Another two-episode day here at xOG for NWSL Season Preview Week. We’re heading out to the the best coast to talk about two playoff teams at a crossroads. Angel City seems to be tightening budgets as the bill comes due for their previous offseason work. Will now-permanent head coach Becki Tweed be able to recapture the magic of their playoff run, with Messiah Bright and Rocky Rodríguez in tow? Then, Eric and Evan welcome Reign reporter Susie Rantz to unpack how the still-not-closed sale of the Reign has affected their offseason, and whether there is enough spark in the roster to get to the postseason for the eighth time in the club’s 11-year history.

Click here to read ASA's written preview of today's teams (both written by Evan!)

Check out Susie’s work at Ride of the Valkyries

Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

EXPECTED OWN GOALS - NWSL Preview Week: Angel City + Seattle Reign, with Susie Rantz

American Soccer Analysis is an occasional podcast with a focus on soccer made or played in America, especially NWSL and MLS, from a numbers and analytics perspective. The rotating cadre of hosts bring an enthusiasm, statistical acumen, and deep understanding of the game that can be rivaled only by Alexi Lalas and Carli Lloyd.

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Ben, Harrison, and Kieran get in the weeds about Dejan Joveljic’s career progression and how LAFC are always good even when they aren’t that good. And, trivia.

ASA Show - Stuck in El Trafico

Is Orlando the best team in the NWSL right now? They just might be. An emphatic 3-2 victory over the Washington Spirit on the road cemented what could be a hyper-organized defense with Barbra Banda as the tip of the spear. Other teams attack at your own peril. 

Evan and Eric dig into what made Banda so special, as well as what the future might hold for the Spirit--and Ashley Hatch--once Leicy Santos and Jonatan Giráldez arrive in June. 

Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

EXPECTED OWN GOALS--NWSL Week 6--Spirit: Pride of the Cimarron

The NWSL spring trade deadline has come and gone, and somehow, both the Houston Dash and Angel City made some significant moves. Eric and Evan brought Kieran Doyle-Davis on to get into all of the gobsmacking behavior by both teams in moving some major players. Then, they dig into Angel City's victory over the North Carolina Courage, and how a team with 62% possession and who topped the home side on xG 2.1 - 0.5 managed to still leave Los Angeles without a result. Plus, we'll hear from Angel City head coach Becki Tweed with her tactical analysis of the match!  Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

NWSL Week 5: Angel Cities with Filthy Soles, NC Courage Cursed by the Soccer Gods

We last checked in on the Kansas City Current in Week 1. What a difference a month makes! They're sitting atop the table on 10 points, have a potential superstar in Temwa Chawinga, and got a road point against Evan and Eric's preseason title favorite, Gotham FC. But is Chawinga the real deal? Were Juan Carlos Amorós's tactics too clever by half? Who looks like the better bet to keep succeeding in the weeks to come? Dive in, baby! 

Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 4: Gotham Gets Weird, and the Kansas City Current Put the "Fly" in "Chawinga"

The USWNT is SheBelieves Cup champion once again. Woo...hoo? The Twila Kilgore era comes to a close on a second penalty shootout win over Canada in a month, and leaves us wondering: what did Kilgore do well? What did she miss on? Is the team in better shape now than it was back in August? Furthermore, who is in pole position for each Olympics roster spot? Eric and Evan answer all these questions and more! (Evan may or may not sing at the end of the episode. Fair warning.)

EXPECTED OWN GOALS - NWSL Preview Week: Angel City + Seattle Reign, with Susie Rantz

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