The Wait Is Over

Shipping Up to Boston

The North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit met for the first time in the 2021 season on June 12th, with the Spirit winning by a 2-1 margin. Sam Mewis had a particularly bad match, responsible for the first goal by flicking a header the wrong direction and over her goalkeeper's outstretched arm. Abby Dahlkemper, however, played rather well until a late scrum on a corner kick jarred her and she left the match shortly thereafter. Following the match, Mewis and Dahlkemper met at the center of the field to exchange hugs and some kind words.

Mewis: Good game, Abby. How's your head?

Dahlkemper: Still on my shoulders. The symptoms from the concussion in Tokyo have been on-and-off, a sort of constant buzz. The contact we made on the corner juggled something, which is why I had to be taken off.

Mewis: I'm sorry. Things here aren't the same since you got moved, first to Philly and then to the Spirit. I'm not playing as well as I can, and I know it's because I don't have you here, both on and off the field. If things don't improve, I'm going to talk to Paul about moving me to either Boston or Washington and will also look overseas to sign in the next transfer window for a January move.

Dahlkemper: Having you with the Spirit would be fun. I know Kristie would love the idea and we could use a lock-down defensive midfielder for games when Steph is in net.

Mewis: Gabarra still running that platoon system with her and Kelsey?

Dahlkemper: Yes, and it works for the most part. I just feel that at some point he will have to pick one to ride or deal one and get a regular back-up.

Mewis: Call me! Love you, and congrats on beating me in our first-ever game against each other.

Dahlkemper: Love you too, and keep your chin up. Things will work out.

Fast forward one week and the Courage faced the Vancouver Whitecaps. In a thorough mauling of the 2016 NWSL champions, the Whitecaps trotted out to a 5-1 win. What's worse, though, is that Mewis picked up her fifth yellow card of the season and a one-game suspension that will be served the following Saturday when North Carolina takes on Sky Blue FC.

Monday morning, Mewis is in coach Paul Riley's office.

Riley: Come in, Sam.

Mewis: Paul, I'm sorry about taking that stupid yellow and now leaving us short-handed for the trip to Jersey.

Riley: Pish-posh! I knew heading into the season that you'd be more prone to cards due to the fact that we don't have Abby behind you any more and you would be having to break up plays before the opponent could get to our center backs. We'll re-jigger the midfield to fill the void.

Mewis: There is another reason I wanted to talk to you. Things aren't going well for me here, either on or off the field. You can see it in my play, and my happy-all-the-time self has been replaced by someone who is barely getting through the day. I would like to head back up the coast and play for either Boston or Washington. I have support in both places, with one being home and the other having my sister and Abby playing there. I'm also going to look overseas once the transfer window opens on the 1st for a possible January move.

Riley: This is a bit sudden. We love you here. The team adores you, and as deputy skipper they look up to you. However, if your heart isn't here, then your game and your well-being will continue to suffer. I'll see what I can do. Naturally, we won't give you away for less than what we think is fair, and we might need to involve a third team to make the pieces fit.

Mewis: Thanks, Coach. Since I am suspended for Saturday's game, would I be able to fly up and back with the team, but head to Boston in the interim for their game against the Spirit and to see my folks?