American Soccer Analysis

The Washington Spirit may have the best roster on paper heading into the 2025 season. Can they be title contenders? Ella Brockway of the Washington Post and the Hey Spirits! podcast joins the guys to talk about the Spirit's run to the NWSL Championship game last season, and what they've done since to get even better.  Join our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Song

Welcome to NWSL Season Preview Week! We'll be bringing you previews of all 14 NWSL teams with some outstanding guests to help us break down each and every club, leading up to the start of the NWSL regular season.  First up, last year's Shield and Championship winners, the Orlando Pride! They're keeping most of their roster in place, with key additions like Grace Chanda and Oihane Hernández. Can big purp run it back? Bridie O'Toole of Busy Watching Women's Soccer takes the guys through head coach Seb Hines's tactical plan for one of the best-run organizations in the league. Be sure to join our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content!  Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

The USWNT has put three more friendlies in the books, and Emma Hayes earns her first loss of her tenure as head coach. After the guys sort through the NWSL jersey drop and injury report (1:41), they dive into all the ins and outs of the SheBelieves Cup, with special attention paid to the 2-1 loss to Japan. (7:47) What was the U.S. hoping to achieve with these three friendlies? Did the heavy rotation of inexperienced players work as intended? Is Japan actually a better team? No need to panic yet!  Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

ASA Show - Season Previews Part 3, The Inner Circle Contenders

The guys make note of new signings Carissa Boeckmann to the Portland Thorns and Oihane Hernández to the Orlando Pride, and what Hernández's signing might add to the NWSL-vs.-Europe debate. Then, they turn over Emma Hayes's SheBelieves roster. This is the least experienced USWNT roster in the tournament's history! What does Hayes want to do with these three games? How frustrating is it that certain players were left at home? Which players will rise to the top? Find out today! Be sure to subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

ASA Show - Season Previews Part 2, Stuck in the Middle with You

ASA Show - Season Previews, the Bottom 10

The guys touch on the Savy King transfer to Angel City (00:47) and the Hannah Bebar signing with Bay FC (13:00) before offering some thoughts on the NWSL's $5 million restitution fund for players affected by abuse and harassment, as well as the horrifying news surrounding Mapi León in Spain (17:33). Then they bring on Chris Henderson (23:05) to kick off Part I of College Week! Chris takes us through signings he has been impressed by, and what all of the player movement without a draft may mean for both players and college programs in the big picture.  Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month ($60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

RECORDED BEFORE THE TRANSFER OF SAVY KING TO ANGEL CITY FC It's xOG's first ever live pod! The guys chat about Crystal Dunn's move to PSG and the other stray transactions of the last week, before launching into their live conversation from the inaugural American Soccer Insights Summit in Houston, Texas. Bay FC director of data and analytics Arielle Dror and women's soccer researcher/historian/NWSL information director Jen "The Keeper" Cooper to talk about the past, present and future of statistics and analytics in the women's game. This was the most fun.  Join our Patreon for only $6/month (or $60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content!  Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs (chopped n screwed remix by Evan Davis)

Arman Kafai, formerly the lead analytics consultant for FC Dallas stops by to talk about his analytics journey and drop some takes on the craziness of this MLS offseason.

Breaking news all over the place! Jenna Nighswonger is moving to north London. Where does this leave Gotham's offseason? (00:30) San Diego has made a flurry of moves, including losing Naomi Girma and gaining Kenza Dali. Yikes. (15:14) The Houston Dash picked up Danielle Colaprico and Messiah Bright. Are all of these parts adding up to something? (21:44) Angel City got another 30-year-old center back in Alanna Kennedy. Oh dear. (32:05) The Portland Thorns added Deyna Castellanos in a "blockbuster" deal. Is there room for her? (35:25) The North Carolina Courage signed a young Japanese midfielder to replace their other Japanese midfielder. (44:50). And we wrap things up with a not-so-scintillating London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal, which probably wraps up the WSL title for the Blues. (49:00) Packed show this week!  Be sure to sign up for our Patreon, where you get all of our exclusive bonus content for only $6/month or $60/year!  Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

