WEBVTT - Dubiously Long VAR Reviews with Jeff Kassouf 0:00:00.920 --> 0:00:03.480 Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're celebrating 0:00:03.560 --> 0:00:06.760 Lily Johannes officially declaring for the US women's national team 0:00:06.800 --> 0:00:08.320 over the Netherlands. 0:00:07.960 --> 0:00:11.120 By screaming if you're Dutch, you ain't much. 0:00:11.080 --> 0:00:14.560 In the general direction of the land of tulips and windmills. 0:00:14.960 --> 0:00:17.079 It's Tuesday, November twelfth, and on today's show, we'll be 0:00:17.079 --> 0:00:19.919 talking to ESPN Soccer reporter Jeff cassoof about why he 0:00:20.120 --> 0:00:23.840 doesn't love the NWSL's expanded playoff format, what to expect 0:00:23.840 --> 0:00:25.880 in the NWSL semifinals, and how. 0:00:25.720 --> 0:00:28.920 Long is too long for a var review? Wait is 0:00:28.920 --> 0:00:32.960 Alex saying atm machine vaar, Hey, Sarah, the R stands 0:00:33.000 --> 0:00:34.280 for referee perfect. 0:00:34.760 --> 0:00:37.760 Plus, we're going to celebrate nationality declarations and the return 0:00:37.800 --> 0:00:41.600 of camp season that is PWHL camp. It's all coming 0:00:41.680 --> 0:00:48.040 up right after this Welcome back slices. Here's what you 0:00:48.080 --> 0:00:49.240 need to know today. 0:00:51.440 --> 0:00:52.320 To the WNBA. 0:00:52.440 --> 0:00:55.360 Former Los Angeles Sparks head coach Kurt Miller is headed 0:00:55.400 --> 0:00:58.200 to Dallas. Miller was hired by the Wings to service 0:00:58.200 --> 0:01:02.120 the franchise's new GM and execut vice president of basketball operations. 0:01:02.360 --> 0:01:05.080 Miller was fired by the Los Angeles Sparks shortly after 0:01:05.120 --> 0:01:07.920 the season ended, a shocking move given the injury depleted 0:01:08.000 --> 0:01:10.200 roster that he worked with. Rookie star Cameron Brink tore 0:01:10.240 --> 0:01:13.440 her acl early in the season, sharpshooter Lexi Brown sat 0:01:13.440 --> 0:01:15.720 for more than half the season dealing with Crohn's disease, 0:01:16.040 --> 0:01:18.120 and point guard Leisia Clarendon sat out for the latter 0:01:18.120 --> 0:01:20.039 half of the season due to mental health as well. 0:01:20.319 --> 0:01:22.560 The news means that Miller is off the table for 0:01:22.720 --> 0:01:25.680 the several W teams currently in search of a head coach. 0:01:25.880 --> 0:01:30.080 Per ESPN's Alexa Philippoo, multiple WNBA teams did express interest 0:01:30.080 --> 0:01:33.880 in Miller before he signed with the Wings. More w, 0:01:34.040 --> 0:01:37.120 the Minnesota Links announced Monday that they're losing two members 0:01:37.160 --> 0:01:40.480 of their staff. Assistant coach and two time WNBA champion 0:01:40.560 --> 0:01:43.200 Katie Smith is leaving the franchise to head back to 0:01:43.280 --> 0:01:45.880 her alma mater, Ohio State, where she'll serve as an 0:01:45.920 --> 0:01:49.160 assistant on head coach Kevin mcguff's staff and Links Gmclaire 0:01:49.200 --> 0:01:52.040 Dewillius is departing to serve as executive vice president and 0:01:52.120 --> 0:01:54.880 general manager of the new unrival league founded by Link 0:01:54.920 --> 0:01:57.960 starn OFFISA Kallier and New York Liberty star Brienna Stewart. 0:01:58.000 --> 0:02:00.440 This leaves two big holes for the franchise to fill 0:02:00.440 --> 0:02:02.840 after an electrifying season that ended in a loss to 0:02:02.880 --> 0:02:07.720 the Liberty in the WNBA Finals. A little citizenship news, 0:02:07.760 --> 0:02:11.360 so to speak, Soccer phenom Lily Johannes has committed to 0:02:11.360 --> 0:02:14.480 playing for the US national team moving forward. The seventeen 0:02:14.560 --> 0:02:16.800 year old was born in Virginia, but her family moved 0:02:16.800 --> 0:02:19.919 to the Netherlands in twenty seventeen, and she'd been contemplating 0:02:20.000 --> 0:02:23.240 representing the Dutch instead. She made her US women's national 0:02:23.240 --> 0:02:25.600 team debut and a friendly against South