The Wait Is Over

Two Weeks On The Road

The Breakers' players and staff along with some family members congregated at their gate at Logan International Airport for their flight to Vancouver that would start a two-week road trip for the club, something no team in NWSL had tried to date. Before takeoff, Lee looked at the NWSL mobile app so that we would be up to speed. He saw that earlier in the day, the Houston Dash traded Janine Beckie to Atlanta for Riley Tennant and the Storm's second-round pick. Lee alerted John to this development and they discussed its implication of Atlanta's getting a goalscorer to add to an impressive midfield and vastly-improved back line.

The plane began boarding with Lee, John, Clare, Jay, Lilly, and Yael at the front of the line. Everyone made it past the boarding agent in short order and none were pulled out for additional screening. Steph and Yael were sitting together, with the latter's head already on her partner's shoulder as they settled in for a long trip. Megan and Morgan also sat together and swapped stories of what happened after dinner on Saturday night. Morgan showed Megan the locket Patrick had given her, which the defender said was charming and that she looked so happy with him. 

Abby asked Rose to exchange seats with her temporarily so she could talk to Jessie and Meagan about their dating lives.

Abby: Jessie, anything new on the Mal front?

Jessie: Not really. There just hasn't been much time for us to come close to seeing one another.

Abby: Did you see the US roster for July's camp?

Jessie: No. Why?

Abby: Mal isn't on it. She's getting a break, like Rose and Sam are, because they are considered locks for the qualifying roster.

Jessie: That's a good thing, I'd suppose. When does the next international break start?

Abby: Once we return to Boston after this trip.

Jessie: Think you and Sam can help me with some ideas of things to do in Boston? Morgan will be at camp and if I heard Rose correctly, she was talking about spending the off-weekend back in Cincinnati, so Mal and I could possibly have a full weekend together to see what's what between the pair of us.

Abby: After we land, how about you go to dinner with the two of us and we can put our heads together to get you two cuties further along on the path to figuring this out before our countries play each other in September?

Jessie: Thanks, Abby. I don't care what Meagan says about you, you're OK in my book.

Abby: Meagan, taking my name in vain again?

Meagan: Hey, I'm not the one who was fawning over my friend at Saturday's game.

Abby: You want fawning, that would be Morgan. Patrick got her a two-heart locket with their birthstones and she's over the moon about him.

Meagan: Now if I could only find someone who makes me feel that way.

Abby: Still looking at feeling out Devon?

Meagan: I think so, but I'm pretty sure she hates me.

Abby: Why would you jump to that conclusion?

Meagan: Because I think she thinks I took her job.

Abby: Truth is you weren't the reason she was sent down. You earned your spot on this team. It was just a matter of numbers. She's still here and depending on what happens when silly season starts, she could come back up. You need to get rid of the idea that she blames you for being in Reserves this year. If you want, I can ask Sam or Julie to talk to her when we get back to Boston.

Meagan: Think it will be that easy?

Abby: I know they are high on her for the future. Just this year, with all the talent we have and the expectations that exist as a result of that, we couldn't keep a body on the roster that wouldn't play much.

Meagan: I hope you're right.

Abby: How about this. During the break, we do a defenders' night. Sam, myself, you, Devon, Julie, Michaela, Chappie, and Jenni. Chicago does this kind of thing a couple of times a year, where the defense and d-mids get together on a Friday night before a home Saturday to eat, socialize, and sometimes gossip. We'll even host since Sam won't be at National Team camp.

Meagan: Thanks, Abby. You know I wouldn't say anything negative about you.

Abby: I know. Jessie was just yanking my chain.

John and Clare relaxed and discussed plans for a big reunion for his former team on this trip.

John: Rhian and Marie-Eve called me last week wondering if we'd like to see them when we're in Vancouver. She also said that they were planning to get a lot of my former players together since this is technically my first trip back to Canada's spiritual home of women's soccer since leaving for the Breakers job.

Clare: Any names dropped?

John: Sinc, KK, Diana, Carm, plus I'm guessing our Canadians as well as the Legacy's.

Clare: Sounds like it could be fun. Have you told our players yet?

John: No. I'll do it when we're all at the hotel.

Clare: Two bronze medals, a silver medal, and now the best team in NWSL. Is there anything you can't do, dear?

John: Walk on fire.

Clare: I wasn't looking for a REAL answer, smart-ass.

John: I'd rather be a smart one than a dumb one.

Clare: Thank you for keeping your response clean around the kids. 

Lee got a text from the office saying that Carlos Bocanegra had been calling and would like him to return his call once they landed.

***

Houston Dash - Traded forward Janine Beckie to Atlanta for midfielder Riley Tennant and a second-round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.