This article seems to have been the trigger for Whisler to finally say something months after Dames left the CRS: https://www.chicagoredstars.com/post/a-letter-from-arnim-whisler-founder-of-the-red-stars I know that it was already going to be hard to strike the right tone after months of silence, and I'm not doubting his good intentions here, but a simple "I didn't know; I'm sorry" and "we've done a bit of re-org, etc." do not cut it.
The Sounders announced that they were moving their HQ and training facility to a new "state of the art" one they are building just south of their current training facility. There is already a 240k sq ft office building there and the Sounders will be renovating about 50k sq ft of the building with the possibility of another 50k sq ft being available for further expansion. Now, what does that have to do with NWSL?, Well, during the post-announcement Q&A session the Sounders majority owner (and former Reign minority owner) said they were in discussions with the Reign about the project, but there were currently no plans. But, hopefully, fingers crossed? Hanauer: ‘we are in constant communication with Reign. They need to see how their future intersects with this project.’ No current plans to have them here but seems a possibility.— Jeremiah Oshan (@JeremiahOshan) February 16, 2022
The Kansas City Current will participate in two preseason matches against the Washington Spirit (Feb. 26) and will travel to Exploria Stadium to face the Orlando Pride (March 2). Both matches will be open to the public. #NWSL— womenkickballs (@womenkickballs) February 17, 2022 https://justwomenssports.com/kansas-city-current-release-series-documenting-nwsl-preseason/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/03/01/washington-spirit-wicc/ Washington Spirit to join European powers for women’s tournament in Portland, Ore. The Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns are slated to join two European powers in a women’s soccer tournament this summer in Portland, Ore., people familiar with the plans said. Details are close to being finalized for the fourth edition of the Women’s International Champions Cup, pegged for Aug. 17-20 and featuring four domestic trophy-winners from 2021. In the continued absence of a global FIFA women’s competition — the men have had one since 2000 — the WICC serves as a small-scale club world championship. The Spirit won its first National Women’s Soccer League title in November and the Thorns claimed both the NWSL’s preseason Challenge Cup and the Shield (most regular season points). English club Chelsea, the Women’s Super League champion, is also slated to participate, one person said. The fourth entry has not been finalized, but from the top leagues in Europe, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are the prime candidates.
Jessica Berman, previously of the National Lacrosse League, announced as the new commish: https://equalizersoccer.com/2022/03/09/jessica-berman-named-nwsl-commissioner/ Job officially begins April 20th, four-year term.
SCHEDULE DROP https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-announces-full-2022-regular-season-schedule TV/streaming still TBD
All of ACFC matches are on the weekends except the one on my birthday. I’m so glad ACFC decided to make the schedule based on my life.
Just an FYI, Red Stars schedule includes a Double-Header with the Chicago Fire on July 30 at Soldier Field. https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/...rs-announce-july-30-doubleheader-at-soldier-f
Looks like Delta Air Lines is now the "Official Airline of the NWSL". I noticed that during two games yesterday on the game field streaming strips! This is great news to have a huge, reputable airline in the "game"!
So, do we need an injury thread? Or maybe we need to start burning some sage or something before every NWSL match.
So, I bought tickets and parking passes for San Diego at Kansas City on June 4 and Los Angeles at Racing Louisville on June 11. Now I have to make travel plans and figure out how to pay for stuff at the stadiums without cash. I do not use my phone for financial transactions, ever. I may need to make exceptions on two days. Between games, I mostly will be visiting Lewis and Clark historic sites plus the St. Louis Gateway Arch. -CJ
https://www.racingloufc.com/news/20...s-to-louisville-in-2022-with-expanded-format/ The Women’s Cup will return to Louisville, Ky., this August with an expanded format featuring six world-class teams playing seven games across a week at host club Racing Louisville FC’s Lynn Family Stadium. On the heels of visits last year from FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, at least four different international clubs — two from Europe, one from Asia and one from Latin America — are set to join the National Women’s Soccer League’s Racing Louisville and OL Reign in the 2022 event. International participants will include Liga MX Femenil’s Club América (Mexico) and the WE League’s Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza (Japan). Two top-flight participants from England and Spain will be announced later this spring.
Interesting format with the four international sides playing two QF matches and then a 5th-place playoff while LOU and RGN enter in the two SF matches. I think I would've preferred two three-team groups, then three placements matches, but I guess that would've needed four match days instead of three. I was curious to see if LOU-RGN was a league match around the same time, similar to how LOU-CHI was a league match last year, (e.g. their league match being on roughly the same day as the two international QFs,) but nope... LOU has no league matches between the 12th and 27th, while RGN has league matches in other cities on the 14th and 26th.
The Portland Timbers and Thorns will take the field together for the first time later this month when they play a co-ed charity match at Providence Park that will raise money for UNICEF’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. https://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/...y-co-ed-match-to-raise-money-for-ukraine.html
I suspect there is less worry over injury if the thing is kept in house. Nobody is expecting a smashmouth affair. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they do a demonstration segment with kids.
In Kansas City, teal is taking over.Introducing the Electric Kit: https://t.co/zhYVDSBOcy pic.twitter.com/f15vg5casV— KC Current (@thekccurrent) April 26, 2022 ON. SALE. NOW.👉 https://t.co/FDEF52RWca pic.twitter.com/wDg05Vvbw1— KC Current (@thekccurrent) April 26, 2022
This was a tremendous event. I have not seen an announcement, but attendance must have been well above 10,000 with an electric atmosphere. It raised in excess of $500,000 (no final total yet) for UNICEF Ukraine. We were really glad to be there. Well done by the Timbers and Thorns organizations including players, coaching staffs, and office staffs.
What an awesome event! I especially loved the goal from the Ukrainian Timbers academy player. I get that this was a special event for an important cause, but watching this I couldn't help but think that the lightheartedness, cheekiness of play, and the sheer number of players on the field at the end of the match were also a good demonstration of why I'd think it'd be so fun to have an NWSL all-star game or at least to have testimonials for retiring legends.
Introducing “Skyscraper”, our official 2022 Kit. Chicago is the birthplace of the skyscraper, and this year's design captures the strength and essence of the Windy City’s powerful skyline. Pre-order yours today. The sky is not the limit, it’s just our view. #MKOT pic.twitter.com/fqm1M3JdGu— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) April 29, 2022 Here is the link to pre-order. 🔥https://t.co/Mt77X9AZZ3— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) April 29, 2022