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A bounce back and record setting win - Ep. 71
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Laura Harvey sets another record. The Reign were able to put last week’s late collapse behind them, securing a 2-0 win over the San Diego Wave and making Laura Harvey the first NWSL coach to reach 100 wins with one club. We get into the result, what worked, what didn’t work, as well as reflect on how the team is looking at the halfway point of the season. We wrap up the show by going over other results from around the league and previewing the Reign’s next match.
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Show produced by Coop
Music by Eddie Buchanan - www.eddiebuchananmusic.com
Show artwork by Coop
The Cooler Guild Est. 2024
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Transcript
Introduction & Episode Overview
00:00:20
Speaker
Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to episode, oh fudge, I have my thing in the wrong spot, episode 71 of The Cooler Guild. I am Coop Cooper and join with me as always is my co-host Van Crisp. What's up?
00:00:32
Speaker
We are recording on Tuesday, July 2026. today's episode, we've got a dub pod. Dub pod. Pretty exciting. um Van maybe called it last week. We'll get into that match. Some other news, bits of news, NWSL results, you know, the use and anything else we decided
Podcast Access & Subscriptions
00:00:52
Speaker
to go over. But before we get into all that, got some housekeeping. The Cooler Guild is a part of the Sounder at Heart podcast network. You can either listen to us on our public feed or if you're a Sounder at Heart subscriber on the private unified feed with the other podcasts on the network.
00:01:04
Speaker
If you'd like to become a subscriber, just visit our page at sounderatheart.com forward slash the Cooler Guild. New subscribers get 10% off the normal rate and you'll help support everything we're doing.
Weekend Recap: Fishing & Tacoma Visit
00:01:13
Speaker
how was ah How was your weekend? was good.
00:01:16
Speaker
Yeah? was good. Went fishing. Bought a boat. Bought a little boat. Bought little inflatable boat. What are you going to do with that? I'm going to fishing in it. You're going to go fishing your boat? Yeah. That's cool.
00:01:28
Speaker
Are you going to like lakes and stuff with it? Yeah. Sweet. There's a little state park by my house with the lake. Cool. Yeah. Hung out in Tacoma for a little bit. i went to a park at Chambers Bay. Okay. By the golf course. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's super pretty out there. Yeah, there's like some pockets of Tacoma that are really kind of, I don't know, people don't realize how nice it is out there. Yeah, it's hidden. Yeah. Probably for good reason.
Martha Stewart Themed Party
00:01:52
Speaker
but Yeah, I got to watch this excellent rain match on Sunday morning. What about you? What did I do? and know i don't know. What did I do? Alex and i took the van to Manzanita yesterday. oh pretty. ah Yeah. We went to Manzanita, got breakfast. i Love getting breakfast out there. There's a really good breakfast spot.
00:02:10
Speaker
If you're ever down the coast, it used to be called Yolk, but they were getting sued for the name because there's like this breakfast place in Chicago that's like franchising. Oh. And so they had to like change their name because they were just like, we're just not going to deal with this legal stuff because it's stupid. Yeah. And their food's like phenomenal. It's now called Poach 503.
00:02:27
Speaker
I remember what happened yesterday that I wanted to mention. Yesterday it was Monday. Yeah. But this was this was an interesting thing because Alex has Mondays off. So it's like the weekend for us. But on Monday, ah we went to a party at my friend's house and everyone had to show up by 630 because she's playing on the CD. That was a Martha Stewart cocktail hour.
00:02:47
Speaker
And everyone had to leave leave when the CD ended. And everyone everyone brought hors d'oeuvres from this Martha Stewart hors d'oeuvres book, too. So everyone like brought like an hors d'oeuvres, and then everyone promptly left at 8 o'clock. It was great. Oh, perfect. I think all parties should be like that. Yeah.
Reign's Victory & Player Updates
00:03:02
Speaker
Anyways, ah the Reign, they got a win. Yeah, 2-0. Didn't fuck it up this time. Did not. It was great. i yeah i was...
00:03:13
Speaker
i I texted you. and I was like, I didn't take a lot of notes because I was just like holding my breath. Yeah, so I was in the same boat. I had to do my rewatch today because I wasn't really i was like, i't i' this ah I know what happens to this team in second halves. yeah I don't I don't trust what's going to happen. I mean, I had some notes down. um I'm still happy that they're finding goals.
00:03:34
Speaker
That's feels great. Yeah, and we had the ah probably the healthiest squad of the year. Only player not available for the rain was Lynn Biandolo. That's still out on maternity leave. Dickie got a start again. Thank God. Yeah. So good.
00:03:50
Speaker
And ah there was a little good news before the game. The rain rain news usually drops on Wednesdays after we record this. But Ryan Brown was extended through 2027. She earned it. Yep. I was hoping it'd be a little bit longer, but I mean, see, I guess how she keeps progressing.
00:04:08
Speaker
and We're just holding our funds for that big signing that we all know is coming.
Lineup Discussion & San Diego Conditions
00:04:12
Speaker
Definitely. or there' There was definitely a spending coming. I'm sure of it. We had everyone healthy. When you saw the lineup, was it would did you feel like good about it?