Korea in June, 0:02:25.720 --> 0:02:29.080 playing and scoring in the three to zero victory. But 0:02:29.280 --> 0:02:32.720 FIFA rules do allow players to switch their competitive nationality 0:02:32.960 --> 0:02:35.040 so long as they don't play more than three competitive 0:02:35.080 --> 0:02:37.600 games at the senior level before the age of twenty one. 0:02:38.080 --> 0:02:40.480 Addressing her decision to declare for the US women's national 0:02:40.480 --> 0:02:43.440 team on social media Monday, Johannes wrote, quote, the US 0:02:43.600 --> 0:02:47.160 is my homeland, my birthplace, and where my extended family resides. 0:02:47.480 --> 0:02:50.280 These strong connections have driven me to honor my roots 0:02:50.280 --> 0:02:52.360 and proudly commit to US soccer. 0:02:52.639 --> 0:02:53.280 End quote. 0:02:53.600 --> 0:02:56.880 Johannes is a certified phenom. In April of last year, 0:02:56.919 --> 0:02:59.919 she became the youngest female professional in AJAX history, which 0:03:00.040 --> 0:03:02.080 she signed a three year contract with the Dutch club 0:03:02.120 --> 0:03:05.119 through June twenty twenty six, and at sixteen years old, 0:03:05.160 --> 0:03:07.640 she became the youngest player to ever start a YUEFA 0:03:07.680 --> 0:03:10.919 Women's Champion League group match last year. Johannes's declaration to 0:03:10.919 --> 0:03:12.640 the US comes less than a month before the US 0:03:12.720 --> 0:03:16.880 women's national team visits the Netherlands for a friendly to hockey. 0:03:17.080 --> 0:03:19.800 We mentioned yesterday that Canada defeated the US on Sunday 0:03:19.880 --> 0:03:21.520 to take a two to one lead in their five 0:03:21.600 --> 0:03:24.640 game rivalry series. Four different Canadians found the back of 0:03:24.639 --> 0:03:26.880 the net in that four to one win. Looking ahead, 0:03:26.880 --> 0:03:29.120 the rivalry series now takes a pause so players can 0:03:29.160 --> 0:03:31.959 head back to college or off to p WHL training camps, 0:03:32.200 --> 0:03:35.360 which begin today. The final two games of the rivalry 0:03:35.360 --> 0:03:38.000 series between the US and Canada will be played in February, 0:03:38.280 --> 0:03:39.840 and we're going to get you ready for season two 0:03:39.840 --> 0:03:43.800 of the PWHL later this week. In sponsorship news, basketball 0:03:43.840 --> 0:03:46.640 player Alissa Peelely, who just finished her rookie season with 0:03:46.680 --> 0:03:49.200 the Minnesota Lynx, has been named the official face of 0:03:49.280 --> 0:03:53.200 Nike's N seven collection for Native American Heritage month. Peelee, 0:03:53.200 --> 0:03:55.880 who also recently signed down to play Athletes Unlimited basketball 0:03:55.920 --> 0:03:58.960 this winter, is of Simone and Alaskan and New Piat descent. 0:04:01.160 --> 0:04:03.560 We're going to take a quick break, certainly quicker than 0:04:03.600 --> 0:04:06.480 a var review in the NWSL when we come back. 0:04:06.520 --> 0:04:08.400 It's the ESPN's Jeff Casoof. 0:04:14.240 --> 0:04:14.880 Joining us now. 0:04:14.880 --> 0:04:17.279 He's been covering soccer with an emphasis on advancing the 0:04:17.279 --> 0:04:19.719 women's game since two thousand and eight. In two thousand 0:04:19.720 --> 0:04:21.880 and nine, he launched The Equalizer, of the leading website 0:04:21.880 --> 0:04:25.560 dedicated exclusively to comprehensive women's soccer coverage in North America. 0:04:25.760 --> 0:04:27.600 He joined ESPN about eight months ago to become the 0:04:27.600 --> 0:04:30.599 outlet's lead NWSL and US Women's national team reporter. 0:04:30.880 --> 0:04:32.400 He's a big fan of Fall Foliage. 0:04:32.400 --> 0:04:34.400 But that's about as much personal info as you'll find 0:04:34.400 --> 0:04:35.080 on him online. 0:04:35.080 --> 0:04:37.720 He is very secretive. It's Jeff Kasoof. 0:04:38.080 --> 0:04:40.400 What's up, Jeff, Thank you for having me. I don't 0:04:40.400 --> 0:04:43.080 know about secretive, but I guess I'm a bit mysterious 0:04:43.120 --> 0:04:43.880 by that description. 