PORTLAND THORNS FC
2019 RECORD: 11-6-7, 40 points (Third Place, NWSL Conference
Semifinalist)
HEAD COACH: Mark Parsons (Sixth Season)
KEY PLAYERS: Defender Meghan Klingenberg, Midfielders Tobin
Heath and Lindsey Horan, and Forward Christine Sinclair
KEY ADDITIONS: Forward Sophia Smith (Stanford University) and
Morgan Weaver (Washington State University)
KEY SUBTRACTIONS: Midfielder Haley Raso (Everton)
OUTLOOK: The Thorns made a flurry of moves ahead of the NWSL
College Draft to secure two of the biggest prospects in college
soccer in Sophia Smith (2020 NCAA Women’s Soccer MVP)
and Morgan Weaver (43 goals in four years at Washington State
University). Having two young attackers up top with Christine
Sinclair and Tobin Heath should give the Rose City Riveters plenty
to root for in 2020. Keep an eye on Adrianna Franch who is steadily
rising up the depth chart with the US Women’s National Team. A big
club season may give her the push to earn the top spot.
REIGN FC
2019 RECORD: 10-6-8, 38 points (Fourth Place, Conference
Semifinals)
HEAD COACH: Farid Benstiti (First Season)
KEY PLAYERS: Goalkeeper Lydia Williams, Defender Lauren Barnes,
Midfielder Jess Fishlock, and Forward Megan Rapinoe
KEY ADDITIONS: Midfielder Dani Weatherholt (Orlando Pride)
KEY LOSSES: Defender Theresa Nielsen (Brondby)
OUTLOOK: These are very uncertain times for Reign FC. In the
offseason the club was purchased by Lyon and coach Farid Benstiti
was brought in as head coach. With rumors of rebranding and
changing the club’s identity one can imagine that the Royal Guard,
their supporters group, are a little worried. On the pitch the side
made very few changes which given the improvements made by the
teams below them should make their hold on the fourth spot even
more tenuous. The team’s veterans (Williams, Barnes, Fishlock, and
Rapinoe) will have their hands full in 2019.
FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD
KNOW AHEAD OF THE
NWSL SEASON!
2019 was a massive year for Women’s Soccer. After nabbing
large television and huge crowds at the World Cup clubs and
leagues across the world looked to capitalize on the groundswell
of interest in the women’s game. Their hard work certainly paid
off in the National Women’s Soccer League with attendance
records broken across the board. But still there are plenty of
unknowns with the league so here are five things you need to
know about the NWSL ahead of the 2020 campaign!#1. The League Is Still Brand New
At seven years old the NWSL is the oldest professional women’s
soccer league. Yet seven years is also very, very new and the
league is still very much finding its roots in both North America
and in the world. With just nine teams (they will be adding
Louisville as a tenth franchise in 2021) it is still very much at the
early stages of development.#2. It follows the traditional football league structure...Well,
mostly.
As opposed to Major League Soccer the NWSL does indeed
have a single table and a title is awarded to the team that
finishes at the top. While those rules will certainly make football
traditionalists happy the NWSL does include playoffs with the top
four teams vying for the NWSL Championship.#3. It has partial ties to clubs in men’s soccer.
Four of the nine teams (Houston Dash, Orlando Pride, Portland
Thorns, and Utah Royals FC) share ownership with sides in Major
League Soccer (Houston Dynamo, Orlando City SC, Portland
Timbers, and Real Salt Lake respectively) while the North Carolina
Courage share ownership with North Carolina FC of the United
Soccer League, a second division club in the United States.
In addition this winter Reign FC were bought by Olympique
Lyonnais, the famous Ligue 1 side.#4. It is loaded with talent.
Although clubs and leagues throughout the world are improving
the NWSL is still the top spot to catch the world’s best female
soccer players. Legends such as Christine Sinclair, Marta, Megan
Rapinoe, Rose LaVelle, and Tobin Heath.
or 4-2-3-1 – or some variation thereof – the system is just on
paper. Players move fluidly, looking for passing options and
space to exploit – and that is what was espoused by Chapman
and Pozzo and continues to be today. The best, most successful
formations are the ones that encourage fluidity, regardless of how
they line up on the team sheet.#5 It is growing both at the gates and on television.
Riding the momentum of the FIFA Women’s World Cup the
NWSL saw a surge in attendance last year. On average the league
pulled in 7, 337 fans per match which was a 21 percent increase
from 2018. The increased interest not only helped the league
secure big name sponsors like Budweiser and Secret, but also a
large television deal with CBS Sports.Christine Sinclair
(Photo CSA)ABOVE:
Meghan Klingenberg
BELOW:
Portland Thorns