Welcome back stranger. I see you haven’t renewed your subscription to the Athletic or Equalizer or whatever other soccer website that makes you pay for content. Look, I know I can’t write like those pro’s, but a list is super easy to read so there’s that.
I actually can’t even explain how excited I am for this game. I’m like, when a dog sees their owner after a long day at work. Like when Rose Lavelle sees literally any dog. Like when a team sees Orlando didn’t stan them. That’s how excited I am.
We’ve endured so much along the way. Losing some exciting players to ACL injuries. Seeing the pain in players faces after their months and months of hard work is reduced to penalties. The same goddam commericals over and over again. Look I’m so happy that there are organizations that are investing the league, but give us a little variety yeah. I might throw my chair through the TV if I hear “Return of the mack!” one more time.
But we’ve finally made the finals. Maybe the two most likeable rosters in the league. I love them both. Which makes my brain just run in circles all day. The battle in my brain has been a bigger war than the players had with the turf. So without further adieu.
Prediction #1- We will not see a 0-0 game.
penalties pic.twitter.com/3iOKm1z9aK
— NWSL Challenge Cup Edition Memes (@MemesNwsl) July 18, 2020
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0-0 games stink. There is no sugar coating it. Look, both these goalies are super ballers, but wishful thinking has us all wishing for goals galore. Now that doesn’t mean we won’t see penalties. Which sucks. They definetly need to add 30 min golden goal overtime for the final.
Prediction #2- Kealia Watt will score a goal.
#MKOT
🕯 🕯
🕯 🕯
🕯 kealia watt goal 🕯
🕯 🕯
🕯 🕯— Chicago Local 134 ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ (@ChicagoLocal134) July 18, 2020
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I feel like before every game, literally everyone has said, “I feel this is the game Kealia goes off.” That being said, the Kealia revenge game is real. She will score, be it in penalties or in the game itself. But she will do it. Speak it into existence folks!
Prediction #3- That new trophy is going to break.
Don’t even got milkshake in it. Smh https://t.co/digsgSA4od
— Snacks Bautista (@SnacksBautista) July 25, 2020
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I think commish Lisa Baird was at Dennys and ordered a milkshake, and stole the cup and threw it on a box. Can the NWSL ever have a nice trophy? I gurantee it, after this tournament, they’ll announce a brand new trophy for the league and it won’t be ugly. Definetly speak that into existence.
Prediction #4- We’ll see a red card.
Rachel Daly be recreating the scenes of Marta going at on the pitch every game sdvvcghd pic.twitter.com/53f6Vk8f7T
— britt (@wosovibez) August 11, 2019
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There haven’t been any red cards yet. I’m not saying Julie Ertz is going to headbutt Rachel Daly. It’ll probably be a double yellow. But the intensity of the game and heat of the moment is gonna give us a tasty controversy to talk about.
Prediction #5- This will be the most view NWSL game of all time.
CBS says NWSL match on Saturday (North Carolina v Portland) was most watched in league history, averaging 572,000 viewers, +201% over previous record (190,000, Portland v Houston, Aug 2014). The 2019 final on ESPN drew 166K.
Top 10 rated markets …
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) June 30, 2020
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There were more than half a million viewers in the first game of the tournament. Thats the size of a good sized city. I never been more proud of the league. I think these finals will crack 600K. Do your part share the game time and channel on all your socials!
Sadly the championship final means the end of a season. Who knows what we’ll see for the rest of 2020 soccer wise, but until then, enjoy every second of the game! Later!