0:04:44.440 --> 0:04:46.760 Yeah, you maybe just keep it real business online. And 0:04:46.800 --> 0:04:49.279 I'm an oversharer. So that's when I go digging for 0:04:49.360 --> 0:04:52.760 personal info. Couldn't find much. The good news is you're 0:04:52.760 --> 0:04:54.600 here to talk soccer, and I know you could do that. 0:04:54.920 --> 0:04:56.160 And it is you can do that book. 0:04:56.560 --> 0:04:58.000 See, there we go, There we go. 0:04:58.760 --> 0:05:01.360 Okay, let's talk quarter final. We just witnessed a bunch 0:05:01.360 --> 0:05:04.400 of those games. New format this year, playoffs expanded from 0:05:04.440 --> 0:05:08.000 six to eight teams. All the top seeded teams won. 0:05:08.320 --> 0:05:11.120 But do you think opening playoff weekend affirmed or rejected 0:05:11.160 --> 0:05:11.880 that expansion? 0:05:12.920 --> 0:05:15.400 Oh? I think it rejected. I mean I was anti 0:05:15.440 --> 0:05:19.320 expansion the moment that this came. I think, I mean 0:05:19.360 --> 0:05:21.240 we had a clear top four in this league. And 0:05:21.800 --> 0:05:24.200 you know, I think, for as a neutral, especially if 0:05:24.240 --> 0:05:25.800 you're the league, I think, as you're trying to put 0:05:25.839 --> 0:05:29.240 on an entertaining product in the final, those top four 0:05:29.279 --> 0:05:31.640 teams have been clear far and above the rest of 0:05:31.680 --> 0:05:34.200 the league. You know, I think eight teams out of 0:05:34.200 --> 0:05:37.480 four team going through. Look, I mean the games were competitive, 0:05:37.560 --> 0:05:40.400 right for the most part. BFC was on a nice 0:05:40.480 --> 0:05:43.560 run heading into the playoffs, nearly pulled an upset, got 0:05:43.600 --> 0:05:45.719 it to extra time. I think we got off to 0:05:45.800 --> 0:05:48.440 a really difficult start on Friday, night with Chicago just 0:05:48.480 --> 0:05:52.760 getting absolutely throttled by Orlando. Granted a historic Orlando team, 0:05:52.760 --> 0:05:54.280 but I mean you look at that, that's the eight 0:05:54.360 --> 0:05:56.800 seed that has never existed before. It's a sub five 0:05:56.880 --> 0:06:00.840 hundred team. You will find. For me that whether it's 0:06:00.880 --> 0:06:04.960 playoffs or like the general pool of teams going beyond sixteen, 0:06:05.320 --> 0:06:08.480 I'm not in favor of endless expansion because I think 0:06:08.480 --> 0:06:10.039 it has a lot of ramifications. 0:06:10.600 --> 0:06:12.920 It does feel like though there's a benefit in terms 0:06:12.960 --> 0:06:15.440 of like being able to sell tickets, get excitement around 0:06:15.440 --> 0:06:18.400 a playoff game, use that to motivate fans to return 0:06:18.720 --> 0:06:20.680 later after they've been to a playoff game and the 0:06:20.800 --> 0:06:21.599 energy is so high. 0:06:21.600 --> 0:06:23.000 I mean, as a league. 0:06:22.720 --> 0:06:26.720 That's trying to continue to grow, it feels like it 0:06:26.800 --> 0:06:27.719 was a win in that sense. 0:06:28.160 --> 0:06:29.640 Yeah, I agree with that. I mean, we had a 0:06:29.640 --> 0:06:33.599 record crowd at Gotham at Red Bull Arena, you know, 0:06:33.920 --> 0:06:37.120 spirit game looked really full and really raucous. You know, 0:06:37.160 --> 0:06:39.280 I think the good crowds throughout Kansas City has been 0:06:39.279 --> 0:06:42.360 doing that all year. In Orlando, I think even for Orlando, 0:06:42.640 --> 0:06:45.040 you know, typically for their history, a pretty good crowd 0:06:45.080 --> 0:06:47.800 at eleven thousand plus. So you're right, I mean, I 0:06:47.839 --> 0:06:50.799 think and it's look. I mean, yes, the league expanded, 0:06:50.839 --> 0:06:53.160 so that's part of it. But they've got four TV 0:06:53.279 --> 0:06:55.240 partners now too, right, And I think, you know, I 0:06:55.279 --> 0:06:59.039 think it's very clear that the simultaneous announcement last year 0:06:59.080 --> 0:07:01.719 of the new TV part and the expansion of the playoffs, 0:07:02.480 --> 0:07:04.320 there's no separate in the two. I mean, this is 0:07:04.360 --> 0:07:06.479 more TV games. It's good for TV. It's good for 0:07:06.520 --> 0:07:08.800 teams to play more games. So I get it from 0:07:08.800 --> 0:07:11.560 a business perspective. From a soccer purist perspective, I'm not 0:07:11.640 --> 0:07:12.240 in love with it. 0:07:13.080 --> 0:07:14.760 When we look ahead, though, is it possible that it 0:07:14.800 --> 0:07:16.840 will make a difference for top teams not having a 0:07:16.840 --> 0:07:19.520 buye We used to see teams with buys get upset, 0:07:19.640 --> 0:07:22.000 So maybe that continued play and lack of rest will 0:07:22.040 --> 0:07:23.760 actually be a benefit moving forward. 0:07:24.080 --> 0:07:25.480 Yeah, I think that's a good point. I mean, we 0:07:25.560 --> 0:07:28.600 see all four teams advance, all four higher seeds advanced, 0:07:28.600 --> 0:07:31.240 so you know, I think there was always a struggle. 0:07:31.240 --> 0:07:33.400 And then we'll be going forward to with a disruption 0:07:33.480 --> 0:07:36.640 to team seasons, and part of that has been not 0:07:36.680 --> 0:07:39.400 only the bye week, but in the past the you know, 0:07:39.640 --> 0:07:43.480 and ongoing the FIFA International Windows that fall roughly around 0:07:43.480 --> 0:07:46.400 when the playoffs start. The league decided this year it 0:07:46.480 --> 0:07:48.400 would be awkward to have a FIFA window in the 0:07:48.400 --> 0:07:51.000 middle of the playoffs, let's start them after that window. 0:07:51.360 --> 0:07:53.360 This window, I think, if I'm remembering it right, is 0:07:53.400 --> 0:07:55.200 a little bit earlier than it has been in the 0:07:55.200 --> 0:07:58.600 past anyway, so that helped. But yeah, I think you 0:07:58.640 --> 0:08:01.040 know that disruption has been a problem for teams in 0:08:01.080 --> 0:08:03.600 the past, and it's been really hard to pull off 0:08:03.640 --> 0:08:07.080 the shield double with the championship and Orlando now I 0:08:07.080 --> 0:08:09.440 think has maybe the best shot of anybody in a 0:08:09.480 --> 0:08:12.640 while since those Courage teams of twenty eighteen nineteen, So 0:08:13.640 --> 0:08:15.640 we'll see how that plays off. This is also probably 0:08:15.680 --> 0:08:18.880 the most competitive semi final round that I can remember. 0:08:19.640 --> 0:08:22.200 Yeah, like you mentioned, there was a very clear top 0:08:22.240 --> 0:08:24.240 four and we're going to see them all battling. Before 0:08:24.280 --> 0:08:26.040 we move on to the semis, let's quickly talk about 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:28.000 what we saw in the quarterfinals. You mentioned the Pride 0:08:28.000 --> 0:08:30.240 win over the Red Stars four to one opened up 0:08:30.240 --> 0:08:30.600 the weekend. 0:08:30.640 --> 0:08:31.880 We got a brace for Barbara Banda. 0:08:31.960 --> 0:08:35.280 She hasn't gotten as much attention with a quieter second half, 0:08:35.320 --> 0:08:37.319 but obviously still very effective. 0:08:37.400 --> 0:08:39.400 What makes Barbara Banda so dangerous. 0:08:40.120 --> 0:08:42.920 Well, I mean, look, she's she's got the pace right 0:08:42.960 --> 0:08:45.040 that I think is a little bit too cliche, but 0:08:45.960 --> 0:08:48.760 it's it's been a problem for everybody. But I think 0:08:49.160 --> 0:08:51.079 you know, she is a pure finisher too, I mean 0:08:51.120 --> 0:08:54.480 technically speaking, that is, you know, I think we see 0:08:54.520 --> 0:08:56.640 it when whether she's one v one with a defender 0:08:57.160 --> 0:08:59.360 and you know she beats them on the dribble, if 0:08:59.360 --> 0:09:01.560 she's one v one in the open field, obviously on 0:09:01.600 --> 0:09:03.560 a through ball, and then in front of net I mean, 0:09:03.559 --> 0:09:06.520 I think we've seen some creative finishes from her. So yes, 0:09:06.559 --> 0:09:10.360 I mean there's the speed side, sure, but there's also 0:09:10.400 --> 0:09:13.400 the technical ability that she's been able to show off 0:09:13.400 --> 0:09:15.160 in this league, and I think, you know, in a 0:09:15.160 --> 0:09:18.480 way that has been really good for the wider world. 