How will the new Thorns owners affect the academy and girls' soccer?

[Guest]

If the Academy has no affiliation with the Pro team, why were Academy players on the stage of the Press Conference with the new owners, and sitting among the Pro players in the first row of the audience?

Good question.....

[Guest]

If the Academy has no affiliation with the Pro team, why were Academy players on the stage of the Press Conference with the new owners, and sitting among the Pro players in the first row of the audience?

Good point. I saw many Thorns Academy players on the stage behind the NWSL commissioner in one news article photo and behind the new brother/sister owners on stage in multiple tv news stories. Seems like a pretty solid connection if these young players have that level of access to the first team.

[Guest]

Good point. I saw many Thorns Academy players on the stage behind the NWSL commissioner in one news article photo and behind the new brother/sister owners on stage in multiple tv news stories. Seems like a pretty solid connection if these young players have that level of access to the first team.

I watched the whole unedited video. Although somewhat awkward, two older Academy players actually spoke at the start of the press conference. The GM also made reference to Academy players and "Senior Team" (NWSL) players in attendance.

[Guest]

I watched the whole unedited video. Although somewhat awkward, two older Academy players actually spoke at the start of the press conference. The GM also made reference to Academy players and "Senior Team" (NWSL) players in attendance.

Interesting mention of Senior Team. The same language is used in the new NWSL rule for teams to be able to sign and protect up to four U18 players. It makes sense that Teams would want to develop Academy players to fill those spots.

[Guest]

All of this doesn't matter as the NWSL is fading due to significant investment and development by european clubs, just look at the most recent WC results.

[Guest]

All of this doesn't matter as the NWSL is fading due to significant investment and development by european clubs, just look at the most recent WC results.

After the US debacle in the World Cup there seemed to be a very loud voice supporting increased support for, and an overhaul of the women's youth soccer structure at a national level in order to stay ahead of the rest of the world in women's soccer.

[Guest]

Uninformed discussions about the NWSL are exactly that. The financial investment into the league is greater than ever. Competitively, the NWSL has the greatest depth of any current women’s league in the world. This isn’t a question of only one league being successful. The NWSL will continue to grow significantly and European leagues will continue to grow significantly. But, there will always be some aaahooole who wants to see women fail. Haters will hate.

[Guest]

After the US debacle in the World Cup there seemed to be a very loud voice supporting increased support for, and an overhaul of the women's youth soccer structure at a national level in order to stay ahead of the rest of the world in women's soccer.

Too little too late. Europe started investing heavily in the women’s game 10 years ago and they are now showing the fruits of their labor. The women train at the same facility as the men’s, unlike here…. And they are starting to pay more and more. Year round academies with birding school just like boys side. US had their moment, but it is over and won’t return. Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, England, Germany, they will all beat the current US team.

if you don’t believe me, look at the younger (u20,U17) world cups and you will see the US isn’t even close. Those are the teams of the future.

You can use the Oregon club environment as a gauge as well. Any town in Europe will have 10x amount of soccer fields and training/playing opportunities than here.

NWSL will survive, but you will see more and more European players on teams as the US will continue to slide in the talent scale

[Guest]

Yeah you can't just flip a switch and fix a slow decline that's been going on for years. USSF tried to get a grip on it with GDA several years ago but that bombed. The vast majority of the market (which is all pay to play and locks out a lot of kids) is only interested in a possible path to college. There aren't enough players skilled enough or interested in anything more than that. USSF also is a mess which isn't helping matters either.

[Guest]

I would disagree with NWSL making it. It seems the gap between the have's and have nots.

[Guest]

I would disagree with NWSL making it. It seems the gap between the have's and have nots.

There's a huge gap in average attendance with 5-6 teams and all the rest. Hard to keep advertisers and sponsors interested when your drawing 6500 a game .

[Guest]

Nonsense.

If NWE can exist as a functional pay-to-play ECNL program, so can Thorns. The idea they can't field full competitive rosters is ludicrous.

They could totally form more teams with Thorns. I know a ton of good players that went down to tryouts and either didn't make the team because the rosters were full or offered a spot and decided against it because they didn't want to play on a team that had 20+ kids on a roster when only 11 can get on the field. They opted for other teams/clubs just so they could continue making sure they had game time. But one did take a spot and now her parents are realizing that getting 20% game time, the 20+ kid roster, the drive from north Clark County to practices in Portland and the price they pay, it is not worth it. I am waiting to see if they jump ship after this year.

[Guest]

Too little too late. Europe started investing heavily in the women’s game 10 years ago and they are now showing the fruits of their labor. The women train at the same facility as the men’s, unlike here…. And they are starting to pay more and more. Year round academies with birding school just like boys side. US had their moment, but it is over and won’t return. Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, England, Germany, they will all beat the current US team.

if you don’t believe me, look at the younger (u20,U17) world cups and you will see the US isn’t even close. Those are the teams of the future.

You can use the Oregon club environment as a gauge as well. Any town in Europe will have 10x amount of soccer fields and training/playing opportunities than here.

NWSL will survive, but you will see more and more European players on teams as the US will continue to slide in the talent scale

This is spot on for sure

[Guest]

Seems like the organization is really embracing the Academy as a part of the overall program. From their FB page:

"To our first team and youth academy, to our coaching & training staff, and to our dedicated fans.

Thank you to all the amazing women for inspiring us & growing this game every day.

Happy National Girls and Women in Sports Day!"