The Mixxed Zone: Women’s soccer from Howler Magazine

Jen reviews all the latest WoSo happenings with Steph Yang of TheBentMusket.com and 2DrunkFans – they talk USWNT January camp roster, potential "federation" players for 2017, the wide array of draft options for the Boston Breakers and their four 1st round picks, and finally, the sudden announcement that defending NWSL champs WNY Flash are moving to North Carolina. Then Jen picks the brain of Travis Clark, writer/editor for TopDrawerSoccer.com, about how that site researches and ranks players, and who Travis thinks will be the "sleeper picks" of this week's NWSL draft.

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In the first episode of 2017, Jen chats with JJ Duke of Our Game Magazine about the upcoming NWSL college draft, what the teams with first-round picks are looking for and which coaches are likely to make trades. Then "The Keeper" talks with Allison Lee of Once A Metro & Equalizer Soccer about the recent NCAA Div1 women's soccer tourney and which players are the ones to watch in next week's draft.

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In the final episode of the year, Jen and Richard review the short lists, voting processes and occasional frustration that goes along with year-end soccer awards. They also talk about the potential impact of Alex Morgan's move to Lyon, both on the Orlando Pride and NWSL (this segment was recorded before the news was official). Then Jen catches up with Ann Odong of The Women's Game to talk Westfield W-League action and goalkeeper Lydia Williams' recent PFA Player of the Year Award.

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Jen and Richard discuss the possibilities of NWSL expansion—where it should/could happen, what the time frame should be and how (they think) expansion franchise decisions are made (or should be). Then Jen chats with Kealia Ohai, one of the many NWSL players who earned their first USWNT cap this fall, to hear what it's like to be a newbie in camp for the #1 ranked team in the world.

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Jen looks back at the state of women's professional soccer in December 2011 -- a time when the WPS was on the verge of collapse -- with Equalizer Soccer's Dan Lauletta and they discuss how NWSL (and US Soccer) wrote a new script for the pro women's game. They also look ahead to the 2017 college draft and the potential fallout of any failed USWNT CBA negotiations. Then Jen talks to Kim Wyant, a pioneer in both the women's and men's game -- Wyant was the USWNT's first-ever goalkeeper, the MVP of the first NCAA women's College Cup back in 1982, and the first woman to serve as head coach of an NCAA men's soccer team.

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"The Keeper" returns, with two college-focused chats. First, Jen chats with 1991 Women's World Cup champion (and college coach) Amy Griffin about her memories of the final, the tourney and the year-long preparation for the event. They also discuss the ongoing u20 Women's World Cup and the challenges of coordinating NCAA soccer with FIFA's schedule, plus look ahead to this weekend's Women's College Cup. Then Jen catches up with Texas A&M head coach G Guerrieri about his team's experiences playing three of the teams that reached the NCAA Elite Eight and his thoughts on the growth of the annual College Cup.

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The road to women's College Cup continues, but it does so without Stanford and Andi Sullivan. Equalizer Soccer's Jennifer Gordon joins us to talk elite eight and an unfortunate injury to the new U.S. international. Also, Ride of the Valkyries writer Susie Rantz joins us to take inventory of the Seattle Reign's turnover and long-time friend of the show Haley Carter discusses her recent FIFPro honor and the progress being made with the Afghanistan women's national team.

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Temporarily taking over Jen Cooper's mic, Richard Farley talks two U.S. women's national team wins with Stars and Stripes FC's Stephanie Yang before switching focus to the NCAA tournament and Washington Spirit, with the help of Equalizer Soccer's Jennifer Gordon. Then, Yang rejoins Richard to the impact of last Tuesday's presidential election on the women's soccer community, which could be disproportionately affected by the country's potential change in direction.

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Jen and Richard discuss all the latest WoSo news relevant to NWSL fans—Washington Spirit's surprise trade of Ali Krieger to the Orlando Pride, the November call-ups for the USWNT and Carli Lloyd's inclusion on the FIFA Player of the Year shortlist.

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Richard sits down with four-year-old NWSL to offer a post-season evaluation of both on- and off-the-field performance, with a side order of jelly donuts. Then Jen chats with Kieran Thievan of the WoSoZone podcast about the last team to qualify for the 2017 Women's Euro championship and what to expect from next summer's tourney.

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