Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 10m

You have a great mix of trees in your area. Not so far north that it’s just pine/birch forest. Not so far south that it’s Kudzu World.

Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 1h

No Korbin

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 1h

Hutton, Cooper, Sentnor get USWNT call-ups. (yay!)

There are no call-ups for the best back 4 in NWSL history, comprised entirely of American players. (boo!)

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 2h

Time for a hard reset. They get some Thompson bucks, several bigger contracts off the cap, and a full offseason with the talent they brought in through ‘25.

This is the probably the most consequential offseason for any team in NWSL history?

Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 2h

How many times has Marta done something that would rip the hearts out of opposing fans, only to see a few hundred semi-interested people in the stands? That emotional feedback from KC was rare. It was probably cathartic for her. I respect her intense passion for football.

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 2h

I think the thing that defines Marta more than anything is “the intense passion for the game of football.” She thrives on it. Thinking about last year and her celebrating after beating KC in KC… she thrived on that emotion from the fans, that passion even in our collective hatred.

Marta confronting McKenzie after a foul in last weekend’s Thorns-Pride match.

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 2h

ALL FOR ISLAND

Steve Carell I Love Lamp GIF

Alt: Steve Carell I Love Lamp GIF

media.tenor.com

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 2h

Don’t get me wrong: I’d rather a club use local talent or hire someone directly in your organization to do this work, but the *sheer laziness* when there are other cheap options available is grating.

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 2h

It’s, like, $800 for an overseas freelancer to provide an actual credible rendering. Maybe even less if they have soccer stadium already pre-rendered on the shelf.

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 4h

Retirements of Ali Riley and Christen Press provides a poetic closure of Angel City v1.0. They defined so much of the vibe and culture around the organization. It will be interesting to see the team that will emerge in 2026.

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 16h

It will be notable to see the long term consequences of younger players getting far higher amounts of playing time than in the past. The number of NWSL players under 25 with 100+ matches is going grow dramatically in the next few years.

Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 17h

Per @keepernotes.bsky.social the youngest NWSL player to appear in 100 matches is still Sam Kerr at 25.6 years old. Trinity Rodman is at 97 appearances and will more than likely beat that number at 23.

Olivia Moultrie, who just turned 20, is at 90 appearances.

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 17h

Per @keepernotes.bsky.social the youngest NWSL player to appear in 100 matches is still Sam Kerr at 25.6 years old. Trinity Rodman is at 97 appearances and will more than likely beat that number at 23.

Olivia Moultrie, who just turned 20, is at 90 appearances.

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 19h

For all the amazing stuff that’s happened in the past two years, Kristen Hamilton scored *THE* biggest goal in KC Current history at the 2022 NWSL Semifinal.

GOAL: Kristen Hamilton vs. OL Reign | October 23, 2022

YouTube video by KC Current

youtu.be

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 21h

“Big fan of D.A.N.C.E., but can the French electronic duo ‘Justice’ spin defenders on the court as well as they spin tracks on the dance floor?”

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 22h

Also notable that Flora Marta Lacho, who is loaned out to HB Køge, has been selected for Angola.

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 22h

Temwa Chaŵinga has been called up for national team duty in arguably their biggest match in National Team history. Winner of this series goes to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nationals.

wosoworld.bsky.social @wosoworld.bsky.social · 22h

WAFCON 2026 Qualifying 2nd Round

Angola 🇦🇴 announce their squad for the tie with Malawi 🇲🇼 who released a preliminary list.
Oct 23 Angola 🇦🇴 v Malawi 🇲🇼
Oct 28 Malawi 🇲🇼 v Angola 🇦🇴

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Reposted by Mike McGrew

wosoworld.bsky.social @wosoworld.bsky.social · 22h

WAFCON 2026 Qualifying 2nd Round

Angola 🇦🇴 announce their squad for the tie with Malawi 🇲🇼 who released a preliminary list.
Oct 23 Angola 🇦🇴 v Malawi 🇲🇼
Oct 28 Malawi 🇲🇼 v Angola 🇦🇴

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 22h

This. Every step. Every day. All year.

Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 22h

(This post should not be viewed as an endorsement of planting Sweetgum trees in streets and residential backyards.)

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 22h

One of my favorite local maps is the Overland Park Street Tree Map. You can see changes in customer tastes, city code updates, & market forces. The area just above I-435 was developed in the '80s and has a number of Sweetgum and Pin Oak trees. 135th, built out in the '00s, is a sea of red maples.

Street Tree Map of Overland Park just north of I-435, with a large number of documented Sweetgum and Pin Oak trees.

Street Tree Map of Overland Park just around 135th, with a large number of documented Red Maple trees.

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 1d

U wonder if she did a 1:1 substitution? Like a 1/4 cup of imitation vanilla extract for a 1/4 cup of sherry. 🤢

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Reposted by Mike McGrew

NWSL @nwslsoccer.com · 1d

An incredible career comes to a close 🫶

Three-time NWSL Champion forward Kristen Hamilton has announced her retirement from professional soccer.

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 1d

Probability of KC’s quarterfinal opponent:
43% Louisville
21% San Diego
13% Seattle
10% Portland
6% Gotham
5% North Carolina
<2% Orlando

Trevor Larner @trevorl.bsky.social · 1d

And for those curious about where each team could finish, here are the probabilities of each place #NWSL

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Mike McGrew @zavcurrent.bsky.social · 1d

In two weeks Cape Verde woman could qualify for their first WAFCON too.

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Reposted by Mike McGrew

Seattle Reign FC @reignfc.com · 2d

A cornerstone of our club. A champion. A leader. A Club OG. 💙

Seattle Reign FC captain Lauren Barnes will retire at the end of the 2025 @nwslsoccer.com season, concluding her legendary 13-year career as a league and club original. #ThankYouLu

Read ➡️ rgnfc.com/3KSdrC9

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