The Mixxed Zone

In episode #305 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper starts the NWSL off-season with one last look at the NWSL Fall Series and also discusses the recent trades and the upcoming expansion draft for Racing Louisville FC.

This episode features one long chat with Dan Lauletta of EqualizerSoccer.com. Jen and Dan cover many NWSL topics — the impact of the Fall Series, how the Louisville expansion draft will be different from previous NWSL drafts and thoughts on what 2021 will look like for the league.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment covers the protocols and procedures related to the biggest event of the NWSL off-season — November 12 expansion draft for Racing Louisville FC.

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, Instagram, and Facebook.

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. And also coming soon – a special Houston Dash almanac recapping the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.

In episode #304 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper chats with special guests about the importance of both mindfulness (The Mindful Project) and stats analysis in women’s soccer.

In the first chat, Jen catches up with Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod, who recently co-founded the Mindful Project. McLeod discusses how her NWSL club Orlando Pride and other women’s professional teams are starting to adopt the practices of The Mindful Project. She and Jen also talk about her decision to return to NWSL and what it’s like to be on loan in Iceland.

Then, the Keeper talks with Tony of the NWSL Analitica Twitter feed that became popular during this summer’s NWSL Challenge Cup. The two discuss how Tony started following the league and his takeaways from the tournament and the Fall Series.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the implications of the fall NWSL waiver draft.

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

 

Check out our sponsors:

* 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, Instagram, and Facebook.

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.

In episode #303 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper chats with local soccer reporters about NWSL Fall Series performances in the Rose City & the Garden State. There are two weekends of games remaining in the final NWSL competition of 2020.

First, Jen talks with Tyler Nguyen of the Portland-focused Rose City Review about the Portland Thorns’ progression from the Challenge Cup this summer to the their Verizon Community Shield-leading play in the NWSL Fall Series. A win at OL Reign Saturday clinches the Shield for the Thorns.

Then, the Keeper & New York-based Pardeep Cattry review Sky Blue FC’s performances in the Fall Series. The New Jersey club has the smaller roster of all clubs at the moment, and heads into their final fall game without midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe, who is out this weekend due to yellow-card accumulation.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment explains what FIFA international windows are and how they affect when national teams can and cannot call up players from their clubs.

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

 

Check out our sponsors:

* 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, Instagram, and Facebook.

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.

In episode #302 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper reviews Houston’s hot performances in the NWSL Fall Series and also discusses the new head coach of the Australia women’s national team.

First, Jen chats with Charles Olney of Backline Soccer and the “Actually the Dash” podcast about Houston’s hot performances so far in the NWSL Fall Series, in particular the 3-1 home win versus Orlando Pride.

Then, Jen and Aussie soccer maven Chris Hockman discuss the selection of former USWNT assistant coach Tony Gustavsson as the next head coach of the Matildas and what the schedule for the Australian women could look like between now and the Tokyo Olympics.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the format and structure of the UEFA Women’s Championship, aka the Euro. The 2021 tourney has been scheduled for 2022, since the Olympics got pushed back a year. European teams have several qualifiers for the Euro this fall.

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

 

Check out our sponsors:

* 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, Instagram, and Facebook.

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.

In episode #301 of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper discusses Chicago’s firepower in the Fall Series, including Kealia Watt, Sarah Luebbert and Savannah McCaskill.

First, Jen chats with new-t0-NWSL broadcaster and former Marquette player Lisa Roman about how she got into broadcasting, how she prepares for games and what she thinks of Chicago and the other teams in the NWSL Fall Series.

Then, Jen talks with soccer reporter John Halloran, who’s based in Chicago and has covered the Red Stars for several seasons, about Chicago’s firepower in the Fall Series, particularly the 4-1 win over Sky Blue last weekend that featured a brace and an assist from Kealia Watt.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment discusses the meaning of the phrase “across all competitions,” and outlines the difference between NWSL’s various categories of statistics.

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

 

Check out our sponsors:

* 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, Instagram, and Facebook.

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. ALSO AVAILABLE – a Houston Dash almanac!

In the 300th episode of the Mixxed Zone, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper celebrates this milestone podcast with three chats centered around the NWSL Fall Series.

First, Jen catches up with with Julia Poe of the Orlando Sentinel about the many NWSL Fall Series signings for the Orlando Pride and

Then, Jen talks with Philadelphia Inquirer soccer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald about how the opportunity to break the “Christen Press & Tobin Heath to Manchester United” news fell into his lap. Jonathan and Jen debate the good and bad of star USWNT players transferring out of NWSL.

Finally, the Keeper chats with Equalizer Soccer’s Dan Lauletta about what the NWSL Fall Series means for both the league and the players who have chosen to participate, as well as those who’ve earned short-term contracts for the games. They also look ahead to the very uncertain structure of the 2021 soccer year.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment covers the tiebreakers specific to the standings for the NWSL Verizon Community Shield, which goes to the winner of the Fall Series.