00:04:22
Speaker
Yes. and Even though you saw San Diego's lineup as well? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think I was happy that Huerta was back and Curry was available. I think starting Ryan Brown was a smart choice instead of just throwing somebody back in with a minute's minutes restriction, right?
00:04:40
Speaker
I'm still mystified by the Sally Menti of it all. I feel like we don't have another option. No.
00:04:50
Speaker
I think that's why that's happening. And that's the problem, right? Yeah. And but other than that, with the players that we have, obviously, like I was fine with this lineup. Yeah.
00:05:05
Speaker
But it's going to be a hot game. They did have to do a hydration break. So it was always going to be one of those hot games where you never know what can happen.
Coach's Milestone & Young Player Records
00:05:14
Speaker
Yeah, they I was like looking at the crowd. I was like, dang, there's really nobody there. And then like you kind of get different angles and you see like these pockets of just crowded like fans and they're all in the shade. hmm. And I was just like, why don't they, I mean, that there is like no cover on that stadium. No, none. You built a stadium in San Diego, Southern California, the like biggest city in Southern California, like the the most Southern biggest city of California. Why have you not designed a stadium that makes sense? Put an overhang on it or something. That's crazy. Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:49
Speaker
I mean, it was a midday game, two o'clock. Yeah, they could have pushed it back. And it was no not a cloud in sight. I don't think there was any other events going on from what I read. but now Whatever. it's We got the win, so I'm not mad about it Exactly.
00:06:06
Speaker
You want to talk about some of the notable stats that came out of this match? ah Harvey became the first head coach to tally 100 wins with one club in the league.
00:06:16
Speaker
Incredible. Yeah. Yeah. Really cool. Love that we have her. I know some people are a little salty
Young Players' Growth & Impact
00:06:23
Speaker
about it, but... She claimed to not know this in the press conference. I mean, I do feel like sometimes they're always just coming up with stats. So, like, I get it.
00:06:31
Speaker
Yeah. She said she didn't know until Scott told the group in the huddle after the game. Okay. There's actually a video of it. Yeah. I mean, they're like first hundred wins in the league, which was like, what, two years ago for a head coach? And then ah they're coming up with this one, which I think this one's worth celebrating, too You're like a rain club. You know, this is special.
00:06:50
Speaker
um I do feel like sometimes, though, they are coming up with too many notable celebrations. Yeah. But this one's cool. ah The big one, though, was Ainsley McCammon, who recorded two first half assists and became the youngest player in NWCLE history to record a multi-assist match.
00:07:06
Speaker
ah She's 18 years, 344 days old, and she broke Trinity Rodman's record, 19 years, 143 days set in 2021. Got some good company. Yeah, Ryan mentioned this in the post-match presser with Ainsley and Jordan Bug, and when he said Trinity Rodman, the name Jordan just looked to the side, and Ainsley was like...
00:07:26
Speaker
That's so funny. well' It's crazy, too, because they don't even play like similar positions. So for Ainsley to do this kind of in a more defensive role that she typically plays in is extra impressive. Part of me was like, should we be pushing her up further?
00:07:40
Speaker
No, her range is so good. Yeah, I know that you don't have to. It's so good. And the the one that Opta just put out today was this is the a new new record.
00:07:52
Speaker
It's the first time in NBA history that a regular season goal was scored and assisted by teenagers with Ainsley McCammon's assist to Jordan Bug goal. Pretty cool. Awesome. The kids are alright.
00:08:03
Speaker
Kids are alright. In fact, they're pretty good. so of Yeah. Most of them. I mean, i the Bug and McCammon signings, i remember when we signed them, I was like, okay. Yeah, we're like, what are we going to with this? And I have to admit, i was my skepticism was ah not in the right place.
00:08:21
Speaker
No. But it worked out well. I would still like to be better than we are currently, but those two players... And I think that when we do get skeptical about some of these young signings, this is a really great time to think about because it's been a couple years. And sure, Jordan Bug was very impactful last season. Yeah.
00:08:41
Speaker
We didn't really see that from McCammon last year. And so to be able to see this growth come to fruition from these signings that we were initially skeptical about, I
Celebrating Win & Second-Half Strategy
00:08:51
Speaker
think is the...
00:08:52
Speaker
what Laura Harvey is trying to do with these players. Yeah, absolutely. So it is a little bit of a a a time to reevaluate skepticism. Sure. As we move forward.
00:09:03
Speaker
Yeah. Standings don't lie though. um
00:09:09
Speaker
That's fair. Yeah. You know, we have we have good, good players in certain positions. But overall, we're still don't know. There's a bigger picture that needs to be figured out. ah But guess what? We got a win. We got a two zero win. ah Should we celebrate? Crack open our celebratory drinks? Yeah. What do you got? I've got an athletic Atletica Mexican style copper.
00:09:32
Speaker
And a beer. I've got a Dr. Pepper zero sugar. Great. scarers Cheers. Cheers. Oh, God. I spill myself when I open cans.
00:09:44
Speaker
What worked? I don't know that I always enjoy the Ben don't break ah experience of the rain, but it did work this time. It's worked two out the last three times. Let's put it that way. Okay. Yeah.
00:09:56
Speaker
With not giving up to Portland. Yeah. There was a massive failure in match two. And you give up three goals the end of the match. And then we get to this game where, again, didn't break. No.
