The Mixxed Zone

It’s a triple-header of women’s soccer! In episode #315 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper discusses the USWNT roster for SheBelieves Cup, and also gets updates on the England and Argentina women’s national teams from local woso correspondents.

In the first part of this three-chat episode, Jen talks with woso reporter John Halloran of Equalizer Soccer about the USWNT roster for this month’s SheBelieves Cup and what it tells us about coach Vlatko Andonovski’s vision for the Olympic roster this summer. They also talk about the recent changes to the Chicago Red Stars roster.

Then Jen gets updates about two other women’s national teams, chatting with UK-based Rich Laverty about England’s new interim coaches and upcoming camp and with Tony of NWSL Analitica about Argentina stepping in for Japan at this year’s SheBelieves Cup.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the parameters and deadlines for NWSL preseason rosters.

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 #314 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper gets caught up on Canada soccer via a fun chat with the hosts of the For Kicks Podcast and then talks “Moneyball” with new Houston Dash performance analyst Michael Poma.

First, Jen chats with For Kicks Podcast hosts Jessica and Katie about the Canada soccer roster release for the pre-SheBelieves Cup camp, the 2021 Canadian NWSL draftees, Rhian Wilkinson’s appointment as interim head coach of the England women’s national team and more.

Then, Jen talks with the newest member of the Houston Dash technical staff — Michael Poma, a performance analyst who has previously helped the US youth national team program and also Sky Blue FC with opposition analysis. Poma also manages the Women’s Soccer Visualizations Twitter feed.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment discusses the difference in roster size between the Women’s World Cup and the Olympics, and the factors affecting roster size.

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 #313 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper recaps the “X Factor” experience of the 2021 NWSL draft — the first to be held virtually instead of at the annual United Soccer Coaches convention — through chats with NWSL draft reporter Jordan Angeli and Equalizer Soccer reporter Pardeep Cattry.

In the first chat, Jen and Pardeep review the experience of the virtual, longer-than-ever NWSL draft, as well as the moves made by Sky Blue and a few of the more interesting picks.

Then Jen and Jordan discusss the college player’s perspective on this unusual draft that allowed undeclared seniors to be eligible — what it was like getting the news at home via Zoom and how to figure out when is the best time for a young player to head to the pro leagues.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment discusses the hows and whys (mostly the whys) of NWSL drafts timeouts.

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 soon-to-be-published 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!

In episode #312 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper previews the 2021 NWSL Draft and more in a two-part chat with longtime woso reporter Dan Lauletta of Equalizer Soccer.

In the first segment, Jen and Dan focus primarily on this week’s draft, the ninth in league history, which will be broadcast Wednesday, January 13 at 7 pm ET on NWSL’s Twitch channel. With NCAA allowing players to extend their college careers due to Covid-19 and NWSL allowing clubs to draft seniors who have not registered for the draft, it’s gonna be a wild draft this year!

For the second chat, Jen and Dan review the recent NWS moves, including the Pugh-Woldmoe trade between Chicago and Sky Blue, and Washington Spirit acquisition of USWNT defenders Emily Sonnett and Kelley O’Hara. They also discuss the January USWNT camp roster, notably the return of Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the rules of the NWSL college draft, including the special rules for 2021 that allow clubs to draft senior college players who have not declared for the draft.

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 soon-to-be-published 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.

In episode #311 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper covers both “Old School” NWSL and “New Kid on the Block” NWSL with two very different woso chats.

First, Jen talks with Bill Predmore, owner of one of the eight original NWSL clubs from the 2013 season (Seattle Reign FC, now OL Reign), about how the independent club has held its own over the years, how the partnership with Olympique Lyonnair developed and what prospects he sees in the NWSL’s future.

Then Jen talks to Amber Warren, VP president of LouCity Ladies, the women’s-only soccer supporters/social group that was founded in Louisville before a local NWSL club was a possibility, about how she got into soccer and why Louisville is great city for NWSL.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment discusses FIFA’s recent announcement about the allocations of the 32 slots for the 2023 Women’s World Cup that will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, as well as the first-ever playoff tournament for the tournament.

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

 

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 and USWNT) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content and “WoSo Nerd Links” at KeeperNotes.com. You can also follow Keeper Notes on Twitter,

And be sure to check out 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.

In episode #310 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper covers the return of KC WoSo with the supporters group that never stopped hoping, and also reviews (kinda) the recent UEFA Women’s Champions League matches and other ‘across the pond” topics.

First, Jen chats with Danielle Russell, the marketing director of KC Blue Crew, about the sudden return of KC WoSo and why Kansas City has been and still is a real soccer city.

Then Jen has a looong chat with freelance soccer writer Rich Laverty about last week’s Champions League matches and many other WoSo topics as the two went off on several somewhat relevant tangents.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the difference between FIFA and FIFPro.

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

* Ruffneck Scarves

* Icarus FC

 

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 has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL and USWNT) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content and “WoSo Nerd” resources at KeeperNotes.com. You can follow Keeper Notes on Twitter,

And check out the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 350-page comprehensive guide to the first seven seasons of NWSL (2013-2019). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. The next edition (2013-2020) of the almanac is tentatively scheduled for a late December release. NOW AVAILABLE – a special Houston Dash almanac recapping the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.

