I’m really unsure how productive it is getting worked up about draft picks. Teams draft for need as well as best player available. Our number 1 pick looks like a good player. We lost two players from our attacking group last year.
I think it’s also important to specify the distinction between “trusting KK to get the draft right” and “fundamentally believing that it’s near impossible to identify which of the hundreds of college kids of similar skill levels will be a good pro.”
2020 bent the curve in many ways, and it's not surprising to have not seen its equal since.
The year timelag between drafting Sam and her presenting at Providence makes that draft tricky to evaluate.
The rest? [shrug emoji] Also think things are watered down to some extent now, with so many teams in the league and more blue chippers skipping the US for Europe.
The reality is we used uncertainty over allocation money to create an advantage. If we don’t do that, we don’t have Morgan Weaver. Gavin was a world class prick, but he’s still the best GM in NWSL history. Not sure if you give Parsons or him credit. I will say I wasn’t super impressed with the Washington draft last year at the time.
That said, I would like Parsons back in that role because he communicates his thought process in a very succinct way.
I think that's right. If you review the draft year-over-year, there are maybe 10-12 players who make a significant impact, or better, in the league. The rest are depth or don't make it at all.
It was the College Draft, and Portland just kept picking players from Utah, and Penn State, and Keepers, and players listed at all three field positions.
It went on like this for hours.
Then I heard a "Duoung" sound, and it was over.
Glad it was just a dream and I can get back to watching the "Hawaii 5-0" reboot.
I don't know that building up an actual pro pyramid is necessarily bad for the NCAA. The women's soccer teams are net financial liabilities and having the best players in world doesn't really do a ton for you. Those teams ARE a way to get some butts in academic seats but you can probably always find someone that wants to play soccer in exchange for a full ride.
I’d argue the NCAA is a great development arm and the draft helps. The open issue is with the premium players and their ability to secure something bigger in another country if they choose. I believe the draft works for 98% of players and never really understood jettisoning it so we can have the uncompetitive games In other countries
Also, Obaze had 62 appearances in the Danish first division before joining Rosengård (where she's played 10 matches), which means she played more professional matches than Sophia Smith, Sam Coffey, or Morgan Weaver. Obviously the Danish league is not the NWSL, but still.
I think the colleges will fight anything that cuts into their prerogatives. So will AYSO, I bet, at the youth level.
But even if they don’t, setting up an alternative to the youth and college organizations calls for a big investment and change of mindset for lots of people. That seems like a pretty huge ask.
There have been questions about the U.S. soccer development pipeline for forty years or more; Soccer America’s op ed people were raging back in the 90s. Nothing changed.
So I’d love to get away from the draft. I just don’t see the sort of groundswell it’d take to do it.
Soccering for a four-year degree is a hellova deal, considering the fraction of a sliver who go pro, and the sliver's subsliver who make a good paycheck out of it.
You do need to attend class, though. Guessing that's tough in fall semester and not every school gives equal accommodation for their athletes. This absolutely needs to be a point of inquiry before signing day.
Thanks for this. Left after pick #3 or more accurately, learned via ION we have a Hawaii 5-0 reboot that has more viewer demand than some ol' soccer draft.
Turns out I have pics of Wade-Katoa from their visit to St Mary's in '22--scoreless draw and a legit conference game (the last one before the Flying Sisterwives pursued a bigger paycheck elsewhere). She played 90, 3 shots, 1 on target while my shots of her show primarily a defensive midfielder. I recall nothing of value about her, as i tend to have a homer's eye when it comes to watching and shooting. My recollection is of a hard-fought 90 between evenly matched teams.
She played five full seasons at BYU, one of those "hey, we found you an extra year" deals. Starter from the beginning.
In case anybody cares about such things, she's married to a nice Mormon lad who played football, the other one, at USC. No Goose Hollow nights on the town for her! Four siblings, so totally on brand.
OMK seems pretty balanced between attack and defense. Not a bad pick with the caveat that as I mentioned I think there were better players available at the position.
the videos I have seen o. Linehan, looks like wearing ankle braces on both feet. Videos from different stages of season shows that this could be chronic condition. Sounds like a potential injury liability. Thoughts?
Croix Bethune, #3 pick, has torn her ACL THREE times (!!) in the same knee. Talk about taking chances on a player when they moved Ashley Sanchez on for her.
I saw that Rebecca Jarrett had taken a job with a PR firm. She was arguably the third best player on the U20 team that Mia Fishel and Trinity Rodman dominated. Injuries and salaries can push people out of the league. Glad Bethune’s skill level has not diminished
Personally was very excited, although I was sad we wouldn't see her play right away due to the covid year. I think everyone here was pretty excited about her...and she's exceeded my expectations since being here even though I thought she'd be a promising attacking midfielder. I was dubious about a move to defensive mid for her, but she's been incredible.
I expected her to be very good, but not all-NWSL level good, and certainly not *right away.* It is very rare that players that spend the full four years at college get to the level she's reached at all and almost never as fast as she has- I honestly can't think of another off the top of my head.
I agree, I was surprised she fell to..what was it? 11 or 12? Yeah I was surprised but so happy to get her. I really just like her as a person also, and is the type of person I want in Portland representing the club. I think folks knew she wouldn't be playing immediately, which kinda kills a bit of excitement and hype, and also no one knew she'd move to DM so she was a real unknown there...but the quality was there.
I was pissed when we passed on her for Ryan and utterly through the moon when we selected her. Been watching her since her BC days and she was my favorite player in that draft.
Went to BYU but is from San Mateo, CA. Actually I don't know if there were any actual Canadian connection but someone was waving a big Canadian flag when she got called.
Okay. That's enough for me. Going to sign off hoping that the league is planning a rule change which allows a team to field two keepers at the same time so I can make sense of the end of this goat rodeo.
Best case scenario Kozal or someone is doing a year loan In Germany or somewhere else like Bixby did. Other possibilities, getting cut, retiring, or a trade already lined up.
I'm guessing one of them might already be on the way out. Only way it makes sense. But with KK and Norris at the top, we'll probably be drafting a keeper every year, whoever they fall in love with during the year.
What do you mean? This is our whole solution to not re-signing any of our backline. We're sticking Hubly between the posts and running out Bix, Hogan, Kozal, and Asman as our back 4.
I’m really unsure how productive it is getting worked up about draft picks. Teams draft for need as well as best player available. Our number 1 pick looks like a good player. We lost two players from our attacking group last year.
I think it’s also important to specify the distinction between “trusting KK to get the draft right” and “fundamentally believing that it’s near impossible to identify which of the hundreds of college kids of similar skill levels will be a good pro.”
A Parsons strongpoint was to do just that. I'm not sure the man slept.
He tried, but even he didn’t hit on all that many after the first round.
Outside of the COVID year where players didn’t apply for the draft and they basically obliterated the next draft by their qualification rules
2020 bent the curve in many ways, and it's not surprising to have not seen its equal since.
The year timelag between drafting Sam and her presenting at Providence makes that draft tricky to evaluate.
The rest? [shrug emoji] Also think things are watered down to some extent now, with so many teams in the league and more blue chippers skipping the US for Europe.
The reality is we used uncertainty over allocation money to create an advantage. If we don’t do that, we don’t have Morgan Weaver. Gavin was a world class prick, but he’s still the best GM in NWSL history. Not sure if you give Parsons or him credit. I will say I wasn’t super impressed with the Washington draft last year at the time.
That said, I would like Parsons back in that role because he communicates his thought process in a very succinct way.
Half the fun of fandom is chattering about stuff like this, so…
I think that's right. If you review the draft year-over-year, there are maybe 10-12 players who make a significant impact, or better, in the league. The rest are depth or don't make it at all.
And that just the ones that DO make the pros. Huge number of college players never get a sniff.
That said…everybody needs squad players! No shame in being depth; just playing at the top level is pretty damn good.
God, I had the weirdest dream last night!
It was the College Draft, and Portland just kept picking players from Utah, and Penn State, and Keepers, and players listed at all three field positions.
It went on like this for hours.
Then I heard a "Duoung" sound, and it was over.
Glad it was just a dream and I can get back to watching the "Hawaii 5-0" reboot.
Wait, what?
Got a post-draft rumination up: https://rivetingpdx.com/2024/01/13/drafts-and-deals-2024/
I don't know that building up an actual pro pyramid is necessarily bad for the NCAA. The women's soccer teams are net financial liabilities and having the best players in world doesn't really do a ton for you. Those teams ARE a way to get some butts in academic seats but you can probably always find someone that wants to play soccer in exchange for a full ride.
