EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 1 Power Rankings
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One down, 25 to go! The first round of NWSL matches is in the books for 2025, and it was a morass of beatdowns and 1-1 draws. Who's up and who's down relative to our preseason rankings? The guys look at all seven games and figure out who has shifted since they made their initial picks.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Gotham FC, with Jenna Tonelli
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The Bats took flight across the regular season, but were felled in penalties to Washington in the NWSL playoffs. Then the rumors of behind-the-scenes discord kicked up. Then a dozen players departed. Amid all of this upheaval, do they still have the goods to be one of the best teams in the league? Jenna Tonelli of Sports Illustrated dropped by to pitch herself as Gotham's goalie, with Evan as the no. 9 in a pinch.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — North Carolina Courage, with Kim McCauley
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The Courage made a massive splash in getting Jaedyn Shaw in the winter. After Kerolin moved on, the club needed a creative artist to help unlock a moribund attack. But can she fit into the broader structure of head coach Sean Nahas's plans? Kim McCauley of the Guardian came on to separate the wheat from the chaff in the club with one of the strongest reputations in the NWSL.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Kansas City Current, with Thom Bomb of Shea Butter FC
/The Kansas City Current were the best team on paper last year. They rostered the league's MVP and producer of one of the greatest seasons in league history, Temwa Chawinga. But they fell to budding rivals Orlando Pride in the semifinal. Are they read to take the next step and win a trophy? Thom Bomb of Shea Butter FC and Shades of Blue walked the guys through the (few) roster changes the club made, and how they can improve upon last year's historic performance.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Portland Thorns, with Kim McCauley
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Who is going to play for the Portland Thorns? With Sophia Wilson gone for the year, and Morgan Weaver on the bench for potentially all season, their attack feels thin. Their defense is getting a hard reboot, too. Portland may. have never had more questions around them than right now. Kim McCauley of the Guardian tries to find some silver lining in the dark clouds, with varying degrees of success.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Bay FC, with Anna Daccache
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Bay FC made the playoffs in their first season, and are rolling out a solid lineup with some high-upside college signings this year. But an investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment by head coach Albertin Montoya—along with the resignation of scout Graeme Abel over an earlier such report before he joined the club—has changed the complexion of the entire organization. Anna Daccache of Everything Bay Goals tries to parse her feelings on these recent stories, and what the team itself could accomplish on the field in 2025.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Chicago Stars FC, with Lesley Ryder
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The Chicago (Red) Stars squeaked into the playoffs on the backs of a completely new regime, from the owners to the GM to the head coach. Very little was done in the offseason, and with Mallory Swanson MIA, their 2025 playoff prospects seem remote. Lesley Ryder of Gal Pal Sports came on to find the gold in the silt, and how Chicago can still offer some joy to its fans this year.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Angel City FC, with Michelle Chavez & Mark Parsons
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Angel City became the first club in NWSL history to be docked points for violations of the league's policies—namely, violations of the salary cap. They now have a new controlling owner, a new sporting director, and will have a new permanent head coach soon. Can the team on the field match the team off it? Michelle Chavez of the Sporting Tribune came on to hash it all out. (1:39) Then, the guys spoke to Angel City's new sporting director, Mark Parsons, about his first few weeks on the job and what people can expect in year one of this new regime in Los Angeles. (33:04)
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Racing Louisville, with Bekki Morgan
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Four straight ninth-place finishes. A roster that has more or less stayed the same from the end of last season. What can we make of Racing Louisville's on-field stagnation. Bekki Morgan of NWSL This Week comes on to give the Kentuckian's perspective on what Louisville's ownership group has done to get the team to this point, and what can be done to get them over the playoff line once and for all.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Utah Royals, with Kieran Doyle-Davis
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Kieran returns to share his pitch to NWSL front offices about some partnership opportunities with American Soccer Analysis! Then we dive into the ins and outs of the Utah Royals. They've brought in some very enticing players. Is it enough to make them playoff contenders? Will standouts like Ally Sentnor and Mandy McGlynn level up or regress? And how many ways can three people proncounce Jimmy Coenraets's last name?
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Seattle Reign, with Sylvs of Shea Butter FC
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The Seattle Reign were old, slow, and boring last year. This year, they're slightly young, a bit faster, and potentially more exciting. Lynn Biyendolo will pep up the attack, and Madison Curry will stabilize and energize the backline. But can this group actually click? Sylvs of Shea Butter FC joined the guys to figure out what head coach Laura Harvey can do to get the Reign back on the right track.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Houston Dash, with Theo Lloyd-Hughes
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Is Lucy going to pull the football? Will this time really be different? The Houston Dash have a new GM, a new head coach, and a slew of promising signings. It could really change the course of the franchise. Right? Sports Illustrated's Theo Lloyd-Hughes joins the guys to sift through the wreckage of the Fran Alonso era, and what Angela Hucles Mangano and Fabrice Gautrat may have in store for a team that now boasts Yazmeen Ryan and Delanie Sheehan among its ranks.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — San Diego Wave, with Kieran Doyle-Davis
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Out NWSL season previews keep on a'truckin' with a team whose fall from the mountaintop has been quick and precipitous. The Wave shipped Jaedyn Shaw and Naomi Girma at their requests; the legal action around allegations of a toxic workplace still hangs heavy; and new head coach Jonas Eidevall has to whip multiple kids into professional shape. ASA's own Kieran Doyle-Davis dropped by to sort out what the hell San Diego can do to have a respectable 2025. (1:02) Stick around for a small bonus track! (22:57)
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Washington Spirit, with Ella Brockway
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The Washington Spirit may have the best roster on paper heading into the 2025 season. Can they be title contenders? Ella Brockway of the Washington Post and the Hey Spirits! podcast joins the guys to talk about the Spirit's run to the NWSL Championship game last season, and what they've done since to get even better.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Song
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Preview Week — Orlando Pride, with Bridie O'Toole
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Welcome to NWSL Season Preview Week! We'll be bringing you previews of all 14 NWSL teams with some outstanding guests to help us break down each and every club, leading up to the start of the NWSL regular season.
First up, last year's Shield and Championship winners, the Orlando Pride! They're keeping most of their roster in place, with key additions like Grace Chanda and Oihane Hernández. Can big purp run it back? Bridie O'Toole of Busy Watching Women's Soccer takes the guys through head coach Seb Hines's tactical plan for one of the best-run organizations in the league.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: USWNT Recap — Don't Stop SheBelievin'
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The USWNT has put three more friendlies in the books, and Emma Hayes earns her first loss of her tenure as head coach. After the guys sort through the NWSL jersey drop and injury report (1:41), they dive into all the ins and outs of the SheBelieves Cup, with special attention paid to the 2-1 loss to Japan. (7:47) What was the U.S. hoping to achieve with these three friendlies? Did the heavy rotation of inexperienced players work as intended? Is Japan actually a better team? No need to panic yet!
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: Breaking Down the USWNT SheBelieves Roster
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The guys make note of new signings Carissa Boeckmann to the Portland Thorns and Oihane Hernández to the Orlando Pride, and what Hernández's signing might add to the NWSL-vs.-Europe debate. Then, they turn over Emma Hayes's SheBelieves roster. This is the least experienced USWNT roster in the tournament's history! What does Hayes want to do with these three games? How frustrating is it that certain players were left at home? Which players will rise to the top? Find out today!
Be sure to subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content
Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs