The Refinement Era: Tactical Rigor & Structural Evolution of the USWNT

It's Tuesday, but it's not a regular Tuesday. Yes, it is football W. Yes, it is two-time woke-up champion, Ali Krieger, Jeff Kassouf. Look who's here with us. Let me give you the proper introduction, Crystal Dunn, that you deserve as you signed off on your retirement announcement. Former NWSL MVP, Golden Boot winner, three-time shield winner, three-time champion, World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist. Welcome to football W. Thanks. Welcome to ESPN. How are you? I'm great. Now that I'm sitting here with you guys, taking such good care of me. Thank you for that. But no, I mean, it's been a whole month since my retirement announcement. And life has been good. I've been just living, you know, living it up and seeing and connecting with some amazing people I haven't seen in a while. And that's the beauty of now having a little bit more time on my hands. I saw a social media trend and I'll ask you this. It's not a curve ball. I told you I'm not going to throw you any gotcha questions. Oh, okay. But what is a habit that you have let go of now, that you had to keep whether it be intense training? I mean, a lot of, I mean, we have to stay hydrated, right? But what is something that you've been like, this is kind of nice to not have to worry about anymore? Okay, it would definitely have to be the working out aspect of my life. I mean, I'm still super into like, you know, being healthy and taking good care of myself. But to not have to do a prep exercise to push my body past its limits is like, I never thought I would see this day, you know? And it's been really great. And I think the day to day is what probably got, you know, harder later and later in my career. And I think to be able to wake up and kind of just embrace my son and kind of not feel like I have to rush off somewhere has been really the best part of retirement so far. I'll quote you too, because I think it's perfect for this moment. You said the life of a professional athlete can never truly be replicated, but I'm excited to continue impacting the game from a new perspective. So we hope you found your new perspective here with us. I mean, you guys have been so good to me. Like, it's been great. I love it. You know, Chris is one of my really great friends. Our sons are in the same class. So we just like, you know, are always vibing and to now be teammates again is incredible. Love it. Love it. You gave so much to the game. So it's the least that you deserve to be treated like you deserve. So we will break a lot down here on football, W with the help of crystal done as well. I can't say that enough. Oh my god. We rank our favorite NW cell kids. Oh, I should say, yeah, shout out to San Diego for sending us this producer Beto. I know wanted to have a 20th moment as well. Looking forward to our top five. It can sense this top five. Also, Ali goes one on one with Casey Murphy. But first, let's get to what we saw this weekend that she believes that cut the U.S. from its national team taking on a Columbia shop from outside the box. And it is, of course, Alyssa Thompson. Jeff, I see you shaking your head. I mean, but she's been in spectacular form club in country. I think she's gotten better. She was great with Angel City. She made the move to Chelsea. She just kept on rising in for the U.S. To me, sure, fire started the way she's been playing. She's got 100% that little shimmy move there was so good. So the U.S. from its national team clinched the she believes. We know that wasn't the case last season. So at least there is that some stats here from the game. The possession really tells the tale of this one meal win. But what did Emma Hayes say after the match? Emma, I think we've probably all seen from the outside Alyssa's form for club in country. I'm curious just how you've seen her progress from the inside over the past year. And obviously, if you can talk about that goal as well from her. I think it's been a tremendous year for Alyssa for both club and country. The consistency in her play, I think is a standout for me, in terms of being able to do things over 90 minutes and do it game after game, including a clutch moment like today. She's been doing that for Chelsea all year. I thought we were sluggish the first half. I thought everything we did was a step off. I thought we were too deep in midfield. I thought we were slow to press the ball. I thought in general our play was average. But we're playing a good opponent that can transition well. So I think having that test was a good moment for us. That's the first second. We coached some different things in the second half. And then we went to the bench where I've been saying since I've been here that we have to develop talent to be ready and sometimes you win a game in the first 60 minutes. Today we won the game from the players coming from the bench. The difference was the bench today for us, even though Alyssa took the goal. I mean, it's evident that Crystal, you want your bench