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How Casey Stoney created an NWSL title contender in San Diego

Sofia Jakobsson, Kelsey Turnbow, Alex Morgan and Taylor Kornieck (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

In the weeks leading up to the 2021 Expansion and College Drafts, no one was thinking about the San Diego Wave sitting atop the NWSL standings in July other than their coaching staff. The team had signed stars Abby Dahlkemper and Alex Morgan early on, but what the rest of the team would look like around them was largely unknown in December.

And yet, seven months later, manager Casey Stoney and her staff have achieved an unprecedented start for a new club in NWSL, as the first-place Wave return from the international break Sunday with a record of 5-2-3.

When creating an expansion side from scratch, coaches have to take into account short- and long-term planning, and often the expectations of steady progress trump a win-now mentality. The Wave have achieved both in 2022, with a mix of veteran and young talent coming together to create one of the most tactically versatile sides in the league.

It’s one thing to talk through the best-laid plans in NWSL expansion history, and another to execute it every week in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Just Women’s Sports spoke with Stoney back in December, in the days before her team went through both drafts. Since then, her vision has played out in both expected and unexpected ways.

“Our aim is to have players that are really comfortable on the ball and can make decisions,” Stoney said then. “So their IQ in football is good. And if it’s not, that’s our job as coaches to educate and to give them the tools that they need to go out there and perform.”

Stoney was quick to credit her assembled staff, including data analyst Michael Poma, Rich Gunney (former assistant coach of the Portland Thorns) and Victoria Boardman for helping her get up to speed on the college and youth player pool as well as international recruiting.

At the time, Stoney had expressed a need for patience with the midfield, specifically. With their eye on a number of players in the international market, the Wave surprised many when they surpassed Florida State defensive midfielder Jaelin Howell with the No. 1 pick in favor of Stanford defender Naomi Girma.

Howell seemed like the better fit for the Wave’s positional needs, but Girma has quickly rewarded Stoney’s faith in her ability to make decisions with the ball. Through 10 games, the 2020 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year has quickly risen up the stat sheet in passing accuracy, while consistently putting out fires defensively and distributing the ball from a variety of distances. She’s also kept a cool head despite the prolonged absence of Dahlkemper, who has missed a number of games with an injury to her ribs.

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(Jenny Chuang/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Amid the chaos and uncertainty of the past offseason, the Wave also infused their attack with young talent. In December, Stoney specifically called out Amirah Ali and Kelsey Turnbow as players she wanted to work into the rotation immediately. They have each appeared in nine games for San Diego, with Ali making one start and Turnbow five.

While players have stepped up across the lineup to get the Wave to where they are at this point in the season, the lingering question of San Diego’s midfield hasn’t exactly been answered.

The January transfer market yielded the signing of Sofia Jakobsson, and a January trade for Emily van Egmond and Taylor Kornieck from the Orlando Pride helped the Wave establish their preferred trio in the middle of the pitch. Stoney acknowledged that the NWSL has to continue to build its reputation for more Champions League-eligible players to view the U.S. league as a prime opportunity. Until then, the greatest dividends will likely come from in-league deals.

Van Egmond has functioned as a more traditional No. 6 for the Wave, allowing Kornieck to drift forward and play the best soccer of her young career. She’s currently fourth in the league in g+ — a metric that generally measures a player’s ability to create actions that lead to goal-scoring opportunities — sitting behind only Sophia Smith, Mallory Pugh and Trinity Rodman. Alongside her on the list is teammate Alex Morgan, perhaps providing a glimpse into the on-field relationship the players formed in Orlando and have brought to San Diego

When asked about the Wave’s style of play in December, Stoney deadpanned, “The plan is we go: goalkeeper, to center back, up to the forwards and we score.” She may have been joking then, but the Wave have scored at least one goal this season using this exact formula: Against OL Reign in June, Kailen Sheridan found Morgan with a beauty of an assist for the score. Sheridan explained afterward that she was able to exploit the Reign’s defense because their front three hadn’t been closing down in front of her and their defensive line hadn’t adjusted to keeping Morgan from running in behind.

That sort of hyper-direct goal production won’t carry San Diego all the way to the playoffs, but it is an extreme example of Stoney’s general principles of squad construction: Bring in players with good decision-making skills, let them problem-solve to exploit the other team’s weaknesses, and shore up any positional deficiencies with a certain amount of maneuverability.

Within that philosophy, locker-room chemistry ended up being the main pillar of the Wave’s foundation. When pursuing Sheridan, in addition to her obvious abilities in net, Stoney spoke extensively with Canada head coach Bev Priestman and Sheridan’s former Sky Blue FC teammate, Leah Galton, about who the 26-year-old is as a person. She received glowing recommendations about the goalkeeper.

