With yesterday's draw,
#GothamFC
is now winless over four matches - but players and staff aren't worried yet. It's still early and the
#NWSL
season is long.
For
@EqualizerSoccer
, my take on Gotham's struggles so far, the reasons for them, and what's next:
Just want to commend Kristie Mewis for what she did today. Came on for the first time in the tournament, didn’t get a touch on the ball, and took probably the best pen of the night. 👏
Naomi Girma is my player of the tournament. Hands down. Her pairing with Julie Ertz was a defensive revelation. The
#USWNT
faced only 2 shots on target in 4 games.
Emily Fox was also brilliant, especially today. Emily Sonnett had an equally stellar game today. Bright spots.
Luis Rubiales’ mom locks herself in a church to go on an indefinite hunger strike for ‘inhumane’ treatment towards her son.
This comes after FIFA suspends Rubiales due to the RFEF President’s unsolicited kiss towards Jenni Hermoso.
Stat of the day from
@fbref
: Even though she played just 138 minutes across two matches, Lynn Williams led the
#USA
and
#FIFAWWC
with 3.91 shots on target per 90 minutes.
I have zero insight and could be totally off, but to me the difference between 2019 and 2023 seems to be that instead of a cohesive team of 23 who played together for many years, we have 23 individually talented players who don’t have that same type of chemistry.
Last night I met a really nice reporter from the NYT who was there covering the game. He appeared shocked to learn that I cover the sport in my spare time, and have a full time day job. I don’t think the rest of the media world understands that this is how the
#NWSL
gets covered.
Here’s a fun one! Ali Krieger, Kelley O’Hara, and Midge Purce will be recognized as the official Special Guests for the 2024 Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration. They will join the NYC Mayor to push the crystal button which signals the lowering of the New Year’s Eve Ball.
More importantly,
@ORLPride
announced that in order to make players more comfortable and confident when playing during their menstrual cycle, the team will now wear black shorts, replacing the white shorts previously worn throughout the 2022 season and with other secondary kits.
Kelley speaking first in that huddle demonstrates to me why she’s there. A talented player plus a true leader. Don’t know what was said, but I hope whatever it was will help them shake this off to take on the knockouts.
To me, this is an example of a part of why Gotham won the
#NWSL
championship last year. They had the talent, the roster, the coaching, and the drive, but they also had the intangibles that can only be seen in moments like this.
Been an interesting day to see my friends who don’t watch woso outside of the World Cup text me with shock. Those of us who are plugged in aren’t terribly surprised (just disappointed), but the majority of viewers aren’t going to understand the nuance of what led to this moment.
Ok so here’s my prediction for 🇪🇸 v. 🏴 based on vibes.
#FIFAWWC
Scoreless over 120 minutes, goes to penalties. Everyone just keeps missing and they’re forced to keep taking penalties in perpetiuity and no one wins. Legend has it to this day they’re still talking penalties.
Spain’s women’s football team announce they will not play another match until Spanish football president Luis Rubiales resigns, which he refuses to do.
Rubiales grabbed team member Jenni Hermoso and planted a non-consensual kiss on her lips at the World Cup final.
It’s extremely disappointing that there will be no fan event for Gotham’s championship win. The fans are everything. They are the ones that support this club.
@Cloud9GOTH
have been ride or dies for many years and deserve to celebrate with their team.
And then there were 8!
The Quarterfinals are SET for the
#FIFAWWC
, after France's victory over Morocco closes out the Round of 16.
Which matchup are you looking forward to? Who will shock the world?! 🏆 👀
It is honestly so, so wonderful to see Krieger get her
#USWNT
flowers. So deserved. She helped change this program on and off the pitch. I am glad the federation made this happen for her. 👏
I think this every year, but how are teams expected to really sell season ticket packages when the
#NWSL
doesn't put out a schedule until just weeks before the season starts? I know putting together the schedule is really difficult, but the delays hold back growth of the league.
Holy moly I thought they were gonna have to start bringing people in from the crowd to take penalties. That was INSANE! Who needs coffee when you have THAT!
THE ashlyn harris IG power ranking:
- im a drunk white girl on a bar i hate it
- ur fucking welcome for this content bitch
- bitch gotta eat
- this content is fucking gold bitch
- we want pinoe
- fight night
- to the window/wall
- alex morgan dance
- cheers
- i don't belong here
In the
#USWNT
mixed zone, Kristie Mewis came in having swapped jerseys with German player Paulina Krumbiegel who approached her after the match for the swap.
“I’m really happy! I actually wanted to get a jersey from someone tonight,” Mewis said.
Wow… the amount of men I’ve had to block today who believe that women who exercise free speech and politically disagree with them are “traitors” or “un-American” 😬 yikes.
Shouldn’t have to be said, but it needs to be said.
Whatever feelings we may have, these players feel a million times worse. They laid it all out there, did everything they could, and deserve our support right now.
INBOX: The
#NWSL
has issued a fine to San Diego Wave FC forward Alex Morgan for comments detrimental to the league made on social media on September 17, 2023, in violation of Section 12.2.5 (e) “Prejudicial Statements and Public Criticism” of the League Operations Manual.
