Since the 2022 season is over, I'll go ahead and start a thread for the next season especially with the free agency window now open. I'll kick the thread off with a retirement instead of a move. Ashlyn Harris has announced her retirement from professional soccer. She'll join Gotham's front office: INBOX: NJ/NY @GothamFC announced today that Ashlyn Harris, the legendary U.S. National Team and NWSL goalkeeper who announced her retirement as a player last night, is joining the club’s front office in the newly-created position of Global Creative Advisor.— Jenna Tonelli (@jennatonelli) November 15, 2022
Think Ali Krieger will follow her to retirement? It’s not the end of the world for Gotham since they have Betos and another GK. However their defenders are still questionable.
Ashlyn was no longer a starter. She was not good at Gotham. She needed to retire. Betos is a #2 and Hensely is a young project with potential. They need to bring in a starter. Gotham just singed Kelley O'Hara.
O'Hara will sign with Gotham FC: Kelley O'Hara announces at the MiB event tonight in NYC that she has signed with Gotham FC. O'Hara moves from the Spirit as a free agent and helps shore up at least one wide area for a team that lost a big FB presence in Caprice Dydasco. #NWSL— Steph Yang | Horrible Soccer Goose (@thrace) November 16, 2022 Sidenote: If Twitter collapses, where are we going to get woso news? Serious question.
I was asking more about a Twitter alternative for breaking news/minute-by-minute stuff by woso journalists. For that, I've followed on Twitter although I do subscribe to the long-form news on the Athletic and the Equalizer, too. I guess there's Instagram, but in the past, not as much news is broken there by journalists. While the Titanic orchestra is playing on deck over on Twitter, I've been searching for where the woso journalists are saying to follow them. It looks like they're going to Mastodon or asking folks to follow on Instagram. I guess it's time to set up a Mastodon account.
Ah gotcha. Yeah, TBD where the "breaking" stuff will go. Masto might be nice if it gets critical mass, but I'm guessing that FB or Insta use patterns shift to account for what's lost from Twitter
Free agents Edmonds (MF, xKC) and Smith (GK, xPOR) have both signed with Gotham Wonder what the FO must be offer these players to have brought in three big free agents so far in addition to their big-name-but-low-production haul last season.
Free agent Estelle Johnson (DF, xNJY) has signed with the NC Courage Money is often a draw but I don't think Gotham is rolling in extra allocation money to throw around though. Outside of allocation money, every team is working with the same salary cap
For Abby Smith it is an opportunity to compete for a starting position. Edmonds is from New Jersey and got a two year contract at her age. Which is a nice set up for her. Plus Gotham needs help on the backline so she will play. Kelley O'hara probably got paid a bit extra, as she is a big PR signing for Gotham to help draw fans, and create impression that it as a club players want to play for. Plus they have a new coach. So it is a fresh start for everyone.
The free agent exodus from Chicago has begun, as Rachel Hill (FW, xCHI) signs with San Diego, making the Wave attack even scarier.
The exodus from Chicago continues: First Day(s)@moeebrian x @vdibernardo10 pic.twitter.com/HoYOB3scSs— KC Current (@thekccurrent) December 7, 2022 Morgan Brian and Vanessa DiBernardo to KC. (Btw, I love the announcement.)
I know we generally expected Chicago to struggle in 2022 and they largely kicked all our expectations to the curb - but that was with the consistent core they still had. I'm genuinely scared for how Chicago might struggle on the field in 2023 with four-and-counting "lifers" now out.
it will be really important for them to keep their franchise player, Mel Pugh..and(pending sale) hopefully, keep their partnerdhip with Wolfsburg cuz that club is so uber stacked that it's bench is bascially the 2nd best team in the Bundesliga. So they shoud have plenty to borrow/lend from
https://equalizersoccer.com/2022/12/22/how-debinha-opted-not-to-return-to-nc-courage-in-2023/ Debinha leaving the Courage, linked to an Arsenal move (to replace Miedema)
Excellent signing by Arsenal (if it's confirmed), but Debinha is quite a different player from Miedema, isn't she?
More technical and a dribbler. She can play midfielder or forward. If Arsenal is where she goes, they will be happy.
In more Brazillian moves: Marta re-signs with Orlando, apparently not quite ready to retire just yet Louisville have signed Ary Borges, who just won a continental double with Palmeiras in Brazil
"Just" one player moves in a massive four-team trade, as Yaz Ryan ultimate moves from Portland to NY/NJ as Angel City positions to draft local teen USWNTer Alyssa Thompson: https://equalizersoccer.com/2023/01...-angel-city-fc-and-yazmeen-ryan-to-gotham-fc/ https://justwomenssports.com/nwsl-trade-angel-city-alyssa-thompson-draft-gotham/ In summary: LA: +2023R1 pick (from NJY, 1st overall), -$450k, -2023R1 pick, -2024R2 pick NJY: +2023R1 pick (from ORL, 2nd overall), +Yaz Ryan, -$100k, -2023R1 pick (1st overall), -2024R4 pick ORL: +$350k, +2024R4 pick, -2023R1 pick (2nd overall), POR: +2023R1 pick, +$200k, +2024R2 pick, -Yaz Ryan POR once again absolutely fleeces one of the newest teams.... Though LA still probably feels good assuming they do get Thompson, even if I think they overpaid. NJY maybe still got worse than LA did, downgrading by one position in the first round this year, a late pick next year, and $100k for Ryan (no shade to her) and I'm scratching my head at needs-to-rebuild ORL for basically a straight sale of the #2 pick this year.
Pretty bad decision by Orlando when they need good players unless they using the money for a player overseas. Is Alyssa Thompson really going to be the number 1 pick? Why not Michelle Cooper or someone else?