As with many soccer coaches of his era, Joe Morrone did not fit the profile of what we would consider a modern soccer coach.
First, he did not have a background in the sport — "I think the first time I saw a soccer game, I was playing in it," Morrone said.
Then there was his appearance on the sideline — donning sunglasses and a suit and toting a clipboard that rarely survived the full 90 minutes.
After a historic freshman season at the University of Texas and a standout performance at the recent Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship, the personal accolades are starting to roll in for 19-year-old Lexi Missimo.
The college soccer world suffered a devastating loss when Stanford announced the death of 22-year-old star goalkeeper Katie Meyer on Wednesday. In the initial statement from Stanford, the cause of death wasn’t given.
Stanford’s star goalkeeper Katie Meyer has died, the school announced on Wednesday. Stanford announced on Tuesday that an undergraduate student had been found dead in a dorm, however the cause of death wasn’t shared. Meyer was 22 years old.
We love you, Katie. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vkrAisQABi
Back in November, Rory Dames tried to quietly exit the NWSL with a press release hours before a Washington Post story outlined years of his alleged abuse of players while he coached the Chicago Red Stars. The allegations came from NWSL stars like Christen Press, one of the most recognizable players in league history.
One of U.S. soccer’s greatest strikers is hanging up her boots to join the coaching ranks. Amy Rodriguez, who won at every level, retired from the NWSL on Friday to join her alma mater, USC, as an assistant coach.
A-Rod, as the 34-year-old is affectionately known, won an NCAA title with USC, two Olympic gold medals and the 2015 Women’s World Cup. She led FC Kansas City to back-to-back NWSL titles, scoring 64 goals in 160 matches in her professional career.
In Europe there's a pretty established pathway to becoming a professional footballer: get signed to the academy of a professional club at an early age and hope that one day you're good enough to make the first team.
For an American with European dreams, the route is similar: either have a rich family that can send you abroad or hope that a European club somehow spots you.
The 10th annual NWSL Draft was held on Saturday evening, and with the No. 1 overall pick, expansion side San Diego Wave FC selected Stanford defender Naomi Girma, who was U.S. Soccer's 2020 Young Female Player of the Year.
Girma joins a San Diego backline anchored by USWNT veteran Abby Dahlkemper and former Stanford teammate Tegan McGrady. The 21-year-old can also play in midfield, where she may be needed after the club selected a forward, German international Marleen Schimmer out of Grand Canyon University, with its ninth pick in the first round.
This summer, the NCAA abandoned its archaic rules prohibiting college athletes from making money off their name, image and likeness. On Tuesday, UCLA women’s soccer player Reilyn Turner was announced as the first Nike NIL deal, a sign the athletic apparel behemoth is interested in more than putting its products in front of the most eyes possible.