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Ladies Man: Why Aren't You Watching WPS?
In the latest installment of the Ladies Man women's soccer column, Goal.com's Giovanni Albanese Jr. asks why you aren't watching WPS, the United States' most talented league.
Aug 11, 2010 5:23:00 PM
By Giovanni Albanese Jr.
As I sit here and watch Little League Baseball on the self-proclaimed “worldwide leader in sports,” I can’t help but think, “What is the interest in these 11- and 12-year old kids?”
Really. Think about it. You’re flicking through the channels and you reach this network and the guide claims for the better part of six hours is all Little League Baseball. Don’t get me wrong, these kids are the best at their age level. But when it comes down to it, only what, 1 percent of these kids will turn into MLB talent?
Regardless, we’re watching as sports fans. We as sports fans love when the best talents are pitted up against each other. So this brings up another important question: Why aren’t you watching Women’s Professional Soccer?
WPS has all the things we as sports fans desire: elite talent, parity, incredible skills, goal scorers, tough defenders, entertainment and more. The only thing WPS doesn’t have on Little League Baseball, at least from my vantage point, is the placement of its TV broadcasts.
First things first, you have to look at the talent in WPS and recognize that it’s the world’s best talent in every game. You don’t get that in any other American sport ever. Even the last-place Atlanta Beat have a cluster of world-class talents. You’re not going to find the caliber of Hope Solo, Eniola Aluko, Kia McNeill and Ramona Bachmann on the Baltimore Orioles of MLB.
And even though the Beat are 20-plus points behind FC Gold Pride in the WPS tables, the parity in the league is evident when they can hold the league’s top-scoring club scoreless and play to a draw. If there’s a worst vs. first match-up in the NFL, there’s no doubt that the first will win, and by a large margin.
If you go to a Major League Soccer match in your area, are you going to be thoroughly entertained? Maybe. But the style of play is gritty, physical and more kick-and-run than anything. It’s rare you see a great build up by any club en route to a goal.
In WPS, however, the matches are built around the development of possession. Each club works hard to hold onto possession and knock the ball around, switching fields before sending that final through-ball into the elite striker who challenges the world-class keeper in a one-on-one encounter.
And sometimes, when the defense tracks down the forward in the offensive third, that’s when spectators get the privilege to watch the ball-handling talents of the likes of Marta or Bachmann before she rips one on target.
WPS is really the complete package. Unfortunately, for most of the country -- and even the world -- there is still sexism that controls the subconscious and says that it’s women’s soccer. Well, women or not, it’s great soccer. It certainly is better talent, comparatively speaking, than MLS.
Every WPS game, you’ll without question be treated to a very entertaining game -- whether it’s a keeper making one save after another; strikers scoring at will; defenders crushing forwards before they can take shots, or even just a crisply-played match then ends with a little bit of all of that. You aren’t going to have that promise from any game in any other league -- especially not in this Little League Baseball.
So, again, why aren’t you watching WPS?
Goal of the Week
Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Philadelphia Independence -- With the Independence down 1-0 to the Boston Breakers, Magnusdottir pulled the Independence even with an incredible strike off a free kick, beating Breakers keeper Alyssa Naeher to the near post. Just five minutes later, Magnusdottir again beat Naeher, from distance to the far post. Both goals were impressive and warranted Goal of the Week honors.
Take a look at both goals here:
Save of the Week
Jillian Loyden, Chicago Red Stars -- Against the Gold Pride, Loyden had to be perfect for her Red Stars if they were going to come away with a point. In the 41st minute, Loyden was put to the test against Kelley O’Hara, who headed down a Tiffeny Milbrett cross for the lower 90, but the Red Stars all-star keeper was able to react and save the ball to keep the game scoreless.
Have a look at the save here:
Quote of the Week
“I’ve never been in a situation where we just had so much bad luck,” said Atlanta Beat’s English international striker Eniola Aluko after the club's 2-1 loss to Sky Blue FC over the weekend.
Aluko’s side hit the bar a couple times and also allowed an own goal in the loss, as they resumed sole possession of last place in the standings.