Free advice to all
#NWSL
teams - please have an iced coffee kiosk at your Pride Night games. We will show up in droves. I promise you this means more to us than rainbow merch.
Me to my wife when I found out the USWNT was playing Uzbekistan.
Me: You'll literally never guess who they're playing.
Adri: Is it Italy?
Me: No, I mean you will not be able to guess.
I'll get back to your regularly scheduled Gotham FC reporting momentarily, but I just have to say, this San Diego field is embarrassing for an
#NWSL
semifinal...
Just saw a couple of elementary school aged girls wearing NY Liberty gear as their costumes and… I’m crying? I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before! Women’s sports are so important 🫶
103 - Lynn Williams' first-half goal against Chicago was her 103rd career goal contribution in all
@NWSL
competitions, surpassing Sam Kerr (102) for the most in league history. Uncharted.
This is incredibly sweet and very meaningful in so many ways. This sport has brought so many people together and enriched our lives - from players to fans. That, to me, is soccer’s true power!
(🎥
@GothamFC
)
This should be another PR nightmare for the
#NWSL
but the fans keep coming back, and the league should ask themselves why.
Here’s the answer: it’s for the players. The very ones they’ve failed to protect.
Today's
#USWNT
equal pay settlement is a huge deal. Friends & Followers, please protect your peace. Don't read the unhinged/sexist replies. This is a win not just for women, but for the future of the sport everywhere. And if some miserable people can't see that - that's on them.
Midge Purce MVP is so deserved. She has been with this team through thick and thin, battled through injuries, and came back stronger each time. What a player. Let’s go,
@100Purcent
! 👏
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but in 2019 I believe every player (except goalkeepers) saw minutes in the group stage. That certainly hasn’t been the case here.
INBOX: NJ/NY
@GothamFC
announced today that Ashlyn Harris, the legendary U.S. National Team and NWSL goalkeeper who announced her retirement as a player last night, is joining the club’s front office in the newly-created position of Global Creative Advisor.
Yes, the rest of the world is "catching up," but it was never about talent - it was about investment. The "big" federations are going to have to step it up for their women's programs to stay competitive in these tournaments, and I hope they rise to the occasion!
#FIFAWWC
I am officially launching my campaign to have an iced coffee cart at the 2022
#NWSL
final. Like and retweet if you would also like an iced coffee cart at the final. I don’t care that it’s October. Thank you for your support 🫡
Sofia Huerta is my MVP of this game. Offense and defense, she's doing it all - involved in goals, clearing balls away from goal, and running up and down that pitch for 90 minutes.
#USWNT
I spoke to Ali Krieger toady after
@GothamFC
's semifinal win (more on that later). Here's what she said about the
#NWSL
final, jokingly calling it the "Sue Bird Bowl"
"I asked Pinoe last night who she thought Sue would cheer for! She was laughing about it, but we're so excited."
I’ve been writing about
@GothamFC
for years now, and following the team for twice as long. I always hoped I’d see the day they would win a playoff match. Now, they move on to the semis! What an accomplishment. Congratulations to this team!! So well deserved. 👏👏👏
When content is used without permission/proper credit, it's not just about the single video or photo. It's about the work that led up to capturing that moment, the years put into building a brand and forging relationships, the blood/sweat/tears of being underpaid + overworked.
SWEDEN WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR THE 2024 OLYMPICS. 😳
The silver medalists from Tokyo 2020 and recent third-place finishers at the 2023 World Cup will be at home this summer. 😱
Every time I think RFEF has hit rock bottom, they continue to sink even lower. Truly an accomplishment, I have to hand it to them. Exceeding even my lowest expectations.
My heart breaks for Jenni and the Spanish players.
Whether it’s with media, fans, or fellow teammates, Krieger will always be remembered for being a class act her entire career.
Don’t miss this interview on Attacking Third!
“I really want to be remembered as a good person, a great teammate, and somebody who led by example… People never forget how you make them feel.”
@alikrieger
shares how she wishes to be remembered once her playing days are over. 🥺
I’m not shy about being gay. I probably talk about my wife way too much. It wasn’t always this way, and for many others, being “out” isn’t simple.
For Pride Month, I put together some thoughts on the importance of Pride Night and visibility in the
#NWSL
.
Wonderful that it sold out, but the way this is worded - I don’t think the USWNT is responsible for selling out an away game against the 2022 Euro champs just saying
After selling out their October 7th match against England, the
@USWNT
have added a match against Spain on October 11th to complete their European Tour.
The fact that Becki Tweed turned this team around and got them into the playoffs in 5th place (!!)... if that doesn't say permanent head coach then I don't know what does.
For me, it goes back to this: these players deserve packed stadiums. Gotham has struggled with attendance over the years. Failing to leverage this moment not only disservices existing fans, but future ones, and the players who laid it all out there to win this first championship.
It’s extremely disappointing that there will be no fan event for Gotham’s championship win. The fans are everything. They are the ones that support this club.
@Cloud9GOTH
have been ride or dies for many years and deserve to celebrate with their team.