“She’s going to be a real leader for us in lots of different [ways], in the dressing room, great character, really positive,” Stoney said in December.

Stoney took the same approach when bringing in Dahlkemper and Morgan, the team’s first two marquee signings.

“Abby’s just a fantastic human being, really positive, wants that leadership role, wants to lead by example,” she said. “And I think you have to lead by example, you have to talk the talk, and walk the walk. … Alex Morgan comes with a reputation, every little girl looks up to her. She’s a role model, she’s a player that’s won everything at the very highest level.”

Morgan’s NWSL resurgence this season isn’t something the public had as much faith in as her manager did, but by all accounts, this is the best season the USWNT striker has ever had in the NWSL. She currently sits atop the Golden Boot race with 11 goals and one assist — including 15 goals in 17 games across all competition — and leads the league in xG, according to American Soccer Analysis. The underlying data indicates not only her finishing success, but also that she’s been actively making runs that put her in position to get a foot on high-opportunity chances.

The Wave play with a full-team defensive press that causes problems for opponents trying to play out of the back. That press starts at the top with Morgan and the attack, and it’s an ethos Stoney has passed on to her entire squad.

“I think they’re just extremely well-coached,” Gotham head coach Scott Parkinson said after his team’s second consecutive loss to the Wave. “I think they’ve recruited knowing exactly how Casey wants to play. They’ve had a fresh slate, and they’ve not brought in anyone that doesn’t fit the style that she’s looking for.”

The Wave will have to rely on that full-team buy-in over the next month, with Sheridan, Morgan, Girma and Jakobsson on international duty and away from the team. Given the basic principles Stoney has instilled in her team, and brought to fruition through the first two months of the season, it’s hard to imagine San Diego not being firmly in the playoff hunt by the end of the regular season.

“They started the season really direct, so every time they got the ball, you just got set up for them to be direct and play the first and second balls,” Parkinson said. “But now they try to play a little bit, so they pull you out to press them, and when they go long, you’re not set up to solve the long ball.”

For Stoney, the club’s results are less surprising. The concept of what the club has become was born over a year ago.

“I think you will see a team that works for every single ball, that works hard for the club, that gives absolutely everything,” Stoney said in December. “But we want to be a team that entertains, a team that can score goals, that can keep clean sheets.”

Mission accomplished so far on the field. But from the very beginning, San Diego’s vision has always been even bigger. As Stoney said, “We’re going to connect with our community. We’re going to connect with our fan bases. We do really genuinely want to be a team that our community can be proud of.”

Claire Watkins is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports covering soccer and the NWSL. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

USC’s Aaliyah Gayles Opens Up About Her Journey Back to Basketball

USC Basketball - Aaliyah Gayles

As part of our 1-v-1 video series, USC’s India Otto sat down to interview her teammate Aaliyah Gayles. Here are five things to know from our conversation with the redshirt freshman guard from Las Vegas.

#1 Aaliyah suffered from a near-death act of violence in 2022.

The incident taught her a lot about herself and the support around her. “[USC] Coach Lindsay [Gottlieb] was one of the first people to fly out there and come see me. That means a lot to me off the court.” 

#2 Her favorite USC memory is when she surprised her teammates after getting out of the hospital.

She left her walker at the door to show she was on the road to returning to the court. “That was my favorite memory because it was family. It was my first time being able to walk to you guys and see you practice.”

#3 There's a reason she wears #3.

#3 was her grandpa’s favorite number and a golden number in her life. Plus, AG3 has a nice ring to it. 

#4 She has a list of basketball GOAT’s:

Candace Parker, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Cason Wallace.

#5 There have been many celebrity appearances at USC’s games over the years, especially this season.

Aaliyah’s favorites include Will Ferrell, Kehlani, and Saweetie. And she hopes Lil Durk will come to watch a game soon.

Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.

Gotham, USWNT forward Midge Purce out with ACL tear

(Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Midge Purce announced on Wednesday that she has torn her ACL. 

The Gotham FC and USWNT forward went down with the injury on Sunday during Gotham’s 1-0 win after tweaking it earlier in the game. Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amorós did not have any immediate updates following the match, with further evaluation revealing the tear. 

“It’s a reality I’m still struggling with and has left me with not too much to say,” Purce wrote in a statement on social media. “I’m heartbroken to no longer be available for my season with Gotham FC or for Olympic selection with the USWNT – know I’m rooting for you both all year long. 

“Though you may not see it, I’ll be doing everything I can to get back on the field.”