0:09:18.480 --> 0:09:21.280 I think because we've seen her with Zambia and you know, 0:09:21.280 --> 0:09:23.960 we've seen that capability, but then playing in China in 0:09:24.000 --> 0:09:26.319 a league that you know is really off the radar, 0:09:26.400 --> 0:09:29.120 it's not a major league. I mean, players have made 0:09:29.120 --> 0:09:32.280 their way there for various reasons, including you know, maybe 0:09:32.360 --> 0:09:34.200 pay that they weren't getting elsewhere. But now we see 0:09:34.200 --> 0:09:35.840 her in arguably the best league in the world, and 0:09:35.880 --> 0:09:39.199 she's regularly beating the best defenders, which I think is 0:09:39.600 --> 0:09:40.760 a testament to her quality. 0:09:40.760 --> 0:09:43.520 Overall, Probe have been so dominant this year. What is 0:09:43.559 --> 0:09:44.120 their weakness? 0:09:44.160 --> 0:09:46.440 If you're facing them, where are you looking to try 0:09:46.440 --> 0:09:47.600 to expose them? 0:09:48.000 --> 0:09:50.080 Yeah, well, I think one. I mean we saw it 0:09:50.120 --> 0:09:52.599 with Chicago didn't get the midfield right at all, and 0:09:52.960 --> 0:09:55.000 I think that was a problem and that led to 0:09:55.040 --> 0:09:57.280 those transition moments. I mean, you look at that goal, 0:09:58.080 --> 0:10:01.319 I guess you'd say the backbreaking goal right before halftime, 0:10:01.360 --> 0:10:04.240 and Emily Sam steps in, it's a win in midfield. 0:10:04.280 --> 0:10:06.240 She plays a through ball to band Us, She's one 0:10:06.320 --> 0:10:09.280 v one with Carrie Riccaro, and that's it. So I 0:10:09.320 --> 0:10:11.559 think you've really got to win that midfield battle. And look, 0:10:11.600 --> 0:10:13.720 I mean the Kansas City rematch. We saw this right 0:10:13.840 --> 0:10:16.640 in the rematch that they played in Orlando less than 0:10:16.640 --> 0:10:18.920 two months ago, or about two months ago, a nil 0:10:19.000 --> 0:10:22.320 nil draw where it was not the first meeting. When 0:10:22.360 --> 0:10:25.640 these two teams were unbeaten in June in Kansas City, 0:10:25.679 --> 0:10:28.959 it was a chess match between them. Neither of them 0:10:29.000 --> 0:10:32.560 wanted to give up too much of those transition moments, 0:10:32.640 --> 0:10:35.720 so they both played pretty conservatively, especially for how they've 0:10:35.720 --> 0:10:38.360 played throughout the season. So I think if you're Kansas City, 0:10:38.360 --> 0:10:41.160 I mean that's your blueprint, that's your template is you know, 0:10:41.520 --> 0:10:45.280 maybe this wasn't necessarily us, but you know, we played 0:10:45.280 --> 0:10:48.000 a more defensive mindset and we were able to really 0:10:48.040 --> 0:10:51.320 offset Orlando in the midfield, and then obviously that has 0:10:51.360 --> 0:10:54.439 the knock on effect to Banda to Marta, to Ali Watt, 0:10:54.440 --> 0:10:57.280 whoever's running on the wings. So I think that's really 0:10:57.280 --> 0:10:59.920 it is staying compact, winning the midfield, and then look 0:11:00.120 --> 0:11:02.600 for the moments in transition, and frankly, that's how both 0:11:02.640 --> 0:11:05.120 of these teams win games. So it'll be it'll be 0:11:05.120 --> 0:11:07.600 a moment of magic in that semi final, and whether 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:10.880 that's Chewinga for Kansas City or Bandit for Orlando, we'll see. 0:11:11.800 --> 0:11:14.640 You mentioned the Casey Current and they squeezed past the 0:11:14.679 --> 0:11:17.040 North Carolina Courage on Saturday Golden Boot winner. As you 0:11:17.080 --> 0:11:19.240 mentioned Tim with Chwenga the lone goal scorer in that one, 0:11:19.280 --> 0:11:21.640 shetalit in the eighth minute and then just kind of 0:11:21.640 --> 0:11:22.160 stuck there. 0:11:22.200 --> 0:11:24.120 Were you surprised it was as tight as it was. 0:11:24.880 --> 0:11:26.840 No, I think this was the one game that I 0:11:26.880 --> 0:11:29.120 really felt. I mean, Bay, yes, in the game that 0:11:29.160 --> 0:11:31.040 we'll talk about with Washington, but I think you know, 0:11:31.080 --> 0:11:33.760 this was the four or five game, a sixteen point 0:11:33.800 --> 0:11:36.960 gap between four and five, which I think was pretty 0:11:36.960 --> 0:11:40.720 noticeable in many ways and really defined this table throughout 0:11:40.720 --> 0:11:43.240 the season. But not surprising. I mean, it played out 0:11:43.280 --> 0:11:45.439 the way I think we would have expected in that 0:11:45.760 --> 0:11:48.719 Kansas City had their moments, they had transition moments. How 0:11:48.760 --> 0:11:50.360 many of them were they going to finish? I think 0:11:50.480 --> 0:11:53.600 was the question, not if? And for North Carolina, I 0:11:53.600 --> 0:11:55.720 mean they kept the ball throughout the match. This was 0:11:56.240 --> 0:11:58.560 through and through their identity throughout the season. I mean 0:11:58.600 --> 0:12:00.440 I asked that coach Shawn Dejas before or the game, 0:12:00.520 --> 0:12:02.960 do you do you stray from that identity at all? 0:12:03.200 --> 0:12:06.360 And very firmly said, we do not. This is who 0:12:06.360 --> 0:12:08.320 we are and we saw that in the game. I mean, 0:12:08.360 --> 0:12:11.000 I think the problem with the Courage throughout the season 0:12:11.000 --> 0:12:14.440 has been they haven't had a finisher, or really proven finisher, 0:12:14.640 --> 0:12:17.840 a multi you know, a double digit goal scorer that 0:12:18.679 --> 0:12:21.120 could finish these opportunities for them, and it's cost them 0:12:21.120 --> 0:12:23.000 games because they keep the ball and they don't they 0:12:23.040 --> 0:12:26.600 don't have the final product, you know, and then I 0:12:26.640 --> 0:12:28.920 think you can point to the absence of MVP last 0:12:29.000 --> 0:12:32.320 year's MVP Caroline, who was in this game, in this 0:12:32.400 --> 0:12:35.080 game probably more minutes than she should ever could have played, 0:12:35.120 --> 0:12:37.560 just to try to get the result. And ultimately I 0:12:37.559 --> 0:12:40.439 think it really did play out how we expected. Is 0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:43.160 Kansas City in transition North Carolina keeping the ball and 0:12:43.559 --> 0:12:46.120 like so many times this season, didn't find the breakthrough. 0:12:47.080 --> 0:12:51.360 Afterwards, Lacko and Tanowski talked about the courage targeting Temwa 0:12:51.559 --> 0:12:52.480 not getting the calls. 0:12:52.480 --> 0:12:53.840 Do you see that when you're watching the game. 0:12:55.000 --> 0:12:58.040 I mean, I think you do in some ways. You know, 0:12:58.040 --> 0:12:59.920 I think I'd have to check again when I look 0:13:00.200 --> 0:13:01.760 right after the game when he said that she actually 0:13:01.760 --> 0:13:05.360 only had one foul suffered on the stat platform I 0:13:05.440 --> 0:13:07.360 was looking at. But you see it in I think 0:13:07.360 --> 0:13:09.240 maybe to his point in ways where she doesn't get 0:13:09.240 --> 0:13:11.839 a foul called, And you know, I think that there's 0:13:12.480 --> 0:13:14.000 I mean, there's a lot of layers there, right. I 0:13:14.000 --> 0:13:16.800 think there's inconsistencies in the refereeing in the league period. 0:13:17.760 --> 0:13:20.840 There is you know, is she getting special treatment? Is 0:13:20.880 --> 0:13:24.160 she not? Is you know, a number of factors I 0:13:24.200 --> 0:13:26.200 think you can point to it. I know a number 0:13:26.240 --> 0:13:28.040 of teams have pointed to. I mean, I think one 0:13:28.040 --> 0:13:31.319 of her best qualities, beyond the very obvious goal scoring, 0:13:31.480 --> 0:13:35.080 is how she's progressed as I guess a team player 0:13:35.120 --> 0:13:38.120 for lack of a better term, in her tracking back defensively. 