NWSL free agency to begin next week, D.C. United trade for draft pick, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Hello, all! I am back from another family wedding and will be bringing you Tuesday and Friday Freedom Kicks uninterrupted, at least until late October or so.
2025 NWSL Free Agents (NWSL)
The NWSL revealed yesterday that under its new CBA with the players’ union, free agency will begin on September 1. An initial list of players who can begin negotiating on that date includes Washington Spirit players Nicole Barnhart, Annaïg Butel, Makenna Morris, Kaylie Collins, Jenna Butler, and Waniya Hudson.
D.C. United acquire third round pick in 2025 MLS SuperDraft and up to $100,000 in additional GAM from LAFC (D.C. United)
Some in-case-you-missed-it news from the weekend. D.C. traded their right of first refusal for goalkeeper David Ochoa, in what seems like a pretty good overall deal.
Loudoun United are certainly teasing something with this twitter post. Personally, I think it’s a third kit, but we should know for sure by the end of the day.
Sven-Göran Eriksson, England’s first overseas manager, dies aged 76 (The Guardian)
The former coach revealed he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this year.
NWSL Power Rankings: Unbeaten Pride makes history, stays top (ESPN)
The Spirit may have climbed in both power and actual rankings after this weekend’s win, but Orlando Pride are going to be very difficult to unseat.
Finally, for a bit of fun, here’s a Columbus, OH, morning news team clowning on Anthony Precourt after his former team’s Leagues Cup win.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
I think Ochoa has tremendous potential. But this is a pretty good deal for DCU. I suspect the GAM amount is conditional upon him signing and then playing (and like I said, he has the potential to be a very good player). But he’s shown repeatedly that he’s a lousy teammate. Maybe he’s matured (Lucho certainly did). But I count this as a good deal by DCU and MacKay.
And that “Good Morning Columbus” intro is outstanding–thanks for sharing that.
As for the NWSL free agents–I’m a bit surprised Morris is on that list. Otherwise, no-one there from the Spirit that is a key piece. It’s going to be interesting to see how this NWSL CBA plays out–no draft, etc. I would think that for a combination of reasons (Jona Giraldez, Michelle Kang, the upcoming training center), DCU would be a place that would be seriously attractive to players.
I usually don’t like trashing guys online, but Ochoa’s not gonna reach whatever potential he had when he was starting for RSL. He’s jumped around and just straight up not been on a team for a while. Hope he’s grown up and is ok with being a backup for a while, because that was what cost him when he had his best opportunity. LAFC is also totally the kind of club that would just buy a veteran keeper if things aren’t going well enough for their liking.
Good Morning Columbus is must see TV.
Revenge is a dish best served cold……
I totally agree with regard to Makenna Morris.
It’s kind of a mystery why Morris was the only 2024 draft pick not to be signed to a 3-year contract. I’ve been impressed with her and would also like her to stick around, but I guess we’ll see!
To add on to “good business by Mackay,” Jared Stroud now has as many assists this season as Chris Durkin had in his entire career with DC. If you count his Leagues Cup goals, he’s also got as many goals as Chris Durkin had in his entire career with DC. And now recall that St. Louis also sent over Lucas Bartlett (team minutes leader, and had an assist against Dallas) AND cash. I like Durkin, he’s been good for St. Louis, but wow, what a great trade by Mackay!
We’d be toast without this trade.
Well, more massively charred toast….
Loudoun is going for the “heroes kit.”
A proper nod to cops, fire and firsties. It has each of their slogans on it as well.
A solid third kit.
I am beginning to wonder if I should drive to Leesburg next year instead of DC….
Tangible results for progress vs the bottom of the table, in perpetuity…
DC needs to get in to gear and at least tease the playoffs. MLS refs need to have shock chips on the cards when they “supervise” DC United games. Too me, the last game was absurd.
Super soft yellow on Enow’s first. His second was definitely a card, but that first one was soft.
Yes, agreed. And to my point: soft (fake) yellows set up a real yellow ejection. I really think the fan experience at DC United games is trampled on by MLS refereeing. This last ref and crew were terrible. There is nothing I can do about but give them a (clean) piece of my mind, or not go.
Darth Garber is pleased….
Also I love the new 3rd kit from LUFC.
It looks good, and was a very nice gesture.
Not sure if this got mentioned in yesterday’s Kicks, but San Jose finally surpassed the point total of 2013 DC United (it’s been ROUGH season by the airport, folks). Anyway, we can pop the champagne or whatever that the 2013 season continues to stand apart in all its awfulness.
Ah, yes, the grit season
I prefer referring to it as the dumpster fire season.
