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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 15h

Just based off the way the knee moved, but yeah, I’m not at the match but if they didn’t do the assessment that’s potentially good.

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 15h

ACL

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 17h

My instinct is Bernal is almost exclusively a sub in the postseason. Cantore also likely gets a lot of postseason playing time.

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 17h

FWIW, outside of Kingsbury being the locked in starter and with tactical additions of Narumi, Metayer, and Abiodun, I think this is the XI we’re going to be seeing for most of the postseason.

It provides central overloads while not sacrificing wide areas.

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Spirit of '74 @spiritof74.bsky.social · 4d

there are four matches with FOUR DIFFERENT ways to stream for NWSL in the next week - Fubo, ESPN, Amazon Prime, & CBS. How could a professional sports league ever expect to gain popularity when it expects its fans to have four separate streaming subscriptions?? Ridiculous.

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 4d

Right! Like it’s not necessarily anybody’s fault, but he never really had to coach a defense and it showed. Our improvement defending since the change has been incredible.

Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 4d

If I had to come up with one takeaway since the start of the Spirit’s season it’s that Giraldez cannot coach a defense to save his life.

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Expected Own Goals @xowngoals.com · 8d

This is the squad that might play the quarterfinals at home.

Graphic from American Soccer Analysis depicting the rolling changes in the Seattle Reign's non-penalty expected goal differential in the 2025 NWSL regular season.

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Drew VanderPloeg @alvanderp.bsky.social · 9d

This is something that is fairly easily fixed with money. NWSL chooses to use PRO2 referees.

It's telling that owners are cool with investing in nice stadiums because of the real estate play they get along with it, but paying a marginal % of that to improve play on the field is a bridge too far.

Ella Brockway @ellabrockway.bsky.social · 9d

Trinity Rodman speaks out on the refereeing in yesterday’s Spirit-Wave game. (You probably know this, but poor officiating has been a theme across the league this NWSL season.)

“This is one of many examples…. Refs need to be better at managing these games. No words”

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 9d

I’ve said this before, but if I was an agent advising an NWSL player - say, idk, Trinity Rodman - I’d strongly advise the player to go to the WSL. It’s becoming very competitive, you’ll get paid more, and the refs are *substantially better*.

NWSL needs to do more and that makes me deeply sad.

Ella Brockway @ellabrockway.bsky.social · 9d

Trinity Rodman speaks out on the refereeing in yesterday’s Spirit-Wave game. (You probably know this, but poor officiating has been a theme across the league this NWSL season.)

“This is one of many examples…. Refs need to be better at managing these games. No words”

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Douglas Reyes-Ceroñ @dreyesceron.bsky.social · 9d

It’s never lost on me that NWSL pays for PRO2 level referees because they can’t/won’t pay for the PRO level and at some point, all the owners in the league are going to need to talk about that if they want to be serious

Ella Brockway @ellabrockway.bsky.social · 9d

Trinity Rodman speaks out on the refereeing in yesterday’s Spirit-Wave game. (You probably know this, but poor officiating has been a theme across the league this NWSL season.)

“This is one of many examples…. Refs need to be better at managing these games. No words”

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 10d

The “passes in the final 1/3” stat is what has been so impressive about the Spirit lately. They may not always win the possession battle, but they control the totality of matches in a way I’ve never seen this team do.

NWSL Analytics @nwslstat.bsky.social · 10d

Washington Spirit 2 : 1 San Diego Wave FC

▫ Passes into final 1/3: 26 - 26
▫ Passes in final 1/3: 76 - 47
▫ Passes into opp. box: 16 - 6

#WASvSD

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 10d

Rose “I never give up” Kouassi

NWSL @nwslsoccer.com · 10d

Rosemonde Kouassi launches a hail mary from distance for the game-winner 🚀

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 10d

Once again, NWSL needs professional refs.

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 10d

Also, there was only one call in the entire match where I thought the ref was absolutely out of his mind, BUT… he is the most inconsistent ref in the league. One pull is a foul, the next is a yellow card, and the third is nothing. He loses control of matches and then starts behaving like a child.

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 10d

Maybe I’m just a fan, but this Spirit team is arguably the hardest to defeat in the league. San Diego had one shot on goal, the Spirit had eleven. The Spirit generated 3.49 xG, San Diego only .82 xG.

Complete dominance, despite a shaky end.

Also, ROSE!

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 10d

He’s arguably the worst in the NWSL.

👻TheReal Risso 👻🎃 @risswillett.bsky.social · 10d

The ref has been to no surprise by anyone absolutely terrible. Who has not been calling this game evenly.

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Jason Anderson @jasondcsoccer.bsky.social · 10d

If the Spirit halftime show was just the region's HBCU marching bands turn up, I personally would be delighted

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 10d

Hal and Croix have been immense. Deb and Rose are playing interesting and nuanced roles and are doing excellent. Props to the Spirit.

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 10d

Spirit are always trying to have a +1 in the back and +1 in midfield. Goal is to force Wave into major numbers disadvantages. Spirit are doing a lot to draw the press and get the ball to Monday and Rodman in space.

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 10d

Spirit played most of that half in a 4141 with Hal is the sole DM. Two interesting tactical decisions, though and I think that they’ve generally worked:

1. Deb becomes a 6 in early buildup with Trin going wide. Then they’re fluid in the final third.

2. Rose almost defends as a wingback.

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Jordan @sportsbystats.bsky.social · 10d

This looks like a 3box3 with Deb and Hal as the two DMs, Trin and Rose as attacking “wingbacks”, and Leicy and Croix as the 10s. It could also be a 4231 or 433 with Deb as a CB. Knowing Spirit and Adrian, probably a bit of all three. Central progression and isolate wide attackers high up the pitch.

👻TheReal Risso 👻🎃 @risswillett.bsky.social · 10d

Annnnnd WE’RE BACK!

Here is your @sheabutterfc.com match day thread! The spirit have the chance to clinch a home playoff game.

Your Spirit starting 11

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Spirit Squadron @spiritsquadron.bsky.social · 13d

her DEBut is unrivaled 😌

NWSL @nwslsoccer.com · 13d

From debut to dominance. ⭐

One month in and she's already moving different — 87.3% passing accuracy, second in the league in tackles, and now Deborah Abiodun is September’s Ally Rookie of the Month.

Read More: bit.ly/3VO4wnH

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Alison Gale @agale.bsky.social · 21d

Check out this site to see what results your team needs to make the #NWSL playoffs: playoffs.alisongale.com

NWSL Playoffs Explorer

Play around with how the NWSL standings will look for different game outcomes in the final weeks.

playoffs.alisongale.com

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Gingers For Hershfelt @gingers4hal.bsky.social · 17d

Man I can’t believe how much the Spirit have changed since the beginning of this year. I’m so grateful for this team and for Adrianabd I love them so much

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