00:10:10
Speaker
You also don't have big time players coming in. No. But. different Definitely different than the Gotham match. But the combination between having Phoebe McLaren and just going balls out, right? Yeah. And Jordan Bug holding it down and Claudia Dickey standing on her head.
00:10:28
Speaker
And you have to have so many things fall into place for this to not break that it worries me. yeah But we got it done this time.
00:10:38
Speaker
And I just look forward to maybe not having to do this
San Diego's Performance & Concerns
00:10:42
Speaker
again. Yeah, I think it's one of those things where maybe if they would have gotten a three goal cushion, I wouldn't have been as stressed. But San Diego certainly had their chances. They were also the maybe more dominant team in possession and attack in the second half, especially.
00:10:57
Speaker
That's not unusual for San Diego, though. They have the second most possession out of all teams in the league this season. Yeah. And they also seem to score most of their goals in the second half as well. So not today. Not today. to add to that, you know, it's really hard to forget what has happened to the Reign when they've played Lujmila. And i am very happy to say we were not Lujmila'd. That has happened before to us. And it did not happen this time.
00:11:27
Speaker
It doesn't seem like, I mean, i don't know. Maybe it's just because there's a bigger vision with San Diego and how they play versus how Chicago was put together when Jamila was in Chicago. i feel like she'd leave Jamila to just get the ball and just do whatever the hell she wanted and was just racking up goals because... They didn't really have a lot else going on.
00:11:47
Speaker
ah It doesn't seem to quite be hitting the same with San Diego. But, you know, if she ever starts to get going there, that's going to be a real problem. Yeah, they really limited her chances. Ryan Brown did get burned by her a couple times.
00:12:00
Speaker
Yeah. But... when everyone else behind you is also doing their job that isn't so much of a problem and the rain really limited san diego's chances except for a couple times when claudia diggey just came up huge saves were insane don't it's weird to me that she wasn't up for she wasn't up for any saves of the week was she here's my thing The thing about Claudia Dickey is her footwork is so good that saves that Jane Campbell makes and other goalkeepers in league, I would say probably 98% of them, that...
00:12:36
Speaker
The saves that Claudia Dickey makes that are like, oh, that was a good save would have been had to been looking exceptional from any other goalkeeper. Yeah. Because the way that she moves her feet and the positions that she gets into make the saves that she makes easier on herself.
00:12:51
Speaker
So she doesn't have to fly her body all the way across the goal to make a huge save every single time because she's exactly where she needs
Claudia Dickey's Goalkeeping Excellence
00:12:58
Speaker
to be. And if she's not, she quickly gets there. Yeah. So you may not see her on Save of the Week because everything that she does to most people's eyes looks pedestrian.
00:13:07
Speaker
But to us, and people that understand how how she gets to where she is, it's incredible. She was phenomenal. There was a moment where I wasn't sure what...
00:13:18
Speaker
What's going on with her this season? Well, before the break, ah there were some sketchy moments. There was. It seems like, I mean, I'm... We talk about we talked about this, right? Yeah.
00:13:31
Speaker
Maybe she needed a little scare. Yeah, which Cassie Miller had some good games. Exactly. And does that put pressure on her to perform? is that what she needed? It's a little annoying that that's what would be needed. But, know, I'll take it I'll take it when the performances like this come. Yeah.
00:13:47
Speaker
So and she ah and, you know, the World Cup, everyone knows it's your way. i think she's she's made her case for being the number one or being considered for the number one in a performance like this after what happened. ah the came him he was That. was at in Seattle. ah yeah Hopefully Emma saw this one because this was a great game.
00:14:08
Speaker
And the the thing going forward for Claudia Dickey is just going to be consistency. Yeah, that's a whole thing with the entire reign, but um if she can find that consistency, then I think they can do a lot with the way that the season has gone and turn things around. It's going
Game Context & Midfield Leadership
00:14:23
Speaker
to be ah very reliant on what she does back there. It's annoying that's kind of where we're at, but that's also what prevented us from being totally embarrassed last year as well. And it's good to have somebody you can rely on like that. So if she keeps having games like this and solid, consistent performances, I don't see how she's not a front runner for the number one position for the U.S. Women's National Team. Yeah, because she hasn't crumbled when she's been given those moments, which I will say there's been other players that have been put in those positions that have not turned up. And she has not done that. So what else worked for you?
00:14:57
Speaker
Ainsley McCammon? Yeah. She's unbelievable. She has now scored in three straight games. Ainsley? Sorry. Maddie Mercado. Jesus. I'm becoming an announcer. Oh my God, that's the problem. was We were going over how bad the announcers were. Jesus. were reliving who they screwed up over and over again and now we are doing that. um But we're also not really, this is not our career, so I'm to keep that as an excuse.
00:15:26
Speaker
Anyway, Matty Mercado. From my ball. Ainsley McCammon played it. Yeah. Look, I can do names. I mean, McCammon got two of the assists in this, so that's why I chatted her out on there. But the next line below that is scoring goals, and we've got Mercado listed immediately.
00:15:46
Speaker
i mean just you say five games? How many games? Three games straight. Three games straight. That's a lot. For us? Yeah. She's got five goals this season, right? Is it five or six now? I think that might be six. It might be now. Look at us ready with the stats. Oh, goodness.
