Expected Own Goals

NWSL Rosters Locked and the GM Carousel Continues

NWSL teams locked in their end-of-season rosters, traded some players, saw some others sign with new teams, and a whole bunch of free agents hit the open market when their 2024 clubs didn’t re-sign them. Ryan Dell moved from Louisville to Kansas City, while Angela Hucles Mangano hopped from Angel City to Houston. What does it all mean? The guys break it all down. The show is sponsored by Peel, a new social game that gets you and your friends talking about the NWSL. Click here to join Peel’s WoSo community! We’re continuing our holiday Patreon membership sale! Use the code E580F at checkout to get 30% off an annual subscription for you or your loved ones!Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka’s Bell Dance Songs

USWNT Recap, plus Kicking Off The NWSL Offseason with Taylor Vincent!

The USWNT wraps up 2024 with a draw and a win overseas. How did the Triple Espresso-less attack acquit themselves? Was that scary first half against the Netherlands real, or just growing pains? The guys peel back all the layers. (1:05) They also sing a brief requiem for Alyssa Naeher's international career. (22:34)Then, they light up the hot stove with Spotrac's Taylor Vincent, explaining all the rules and weird tics that drive transactions in the NWSL. This was a blast. (26:55)Pick up gift memberships for an annual Patreon subscription all month long! Use the code E580F to save 30% on a whole year of bonus content.Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Championship Recap: The Spirit Taken Down by the Pride, but Not Without a Fight

What. A. Game. The Orlando Pride are your NWSL champions, the first Shield-Championship winners in five years. Their 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit at CPKC Stadium was a grubby, terse affair, with fouls galore and a controversial bit of magic from Barbra Banda. Marta finally claims her first U.S. trophy, and despite coming out on the losing side, Washington has a lot to look forward to. The guys break it all down from every angle. Don't forget to subscribe to our Patreon, and get all of our bonus content for only $6/month!Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Championship Preview, Part 2: Our Podcast with André (Carlisle)

The Washington Spirit have made it to the NWSL Championship, despite massive injuries to key players in the back end of the season. Can they keep this momentum going, or will the Orlando Pride stop them in their tracks? André Carlisle of Hey Spirits, Diaspora United and Beyond the Vaudevillian Cane returns to reflect on the Spirit season that was, and what lies in store for Trinity Rodman & co. in Kansas City on Saturday. Follow André on Bluesky
P.S. We kept the audio a little bit raw so y'all can hear the Orlando Pride ballin' out during their afternoon practice session.
Subscribe to our PatreonArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Championship BONUS: Inside the Orlando Pride with GM Haley Carter

The Orlando Pride are preparing to play the biggest game club history on Saturday, the culmination of a process that began more than two years ago. Team vice president and GM Haley Carter came on to talk about the journey the team has taken under her and Seb Hines's leadership, what philosophy they apply to every decision, and what the 2024 Pride represent, win or lose on Saturday. This was a good'un!Subscribe to our Patreon and get all of our exclusive bonus content for only $6/month!Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

The NWSL Semifinals Delivered the Goods

Well there you have it! The Washington Spirit will play the Orlando Pride at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City on Saturday for the NWSL Championship. The semifinals that got them there were scintillating contests, filled with drama, individual heroics, and masterful team play. How did the Spirit and Pride get past Gotham and the Current? We will be in Kansas City for the NWSL Championship! Come join us at Johnny's Tavern P&L in Kansas City on Friday night and have a drink with us. Don't forget to subscribe to our Patreon to get all of our Championship bonus content, too! Only $6/month, the best deal in town. Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Playoffs Recap: The Quarterfinals Were Sketched in Chalk

The top four go in as favorites, and the top four leave as semifinalists. There were no upsets in the NWSL quarterfinals, as Orlando, Washington, Gotham, and Kansas City all moved on. Some games were unprecedented blowouts, like the Pride's demolition of the Red Stars (0:57). Others were tighter affair than anticipated, as the Current's defeat of the Courage proved to be (12:49). The final two match-ups were dreary, attritional affairs until they very much weren't, as the Spirit got past a resilient Bay FC (22:42) and Gotham pipped the Thorns at the death (34:49). What will the semifinals between Orlando-KC (46:09) and Washington-Gotham (56:46) be like? Is each match really a coin flip? The Guys get into all of it. Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month and get oodles of playoff bonus content!Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

PATREON BONUS: NWSL Playoff Goalkeepers, with Jill Loyden!

The NWSL playoffs start tonight, and so we decided to take our most recent bonus episode out from behind the paywall. Coach and NWSL commentator Jill Loyden joined the guys to talk about the art and science of goalkeeping, and which keepers might make a significant difference in the quarterfinals. 
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NWSL Playoffs Preview, Part II

In Part 2 of our NWSL quarterfinals preview, we take a look at Sunday's doubleheader. According to one projection model, Bay FC actually have a decent chance to upset the Washington Spirit. Will their new-look midfield and Racheal Kundananji's heroics puncture Washington's injury-riddled squad? The Portland Thorns are all good vibes right now, having won two of their final three games, including an emphatic victory in Christine Sinclair's final game at Providence Park. But are those vibes enough to take down the Gotham T-1000? Gotham has been relentless, but Portland has a 1-in-5 shot of clapping back on last year's extra-time humiliation. Things could get spicy!Join our Patreon for only $6/month and be part of our livestream on Sunday afternoon for Gotham-Portland!Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Playoffs Preview, Part I

The playoffs are set! The top four finished the season strong and look like they'll make it to the semifinals with ease. Or will they? The guys preview all four quarterfinal matchups, and wonder where we could see upsets. Do Bay FC have what it takes to get past an injury- and suspension-rattled Washington Spirit? Could the Portland Thorns put some payback on Gotham FC after last year's playoff defeat? Do the Chicago Red Stars have any hope at all? And is the Kansas City Current's match against the North Carolina Courage really as close as the seeding would suggest?Sign up for our Patreon for only $6/month to get all our exclusive bonus content, including our upcoming playoffs livestream for Gotham-KC this Sunday! Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs