http://wleague.uslsoccer.com/home/859125.html Eighteen teams in three conferences. 108 league games. Northeastern Conference: Laval Comets, Long Island Rough Riders, New Jersey Wildcats, New York Magic, North Jersey Valkyries, Quebec Dynamo ARSQ Southeastern Conference: Atlanta Silverbacks, Braddock Road Stars Elite, Carolina Elite Cobras, Charlotte Lady Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, Washington Spirit Reserves Western Conference: Arizona Strikers FC, Colorado Pride, Colorado Rush, Colorado Storm, Santa Clarita Blue Heat, Seattle Sounders Women Playoffs: six teams: final-four-host, two Northeastern (play-off for FF spot), one Southeastern, two Western (play-off for FF spot). Seems like the combined W-League W-20 finals would be moving away from the Florida site. With just 18 teams, you wonder if this is the swan song year for the W. Will enough teams drop next year so that the remaining teams will just fold into the WPSL? Can the W turn it around by creating an agreement with the NWSL (similar to the MLS-USL agreement), where the pro league would put their development teams into the W? (This would mean that the NWSL would need to implement a home-grown player system.) Of course, I could just be overstating this; any number under 20 is sort of a psychological barrier of "healthy amateur league." The number of American teams goes from 19 to 16. Lost some Canadian teams (maybe that League 1 Ontario women's league will actually happen).
Considering that there are currently more NWSL Reserves teams in WPSL (3) than in the W-League (1), I find it hard to think that NWSL would prefer an agreement with the W-League over one with WPSL... I also haven't seen anything suggesting the Ontario league will actually happen. X-D That said, I don't think USL will let the W-League go do quietly, if it really is going down, which I'm not convinced of right now anyway. Just from following the USL-NASL split, and seeing the W-League-WPSL mutual cold shoulders, I get the impression that the USL organization is somewhat stubborn. Which is great for short-term stability, not sure about the long-term. But even if the W-League goes down to 15 and then 12, I think it'll still run fairly normally, save maybe some conference realignment. Even if it's not "healthy", USL will keep it going, since I don't think they would like the idea/image of losing their women's league.
Yeah, I agree, I don't see the USL letting the W-League go. Although that might be why they would try to work out a deal with the NWSL to host their reserves sides like SJJ suggested. I think one of the key reasons that there are more NWSL reserves in the WPSL is the lower fees that league charges, if the W-League were to forgo/lower those fees (or at least the expansion fees) for the NWSL reserves, they would probably be willing to switch sides.
The Ontario league will happen: http://league1ontario.ca/article/league1-and-osa-announce-2015-womens-division but without any ex-W-League teams.
Eighteen is the fewest teams the W-League has ever started off a season with. Even in their inaugural season, they had nineteen teams (though reportedly two of those teams folded early on).
So, I'm a dolt and only just now realized that there were more than the three previously mentioned teams not returning this year: Bay Area, Gulf Coast, K-W, and London are gone, too, which I hadn't noticed earlier. Yikes. Also: Bay Area and Gulf Coast are two of the three WPSL teams to have tried switching in to the W-League. (Tampa Bay was the other, and is now back in WPSL.) Not a ringing endorsement, that.
If you would like the opportunity to play for Arizona Strikers FC in 2015, please contact: Manny Arias (mjarias@arizonastrikersfc.com) or Ricardo Hinds (rhinds@arizonastrikersfc.com) Tryout dates provided: http://www.wleaguesoccer.com/home/862975.html
W-20 League has 13 teams in three divisions. Four teams make the finals tournament at IMG. http://www.w20soccer.com/ http://wleaguesoccer.com/home/874075.html
The W-League season opening match between the Braddock Road Stars Elite and the Dayton Dutch Lions has been put off by a day. Braddock Road has been hard put to find a charter bus due to the demand resulting from the Amtrak accident.
The Washington Spirit Reserves defeated the Braddock Road Stars Elite, 2-0, last night to claim the Southeastern Conference crown and a spot in the W-League Final Four. They are the first team to do so other than the hosts and are the only undefeated team in the league this year.
