October 7, 2024

Angel City sanctions, Dash demise — Pride inch closer to a perfect season

The IX: Soccer Monday with Annie Peterson, Oct. 7, 2024

Orlando Pride forwards Adriana Leal da Silva (9) and Marta (10) stand with hands on chests in the rain prior to a match

Orlando Pride forwards Adriana Leal da Silva (9) and Marta (10) in the second half against the Washington Spirit at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Fla. on Oct. 6, 2024. (Photo Credit: Russell Lansford | Imagn Images)

Lots of stuff happening as we hurtle toward the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) postseason.

Continue reading with a subscription to The IX

Get unlimited access to our exclusive coverage of a varitety of women’s sports, including our premium newsletter by subscribing today!

Join today

I was at Saturday night’s Portland Thorns match. There was also someone else much more notable at Providence Park. Unfortunately, U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) head coach Emma Hayes didn’t bring good luck to the Thorns.

Emma Hayes' U.S. tour continues 🇺🇸🥇 pic.twitter.com/3QnajasEGa
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 6, 2024

On Thursday the NWSL announced Angel City FC has been fined $200,000 and docked three points from the current league standings by the league for violating terms of the salary cap.

The NWSL determined that Angel City exceeded the salary cap by $50,000 for four weeks in 2024. The league also suspended Angel City President and CEO Julie Uhrman and GM Angela Hucles Mangano from “duties related to any player transactions” for the rest of the season.

The NWSL’s investigation found that Angel City had “side letters” with five players who signed in 2023 that weren’t disclosed to the league. Those deals increased the players’ compensation and benefits beyond the standard contracts with the league, exceeding the salary cap. Angel City did not respond to an email seeking comment.

The points deduction dropped Angel City to 12th place in the standings, but Bay FC clawed three points back and moved up a spot with a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Reign on Friday night.

With the loss, the Reign fell to 12th and were all but eliminated from the playoffs.

The Next, a 24/7/365 women’s basketball newsroom

The Next: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX. 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.

Readers of The IX now save 50% on their subscription to The Next.

Subscribe to The Next!

The Houston Dash were officially eliminated from postseason play with a 2-0 loss to the Chicago Red Stars on Friday. It’s been a turbulent season for the Dash. Coach Fran Alonso, hired last December, was absent from Houston for three months before he and the team parted ways. Here’s a story on Alonso from The Athletic. Dash GM Alex Singer was dismissed in July and hasn’t been replaced.

Since joining the league in 2014, the Dash have made the playoffs just once, in 2022. Dash assistant coach Ricky Clarke said the following about his team’s focus:

“Our focus is just to keep moving forward. Focus on the next game, get our head down, try and address some of the things that happened in this game, and that’s what we’ll do. Frustrating for sure. We work here with some of the best players in the world, let’s make sure we have that really clear. We’ve got some unbelievable players in this building, so I would imagine that’s difficult, and that hurts them. But we also have a job to do, and we have to keep moving forward, and we have to play for these last three games. That’s something they’re going to do.”

Midfielder Sophie Schmidt was hopeful:

“There’s something beautiful that is about to happen here in Houston. I can feel it. I want to be a part of it, help cultivate it and bring it to life. The city deserves it, fans are going to celebrate it, and I’m excited for the opportunity that lies ahead. I’m going to throw everything at it to make it come to life. I know the girls that have re-signed and are part of this team feel the same way. Our hearts are in it. I’m excited. We have a very clear vision moving forward, and we’re going to do everything we can to finish up the season strong.”

Finally, the Orlando Pride clinched the Tiffany-designed NWSL Shield with a 2-0 victory over the Washington Spirit on Sunday. Here’s Susie Rantz’s recap of the match for The AP.

2024 @NWSL SHIELD WINNERS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/DdUcEyqHUW
— Orlando Pride – x (@ORLPride) October 6, 2024

Pride head coach Seb Hines said the team carried a bit of resentment over last season’s finish into 2024:

“They were bitterly disappointed with how the season ended, and it just wasn’t meant to be, so they took that as fuel going into this year. I can’t doubt them, and they’ve been absolutely amazing from start to finish. I’m so happy for them that they finally got the job done tonight, in front of our own fans.”

Orlando vet Marta was emotional over winning the Shield:

“Wow. It means a lot. Like I said on the field after the game, we have been working so hard from the beginning and every single game. And we looked to have this moment, especially here in our house, in front of our fans and families and friends. It’s unbelievable. Something that I, wow, I dreamed about, but to be honest, never believed that it was going to happen the way that it did. And I can tell you guys, I don’t think that’s going to happen again with this team or another team. I’m sorry, but it’s so special and the way that we did it was incredible.”

That sets up Friday night’s match between the Pride and the Thorns at Providence Park. Can the Thorns, winless in seven matches, spoil Orlando’s undefeated season?

Want women’s hockey content? Subscribe to The Ice Garden!

Here at The IX, we’re collaborating with The Ice Garden to bring you Hockey Friday. And if you want the women’s hockey goodness 24/7? Well, you should subscribe to The Ice Garden now!

Subscribe to The Ice Garden!