There is almost always problems with testing for a virus as new as this one is. The science is good but it is not that good. However false positives are much better than false negatives.
Bixby's injury is an ACL partial tear: pic.twitter.com/lZL892VQXz— Bella Bixby (@bellageist) July 18, 2020 How many are we up to now? Five?
The curse is real: Let’s dance @WashSpirit 🙃📺 12:30 pm ET on @CBSAllAccess #PrideStan https://t.co/HbHpOSyOAf pic.twitter.com/0xvH2qw6qy— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) July 18, 2020 I feel like I should start making my predictions based on who Orlando is choosing to stan.
Damn, nobody can score. Average goals per game is now just 1.47 (much of this skewed by the 3-3 outlier). The odd 0-0 nailbiter draw can be fun here and there, but not game after game of zero goals or just a single goal. Agree that the number of games is not an unreasonable workload for these professionals, who had months to get their fitness up to par. I do think the turf field, and the hot midday conditions are playing a role. If any future Challenge Cup-type events take place later this year, it should be on a grass field complex with better scheduling.
Fan voting for the Best XI is live! https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5729193/2020-NWSL-Challenge-Cup-Awards-Ballot-Fans
For those still wanting to hear more about Orlando, the Crack podcast had Sydney Leroux Dwyer on as a guest and she talks about it a bit (the talk about Orlando players testing positive is from 33:00-38:00 in the podcast): She doesn't give a lot of new info or detail, but she says that some players went out to "many places" (it wasn't just one club or place or just one time) and it was without really thinking about the possible consequences. She says that week was the hardest week of her career as Dom Dwyer had to be quarantined in a hotel away from them as she might be positive. So, she was alone with the kids (and she's also currently alone with the kids as Dwyer is in the quarantine hotel with MLS). She said the team hasn't been back together for training or anything. She also basically confirms that she doesn't see any way possible for a mini-season or second tournament after this one. Also I don't know anything about this podcast as I don't listen to it, so I can't recommend it. I just noticed Leroux was a guest. Finally, from the Orlando Sentinel journalist who covers Orlando City and Pride (Julia Poe): she said the whole team has been off duty from media availability since withdrawing from the tournament, which is one reason why we haven't heard anything or any updates.
There's an Equalizer article about the NWSL bubble being "COVID-19 free." (Hopefully, we're not counting our chickens before they're hatched.) It contains some nuggets: -The testing protocol has included over 2000 COVID-19 tests with players and staff being tested every few days. -There was a false positive of a facility worker last week; the facility worker hasn't worked any more in the facilities and was confirmed negative after multiple follow-up tests. (While waiting on the follow-up testing, teams had to forego using some indoor facilities like the cafeteria and gym.) -While there were several false positives, at least one Orlando Pride player did contract the virus (no info on how she is doing).
Just because I'm a *horrible* procrastinator... here is Orlando's record at picking winners through the first 20 games of the tournament, with bold being correct and italic being incorrect (incl. draws): NC-POR CHI-WAS HOU-UTA RGN-NJ POR-CHI WAS-NC UTA-NJ HOU-RGN NC-CHI POR-WAS UTA-RGN NJ-HOU WAS-HOU CHI-UTA RGN-POR NJ-NC NC-POR HOU-UTA WAS-NJ RGN-CHI ...so that's 5-for-20 (much like ORL's on-field record OOOHHH)
Just out of curiosity: have they made picks for the upcoming semifinals? Edit: nevermind: I just read on the semifinals thread that they picked Utah and Chicago. This should help me with my predictions, if they keep their losing strike alive!
Well I hope this is worth the wait. I do not mean the wait between matches, rather I mean the wait for really good soccer. I think the real grass will make the difference and the fact the these pros are really good players and they are, probably, as upset by the play so far as many fans are.
NWSL website has the final scheduled for 12:30 local time: is it correct? It could even be a better time for me in Europe than 10:30.
Sorry to disappoint, but the schedule (both TV and website) says 12:30 ET. Local time is MT, which is 2 hours behind ET, so same 10:30 am MT. They have to get it in before its too hot!
Well, the only important thing is that you tell me if I have to watch the game at the same time as the other days or not!
So why not give the players three weeks off, bring them back in mid to late August and play another tournament in September? Covid permitting of course.
Well, I am just shooting in the dark, don't know anything positively about this, but couldn't the financial cost be a issue? I am aware that the league received the support of important sponsors, but in a season without any attendance's revenues for the clubs, couldn't it be that a second "Challenge Cup" isn't really affordable for them?
Probably. The NWSL said it is going to pay the players whether or not they play, so the big costs of a new round would be lodging, food, and stadium rental. How much of that would TV and sponsor revenue make up? I don't know.
I want to share this great piece by Tori Huster: https://washingtonspirit.com/2020/07/23/at-every-turn/ Question: Are you happy to be home? Short answer: No. More complex answer: No. ..........and sorta related; please skip to about 19:48 in this youtube video. Aubrey Bledsoe texted a question to ask rookies Kaiya McCullough and Ashley Sanchez. Aubrey: Which new Spirit teammate has been most intimidating? Immediate response, in unison: Tori.
Challenge Cup awards are starting to be announced. Ashley Sanchez wins the Future Legend award: A young player that played well beyond her years ✨@ashleynsanchezz is the Future Legend award recipient. #NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/x4v7UIRlwy— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 25, 2020
The Golden Glove award goes to Sheridan: 🔝 class saves are synonymous with this 🇨🇦 goalkeeper 🧤@Kailen_Sheridan is the Golden Glove, presented by @Verizon, award winner. #NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/WkYNExDkVQ— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 25, 2020