2015/07/24 Fri: W-League semifinals (all times PDT) 14:00 SF1 [#1.Washington Spirit Reserves 1-0 #4.Dynamo Québec] 38' 1-0 #10 Yanara Aedo Munoz steals(?) at 24m arc right, rounds keeper at 16m At the half the @WSReserves lead the @dynamoquebec 1-0. Aedo with the goal for the Spirit Reserves. #WLeague pic.twitter.com/uzzyztcsYJ— USL W League (@USLWLeague) July 24, 2015 624715348273680384 is not a valid tweet id
17:30 SF2 [3. Comètes de Laval - 2.Colorado Pride] 32' 0-1 #8 Darcy Jerman diagonal pass from 25m centerline to #11 Kaitlyn Johnson (a Coug ) at 17m mid-left. Johnson taps through box top to 15m, cuts centerward -- sees a wall, keeps possession. Short square tap to Jerman at 16m center, 1-v-3 but they don't close her down. Jerman steps forward-left into the available space to 12m left post, lunge-pokes a shot through all 3, just inside left post 1/3 high past GK Beanlands. 34' 0-1 Colorado fk just above box top arc right, #9 Tara Andrews off crossbar. 42' 0-2 Laval pushing up, DF #5 Darcy Wilson chips from just behind midfield mid-right toward arc top left -- intercepted by #17 Katy Oehring. Oehring dribbles to circle back tangent -- we see #7 Alleandra Watt start her run up mid-left from circle back and disappear off screen left. Oehring pokes a bouncer to circle top left -- Wilson whiffs on a trap-try, nobody's behind her. Watt chases it down at 25m mid-left, creeps through box top arc left to 14m left post, chips right instep past Beanland's right, bounces just inside left post low. 42' 0-2 Laval long pass to 12m mid-right, #16 Valerie Sanderson cuts left-to-right behind the high line, right instep shot to 1/5 right low, Eckerstrom dives and smothers.
45+1' (of +1') 0-2 Laval pinned behind circle back wide left, trying to pass out. Colorado collect just past midfield box right, pass forward to Andrews spinning ccw alone at 25m as a Laval defender slid(?) and missed, down behind the play. Andrews jukes past DF #5 Kelsey Wilson at box top mid-right, has inside position down to 8m -- Wilson tugs on Andrews' trailing right arm, pulls her down into a sliding faceplant. Penalty. 45+2' (of +1') 0-3 Colorado pk, Andrews right instep to 1/5 right low, Beanlands dives and blocks, but ball bounces out softly to 6m 1/4 right. Andrews steps to it first, right roundhouse into back left. HT 0-3. Meanwhile, FIVB wvb Grand Prix Finals China 11-11 Italy in the 5th, Pan Am wvb Brasil-USA gold in 1/2 hour. Fun month
57' 0-4 Jerman chips from 24m mid-right to 12m 1/3 right, #5 Michaela Abams cuts from box top center and snap-heads to center, Beanlands catches face-high. Drop-kick to circle top right, Colorado head it to circle (their) top left, back-header facing away pops high to 30m arc left. #12 Melissa Busque, facing own goal, lifts right foot waist-high to block the drop away from Kaitlyn Johnson, who harasses #14 Marie-Eve Bernard O'Breham to 22m arc top. O'Breham floats a backpass to Beanlands at 6m 2/5 right -- swing and a whiff and ball bounces under Beanlands' right foot, and in. Don't backpass on-frame!
90+2' (of +2') 0-4 Laval chip from 22m mid-left to 13m mid-right, but #11 Valerie Sanderson lurking just offside. She sprawls down at 6-top right ... and stays down with cramp? 90+3' (of +2') 0-4 Sanderson rolls herself into endzone right, sits up and pulls back on her toes. FT 0-4. Washington Spirit Reserves - Colorado Pride for the W-League championship! Go Coug
2015/07/26 Sun @ 14:30 EDT Championship: Washington Spirit Reserves - Colorado Pride 03' 0-0 #11 Kaitlyn Johnson dribbles through box top 6-left to 14m, cuts centerward with 2 in front of her. Then she cuts left to 7m mid-left, shoots left foot to left post, blocked but not caught. Watt reaches in and pokes ball away, defender clears over endline left. 07' 0-0 Spirit Reserves with most of the pressure, but not getting through Colorado's compact defense. 08' 0-0 Spirit backpass to gk. Midfield ping ensues. 09' 0-0 Colorado extend pressure above circle top.
