9 minute read
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
GAME ON!
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10.) WHO ARE THE SAN DIEGO WAVE AND ANGEL CITY FC? This season marks the debut of two new teams into the NWSL: San Diego Wave and Angel City FC! While expansion teams can at times be a little lacking in terms of play on the field, the two California-based sides seem to be ready to win now. San Diego, led by former Manchester United manager Casey Stoney, will feature USWNT star striker Alex Morgan and longtime defender Abby Dahlkemper. Meanwhile, Angel City have added Christen Press and New Zealand international defender Ali Riley.
9.) WHO CAN STOP TRINITY RODMAN? Rodman, 19, took the league by storm last season, scoring eight goals and tallying seven assists for the Washington Spirit. Her breakneck pace, coupled with her tactical finishing instantly made her one of the top players in the league, an astounding achievement considering her age. That she was also a key figure in the Spirit’s NWSL title run makes her 2021 even more special. If she can keep it up in 2022 then the Spirit may need to add to their trophy case.
8.) WHO CAN CLAIM THE CHALLENGE CUP? For the third consecutive season, the NWSL Challenge Cup will kick o the NWSL season. The regional tournament has become a favorite among fans and has given teams a chance to get into fitness ahead of the season. Last year’s champion, the Portland Thorns, are primed to make it a second tournament in a row with their veteran heavy lineup. 7.) IS THIS CHRISTINE SINCLAIR’S FINAL SEASON? Sinclair has been the rock for both the Thorns and the Canadian Women’s National Team, scoring an incredible 236 goals for club and country. While she is still going strong at 38, the Thorns will likely start looking at her heir apparent. Sophia Smith had a strong season with six goals in 2021 and will likely be given a heavy workload while Sinclair is away for World Cup Qualification.
6.) CAN FRANCH CLOSE THE GAP FOR THE CURRENT? The Kansas City Current’s first season back in the NWSL wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. The side finished at the bottom of the standings and allowed 36 goals, second worst in the league. Management placed an emphasis on improving their defense with Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch being the centerpiece. French is a two-time NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year and one of the best defensive organizers in the league.
ABOVE: Alex Morgan sporting her new team's logo on a beach in San Diego
RIGHT: Trinity Rodman in action for Washington Spirit
BOTTOM RIGHT: Will this be Christine Sinclair's final season?
5.) WHO CAN BE THE NEXT USWNT SUPERSTAR? Each NWSL season, there always seems like there are 1-2 players who catch fire and earn themselves a spot on the USWNT. Last season, it was Trinity Rodman. Keep an eye on Racing Louisville Jaelin Howell, who was selected second in the 2022 NWSL draft. Howell has already made two appearances for the USWNT and was a two-time Hermann Trophy winner (the MVP of college soccer) for the Florida State Seminoles. Louisville has a nice mix of veteran goalscorers in Jessica McDonald and Nadia Nadim up top to finish Howell’s passes. If she can find her scoring touch, she could have a breakout season in her rookie year.
4.) WHO WILL WIN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR? Based on history, the answer seems to be simple: Becky Sauerbrunn. In the league’s ten years of operation, the Portland Thorns centerback has won the award five times. Although she is 36 she is coming o one of her best seasons for club and country. Keep an eye on Caprice Dydasco of Gotham FC, who won the award in 2021. 3.) WHO WILL BE THE MVP? When it comes to the MVP in any sport, history shows that the award tends to go to a player that can score. Last season, the NWSL bucked that trend giving the award to Jess Fishlock, the Welsh midfielder of the OL Reign. Fishlock and the Reign are two of the top contenders for the NWSL title and if she can get the side to the mountaintop, the MVP may very well be hers.
2.) CAN THE SPIRIT REPEAT? The biggest question on the field is if Washington has within them to make it two NWSL Championships in a row. On the field, there is little question about their talent and depth. Captain Andi Sullivan and Rodman are two of the top attackers in the league surrounded by USWNT veterans Kelley O’Hara and Emily Sonnett. Having the ownership question resolved too should help. Repeating is no easy task but the Spirit should be in the conversation. 1) WILL THE LEAGUE BE A BETTER ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE IN WOMEN’S SOCCER? For as much as 2021 was a watershed year for the league on the pitch, it could not overcome the incredible amount of controversy o of it.With multiple coaches fired due to abuse scandals, accusations of poor working conditions for players and referees, racial abuse, and pay disputes between ownership and the players there was a very dark cloud hanging over the entire season. That last year’s title was won by the Spirit, a side whose coach was fired over abuse accusations and a power struggle between ownership, is fitting for what a mess 2021 was for the league.