Goal.com contributer Giovanni Albanese Jr. covers FC Gold Pride for Tri-City Voice newspaper in Fremont, Calif. For all comments and questions you can contact him at GAlbaneseJr@hotmail.com or on Twitter @GAlbaneseJr.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Really. Think about it. You’re flicking through the channels and you reach this network and the guide claims for the better part of six hours is all Little League Baseball. Don’t get me wrong, these kids are the best at their age level. But when it comes down to it, only what, 1 percent of these kids will turn into MLB talent?
Regardless, we’re watching as sports fans. We as sports fans love when the best talents are pitted up against each other. So this brings up another important question: Why aren’t you watching Women’s Professional Soccer?
WPS has all the things we as sports fans desire: elite talent, parity, incredible skills, goal scorers, tough defenders, entertainment and more. The only thing WPS doesn’t have on Little League Baseball, at least from my vantage point, is the placement of its TV broadcasts.
First things first, you have to look at the talent in WPS and recognize that it’s the world’s best talent in every game. You don’t get that in any other American sport ever. Even the last-place Atlanta Beat have a cluster of world-class talents. You’re not going to find the caliber of Hope Solo, Eniola Aluko, Kia McNeill and Ramona Bachmann on the Baltimore Orioles of MLB.
And even though the Beat are 20-plus points behind FC Gold Pride in the WPS tables, the parity in the league is evident when they can hold the league’s top-scoring club scoreless and play to a draw. If there’s a worst vs. first match-up in the NFL, there’s no doubt that the first will win, and by a large margin.
If you go to a Major League Soccer match in your area, are you going to be thoroughly entertained? Maybe. But the style of play is gritty, physical and more kick-and-run than anything. It’s rare you see a great build up by any club en route to a goal.
In WPS, however, the matches are built around the development of possession. Each club works hard to hold onto possession and knock the ball around, switching fields before sending that final through-ball into the elite striker who challenges the world-class keeper in a one-on-one encounter.
And sometimes, when the defense tracks down the forward in the offensive third, that’s when spectators get the privilege to watch the ball-handling talents of the likes of Marta or Bachmann before she rips one on target.
WPS is really the complete package. Unfortunately, for most of the country -- and even the world -- there is still sexism that controls the subconscious and says that it’s women’s soccer. Well, women or not, it’s great soccer. It certainly is better talent, comparatively speaking, than MLS.
Every WPS game, you’ll without question be treated to a very entertaining game -- whether it’s a keeper making one save after another; strikers scoring at will; defenders crushing forwards before they can take shots, or even just a crisply-played match then ends with a little bit of all of that. You aren’t going to have that promise from any game in any other league -- especially not in this Little League Baseball.
So, again, why aren’t you watching WPS?
Goal of the Week
Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Philadelphia Independence -- With the Independence down 1-0 to the Boston Breakers, Magnusdottir pulled the Independence even with an incredible strike off a free kick, beating Breakers keeper Alyssa Naeher to the near post. Just five minutes later, Magnusdottir again beat Naeher, from distance to the far post. Both goals were impressive and warranted Goal of the Week honors.
Take a look at both goals here:
Save of the Week
Jillian Loyden, Chicago Red Stars -- Against the Gold Pride, Loyden had to be perfect for her Red Stars if they were going to come away with a point. In the 41st minute, Loyden was put to the test against Kelley O’Hara, who headed down a Tiffeny Milbrett cross for the lower 90, but the Red Stars all-star keeper was able to react and save the ball to keep the game scoreless.
Have a look at the save here:
Quote of the Week
“I’ve never been in a situation where we just had so much bad luck,” said Atlanta Beat’s English international striker Eniola Aluko after the club's 2-1 loss to Sky Blue FC over the weekend.
Aluko’s side hit the bar a couple times and also allowed an own goal in the loss, as they resumed sole possession of last place in the standings.
Goal.com contributer Giovanni Albanese Jr. covers FC Gold Pride for Tri-City Voice newspaper in Fremont, Calif. For all comments and questions you can contact him at GAlbaneseJr@hotmail.com or on Twitter @GAlbaneseJr.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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