to be good. You want your bench to help out, especially in the result. But what did you think of what Emma Hayes said being very transparent and kind of critical constructive criticism at times about this? When, not only against Columbia, but the she believes Cup in general? Emma is showing you who she is. She is a coach that wants to be transparent. She wants to always speak open and honest about where the team is, where the team's form is, and she's not saying, oh, we were bad and we didn't deserve to win this game. What she's saying is, it's going to take everybody. And that's the mentality that you have to have going into a world cup year and making sure that everyone is ready, whether you're starter, whether you're a role player, whether you're coming in, whether you're not playing any minutes. You have to be ready to fulfill the role that is given to you. And I think her praising the bench is a really powerful thing. I think a lot of players are always going to be bogged down when they're not starting. I think everybody wants to be a starter. But for her to stand at the end of the game and say that they won that game with the bench, I think if I'm a player in that environment, I'm singing her praises because it really goes a long way to be shout out in that way, especially from someone such as Emma Hayes who literally won everything as a coach. So I think Kudos to her. You know, she's an incredible manager. She manages people well. She understands that it is going to take everybody. And that is the mentality that they're going to have moving forward. Yeah, a little message that she's sending to all those players, fighting for it because we know the goal at the end of the day is the world cup roster alley. But when it comes to, she believes Cup, what did we learn from the US women for this short tournament? Well, I think it was a great example for, you know, a potential tournament face, right? This is a practice example for what's to be expected. And I also think the identity of the team is beginning to take shape. It's exactly how she envisions the identity to them be applied to the games. And these were three important games. There were difficult matches. They were unassuming opponents. They were unpredictable. And I think they had to change their style a bit to accomplish the success and the win. Ultimately. So something that really stood out to me during this tournament was a defensive presence. Because we saw that that's still something that needs to be solidified. In order for them to be the team that they need to be. So I think they were connected. They were confident. You saw Naomi Gurma obviously clean up and be able to have that predictability in the back line. They were super compact. And even though they were showcasing a little bit of depth. And some players, you know, changed in and amongst every single game. They still had that quality throughout. And I think defensively we haven't seen that. And recent games and recent friendlies and recent, excuse me, in recent years. So that was really impressive to me. And something that has been different from the attacking presence that we've seen. You know, recent and recent games for the USM's national team. Did you see this defensively as well, Jeff? That maybe it needs to be, again, it's a machine, right? But maybe it needs to be a little bit more well oiled in the sense. Yeah, I mean, I think we saw some of the depth, too. Like I think Tara Rudd coming in somewhat by emergency at halftime. And shutting down Linda Kaisato. I mean, that's something that I didn't necessarily have on my bingo card. I think she's been high quality. But we haven't seen her have to do that very often. So I think seeing some of that depth, seeing that when, you know, what's going to happen if Naomi Germa is not available in certain cases. So I think to Ali's point, to Crystal's point, you know, I think we've started to see some of this team solidifying, including in the back. There are still, I think, plenty of positions that are open for the taking. But yeah, I think defensively you see the eight straight shutouts. You know, even, I mean, the goalkeeper position is something that we've continued to talk about. Who's going to be the number one seems to be leaning toward foul until his choice. But also Emma has said she's also the one that's in season. So I think we've seen a lot of things develop. But I agree that I think this she believes cup was a time that, you know, you can replicate a group stage. And I think you see the combinations that she wants. You see the consistency of Lily Johannes with a Lindsey heaps or a Rose LaVelle Sam coffee, Claire Hutton combo that we've now seen a half dozen times in the past year. So I think that's really, we've moved on from experimenting to refining. I think roughly a year out from the World Cup. Yeah, because up until a year ago and all of Emma Hayes' rosters, we had seen new faces. And this was the first time in a year that we didn't see a new player. So we're not talking about anybody debuting. We're talking about players that are already experienced not only with Emma Hayes, but of course with the national team crystal. So when it comes to these wins that were tight with what we expect to see from the US women's national team, were they too tight or was this the perfectly timed test that this team needed? Oh, man. To play for the national team is always being asked these questions. You know, you're never tired from this. You know, you win these games 2-0 or 1-0 is like, is that good enough? And I think for me, these games are challenging in itself. You know, in Argentina, a Columbia, these are teams that are very comfortable with their opponents having the ball. But what they do very well is they really drop low. They make it hard for you to score goals easily. And I think for us, it is always building on that final third play. And it's not easy. Scoring goals is not an easy task, you know, especially when a team drops 5 in the back. Maybe sometimes even 6 in the back line. And so I think at the end of the day, for me, a win is a win. I think we always strive as players to win in the most perfect, beautiful way. But that's not realistic. Teams are going to disrupt what it is that you're trying to do. So, you know, for me, it's not so much looking at the score line, but looking at what happened in the 90 minutes, where we clean, where we in control of the ball, where we're creating a lot of goal scoring opportunities. If the answer is no, then you can look at that and not so much look at the score line. You know, so I think a 2-0 loss or a 2-0 win or a 1-0 win, you have to really dissect the game in itself and not just look at that score line. Yeah, we know that Emma Hayes will do that, Ali. Yeah, for sure. There's always going to be that complete performance, but something that was also impressive is there's emerging young talent in this attacking front six. You have it, they can interchange. There's, you know, Shaw, there's Trinity, there's Alissa, there's Centnor, there's even Rose. You know, Jamisa went in there and was able to showcase how good she is in and around the box in the combination play you have Emma Sears. There's a plethora of players that you can choose from and decide what type of attack that you want to achieve success with. And it's so refreshing to see that young talent be able to, you know, perform the way that they do and have that, you know, complete performance. The only little thing that I would say with the attack right now is that the finishing has to be a little bit more consistent, right? We only saw four goals, you know, the entire tournament. Obviously three clean sheets, very impressive. But then on the other end of the ball, the finishing has to be more consistent, has to be a little bit better in and around the box with the quality that they have and all the depth that we have. I do think that those goals scoring opportunities don't come as often against teams like that because they do sit in, they tend to, you know, make it very difficult to be able to break down. But when they do get those opportunities, they have to be a little bit better and decisive in those areas. But to go off that point, I think, you know, it is about also creating those high quality chances because getting in an attacking third means only so much if you're running into, you know, a back line that's already, you know, established in their structure, right? So I do think to your point, it's players getting in positions in the final third to create high scoring opportunities because that's when we usually are clinical, is when those opportunities are really, really clear and obvious of what we're trying to do. So hopefully with this, you know, with a lot of new, you know, talent, young faces and people coming in and interchangeable, like you spoke about, I do think those chances are going to come. It's just consistency. So yeah, yeah, which is easier said than done, especially at the national team level. You're not with the team week in week out. You're not with the same coach, although as amazing as Emma Hayes is, it's completely out of her control. But when it comes to these emerging players, Jeff, or someone who stood out to you, who helped themselves the most in this, she believes them? Yeah, I think a few players. I mean, I mentioned to her, Rudd, I think we could talk about Ali sent her some more at that nine position. But if I had to pick one, I would say you look at what Giselle Thompson did in those first two games and you look at what Emma Hayes said about her too, to be, she wanted to see that she could be durable to play 90 minutes back to back across a few days and you see it from her in those two performances. I mean, I think that's a question again. You're replicating a World Cup group stage. She's going to have to go do this if she's going to be the starting fallback for them, which I think she's certainly in contention for, right? And she has the ability to get forward. We know that. I think the durability we saw from Emma even bringing it