6 days ago
NWSL's coaching PR problem. Plus: A very awkward moment in Chicago
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Across its 16 teams, the NWSL has two open head coaching positions and only three women in the role permanently. This is somewhat relevant today. Let's get into:
🥊 Rivalry weekend fizzles
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❓ North Carolina's bizarre PR move
🇪🇸 Spain's new head coach
Welcome to Full Time! Here's what went down this weekend:
Cascadia rises above the rest
What makes a rivalry? As Tamerra said on the 'Full Time' podcast last week, it's a question akin to the internet meme, 'Is a hot dog a sandwich?' because it's in the eye of the beholder. While one matchup showed why history matters, the NWSL's inaugural rivalry week otherwise fell flat. (Tip: Read to the end to see the cringiest moment of the weekend.)
As we mentioned last week, there were really only three potential rivalries on the schedule.
San Diego Wave versus Angel City had the proximity element, but was missing key figures and history between the two expansion clubs. On Saturday, the teams remained level until the 85th minute when Makenzy Robbe scored for the Wave. Australian forward Alanna Kennedy found the equalizer, and her first goal of the season, in the 92nd minute, but even late-game fireworks couldn't save the SoCal Derby from falling short of its potential.
Earlier in the day, Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit had the key figures, including a second-half appearance from Trinity Rodman. It also had the proximity element and some history (does last year's semifinal battle count?). However, the midday game felt more like a summer tournament hangover, featuring several Euro 2025 stars and ending in a scoreless draw. It didn't exactly scream animosity when Gotham's home crowd cheered Rodman's entrance, either.
When all else fails, however, the Cascadia Rivalry is there. Seattle Reign and Portland Thorns met for the 43rd time across all competitions on Sunday in a thrilling 4-2 weekend finale. A season-high crowd of 21,811 fans watched the foes square off with plenty of goals, badge pointing and legends of the matchup, Megan Rapinoe and Christine Sinclair, in the stands.
You know the marketing angle hasn't overtaken the organic development of the intense pettiness it takes to spark a rivalry when even Alex Morgan is shrugging her shoulders at some of the league-declared rivalries during mid-game interviews in San Diego. And honestly, isn't that a good thing?
Personally, I had high hopes for Utah Royals vs. Kansas City Current in light of Ally Sentnor's recent trade. And while she was booed when she came off the bench, the 1-0 result didn't exactly live up to the ferocity of a bitter rivalry.
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Here's where things stand after week 15.
What's happening in North Carolina?
Head coaches became the topic of last week after the North Carolina Courage abruptly fired Sean Nahas. The 47-year-old had been with the club as an assistant since 2017 and moved into the head coaching role on an interim basis in 2021 following the firing of Paul Riley. By the 2022 season, he was promoted to the role permanently. He had an overall record of 36-35-19.
The club announced it let Nahas go with a terse, 39-word statement on Wednesday. The following day, the club tried to quell reporters' curiosities during a press conference where Courage sporting director Ceri Bowley repeated that there were 'a multitude of factors' for Nahas' termination. The press conference at times grew combative when reporters pressed for specifics, and the club refused to share much beyond how its standards were not being met by Nahas.
Following the Courage's 2-1 loss to Houston Dash on Friday night in Texas, the club clarified in a statement its reasons for his firing, citing 'confounding performance issues, culture issues, and a perceived lack of fit that created an environment that club leadership felt was untenable to the point that change was necessary at the head coaching position.'
Yes, much clearer.
Former assistant coach Nathan Thackeray was elevated to interim head coach following Nahas' departure and led the Courage against the Dash on Friday night. The Courage currently sits ninth in the NWSL standings, with a record of 5-4-6.
For more on the situation and what it says about the league…
Last week was another painful reminder that the NWSL still has issues around coaching changes and communication.
Even considering the history of the NWSL, including Sally Yates' and NWSL/NWSLPA joint reports around the league's failure to stop abuse, the Courage's media strategy around Nahas' firing is probably one of the most bizarre I've seen. 'Multitude of factors' has become a meme, thanks to the dozen-plus mentions in that hostile first press conference.
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On Friday, the Courage finally said that 'confounding performance issues, culture issues, and a perceived lack of fit' were the root of the issue two days after those first two sentences were posted to social media. It's unclear why those three factors, among the multitude, could not be named during the initial press conference.
Public transparency is tough to navigate in this league when taking into consideration potential legal and privacy obstacles. 'Culture issues' is a rather anodyne catch-all, but it still says more than 'multitude of factors.' For a club that has had to rebuild a lot of trust with its supporters, this week didn't help the Courage nor the NWSL as a whole.
Spain parts ways with another head coach
Spain has moved on from head coach Montse Tome, appointing former player and Under-23 coach Sonia Bermúdez to replace her. The federation announced the change on Monday; however, The Athletic's Laia Cervello Herrero reports that the decision was made before the 2025 European Championship began. To get the latest on the reigning World Cup winner's coaching change, we asked our resident expert, Laia, for more:
Why did Spain move on from Tome?
💬 She never gained the full support of the players or their trust, according to multiple sources. Tome was former head coach Jorge Vilda's assistant coach and was promoted when Vilda was dismissed amid an institutional crisis following the 2023 World Cup and former Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales' non-consensual kiss with Jennifer Hermoso. Tome applauded the speech of the former president before his firing, and although the rough edges were smoothed over, she never had the support of the team. The decision had been made before the Euros, according to sources, and Tome was going to be dismissed whether Spain won the competition or not.
What will Tome be remembered most for during her time with Spain?
💬 Although she made history with the national team — winning the Nations League in 2024, being part of the coaching staff that won the World Cup in 2023, and taking Spain to its first-ever Euro final — she will pass without pain or glory. She was overshadowed by Vilda, even though she repeatedly tried to emphasize that she was not him. I have a feeling that Tome will be remembered more for applauding Rubiales' speech (although she later retracted her actions and explained that she felt obliged to do so) than for her sporting achievements.
What do we know about her replacement?
💬 Bermúdez was the top scorer in FC Barcelona's history until Hermoso took the record from her, and then Alexia Putellas after that. She has since been coaching Spain's youth teams. The Spanish federation hopes she is someone the players respect and who knows how to manage the dressing room better than Tome. The problem is that the players have not forgotten that Bermúdez also applauded (and then retracted) Rubiales' speech.
Golden list: The Ballon d'Or shortlist was released last week. The annual award, given to the year's best footballers by France Football magazine, includes the USWNT's Lindsey Heaps and Emily Fox, plus Marta and two-time winners Aitana Bonmati and Putellas. The Athletic's women's soccer writers explain which players deserve to win it this year.
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A coaching hire: Denver Summit FC named Nick Cushing as its first head coach to lead the expansion team in its inaugural season next year. The 40-year-old previously spent time as the head coach of Manchester City Women in England and New York City FC in Major League Soccer. Cushing connected with Denver following his UK departure, telling The Athletic his new role 'was the right project' for him.
Well, that's awkward: The Premier League, which kicks off on Friday, will feature in-game interviews with substituted players to provide more access. But a moment with Mallory Swanson during the Chicago Stars' 1-1 draw with Bay FC this weekend in NWSL could be a guide in what not to do.
The Stars, who have just one win this season, are without Swanson as she prepares for the birth of her first child. She was present on Saturday, however, and gave an interview to CBS to promote her new Army clothing collaboration. Unfortunately for Swanson, it came at the exact moment that Bay scored the opening goal. The cameras then just stayed on Swanson. You can practically hear the 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' theme tune as the camera pans out:
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