It was Jenn Hildreth and Lianne Sanderson. Y’all are talking about Lianne. In general English commentators are bad.
Her knowledge of the Laws of the Game are shockingly poor, though that doesn't stop her from being an authority on them. Seriously, ESPN would do themselves a huge favor by making her sit for the USSF Grassroots course. Just give her some basic knowledge.
Which just makes matters worse since she was a player and had 50 caps (15 goals) for England. I get that some people are so athletically gifted that they can get buy without really understanding what they're doing, but it almost feels like she goes out of her way to refuse learning anything about the game at all.
Canada's new pro league got off to a rousing start. Judging the highlights, the pace & slowness doesn't look like their much competition for the NWSL, but looking at the large crowd, they could cut into the NWSL fan base and/or overall profit margins
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44702995/angel-city-hires-bayern-munich-alexander-straus Angel City hires Bayern Munich coach Alexander Straus Jeff Kassouf Apr 17, 2025, 10:50 AM ET Sounds like they got their guy. He'll finish the season with Bayern (likely winning a third straight Frauen Bundesliga title), and report to LA June 1. Says interim coach Sam Laity will stay on as assistant.
Time will tell. Look at the USL Super League; they had great numbers in the first few weeks, but then fell off. Could that league get some NWSL fans? Yes, but enough for us to notice, unlikely.
It wouldn’t shock me. USSF is working with the major schools to expand the calendar to the full school year. I’ve only heard of it being on the men’s side, but I also wouldn’t be shocked of they do the same with the women’s side.
Right now one of the biggest impediments to development in college is the fact that training mostly only takes place in the fall. I hope this actually happens and soon. But the final results will not be seen for several years and if it is a positive influence, as I expect it to be, I do not really expect to see it before I leave the realm where soccer matters much at all. That is unless soccer is played in whatever afterlife actually exists. I can see it being played in Heaven but I think the quality would be higher in Hell as that is the primary destination for referees. Of course some other "religion" could be ultimately correct and the Heaven/Hell that most people in the USA believe in could be completely wrong and Zeus might prove to be the big boss after all. But since that would bring the Greeks into play I am quite sure there would be soccer in "the Elysian Fields." Else why have "fields?"
In light of the NCAA lawsuit/settlement and the cost to schools, I would be shocked if they allowed full school year competition for non-revenue sports. Some non-revenue sports are getting cut because of the settlement, and some schools are dropping down divisions because it is too expensive to stay where they are.
I kind of think the same but I wonder if it might be more cost effective for the NWSL and MLS to help subsidize the programs somehow. I also wonder if soccer and baseball might generate enough revenue to reach break even even if the are not money makers. If they are near break even then many colleges just might keep them active. Remember that soccer is a pretty cheap sport to have available. Maybe clubs could aim some of their money at various scholarship programs. I do not have the solutions we need but, if we agree that what we have can be improved, then all even remotely reasonable options should be explored. And a system of professional lower level clubs is not the only option that might work. BTW: I do not think colleges have any business in any sport as they are supposed to be educational entities. But it is WAY to late to fight that battle so we have to try to use what we have.
NWSL has no motivation to subsidize college sports now that they are adding a Division 2 league. I cannot imagine a college soccer program making even let alone producing revenue.
Given that there are a number of NWSL teams that draw very small crowds and that those clubs cannot be very profitable at all I do not see how creating a bunch more money losing clubs could cost the clubs more. But you may be correct I just don't see the NWSL as a stable money making entity expanding the way that they currently seem to be doing. Division 2 women's (Or men's for that matter) soccer is not yet in any way a money maker in the USA.
NWSL is getting $60 million a year in TV money alone right now. I'd be surprised if they're not turning a profit.
The only reason I asked is when the NCAA lawsuit is over. If this allowed athletes to get paid, I could see something happening with youth development leagues. We have heard in the past that top colleges will try to create a soccer league and pay players. I imagine that the women's side will do the same. If I were 16 and I had a choice between going to NWSL NP( I would think that this new D2 league will be used for youth) or going to college for a free education and 20k( I don't know how much they will get paid). I would choose college. The college schedule will also change.