00:15:59
Speaker
ah
00:16:03
Speaker
oh goodness I thought I wrote it down, but I didn't. ah Five goals. Okay. She's feeling She's feeling it. she's feeling it And they all mostly seem to be and the same area of the field. She got one from the outside of the box.
00:16:18
Speaker
But she's so elusive and like good at getting exactly where she needs to be when those balls come in for her. And staying on side. That. The timing with the ball from Ainsley, there's a really good shot of it, like a slow-mo from the field level, where a ball comes off Ainsley's foot just perfectly.
00:16:36
Speaker
And Mercado comes around and just gets in between the defender and the goalkeeper and perfect header. The XG on that shot, 0.02. point o two Yeah. That might be a little harsh, I think, but i mean, she placed it really well.
00:16:51
Speaker
That was not an easy shot to take. I mean, it's the same with the header in the Portland game. Yeah. She's great in the air. She is. And we still have not had a game without a goal since the Etsy witch.
00:17:05
Speaker
The streak continues. The streak continues. Also, yeah, I guess I was kind of at the I was at the bookstore the other day. and I will say i did look at the witchcraft section for the first time. Just kind of like, oh, maybe I should maybe I should consider looking into this. i don't know if you can be born a witch or you can be made a witch. Maybe both.
00:17:21
Speaker
I don't know. i was curious. If it's a nature versus nurture. Yeah. argument for witchcraft yeah i don't know maybe need to study i don't know but uh i you know it's we've been having a pretty good streak of scoring and i am enjoying it yeah the players are too yeah and having your center back at a goal is always going to be helpful yeah did she mean to yeah absolutely she'll tell you that too i'm sure
00:17:51
Speaker
But the rain had issues in beginning in the in the beginning of the season scoring and then not being able to follow it up very well. That was not not the case in this game.
00:18:02
Speaker
And it didn't seem to be the case in the last couple games. You get the goals three minutes apart. Usually it was we get a goal and then we give up a goal three minutes later. Yeah.
00:18:14
Speaker
That's been the trend before this last series of games. So I like this new trend. Racking up the goals. How do we get a third? That's the question. i don't like this being in the... Two goal purgatory? Yeah, because we know it's the most dangerous score in soccer. I would like to get out of that if we can.
00:18:33
Speaker
Yeah. Please. Need my blood pressure to... Which they're even out here. It's not like those have been like in these games, there's been other moments to go up three goals. So, I mean, there's the penalty. There is.
00:18:47
Speaker
i mean, I guess I should say that for what didn't work. um Yeah, I've got it in there. Yeah, i know. That's what remembered. um So I think there's hope for that to happen at some point.
Midfield Challenges & Future Signings
00:18:57
Speaker
I didn't realize I would be sitting here getting extra greedy about goals. That's a nice feeling. it is. It really is. ah don't Yeah, I didn't know I would feel like this. ah so I'm going to enjoy my summer of feeling greedy.
00:19:12
Speaker
There was one ah lineup change or like positional adjustment in the first half of this match where traditionally, since the break at least, Sally Menti has played...
00:19:27
Speaker
ah top of a triangle in the midfield with Meza and McCammon back behind. And it looked to me for most of the first half that Meza and Menti were more flat.
00:19:40
Speaker
Okay. So like an inverted triangle and just playing to the left or the right. One goes up, one stays back kind of deal. And that seemed to work. Yeah. Because Meza was getting up.
00:19:51
Speaker
Bente was playing defense at times. And it the midfield looked to be more productive in that lineup. But it changed in the second half, and we saw how that how that worked. I don't know that it was inspiring, but...
00:20:08
Speaker
I just i yeah i I mean I guess we can even just go into what didn't work from there i feel like when I'm watching the midfield I just don't like see that player who's directing where things go no and I think in the second half especially that was really apparent there was very few outlets in the second half Yeah.
00:20:28
Speaker
And that that change in the midfield with Menti playing higher above Meza, I think had a lot to do with that because you're having these players have to come back and defend. We saw Mio Fischel dropping back really far back. So when we gained the ball, we couldn't really play out into possession and alleviate the pressure.
00:20:48
Speaker
So how do they find that player that can stretch and not have to come back and overcompensate on defense? Yeah, this, this, for the 10th episode in a row of the season seems to be the spot that they need to go and spend money on.
00:21:02
Speaker
Yeah. Please go get a 10. Thank you. A true 10. A true 10. What didn't work? I mean, we just said it, the second halves. Yeah. Second halves. I will say we succeeded in this this game, but it just does look... I mean, you can see the immediate pressure onslaught. Like, we are just getting completely peppered.
00:21:23
Speaker
Not holding the ball. Our chances are, was like, even less. i don't don't There's no quality chances, it often feels like. i don't... I don't know. i don't know what the solution is because it worked in this game. it worked in the Portland game. But obviously we saw what happens when you face a very, very, very good team.
00:21:44
Speaker
Yeah. And that concerns me. I think we got lucky here. Imagine if they had Macario healthy and in this game. Well, they've never had her healthy. So I don't know. I don't know what that would be like. I know. I guess we can't. We can't. we imagine True imagination because it's never happened.
