The Wait Is Over

NWSL Season Preview (Part 2)

The season preview show on Lifetime returns with a rundown of the Western Conference teams, where LA's quest to win the title in its second season and Vancouver's attempt at three straight league championships are highlighted. The show then moves into a segment called "Hot Topics", a rapid-fire series of questions for the panelists on trends in the league or supposition as to things that will happen during the season.

Dalen: Yes or No. Someone will approach Seattle's record of 51 points.

Aly: No. Not a single team in the league has all the pieces in place right now to pick up at least 16 wins from 20 games.

Jenn: I'm going to say No. Even squads as loaded as Boston and Chicago have pockets of games that they will need to ride through to even approach the 50-point barrier.

Karina: I think Boston could do it IF they can get off to a hot start and are somewhere around 15-16 points when Dahlkemper returns full-time for them, which is scheduled for June 4th against the Reign.

Cat: The schedule isn't as hard for the Breakers as some of my fellow analysts seem to believe. They could rightfully be 7-0 by Dahlkemper's first start, which would put that 51 point total in serious jeopardy.

Kate: I think the Breakers get close, but fall a little short in the end.

Dalen: Coach most likely to be fired first this season, if any.

Karina: Jim Gabarra. He's already lost the GM job in Washington. It's just a matter of time before the new owners pull the plug on his coaching tenure.

Cat: Paul Riley. The Courage have steadily given away talent for peanuts or nothing and it will catch up to them on the scoresheet this season.

Aly: Rebecca Nolin. Someone has to be the fall guy for the way the Storm have managed its affairs thus far, and Carlos Bocanegra won't be the person to face the axe.

Jenn: I'm not sure Nolin is on THAT hot a seat, unlike Riley or Gabarra. I'm going with Gabarra. I feel as though Becky Sauerbrunn and Lori Lindsey have already lined up his replacement and are waiting for the right time to make the change.

Kate: I actually don't believe anyone loses their job during the regular season. Following it, all bets are off.

Dalen: Most likely player to be traded to a contender after their team falls out of playoff contention.

Kate: Sam Kerr. I think she will be the last piece to the puzzle for a team like LA or Orlando if they want to chase down the conference front-runners.

Cat: Shelina Zadorsky. Defense wins championships, and a team in need of some additional back line help will call the Spirit and try to acquire her.

Aly: Jessica McDonald. The Charge aren't going anywhere this year, and her scoring prowess would be useful as a late-game substitute for a team like Vancouver or Orlando, who have solid starters but not much bench help up front.

Jenn: Janine Beckie. The Dash are as the Dash have always been, a team that props up the rest of the league. Beckie will insist to move to a playoff team if Houston falls away from the rest of the West by early July.

Karina: Ashlyn Harris. If the Pride fall out of the race, Harris might be open to a two or three-month loan somewhere for a chance to go out a winner.

Dalen: The one game EVERY women's soccer fan should watch this year.

Cat: Charge/Olympias on July 30th. LA might have added a number of players by this point and should make mincemeat out of Carli Lloyd's squad.