The Wait Is Over

Bringing Order to Chaos

The NWSL Owners' Meeting is taking place in Chicago, with each of the fourteen teams sending a representative. Today's agenda is focused on giving the collective ownership some clarification on business matters as well as setting rules for financial accountability. Before the meeting, Philadelphia Charge general manager Erica Dambach and Sky Blue FC general manager Saskia Webber had a brief conversation.

Erica: Has Carli contacted you yet about desiring to come to Sky Blue if an opening occurs?

Saskia: No. Jill talked to me yesterday about getting her some help in case Christie is unable to continue as head coach, but the owners and I haven't discussed a long-term plan for succession. Our current train of thought is to use Katherine Reynolds as a part-time assistant, to fill in when Christie can't be at training or games the next two weeks and for however long it takes to find another assistant.

Erica: She, I, and Erin have talked about what we'll do in Philly if she chooses to come your way, but if she hasn't made contact with you yet, then it's premature for us to share that.

Saskia: Would I be interested in having Carli come back to Jersey? Definitely, but I don't think it's fair to Jill to bring her in over her.

Erica: The two of them already had that discussion as well, and Carli would want Jill to finish out the season as head coach, with her as her assistant, to see how and if they're able to work together.

Saskia: That's a big risk on Carli's part, to leave a head coaching job to be an assistant somewhere else under an interim coach.

Erica: I heard in her voice how important it is to her to be together with Jill and Madden, and that's why she's willing to make that kind of sacrifice.

Saskia: Love is strange, ain't it?

Erica: Yes.

Saskia: I'll call the ownership after the meeting and see if we can get the ball rolling to make that happen by the end of the June break.

Erica: We'll miss her, but it's the best thing for her, for Jill, and for your club in my opinion.

Saskia: I believe you're right, and you have a ready-made transition there with Erin taking over and the potential to bring on Ella as her number two.

Erica: That's the plan.

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NWSL Commissioner Amanda Duffy: Welcome to the 2022 June Owners' Meeting. Before we get down to our business, we will have a presentation from US Women's National Team head coach Laura Harvey.

Laura Harvey: Thank you, Amanda. As you may have noticed in our last press release concerning our June training camp and friendlies against Belgium, my staff and I are looking to broaden the player pool and see how some of the league's standouts do at the international level. To do that, we have brought in seven of our current national teamers to act as preceptors during camp, to compete alongside the newbies and evaluate them on and off-the-field. In addition, we have also invited six former national teamers who are still active in NWSL to add another layer of competition and comparison to the mix. All six of them will be in the Pacific Northwest on the weekend before camp, three of whom play for Portland, where we are starting camp and will play the first Belgium friendly. When we move onto Denver, there will be some experimentation with roommate assignments. We have heard some positive news coming from the league on this front from a number of teams that have started recognizing in-house relationships and how best to support them within the team dynamic. For the three nights we're there, established couples will be placed together. Beyond that, we will try to match up current and former teammates, long-time friends, and/or other requested situations. If things work out well, we'll test it again in July for the second half of camp, with the goal being to eventually incorporate it by the time of World Cup qualifying after the NWSL season. Any questions?