up publicly was a question mark or could be a question mark. And she showed that. She showed the connection with her sister, Alyssa Thompson, to play on that wing and to connect in the way that they do that they have for, well, not even 20 years really, but, you know, for so long. So I think that she really helped her case in that where I think if I had to pick a starter at that position right now, healthy, it's probably lily real. Okay. But I do think that Giselle Thompson really made her case to be potentially the starter and those are performances to do it back to back in the way that Emma Hayes wanted to see that will stand out a year from now when she needs to make that decision. Yeah, and it's tough and it was bad luck that lily real had to leave She Beliefs Cup. I mean, after that first game and that foot injury. But at the end, it's taking the opportunities where they come. Aly, to you who helped themselves the most. You know, that's a great question. I think something that I know and that I'm sure of is the right side in the back line. Is Garma and Fox obviously building that relationship and they were super solid, they were consistent and they control the game. Never gets chaotic, they read the game really well. And as a defender, timing is the most difficult part of a game to overcome. And they're very good at it. And I think that dynamic allows Fox to be able to get forward, get into the attack and have more of that mentality to get forward and combine and create numbers up situations in wide areas. And then Garma can kind of solidify the back line and keep it tight and keep it compact and safe. The way that she can predict balls as well and intercept passes is super intelligent. And that's something that I think they are staples, so to speak. But they even elevated their game more as a pair. I can't say that so much on the left side. That's still a huge question mark. And unfortunately, literally real, like we mentioned, couldn't play every Patterson, I think, is a huge highlight in that area. Jacelle, you know, has an opportunity. So we're not sure if Simon's going to be on the left side of the left center back or it's going to be Tierna coming back on the left side of the left footed, left center back. But I think that pairing, that duo pairing, and then Fox being able to combine with Trinity Robin on the right hand side was brilliant at times. And I hope to see more of that as we move into the bigger tournament pictures because that right side was pretty solidified for me. And I think specifically those two players really had an imprint on every single game. Yeah, bringing that true experience, not only what they're doing now at the WSL level, but with the national team. And Jeff mentioned Jacelle Thompson. I want to ask you about Alyssa Thompson and what you think she brings now to the national team and what she's bringing now consistently, it seems to the team this way. Oh, I have to talk about an attacker. Well, let's get in there. No, she's such a lethal weapon. Look, at the, you know, the experience that she's gaining playing in the WSL, playing for Chelsea, that's putting, you know, giving her that challenge, allowing her to grow, allowing her to develop, get that confidence to be able to do this, to be able to win a game and a tournament for the U.S. Women's National Team, to get MVP. She is thriving this season so far. And she's able to prove that, game in and game out. And the one thing that you have to do at this level is make it very difficult for the coach to ignore you. And she's doing just that. And that is why we see her, you know, gain these opportunities. And that is why she is showing how successful she can be. And I think it's only going to give her ceiling is through the roof. So I'm very excited to see where she is at and her potential is going to continue to grow. And the effect that she has on the game is so positive. Crystal, who stood out to you? For me, I think it was Jaden Shaw. I love where her game is right now. Last year, obviously, you know, moving from North Carolina, going to Gotham, settling in there and really being key for the team's success. And then, you know, now you see her in this tournament being able to really create space popping off the line. I mean, I look at her and I'm like, you can play pretty much anywhere in the attacking front three and even as, you know, a false nine or a ten. You know, her ability to use her body to, you know, create space for herself, pop off, and also set other people up. She can get the shot off herself and she's a clinical finisher, by the way. But she can also look for that opportunity to get other people involved in the play. And I think that is an incredible thing to see, especially, I mean, she's quite young too. I mean, we talk about a lot of young players, but Jaden Shaw is quite young. And she has so much potential to keep building on where it is that she is now. And, you know, to me, I think she's a really big, big part of them scoring goals and creating goalscoring opportunities. I