NWSL Mini-Previews: OL Reign, Portland Thorns, and Utah Royals FC
/By Arielle Dror (@arielle_dror) and Lydia Vandenbergh (@lvanden)
In the time since the first round of mini-previews, the 2020 NWSL season has taken the form of a short tournament called The Challenge Cup, which is to be played from the end of June until the end of July. Many questions remain about how the competition will shape up, including which players will ultimately choose to participate. In this edition of mini-previews, we travel out west to preview OL Reign, Portland Thorns, and Utah Royals FC. From name changes to significant roster overhauls to new coaching staff, each of these teams has something new in store for the upcoming season.
Reign FC/OL Reign
The 2019 season for the Reign was full of change from the offseason. Prior to the start, the Seattle Reign became Reign FC and relocated to Tacoma, Washington. From there, the season itself was nothing short of a struggle. At one point, the Reign had eleven injured players, many of whom were regular starters with season-ending injuries. Because of the injuries and the absence of several key players due to the World Cup, coach Vlatko Andonovski relied on several players who would have otherwise been on the bench to carry the team to an improbable playoff spot.
One such player who stepped up was forward Bethany Balcer. Balcer, a graduate of Spring Arbor University, went undrafted in 2019 but was ultimately the first graduate of an NAIA school to sign an NWSL contract. As a rookie Balcer was the only Reign player to play in all 24 games, and led the team in scoring with six goals. Her emergence from an unknown player with a slim chance to make the roster to one of the team’s most important players really set her apart, and put her among the biggest contributors as a rookie in NWSL history.
Amongst all undrafted players from 2014 to 2019, Balcer played the most minutes in her rookie season (1700 minutes). Furthermore, she ranks near the top of minutes played by a rookie forward in NWSL history. Balcer’s performance also lands near the top for offensive involvement: her six goals and two assists, accounting for nearly 30% of all of Reign’s goals, were one of the highest ever for a rookie. Balcer’s unlikely rookie season rightfully earned her the league’s Rookie of the Year award, and the pressure is on for her to maintain her momentum from last season.
How have high performing rookie forwards fared in subsequent seasons? It’s a mixed bag. Many of the players in this category were either Rookie of the Year nominees or winners, and only improved into their next season. But for a few this was not the case. Savannah McCaskill, for example, went from three goals and three assists for Sky Blue FC in her rookie year to being traded to Chicago mid-season and tallying only one goal and one assist between both teams in her second season. It’s unclear which route Balcer will take, but should she continue her form she could be an important player for OL Reign this season.
This offseason was yet another one full of changes for the franchise. For one, Reign FC is now known as OL Reign, following the purchase of the team by OL Groupe. They are the same ownership as the French powerhouse D1 Féminine team, Olympique Lyonnais. Furthermore, Andonovski departed in the offseason to become the coach of the US Women’s National Team. In his place is Farid Benstiti, who has previously coached at both Lyon and Paris Saint Germain. In the offseason, OL Reign has also made notable additions to their roster in Houston Dash forward Sofia Huerta and former PSG midfielder Shirley Cruz. Japanese international Yuka Momiki will add yet another offensive spark to a stacked roster of forwards. With so many changes, it’s a bit difficult to determine OL Reign’s potential for this season. But if those injured last season can return to form, work well with Balcer and those who held the team together last season, and integrate new players, then the team could be a force to be reckoned with.
Portland Thorns
The Portland Thorns enter the 2020 season, like prior years, with a real chance to win the title. The Thorns have a rather successful history, winning the Championship in 2013, Shield in 2016, Championship in 2017, and being runner-up in 2018. Last season, the Chicago Red Stars ended the Thorns’ chance for the title by edging them out in the semifinals. On paper the Thorns have talent for days, so what is keeping them from hoisting the trophy again?
Surprisingly, with a record of 11-7-6, Portland still were able to finish 3rd in the 2019 regular season. Defensively, they gave up 32 goals, 6th fewest in the league. Trading Emily Sonnett and adding veteran USWNT defender Becky Sauerbrunn appears to be an upgrade to the backline. Sauerbrunn, one of the best defenders in the league, will bring her leadership and tenacity but will she pair well with Emily Menges? Menges, who is also a fantastic defender herself, didn't pair well with Katherine Reynolds or Sonnett last season, unlike seasons past.
Seeing that Sauerbunn has high ball-security and dribble rates while Menges ranks high in recoveries and defensive actions, the duo could compliment each other well. It's also important to note that they both are highly involved for center backs especially compared with Sonnett. Nonetheless, they will need to organize and lead their outside backs who will play a pivotal role as well.
