Jaedyn Shaw traded to Courage, Casey Stoney to take over Canada, and more: Monday Freedom Kicks
Happy Monday, everyone. It may have been cold here in DC, but the soccer news was hot this weekend. Let’s get into it!
Sources: Wave to trade USWNT star Jaedyn Shaw to NC Courage (EQZ)
A blockbuster trade will see Jaedyn Shaw head from the Wave to the Courage. She should’ve been here in DC with the Spirit all along, but you know…I ain’t gotta say it.
Report: Casey Stoney to take over as next Canada Women’s National Team head coach (AFXI)
Casey Stoney, in a shocking move, is set to become the new Canada WNT head coach. She will be tasked with reloading the program and bringing it out of the drone scandal.
RFK Stadium Demolition Updates – January 2025 (Events DC)
It’s finally time. Events DC says they will begin structural demolition of RFK in late January. We need to get ready to say farewell to our dear friend.
Venu Sports Will Be Discontinued (ESPN)
Venu Sports can’t even be a grand opening, grand closing because it’s gone before it starts. ESPN has opted to shelve it and focus on their Flagship app that is also set to debut this year.
Inter Miami’s going on another preseason tour, though this time they will skip Asia (or Asia doesn’t want them back, take your pick). It will be a tour of the Americas this time.
D.C. United Announces Schedule for 2025 Preseason Matches (DCU)
DC United’s preseason schedule is set, and it includes the return of the Coffee Pot Cup rivalry! It won’t take place in Charleston, but glad to see the Battery back on the preseason schedule.
USWNT relocates upcoming camps to Florida due to Los Angeles wildfires (PSW)
The LA wildfires continue to rage, and the USWNT has decided to move their USWNT and Futures camps to Florida as a result.
Loudoun United becomes the latest team to introduce legacy numbers (the order in which every player in history debuted for the club) as well as some of the historical stat leaders. All teams should be doing this, as it’s a great way to honor the legacy of the club.
DC United has done some business over the weekend, signing Randall Leal, who was last in Nashville. Nashville will pay the bulk of his salary, which is similar to what DCU has to do for Mateusz Klich in Atlanta.
Also, Kye Rowles will be joining the team from Hearts of Midlothian. Feels like more moves are coming as preseason gets set to begin.
Pep Guardiola: Kyle Walker keen to explore move away from Man City (ESPN)
Kyle Walker has decided to look for a move away from Manchester City, and it looks like it could happen during the January window.
Rooney guilt helped Plymouth stun Brentford (BBC)
Plymouth Argyle got their first road win of the season, upsetting Brentford in FA Cup play. Plymouth’s interim manager thinks the players felt guilty about getting Wayne Rooney fired and that inspired their performance.
Let’s have a good week!
I didn’t think I had any feelings to move through regarding this anymore, that I had made peace with this crumbling structure going away, but today, I’m tearing up ever so slightly.
It was a great place, a big part of my childhood and early adulthood to be able to go see United play there.
To know that nothing will remain of it but memories, that’s tough. Rest in memory, RFK.
On a more snarky note, Messi, touring American cities? Actually playing in them? Showing up for fan bases that have never seen him in person and eagerly buy tickets to that effect? How novel! 😉
https://arizonasports.com/story/3569989/mesa-major-league-soccer-team/
The NASL lawsuit against US Soccer and MLS starts today.
https://awfulannouncing.com/soccer/mls-us-soccer-face-unprecedented-scrutiny-in-nasl-trial.html
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-soccer-must-face-trial-over-pro-soccer-league-competition-judge-rules-2024-06-12/
https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2025/01/10/us-soccer-monopoly-trial-set-to-kick-off-in-brooklyn-federal-court/?slreturn=20250113121700
https://casetext.com/case/n-am-soccer-league-v-united-states-soccer-fedn
Arriola to Seattle… I’m scared he will be the latest to score some bs goal against us. They always seem to have at least one guy who’s good for one against us.
I don’t think we’re playing Seattle this year, so a bit of a reprieve. He (and Ruan) definitely got us with Dallas last year though.
Can’t wait to get scored on by Mateusz Klich, our own designated player who we’ll be facing at least twice against Atlanta.
I completely agree with you about Shaw. She should be a Spirit. I do think she’ll be lethal with the Courage–especially in combination with Sanchez.
And so many fond memories about RFK. I actually saw Frank Howard in person hit a dinger there. I remember taking visiting relatives to a DCU game there and they were blown away by the bouncing stands for the supporter section.
I think that’s an amazing deal about Leal. As long as he’s a fit to the scheme and not a clubhouse cancer–to get a veteran MLS performer who can provide many roles for only $100k? Even if he’s nothing more than a reserve, that’s still a great bargain. And if he contributes anything at all, what a great pick-up!
Last of all, I hope everyone in LA is making out the best they can given this terrible situation.
Leal more or less offsets the Klich deal. Both DPs (at one point), both kind of marginal for the designation, both playing for a different club while being paid almost entirely by their original club. The kicker will be if Leal is healthy, since he hasn’t been most of the last two seasons, including nearly all of 2024.
I PLAYED at RFK. Same night as Pele and Santos vs Washington Darts in 1970(?). Of course, Pele was playing futbol and i was playing rugby (a prematch exhibition).
If only we could get OGDC to play matches at Buzzard Point rather than out at the Maryland Soccerplex or Segra. At least the USA Eagles (Men’s National Team XVs) play matches at Buzzard Point. Even if it was a heavy loss to Scotland.
I’m not doubting that Kye Rowles is a done deal, but it was odd to see him in the gameday roster this Sunday as Hearts played Aberdeen (he didn’t see the field).
He was likely still drawing a paycheck until this deal is entirely cashed in.
Maybe Aaron Herrera can play left back?