In their fourth season, the NWSL has managed to do something that the MLS was not able to do in their first four years: find growth in attendance. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at attendance between NWSL teams that share cities with MLS teams and […]
What Could Have Been: The 2016 NWSL All-Star Game That Wasn’t
All-Star games are a part of most major sports. A way to see the best of the best in that league square off against each other on two super teams. Some leagues, like Major League Baseball, put some importance on the game by using it to award home field advantage […]
The Future of the USWNT is in the NWSL: Offense
With the USWNT beginning a new cycle and the team in transition, it’s time for new blood. In this two-part series, I take a look at whose NWSL play has earned a call-up to National Team camp and the chance to make an impression on Jill Ellis. Part One examined […]
The Future of the USWNT is in the NWSL: Defense
With the USWNT beginning a new cycle and the team in transition, it’s time for new blood. In this two-part series, I take a look at whose NWSL play has earned a call-up to National Team camp and the chance to make an impression on Jill Ellis. Part One examines […]
The Downsizing of Fat Fans
I haven’t always been a sports fan. I grew up in southeast Wisconsin, a place where Sunday Catholic masses in the fall usually included a reference to the Packers during the homily. And sometimes a joke about the Bears or the Vikings, to the delight of almost all. But I […]
Making the Case: NWSL All-Star Match
In many ways, the National Women’s Soccer League has never looked better. With last season’s post-World Cup surge in attendance, the addition of a tenth team in the Orlando Pride, and player acquisitions like Lindsey Horan and Raquel Rodriguez (not to mention the return of fan favorite and big personality […]
Just Pick an NWSL Team Already, I’m Begging You.
Hey all you new NWSL fans out there. Yeah you. I have a message for you. Pick a team. Pick an NWSL team and stick with them. For one whole season; just pick a team and stick with them. Even if they break your heart. Maybe especially if they break […]
Introducing Backline Soccer
RJ Allen: I am RJ Allen. I am the Editor in Chief of Backline Soccer. I’m joined by Chelsey Bush, who is the Managing Editor of Backline Soccer. So Chelsey, why is Backline Soccer a thing now? Chelsey Bush: We felt like it was time to devote all our attention […]
How to Pay the Amateurs
A lot has been written lately about if the amateur NWSL players should be paid, why they aren’t paid, and if the league or their clubs can afford to pay them. Very little has been written about how these players should be paid and about what might be a reasonable […]
Terms of the Deal Were Not disclosed. Wait, why?
“Per league and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.” That sentence shows up in every story on NWSLSoccer.com about a player signing. Officially, no club can create a page on their website that lists what each of their players make. The only things we do know are that non-allocated […]