NWSL PREVIEW
BREAKING THROUGH
T
he 2020 National Women’s Soccer League is almost upon us! After an electric 2019 season that saw record attendance numbers and world class play on the field
2020 is looking like it may be a breakthrough year for the league and for its players. Our own Sean Maslin has break down of all the teams and the players that
you should keep an eye on for this season!CHICAGO RED STARS
2019 RECORD: 14-2-8, 44 points (Second Place, Runners-Up In
NWSL Championship)
HEAD COACH: Rory Dames (Ninth Season)
KEY PLAYERS: Midfielder Julie Ertz and Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher
KEY ADDITIONS: Forwards Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash) and
Rachel Hill (Orlando Pride); Defenders Julia Bingham (University of
Southern California) and Camryn Biegalski (University of Wisconsin)
KEY SUBTRACTIONS: Forward Sam Kerr (Chelsea) and Midfielder
Katie Naughton (Houston Dash)
OUTLOOK: The Red Stars came within just a whisker of winning
both the Shield and the Championship last year. While that side is
largely back they will be without two-time NWSL MVP Sam Kerr
and Defender of the Year Katie Naughton. Ohai (28 goals in 114
appearances) and Hill (11 goals in three seasons) will likely platoon
up to replace Kerr but the big question is in defense with Bingham
and Biegalski both untested.HOUSTON DASH
2019 RECORD: 7-5-12, 21 points (Seventh Place, Did not make the
playoffs)
HEAD COACH: James Clarkson (Second Season)
KEY PLAYERS: Forward Rachel Daly and Goalkeeper Jane Campbell
KEY ADDITIONS: Defenders Katie Naughton (Chicago Red Stars)
and Erin Simon (West Ham United); Forward Shea Groom (Seattle
Reign FC)
KEY SUBTRACTIONS: Forward Kealia Ohai (Chicago Red Stars) and
Midfielder Sofia Huerta (Seattle Reign FC)
OUTLOOK: The Dash spent the offseason looking to strengthen their
defense which gave up 36 goals last season. The addition of veteran
defenders Katie Naughton and Erin Simon should help solidify their
backline and give goalkeeper Jane Campbell a bit of a reprieve. The
question is now whether they can improve on their league-worst 21
goals scored. Forward Rachel Daly (five goals in 2019) needs to up
her production to give the Dash a chance at the playoffs.NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE
2019 RECORD: 15-5-4, 49 points (NWSL Shield and NWSL
Champions)
HEAD COACH: Paul Riley (Fifth Season)
KEY PLAYERS: Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, Defender Abby Erceg,
Midfielder Samantha Mewis, and Forward Crystal Dunn
KEY ADDITIONS: Defender Hallie Mace (Sky Blue FC); Forward Ally
Watt (Texas A&M)
KEY SUBTRACTION: Defender McCall Zerboni (Sky Blue FC)
OUTLOOK: How do you top back-to-back seasons of winning every
league title? That is the question that faces NC Courage who have
cemented themselves as the top women’s club team in the world.
The good news for the league is that other clubs are stepping to
challenge the Courage’s dominance. What will be interesting to see
is how the Courage fare when a large percentage of their roster
goes off for the Summer Olympics and how bench players step up.
Look for Ally Watt, who scored 19 goals for Texas A & M last season
in college soccer, to play a huge roles for this side.ORLANDO PRIDE
2019 RECORD: 4-16-4, 16 points (Ninth Place, Did Not Make The
Playoffs)
HEAD COACH: Marc Skinner (Second Season)
KEY PLAYERS: Goalkeeper Ashlynn Harris, Defender Ali Krieger,
Forwards Sydney Leroux, Marta, and Alex Morgan
KEY ADDITIONS: Defender Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns),
Forward Caitlin Foord (Portland Thorns FC)
KEY SUBTRACTIONS: Rachel Hill (Chicago Reds Stars)
OUTLOOK: On paper the Pride look like one of the more stacked
rosters in the NWSL featuring World Cup veterans Harris, Krieger,
Marta, and Morgan. The problem is that the side is very rarely on
the field together. With National Team commitments the Pride’s
core group of players haven’t really had the chance to play with one
another over the last two years. That should change in 2020 which
should hopefully mean better results.Crystal Dunn
(Photo ISI Photos)Stephanie Labbe
(Photo NC Courage)Alex Morgan
(Photo Orlando Pride)