EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Championship Preview, Part 2: Our Podcast with André (Carlisle)

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Championship Preview, Part 2: Our Podcast with André (Carlisle)

The Washington Spirit have made it to the NWSL Championship, despite massive injuries to key players in the back end of the season. Can they keep this momentum going, or will the Orlando Pride stop them in their tracks? André Carlisle of Hey Spirits, Diaspora United and Beyond the Vaudevillian Cane returns to reflect on the Spirit season that was, and what lies in store for Trinity Rodman & co. in Kansas City on Saturday. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The NWSL Championship Deep Dive, with Orlando Pride GM Haley Carter

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The NWSL Championship Deep Dive, with Orlando Pride GM Haley Carter

The Orlando Pride are preparing to play the biggest game club history on Saturday, the culmination of a yearslong process that began more than two years ago. Team vice president and GM Haley Carter came on to talk about the journey the team has taken under her and Seb Hines's leadership, what philosophy they apply to every decision, and what the 2024 Pride represent, win or lose on Saturday. This was a good'un!

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The NWSL Semifinals Delivered the Goods

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The NWSL Semifinals Delivered the Goods

Well there you have it! The Washington Spirit will play the Orlando Pride at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City on Saturday for the NWSL Championship. Each semifinal that got them there were scintillating contests, filled with drama, individual heroics, and masterful team play. How did the Spirit and Pride get past Gotham and the Current? 

We will be in Kansas City for the NWSL Championship! Come join us at Johnny's Tavern P&L in Kansas City on Friday night and have a drink with us. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Playoffs Recap -- The Quarterfinals Were Etched in Chalk

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Playoffs Recap -- The Quarterfinals Were Etched in Chalk

The top four go in as favorites, and the top four leave as semifinalists. There were no upsets in the NWSL quarterfinals, as Orlando, Washington, Gotham, and Kansas City all moved on. Some games were unprecedented blowouts, like the Pride's demolition of the Red Stars (). Others were tighter affair than anticipated, as the Current's defeat of the Courage proved to be (). The final two match-ups were dreary, attritional affairs until they very much weren't, as the Spirit got past a resilient Bay FC () and Gotham pipped the Thorns at the death (). 

What will the semifinals between Orlando-KC () and Washington-Gotham () be like? Is each match really a coin flip? The Guys get into all of it. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Playoffs Preview, Part II

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Playoffs Preview, Part II

In Part 2 of our NWSL quarterfinals preview, we take a look at Sunday's doubleheader. According to one projection model, Bay FC actually have a decent chance to upset the Washington Spirit. Will their new-look midfield and Racheal Kundananji's heroics puncture Washington's injury-riddled squad? 

The Portland Thorns are all good vibes right now, having won two of their final three games, including an emphatic victory in Christine Sinclair's final game at Providence Park. But are those vibes enough to take down the Gotham T-1000? Gotham has been relentless, but Portland has a 1-in-5 shot of clapping back on last year's extra-time humiliation. Things could get spicy!

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Playoffs Preview, Part I

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Playoffs Preview, Part I

The playoffs are set! The top four finished the season strong and look like they'll make it to the semifinals with ease. Or will they? The guys preview all four quarterfinal matchups, and wonder where we could see upsets. Do Bay FC have what it takes to get past an injury- and suspension-rattled Washington Spirit? Could the Portland Thorns put some payback on Gotham FC after last year's playoff defeat? Do the Chicago Red Stars have any hope at all? And is the Kansas City Current's match against the North Carolina Courage really as close as the seeding would suggest?

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: A USWNT Round-Up, and Our NWSL Awards Ballots!

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: A USWNT Round-Up, and Our NWSL Awards Ballots!

Then, they break down their picks for the NWSL awards slate. Most of these are no-brainers, but they make a case for some down-ballot candidates, followed by an in-depth discussion of how to approach Defender of the Year. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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NWSL Week 25: Louisville, Portland, and all the Playoff Scenarios Fit to Print

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NWSL Week 25: Louisville, Portland, and all the Playoff Scenarios Fit to Print