13' 0-0 Colorado short-pass through box right, Watt turns at 3m mid-right, cross blocked over. 14' 0-0 Colorado right ck, to 5m 3-left. Andrews jumps shoulder past teammate +1, spikes a header just wide left. 15' 0-1 Spirit bad pass(?) out of the back, Colorado one-touch high dump from circle top left to 23m mid-left. #9 Tara Andrews closes on #8's turned back, jumping shoulder-brush causes ball to bounce past both. Andrews follows calmly to 15m arc left, lifts a gentle volley over charging gk, bounces toward goalline -- Andrews already turning away as ball is still 2m out, but #8 can't catch up to it.
26' 1-1 #21 Zadrazil runs through circle center on a 3-v-3 counter to 25m, passes to #7 Stobbs at arc top wide right. Stobbs crosses from 12m wide right to 9m 2/5 left, jumping 1-v-1, Colorado head it almost straight down into grass. #3 Dorsey collects, passes square left to #10 Aedo Muñoz unmarked at 10m 6-left. Standing right instep curl high over GK Eckerstrom, drops into back right low.
35' 1-1 Dorsey rounds Eckerstrom at 15m box top, chased and harassed to 6-top right -- shot blocked off legs. Ball stays in along endline, Colorado bump Dorsey down and collect, no call. 36' 1-1 Watt sprints down wide right to 5m, hard low cross through 4m to a 1-v-1 at 1/4 right, K.Johnson on a defender. Ball skims through both and continues flat left, eventually rolls over endline. Corner given. 36' 1-1 Colorado left ck, to 5m 1/5 left, cleared.
38' 1-1 Spirit fk at 16m just outside box left, bent to 1m 1/3 left. Eckerstrom screened by jumpers, loses ball at last instant -- it dives under her arms, off her knees, bounces out to 13m 1/4 left. #12 Dougherty-Howard left roundhouse volley, high over crossbar. Float serve for an ace HT 1-1.
Washington Spirit Reserves (KJ Spisak): 10 Aedo Yanara Muñoz, 3 Imani Dorsey, 7 Amber Stobbs 21 Sarah Zadrazil, 11 Maddie Huster, 12 Megan Dougherty-Howard 9 Schuyler DeBree, 22 Erika Nelson, 8 Andi Sullivan, 14 Leci Irvin 30 Caroline Casey Colorado Pride (Sian Hudson): 11 Kaitlyn Johnson, 9 Tara Andrews, 7 Alleandra Watt 5 Michaela Abam, 10 Laura Kane, 8 Darcy Jerman 21 Erin Gunther, 17/4 Jessy Battelli, 20 Holly King, 15 Adrienne Jordan 1 Britt Eckerstrom Battelli is literally wearing the #17 jersey with the #4 shorts normally #17 is MF Katy Oehring
46' 1-1 No changes. Calm midfield struggle, both teams trying to short-pass. 50' 1-1 Colorado long ball to 15m arc right, Casey smothers it as Johnson hurdles her. 50' 1-1 Colorado long switch to Watt at 25m box right. Watt crosses from 6m wide right to Andrews cutting left-to-right at 4m 6-right, one-touch redirection shot blocked over. 51' 1-1 Colorado right ck, cleared. Andrews chases Sullivan to the wide right endline hashmark, fouls her with excessive tugging?
52' 1-1 Dougherty-Howard shoots from 22m arc top right, wide right. 53' 1-1 Dorsey trapped at 5m right touch, turns and hoofs a moonball into box. Eckerstrom watches it drop to the crossbar 1/3 right, jumps and pushes it across mouth -- not over bar, drops at 0.5m left post and Jordan(?) pokes it over endline left. 54' 1-1 Spirit left ck, cleared.
55' 1-1 Dougherty-Howard(?) chips high from circle top right, Zadrazil spins past 1 through box top mid-right, chases to 3m 6-right. Cutback pass to 14m 2/5 left, Aedo comes left-to-center and shoots one-touch over bar. 57' 1-1 Stobbs dribbles to arc top right, passes down box right to Dorsey(?). Cross from 3m box right skips off top of crossbar center, continues across into endzone left.
58' 1-1 Andrews turns past Nelson at 22m box right, Nelson backs herself into Andrews in an exaggerated box-out -- undercuts her, both fall. Foul on Nelson. 59' 1-1 Colorado fk at 22m box right, #2 Gunther(? -- red bandana) bends left instep to 9m center, Casey smothers.