The 2022 NWSL season will hopefully bring to an end the search for a title for the two oldest franchises in US women's professional soccer, the Boston Breakers and the Chicago Red Stars. Twelve other teams will have their say on whether either franc...
After watching the US dispatch Spain, 3-1, with goals coming from Steph McCaffrey, Savannah Jordan, and Sarah Killion, Steph and Yael started talking about their eventual moving in together and what they wanted in a place.
Steph: What are you thinking in terms of square footage or neighborhood for our new place?
Yael: Something like this. Not too big, not too small. A room for us, a nursery for Deborah, a decent-sized living room/dining room/kitchen combination. What's the plan with Rio?
Steph: I'm hoping we can get him acquainted with the baby a little bit at a time. Maybe even introduce them to one another before she even gets here.
Steph went to find her pupper and brought him back to the couch, where Yael rubbed him behind the ears. Steph then placed him in her lap and moved his head so it was against Yael's stomach.
Steph: Rio, this is your new sister, a human sister. Mommy and Yael are having a baby. She is going to be a bit smaller than you when she arrives, so you'll have to be careful around her in the beginning, but I'm sure you two will love each other and will become the best of friends when she's big enough to play with you some.
Yael smiled at her explanation to Rio about Deborah, wondering how she got so lucky to find a person who could be a good partner for her and a loving parent to her child. Steph let Rio go and he scampered back to his dog bed to play with his toys.
Steph: I know that was a little corny, but it just seemed like the right thing to do, same as if we were getting another pet.
Yael: It WAS a bit hokey, but I understand the sentiment behind it and love your desire to really be part of this journey, albeit not as front-and-center as I'd be hoping just because we can't be TOO public about us.
Steph: I'm ready to step that up whenever you are, hun.
Yael: There's no real way around the fact that I can't do that until after she's born.
Steph: Right.
Steph sat down on the couch and Yael lied back onto her stomach. After pushing a few strands of hair away from her face, Steph placed her hand on Yael's heart.
Steph: I adore you, and I'm so glad that you're letting me be part of this with you.
Yael: Kiss me, my love.
Steph leaned down and captured Yael's lips with her own. After a few pecks of varying length, the two of them headed for Steph's bedroom to turn in for the evening.
***
Yael was up before Steph and went to the kitchen to grab some breakfast to go with her reading of the Boston Globe. While eated at the kitchen island, her phone went off. At first, she ignored it, but it then buzzed three more times. Guessing that something was up, she finally read the texts.
HAO: Can't talk. Turn on SportsCenter NOW!
Kling: Heart in my throat. So sad. Tobes in pieces as well.
Yael took HAO's direction and turned on the television, then changed the channel to ESPN. She was faced with the following on the screen:
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Anson Dorrance
1951-2022
Hannah Storm (ESPN): In case you're just joining us, Anson Dorrance, the long-time women's soccer coach at North Carolina, passed away overnight at the age of 71. Foul play is not suspected, but an autopsy will be performed tomorrow to determine the cause of death. On the phone with us is one of his former players and the general manager of the North Carolina Courage, Cindy Parlow Cone. Cindy, put into words if you can what is going through your mind.
Cindy: Shock. Heather O'Reilly and I saw him at the our complex in Cary on Friday as we were using the international break to get things up to speed ahead of our players returning from US National Team camp on Wednesday. He was spry, his normal witty self. There was no indication that he was ill or less than 100%.
Hannah: What will you remember most about him?
Cindy: His passion for the empowerment of women, that we could be as good as the men around us and that we shouldn't apologize for wanting to be so. His belief that women's sports should strive to be better at addressing players' emotional needs than what we had seen from the men's game. His desire to see all of us succeed, in whatever venture we chose to undertake. He's been like another father to me and to the host of Tarheels who came through those doors in Chapel Hill. I will miss him tremendously, as will my sisters-in-arms.
Hannah: Thank you, Cindy. Again, Anson Dorrance, dead at 71.
Yael sat on the couch numb from the news, stunned by the loss of her former coach and mentor, seemingly for no reason. Steph came out and saw her frozen in her thoughts. Sitting down next to her, she stroke the back of her neck and asked what was wrong. Yael leaned against Steph and crumbled, all the emotions that had been stored up coming out.
Yael: Anson, he's gone.
Steph held her tightly and whispered in her ear, "I'm so sorry, babe. Do they know how?"
Yael: Foul play doesn't seem to be a factor. An autopsy is being done tomorrow.
The pair just sat there, not speaking as words would do no good at a time like this. Once Yael had regained some sense of her bearings, she called Heather and the two talked for a while, both trying not to break down on the phone. After that, calls were placed to Tobin and Ashlyn, with each of them in the same sort of numb place that she was upon hearing of his death. As news spread, others called Yael to express their condolences and to share their grief with her. Steph stayed nearby to support her as she needed it. Around 4:00, Yael decided she had to get home since Aaron would be returning from his latest trip sometime that evening. Steph saw her out and the two embraced at the door for a significant amount of time, before kissing one another goodbye.
Steph: See you at training tomorrow?
Yael: Probably not, but stop over after you're done. I really need you right now, and we'll have to figure out the best way to make that happen.
Steph: Anything you need, ask. I'm yours, now and always.
Yael: I know, and I'm yours as well, to the end of time and beyond.
One final kiss and Yael descended the stairs to her car and drove home.
