(Canadians in the) NWSL: 2024 Season

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

A general thread for the 2024 NWSL season.

The draft is Friday, January 12th 

https://www.nwslsoccer.com/nwsldraft

One thing the NWSL draft does better than the MLS draft, is that on the list of eligible players to be drafted, their citizenship is listed.

https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/2024-nwsl-draft-presented-by-ally-live-registration-tracker

 

 

Those listed as Canadian are:

 

● Wayny Balata

https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=4505

 

● Vivianne Bessette

https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=55719

 

● Zoe Burns

http://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=55720

 

● Melissa Dagenais

https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=56628

 

● Mya Jones

https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=13178

 

● Grace Stordy

https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=4531

 

● Julianne Vallerand

https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=4185

 

● Amanda West

https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=55690

 

● Maggie Danroth (never invited to a CSA camp?)

 

● Saorla Miller (listed as American by mistake? never invited to a CSA camp?)

Edited January 7 by Olympique_de_Marseille

[red card]

With only 1-3 Canadians likely to be drafted into the NWSL, wsoccer has a put out a list of the next 24 NCAA players likely to play professional football somewhere.

About 135 Canadians are currently playing in basically pro leagues around the world. About 15-25 Canadian players turn pro every year with the numbers trending up.

Of the top 10 players registered for NWSL draft:

1. Amanda West: born in Sweden, so easy to play in Europe if not in NWSL

2. Zoe Burns: being also American will help her overcome NWSL international spot restrictions

3. Mya Jones: has signed with 2 agencies

4. Melissa Dagenais: along with a few others, she has signed with same agency as Lacasse

6. Grace Stordy: likely to be courted by P8's Foothills for 2025

7. Vivianne Bessette: has Euro passport since she originally represented Lithuania

8. Saorla Miller: viewed as one of the best to come out of Nova Scotia and another Canadian Memphis player to go pro after Larisey, Levasseur, Boychuk, Pechersky, and Oduro

https://www.wsoccer.ca/next-pros

 

Edited January 8 by red card

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

7 minutes ago, red card said:

7. Vivianne Bessette: has Euro passport since she originally represented Lithuania

Really? Her CSA profile says she is dual-Bulgaria.

[red card]

1 hour ago, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

Really? Her CSA profile says she is dual-Bulgaria.

That's what wsoccer's article stated but her college bio says she played with Bulgarian Youth team. So, CSA is correct.

 

Noted US women's college soccer follower has also put out his ranked list of registered NWSL draft players based on analytics.

For GKs, Dagenais is ranked as Tier A school #1.

For CBs, Bessette is a Tier B school #1.

For RBs, Burns is Tier A #1. Vallerand is Tier A #7. Stordy is Tier B #1.

For central MFs, Balata is Tier B #4. 

For wide forwards, West is Tier A #2. Jones is Tier B #1. Miller is Tier B #3.

Danroth is classified under Other school since she went to D2 King University.

 

 

Edited January 8 by red card

[Unnamed Trialist]

I see Seattle is going back to the old name, Seattle Reign, and reviving the previous logo. Affects Huitema and Quinn.

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/reign/ol-reign-transform-to-seattle-reign-fc-in-throwback-to-original-name-and-crest/

In other news, Barça coach Jonathan Giráldez has been confirmed as the new Washington Spirit coach after his contract ends June 30; big signing, one of the best women's coaches around. That will affect just one Canadian at Spirit, Gabrielle Carle.

As FCB have a lot of talented players and a bit of salary contention, I think we'll see a few players go with him to Spirit, and move on in general. FCB can't pay everyone who is a star, a WC winner, a Champions winner, the sort of salary they may deserve as they move into mid-career.

[red card]

Dagenais appears to be skipping over NWSL for liga BPI. This would make 9th Canadian in Portugal.

 

 

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

Since my original post

● Maya Antoine

https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=5924

● Daliisha Spence (never invited to a CSA camp?)

● Sahara Zingano (never invited to a CSA camp?)

 

have been added to the draft.

 

 

On 1/11/2024 at 1:15 PM, red card said:

Dagenais appears to be skipping over NWSL for liga BPI.

and Vivianne Bessette and Melissa Dagenais have both officially withdrawn.

 

The draft can be seen live for free here:

https://watch.nwslsoccer.com/home

(but you need to sign up)

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

Out of the 4 rounds of the draft, for the Canadians, all the action happened in the 3rd round.

#29 Zoe Burns to Salt Lake City

#36 Amanda West to Houston

#42 Mya Jones to San Diego

 

 

 

 

 

[red card]

Three Canadian selections is most in NWSL college draft since 2018 and also equals 2017 total. It's also first time players were selected from Pitt and Memphis.

2017 was best year with Prince, Sheridan & Agnew all making their way to the national team. For 2018, only Quinn has made a mark at the club or national team level. 

Of the 17 Canadians ever previously selected in NWSL's college draft, 65% have had relatively long run club careers in NWSL and/or Europe. About 40% have also been key national team contributors while the jury is still out for Collins. 

 

[red card]

Prince gets traded for Cece Kizer and a '24 International slot. 

Kizer was traded to KC to be in her hometown but now leaving. 

 

[red card]

NWSL released their schedule. They stated details regarding international distribution will be announced in the coming weeks. 

But on their sign up page for their renamed streaming platform NWSL+, it says international viewers can see 121 matches for free. That leaves around 70 other matches which happens to be the number that will be shown on NWSL+ USA platform. So, it could be same as last year where every match was free to watch.

But Amazon Prime press release says their Friday games will also be available in Canada. Aside from One Championship (combat), this is the first true foray into sports for Amazon Prime in Canada.

In the USA, you'll need access to up to 10 platforms to see all matches with half of them requiring a sub.

NWSL+: 70

ION: 50

Amazon Prime: 25

ESPN+: 17 (or 8 on ESPN2, 7 on ESPN & 1 on ABC)

CBS or P+: 11

CBSSN: 10

 

https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-2024-regular-season-schedule-and-broadcast-details

 

[red card]

Moscato to be assistant at Louisville.

They just appointed their 35 yr old current manager last November. Bev Yanez has much less experience than Moscato and never has been a head coach. But she won a lot as a player in US, Finland, Japan & Australia and as an assistant with Gotham.

 

[red card]

In her first match in 1.5 years, Beckie gets a brace and an assist after subbing in for Sinclair at halftime. In a cringy match for defenders and goalkeepers, Thorns lose 5-4 to KC. Fleming got an assist. 

 

[red card]

Lysianne Proulx got the start for Bay FC. Faced 19 shots. Made 8 saves. Blanks Angel City for 1-0 victory.

 

[red card]

NWSL following MLS with their Leagues Cup version called Summer Cup. It will be during the Olympic break which means largely B or lower strength squads. But the championship match will take place the weekend of October 25-27 which could be around certain Champions Cup matches.

Unlike Leagues Cup, only the top 6 LigaMX Femenil clubs from 2023 will be involved. All matches in the USA. 5 groups of 4 but strangely only 4 will advance to the semis.

 

[red card]

Sinclair got the opener, replaced by Beckie who got the closer. Rob Gale leads Thorns to a 4-1 win over a reeling Houston in a day of lopsided NWSL matches.

 

[Unnamed Trialist]

Thought that Thorn shirt was very nice.

Have to say, having watched full highlights, Houston's back line were constantly coughing up the ball dumbly, it is a bit disgraceful that players like that get to be called pros.

[red card]

First for West after 4 hour storm delay. Dash are mired in 13th.

 

[red card]

Calgarian & #42 draft pick Mya Jones pots her first goal.

 

[red card]

NWSL looks to be ending their draft. 

Draft isn't significant for Canadians as only 1-3 get drafted per year. But there could quite a few Canadian implications.

These include more competition for NSL as players who want a choice where they want to play now can select teams from 3 North American leagues. 

Pool of NWSL players that may be loaned to NSL increases. Some loans to USL SL have already occurred. 

NWSL teams are now more likely to set up academies. As seen in the men's game this dilutes the importance and quality of the US college development pathway. So, the role of the NSL in developing players becomes more crucial.

There may be more and better quality Canadian players heading to US colleges. As seen with the 3 Canadian MLS academies, there will be more players developed and then spit out by NSL teams. NSL may also be able to sign and send players to US college for 1-2 years of seasoning without fear of losing the player.

 

[SthMelbRed]

8 minutes ago, red card said:

NWSL looks to be ending their draft. 

Draft isn't significant for Canadians as only 1-3 get drafted per year. But there could quite a few Canadian implications.

These include more competition for NSL as players who want a choice where they want to play now can select teams from 3 North American leagues. 

Pool of NWSL players that may be loaned to NSL increases. Some loans to USL SL have already occurred. 

NWSL teams are now more likely to set up academies. As seen in the men's game this dilutes the importance and quality of the US college development pathway. So, the role of the NSL in developing players becomes more crucial.

There may be more and better quality Canadian players heading to US colleges. As seen with the 3 Canadian MLS academies, there will be more players developed and then spit out by NSL teams. NSL may also be able to sign and send players to US college for 1-2 years of seasoning without fear of losing the player.

 

I hate the fact that nobody seems to know how to correctly use reflexive pronouns anymore. 

[red card]

New CBA has been confirmed. It's back dated to July while the new terms will roll out gradually. This CBA goes to 2030 while the previous CBA's term was set for 2022-26.

Both the US college and expansion drafts along with Discovery Rule are eliminated. 

Free agency for all when contracts expire. Every contract will be guaranteed. 

No trades without consent. Min 6 charter flights/yr with some mid-week games requiring mandatory charters. Min 28 days offseason and a mid-season break.

A small component of the salary cap will be dependent on revenue sharing. 2024 salary cap is US$2.75 million and will be increased to:

2025: $3.3 million

2026: $3.5 million

2027: $4.4 million

2028: $4.7 million

2029: $4.9 million

2030: $5.1 million

Current min salary of $37,856 will rise to $48,500 in 2025 and be $82,500 by 2030. Currently, 20% of the players make below 40k. Average is $56k. By 2030, average should top $200k unless squad size is increased beyond today's min 22/max 26. There will be no max salary.

End of season awards will net players $5-20k. Team-provided housing will be phased out as part of player comp. 

Parental leave, fertility and childcare benefits are expanded. Each club will now be required to employ 10 health professionals, up from 6. 

CBA can be reopened if shareable revenues exceed $300 million in either 2028 or 2029. 

The players got a lot of what they wanted. The league got term as the contract extends beyond the 2027 World Cup and the end of current media deal. 

It was NWSL who approached the PA about renegotiating the CBA last September. That’s because at World Cup 2023, countries that were rife with NWSL talent did not perform well, and the league realized it was falling behind the rest of the world and needed to make some changes. Both the league and PA realized they didn't have time to wait out the current CBA to make substantial transformational change.

https://www.nwslplayers.com/cba-fact-sheet

Edited August 23 by red card