I’d argue the NCAA is a great development arm and the draft helps. The open issue is with the premium players and their ability to secure something bigger in another country if they choose. I believe the draft works for 98% of players and never really understood jettisoning it so we can have the uncompetitive games In other countries
Also, Obaze had 62 appearances in the Danish first division before joining Rosengård (where she's played 10 matches), which means she played more professional matches than Sophia Smith, Sam Coffey, or Morgan Weaver. Obviously the Danish league is not the NWSL, but still.
I’ll edit that. Didn’t see her c.v. giving that earlier experience.
Done
I think the colleges will fight anything that cuts into their prerogatives. So will AYSO, I bet, at the youth level.
But even if they don’t, setting up an alternative to the youth and college organizations calls for a big investment and change of mindset for lots of people. That seems like a pretty huge ask.
There have been questions about the U.S. soccer development pipeline for forty years or more; Soccer America’s op ed people were raging back in the 90s. Nothing changed.
So I’d love to get away from the draft. I just don’t see the sort of groundswell it’d take to do it.
Soccering for a four-year degree is a hellova deal, considering the fraction of a sliver who go pro, and the sliver's subsliver who make a good paycheck out of it.
You do need to attend class, though. Guessing that's tough in fall semester and not every school gives equal accommodation for their athletes. This absolutely needs to be a point of inquiry before signing day.
Thanks for this. Left after pick #3 or more accurately, learned via ION we have a Hawaii 5-0 reboot that has more viewer demand than some ol' soccer draft.
Turns out I have pics of Wade-Katoa from their visit to St Mary's in '22--scoreless draw and a legit conference game (the last one before the Flying Sisterwives pursued a bigger paycheck elsewhere). She played 90, 3 shots, 1 on target while my shots of her show primarily a defensive midfielder. I recall nothing of value about her, as i tend to have a homer's eye when it comes to watching and shooting. My recollection is of a hard-fought 90 between evenly matched teams.
She played five full seasons at BYU, one of those "hey, we found you an extra year" deals. Starter from the beginning.
In case anybody cares about such things, she's married to a nice Mormon lad who played football, the other one, at USC. No Goose Hollow nights on the town for her! Four siblings, so totally on brand.
You were not wrong to focus on the 5-0.
OMK seems pretty balanced between attack and defense. Not a bad pick with the caveat that as I mentioned I think there were better players available at the position.
the videos I have seen o. Linehan, looks like wearing ankle braces on both feet. Videos from different stages of season shows that this could be chronic condition. Sounds like a potential injury liability. Thoughts?
If so? That’s not promising. If this player has leg problems at 22 she’s unlikely to get more durable with mileage.
Croix Bethune, #3 pick, has torn her ACL THREE times (!!) in the same knee. Talk about taking chances on a player when they moved Ashley Sanchez on for her.
I saw that Rebecca Jarrett had taken a job with a PR firm. She was arguably the third best player on the U20 team that Mia Fishel and Trinity Rodman dominated. Injuries and salaries can push people out of the league. Glad Bethune’s skill level has not diminished
I noted that, too. Seems like a big risk to me.
https://x.com/nomadpdx/status/1745987205825511516?s=20
Intelligent young lady, I like it. Something I like even more that her header photo is with Sam and Rocky at the game vs. the baby nats last season.
She’s since gone public! But I agree, smart and pragmatic to keep things tight lol.
I’m curious, anyone remember the reaction here to Sam Coffey being drafted?
Not until finding the video of her Olympico at Boston College. Instant fan after that.
Was more concerned for Trail, who seemed to be risking an embolism.
I had to look back at my 2021 Draft piece; I was excited about her.
Personally was very excited, although I was sad we wouldn't see her play right away due to the covid year. I think everyone here was pretty excited about her...and she's exceeded my expectations since being here even though I thought she'd be a promising attacking midfielder. I was dubious about a move to defensive mid for her, but she's been incredible.
It seemed to me that no one expected the quality she brought. Personally, I was surprised she wasn’t drafted higher.
Given the change in position, it really is quite remarkable. She is an incredible asset to any team she is on.
I expected her to be very good, but not all-NWSL level good, and certainly not *right away.* It is very rare that players that spend the full four years at college get to the level she's reached at all and almost never as fast as she has- I honestly can't think of another off the top of my head.
I believe it was 12.