0:13:38.160 --> 0:13:40.920 I mean you'll see her at times near her own 0:13:40.960 --> 0:13:44.400 end line helping out her full back and we've seen that, right, 0:13:44.440 --> 0:13:47.199 I mean, I think people pointed to and again I 0:13:47.200 --> 0:13:48.800 don't think there was a problem with this tackle, but 0:13:48.840 --> 0:13:50.240 like she was the one who put in the tackle 0:13:50.280 --> 0:13:53.920 on Trinity Rodman a month or so ago where it 0:13:54.000 --> 0:13:58.120 caused Rodman's back spasms. I think those were generally coincidence, 0:13:58.200 --> 0:14:01.839 those those two incidents or the net effect of them. 0:14:01.880 --> 0:14:05.000 But you know, I think he's got a fair point. 0:14:05.000 --> 0:14:07.000 I think people have a fair point in reverse as well, 0:14:07.040 --> 0:14:09.360 that you know, she's a defensive forward who I think 0:14:09.400 --> 0:14:12.120 can you give it as much as she can take 0:14:12.160 --> 0:14:12.679 it at times? 0:14:12.760 --> 0:14:15.640 Yeah, and sometimes it might be just subconsciously, right if 0:14:15.640 --> 0:14:18.520 we're used to seeing those strikers that sort of set 0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:21.000 up top and they're the ones handling the ball, and 0:14:21.040 --> 0:14:23.760 it's they're the ones taking fouls versus when she gets 0:14:23.840 --> 0:14:26.080 back there on the defensive side. You start to sort of, 0:14:26.120 --> 0:14:28.400 even if it's subconsciously, see her as more of that 0:14:29.360 --> 0:14:32.160 give than take her, and maybe you don't give her 0:14:32.160 --> 0:14:35.360 as many of those protected, sort of favored calls that 0:14:35.400 --> 0:14:36.320 you might otherwise. 0:14:37.120 --> 0:14:38.800 Let's talk about you mentioned the Spirit. 0:14:38.520 --> 0:14:41.520 Game they won two to one over BFC and own goal, 0:14:41.800 --> 0:14:44.560 ending the year for the plucky expansion side. Never a 0:14:44.560 --> 0:14:46.600 way you want your season to end. But what did 0:14:46.600 --> 0:14:48.800 you see from the Bay in year one that you liked? 0:14:49.520 --> 0:14:52.040 Well? I like the back half of the season, certainly 0:14:52.080 --> 0:14:55.040 as putting it all together, and that was the defensive piece. 0:14:55.240 --> 0:14:58.480 I mean, look, Abby dal Kemper, a US international World 0:14:58.520 --> 0:15:02.080 Cup winner, arrives in late August, and you know, scores 0:15:02.120 --> 0:15:05.320 in her first game, and immediately you know you can't 0:15:05.320 --> 0:15:08.920 credit everything to Abbidal Kemper, right, but there's a tangible 0:15:09.400 --> 0:15:13.360 sort of parallel here with a turn in fortunes for Bay. 0:15:13.440 --> 0:15:16.480 And you know they spent they spent over a million dollars, 0:15:16.480 --> 0:15:19.280 they spent a world record transfer fee and Rachel Kuinananji 0:15:19.760 --> 0:15:22.000 a million dollars dollars, you know, in some in that 0:15:22.040 --> 0:15:25.440 winter offseason heading into their first season as an expansion team, 0:15:25.480 --> 0:15:28.360 and you know they very much define themselves coming into 0:15:28.360 --> 0:15:31.960 the season as an entertaining, attacking team. They were going 0:15:32.040 --> 0:15:34.680 to score goals, and then the problem was they gave 0:15:34.720 --> 0:15:36.440 up so many and they couldn't win games. They couldn't 0:15:36.440 --> 0:15:39.040 even draw games for almost the entirety of the season. 0:15:39.120 --> 0:15:41.560 So what I liked from them in this back half 0:15:41.600 --> 0:15:44.680 of the season was finding a defensive balance. Those pieces 0:15:44.680 --> 0:15:48.200 are there, I mean a seaside Oshawala, Rachel Kinananji. They've 0:15:48.200 --> 0:15:50.520 got their first season under their belts in this league. 