Before we get to Soccer Monday, I just wanted to throw a little personal note on here. Back in 2017, I got a call from Howard Megdal out of the blue asking me if I’d be interested in contributing to a newsletter called The IX. I’m guessing he asked a bunch of people before he got to me, but I was intrigued with being able to break out of the AP style of reporting and writing and do a bit more analysis and have a little fun, insert a bit more Annie. Indeed it was fun! We even had jersey giveaways!
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Which brings us to today. I never imagined Howard’s passion project would become a sprawling news organization devoted to women’s sports. It grew from an emailed newsletter covering five sports five days a week, then six, then to The IX Basketball, and now, amazingly, The IX Soccer.
I am so proud I was able to be a tiny part of the journey. But this isn’t just a moment of reflection, it’s also a humble plea for you to sign up! The immensely talented Kathleen Gier is leading the way, with Abigail Segel and Julie Schreiber making the project go, too. I’ll even be popping in from time to time if they let me. The team won’t only cover the NWSL and the national team, but also college soccer and other compelling stories around the women’s game, too. And, I’ll keep doing Soccer Monday for as long as Howard allows. So please join us.
The IX Soccer is here
In case you missed it, The IX Sports introduced a new women’s soccer-specific vertical called The IX Soccer!
Just like The IX Basketball, this will be your destination for 24/7 women’s soccer coverage, including exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes looks at your favorite teams and leagues, as well as news from around the world.
Follow the link below and bookmark the page to stay up to date on the latest headlines in women’s soccer.
Ayo’s Opportunity
The U.S. national team’s January camp ended with a pair of wins and a handful of players collecting first caps and first goals. It’s likely to be the last camp where there’s so much inexperience on the game rosters as the team prepares for World Cup qualifying in November, the World Cup in Brazil next summer, and the 2028 Olympics.
European-based players remained with the club teams, Gotham FC was playing in the Women’s Champions Cup in London, so many new faces — all NWSL players — got the the spotlight.
In other words, it was the perfect time for coach Emma Hayes to get one last look at the talent pool she’s been charged with developing before focusing on big-time competition strategy. It also gave onlookers a real sense of what Hayes has been emphasizing since she joined the team: A holistic approach to the national team program that she’s dubbed the WNT Way.
While some of the players who got minutes against Paraguay and Chile may not be candidates for 2027, or even 2028, they may be in play for 2031.
“I always approach things like it’s the day before a World Cup final, and every game should be played with that same intention, no matter the starting lineup. Yes, we have a much different group than we ordinarily would have, but what a great opportunity for so many of them. Not all of them will be part of the group that will compete to be part of the group that qualifies for 2027, but I’ve said countless times, my job is to prepare players not for just a single tournament, but to line up successive competitive teams.”
Because Hayes joined the national team and immediately had to jump into the Olympics, she didn’t have the chance to take in the scope of players in the national teams. But since taking over, Hayes has given 32 their first caps in her first 32 matches.
One of the players who got a look was defender Ayo Oke, who was called into camp when Avery Patterson fell ill.
Oke, a 22-year-old right back, has joined the Denver Summit for their inaugural season, coming from Mexico’s Pachuca. She made two appearances last year for the U.S. under-23 teams but had not earned a cap for the senior team until last Tuesday against Chile at UC Santa Barbara’s Harder Stadium.
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Oke was a starter for her first cap and she had her first-ever assist, contributing to Croix Bethune’s goal in the 18th minute.
“Emma stressed that we should just have joy in it and have fun and enjoy the moment because it’ll be over quick,” Oke said. “So she really just stressed to have fun. And I think that’s what we did.”
Oke, who found out she was starting the night before, was certainly having fun. When she came off the field in Santa Barbara she could not stop smiling. But she also realized that it was a chance to get herself in front of Hayes in a senior match, even if it was against an lesser opponent.
“I would say it’s a little difficult finding an even balance, I think most of the impressing was done during our club season, and once you get in here it’s just really doing what we’ve done throughout our club season. So it’s not really trying to impress them too much here, but just play consistently rather than trying to like impress them and just learn and take in all the information that we’re getting and try and be coachable,” she said.
NWSL Media Day
The NWSL held its annual Media Day in Los Angeles. Soccer Monday will have a ton of content from the event in the coming weeks, but here are some poorly lit photos from the two days. Photos by me!
Barbra Banda:
Savy King:
Casey Murphy
Trinity Rodman
Mia Fishel
Mallory Swanson
Olivia Moultrie
LINKS!
I wrote about Sophia Wilson proclaiming she’s be ready for opening day.
I also looked ahead at the USWNT’s year
USA Today looks at how Rodman’s deal changed women’s soccer
The Equalizer on how Corinthians shocked Gotham
USA Today’s Andres Soto also wrote about the grass v. turf debate at NWSL Media Day
The Sporting Tribune had a photographer at Media Day. Please note the photo of Banda. It me!
This is heartbreaking: Bella Bixby out for the season after working so hard to get back
Triple Espresso is back, from Pardeep Cattry of CBS Sports.
Gotham’s Champions Cup loss is a missed opportunity for the NWSL
Crystal Dunn announces her retirement. So many feelings about this. I loved watching Crystal play, so fast, so dynamic. One of those rare players that could play any position.
I remember interviewing her and asking what she would be doing if she wasn’t playing soccer. She said she’s be a classical dancer. I thought about that every time she danced on the field. Wishing her nothing but the best in retirement.
| Mondays: Soccer |
| By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer |
| Tuesdays: Tennis |
| By: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer |
| Wednesdays: Basketball |
| By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The IX Sports |
| Thursdays: Golf |
| By: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX Sports |
| Fridays: Hockey |
| By: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden |
| Saturdays: Gymnastics |
| By: Jessica Taylor Price, @jesstaylorprice, Freelance Writer |
