Gotham FC's superior roster depth and offensive weapons give them a clear edge over an offensively diminished Orlando Pride in the NWSL semifinal matchup.
Portland's defensive grit and Olivia Moultrie's brilliance break San Diego's attack, securing a playoff win despite adversity and showcasing a resilient "next one up" mentality.
Washington Spirit's superior depth and health make them overwhelming favorites against a severely depleted Portland Thorns, setting up a semifinal clash where home advantage may sway officials.
A single free-kick moment decides a defensive NWSL semifinal, revealing offensive struggles and raising questions about Gotham's championship path against a formidable Washington Spirit defense.
Models favor Gotham FC, but the Spirit's recent form and tactical edge, plus Trinity Rodman's impact, suggest an upset in this tightly contested, connoisseur's NWSL Championship final.
"The Athletic" - Mentioned for an article by John Muller regarding the limited impact of coaches on team performance.
Articles & Papers
"the first five hundred words of it are just quotes from what we would consider the best head coaches in the world saying like, yeah, it's not really what I do, it's what the players do" (John Muller in The Athletic) - This quote from a John Muller article in The Athletic is used to support the idea that coaches have less impact on team performance than typically assumed.
People Mentioned
Donald Sutherland - Mentioned as an actor in a film, referencing his "emotionally remote father."
Mary Tyler Moore - Mentioned as an actress, referencing her "absolutely vicious mother" character.
Timothy Hutton - Mentioned as an actor, referencing his role as a "totally lost teenager."
Jud Hirsch - Mentioned for his fashion in films, specifically "the greatest sweaters in cinema history."
Chris Evans - Mentioned in comparison to Jud Hirsch's knitwear in "Knives Out."
Adrián González - Mentioned as the coach of the Washington Spirit, praised for his tactics.
Rob Gale - Mentioned as the coach of the Portland Thorns, discussed in relation to his tactical adjustments and personnel issues.
Petra Torrens - Mentioned as a Portland Thorns player, with discussion about her potential to start despite fitness concerns.
Raylen Turner - Mentioned as a Portland Thorns player, discussed in the context of her role as a striker and the physical demands of her position.
Dana Castellanos - Mentioned as a Portland Thorns player, discussed in the context of her role in midfield.
Alexis Panstra - Mentioned as a Portland Thorns player, discussed in the context of her role in midfield and making a last-ditch tackle.
Caitlin Torpy - Mentioned as a player, discussed in relation to her defensive action against Rose Lavelle.
Rose Lavelle - Mentioned as a Washington Spirit player, noted for her speed and athleticism.
Ryan Rosenblatt - Quoted regarding Rose Lavelle's speed.
Rosemon Quassi - Mentioned as a Washington Spirit player, highlighted for her speed, dominant play in open space, and unselfish assist.
Sam Mewis - Mentioned as a comparison for Rosemon Quassi's speed.
Gift Monday - Mentioned as a Washington Spirit player, recipient of an assist from Rosemon Quassi and involved in a goal-line chance.
Trinity Rodman - Mentioned extensively in the context of her contract negotiations and potential departure from the NWSL, highlighting her importance and marketability.
Ma Vignola - Mentioned as a player whose absence from Portland's lineup could have altered the game.
Lisa Bethune - Mentioned as a Washington Spirit player, highlighted for her pressing and goal.
Mirage - Mentioned as a player for Washington Spirit.
Jeff Agos - Mentioned as a player for Washington Spirit.
McKenzie Arnold - Mentioned as the Portland Thorns goalkeeper, with discussion about her performance and limitations.
Mckeon - Mentioned as a Washington Spirit player who had a good game.
Kate Weizener - Mentioned as a Washington Spirit player who provided a positive surprise performance.
Trinity Rodman - Mentioned extensively in the context of her contract negotiations and potential departure from the NWSL, highlighting her importance and marketability.
Jessie Berman - Mentioned as the commissioner of the NWSL, critiqued for her comments on the salary cap.
Megan Burke - Mentioned in the context of negotiations with players.
Alyssa Thompson - Mentioned as a comparison to Trinity Rodman in terms of potential and market value.
Haley MacCutchin - Mentioned in relation to a quote about belief.
Kim McCauley - Mentioned in relation to preseason predictions.
Organizations & Institutions
National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) - The professional women's soccer league in the US, the main subject of discussion.
Washington Spirit - A team in the NWSL, discussed for their performance in the semifinal.
Portland Thorns - A team in the NWSL, discussed for their performance in the semifinal.
Kansas City - Mentioned as a team in the NWSL, used for comparison regarding preseason projections.
Gotham - Mentioned as a team in the NWSL, discussed in relation to facing Washington in the final and their victory over Orlando.
San Jose - Mentioned as a location and a team (implied by "San Jose on Saturday").
Orlando - Mentioned as a team that lost to Gotham in the semi-final.
Chelsea - Mentioned as a club where Alyssa Thompson might play.
Arsenal - Mentioned as a club where Trinity Rodman might play.
Lyon - Mentioned as a club where Trinity Rodman might play.
Bay FC - Referred to as "bay fc supporter group" and "bay fc."
North Carolina - Mentioned as a team in the NWSL, discussed in the context of spending on rosters.
Louisville - Mentioned as a team in the NWSL, discussed in the context of spending on rosters.
Utah - Mentioned as a team in the NWSL, discussed in the context of spending on rosters.
Atlanta - Mentioned as a city awarded an expansion franchise.
Angel City - Mentioned as a team in the NWSL, discussed in relation to potentially acquiring Trinity Rodman.
Websites & Online Resources
The Athletic (URL not explicitly mentioned) - Mentioned for an article by John Muller.
Patreon (URL not explicitly mentioned) - Mentioned as a platform where bonus episodes are available.
Other Resources
NWSL playoffs - The postseason tournament for the NWSL.
NWSL championship - The final game of the NWSL season.
NWSL semi final - The semifinal matches of the NWSL playoffs.
Expected Own Goals - The podcast itself, but mentioned in a way that could be considered a resource for listeners interested in the topic.
Bridge Brigade - A supporter group for Bay FC.
Spirit supporter groups - Supporter groups for the Washington Spirit.
Gotham supporter groups - Supporter groups for Gotham FC.