00:21:59
Speaker
Yeah, I just I don't enjoy being on the edge of my seat in a bad way, waiting for the team to devolve into trying to get them to not score a goal. It's so stressful.
00:22:13
Speaker
And I also don't think that's going to be a good strategy come playoffs. Right. So they need to work through this and figure out how to not be a
First-Half Success & Second-Half Struggles
00:22:21
Speaker
pattern. It's great that they're coming out in the first half and getting themselves up, but they're going to have to figure out how to do that for another half.
00:22:28
Speaker
Yeah, they're going to need to find a way to not put themselves in a defensive hole all the time late in games. What didn't work for What else didn't work for you?
00:22:39
Speaker
Hold on. I accidentally hit the Apple Music button. Stop hitting buttons, Van. ah Maddie Darlene. Oh, no. This is not all on her.
00:22:49
Speaker
She's young. I know this is not a decision that she would maybe make make in two years, but clear breakaway just outruns and speed wise, nobody can catch up with her to San Diego defenders. And when she gets to the goal and she's on the goalkeepers, right?
00:23:07
Speaker
Instead of taking a shot or maybe taking another touch, she's And playing a clear shot with her left foot, she cuts inside Jordan Morris style and tries to put it on her right foot and ends up just going nowhere.
00:23:19
Speaker
Yeah. as ah As a forward, you need to do better with that. That's the start of the second half. Imagine, you know, goals change games. If they'd come out in the second half and scored a goal quickly. Mm-hmm. That could change how the team plays and we maybe aren't stuck in that whole in that defensive peppering of shots. Yeah.
00:23:38
Speaker
And her college career was just loaded with these kinds of goals. So I know she has it in her yeah to score these. i don't know what needs to happen to to get that going.
00:23:51
Speaker
i just get her more chances if they can keep feeding her the ball get one of those to break and then I think you know her confidence will be super high and she'll keep trying it and not trying to do too much because that's kind of sometimes what it feels like is she's over complicating it right and trying to find an easy shot instead of playing the clear shot yeah and like I said she's young then this is decision making gets clearer with experience and Yeah, I mean, this whole team's kind of going through growing pains.
00:24:22
Speaker
So, yeah, it's on. There's a lot of things that everyone seems to be working on. Yeah. did you want to Did you want to touch on the me official? Yeah, I've got to touch on it. because i am Okay, you go ahead. I'm going to drink some of my Dr. Pepper. One of the commentators on the CBS Sports Network was just like, oh, yeah, me officials finally finding her footage. She scores. She's just like fine in the back of the net. She got her first goal. She got a penalty. And I'm just sitting there like, is that is that all it takes for us to start just hyping her up? here I'm not saying I don't like her. I'm not saying she doesn't do anything. But we spent $2.5 million dollars on her.
00:24:58
Speaker
I think I need more. I need more. I don't think I know I need more. She needs a to be getting on the score sheet. She needs to be doing something. $2.5 million dollars the one time we actually spent fucking money.
00:25:10
Speaker
mean, I'm just ah I'm frustrated. Yeah, it's kind of becoming a break or break point for me on this. You spend that money on a player of her quality, yet there doesn't seem to be a way that they really figured out how to work her into being a productive attacking player on the score sheet. Yes, but we also knew that she was coming off of this crazy injury and we've never seen her...
00:25:38
Speaker
ah so We never saw her fully get going at Chelsea. Obviously, we we knew she was fantastic and um the next like for Tigres. So to me, this was a big swing for spending money that we were all very, very hopeful that it it it would work out. But I i think she's going to have to something really impressive to make this feel like this was a good way to spend money. Because as much as I want the team to go and spend money, it's like, well, if if this is what you're doing, this is the production we're getting. I just... I'm a little unsure about who's making these decisions. Well, we're always unsure about that. But look, we're 15 games in. 15 games of her being healthy-ish. There was the injury beginning the season.
00:26:20
Speaker
We need to see something. One penalty and she didn't even earn it. I don't know. i I'm just, i'm I'm underwhelmed. As am I.
Commentary Critique
00:26:30
Speaker
I want more. I need more. And I would think it would help us a lot if we saw what we have seen her do at T-Grace. It's a different league. I know that.
00:26:38
Speaker
But you spend two and a half million dollars. More needs to happen. I agree. Should we also just riff, riff, should we shit on the commentators of the, of the, of the broadcast crews? Because it wasn't just one broadcast crew. Broad, broadcast, broadcast crew.
00:26:57
Speaker
Yeah. I was watching the NWSL post-broadcast on a rewatch today. Wow. um I'm going to call him out by name. Matt Peterson who was was commentating with Leanne Sanderson. Love her.
00:27:10
Speaker
ah He was messing up things all over the place. He said that Darlene had a save by Claudia Dickey. um He said that Seattle got a win over Seattle at one point.
00:27:22
Speaker
ah He also said that Laura Harvey had Lujmila on the team. I mean, this guy didn't know what he was talking about. Oh, man. And then you had your own experience on the Fox 13 plus broadcast.
00:27:34
Speaker
I sure did. During the first goal, they weren't even watching the game. you what it's It was crazy to me. You didn't even know that they scored. If you're listening to it until 10 seconds later, because they were like, oh, wow.