2022 is a pivotal year for the NWSL. Though the league has made progress over the last six months in addressing these issues, things are far from perfect. The supporters and players of the NWSL through the years have given the league leeway with the hope that eventually things would pay o . But the abuse accusations broke the trust that existed. The league has to figure out how it can earn that trust back. There are great opportunities for long-term growth but first the league has to show that it wants to be a positive advocate for change.
ABOVE MAIN: Nadia Nadim is a veteran star who now plays for Racing Louisville
ABOVE SMALL: Second pick Jaelin Howell will be a start for Louisville this season
BELOW, LEFT: Gotham's Caprice Dydasco is looking for another defensive player of the year award
BELOW, CENTER: Washington Spirit lifting the NWSL Chalenge Cup
BELOW RIGHT: Jess Fishlock, the 2021 NWSL MVP
THE UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL IS JUST RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! AHEAD OF THE FINAL IN TURIN, SOCCER 360’S SEAN MASLIN HAS A LOOK AT THE TOP TEN MOMENTS IN THE COMPETITION’S FINALS HISTORY.
CHAMPIONS AHEAD
10.) PRINZ CLOSES OUT WALDASTADION (2002)
The first-ever UEFA Champions League Final (then called the UEFA Women’s Cup Final) was a watershed moment for women’s football. It was also a major moment for football in general as it was the final match of the famous Waldastadion in Frankfurt. So it was only fitting that German football legend Birgit Prinz would score the game-clinching goal for F.F.S. Frankurt over Swedish side Umea. While the Waldastadion looks much di erent today (it was rebuilt for the 2002 World Cup) it will forever be remembered as the place where the Women’s Champions League began.
9.) SCOTT LIGHTS SPARK FOR ARSENAL (2007)
It is di cult to determine exactly when England became not just a men’s footballing nation but a footballing nation as a whole, but Alex Scott’s incredible performance across two legs in the 2007 UEFA Women’s Cup Final for Arsenal may just be it. The legendary right-back scored the first goal for Arsenal in the first leg against Umea. In the second leg at Borehamwood, she led the backline in a shutout of the Swedish side to help the Gunners become the first-ever English UEFA Women’s Cup champions.
ABOVE: Barcelona with the 2021 Women's Champions League Trophy
RIGHT (MAIN): Alex Scott with the 2007 Champions League (then called Women's Cup) trophy
RIGHT (SMALL): Alex Scott after retirement reporting with BBC Sports
8.) WOLFSBURG MAKES IT A DOUBLE (2014)
Prior to the 2014 Champions League, Wolfsburg were heavily favored to claim their second title. There was just one problem: they would have to get past Marta and a highscoring Tyreso side. With four lead changes it looked like the game might go into extra time. But Martina Muller scored with a cracking strike in the 80th minute to give Wolfsburg top honors.
7.) FRANKFURT WINS THE ALLGERMAN FINAL (2006)
One of the biggest rivalries in European women’s football is F.F.C. Frankfurt and Turbine Potsdam. The two sides have only ever met in a UEFA final once, the 2006 Women’s Cup series. Frankfurt showed their attacking prowess in the first match, putting up a 4-0 win. In the second leg Turbine showed some promise, but Frankfurt shut the door on any notions of a comeback with a 3-2 win.
6.) TURBINE HOLDS OFF LYON (2010)
The sun would shine brightly on Turbine just four years later in the Champions League Final. In the first final under the rebranding, Turbine goalkeeper Anna Felicitas Sarnholtz would make three key stops in penalties to help lift the German champions over a young upstart Lyon side.
5.) LES LYONNAISES GET THEIR REVENGE (2011)
It wouldn’t take long for Lyon to get their revenge against Turbine. In the 2011 final the new kids on the block would take the lead against their German counterparts thanks to goals from Wendi Renard and Lara Dickenmann. Lyon would go on to run the decade, winning seven of ten UEFA Champions League finals.
TOP: Wolfsburg Women's with the 2014 Champions League Trophy
ABOVE: Frankfurt Women's team celebrating their 2006 Women's Cup Win
LEFT: Turbine winning the 2010 Champions League
RIGHT: Lyon hoisting the 2011 Champions League Trophy