forget how young she is with her third team now. Oh, and the NW saw everything that she's been through. And you talked to her and it's crazy how much experience she already has, even though it, I mean, she just started, but it's really great to see her. So, all of you are mentioning really great names, but we know that the triple espresso is still very much up in the air with Trin, of course, being back from Andrew. We're so happy it was only a scare that she had and she believes Cup. But we know that Mallory Swanson and Sofia Wilson are coming back from maternity leave. Congratulations to them. And also making their way back here with the U.S. Women's National team. So, I'm going to challenge you all with an interesting question. I didn't come up with a question. And as I told Crystal, we can always blame the producer. Sorry, producer Beto. When it comes to both of them, start, bench, and cut. I mean, who are we sacrificing here considering they'll both be back and assuming that they'll be at 100% when Emma... Crystal's looking at me like, please don't stop. This is going to be hardest for Emma. Yeah, so Jeff, I'm going to start with you. Not that it's easy, but you have to be the bad guy here. I'm sorry. Well, I mean, none of them are getting cut. Let's put that right there. But look, I think there's some nuance to this. We did our predicted starting lineup as of now on.com, on ESPN.com this week. And I do think it's a little bit match-up dependent. I think if Emma Hayes wants to run out of team and hit them in transition, then her nine is Sophia Wilson, making assumptions, obviously, 15 months from now. If she wants to keep the ball and she wants to pull somebody out, I think that it's going to be Kat McCarrie, again, making health assumptions. So, I think that nine position being as open as it is is helpful for Sophia Wilson in this particular conversation, which is definitely, like, start or first one off the bench, I would say. But I think when you look at the wing, and again, I mean, Mallory Swanson two-three years ago is probably one of the best players in the world. I mean, unfortunate with how 2023 played out. But Alyssa Thompson in the form, as we just said, Trinity Rodman, if she's healthy in that form, I think that's a more difficult prospect to bump either certainly Thompson right now, where Rodman from that position, where they are now, versus that nine that's there for the taking. So, I think if we're talking about the most likely to start, I'm going to hedge it a little bit. I think Wilson has the best shout there, because that nine position is really, I think we still need to see where Emma wants to take that, and maybe that's match-up dependent, which is kind of what we saw in the She Beliefs Cup. Okay. Most likely to start then, you know. I made it easier for you guys. Yeah, be a good teammate, which I know you are. Currently, you know, right now, where they are, especially in the return-to-play process for Sophie, I think I would start her as well. So, I agree with Jeff. I would start her in the nine. I love Mal and the left-hand side, where she can cut in and get on her right foot. She obviously can play both, and she has quality on both feet. So, you know, either side is fine. Trinity, I would keep her on the field. Yeah, Sophie in the nine, and then keep Alyssa Thompson on the left-hand side. As of right now, I think Mallory could come off the bench. I adore her, and I think she is one of the best forwards in the world. She had a tremendous year right before she got pregnant and went out for a maternity leave, ended on, you know, an Olympic gold, had brilliance that year. So, I'm excited to see her back, but if we're talking right now in this moment, she's not quite there yet. Right. And I think my decision will be Sophia, Trin, and Alyssa Thompson. I am going to pay back off of what you said, because if we're just speaking about where they are right now, Sophie's obviously subbed in to her, you know, first game, getting minutes. She's on the verge of being ready, potentially called in to, you know, next camp if she's consistently playing, you know, some minutes moving forward. So, I agree with what you're saying. I think Mall, with all her star power, how incredible she is, cutting in using, you know, her right foot, I mean, left foot, right foot, clinical on both feet. The form that Alyssa's in right now, it's like it can't be ignored. She's doing such incredible things for both club and country, so you can't necessarily remove that off the pitch right now. So, you know, I would agree with what you're saying. Yeah, I don't have champagne problems for every time. I mean, the chemistry is clearly still there. There, and off the field. I mean, even in their house picking, they're practically neighbors too. I'm like fancy, I'm like fancy seeing you here. You know, right, they never see each other. But you know, you'll see each other more consistently. You were, you were a little far away to there. Yeah, we've had brunch a couple of times. I know, we, we