00:27:49
Speaker
But they were talking about something else. Throwing happens, ball comes through, McCammon gets it, hits it, Mercado goal. And then they're like, that's it. like oh god where are they finding these people i don't know they're also dry and the guy's fine but the the woman they have on there my dad uh said her voice reminds him of the npr skit from snl they're like ah wow yes that is it and they're just just flat
00:28:23
Speaker
Flat and boring. ah They're mixing up players again and mispronouncing names. No one on the broadcast could say Meza. And Ludmilla.
00:28:34
Speaker
m I'm like, come on, people. i just don't. I like I feel like I'm not saying I could get hired because I think if you look at my paper trail, there's going to be history of me shitting on these commentators. But it does feel like if I didn't have that paper trail, there's a decent chance I could get them to hire me.
00:28:52
Speaker
We should start commentating Twitch live streams. Yeah. I mean, it'd be better than this. Let me let me know if you'd like us to commentate a a game live streamed on Twitch. Yeah, I just I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed. The league deserves better than this. And players deserve better from this. do. And you've got Leanne Sanderson, who's an actual pro and knows these players and like has done her homework and has also played with these players. And and then you've got some fucking she's getting paired up with this guy who doesn't doesn't have a clue.
00:29:22
Speaker
Or at least he's not locked in enough to have a clue at that moment. Like, get get it together. We did win, so I guess we probably shouldn't be harping too much on the what didn't work. There's just some yellow flags going up that I think are reasonable to be concerned about.
Post-Match Press Conference Insights
00:29:34
Speaker
There are warning signs for sure. yeah What did you get out of the post-match pressers?
00:29:39
Speaker
ah So the players were bugging McCammon. McCammon noted that when asked about her assist to Matty Mercado, that they'd been working on a similar type of ball in practice. So yay practice. It works.
00:29:53
Speaker
And then they also talked about they've how they've been enjoying scoring goals and celebrating and they're having fun playing right now. And in that same post-match video that Rain posted, they had Harvey go into the middle and they spray water on everybody. And then they had Ainsley go into the middle and they sprayed water on her. And the whole time they're like, Gritty, Gritty, Gritty. yeah And they just roll out the Gritty. It's funny.
00:30:14
Speaker
But it does look like the vibes are good. The Laura Harvey presser. She really said what we all were thinking. They need to work on starting the second half strong. Yeah. And that's the big challenge going forward is sorting out the second half and how to get that third goal.
00:30:30
Speaker
And she also, again, took responsibility for last week's loss to Gotham, stating, i quote, I didn't think I set us up for success in regards to like real deal detail of what we needed to do in those moments. But I wasn't willing to accept that again, unquote, and let that happen.
00:30:46
Speaker
She gave props to Jordan Bug and Phoebe in the back. and then also Phoebe also played on a Yellow for like most of that
Cooler Play of the Match
00:30:52
Speaker
game. so Yeah, that was impressive. Yeah. We know Phoebe. Yeah. She's going to do whatever takes. And sometimes that's a little too much for the referee.
00:31:00
Speaker
ah And she also touched on Ryan Brown, which I thought was good because there were moments in the game, especially with the Lujamila stuff, that I was like, oof, Ryan, yeah getting toasted. Yeah. But she thought Ryan was great and that we need to be mindful of how long she's been away and the things they're asking her to repeatedly do are tough when you've been out as long as she has.
00:31:21
Speaker
Fair. So is what, her fourth game back? Something like that. so And then she also noted ah that Kree and Huerta both had minutes restrictions this match, and but both told her after the game they felt great. That's good.
00:31:34
Speaker
think that's it from the presser. ah Cool. I think ah think that's a good way to wrap things up. We can get into the cooler for the match now. Yeah. Yeah. The cooler play of the match is brought to you by the doctor's office, a great little 12 seat bar on Capitol Hill. The owner is a big fan of the rain and is proud to be our very first sponsor.
00:31:51
Speaker
No brainer here. No brainer. The Claw is back. Congratulations, Claudia Dickey.
Current Standings & Playoff Prospects
00:31:58
Speaker
Claws up. Claws up. It's just like Lady Gaga, but claws up. Eight saves in this match.
00:32:04
Speaker
Stood on her head a couple times. She's fantastic. Just so good. Yeah. So congratulations, Claudia. First game back. We love to see it. We do. um Thank you for being our goalkeeper. And also thanks to our sponsor, of The Doctor's Office. The Doctor's Office is the best place to grab a drink before or after a rematch or anytime, especially in the summer. Check out their Instagram at TDO Seattle or better yet, go drink there in person.
00:32:28
Speaker
Cheers. um Did you want to do any like final thoughts on the rain? Like overreactions about where you think things are going? Because we entered this ah game in 14th place. I think we're now in 10th, right? We are. Okay. I do want to point out we are two games behind the teams in 4th and 5th. Okay.
00:32:46
Speaker
So. Okay. That's interesting. The only team, we've played 15 matches North Carolina's played. So the teams above us that also played the same amount of matches are North Carolina at ninth and Angel City in eighth. Okay.
00:32:59
Speaker
So let's just go ahead and say the rain win those two extra games. Then they would sit at 26 points and they would be in sixth place. Okay. Okay.