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

 

Check out our sponsors:

* 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, Instagram, and Facebook.

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. ALSO AVAILABLE – a Houston Dash almanac!

In episode #299, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper discusses the recent Utah soccer drama as well as the recent Women’s Champions League final between Lyon and Wolfsburg.

First, Jen talks with with Cindy Lara of RSL Soapbox about the all the recent Utah soccer drama — owner Dell Loy Hansen’s controversial public comments, the reports about the club’s toxic work culture and the “sexualized” marketing ideas of the team GM. performance of the OL Reign at last month’s Challenge Cup and all the Reign player moves since the tournament, including the trade to acquire Rose Lavelle, Jodie Taylor’s transfer to Lyon and more.

Then, Jen chats with Laurent Dubois of the Soccer Politics blog about Lyon’s dominance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the club’s commitment to treating the women’s team as well as they do the men’s side, and his experience working as Lyon’s interpreter during the 2019 International Champions Cup in Cary, North Carolina. Dubois is also author of The Language of the Game.

This week’s “Jensplaining” segment reviews the names of several European women’s soccer leagues.

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

 

Check out our sponsors:

* 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, Instagram, and Facebook.

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. ALSO AVAILABLE – a Houston Dash almanac!

In episode #298, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper chats with three different woso folks to stay on top of the “WoSo Whirlwind” that’s been ongoing since the end of the NWSL Challenge Cup.

First, Jen chats with Jacob Cristobal of SounderAtHeart about the performance of the OL Reign at last month’s Challenge Cup and all the Reign player moves since the tournament, including the trade to acquire Rose Lavelle, Jodie Taylor’s transfer to Lyon and more.

Then Jen and Racing Louisville FC exec vice president James O’Connor discuss  the club’s NWSL coaching search, how he ended up in Louisville and how the expansion club is preparing for the upcoming expansion draft and NWSL college draft.

Finally, Jen catches up with Melissa Hernandez, who runs a great English Twitter account for Chivas and Liga MX Femenil fans. They talk about the start of the fall 2020 (“Apertura“) season of Liga MX Femenil and how American fans can watch the games.

There is no “Jensplaing” segment this week, but it will return next week … just like the WoSo Whirlwind.

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

 

Check out our sponsors:

* 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, Instagram, and Facebook.

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. ALSO AVAILABLE – a Houston Dash almanac!

In episode #297, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper discusses the uncertain future of women’s soccer, both for NWSL players looking for some games this fall and for American college players.

In the first chat, Jen chats with soccer freelancer Rich Laverty, who recently wrote about American players looking for transfers to the FA WSL for Our Game Magazine. Jen & Rich also discuss the possibility of Jill Ellis or Sarina Wiegman becoming the new England coach. Note: this episode was recorded before the FA announced that Wiegman will take over for Phil Neville after the Olympics next summer.

Then Jen talks with longtime Texas A&M head coach G Guerrieri to get an update on women’s college soccer and how the NCAA is handling the “uncertain future” of this fall’s College Cup. The pair also discuss the pros and cons of keeping college players on campus and in training for games.

In this week’s “Jensplaining” segment, Jen covers some of the rules for previous NWSL expansion drafts. The expansion draft for Racing Louisville FC (entering league play in 2021) will be held sometime this fall, but details have not yet been announced.

Subscriptions recommended by The Keeper for woso fans:

Equalizer Soccer Extra

The IX

The Athletic

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

 

Check out our sponsors:

* 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, Instagram, and Facebook.

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. ALSO AVAILABLE – a Houston Dash almanac!

In episode #296, Jen “The Keeper” Cooper wraps up NWSL Challenge Cup 2020 coverage with an extra-large episode featuring three chats.

First, Jen chats with Challenge Cup 2020 champ Katie Naughton of the Houston Dash about her experience living in the bubble in Utah. Naughton also discusses playing against her former club in the championship game.

Then Jen speaks at length with Equalizer Soccer’s Dan Lauletta about the semifinal and final performances, the overall success of the Challenge Cup, and what’s next for the league. The two also talk a little about expansion markets Louisville and Los Angeles.

And the Challenge Cup 2020 episode concludes with a chat with sideline reporter Marisa Pilla. She shares a few stories of her time in the NWSL bubble and on-site at the games.

In this week’s “Jensplaining” segment, Jen talks about why NWSL fans should consider CBS to be a sponsor of the league just like Secret, Budweiser, Google, etc.

EMAIL THE KEEPER

Got a question or comment for the Jensplainer? Or any feedback about The Mixxed Zone podcast? Email your question or comments to [email protected].

 

Check out our sponsors:

* 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, Instagram, and Facebook.

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. ALSO AVAILABLE – a Houston Dash almanac!