NWSL PREVIEW
BREAKING THROUGH
CONTINUEDSKY BLUE FC
2019 RECORD: 5-14-5, 20 points (Eighth Place, Did Not Make The
Playoffs)
HEAD COACH: Freya Coombe (Second Season)
KEY PLAYERS: Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, Defender Gina
Lewandowski, Midfielder Carli Lloyd, and Forward Imani Dorsey
KEY ADDITIONS: Forwards Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit) and
Margaret Purce (Portland Thorns)
KEY SUBTRACTIONS: Midfielder Raquel Rodriguez (Portland
Thorns)
OUTLOOK: The skies are opening for Sky Blue FC! After years
of mismanagement and playing in subpar conditions the club
overhauled their management and operations in 2019 including
moving into 20,000 seat Red Bull Arena. The club also made a
flurry of moves in the offseason including picking up two of the best
young strikers in women’s soccer in Pugh (two goals in 2019) and
Purce (eight goals in 2019). If they can find their scoring stroke Sky
Blue may find themselves back in the playoff hunt.UTAH ROYALS FC
2019 RECORD: 10-10-4, 34 points (Sixth Place, Did Not Make The
Playoffs)
HEAD COACH: Craig Harrington (Utah Royals FC)
KEY PLAYERS: Midfielders Diana Matheson and Desiree Scott;
Forward Christen Press
KEY ADDITION: Forward Arielle Shipp (Washington Spirit)
KEY SUBTRACTIONS: Head Coach Laura Harvey (USYNT U-20
National Team); Forward Katie Stengel (Houston Dash)
OUTLOOK: The Royals have been largely quiet this offseason with
the only major move coming in the form of coach Laura Harvey
leaving for U.S. Soccer. New head coach just joined the club in early
February so it will be interesting to see how his side will react to
the changing of the guard. A healthy Diana Matheson and having
Christen Press for a larger portion of the season should help.WASHINGTON SPIRIT
2019 RECORD: 9-8-7, 34 points (Fifth Place, Did Not Make The
Playoffs)
HEAD COACH: Richie Burke (Second Season)
KEY PLAYERS: Midfielders Andi Sullivan and Rose LaVelle; Forward
Ashley Hatch
KEY ADDITIONS: Defender Brooke Hendrix (West Ham United);
Forward Kumi Yokoyama (AC Nagano Parceiro)
KEY SUBTRACTIONS: Forward Mallory Pugh (Sky Blue FC)
OUTLOOK: Last season the Spirit completely rebuilt their roster
bringing in a stream of younger players while handing the midfield
over to Sullivan and LaVelle. It paid off with the team getting their
highest number of wins in three years. Now, the club is hoping that
with an additional year of seasoning and development they can get
back into the playoffs. One thing to keep an eye: their rotating home
schedule. The club will be playing home games in three locations
which will make developing a rhythm a challenge especially towards
the final third of the season.Megan Rapinoe - Reign FCPhoto Jane Gershovich provided by Reign FCPhoto coursesy ISI Photos Photo coursesy ISI PhotosMallory Pugh who recently joined from Washington. Ashley Hatch.