Benteke wins Player of the Matchday, Snickers sponsors Spirit, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Happy Tuesday! It’s NWSL kit release day! For reasons unclear, every team in the league will be unveiling their 2024 jerseys today, presumably to make it easier for us to sort through the winners and losers. If you check in later, André should have a full rundown on the Spirit’s new kits for The District Press. For now, on to the rest of the Freedom Kicks.
After Saturday’s hat trick, Christian Benteke was voted MLS Player of the Matchday.
Washington Spirit Announces Mars’ Iconic Brand, SNICKERS®, as an Official Partner through the 2024 Season (Washington Spirit)
This is a sponsor I can get behind. Though perhaps a bit of an odd pairing with the Spirit’s front-of-kit sponsor, CVS Health.
“I don’t think you can Moneyball the NWSL”: As teams use more data, hybrid models are key (The Athletic)
An interesting look at the recent increase in the use of data analysis by NWSL teams and the challenges they’ve faced, including having to create a lot of their own historical data, not being able to translate easily between leagues, and lacking youth data. Lucy Rushton’s Bay FC is helping to lead the way in the league (although the Spirit have data analysis staff as well) and has made some splashy international signings as a result.
USL Championship team Orange County SC have revealed a kit designed specifically for the U.S. Open Cup. The team’s statement upon its release feels like a bit of a pointed message to MLS. Also I really dig the look of it. More cup-specific kits, please!
Ronaldo criticized for apparent obscene gesture in Saudi league game (ESPN)
Ronaldo is being investigated by the disciplinary committee for the incident. This is his third apparent obscene gesture in less than a year! Has he considered just not being gross on the field? How hard could that be?
Everton points deduction: Punishment reduced from 10 points to six after appeal (BBC)
The club jumped up two places to 15th as a result, although they could still lose more points for alleged financial breaches in the 2022-23 season.
We’ll finish off with the trailer for a documentary on the Women’s World Cup of 1971 and its impact on women’s soccer. Have a good day!
I watched the USWNT v Mexico match last night. A thoroughly deserved 2-0 win by Mexico. Two lovely goals by Mexico and two more long distance strikes off the bar. Closest USWNT came to score was Trinity Rodman’s left footer across the goal which missed the right post by inches. That came at 90+1 and would have tied the match. A minute later Mexico iced their victory with a 25 yard strike.
Two consolations for US soccer: 1) USWNT finished second in group and moved on to the quarter finals, and 2) many on this Mexican squad are either dual national Mexican Americans or Mexicans who attended US colleges and played futbol here.
I think this match shows a couple of things. 1. The women’s game has gotten better. Every year there are a few more nations who take this (women’s soccer) seriously and their NT is better and more competitive. 2. Emma Hayes has her work cut out. The USWNT has a lot of talent. But the last Olympics and the WWC in Oz/NZ wasn’t all (or even mostly) on Vlatko. There is a lot of growth that needs to happen so that the individual talent can be more effective as a team at a sophisticated level.
Time to put the old guard out to pasture – Sauerbrunn and Morgan especially were dreadful – – Dunn could not connect passes at all – and even Horan and Lavelle looked bad – love em but no more please.
There is much more going on than “the world is catching up….”
I have no idea how much Mars has gotten behind the Spirit in terms of sponsorship. But potentially this is a really big sponsor with major, major bucks.
Annie, I’m with you on Ronaldo. Looks like a male model, fantastic goal scorer, and…he’s never been my cup of tea.
And there are just too many articles on the Athletic I want to read. I’m going to have to bite the bullet and pay for a subscription (argh!).
Sorry for evangelizing The Athletic so hard! Sometimes they do $1 per month deals if you can find one of those
You aren’t the only one who has been harping about The Athletic. I have to and freely admit that. Its worth the subscription.
Hey, it’s appropriate for you to provide links to valid sources and interesting news–even if some of it is behind a paywall.
Renaldo was never my cup of tea either; despite things done so very well, he just grates on my nerves like a chalkboard scratch.
Whatever happened to Mars MLS’ sponsorship? Loved the Snickers logo on the old uniforms.
Believe me, Mars can afford it. Did a party in Middleburg area at the heiress’s place….holy moly….
I hope the USL floods the message of the importance of the US Open Cup. MLS better send teams. I understand the compromises for those that are over extended, but they can play bench and be allowed to call up the minors to fill it out.
Darth Garber will likely Death Star the USL somehow for their defiance….
USL is participating, but it seems they are also unhappy with the federation re: the Open Cup. Still, with them taking it seriously this year, it’s a good way for them to show how important their clubs are to the competition, and potentially get a Champion’s League spot by winning it all.
Interesting an SKC Academy player, Ramiz Hamouda, is going to go pro with the Birmingham Legion down in the USL Championship. SKC didn’t offer a homegrown contract, NYRB offered to trade for the homegrown rights and that fell through. Apparently the Crew and Union were both interested at one point as well. He’s 15 and a left-footed Center Back.
https://theathletic.com/5303148/2024/02/27/ramiz-hamouda-birmingham-legion/
More coverage of the US Open Cup MLS debacle. https://theathletic.com/5295174/2024/02/23/us-open-cup-future-super-league/
MLS not fully participating is definitely setting the plate for the NASL anti-trust suit against US Soccer that’s set to go to trial later this year. Because this definitely looks like US Soccer arbitrarily applying its Professional League Standards.
Paul Tenorio and Tom Bogert talk MLS roster construction in the Messi era and how it is evolving: https://theathletic.com/5295462/2024/02/23/mls-messi-roster-construction/