In episode #309 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper discusses the recent USWNT settlement of part of the ongoing lawsuit with US Soccer, and also gets an update on the NCAA Division 1 women’s soccer landscape.

Jen first chats with Kelsey Trainor, an entertainment lawyer who often writes about legal issues for Equalizer Soccer. Kelsey reviews the benefits of the recent USWN settlement with US Soccer on the non-compensation parts of the lawsuit, and also shares her thoughts on what will happen with the outstanding compensation issues.

Then Jen talks to Travis Clark of TopDrawerSoccer.com about many changes that college soccer has seen this year, especially NCAA Division 1 women’s soccer, and how those changes could affect the NWSL draft and the 2021 NWSL season.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment review the order of picks for the 2021 NWSL Draft, which is set for Wednesday, January 13.

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

* Ruffneck Scarves

* Icarus FC

 

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 has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL and USWNT) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content and “WoSo Nerd” resources at KeeperNotes.com. You can follow Keeper Notes on Twitter,

And check out the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 350-page comprehensive guide to the first seven seasons of NWSL (2013-2019). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. The next edition (2013-2020) of the almanac is tentatively scheduled for a late December release. NOW AVAILABLE – a special Houston Dash almanac recapping the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.

In episode #308 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper talks about the FIFPro report and a lot of NWSL topics with two special guests.

Jen first chats with Anne Peterson, who covers soccer and other sports for Associated Press. Peterson also edits the Monday women’s soccer newsletter for The IX. Jen and Anne discuss the recent FIFPro report that reviews how women’s clubs and players were affected due to COVID-19, and also talk about the format for the 2021 NWSL season.

Then Jen talks to Katie Scallan, the chief marketing officer for the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash, about the club’s recent rebrand and ongoing efforts to promote both teams as one club.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment gives a basic overview of the recently announced format for the 2021 NWSL season.

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

* Ruffneck Scarves

* Icarus FC

 

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 has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL and USWNT) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content and “WoSo Nerd” resources at KeeperNotes.com. You can follow Keeper Notes on Twitter,

And check out the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 350-page comprehensive guide to the first seven seasons of NWSL (2013-2019). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. The next edition (2013-2020) of the almanac is tentatively scheduled for a late December release. NOW AVAILABLE – a special Houston Dash almanac recapping the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.

In episode #307 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper talks about SEC soccer and Canada women’s national team.

First, Jen chats with NWSL & SEC play-by-play announcer Mike Watts about the (currently ongoing) SEC soccer tournament in Alabama, how SEC women’s soccer was affected by COVID-19 and how his broadcast work changed this year. Watts also shares a few thoughts about Racing Louisville FC (recorded before the November 12 expansion draft).

Then Jen talks to Toronto Star reporter Laura Armstrong about Canada’s selection of Bev Priestman as new head coach for the women’s team. Laura also discusses up-and-coming Canadian players in NWSL like Jordyn Listro who have yet to earn a senior national team cap.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the definition of “NWSL player rights” and why they can be valuable to clubs.

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

* Ruffneck Scarves

* Icarus FC

 

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 has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL and USWNT) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content and “WoSo Nerd” resources at KeeperNotes.com. You can follow Keeper Notes on Twitter,

And check out the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 350-page comprehensive guide to the first seven seasons of NWSL (2013-2019). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. The next edition (2013-2020) of the almanac is tentatively scheduled for a late December release. NOW AVAILABLE – a special Houston Dash almanac recapping the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.

In episode #306 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper spends an entire episode talking NWSL expansion draft, with two chats plus a Jensplainer segment about the event that will fill out the roster for 2021 expansion club Racing Louisville FC.

First, Jen chats with Neil Morris of WRALsportsfan.com and Equalizer Soccer about North Carolina’s protected list, the recent Crystal Dunn/Casey Murphy trade, Jaelene Daniels’ retirement and potential player acquisitions for the club.

Then the Keeper talks with NWSL analyst and former NWSL midfielder Lori Lindsey about her experience as a player selected in an expansion draft, how she thinks an expansion side should build its roster and which unprotected players stood out to her during the NWSL Fall Series.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment once again covers the protocols and procedures related to the November 12 expansion draft for Louisville, which will be streamed live worldwide at 7 pm ET on Twitch.

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

* Ruffneck Scarves

* Icarus FC

 

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 has been covering women’s soccer (primarily NWSL and USWNT) since 2014. Check out more of the Keeper’s great content and “WoSo Nerd” resources at KeeperNotes.com. You can follow Keeper Notes on Twitter,

And check out the Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, the 350-page comprehensive guide to the first seven seasons of NWSL (2013-2019). You can’t get this info all in one place anywhere else! The almanac is available in both PDF and print format. The next edition of the almanac is tentatively scheduled for a late December release. NOW AVAILABLE – a special Houston Dash almanac recapping the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.