Purce is just the latest women's soccer star to tear her ACL, and joins USWNT teammate Mia Fishel in having torn her ACL in the last couple of months. Other notable players include Catarina Macario and Christen Press, with Macario only just returning to the USWNT lineup after tearing hers in 2022. 

International stars such as Alexia Putellas, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Leah Williamson have also suffered ACL tears. 

Purce’s injury caused Amorós to call out the international schedule, which has been a growing point of concern as more players fall victim to injuries and the playing schedule becomes more packed. Kansas City’s Debinha suffered a hamstring injury in the team’s opening game, while both Lynn Williams and Rose Lavelle have yet to play for Gotham due to injuries picked up during the W Gold Cup. 

“We lost Midge during the game which for me is a bittersweet flavor,” Amorós told reporters after Sunday’s game. “By the way, it’s another player that came from the Gold Cup. Last week, it was Debinha. We are paying the consequences of a tournament that shouldn’t have happened.”

“We’re talking about protecting the players, [who shouldn’t] go to play an international competition after one week of preseason,” Amorós continued. “We’ve seen the consequences now. We’ve got Rose, Lynn, last week it was Debinha in Kansas [City] and now we have Midge. From my experience, the clubs are going to keep paying for that competition."

In her statement, Purce said that “so many friends, teammates and even players I’ve only ever competed against” reached out to offer support. 

“I am so blessed,” she wrote. “Your messages have meant so much to me throughout this process, you have consoled what, for a moment, felt inconsolable. Thank you for reminding me that our football world is not only full with incredibly talent but also, incredible kindness.”

Lauren Jackson included on Australia Olympics roster

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Lauren Jackson of Australia celebrates with team mates after playing her final Opals game during the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 3rd place match between Canada and Australia at Sydney Superdome, on October 01, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Lauren Jackson has come out of retirement once again to compete for a spot on Australia’s Olympic roster. 

Jackson was included on the 26-player roster named by coach Sandy Brondello on Tuesday that will take part in training camps, tours and games in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics. The roster will eventually be whittled down to just 12 players selected from the 26 named on Tuesday.

Jackson helped Australia qualify for the Olympics with a win over Germany in February. After that, she announced her retirement, revealing that she struggled to spend so much time away from her two young children. 

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that Jackson and the basketball federation had come to an agreement in which they would help cover costs for her children to travel with the team for training camps and the Olympics. 

She’s largely expected to make the Opals’ Olympic roster. 

"It's always an exciting time to announce an Olympic squad and I congratulate all the athletes," Opals coach Sandy Brondello said. "They all know what it means to play for Australia and they all want the opportunity to represent their country at an Olympics. Our squad is full of exceptional talent and they will make the decision to pick a final 12 very difficult."

At the 2022 FIBA World Cup, Jackson helped Australia win a bronze medal with 30 points against Canada. She had previously retired in 2016 due to knee injuries, but slowly made a return in a domestic Australian league the last few years.

Jackson has won four Olympic medals, including three consecutive silver medals starting with Sydney in 2000 when she was a teenager. 

First two rounds of NCAA tournament boast record attendance, viewership

(David K Purdy/Getty Images)

The first two rounds of the women’s NCAA tournament broke attendance and viewership records set just last year – and it wasn’t even close. 

The NCAA announced on Tuesday that attendance for the first two rounds of the tournament was more than 292,000 – up from last year’s record, when almost 232,000 fans attended the first two rounds.

Among the host sites, Iowa had the biggest crowds with nearly 29,000 fans packing Carver-Hawkeye Arena in the first and second rounds. 

"We expected the historic success and quality of play and high level of competition from the regular season would carry through into March Madness. Our championship is again delivering," NCAA vice president of women's basketball Lynn Holzman said in a statement. "Record crowds, ratings, incredible performances and evolving storylines will continue to make the next two weeks a must-see for fans across the world."

And for those that couldn’t attend the sold-out Iowa games, they watched on television. Monday’s matchup between Iowa and West Virginia drew 4.9 million viewers, setting a record for a women’s D-I tournament game prior to the Final Four. 

It is also the third most watched tournament game in the last 20 years, behind last year’s national championship between LSU and Iowa (9.92 million) and Iowa’s Final Four win over South Carolina (5.6 million).

Iowa’s game against Holy Cross in the first round drew 3.23 million viewers. 

But it wasn’t just Iowa drawing big viewership. ESPN’s five games on Monday averaged 2.25 million viewers. UConn and Syracuse drew 2.05 million viewers while LSU and Middle Tennessee on ABC drew 2.01 million viewers on Sunday. 

The full, 16-game slate for the second round averaged 1.4 million viewers – a 121% increase from last year and the highest average ever for the second round.

The full tournament so far is averaging 812,000 viewers per game, a 108% increase from last year.

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