Time to start a new thread for 2020. The link for the 2019 thread can be found at Stanford University 2019 [R] ICYMI ….. Stanford are the 2019 National Champions!!! Continuing from last year’s thread … From gostanford.com: Stanford Signs Class of 2024 Clockwise from upper left: Gussler, Leontini, Paulson1, Williams, Wheeler, Watanabe, Paulson2 N/A: Campbell, Sayer Welcome to The Farm!
Judging from the family name and features, Watanabe is of obvious Japanese descent. I suppose she anyway has just American citizenship? Or she also has Japanese citizenship, as far as you know? As a Japanese NT supporter, I am always interested in getting Japanese players from overseas aboard!
she's from Hawaii, resides in the plush Honululu neighborhood of Kaneohe. Plays youth soccer for the private & utlra expensive ECNL(got to figure a fair number of their games are played over the Pacific on the mainland, and of course, it's the parents that pick up the tab). So go to figure she's not a recent immigrant(as they would scoff & laugh at how ridiculously expensive it is to go through are private soccer club system!
I didn't imply she was a recent immigrant. Just noticed that, since Watanabe is a Japanese family name, she sure had to have Japanese ancestors: of course, not sure if close enough up the line to retain a Japanese citizenship but I assume your answer means "not close enough".
Wheeler struggled mightily in the Nike Friendlies but that may well be more about where she was playing in game 1 - #6. Not sure she can be that vs really good teams yet. As I watched her and some of the other HS kids, it really struck me how the top kids at top programs play so few really competitive games. It can take them a while to pick up the speed and physicality in the bigger games.
Wheeler is normally an ACM not a HM. It was clear she was out of her element there, and yes, she struggled and did not show well. Even when put in at the end of the France game at ACM she played timid as well, and struggled giving the ball away. Hopefully once she gets on campus and spreads her wings it will all work out and she'll get her rythym going.
Is this class particularly deep? Where would Wheeler if she were in the Macario class? Anyone know info about Sayer?
Congratulations to Catarina Macario for being selected as the recipient of the 2019 Hermann Trophy and the Honda Award 2019 winner for soccer.
Someone had mentioned there is a possibility Sophia Smith leaves school early and goes pro... and thought on this rumor?
If this rumor were true, it may have something to do with the opportunity with making it to the Olympic roster. Kinda similar to the Tierna Davidson scenario where she had the opportunity to make the World Cup roster, but she needed competitive games leading up to the competition to make the roster. The opportunity for Smith to make the Olympic roster may be too good to pass up, but it would not disappoint me if she decided to stay put.
More fuel ... Further, sources tell @JohnDHalloran and me that If the Thorns land the No. 1 pick, Stanford junior Sophia Smith is planning to declare early to play in Portland#NWSL#USWNT https://t.co/NqHkQuisFL— Dan Lauletta (@TheDanLauletta) January 8, 2020
Not being selected by Orlando which was in last place. Portland is crazy popular with very high attendance up to 25,000 fans. You don’t see that anywhere else in NWSL.
1. She's in the mix for a current National Team spot, so she needs to be competing regularly at a higher level than college, playing with and against world class players. 2. Portland needs a scorer, so she's likely to get a ton of playing time, most likely as a starter. 3. Portland has the best women's club fan base in the world, that surpasses most of the men's club fan bases in the world. 4. Nike headquarters is in Beaverton, just outside Portland. 5. The Thorns/Timbers organization is one of the best in the US and, for women, is one of the tops in the world. This isn't to dis other NWSL clubs, but Portland is very attractive to players.
and like a good 'one percenter' forgot to mention the main reason= mucho dinero! Here's the Thorns making a bid for the French player named Diani to a tune of $445K for just one season(I didn't even know the NWSL was paying that much) Portland Thorns target PSG and France star Diani | Goal.com
The Thorns averaged over 20,000 fans a game this last season. That number would rank them 10th in the MLS out of 24 teams.
Sophia Smith selected 1st overall by Portland Sam Hiatt selected by hometown team Seattle Say Hello to the first teenager to be drafted into the NWSL Say hello to the first teenager to be drafted into the @NWSL.Here's the big moment for @sophsssmith... and she crushed it. #NWSLDraft #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/Pv5D3yfnvN— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) January 16, 2020 Stanford players have been selected 1st overall in 2018, 2019, & 2020
Very well spoken. Interesting enough, I wonder how much Stanford will miss her. She is a very talented individual, but I felt she was their mid tier player from the standpoint of importance to their team. Macario, Girma, Haley, Pickett to me are the heart of that group. Assuming she left because of the promise of making the Olympics roster? Good luck to Sophia!!
Hopefully, Civana can come back healthy and provide adequate firepower, from a WAR perspective, to replace Soph's contributions
Smith's value wasn't going to be next year because of Macario, Haley and Pickett - it was going to be when she was a senior. That's when she would have stood out (not that she didn't her first two years, but when you are playing with the likes of Macario...). Next year we should still compete for a national title... it's the following year where I think we will lose too much firepower to do so.
Stanford is the only team (IMO) that could lose someone as talented as Sophia Smith and still challenge for the CC. When I say challenge, I really mean be the odds on favorite for the CC.
Never mind. She didn’t make the roster. So she really left in her sophomore year to just play in the NWSL..