RECORDED BEFORE THE SIGNINGS OF SHINOMI KOYAMA, SINTIA CABEZAS, DIDI HARAČIĆ, AND FAVOUR EMMANUEL It's been a busy-but-not-busy period of the NWSL offseason. The North Carolina Courage released the financial details of the Jaedyn Shaw trade (1:38). The San Diego Wave brought in some young talent, and can't shake the rumors of Naomi Girma's impending transfer (8:00). Angel City hired Mark Parsons as sporting director (good!) and announced Christen Press had re-signed (less good!), to our confusion (18:16). Racing Louisville maxed out their roster spots with three college players, and noone else (29:00). the Houston Dash and Chicago Stars FC each signed a player who may or may not have an impact in 2025 (39:34). And the guys close the show mourning the loss of filmmaker, artist, musician, and pop culture icon David Lynch (44:40).  Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month (or $60/year) to get all of our exclusive bonus content!  Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Read Corpses, Fools & Monsters Read Laura Dern's birthday message to David Lynch Read Kyle MacLachlan's remembrance of David Lynch Read Naomi Watts's remembrance of David Lynch Read Vera Drew's tribute to David Lynch

Ben and Kieran spoke to Matt Pfeffer about his origin in soccer analytics, the constructions of MLS from the viewpoint of financial markets, and a whole lot of hockey.

We're back! The guys return from their brief, fire-filled hiatus to unpack all the news of the first weeks of the new year. They chat about the senior USWNT roster for the January camp, then dive into some of the major signings and trades in the NWSL, with Jaedyn Shaw's move to the North Carolina Courage carrying the headlines. Back in the saddle, folks!  No time like the present to join our Patreon, where $6/month or $60/year gets you oodles of exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

We were lucky enough to have former Vancouver Whitecaps Direct of Recruitment Nikos Overheul join us again to talk some of the rules changes (and impending rules changes) in MLS since he left Vancouver, the differences squad building in MLS vs Europe, and we even got a story about driving with Vanni Sartini.

It's the last episode of 2024! No better time for the guys to look back on the previous year and all the things they and teams were wrong about, from Orlando's final table position to who would be Rookie of the Year. (You'll never believe who Evan picked for that particular trophy all the way back in March.) Happy New Year, everyone! We'll be back on main feed on January 13th! You can subscribe to our Patreon for a 30% discount on an annual membership through January 1st! Just use the code E580F at checkout.  Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

Becky Sauerbrunn retiring! Jonas Eidevall to the San Diego Wave! Lynn Williams to the Seattle Reign! Jaelin Howell to Gotham FC! Rocky Rodríguez and Lorena to the Kansas City Current! Julie Dufour to Angel City! The NWSL offseason is cooking with gas, and the guys break down all the major moves.  00:47 - Becky Sauerbrunn's retirement announcement 05:58 - Jonas Eidevall hired as Wave head coach 11:28 - Lynn Williams and Jaelin Howell trade 23:24 - Alex Loera trade to the Utah Royals 31:14 - Narumi Miura signs with the Washington Spirit 34:45 - Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena signs with Kansas City 38:20 - Rocky Rodríguez traded to Kansas City 43:05 - French attacker Julie Dufour transfers to Angel City 48:24 - College signings One more week to grab an annual Patreon membership at 30% off! Use the code E580F at checkout to save big on a year's subscription for you or your loved ones! Art by Eli Elbogen

It's that time of year! The Best FIFA awards were announced on Tuesday, the final release of several end-of-year accountings of the year's best players. The guys merged all of these lists together and evaluated who really were the best of the bunch, and release their official top 10 of 2024.  Don't forget to download Peel, the social game that lets you talk about all things WoSo with your friends! Click the exclusive link to download Peel and join the WoSo community! You can still get an annual subscription to our Patreon for 30% off all holiday season! Use the code E580F at checkout to get the discount until January 1st! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL teams locked in their end-of-season rosters, traded some players, saw some others sign with new teams, and a whole bunch of free agents hit the open market when their 2024 clubs didn’t re-sign them. Ryan Dell moved from Louisville to Kansas City, while Angela Hucles Mangano hopped from Angel City to Houston. What does it all mean? The guys break it all down. The show is sponsored by Peel, a new social game that gets you and your friends talking about the NWSL. Click here to join Peel’s WoSo community! We’re continuing our holiday Patreon membership sale! Use the code E580F at checkout to get 30% off an annual subscription for you or your loved ones! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka’s Bell Dance Songs

ASA Show - MLS Cup, Expansion Draft, Fake Awards, and Potpourri