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Challenge Cup Final Thoughts

Okay before getting to the game, we have to acknowledge all the issues with the Challenge Cup. 

Scheduling: Why the FUCK would you have a schedule that essentially punishes teams that move to the semifinals and finals with a 3-game week? Truly incompetent

Prize Money: I am all for giving players more money. But dangling a huge bonus for a preseason tournament to make everyone too competitive and reckless when they are still not in season shape and are exhausted from scheduling is a Recipe for Disaster. 

Refs: Do I need to say anything else? Honestly, I’m sympathetic because refs get paid next to nothing in this league. So I don’t think the answer is just firing refs who make a bad call. But there should be more investment in training, better pay, etc. 

Player Safety: This game was a poster child for how little the actual players seem to matter to the league. 

Okay! On to the game (not organized, but just general thoughts):

This was NC Courage from the get-go. They simply outplayed the Spirit on an individual and tactical perspective. Debinha and Kerolin are lethal and some of the best attackers in the league. 

On the first goal, Debinha is able to beat Kelley O’Hara up in the Carolina’s half. But that’s not necessarily the issue - As great as Kelley has been in the challenge cup preseason (and yes at least in club play, she’s been one of the best all-around OBs in the league thus far), it stands to reason she will occasionally be beaten when she pushes up. Someone with Debinha level quality will take advantage all day. But the fact that there wasn’t a solid DM to help cover in the back once Debinha got past or the fact that Sonnett and Staab didn’t pressure Kerolin at all was the bigger issue. 

The first 20 minutes were rough for the Spirit on defensive transition because of this lack of coverage down the spine, but once they slowed down the game a bit, they were able to defend more effectively. But honestly Spirit midfield was rough AF and so the defense could not connect passes to the forwards. This was an issue in the Reign game too. They got lucky to get one back through a midfield turnover from great Hatch/Rodman connecting, but could not do any build up play from the back.

The second half was pretty steady for both teams with Courage probably getting better looks, but no real lapses until Staab pulled a super reckless tackle on Kerolin. Nothing to really say except the CBs were just not on and kept getting isolated against Kerolin and losing. The goal itself was kind of random, but NC Courage definitely deserved the win. 

Of course, gotta acknowledge the Baggett situation. I don’t know about EMT response or anything like that, so I ‘ll just say that I hope its not serious and that she makes a full recovery.

Anyways, this was probably the best outcome for the Spirit generally. I have a feeling if they won just based on bad ref calls, they would completely fall apart in the regular season. They can do better, and I think they generally play best when they are facing adversity. NC Courage has been incredibly impressive given the players they lost, and Debinha/Kerolin combo is nothing short of fire. That plus Picket/Matthias services and they can definitely be a contender this season. 

#nwsl #nwsl challenge cup #washington spirit #nc courage

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When you realize that WOSO fandom is toxic, and you need a space to vent your own actual unbiased NWSL and USWNT thoughts even if no one else will read them.