—13 points—Seventh)
The Dash is struggling and has won one of seven home games. They dropped from tied for second after 6 games to seventh after eleven, gaining only 3 points during that time—all on ties.
They need more scoring as their 13goals places them seventh in the league: Sofia Huerta has 3 goals and 1 assist and Australian international forward Kyah Simon has 2 goals and 2 assists. Simon has been effective since returning after being out due to injury for 8 months and missing out on the WWC as Matilda head coach Ante Milicic did not feel that she was fit enough; she scored goals in consecutive games for Houston—a 2-1 loss at home to Portland on June 29 and played 90 minutes and scored goal in their 5-2 loss away to North Carolina on July 5.
Canadian forward Nichelle Prince will miss the rest of the season after surgery on her right knee injury from the Round of 16 game against Sweden on June 24 in France. She scored once and had an assist against New Zealand in group play.
In late May, the Dash added Ariana Calderon, who is a Mexican National Team player and played for her nation at the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada. With the Mexican national team since 2014, she has 2 goals in 13 appearances. At the club level, she played for Thor/KA in Iceland in 2017 and 2018, appearing in 33 games. The 29-year-old from Sacramento, California also played in Finland (Kokkola), in Norway (Medkila) and with Valur and IBV in Iceland as well as the California Storm in the WPSL. Calderon played at Long Island University and tied the school career mark in goals scored with 29 and is the school's all-time leader with 69 points.
Orlando Pride (2-2-9--8 points—Tied for Eighth)
It's still tough to understand how a team with Alex Morgan and Marta (albeit they missed games with their national team in France) have fallen off the cliff so badly. The Pride have 15 goals for fifth best in the league but their defense has been non-existent, surrendering a league high 31 goals in 13 matches—12 more than eighth placed Houston who have 19 goals allowed. They continue to tumble but have seen some signs of improvement as the Pride won 2 out of 3 during the France World Cup.
The signing of Scottish international and 2019 World Cup player Claire Emslie from Manchester City was a good move and she should help improve the side. She played in all three matches in France and scored one of her team's five goals. Orlando General Manager Erik Ustruck (who played for the U.S. U-20 national team and Guam at the full senior level) said: "Claire is a very dynamic forward that can provide the final ball that we've been looking for, with both feet. She loves to attack fullbacks for the full 90 minutes, she recovers well and she defends on the front foot. Claire has the ability to change games and she brings a team-first mentality to the group that will enhance the culture that we're trying to build. We're looking forward to having her in Orlando."
Head Coach Marc Skinner said: "Claire is a player I have wanted to work with for a long time now. She possesses many desirable talents that will only help improve the team. Her ability to effectively dribble, pass and shoot with both feet, means she will keep defenders guessing about her next move and will excite our fans. More importantly, Claire possesses a personality that will epitomize the hardworking culture we are working daily to create at the Pride. We can't wait for Claire to join the family."
Emslie, who played collegiately at Florida Atlantic University, is happy to be back in Florida: "It's always been a dream of mine to play pro soccer in the USA. My time at Florida Atlantic University fueled that dream and Orlando Pride was the club I always envisioned playing for. I left Florida three years ago as a college graduate determined to return one day as a professional soccer player and I can't quite believe it has happened. I'm excited for the new challenge ahead and ready to work for it!"
Emslie (25) played the last two seasons at Manchester City Women of England's Women's Super League (where she scored 8 times in 31 matches. This past season, she helped lead the Blues to the 2018-19 FA Women's Continental League Cup Championship as well as the Women's FA Cup. Emslie joined Bristol City in 2016, scoring 10 goals in 20 appearances. The forward started her professional career at age 17 with Scottish Women's Premier League team Hibernian. She made her debut April 24, 2011 and went on to total 35 appearances and 18 goals in three seasons with Hibernian.
Sky Blue FC (2-2-7--8 points—Tied for Eighth)
Sky Blue FC is a better side to watch than last season and their 15 goals against is fifth best in the league, and partially achieved while Kailen Sheridan was at the World Cup with Canada, with veteran backup DiDi Haracic filling in nicely. The problem is scoring and they have 9 tallies, second only to Utah's 8.
Denise Reddy was terminated as coach on June 28—a shame as much of the chaos surrounding Sky Blue is organization calamity in the front office and not of her making. Reddy, 48, who played soccer at Raritan High School in New Jersey and was a four-year starter at Rutgers University, however only won 1 game, tied 8 and lost 24 in her season and a half in charge. The problem is a permanent replacement has not been named, again highlighting the planning problems endemic to this organization.
Former U.S. international defender Christine Rampone should be considered to lead the side as she coached the team to a WPS title in a masterful job as an interim coach in 2009; I think she could do a nice job if given the resources. Right now two unknown interims are guiding the side while the team looks for a permanent head—it may not be easy as now coaches have the opportunity to avoid what is effectively a toxic dumpster fire, just as players have avoided it of late. After the coaching move, the team won two games in a row the first time since August 2017 with former Chicago Red Star veteran super sub Jen Hoy and scoring the winner in both matches. It's good to see and former Frauen-Bundesliga veteran Gina Lewandowski has been a plus in defense.
Off the field, forget it. When they beat Utah at home on July 2 in an exciting match (albeit a Friday night game) they had 1,842 in attendance—their highest of the season. They average 1,501, bottom of the league with a range in 6 games from 1,842 to 1,321 for their lowest and clearly the team is not drawing locals, as in 2018 they drew 2,531 to see a 1-6-17 team and 2,613 in 2017 to see a team that had 10 wins in 24 games, finished sixth (6 points out of a playoff spot) and had Sam Kerr leading the league in scoring. This franchise needs to leave Central New Jersey—the question is will it be folded or move elsewhere. Indianapolis has been mentioned as a possible expansion site, but needs to pass some hurdles to construct a new stadium, that would be shared with Indy Eleven of the USL-Championship (second division) and ultimately help the team bid for a Major League Soccer Franchise.
Tim Grainey is a contributor to Tribal Football. His latest book Beyond Bend it Like Beckham on the global game of women's football. Get your copy today.
Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrainey
