people over spreadsheets, every time

The WNBA is back and the NWSL said neat, love that for you, what if we randomly hosted four games tonight. Rude, and weird. Also, below I have a conspiracy theory about why this has happened.

Anyway, it’s an intense weekend in both leagues, plus the beginning of softball regionals too. It is a blessed time in women’s sports. Enjoy it.

Below is the woso to watch, plus a few other things.

upcoming matches for your eyeballs

today

In case you missed it, France has gone full ‘Merican with the Première Ligue and now the season ends in a playoff. So despite there being a 10-point gap in Lyon’s favor, this is the final.

While I would strongly recommend not emulating this country in any way, it is quite funny that this has happened. It’s more the result of perennial Lyon dominance than an envy of the American playoff system, but jokes > facts, so they’re Beyoncé fries now.

Conspiracy theories are ruining this country however I have a strong belief in a somewhat harmless one, and that is that this weekend’s NWSL schedule was meant to be last weekend’s schedule in honor of Mother’s Day. Otherwise, it truly makes no sense why four games are packed into a Friday night and none are scheduled for Sunday. It wouldn’t be the worst thing the league has gotten wrong recently, but it certainly would be the funniest.

Anyway, it’s a wild slate. The marquee scrap is Pride v. Current, because well just look at the top of the table. Also, Kansas City finally got back to looking like themselves after wobbling again after a shock loss. The Pride, meanwhile, have been very un-Pridey, and have just four points from their last four games.

Apart from that scrap, Gotham and San Diego have my attention, as will Houston and Portland. Each squad has had ups and downs this season, and are meeting at an interesting moment within those trajectories.

saturday, may 17

The Courage have been hoopin a bit since the introduction of a new formation but they’ve yet to find space in it for Jaedyn Shaw, which is a real concern. It’s also a back 3, and as the Spirit can tell you, eventually those get found out and you’ll need to adjust. Chicago might not appear to be situated to force them to adjust, but well-timed runs from Jameese Joseph and Ludmila could suggest otherwise.

The Spirit are having a weird one. They’ve conceded nine goals over their last three games, which is just over a third of their total allowed all last season. Injuries are playing a part, but it’s too easy to point to that as the only reason—they allowed precisely zero goals in the three games before this run. Utah have scored the fewest goals in the league so appear to be an unlikely goal threat, but this is the NWSL, so.

Bay are in a weird situation as well. I’m not sure head coach Albertin Montoya’s squad shuffling has paid off for anyone individually, and it certainly hasn’t benefitted the team. The squad is too talented, and too expensive, for these results. A Cali rivalry might be enough to turn up the intensity to the levels this league requires, but inviting chaos could play into Angel City’s hands.

sunday, may 18

Chelsea have a chance to make add to their domestic dominance and win their third league trophy of the season. They randomly won the league on a Wednesday night tussle against United, so maybe the Red Devils will be up for a bit of revenge.

stuff to read…

2025 nwsl week 8: xG race charts & g+ pass networks

In week 8 the ‘don’t ever question my parity’ league went off again. Orlando Pride dropped more points, Gotham took an L courtesy of a banger from Taylor Flint, and the Spirit found themselves in a 3-2 tussle with bottom-of-the-table Chicago.

Apart from that, Houston won a game while only taking three shots, Alyssa Thompson was in distributor mode before deciding to do it all herself, Kansas City found the infinity stone they misplaced, and the Geyse-Esther-Purce front line somehow didn’t deliver.

Here’s what it all looked like in xG race charts & g+ pass networks.

more #content

The longer NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman’s tenure extends, the more it’s revealed that any person/player-focused policy is being driven by the NWSLPA, not her or the league. Despite what several talking heads from broso will say, a commissioner’s true job is protecting the health and growth of a league. Berman seemingly understands that when it comes to expansion, and trying to turn red numbers green. But when it comes to the human element, she and the league have been clueless.

It’s a frustrating reality that hopes for the new era of the NWSL to include a necessary focus on players, in addition to growth and profit, is seemingly not in the league’s plans. In several instances—from Barbra Banda being attacked by the black mold wizard lady, to the latest decision to continue a game after a player suffered a serious medical emergency on the pitch—the NWSLPA has had to pull league officials’ heads out of their spreadsheets so they could focus on being human for a few minutes.

This statement below, and the use of “stakeholders” is exactly what I’m talking about.

While there is an obvious difference between ‘stakeholder’ and ‘shareholder’, the use of boardroom-speak to address a response to an on-pitch medical emergency comes across as unnecessarily callous. In real time it was obvious that this was not normal treatment for a regular athletic injury. It was also clear that several players were impacted by what they’d witnessed. It’s also clear, in that moment, the message that is sent when finishing a game is more important.

Messaging and communication is important. What’s said and unsaid, what’s enacted and what’s rejected, and who/what is prioritized versus who/what isn’t is important in both perception and reality. The NWSL’s poor messaging about this situation began early on. First from the decision to finish the game, then to including a defense of those actions in a medical update.

No amount of green on any spreadsheet will overcome the perception of a league that mistreats its players. Mechanisms like player rights, drafts going away and outlawing trades without consent are all bare minimum things the NWSLPA had to fight for. It’s disheartening that the players’ association also has to fight for one of its players lives meaning more than the last twenty’ish minutes of broadcast and advertising content.

more #content

Hey Spirits: The Rose Kouassi Stat Trick [Spirits v. Tsars Review]
🍎 Apple | 🟢 Spotify

Annie, Ella & I review the Spirit getting back in the Ws column! It was still a bit chaotic, and we address why. Then we discuss Kouassi’s Stat Trick, a debut, Tara’s assist, and more.

DRS FC: 2025 IMOLA GP REVIEW: Spiritually JD Vance is a Red Bull fan
🍎 Apple | 🟢 Spotify

We preview this weekend’s Imola GP by discussing the track history and characteristics, and why this could be a farewell. Then we get into #TireTalk, Ferrari Pope, Colapinto, and predictions.

gif time

Sinners (2025)