Expected Own Goals

More NWSL Offseason Action: Messiah Bright Lights, Guardian Angel City

The Portland Thorns get Jessie Fleming from Chelsea! Chicago Red Stars get Maximiliane Rall from Bayern Munich! The Seattle Reign pick up Ji So-yun from South Korea! Bay FC gets Deyna Castellanos from Manchester City and maaayyyyyybe Asisat Oshoala from Barcelona?!!? Angel City nab Rocky Rodriguez and Messiah Bright! Racing Louisville scoop up Taylor (Kornieck) Flint from San Diego Wave! Eric and Evan relive all of the transaction madness from the last couple weeks, and figure out who's up and who's down in the hot stove sweepstakes.Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

An NWSL Offseason Check-In; Or, What's the Matter With Portland???

Meghan Klingenberg re-signed with the Thorns right after we finished recording but the point stands: what's going on in the Rose City? The Red Stars and Racing Louisville are trying to improve their rosters, Angel City is going all in on high schoolers with Casey Phair, and the Kansas City Current are embracing chaos by trading Cece Kizer for Nichelle Prince. Eric and Evan step back and look at where things stand after another dizzying week of signings and trades. Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Draft Recap with Chris Henderson!

We're back, gang! After a long and cleansing winter break, Eric and Evan have returned to pick apart all of the trades and signings that happened over the holidays. Then, they dig into the NWSL Draft. Which teams won? Which teams blew it? Which teams are ready to keep wheeling and dealing? Evan brings on WoSo Independent's Chris Henderson to get into the nitty-gritty of using data to evaluate college talent, and why No. 1 overall pick Ally Sentnor is gonna be a big deal. Follow Chris on Twitter and BlueskyArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Free Agency Recap: Last Christmas, I Gave You a Contract

We just couldn't stay away! In what we're PRETTY SURE is our final episode of 2023, Eric and Evan break down the NWSL free agent signings of Savannah McCaskill, Sarah Gorden, and Marisa Viggiano to the San Diego Wave, Angel City FC, and Racing Louisville. We also tease Mallory Swanson's and Casey Krueger's likely destinations (hint: it's Chicago and Washington), and what major needs remain for every team in January. Happy New Year, y'all!Art by Eli Elbogen (IG: eliwritesoutloud)

EMERGENCY POD: Four Dark Knights on Their Merry Way to Gotham?!

Holy smokes Batman, the hot stove is on fire!
The Gotham-mobile looks to be gaining four new wheels (Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Tierna Davidson, and Crystal Dunn!!!)... while the rest of the league flail like a bunch of Jokers at ballet. Is Gotham on the cusp of transforming the balance of power in the NWSL? Evan and Eric plié / analyze / gasp for air.

NWSL Transactions, WSL Derbies, and Sean Forman of FBRef!

Yes, we know why you're here. We'll be covering the bombshell signings Gotham FC has made of Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett, but until then, Eric and Evan review the NWSL Expansion Draft, parse the trades that have already been made, game out where free agents might land, and touch on the North London and Northern England derbies. Then, we talk to Sports Reference president Sean Forman about the launch of Stathead on FBRef.We're off until January, so have a divine holiday season! Art by Eli Elbogen (IG: eliwritesoutloud)

Arsenal Turn Chelsea to Cannon Fodder in the WSL Game of the Season

What do you do when you're playing in front of a record 59,000 fans at the Emirates? Smash your crosstown rivals, that's what. Arsenal beat Chelsea 4-1 on Sunday, proving that they are legit title challengers in the WSL this year. Eric and Evan peel apart Emma Hayes's questionable roster choices, Jonas Eidevall's flawless game plan, and if there was anything the Blues could take from this game. London, baby! 
 
Art by Eli Elbogen
(If you enjoyed — or at least tolerated — our XMAS movie ramble follow us on Letterboxd @ericmmorgan and @Evan_Davis)

USWNT + International Roundup: The SinclAIR Up There

The Emma Hayes is now (sorta) officially upon us! USWNT interim head coach rolled out some young, experimental lineups against China, and a lot of it looked good! What does it mean? Who knows! Eric and Evan dig into the nitty-gritty of it all, plus touch on England/Team GB's Nations League and Olympics crashouts, and honor the international retirement of Christine Sinclair. Season's greetings, folks!
"A Very xOwnGoals xMas" Spotify Playlist for your season's pleasure
Artwork: Eli Elbogen (IG: eliwritesloud)

European Roundup: That’s So Spursy

Lads, it's Tottenham. Bunny Shaw and Manchester City absolutely wrecked Spurs in the WSL, and proved just how far the North London side still has to go to crack the top four. Earlier in the week, Sam Kerr did something similar to Paris FC, and Chelsea exposed the French upstarts as less the hipster's choice and more the minnow riding their luck in the Champions League.Eric and Evan top off the episode parsing the Team GB of it all with England trying to keep their Olympics qualification hopes alive in the UEFA Women's Nations League. No, we don't understand it, either.Art by Eli Elbogen (IG: eliwritesloud)Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

El Clásico and the Manchester Derby: Hurt Me So Real, You Proper Manc

The crowds showed up for Barcelona's big match against Real Madrid, not to mention the record attendance at Old Trafford for Manchester United - Manchester City. But good lord, we wouldn't want to be caught in a red or a white shirt this week. Eric and Evan get into the beatdown the Blaugrana laid on Las Blancas, while Mary Earps and United coughed up a huge chance to push their crosstown rivals down a peg. Plus, we praise Emma Hayes's first USWNT roster announcement, and marvel at Gotham FC's blown celebration events for their NWSL Championship win. Happy Thanksgiving, American listeners!Art by Eli Elbogen (IG: eliwritesloud)Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs