SAN DIEGO – Two days before the highly anticipated 2023 NWSL Championship between NJ/NY Gotham FC and OL Reign – and shortly after the league announced a historic new media rights deal that includes a host of games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, as well as ESPN+ – all met of rosters and coaching staff with reporters at media day on Thursday.
We’ve outlined how the NWSL Championship could go on Saturday, from key players to tactical match-ups that could define the game. We then asked the players and coaches what they thought of each. Here’s what they had to say.
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Stars say goodbye: Ali Krieger (NJ/NY Gotham FC) and Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign)
There is no doubt about the final on Saturday. Krieger and Rapinoe, old friends and former USWNT teammates, will play their final matches. Rapinoe remains a game-changing talent, while Krieger has had one of the best club seasons of her career in 2023.
“It’s really special, to be honest,” Rapinoe said of facing Krieger in the final. “I mean, obviously only one of us is going to be able to win, and it’s going to be sad for whoever doesn’t win. But it’s really special to be able to share our entire careers.” [had]. I know that if I win, she will be happy for me; “If she wins, I will be thrilled for her.”
Both Krieger and Rapinoe jokingly admitted that they would be talking to each other throughout the week and the game (Rapinoe more so). “I think it will stay on the left side, at least let’s hope so,” Krieger said. “I’ve already told her she has to do it, because if she comes right, she’ll come down. No — no matter what the jokes, she’ll bring it and I’ll bring it, and that’s the way we respect each other more than anything else. We’re both winners and we’ll show up.” We show up and do our thing and hope our teammates do the same.
“Honestly, at the end of the day, I’m very proud of us. We made the most of our NFL experience. We were like, did we really make it that way? Yes, we did, and that’s why we did it.” “We’re here. You can tell we wanted it so bad.”
Gonzalez is the No. 9 who can move into deeper positions in midfield. She played primarily as a midfielder in the first half of Gotham’s semifinal win over the Portland Thorns before returning to the striker role. Lavelle is a well-known entity but has rarely played this season due to injuries. Her return to full fitness made a clear difference in the semifinal win over the San Diego Wave and changed the way the Reign played for the better.
“The dynamism that Rose offers us is very unique to Rose Lavelle,” said the Rennes midfielder Jess Fishlock He said. “There’s no other player like her in the whole world. What she can do for us, you can’t really explain it unless you play with him. But obviously he has a knock-on effect on us.” “You played in a positive way.”
For Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amoros, Gonzalez provides more than just offensive impact. In the recent win over Portland, the World Cup winner provided a number of duels won and two tackles.
“She is the No. 9 player who can score goals, but on top of that, as we saw in the last match, she is a great player to help the team in other positions,” he said. “To get out of pressure, to drop back into the midfield. For us, it is very important the way our strikers defend… The first defender is the number 9 and her role is very important to avoid chances from the opponent.
“[She could have] She came to our team thinking “I’m a world champion,” but she didn’t, she came very humble, willing to work very hard. The players did the same. “And a lot of them are learning Spanish.”
0:53
Can OL Reign get the big prize after getting over the semi-final hump?
Sebastian Salazar talks with Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett about OL Reign reaching the NWSL Championship final for the first time in several years.
Team Heartbeat: Lane Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC) and Jess Fishlock (OL era)
Any observer of the National Football League over the past decade knows that moment Fishlock took off. Maybe the referee missed a call. Maybe the Covenant needs a wake-up call. Maybe you just scored a golazo. When that moment comes, the rest of the covenant follows.
Forward Veronica Latsko, who scored the winning goal in the semifinal, sees that energy from Fishlock and midfielder Emily Sonnett.
“The two seem to be the powerhouse of the cell,” Latsko said. “Tackling hard and covering the floor defensively and offensively is big. I definitely think energy is contagious. When one person exudes that kind of energy and hard work, it inspires others around them to do the same.”
Williams’ energetic efforts haven’t gone overlooked for Gotham either, which can often energize the team in tough situations. “What I love about Lynn is that she is an amazing talent and she works hard with that talent,” Gotham midfielder McCall Zerboni said. “A character who has the ability to score goals and break lines like that, but will also quickly get back into our defensive penalty area to win the ball from someone.
“That’s very motivating from someone who has achieved so much in his life, even on the world stage. Those moments when you get tired in the game and say, ‘Oh my God, I just ran 80 yards to go’ come back and defend when you become one of the most skilled strikers in the world. That’s what makes it really special.”
Goalkeepers in their greatest moments: Mandy Hott (NJ/NY Gotham FC) and Claudia Dickie (OL Reign)
This may be the most unlikely goaltender duo in NWSL history. Both Hoot, 25, and Dickie, 23, took over starting duties late in the season – Hoot due to an injury to Abby Smith, and Dickie as part of the shake-up that saw Fallon Tullis-Joyce move to Manchester United.
Both goalkeepers were quickly integrated into their teams as first line forwards as well as goalkeepers. Who will step up to the moment on Saturday in what is undoubtedly the biggest match of their careers?
“I don’t think every team has two No. 1 goalkeepers where your comfort with them behind you is the same,” Gotham FC defender Christine Edmunds said of Hoot. “We’re lucky to have that.”
Gotham defender Jenna Nijsunger added: “She was so great. Abby was great for us, and Mandy stepping in and doing the same thing was great for us. I think Mandy is very good on the ball, which I think has happened.” It was big for us, like construction [from the back]Especially against the Portland Thorns. “She had a lot of possession, she had the composure, the composure and the vision to pass the ball. I thought she was great and gave us great performances at times.”
For The Reign, Dickey stepped in under pressure to replace the No. 1 [Tullis-Joyce]who performed well last season, but lost popularity with coach Laura Harvey.
“It was fun to watch [Dickey]Lauren Barnes, defending, said: “She was in a really difficult situation. It was very competitive. To change a goalkeeper in this part of the season that we’ve done and bring in a young goalkeeper – and we’ve put a lot of pressure on her to come in – and actually play games, it’s really difficult. You give her the space and time to feel these games, make the mistakes she needs to, learn from them, and grow. Watching her do it in less than two games is truly impressive.
“She’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen with the ball at her feet. That’s something we really encourage on this team. We really want to play, so I think being able to utilize all the players on your team, including the goalie,” gives us that extra factor. “If we can’t play forward, we’ll go back to Claudia, and she can distribute well as a centre-back up the pitch.”
The linebacker battle that could decide the game: Jenna Niggsunger (New Jersey/New York Gotham FC) and Sofía Huerta (All Reigns)
Can two running backs define a star’s game? They sure can.
Huerta is among the best crossers in the NFL and is a converted fullback who likes to get forward. Nighswonger only started playing at fullback this year and was named the 2023 NWSL Rookie of the Year on Thursday.
Huerta plays to the right of Reign. Nighswonger is on the left of Gotham. Both players like to get forward, which means that even if they are not competing directly against each other, they will have to worry about the space they have vacated and how that could leave their team vulnerable in transition.
“I think a lot of it has to do with timing,” Huerta said. “It’s like if I’m at the back line and I’m looking at our team, do we have the ball or not? Right? If we have clear possession, then I’ll go and I’ll go.” “I have to look to see where that winger is because it’s probably the winger following me. If we have all the ball, I’ll go, I’ll lose it.
“But sometimes it’s a bit of a risk because I can think we have full possession of the ball and then we don’t. And then the winger has the advantage over me. But I feel like with Laura [Harvey] And her experience, she’s really honed in on countermeasures. And if you’re high and you’re off-center, who’s going to care about the space you just left?”
2:05
NWSL announces new 4-year rights deal
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman details the league’s new 4-year rights deal.
It has been two years since Huerta fully transitioned into the full-back role from her attacking midfield and forward days, and has featured in the USA’s World Cup roster as a full-back. Nighswonger is the latest to take the position, but she echoed thoughts about the timing.
“I think a really important part of the situation is like reading when you have to go,” Niggsunger said. “For example, if [Gotham right full-back] Broninha goes up the pitch, and I can’t go, so Huerta pushes the line, like it’s too high. It’s just like reading numbers. My first job is defense, so I need to make sure the area I’m leaving is covered, and if it is, I can move forward. “I don’t think I pay much attention to who they are specifically or how far they’re progressing.”
prediction
All Reign 0-1 New Jersey/New York Gotham. Expect a tightly contested, gritty defensive game in which Gotham presses the right tactical buttons and stops the Reign’s attack. Yasmine Rayan scores the winning goal. — Jeff Kassoff
All Reigns 1-0 New Jersey/New York Gotham. This is going to be a tense affair and could go either way, especially with how both have thrived defensively, but the Reign have the slight advantage of staying home after playing at Snapdragon last week. — Cesar Hernandez
