I’m biased. I don’t care. I’m also REALLY excited to watch the NWSL this year. As a former player who usually got some extra reps during those World Cup/Olympic seasons, I selfishly love these “interrupted” years even more (sorry if that it’s bad for marketing or whatever). With the national teamers away, the rest of the league gets to show what it can do. And when the season kicks off this weekend, this is who I’ve got an eye on from each team.

Portland Thorns: Morgan Weaver

Not to be the most dramatic, but this feels like a bit of a make or break year for the former No. 2 pick, who will absolutely get minutes while Crystal Dunn and crew are fighting the good fight over in Europe. Will she fall into the category of just adding to Portland’s “depth,” or could Weaver herself be thrown into the USWNT convo next cycle? This Portland team needs the latter, especially with so many players set to miss games during the Olympics. 

OL Reign: Dani Weatherholt

I already said I’m biased and I don’t care, but I think Dani is the enforcer the Reign need and they should try to find ways to get her on the pitch. They’ve got some incredibly tactical players, but they missed a little bit of bite at times last year. I think Dani can be that player as someone who is effective on both sides of the ball.

Houston Dash: Shea Groom

Houston seemed to finally piece it together last season, and Groom was a huge reason why. She was the missing piece that perfectly linked together the talents of Kristie Mewis, Rachel Daly and Sophie Schmidt. If those three all find themselves on Olympic rosters, Groom’s role will get even bigger. 

Washington Spirit: TBH, I don’t know

Maybe Ashley Hatch? Ashley Sanchez? The Spirit are year-over-year fairly consistent, and the big Emily Sonnett and Kelley O’Hara signings will shore up their defense. But if they’re really going to make a title run, they need to score more, and I’m as eager as everyone else is to see who will do it.

Gotham FC: Sodam Lee

I mean… did you see THAT preseason goal? C’mon.

The satisfying swish 🥅, the supporters’ angle, yes it’s Monday and we’re posting THAT Sodam Lee volley 💥#veomoment

(Via: @veocamera ) pic.twitter.com/xr0eOsqdlm

— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) March 29, 2021

NC Courage: Merritt Mathias

Last season, between COVID opt-outs and injuries, the typically stout North Carolina defense looked unusually leaky. Mathias’ absence and slow return from knee surgery was a big reason why. Not only did the Courage miss their back four partnership, they desperately missed Mathias’ attacking power and crosses into the box. With her back this season (and no Jaelene Daniels (Hinkle)), Mathias will be called on even more in a rebound year for the Courage.

Chicago Red Stars: Mal Pugh

Chicago’s move to acquire Mal made it clear they felt they still needed to fill the void left first by Sam Kerr (now in England) and then Yuki Nagasato (now in Louisville). When healthy, Pugh is undoubtedly one of the world’s best forwards. And this year, she’ll be motivated to have a strong NWSL season in order to get herself back into the USWNT conversation. With an incredibly strong team behind her, Chicago should again make a top of the table push if they score more consistently. Pugh will have a chance to shine. 

Orlando Pride: Marisa Viggiano

I really mean this. Marisa is GOOD GOOD. In a team of stars, I believe Viggiano’s ability to connect lines will be key for the Pride if this team is going to find a way for its big-name players to share the fame field.  She’s crafty, plays smart and always seems to find herself in the right pockets of space.

Kansas City Woso: Darian Jenkins

The swap that sent Darian Jenkins and Tziarra King to new surroundings could end up being crucial for both sides. Both are extremely talented (Darian is a bit more experienced), but neither quite found a goal-scoring groove last season. Jenkins has the raw tools to replace Christen Press and team up with A-Rod on the attack. If KC is going to be successful year one (or whatever we’re calling this), solidifying that pairing will be a huge reason why. 

Louisville FC: Michelle Betos

Louisville had a mission to make Betos their #1 keeper, and they made that clear in the expansion draft. She’s truly one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met in any area of life, and it’s great to see her have a team put their full faith in her proven abilities (and winning record). An extremely young Louisville side will need her voice just as much as her shot stopping. If she can stay healthy, expect Betos to be a big reason for Louisville’s growth this season. 

 

Cameron Brink already has her rookie of the year pick for the upcoming WNBA season, and it’s Indiana-bound star Caitlin Clark. 

In the latest edition of Kelley on the Street, host Kelley O'Hara caught up with Brink in New York hours before the Stanford phenom went No. 2 overall to the Los Angeles Sparks at the 2024 WNBA Draft. When O’Hara asked who would win the WNBA's rookie of the year, she answered without pause.

"Caitlin Clark," she said, while a fan commented that she thought Brink would take home the award. Brink later added that the extra foul granted to WNBA players will be "good for me."

"I hope it’s me," Charisma Osborne, who was later drafted by the Phoenix Mercury, said when asked her ROY prediction. "But, I don’t know — we’ll see."