0:15:50.520 --> 0:15:52.480 This league is always a bit of an adjustment, even 0:15:52.520 --> 0:15:55.200 for high quality internationals for the most part, and I 0:15:55.200 --> 0:15:58.440 think you take that, you balance it with that defensive piece, 0:15:58.440 --> 0:16:00.560 which I think you have to see Abby dal Kempe 0:16:00.600 --> 0:16:02.800 as the core and the spine of it. And then 0:16:02.840 --> 0:16:05.600 you get those midfield pieces Kiki Pickett, you know, you 0:16:05.640 --> 0:16:08.760 get Alex Luera back hopefully healthy for a full season 0:16:09.200 --> 0:16:12.680 after an early season injury test body you know, I 0:16:12.680 --> 0:16:14.200 think did really well for them. So I think you've 0:16:14.200 --> 0:16:16.240 got the pieces there and now it's a matter of 0:16:16.280 --> 0:16:19.640 putting together complete performances, as they mostly did in the 0:16:19.680 --> 0:16:20.560 back half of the season. 0:16:21.320 --> 0:16:23.640 Yeah, it wasn't a great outing for the spirit but 0:16:23.680 --> 0:16:24.280 they got the win. 0:16:24.600 --> 0:16:26.760 What did they need to improve before this weekend? 0:16:27.560 --> 0:16:29.800 Yeah, I mean I think they were frustrated defensively to 0:16:30.160 --> 0:16:32.760 your point, I mean, you know, Rodman is the game changer. 0:16:32.800 --> 0:16:34.320 I think this is the time of year where you 0:16:34.320 --> 0:16:37.440 look at at those players and we've talked about showinga 0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:41.080 and Banda. I mean Rodman, I think maybe a slightly 0:16:41.120 --> 0:16:43.880 distant third in an MVP race, but was certainly had 0:16:43.920 --> 0:16:46.560 her name in that in many ways, and is the 0:16:46.880 --> 0:16:51.320 is the sort of entertaining player, certainly American in this 0:16:51.440 --> 0:16:53.920 league and among the best, you know, among any players 0:16:53.920 --> 0:16:56.800 in this league. So she can change games on her own. 0:16:56.840 --> 0:16:59.480 I think, you know, obviously it's a lot of pressure 0:16:59.520 --> 0:17:01.280 to put that on her in a playoff game, but 0:17:01.320 --> 0:17:03.320 that's you know, that's in some ways what playoffs are about. 0:17:03.360 --> 0:17:06.000 So I think getting her on the ball more. And 0:17:06.040 --> 0:17:08.280 then that midfield, you know, I think Bay was really 0:17:08.320 --> 0:17:11.919 able to stay compact and frustrate that spirit midfield at times. 0:17:11.920 --> 0:17:16.040 So you know, finding a way to get through against Frankly, 0:17:16.080 --> 0:17:18.800 I mean a Gotham team that I know we'll talk about, 0:17:18.800 --> 0:17:20.679 but that is a strength of their So it's going 0:17:20.720 --> 0:17:22.160 to be a tough one. For the spirit for sure. 0:17:22.960 --> 0:17:24.959 Yeah, let's talk about them. Rose Level ends up being 0:17:24.960 --> 0:17:25.320 the hero. 0:17:25.440 --> 0:17:28.240 Her stoppage time goal helps Gotham get past Portland in 0:17:28.280 --> 0:17:31.000 the last game of the weekend. Tieranna Davidson good timing 0:17:31.040 --> 0:17:33.280 for her first goal of the NWSL year in the 0:17:33.359 --> 0:17:36.200 victory too. How confident are you that this Gotham team 0:17:36.280 --> 0:17:38.880 can repeat coming from a very different position last year, 0:17:39.080 --> 0:17:41.280 the surprise coming out of six this year, they've got 0:17:41.280 --> 0:17:42.679 all the pressure on them to try to get it 0:17:42.880 --> 0:17:43.880 back to back years. 0:17:44.200 --> 0:17:45.879 Yeah, I mean, as good a shot as anybody in 0:17:45.880 --> 0:17:47.840 this top four. I think. I think we really are 0:17:47.920 --> 0:17:51.160 seeing a semi final round here where any of these 0:17:51.160 --> 0:17:53.640 four are going to be worthy champions. Any of these four. 0:17:54.200 --> 0:17:56.520 I think the margins will be really fine on the day. 0:17:57.000 --> 0:17:59.320 And you know we saw from Gotham in this quarterfinal 0:17:59.320 --> 0:18:02.679 against Portland. Yes, they left it late, very late in 0:18:02.720 --> 0:18:04.960 stoppage time that I think we've only had because of 0:18:05.000 --> 0:18:07.719