EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The xOG Top 10 Players of 2024

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The xOG Top 10 Players of 2024

It's that time of year! The Best FIFA awards were announced on Tuesday, the final release of several end-of-year accountings of the year's best players. The guys merged all of these lists together and evaluated who really were the best of the bunch, and release their official top 10 of 2024. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Rosters Locked and the GM Carousel Continues

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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.

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka’s Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: USWNT Recap, plus Kicking Off The NWSL Offseason with Taylor Vincent!

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: 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)

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: 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. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: 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

Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The NWSL Championship Deep Dive, with Orlando Pride GM Haley Carter

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The NWSL Championship Deep Dive, with Orlando Pride GM Haley Carter

The Orlando Pride are preparing to play the biggest game club history on Saturday, the culmination of a yearslong 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!

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The NWSL Semifinals Delivered the Goods

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: 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. Each semifinal 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. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Playoffs Recap -- The Quarterfinals Were Etched in Chalk

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Playoffs Recap -- The Quarterfinals Were Etched 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 (). Others were tighter affair than anticipated, as the Current's defeat of the Courage proved to be (). The final two match-ups were dreary, attritional affairs until they very much weren't, as the Spirit got past a resilient Bay FC () and Gotham pipped the Thorns at the death (). 

What will the semifinals between Orlando-KC () and Washington-Gotham () be like? Is each match really a coin flip? The Guys get into all of it. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Playoffs Preview, Part II

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: 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!

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Playoffs Preview, Part I

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: 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?

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: A USWNT Round-Up, and Our NWSL Awards Ballots!

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: A USWNT Round-Up, and Our NWSL Awards Ballots!

Then, they break down their picks for the NWSL awards slate. Most of these are no-brainers, but they make a case for some down-ballot candidates, followed by an in-depth discussion of how to approach Defender of the Year. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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NWSL Week 25: Louisville, Portland, and all the Playoff Scenarios Fit to Print

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NWSL Week 25: Louisville, Portland, and all the Playoff Scenarios Fit to Print

Racing Louisville grabbed all three points against the Portland Thorns thanks to a late corner header from Taylor Flint. Their playoff hopes are still alive, but is it too little too late? The guys cap off the episode with this playoff six-pointer (41:20). Before that, they run through playoff scenarios for the top four (1:01), ruminate on the two dead rubber matches between Angel City and the Utah Royals (20:40), as well as the Seattle Reign and Houston Dash (27:48). Some quick lamentations for the San Diego Wave in their pasting by the Kansas City Current (26:16) and some chuckles about the Washington Spirit-Chicago Red Stars grudge match (32:53). Bay FC are now the dark horse of the playoff field after their convincing defeat of the North Carolina Courage (35:01). And we close with everything that has to happen for Portland, Louisville, and Bay FC to get into the postseason (46:48). 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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NWSL Week 24: "Stop Laughing, The Chicago Red Stars Suck!!!" And Other Ravings of a Madman

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NWSL Week 24: "Stop Laughing, The Chicago Red Stars Suck!!!" And Other Ravings of a Madman

The Chicago Red Stars own one of the worst xG differentials in league history. Only the Utah Royals have played worse in total this season. But Chicago just clinched a playoff berth, and look poised to finish the year in sixth place on a mere 1.3 points per game. Only four other teams have ever finished sixth or higher with that points total.

Can it really just be luck? Is their low-volume, high-efficiency attack and defense sustainable once they face better teams in the postseason? The guys dissect the Red Stars' 2-0 defeat to Gotham, and whether that result--combined with horrible recent performances against San Diego and Houston--can be overcome once November rolls around. 

Click here to vote on what Evan has to do if the Red Stars win their quarterfinal match! 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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