Watch more of Kelley on the Street:

Maria Sanchez issued a statement on Thursday, confirming recent reports that she has requested a trade from the Houston Dash. 

In it, she revealed that the club has been aware of the request "since late March."

"This has all taken a toll and isn’t an easy thing to talk about, but I want to confirm that I’ve requested an immediate trade," she wrote. "My expectations and reasons have been clear. I trust that my current club’s management will honor my decision in a timely manner and proceed with accepting a trade."

"I’m eager to refocus and dive back into what I love most: playing football," she concluded.

Thank you, everyone, for the outpouring of kindness and support. pic.twitter.com/gcnN7dhCJU

— Maria Sanchez (@Maria17_7) April 19, 2024

Reports of Sanchez's trade request first surfaced on ESPN last week, and were later confirmed by multiple sources. 

In December of last year, Sanchez signed a three-year contract with the Dash valued at $1.5 million including bonuses and an option year. It was the largest contract in NWSL history at the time — a figure that would be eclipsed by multiple contracts in the following months. 

Sanchez spent the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning that Houston could match any other team's offer to retain her rights. Should the Dash trade Sanchez, her current contract terms would remain intact, limiting potential buyers to teams able to afford to take on an inking of that size.

The Dash has yet to address the trade, instead reiterating to ESPN that Sanchez is "under contract, a choice she made in free agency at the end of 2023." 

Both the NWSL trade window and transfer window close tonight, April 19th, at 12 a.m. ET. The window will stay closed through the next 11 regular season games, reopening on August 1st, 2024.

The four-time league champion Seattle Storm unveiled their new practice facility on Thursday, with Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel dubbing Interbay's Seattle Storm Center for Basketball Performance the team’s "new home."

"It's just such a special space," Brummel told Fox 13 Seattle. "I think when the players get here, it's gonna be overwhelming."

The sprawling 50,000-square-foot, $64 million property is just the second designated practice facility to be designed and built expressly for a WNBA team, with the Storm further noting that 85% of all design and engineering team members involved in the project's construction were women and people of color. The finished product holds two professional indoor courts, two 3x3 outdoor courts, a state-of-the-art locker room, and players' lounge, plus designated areas for strength and conditioning, kitchen, dining, and nutrition, and recovery. 

"This facility reflects our commitment to providing our athletes an exceptional environment that supports their growth, health, and performance," said Storm co-owner Ginny Gilder in an official team release. "It’s built for women, by women, embodying our dedication to leading the way in professional women’s sports."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

For their part, the team can't wait to make the faciilty their own.

"It's amazing," Storm guard Jewell Loyd told Fox 13. "Not having to drive everywhere around, knowing you have access anytime of the day to get into the gym, to workout." 

Head coach Noelle Quinn said she predicts the team is "never going to leave this building."

"Which is a good thing for me," she continued. "You talk about having an edge in performance. We want our athletes to not only perform on the court, but get whatever they need."

All of the Storm's staff and operations will now live under one roof, and the team also has plans to launch a youth basketball program operating out of the building.

The Caitlin Clark effect is quickly making its mark on the big leagues, as WNBA host teams around the country rush to upgrade their Fever games to larger arenas in order to accommodate surging ticket sales.

With Clark mere weeks away from her Indiana Fever debut, both the Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have officially relocated their scheduled home games with head coach Christie Sides' squad. On Thursday, the Mystics became the latest to adjust their plans, moving their June 7th matchup from Entertainment & Sports Arena in Southwest DC to the more centrally located — and much larger — Capital One Arena "due to unprecedented demand."

The Mystics home court's capacity taps out at 4,200, while Capital One Arena — home to the Wizards, Capitals, and Georgetown Hoya's Men's Basketball — can fit nearly five times that crowd at some 20,000 spectators.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Washington Mystics (@washmystics)

"The move to Capital One Arena will allow for additional fans in the stands as well as premium hospitality options, including Suites and the all-new all-inclusive courtside Hennessy Lofts," the team announced via Thursday's press release.

The Aces were one of the first teams to switch venues, aiming to take on the Indiana Fever in front of as many as 20,000 fans inside T-Mobile Arena on July 2nd. That’s a sizable a boost from their home venue, which holds just 12,000.

For those still planning to face the Fever in their home arenas, ticket prices have skyrocketed. Previously scheduled construction has already forced the LA Sparks to relocate their first five games — including their May 24th clash with the Fever — to Long Beach State's Walter Pyramid. The temporary venue is quite the downsize, holding just 4,000 in comparison to Crypto.com Arena's near-19,000. As of Friday, the get-in price for that game started around $400.

Despite fans launching a Change.org petition urging relocation, the Chicago Sky say they're unable to move their June 23rd Fever meeting from Wintrust Arena's 10,000-seat facility to the 23,500-seat United Center due to a concert. Tickets for that game start around $325 as of Friday.