From 2013 through 2015, Sauerbrunn was very successful with FC Kansas City, winning two championships. Since then, the teams she’s played with have had less success. Despite her team’s circumstances, Sauerbrunn’s consistent performance each season has shown why she earned Defender of the Year three consecutive seasons and has been named to the NWSL Best IX every year since 2013.Sauerbrunn has the highest passing completion rate in the league for field players with 89.8% and ranks second for successful passes per 90 minutes.
Should Sauerbrunn and Menges work well together, and Sauerbrunn continue the consistency for which she is known, her presence will surely be an improvement for this upcoming season.
On the attacking front, the Thorns scored 40 goals last season, 3rd most in the league. Portland’s midfield is stacked with talent: Lindsay Horan, who pulls all the strings, the cheeky Tobin Heath, and the Canadian GOAT, Christine Sinclair. In the offseason, the Thorns also added Raquel “Rocky” Rodriguez from Sky Blue FC and selected Stanford University and USYNT player Sophia Smith with the first pick in the NWSL draft. The Thorns scored seven goals from crosses last season, second highest in the league, which will bode well for Smith who has pace and is good carrying the ball.
Portland also has the highest conversion rate in the league with 16.2%. It’s also intriguing to know that 89.2% of their goals came from inside the penalty box, just above league average of 84.1%. Much of the same will be expected this season from world-class finishers.
During the Challenge Cup, the Thorns are going to be fun to watch. Their creative, bold attacking side mixed with their hopefully organized, impenetrable defense could lead to a more successful season than last.
Utah Royals FC
In their second season, Utah Royals FC saw a spot in the playoffs within their grasp before a string of losses towards the end of the season ultimately landed them in sixth place in the table. Utah was particularly strong defensively, finishing with the second fewest goals against, behind only the North Carolina Courage. Veteran goalkeeper Nicole Barnhardt tied Washington’s Audrey Bledsoe for the highest number of clean sheets (10) and lowest goal against average (0.58). Barnhardt’s save percentage (70.9%) also lands her in the middle of the pack. However, Utah struggled offensively, and were unable to find a scoring groove most of the season; six of their ten wins were by a single goal.
Of Utah’s 25 goals, 17 were scored by forwards Amy Rodriguez and Christen Press. Press, in particular, played a prominent role once she returned from the World Cup. In her fourteen games, she tallied eight goals and two assists (side note: Christen Press only scores beautiful goals). Press ranked fifth in the league for Non-Penalty Goals + Assists Per 90, behind players from teams known for consistently putting up high scoring games. But Press and Rodriguez could rarely score in the same game. Of the ten games they played together last season, they only managed to score in the same match twice. Their lack of chemistry on the pitch has persisted since Press joined the team midway through the 2018, but it could likely be due to the fact that Press has yet to play a full season with the team. It will be another season before Press and Rodriguez have the opportunity to gel, as it has been reported that Press will not participate in the Challenge Cup. The responsibility of goal scoring will once again fall to Rodriguez and on a team with few players who can change the course of a game the way Press can, her presence (or lack thereof) will likely be very apparent once Utah takes the field.
Utah has had significant turnover from last season and returns the fewest number of minutes from 2019 of all the teams in the league, with 57%. One of the most notable changes is the departure of veteran center back Becky Sauerbrunn to Portland. It is no doubt that her presence will be missed. This season, Rachel Corsie will provide continuity for the backline, and should Kelley O’Hara be healthy and remain that way, her experience will also go a long way to continue Utah’s strong defensive performance.
In the offseason, Utah attempted to make moves to add talent to the roster that could potentially help offensively. Originally, it seemed as though the answer was to come from overseas. In April, rumors circulated that Lyon midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsán and goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi could sign with the team, but this never came to fruition. As one of the D1F’s leading playmakers, Maroszán’s creativity and goalscoring abilities would have provided an immediate impact. However, not all is lost. Prior to the pandemic, the Royals did sign PSG midfielder Aminata Diallo on loan, who is still expected to participate in the tournament and will provide some help.
Utah did not just lose players in the offseason, they also lost their head coach, Laura Harvey, who is now the US U-20 Women’s National Team coach. In her place is Craig Harrington, former assistant coach of the Chicago Red Stars. With the lack of Press and the disappointment of not acquiring the international talent that would have surely provided a spark for the team, his job definitely got a bit harder. The Utah Royals probably won’t be showstoppers in the Challenge Cup, but hopefully they can still progress in a way that will set them up for a better 2021.
All three of these teams can potentially have exciting performances in the Challenge Cup, but it really is a matter of how the teams shape up in this short preseason. Check back soon where we’ll preview the final three teams: Houston Dash, Orlando Pride, and Washington Spirit.