00:33:12
Speaker
That's not terrible. So we're not out of the realm at this point. I'm cautious with that. Yeah. But being on 20 points in 15 matches is sad, but not the worst thing you could be at right now. Yeah, that's I guess that's why I want to bring it up because we're I don't know how many if we're actually at the halfway point. I meant to look that up.
00:33:32
Speaker
But where we you know we're in that zone now where I feel like it's time to kind of reflect and to also see where we're at in the standings. I feel like you're giving me some hope. um The team's giving me some hope.
00:33:43
Speaker
I think these goals are giving me hope. um But I do think that a lot of that will still be reliant on us getting a new signing. and This is exactly the halfway point. It is. Okay, great.
00:33:57
Speaker
So get the signing and then we can make the big push and finish things off and, ah you know, be a good playoff team. Yeah, we're two places out of playoffs right now. Yeah, because I saw the standings before this game and I was like, oh, God, this is really spiral. Yeah, it could. It really could, but hopefully it won't. Yeah, yeah.
00:34:18
Speaker
The Reign did announce a signing, but it was a coaching staff signing today that we've been waiting on since the beginning of the month. Yeah, it's been weeks. And I think, I don't know what her coaching style is like or how that part of her game goes, but Lou Barnes back in the locker room is never going to be a bad thing.
Lou Barnes as Interim Coach
00:34:39
Speaker
No, not at all.
00:34:40
Speaker
especially Especially when we are having to pull out these big defensive performances, a player with that much experience and especially recent experience against these teams is an incredibly helpful resource to have.
00:34:56
Speaker
I'm curious on what her long-term plans are because it's ah it's an interim position currently, but they did have ah Lee Wynn move on to a different position somewhere else in the USL. what Where was he going to? i think going to the Super League somewhere. ah So he he departed, so Lou's kind of filling in um kind of for For that role, I suppose. i don't know.
00:35:17
Speaker
i'm yeah i'm just curious on long term if she's hoping that this might work out. um But again, I think it's one of those things where she's so fresh off of retirement that we don't know what her coaching style is and how much she is going enjoy it. But i I do think having her around is really valuable. Yeah, Susie didn't mention in the Rovalx that they do plan to go through a full process in the offseason.
00:35:41
Speaker
and Okay. It's possible that Lou will enjoy the role and will be the best candidate for the permanent assistant coach position, but the club wants to be fair to both Barnes and their process. Totally. Makes sense. Cool. who back Welcome back, Lou.
00:35:53
Speaker
Also noted, i just saw this. Matthew went to the season ticket member training today, open training, and Phoebe had her arm wrapped in a cast but was fully training.
00:36:05
Speaker
Do you think she like heard it and during the game? Did she try and jump over a billboard after the match? Oh, no. We're Jordan Henderson. Yeah. That's one of the funniest things that's ever happened.
00:36:20
Speaker
You will get some answers about that later, but she can definitely leave with the cast. don't worry about it.
NWSL Weekend Results Recap
00:36:25
Speaker
ah How did the other results go in the league? They went. was an interesting weekend, actually. So first game of the weekend, Houston beat Bay 1-0 with the winning goal scored a 90 plus one. That's brutal.
00:36:37
Speaker
Jane Campbell made seven saves. It's a good weekend for goalkeepers. Okay. Orlando beat Chicago one zero with another late goal by Julie Doyle in the 88th minute. but But Chicago's goalkeeper Katie Atkinson made 10 saves, eight in the first half, including a Marta PK save.
00:36:54
Speaker
Marta did like a little stutter on that, right? little bit. not just Yeah, not a huge stutter, but something something Brazilian. It was a decent PK and a really good save. Okay. Portland tied Gotham two to two.
00:37:06
Speaker
Big news coming out of Gotham this week. And Esther was out due to an excused absence for this match. We find out yesterday that she has mutually agreed to a contract termination with Gotham.
00:37:18
Speaker
Going back to Spain for personal reasons. Wild. Wild. It seems like the club has maybe known that this was on the horizon. Well, with the excused absence over the weekend... Yeah.
00:37:31
Speaker
I don't, we don't know. I'm not going to speculate because I don't know what's going on yeah the Stare, but what a profound loss for Gotham. And the league. And the league. She's, as much as I despise playing her, she is one of my favorite players to watch.
00:37:48
Speaker
And I think you and I would probably put her in our top two or three players in the league. Of all time, maybe even. She's had that much of an impact on Gotham since joining them. Yeah.
00:37:59
Speaker
So huge loss for them, but they did tie Portland two to two at Portland. ah Portland goals from Lyles and Fleming and Gotham goals from Purse and Kerr. Sonnet, that another bad thing coming out of this for Gotham. Sonnet was stretched off in the 11th minute due to an apparent knee injury.
00:38:16
Speaker
And all they've said is that she's had a surgery. Very mysterious. Mysterious. Don't know how long she'll be out, but that's ah another huge loss for Gotham. And Portland went down to 10 in the 74th minute with Jaden Perry, got a straight red card, took out Sam Kerr, who was about to go on a breakaway, pulled her shirt down. Might have been worth it. Could have.
00:38:38
Speaker
And then another game with a red card, Boston beat Kansas City 1-0. That's a big result for Boston. Yeah, Traore with the only goal in the 18th minute. Ella Stevens got a straight red and 90 plus seven. Two players going up for a header. Ella Stevens just kind of threw her elbow back and hit um hit Kayla Sharples in the head. Is this the game where there was a hair step too?