Racing Louisville grabbed all three points against the Portland Thorns thanks to a late corner header from Taylor Flint. Their playoff hopes are still alive, but is it too little too late? The guys cap off the episode with this playoff six-pointer (41:20). Before that, they run through playoff scenarios for the top four (1:01), ruminate on the two dead rubber matches between Angel City and the Utah Royals (20:40), as well as the Seattle Reign and Houston Dash (27:48). Some quick lamentations for the San Diego Wave in their pasting by the Kansas City Current (26:16) and some chuckles about the Washington Spirit-Chicago Red Stars grudge match (32:53). Bay FC are now the dark horse of the playoff field after their convincing defeat of the North Carolina Courage (35:01). And we close with everything that has to happen for Portland, Louisville, and Bay FC to get into the postseason (46:48). 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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NWSL Week 24: "Stop Laughing, The Chicago Red Stars Suck!!!" And Other Ravings of a Madman

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NWSL Week 24: "Stop Laughing, The Chicago Red Stars Suck!!!" And Other Ravings of a Madman

The Chicago Red Stars own one of the worst xG differentials in league history. Only the Utah Royals have played worse in total this season. But Chicago just clinched a playoff berth, and look poised to finish the year in sixth place on a mere 1.3 points per game. Only four other teams have ever finished sixth or higher with that points total.

Can it really just be luck? Is their low-volume, high-efficiency attack and defense sustainable once they face better teams in the postseason? The guys dissect the Red Stars' 2-0 defeat to Gotham, and whether that result--combined with horrible recent performances against San Diego and Houston--can be overcome once November rolls around. 

Click here to vote on what Evan has to do if the Red Stars win their quarterfinal match! 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 23 -- The Portland Thorns, Racing Louisville, and the Dangling Thread of the Playoff Line

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 23 -- The Portland Thorns, Racing Louisville, and the Dangling Thread of the Playoff Line

We have got some things to cover, here! The guys get into the news of Angel City's fines and suspensions for salary cap violations, the firing of former Houston Dash head coach Fran Alonso, the absurdity of the Chicago Red Stars conceding at least three xG for the second time in three weeks, Bay FC's four-minute meltdown, and the Orlando Pride's historic Shield win. 

Then, it's on to the main events. Portland has been one of the worst teams in the NWSL since the end of the Olympics break. Racing Louisville has been fighting to get over the playoff line. Neither team did themselves any favors with two very different losses. Which team has the edge to go to the quarterfinals in November? 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 22 -- Bay FC are Doing the Damn Thing

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 22 -- Bay FC are Doing the Damn Thing

A scrappy 1-0 victory on the road to the Seattle Reign may not look like much, but Bay FC are creeping closer and closer to a playoff berth, only a few months removed from looking like one of the worst teams in the NWSL. The guys dig into all of the ways the team has managed to improve since early June, from trusting new players to Albertin Montoya reimagining the team's tactical vision. It's wild. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 21 -- Kansas City Current Remind Everyone Who They Are

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 21 -- Kansas City Current Remind Everyone Who They Are

Oh, did you forget that the Current can gut your favorite team like a fish? After a few games of sputtering defensive performance, KC's new back line is locked in and Temwa Chawinga is, well, Temwa Chawinga. Their 3-0 battering of the Washington Spirit was a bit lucky, but was also a scary proposition for any team that will face Kansas City in the playoffs. The guys break it all down. 

Plus, xG shenanigans with the San Diego Wave! Officiating questions with Angel City and the Portland Thorns! The stretch run is officially here, gang!

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 20 -- The Orlando-KC Staredown, and Portland's Continued Implosion

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 20 -- The Orlando-KC Staredown, and Portland's Continued Implosion

We've got two games to cover this week! One was the matchup of the weekend on paper, but fizzled out to a 0-0 draw between the Pride and Current. The other ended up with significant playoff implications, as the Red Stars snatched a 1-0 road win against the Thorns and shored up their postseason odds, while Portland continued their freefall. What can they do to right the ship? Is Chicago's season-long overperformance about to pay off? 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 19 -- Au Revoir Alex Morgan, Bonjour Bay FC!

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 19 -- Au Revoir Alex Morgan, Bonjour Bay FC!

Alex Morgan has retired. As yet another titan of the sport walks into the sunset, the guys reflect on what Morgan's career truly meant beyond the goals and trophies. 

Then, after rounding up NWSL results across the weekend, they dive into Bay's 1-0 defeat of Racing Louisville. Have Abby Dahlkemper and Penelope Hocking helped Bay find the answers? Is Albertin Montoya finally getting the team to play like he envisioned? How much does this result and performance portend for Louisville's playoff hopes? 

If you haven't yet, be sure to sign up for our Patreon for only $6/month. We will be doing a livestream commentary for Orlando-Kansas City on Friday for our members!

Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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