I agree, I was surprised she fell to..what was it? 11 or 12? Yeah I was surprised but so happy to get her. I really just like her as a person also, and is the type of person I want in Portland representing the club. I think folks knew she wouldn't be playing immediately, which kinda kills a bit of excitement and hype, and also no one knew she'd move to DM so she was a real unknown there...but the quality was there.
I was pissed when we passed on her for Ryan and utterly through the moon when we selected her. Been watching her since her BC days and she was my favorite player in that draft.
I’ve been watching her since she was six. You could see then she was special!
Dafuq? Canadian Utahn defender and at didn't get her?
Any Penn State ties?
Went to BYU but is from San Mateo, CA. Actually I don't know if there were any actual Canadian connection but someone was waving a big Canadian flag when she got called.
Okay. That's enough for me. Going to sign off hoping that the league is planning a rule change which allows a team to field two keepers at the same time so I can make sense of the end of this goat rodeo.
One must take off her gloves?
They have to tag in and out like wrestling; one has to be INSIDE the goal all the time.
Oh, and bring back the old-NASL/MLS-school 35-yard live shootout for draws.
"Hey, why does it look like Hogan has a folding chair behind the goal?"
Duong Portland native apparently. Interesting.
So, do you draft her if she's a native, or do you just extend the NRI? Looks like the answer is spend the pick.
Carolina just drafted Mertz to play alongside Lussi. Unclear whether they went with Fred or Ethel.
Going way back. I like it. Gotta be Ethel, though.
Still watching the coverage. Wondering why anyone would transfer from Vanderbilt to Texas Tech (the last pick to some team. I think Orlando)
Gotta hang in to see which GK, Penn State alum, Utah resident, friend of Coffey or Sinclair, and/or Canadian Portland picks next.
Give KK Executive of the Year if she can find a way to hit all 5 of those on her Draft Bingo card.
Has the top 5 changed in best available?
Duong is from Portland so maybe her lol....
Dingdingding!!!
DingdingdingDuong!
OMG!! They are that obvious lmao
Still weird we took 2 M's and a GK considering our needs.
Y'all I got 1/5, I consider that a win thank you goodnight
My dartboard is rested and ready for next January.
Houston just selected Alyssa Bourgeois. I can only hope Katie Proletariat is next off the board.
Danielle Marx is a redshirt senior at LaSalle. Could be interesting...
It's a historical inevitability.
Maybe a little Worker and Parasite is in order?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyxYdj9dGcI
KatAsman. Fun to just say as one word, fast, like that.
She's the Kat's Asman
Old Billy Gunn music from the WWE could be fun, but totally not appropriate
Still can't get over the fucking keeper. Who the hell needs four keepers?
Best case scenario Kozal or someone is doing a year loan In Germany or somewhere else like Bixby did. Other possibilities, getting cut, retiring, or a trade already lined up.
But, again...why? Fourth string keepers you can pick up anywhere. Even a third round pick should produce something more valuable...
I'm guessing one of them might already be on the way out. Only way it makes sense. But with KK and Norris at the top, we'll probably be drafting a keeper every year, whoever they fall in love with during the year.
Almost has to be that. But all three of our current keepers were re-signed this year. Why do that if one of them is dunzo?
You carry 4 in the preseason. How serious was Kozal’s injury?
Not serious enough to get the FO to release her. She's still under contract as of now.
Just wondering if it is a concern enough to carry 4 goalies. That said, there is always some free agent available
Yeah, fourth string keeper is something the club could get by putting an ad on Nextdoor.
For real... Eckerstrom stumbled out of retirement to be "replacement GK coach". I'm sure you could throw her a few bucks to sit on the bench.
What do you mean? This is our whole solution to not re-signing any of our backline. We're sticking Hubly between the posts and running out Bix, Hogan, Kozal, and Asman as our back 4.
Just when I think I've seen this club do the weirdest stuff...
I think the word you're looking for here is whatthefuckadoodledoo....
Equalizer folks think there's a need to make sense of things from today. Can't say I disagree:
https://equalizersoccer.com/2024/01/12/washington-spirit-trade-ashley-sanchez-sam-staab-nwsl-draft-trade-analysis/
Y'all are missing one HELLUVA good episode of the 5-0!
Have not seen her since Gallactica. Cylon in das haus.
Grace Park is great!
https://x.com/ellabrockway/status/1746029197628240129?s=20
Rodman goin through it, a 42 second Ashley Sanchez farewell cut lolol