00:39:00
Speaker
I believe so. That person got a red card, like a one game suspension after this game ended. It was wild to me that that wasn't deemed malicious on the field. But I don't know. i guess Boston got the result anyway. So your retroactive red, she'll be out for yeah the game. Yeah. ah North Carolina got blown out by Utah four to one.
00:39:22
Speaker
North Carolina's lone goal came from EJ in the 55th minute. Other goals from Del Fava, Malazzo, Tanaka, and Lacasse from a penalty. I did note, nancy so Ashley Sanchez, we are waiting for you to come to Seattle.
00:39:35
Speaker
Yeah, do you think this this is, you know, maybe maybe we can make a case for her. You don't have to be there. No.
00:39:45
Speaker
ah Let's see. Washington in Spirit got a win over Denver 1-0. Cantore goal in the 61st minute. And Angel City lost to Louisville. That's embarrassing.
00:39:57
Speaker
woof Yeah. ah Lone goal Angel City came from john John's daughter in the 80th minute. And both Louisville goals scored by Lardner in the 24th and 55th minute.
00:40:08
Speaker
And that wraps up the NWSL for the weekend. The Spirit still sit in first place on 33 points. Gotham in second, Utah third in third, and San Diego in fourth. All right.
00:40:20
Speaker
No one's looking super solid. I mean, Spirit are eking out results, it feels like, recently. i believe San Diego was in third going into our game versus them. Okay. Yeah, and Portland's kind of, i mean, that you know, we beat them and...
00:40:34
Speaker
Didn't they lose last week? Yeah, they haven't had a win in the last three matches. Yeah, it seems like people, like teams aren't. I think the break has kind of broke some of the momentum some teams had, so. Yeah, for sure. so we currently sit in 10th place. It's not good. Doesn't sound nice.
00:40:50
Speaker
No, it doesn't. yes but We have a chance to climb keep climbing next weekend. ah Yeah, rain are playing Bay FC next. Well, guess it's coming up Saturday, August 1st, 5.45 p.m. That'll be at PayPal Park in the Bay. um That'll also be on ION TV. ah What do you want to see in this game?
00:41:14
Speaker
Can we not go through a second half stress? No promises. I just want to see the team come out and keep that attacking mindset in the second half.
00:41:25
Speaker
It seems that they resort to this, I don't park the bus attitude. And I want them to forget about that and keep playing their game. Yeah. What do you think? um We've never, the Reign have never gotten a win over Bay, and I would like to um change that. i don't know if that's a big ask, but given how Bay played against Houston, I feel like that's possible. Yeah. I'm not feeling like Bay's really, I always feel like we're so much better than Bay, and I just don't understand why we can't beat them. Yeah. I would like to see Darlene goal. Okay. I want to see her just frustrations let out um from not being able to on the score sheet as much as she should.
00:42:14
Speaker
And I'd like to see her score because we you know we have to keep this goal scoring thing going. Yeah. And I would like to see some of our other players up front do that other than Manny Mercado. Although I welcome that as well. Yeah.
00:42:27
Speaker
Keep climbing Maddie. But yeah, I think Darlene, she's just so fast. so If we can. If they can put her in behind and she can get one of those goals. Get her to link up with McCammon. Yeah.
00:42:39
Speaker
Get that crossover and just have her link up there. That would be really awesome to watch. My roommates came home. Anything else you or you were hoping to see in this game?
00:42:52
Speaker
a win. Okay. How do you think it's going to go? Free one. Rain. Okay. I almost feel like Claudia's going to get in the shutout, but that was a very close call in this game.
00:43:05
Speaker
ah Cool. Anything else you want add on? No. I look forward to the weekend's game. This is a good time, too, for a game. It is. I don't know what the temperatures will be like in the bay. Does the sun start start setting down there at that time?
00:43:18
Speaker
Probably not. oh shit. What's up with this? this time would be really They're in the same time zone we are. i know. So i why can't they just put it at 7? I mean, I do like a 545 for my own personal life. Yeah. but i But I'm not sure what's going on with the ah choices from the league and times. Any shout outs?
00:43:37
Speaker
and Nope. Cool. And me neither. um Thanks again to our sponsor, at The Doctor's Office. You can go follow us on Blue Sky and Instagram at CoolerGuildPod. You can send us an email. We love an email.
00:43:48
Speaker
You can send that thecoolerguild at gmail.com. I will probably mention on the podcast and never actually respond. um I usually do. if it's Yeah. Coop towards me. Get back to you. Yeah. You can also visit us on our main site, sounderheart.com forward slash the cooler guild. go read all the roll Valks articles. Some good, good stuff coming out of there right now.
00:44:07
Speaker
Yeah. Love everyone there. They're all very talented and very dedicated rain fans. ah you can also follow us on YouTube, youtube.com forward slash at the cooler guild. Wherever you're listening, please go rate five stars. Till next time. I'm Coop. I'm Van. Stay cool, y'all. Stay cool.
00:44:48
Speaker
It was Saturday. Saturday, and went to a mart. No, that was Friday. Holy shit, I don't remember what I did. i went somewhere Saturday.