Spirit sign two rookies, NWSL schedule footprint, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Happy Tuesday, everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying the snowy weather as much as I am, but you might need to be similarly working from home for that to be the case. as I predicted, news has picked up this week, and I expect it to continue today.
Washington Spirit Starts Promising 2025 Rookie Class with Two Signings (Washington Spirit)
The Spirit have announced their first two players directly from college, now that the draft has been eliminated. Midfielder Deborah Abiodun comes from Pitt and has also played for the Nigerian National Team in the most recent World Cup and Olympics. Winger Emma Gaines-Ramos joins the team from San Diego State, where she scored 19 goals and made 25 assists.
For more details, check out André Carlisle’s article for The District Press.
National Women’s Soccer League announces 2025 schedule footprint, competition calendar (NWSL)
It’s not a complete schedule, but NWSL has given us an outline of the upcoming season. Some highlights: Washington Spirit will face Orlando Pride in a Championship rematch Challenge Cup. The league will again take a break mid-summer, with teams permitted to schedule their own matches with teams from other leagues as opposed to 2024’s NWSL x Liga MX Summer Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino names USMNT January Camp roster (SSFC)
The MLS-heavy 24-player roster will play matches against Venezuela and Costa Rica later this month.
Matko Miljevic, who saw a bizarre MLS exit, included on USMNT roster (Washington Post $)
Steven Goff has a little more information on the only non-MLS player on the roster, Matko Miljevic. You may or may not recall that Miljevic’s contract with CF Montreal was terminated after he joined an amateur league under an alias and allegedly punched a referee.
While we’re on the subject, here’s a little something from Meme Monday over on the MLS subreddit:
Sixth Ex-Wave Employee Joins Lawsuit, Alleges Supervisor Sent Her Dick Pics (Defector)
The NWSL’s investigation that allegedly found no violations of league policy at San Diego Wave is looking less and less thorough. Additional allegations of a hostile work environment for staff at the club are piling up.
Disney Buys Fubo, Killing Venu Lawsuit (Front Office Sports)
I’m not crazy about Disney owning an even bigger piece of the media pie.
Both Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune have been nominated for EA Sports FC Team of the Year. You can vote for them now through January 12.
That’s all for now. Have a great day, and stay warm out there!
Anyone else have the impression that Diego Luna doesn’t have the goods for even this call up?
Rather the opposite. He’s struck me as the type of player who is infuriating on the opposition, but I’d love him on my team.
Though I’m willing to be proven wrong; it happens often.
I think he’ll be revealed to be not even more than adequate at the MLS level, his youth is the only thing obfuscating that he’s not worth it. I’d be shocked if he did anything worthy of the national team.
I’m also curious about what the current structure for college signings are in the NWSL is now. Are all college players simply free agents, or is there a process MLS like in its strange nature?
All players not currently under contract are free agents, even college players.
I agree with you, but this is another situation in which it would be nice to be able to refer to the CBA that was announced four months ago (and under which the league is apparently operating). RELEASE THE CBA!!!
Sadly it won’t be in Charleston, but United will be playing the Battery during preseason. A fun chance to contest the Coffee Pot Cup, and also to introduce Troy Lesesne to this side of things.
Great posting for a snowed-in Tuesday. Andre’s article on the new college signings is terrific. Now–we need to add a defender or two–we’re thin there, especially if McKeown or Morgan get called up.
And wow, things smell bad with the Wave. I have no details. But when you’ve got 6 employees with law suits and the senior executive leaves the organization, ugh! And I feel bad because one of my coaching badges came from John Ellis (Jill’s Dad) who was a first class guy, just superb, and proud of his daughter.
I hope that Pooch finds a few players he thinks should get more reps from Camp Cupcake. Competition for spots is a good thing, especially when some of our guys (I’m looking at you Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams) have trouble staying healthy.
Yeah, we have to be looking at guys who can play regularly at those two positions. Either of those guys may well be consistently healthy one day, but as it stands the next guy up should be able to keep us ticking.
Emma Hayes announced a roster, again giving Triple Espresso a rest, but Hatch, Hershfelt, and perhaps most excitingly, Mckeown all got called in!
I’m especially happy for Tara, and well deserved- playing two seasons at CB after spending so much of her soccer playing life as a forward, and now called into the national team! Even Banda notably didn’t really best her 1 on 1, deciding to look elsewhere when they played each other, so truly deserved.
Amen to your praise of Tara McKeown, who may be my favorite Spirit.
And I’m delighted that Ashley Hstch has been recalled to the USWNT camp.
Thought Kingsbury was as an odd snub, but can’t have everything
A few updates from Goff on Bluesky late yesterday:
Rowles will be in town this week to complete his paperwork and get a physical and visa, so that signing is all but complete
DC has also signed first round draft pick Hakim Karamoko
He also indicated that Kim has been fully singed and we are just waiting on an official announcement at this point
I’ve been watching some old game recaps, and Jacob Murrell had a lot of nice moments that didn’t really come off, so I’m hoping he can show some improvement this year and really be of value to the team. Which is to say that I’m also looking forward to what Karamoko can provide, although I think he will be a prime candidate to be loaned out for most of the year (an MLS Next PRO team cannot come soon enough).
My friends in Edinburgh think Rowles is a capable CB, FWIW.
With all of the players and staff that have been coming to DC from Nashville, one player is now going the other way. Nashville is finalizing a deal to sign Andy Najar
🙁
I’m happy he’s getting another shot in MLS, honestly. He’s an exciting player but can’t stay healthy for a full season and can’t hit the broad side of a barn once he’s in the attacking third. Hope Nashville treats him well and that he’s great against everyone except us!
I agree with this post.
There will always be a special place in my heart for Andy Najar.