I’m far enough removed now that I can say 2010 was even more hellish and unreasonable. Maybe because DC hadn’t fully divested from the 90’s vibes as a fanbase, and the horror of watching- because we did watch every second, and never fully computed how bad the quality was. 2013 was really bad, but 2010, I think people genuinely forget or weren’t around yet
In 2010, I was aware, but not really paying attention. My awareness to MLS was brought along by one of the early FIFA games. Then my high school junior year (2005-2006 at Lee (now Lewis) High School in Springfield, VA) English teacher had a DCU calendar in her classroom. That got my interest even more. But it wasn’t till 2011 or 2012 that I actually attended my first DCU game and made an effort to watch the games.
Totally legit, and I’m far from casting shade about it, and genuinely, you were blessed to start in the Olsen era proper
I’ve been a fan and going to DCU matches since 1996. 2013 was at least redeemed by winning the US Open Cup. 2010 was indeed awful, but our failure in 2000 was incomprehensible! We failed to qualify for the playoffs while having been MLS Champions in 1999. And we still had the same lineup. Nothing ever seemed to go right. For example, Richie Williams scored the only headed goal of his career — a game-losing own goal.
So Own Goal has a long and storied career with DCU is what I’m hearing.
Meanwhile, in MLB, the Chicago White Sox are threatening the expansion 1962 “Loveable Losers” New York Mets team for historic awfulness.
I’m in Portland for a conference, and on the lunch break, I figured I would walk over to Providence Park. It’s only about a half mile from downtown, and there’s also a light rail stop literally right in front of it. Very accessible!
Anyway, I was walking around the outside of it, heading towards the team shop, and peering inside to see as much as I could (which from the outside is honestly not a lot). However, I did pass a couple of ladies walking the opposite direction inside the stadium. I don’t know the NWSL nearly as well as I should, but I could have sworn one of them was Sophia Smith! It looked like her, although it was nothing more than a passing glance. The ladies were carrying some lunch, and the Thorns have a home game on Friday against Bay FC (and sadly, I’ll be gone by then).
Maybe-Sophia Smith seemed kind of short, and a Google search tells me she’s 5’6″. So maybe it wasn’t even her. But I walked back to my hotel (after getting a couple of Timbers scarves) in a state of uncertainty and semi-excitement. I just saw Sophia Smith! (Maybe!)
Anyway, this is my first time in Oregon, let alone Portland. It’s pretty nice, and I’m excited to come back some time to catch a game here.
I had a possible player sighting this week too! I spotted two young women in Chelsea gear in a DC Starbucks, and I suspect one of them was Catarina Macario. I just congratulated them on their win on Sunday and left it at that.
Goff has some news. Matti Peltola and Jeremy Garay have been called up for national team duty, joining Boris Enow in being out for the game against Chicago on Sept. 7. Literally all of our CDMs are on international duty. There was some talk about Russell Canouse returning to play this season, but I’m pretty certain that date would be out of the question for him. Jackson Hopkins had a sprained ankle and was out “a couple weeks.” Who knows if he’d be available.
Additionally, Aaron Herrera has gotten called up for Guatemala, so he’ll miss the game too. Our refusal to get any other right back following Conner Antley’s injury continues to pay dividends! Congratulations to all the players, but a seemingly winnable game against Chicago has gotten a whole lot harder.
Oh, he also says that Kristian Fletcher is likely to go on loan to the Nottingham Forest U-21s. Maybe Lewis O’Brien recommended him. I’m assuming this would happen as soon as everything is agreed to, before the end of the MLS season. Fletcher tore it up with the Swansea U-21s, and this is a step up. Forest hasn’t been shy about signing Americans to the senior side, but it hasn’t ever really worked out for the players. Hopefully the U-21s are a bit better for development. Fletcher has gotten some chances this season, but has overall looked fairly disappointing. His long injury stint didn’t help either. I imagine he’s probably pushing for this move as much as anybody, to try and get things back on track.
Goff just further reported that Fletcher would be staying for Nottingham Forest’s full season, meaning he’d miss the first half of DC’s. Hopefully he can make the most of his time.
Hmmm it sucks that we don’t get the chance to see him blossom with us. Great opportunity for him since it seems like he’s not in our immediate plans.
To rest of your post….big yikes. Not sure what the guys are supposed to do. Klich at DM? We’re gonna have the softest midfield of all time in terms of defending no matter who goes up.
Dajome in a dual CDM/RB role!
Leicy Santos was credited with her first Talon (home assist) on Sunday. It was a simple pass to the right sideline in our defensive third. Whereupon, Paige Metayer took off on a 60+ yard lightning sprint and slotted the Spirit’s first Buzzard Point (home goal) of the match. I doubt that Santos will ever have a similarly “earned” assist.
The old 3rd round SuperDraft pick trade gambit, because they’re not allowed to trade a bag of practice balls.
Excellent long interview with Jason Anderson on Pitch Pass, discussing Saturday’s match and Lesesne’s tactical preferences.