Anti-LGBT posts/shares on social media, and got called out by Rapinoe about it. (Rapinoe's post was shared by some other USWNTer's; it feels a bit like the Hinkle situation although it hasn't reached that point yet.) I don't think it's reached a point yet that the coach would have to do anything, and Albert has apologized. If you have an Athletic sub: https://theathletic.com/5376193/2024/03/28/megan-rapinoe-korbin-albert-uswnt-social-media/
Just my opinion, but refusing a call-up and even later on going on a TV interview to clearly and personally state your beliefs is different than some likes and shares on social media. Plus, Albert is still pretty young. I realize Daniels was only a few years older than Albert at the time, but to me there's a difference between someone still of college-age and someone a few years after graduating. I also don't remember Daniels ever clearly apologizing; from what I remember, she made a statement to justify her views (I could be misremembering though; it's been a few years). Plus, Daniels still appeared for the USWNT after her beliefs on gay marriage were clearly stated by her on social media; it was the refusal of the call-up that was the final straw. While obviously not the worst, the part for Albert that might cause the most feelings in the locker room is the "like" of a post that cheered on Rapinoe's injury in her last club game. (And to be clear, Rapinoe had no comment on that; Rapinoe's statement was entirely about supporting the LGBT community.) I do think there will be some things that need to be sorted in the locker room, but I don't think (I guess I could be wrong) that it's reached the point like it did with Daniels in that some USWNT players didn't want her on the team (at least that's what we heard afterwards).
Prehaps an unpopular stance, but I think players need to be able to make political statements, even ones that are unpopular popular with a sport's fan base. I have always maintained that NFL teams were wrong to refuse to employ Colin Kaepernick, that the approbation Megan Rapinoe received for her political positions were wrong, and that the dropping of Jaelene Hinkle over her political comments were also wrong. So is the French ban on players wearing hijab. If athletes are only allowed to make political and social and religious statements that the fanbase agrees with, then they don't have any meaningful freedom at all (and to be clear, I disagree with the positions that Hinkle and Albert made). In the US context, there are also probably legal issues with refusing to select someone over their religious views. Also worth noting that in other soccer venues, (see James Maclean, Nemanja Matic, Anel Ahmedhodzic, etc), players have objected to the mainstream political point of view without sanction. Now, liking a post about Rapinoe being injured is different, and quite possibly warrants action. That's not taking a political or social position, that's wishing injury on a former teammate.
I think some of it will be how much noise Rapinoe makes, especially amongst her former teammates. Or if it was one Rapinoe IG post, an AI generated apology and then nothing more
[QUOTE="PortiereNuovo ] Now, liking a post about Rapinoe being injured is different, and quite possibly warrants action. That's not taking a political or social position, that's wishing injury on a former teammate.[/QUOTE] Wow, some Christians they are!!!
There’s a difference between a political view or opinion and a statement about what you claim IS right or wrong about other people. If you’re going to say something IS wrong, leaving no room for others to have a different view, then you’d better be willing to accept the consequences of taking that stance. So if you want to vote for a candidate or support certain legislation, fine. And I’m fine with you saying so. If you want to tell me how I have to exist, I may have an issue with you. That may be worth it to you, but I don’t think I have to treat that passively. I have opinions about how other people should exist — such as don’t hurt someone for your own entertainment. I get that I have to be willing for people that do want to hurt others for their own entertainment to not want me around. I’m ok with still saying it. So if Albert wants to tell gay people they ARE wrong and to straighten up, she can’t expect people who feel differently to want her around. I’m sure Hayes will be as good as anyone could be at navigating a difficult challenge, and I’m personally willing to give Albert room to modify her stance if she chooses to.
I know it was a draft for Portland Thorns and not a call up to USWNT but Sydney Nasello got kicked to the curb for just liking a post that upset others- instead of playing in the NWSL she had to go overseas and plays for a team in Istanbul. How will the players play cohesively when there is a player in the locker room that liked a post like those?
USWNT’s Emma Hayes pushes Arsenal manager after Women’s League Cup final loss Emma Hayes took issue with the opposing manager's "male aggression" and shoved him during the handshake line.
Emma Hayes looking like a great appointment about now. The boorish behaviour and ill thought out comments are a big change from previous WNT managers
I would assume since Chelsea want be in the CL match, and their last WSL match is on the May 18, she will be able to head to US to take over NT and start preparing for the camp and Korean matches.
