What We Learned In The NWSL’s First Weekend Back?

/ American Soccer, NWSL / By

Oh… Oh, you’re back for some more? Or for the first time? Might I suggest logging on to the old twitter machine to give me a follow @SnacksBautista. Or you don’t even have to follow me, just tweet like, “Hey @SnackBautista you’re a dumbass,” just to get the ball rolling. I need people to talk footy with on the tweety.

Waking up on Opening Day of any sport is a feeling that is really hard to replicate. You just feel it in your bones, and there are 2 extra peps in your step that morning. It’s kinda like your first day of high school. Your expectations are probably way too high, and it’ll probably end in tears. Well, at least if you’re a Red Stars fan.

The NWSL’s return to television was one that had some highs and some lows. The occasional bump in production, maybe a few too many references to the heat and altitude, but all in all I think we can agree CBS did a rather good job this weekend. Except for this tidbit.

I mean I’m no expert of marketing or content (clearly) but having zero mention of the return of pro team sports, which coincidentally will air on YOUR AIRWAVES!!! WTF CBS. Think happy thoughts. Think happy thoughts. Let’s just get to what we learned this weekend.

Rose “Gazelle” Lavelle And The Washington Spirit Aren’t Fucking Around This Season

Let me start off by saying a team cannot be a “surprise pick” or dark horse to win the league if everyone is picking them as their surprise pick. So absolutely nobody should be surprised about that result on Saturday night. We all knew this team had talent. And maybe youth would play a factor but, this team looked as comfortable and experienced as anyone.

Washington was awesome in the first half. And an Ashlyn Harris-esque error gave them the 2-0 lead early. To be fair Chicago did clampdown in the back, but Washington still looked like the better team on offense. I don’t see a team with a higher ceiling than Washington. Peep the youth talent, Lavelle, Sullivan, Sanchez, Staab, DiBiasi, to name a few. I guarantee you every single one of them will be in Australia come 2023.

The World Learned Who Is Bella Bixby

Listen, I ruled that whoever was in goal for Portland, I felt that they were more than talented enough to win this damn thing. I have to imagine Bella Bixby going from, unknown, to WoSo household name over the span of a game is awesome to her. Sure they didn’t win the game, but she was particularly good and was the reason the game was 2-1 and not 6-1. Also, it could’ve been 7-1 if Lynn Williams just passed the ball.

What we need to know about Bixby? She’s tall, quick reactions, played in Israel. Also really great taste in baseball teams/hats?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsFlRRPHVLN/?igshid=17yzghhl8myqw

Itty Bitty Details On Jerseys Don’t Look As Good From Far Away

Who’d have thunk that size 3.5 font on the Red Stars jersey from far away wouldn’t be as cool? Or the Portland Thorns away jersey would ultimately just be a white t-shirt. Mismatched bars on the Courage shirt? Where? I will say that Washington Spirits’ uniforms didn’t look as bad on the field as it did online. But the lack of super colorful jerseys is a thing of the past apparently. Whatever happened to the incredibly distinguishable jerseys like Houston’s half orange, half blue uniform? Or Seattle’s electricity green jersey? They will be missed.

10 Hours In Between Games Are The Worst

Someone explain to me the 10-hour wait in between? Are they making sure every blade of turf is sanitized? I honestly just don’t understand. There’s no one in the crowd, players are Rona free, locker rooms could probably be cleared and cleaned in 2 hours. I just don’t understand. Maybe some clarification will suffice but yeah hate it bad. Honestly, the 12:00pm and 6:00pm kick-off times shouldn’t be that impossible to do.

The National Anthem…

I actually don’t know where to go with this. I’m actually glad that the Casey Short picture has moved around social media this weekend. It just sends a message so powerful that nobody can ignore. I guess the conversation that’s gone around now is the playing of the National Anthem and whether it is necessary. And TBH, I don’t have the answer. Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary to be played every single game. You wanna throw it in during the finals, be my guest. But playing the anthem at every game like we can’t play without it is such a ridiculous notion.

On the flip, I think that if it is played every game, it allows for the message of equality to continue to be profound and loud. To continue to echo through the ears of people that don’t understand it, or don’t want to understand it. Again I don’t really know the answer whether or not the anthem should continue to be played throughout the tournament. I leave you with what Sarah Gorden had to say on Instagram because it’s something everyone needs to read. Later.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCAPMT0ptCO/?igshid=1n0pdpn0okrxp

 

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