The Mixxed Zone

In episode #325 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper talks with The Athletic’s women’s soccer reporter Meg Linehan about the upcoming USWNT Summer Series in Texas, the Olivia Moultrie lawsuit vs. the NWSL and more.

First, Jen and Meg review Vlatko Andonovski’s roster for the June Summer Series in Texas, and what it means for the not-yet-finalized roster for the Tokyo Olympics.

Then Meg explains the recent ruling in the Olivia Moultire lawsuit vs. the NWSL.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment discusses the Olympic roster size (18 players plus 4 alternates) and the standard Women’s World Cup roster size (23 players), and why the two are different.

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Email your question or general Mixxed Zone comments to [email protected].

 

Check out the sponsors of The Mixxed Zone:

* The Beautiful Game Network

* Phoenix on Westheimer in Houston

* Soccer 4 All

 

ABOUT KEEPER NOTES

Founded by Jen Cooper, Keeper Notes has been spreading the love for the beautiful game since 2002 in Houston and beyond. The Mixxed Zone women’s soccer podcast has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL, USWNT and Concacaf) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content as well as the invaluable “WoSopedia” page at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter and Instagram.

And be sure to check out the latest edition of the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 370-plus-page comprehensive guide to the first eight seasons of NWSL (2013-2020). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. Also available for purchase: the Houston Dash almanac and commemorative 2020 Challenge Cup booklet.

In episode #324 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper talks with longtime Equalizer Soccer contributor Dan Lauletta about the start of the NWSL Season #9, the structure of the season, the players returning to the league, new international signings and more.

In the first of two segments, Jen and Dan review the pros and cons of the structure of the 2021 NWSL season, the first to feature both a regular season and a Challenge Cup competition.

In the follow-up segment about NWSL Season #9, they chat about USWNT players Samantha Mewis and Rose Lavelle returning to the league as well as the high-profile signings of Dzsenifer Marozsan, Sarah Bouhaddi and Eugenie Le Sommer by OL Reign.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment covers the meaning of soccer positions by number, as in “Marta is a quintessential #10″ and “Ertz fills the role of #6 for the USWNT.”

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Email your question or general Mixxed Zone comments to [email protected].

 

Check out the sponsors of The Mixxed Zone:

* The Beautiful Game Network

* Phoenix on Westheimer in Houston

* Soccer 4 All

 

ABOUT KEEPER NOTES

Founded by Jen Cooper, Keeper Notes has been spreading the love for the beautiful game since 2002 in Houston and beyond. The Mixxed Zone women’s soccer podcast has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL, USWNT and Concacaf) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content as well as the valuable “WoSopedia” page at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter.

And be sure to check out the latest edition of the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 370-plus-page comprehensive guide to the first eight seasons of NWSL (2013-2020). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. Also, check out the Houston Dash almanac and commemorative 2020 Challenge Cup booklet.

In episode #323 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper talks with Equalizer Soccer founder and managing editor Jeff Kassouf about this year’s Challenge Cup, the Cup finale and the recently announced USWNT Summer Series in Texas.

First Jen and Jeff discuss how the 2021 edition of the NWSL Challenge Cup compares to last summer’s tournament, and then talk about the Cup finale between the Portland Thorns and Gotham FC, a fairly unheralded rivalry in the history of the NWSL.

Then they talk about the June USWNT Summer Series that will be played in two stadiums in Texas during the final FIFA window before the Tokyo Olympics.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the meaning of “substitution windows” and the post-Covid, temporary amendment to the Rules of the Game that created such a phrase.

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Email your question or general Mixxed Zone comments to [email protected].

 

Check out the sponsors of The Mixxed Zone:

* The Beautiful Game Network

* Phoenix on Westheimer in Houston

* Soccer 4 All

 

ABOUT KEEPER NOTES

Founded by Jen Cooper, Keeper Notes has been spreading the love for the beautiful game since 2002 in Houston and beyond. The Mixxed Zone women’s soccer podcast has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL, USWNT and Concacaf) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content as well as the valuable “WoSopedia” page at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter.

And be sure to check out the latest edition of the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 370-plus-page comprehensive guide to the first eight seasons of NWSL (2013-2020). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. Also, check out the Houston Dash almanac and commemorative 2020 Challenge Cup booklet.

In episode #322 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper talks Challenge Cup action with two woso reporters who have attended recent games and previews the action of the final round of Eastern group games.

The episode starts with a chat with New York-based Pardeep Cattry, a frequent contributor to OnceAMetro and Equalizer Soccer. Jen and Pardeep review the not-entirely-surprising Challenge Cup success of NJ/NY Gotham FC, the club’s rebrand and the Challenge Cup scenarios for which team can claim the Eastern group’s berth in the final on May 8.

Then Jen talks with KeeperNotes.com reporter Grant Wiedenfeld about his recent Challenge Cup road trip to Bridgeview, Illinois (for Chicago vs. Kansas City) and to Kansas City, Kansas (for KC vs. Houston) for the first NWSL game in that city in more than three and a half years.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the scenarios for the final Challenge Cup Eastern group games, and the relevant tiebreakers.

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Email your question or general Mixxed Zone comments to [email protected].

 

Check out the sponsors of The Mixxed Zone:

* The Beautiful Game Network

* Phoenix on Westheimer in Houston

* Soccer 4 All

 

ABOUT KEEPER NOTES

Founded by Jen Cooper, Keeper Notes has been spreading the love for the beautiful game since 2002 in Houston and beyond. The Mixxed Zone women’s soccer podcast has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL, USWNT and Concacaf) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content as well as the valuable “WoSopedia” page at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter.

And be sure to check out the latest edition of the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 370-plus-page comprehensive guide to the first eight seasons of NWSL (2013-2020). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. Also, check out the Houston Dash almanac and commemorative 2020 Challenge Cup booklet.

In episode #321 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper takes a look at the huge woso milestone that happen 20 years ago this week — the first game of the world’s first fully professional women’s soccer league.

The episode starts with a chat with Dan Lauletta of Equalizer Soccer, who’s been covering women’s soccer for nearly 20 years. Jen and Dan discuss memories of that inaugural game, its impact on women’s pro sports and how that game compares to the first-ever NWSL game played eight years ago this week.

Then Jen talks with two women who were part of that first WUSA match — Bay Area CyberRays player Ann Cook, who is currently associate head coach for Penn State women’s soccer, and 1991 Women’s World Cup champion Wendy Gebauer, who served as broadcast analyst for the game.

Note there is no “Jensplaining” segment this week, but it will return next week.

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Email your question or general Mixxed Zone comments to [email protected].

 

Check out the sponsors of The Mixxed Zone:

* The Beautiful Game Network

* Phoenix on Westheimer in Houston

* Soccer 4 All

 

ABOUT KEEPER NOTES

Founded by Jen Cooper, Keeper Notes has been spreading the love for the beautiful game since 2002 in Houston and beyond. The Mixxed Zone women’s soccer podcast has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL, USWNT and Concacaf) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content as well as the valuable “WoSopedia” page at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter.

And be sure to check out the latest edition of the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 370-plus-page comprehensive guide to the first eight seasons of NWSL (2013-2020). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. Also, check out the Houston Dash almanac and commemorative Challenge Cup booklet.

In episode #320 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper catches up with two NWSL reporters about their respective beats — the Portland Thorns and OL Reign, the two clubs that make up “NWSL Northwest” — the league’s most intense Pacific Northwest rivalry.

In the first chat, Jen talks with Katelyn Best of Rose City Review about the Thorns’ relatively lean but experienced roster, how the club will handle this summer’s Olympic window and whether Portland’s goal-scoring momentum from the successful 2020 Fall Series will carry over to this month’s Challenge Cup.

Then Jen talks with Jacob Cristobal from SounderAtHeart about the Tacoma-based OL Reign as it heads into the second season under head coach Farid Benstiti, with a wealth of international players and several NWSL up-and-comers.

The “Jensplaining” segment this week covers how to watch the upcoming NWSL Challenge Cup, whether you’re in the USA, Canada or anywhere else on the globe!

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Email your question or general Mixxed Zone comments to [email protected].

 

Check out the sponsors of The Mixxed Zone:

* The Beautiful Game Network

* Phoenix on Westheimer in Houston

* Soccer 4 All

 

ABOUT KEEPER NOTES

Founded by Jen Cooper, Keeper Notes has been spreading the love for the beautiful game since 2002 in Houston and beyond. The Mixxed Zone women’s soccer podcast has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL, USWNT and Concacaf) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content as well as the valuable “WoSopedia” page at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter.

And be sure to check out the latest edition of the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 370-plus-page comprehensive guide to the first eight seasons of NWSL (2013-2020). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. Also, check out the Houston Dash almanac and commemorative Challenge Cup booklet.

In episode #319 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper covers the upcoming Racing Louisville NWSL debut and the challenges of being an NWSL fan when the nearest club is a good five-hour drive away.

In the first chat, Jen talks with Louisville “Soccer City” radio show host Jeff Greer about his city’s newest sports team, the players he’s most excited to see take the field for Racing Louisville, and the unique perks and challenges that come with being the first NWSL expansion team announced more than a year before its first game.

Then Jen talks with Equal Time Soccer founder Matt Privratsky about following and covering women’s soccer from the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment covers the mechanics of next month’s draw for the women’s Olympic soccer tournament. Scheduled for April 21, the draw will place the 12 teams into three groups of four teams each.

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Email your question or general Mixxed Zone comments to [email protected].

 

Check out the sponsors of The Mixxed Zone:

* The Beautiful Game Network

* Phoenix on Westheimer in Houston

* Soccer 4 All

 

ABOUT KEEPER NOTES

Founded by Jen Cooper, Keeper Notes has been spreading the love for the beautiful game since 2002 in Houston and beyond. The Mixxed Zone women’s soccer podcast has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL, USWNT and Concacaf) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content as well as the valuable “WoSopedia” page at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter.

And be sure to check out the latest edition of the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 370-plus-page comprehensive guide to the first eight seasons of NWSL (2013-2020). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. Also, check out the Houston Dash almanac and commemorative Challenge Cup booklet.

In episode #318 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper discusses the new NWSL investors for both the Chicago Red Stars and the Washington Spirit, and also talks 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup.

In the first chat, Jen hears from Southside Trap podcast co-host Claire Watkins about Chicago’s new NWSL investors and her thoughts on the club’s group for the upcoming Challenge Cup.

Then Jen talks with Jason Anderson, who covers the Washington Spirit for the PlexWeather podcast and BlackandRedUnited.com, about the Spirit’s new NWSL investors and new roster additions.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup format, standings tiebreakers and broadcast schedule.

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Email your question or general Mixxed Zone comments to [email protected].

 

Check out the sponsors of The Mixxed Zone:

* The Beautiful Game Network

* Phoenix on Westheimer in Houston

* Soccer 4 All

 

ABOUT KEEPER NOTES

Founded by Jen Cooper, Keeper Notes has been spreading the love for the beautiful game since 2002 in Houston and beyond. The Mixxed Zone women’s soccer podcast has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL, USWNT and Concacaf) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content as well as the valuable “WoSo Nerd Links” at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter.

And be sure to check out the latest edition of the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 370-page comprehensive guide to the first seven seasons of NWSL (2013-2020). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. Also, check out the Houston Dash almanac and Challenge Cup booklet!

In episode #317 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper returns from an unplanned “winter break” to talk SheBelieves Cup, the recently announced 2021 NWSL federation allocations and more.

First Jen discusses February’s SheBelieves Cup results and highlights with Orlando Sentinel soccer reporter Julia Poe, as well as the new NWSL allocated player list and the potential implications of players who opt out of allocation.

Then Jen talks with former WPS goalkeeper Alli Lipsher about her years as a pro player, her transition to the coaching ranks almost a decade ago, and her new role as goalkeeper coach for Kansas City, one of the NWSL’s newest clubs.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment covers some of the definitions of NWSL roster jargon – “international player” versus “international slot,” federation players, and more. Updated NWSL rosters by club can be found on the WoSo Nerd Links page of KeeperNotes.com.

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Email your question or general Mixxed Zone comments to [email protected].

 

Check out the sponsors of The Mixxed Zone:

* The Beautiful Game Network

* Phoenix on Westheimer in Houston

* Soccer 4 All

 

ABOUT KEEPER NOTES

Founded by Jen Cooper, Keeper Notes has been spreading the love for the beautiful game since 2002 in Houston and beyond. The Mixxed Zone women’s soccer podcast has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL, USWNT and Concacaf) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content as well as the valuable “WoSo Nerd Links” at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter.

And be sure to check out the latest edition of the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 370-page comprehensive guide to the first seven seasons of NWSL (2013-2020). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. Also, check out the Houston Dash almanac and Challenge Cup booklet!

In episode #316 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper discusses the past and present issues of National Soccer Hall of Fame ballots and voting, and also chats with the illustrator who self-published a book of NWSL “moments” from the 2020 Challenge Cup and the Fall Series.

First Jen talks with longtime soccer reporter and Hall of Fame voter Beau Dure about the history of the nomination and balloting processes for the Hall, the recent changes to those processes, and how there’s still a “logjam” of qualified national teamers who deserve entry but probably won’t be inducted any time soon.

Then Jen chats with Dariush, a Montreal-based illustrator who enjoyed the NWSL Fall Series so much that he self-published a book of “NWSL Moments” from both the Fall Series and last summer’s Challenge Cup.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the roster size for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup and how the USWNT players will assign jersey numbers to the “junior“ players on the roster.

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Email your question or general Mixxed Zone comments to [email protected].

 

Check out the sponsors of The Mixxed Zone:

* The Beautiful Game Network

* Phoenix on Westheimer in Houston

* Soccer 4 All

 

ABOUT KEEPER NOTES

Founded by Jen Cooper, Keeper Notes has been spreading the love for the beautiful game since 2002 in Houston and beyond. The Mixxed Zone women’s soccer podcast has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL, USWNT and Concacaf) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content as well as the valuable “WoSo Nerd Links” at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter.

And be sure to check out the latest edition of the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 370-page comprehensive guide to the first seven seasons of NWSL (2013-2020). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. Also, check out the Houston Dash almanac and Challenge Cup booklet!