With the Chelsea season done, the Hayes era officially begins: One chapter ends, another begins. Before heading to the states, Emma Hayes reflects on her time at @ChelseaFCW 💙 pic.twitter.com/hdWv6GyhWI— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) May 20, 2024
Saw a snippet of Hayes' interview and it seems like Emma is thinking of the US as underdogs compared to European teams. It was interesting. I think it makes sense to be honest that the US is (and hasn't been) the gold standard, but maybe it's a little too much to fairly meekly accept that the US are, therefore, on the outside looking in. Can't take too much from a few sentences, but wondered what others had heard or observed about Emma's POV on whether it should be understood that Spain, England others are simply better than the US.
she’s probably trying to cover her own tracks as not to expect too much since she’s only got a few months to work with to install whatever dynamics she’s got planned for her squad. minus USWNT’s glorious past, 2020’s been mixed results vs Europe as shown at the WC where the US couldn’t buy a win vs it’s Euro opponents(currently ranked #6 Sweden, #8 Netherlands & #21 Portugal. Fair to say though. we outplayed them in all three games—but those three ‘ain’t no Spain’( who’s now won every single woso trophy imaginable in the last year & half) the Olympics can still be up for grabs—as shown by an basically unheralded Canadian squad winning it the last time around. Europe still got some major pitfalls as most woso leagues still aren’t fully professional—at least NWSL showing effort with it’s now 14 pro teams while buying 3 Spanish coaches to give them an more tactical The future honestly belong to whoever will be willing to spend the most money in developing woso as well as paying it’s players—I mean $20 million plus Nike contracts like Catlyn Clark just got, are still non existent for female soccer players
What percentage of the player pool spent any time playing college soccer? I assume it is still realtively high, but I haven't looked. Anyone already know?
Of the currently listed 23-player roster, 4 did not play any college soccer: Yohannes, Rodman, Shaw, and Swanson.
Having attended a She Believes match in Columbus, I can attest there was a loud, vocal segment of supporters that booed Albert every time she touched it.
I thnk this will be pretty interesting to watch. College soccer gave the US a major leg up in the women's game and was long ago recognized as unhelpful in the men's game. My instict is that until the women's league is stronger and has strong academies, then college soccer will continue to be critical to the US team. I guess it just isn't the advantage it used to be.
due to the NWSL’s reducing thr minimum age to just 15, quite a few are skipping college. It’s becoming quite a popular trend. As well your seeing players now cutting their college careers short to join pro teams
LINDSEY HORAN — how in heaven's name could anyone have forgotten this classic Big Soccer thread?! (tee-hee!)
I have very mixed feelings about this{ 1. Almost all club teams are better at training than colleges. 2. A college is one of the best places there is to learn general education stuff. 3. Playing and training with a pro team is better than playing and training at a college. 4. Most college educations are effectively useless in that the theoretical things that are taught have no real application in the real world. 5. There are real advantages in the college social scene. 6. There are real disadvantages in the college social scene. 7. The college game is generally a LOT slower than the pro game. There are many other considerations that play a part in choosing college or pro. I have two doctorates (Math and Physics) but I have never had a job that directly used either but skills I learned in college have come in very handy, mainly it is the fact that in college and in the service before college they actually managed to teach me how to learn effectively and I think, since most high schools don't really teach much of anything, that college is a benefit for even the best players. On the other side of the coin we have increased risk of injury and other external peer pressures that playing pro might mostly avoid. All in all I think it is mostly better for players to play at least two years in college but I cannot say that players like Horan and Swanson made mistakes by going directly pro but I do think that a couple of years in college would have benefitted both more that going straight pro helped them. I do not like it that it has become so easy for kids to go straight to the pro ranks from high school but I also cannot condemn anyone for doing so. BTW: I do believe that the NWSL screwed up by moving the age to 15. Most 15 year olds I have known, and I have known a LOT from my decades in youth coaching, have never been ready for the pressures of pro play. However more than a few 16 yea olds and most 17s are ready. 15 is just too young on the maturity scale for pro play and so many adults look to exploit the kids that I think that it was a huge mistake for NWSL to allow them on teams. It has almost nothing to do with skill but everything to do with maturity. FWIW: I have known many more physically and mentally mature young women that young men. It seems often that women reach physical and mental maturity before their male counterparts. I realize this was/is largely off topic but the discussion of players skipping college kind of triggered my thoughts in this direction.
a lot of IRONY in all this cuz it’s not like you can make an lot of money; most NWSL players average about $60K an year….and yet saves a lot of money by not paying/going through ECNL/select fees, personal trainers, summer camps & showcase’s(all important to get scholarship offers from your preferred college)——yet all these four things plus college I mentioned essential important to keep an underbelly, American soccer economy striving—-but all this now in danger of becoming a bust(if pay for play/going to college becomes irrelevant) cuz one daughter’s millionaire dad decided to sue the NWSL to lower the age requirement, lol
The way I see it, if we continue to rely on college soccer to develop our women players at the highest level we are going to struggle going forward. This is coming from someone who played college ball (on the men’s side) and it was one of the great experiences of my life. It is an incredible institution and will not nor should it ever go away. There needs to be another path for truly elite women however, like there is for the men, for us to continue to dominate the women’s game in the future. IMO .