Yohannes chooses USA, new Hey Spirits episode, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Happy Tuesday, everyone! It’s kind of a weird short week for me, since I was off work yesterday and am traveling to visit family mid-week. Hopefully there are one or two articles today that will spark your interest, and if we’re lucky we’ll get NWSL end-of-year award nominees today! I’m hoping to see a few Washington Spirit names on there.
Lily Yohannes creates excitement after commitment to USWNT (SSFC)
17 year-old Lily Yohannes kept us all in suspense for a while about whether she would choose to play for the U.S. or the Netherlands. Yesterday, she announced that she has chosen the USWNT, and I’m very glad. She’s a very talented midfielder and will help shore up one of the U.S.’s weakest position groups.
How Trinity Rodman does the ‘Trin Spin,’ her dazzling signature move (Washington Post $)
A fun, interactive article by Ella Brockway on Trinity Rodman’s signature move, how she’s worked to improve her left-footed shot, and more.
Tara tackles but also scores (Spirits QF dub review) (Hey Spirits on Spotify)
André, Ella, and I broke down the big moments of Sunday’s Washington Spirit win, including tactical adjustments and players who impressed. Plus we give our recommendations of non-soccer things that are bringing us joy in a stressful time.
USL Super League players join USLPA, seek to ratify CBA (ESPN)
Very cool of the USL to voluntarily recognize the Players Association after a Super League vote last week. I’m very curious to see how their first collective bargaining agreement will look, especially after the league’s seeming attempts to position themselves as more player-friendly than the NWSL.
Why Philadelphia Union parted with Jim Curtin & what’s next (MLS)
Some follow-up on the Jim Curtin firing. (On a slow news day I thought y’all might prefer this to one of many Inter Miami retrospectives).
MLS playoffs without Lionel Messi and Inter Miami could be a welcome reality check (The Athletic $)
Here’s one anyway. Could the early exit of Inter Miami give the league a good opportunity to test whether Messi’s allowed them to increase their fanbase in an enduring way?
Details emerge of Canada Soccer’s ‘obsessed’ culture of drone spying (CBC)
To no one’s surprise, it appears that Canada Soccer’s use of drones to spy on opponents was less of a one-time incident and more of a program.
Finally, here’s your schedule of mid-week games. DC Power are playing their final home match before the mid-season break tomorrow night.
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC Power FC vs. Brooklyn FC | Wed., Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | Peacock |
Have a good week!
Damn sounds like Canada’s Dronegate/Spygate is gonna get worse before it gets better.
Friggin knew Lily would choose us.
My bank manager is her Aunt. I knew about this a few weeks ago, but was asked to keep a lid on this. She is loving her time at Ajax (reportedly, per aunt). I am glad the story finally dropped.
The conversation came up because had my ladies jersey on, 4 stars and all.
Great news!
That’s great news about Yohannes. I’ve told a couple of people (who were basking in the glory of the Gold Medal from the Olympics) that I bet 2/3rds of the USWNT roster is different from the WC and they were in disbelief. OK, you have injuries that happen. Or a retirement or two. But Hayes will put her stamp on the team. She’ll change tactics, raise expectations, demand more flexibility. She’ll get younger. Yohannes is one of the people who could be starting in midfield come the WC. She’s one of many players who didn’t see a second of playing time at the Olympics who will be competing for starting positions (Shaw, Macario, Hershfelt, etc.).
And as for Canada–this is rotten. Their FA has been incompetent for a while now. They lucked in to Marsch (and MLS has a lot to do with that). And this Herdsmen/drone scandal is only going to get worse. I absolutely hate, just hate, how many of the Canadian players at the Olympics treated this as “it was us against the world, this pulled us together.” No shame. It’s just inconceivable to me that players either didn’t know OR that they didn’t put their heads in the sand. Because if you play on clubs (with more resources, more time to scout) you know what is typically available. When people are showing you video, freaking video, of practices….you know.
I agree that this drone scandal is going to get a lot worse. I wonder if it’s going to affect any of the medals they earned?
https://www.crossingbroad.com/2024/11/jim-curtin-fired-ten-takeaways-from-a-mostly-underwhelming-union-press-conference.html
Interesting read that on a reaction to the press conference announcing Curtin’s firing.
22 year old FC Cincy midfielder Marco Angulo passed away yesterday morning from injuries he sustained in an accident last month: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/fc-cincinnati-midfielder-marco-angulo-passes-away-at-22
https://www.givemesport.com/usl-championships-memphis-to-transfer-rights-to-santa-barbara-sources/
I think the Spirit game on Saturday will be a sell out. There is like 3 tickets left all of which are obstructed view.
Nice.
Too bad MLS doesn’t have playoffs.
Oh, always have, you say?
Sucks that tonight’s CONCACAF Nations Leagur Quarterfinal leg against Jamaica is on Peacock only.
It’s tomorrow
Oh right still it’s only on Peacock
It’s on Max