definitely see each other a lot. Hopefully I'll get a brunch invitation here soon, I'm sure. I'm sure I'll find my way. All right, we want to remind you what's coming up for the U.S. national team. Their next three friendlies in April on the 11th, 14th and 17th all against Japan. The Konka KW Championship starts in November, which could give them a ticket, not only will it implies a lot for the World Cup qualifiers and also the Olympics. A new podcast series from ABC Audio in 2020 goes inside a case that has captivated the nation. So many people, Luigi Mangione, is a modern day Robin Hood. People were cheering the demise of this person they'd never met. It was a father of two and a husband and had a life and was just doing a job. From the manhunt, ending in a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, to what authorities are saying about a possible motive, I'm ABC News legal analyst Brian Buckmeyer. Listen to Burnin' a Proof, Luigi Mangione, wherever you get your podcasts. The NWSL is back Saturday on ABC. Like this, like that. The reigning champions meet the league's newest side, Boston Legacy FC, and a landmark opener in New England. You can never do it like this. The stars are ready. The stage is set. Oh, that is a starter! What a strike! Look at Altoona. No, Saturday at 1230 on ABC and Disney+. Boston's streaming on the ESPNF. So excited for that. And for this goalkeeper, Casey Murphy will call Boston home this season after signing a deal worth $1.5 million with the legacy. The deal extends through the 2029 NWSL season with a mutual option for 2030. This ends her five-year stay with the North Carolina Courage, and she took some time to talk to her hour, Ali Krieger. Casey Murphy. Hi, welcome back. Thank you so much for joining us. Just want to kick it off. How was your off season? And did you get any chance to truly reset, recharge, and refocus for this season? Yeah, off season always flies by, but it's always nice to go home. The jersey. Catch up with family. Yeah, shout out. Catch up with family friends. Holidays were great, and just ready to get back at it now. When you look back, before we look forward to Boston, when you look back at your season in 2025, how did you reflect on it specifically as a goalkeeper? Yeah, I feel like, you know, seasons have highs and lows, but it's about kind of just trying to stay steady through it all. Not getting too high with the winds and too low with maybe some losses, but I feel like we had such an amazing group. We fought through that adversity in the end. We ended with a good win, and now just excited for what's ahead this season in Boston. I mean, you can carry that good win in that mentality. Exactly. Into this new experience with a new franchise. How incredible that you're stepping into this expansion team and this new project, or the first ever coach, Felipa Patal. Given her success at Benefica, I'm interested to hear, you know, if that confidence of her track record, bring that directly into the locker room and positive vibes. Yeah, Felipa's been like high energy, super passionate coach, just like always on, always talking about soccer. But honestly, off the field too, she's such a leader. She's such a role model for us. And so it's been a great few weeks getting to know her and just excited to continue working with her. When you've been connecting with her, what are your conversations? And what is she excited about for you to join the team? She's a little crazy, honestly. If you don't make eye contact, like she'll scream eye contact. Or like you always have to give her a high five in the morning, say goodbye. All great stuff, great things that we should do anyway. But it's just like, it's just funny just getting to know your coach. No, no, no, that doesn't put it in. Very disciplined coach, yes. So how did you come to this decision about, you know, going to Boston and this new franchise working on this new project? And also what excites you about helping to build something new in the end of ASL? Yeah, I mean, I feel like I'm entering the second half of my career now. I was sent five amazing years of the courage and just was looking for a new challenge, new environment. And I felt like Felipe was going to really help me take parts of my game to the next level. I just always want to continue to learn and grow. And so I felt like she was going to help me get there. And I also think that it's just cool to build something from the ground up. Like I feel like not many people get to experience that and stepping into like a bigger leadership role. The season would be really awesome too, so I'm excited about that. And you'll be jumping into, you know, just training with new faces, new players, new teammates, and a new back five, so to speak. So how do you think that there'll be challenges for the start of the year for you? Yeah, I feel like at times this preseason, it could be two steps forward, one step back. It's just a new group. It's working with new personalities on and off the field, getting to know like how they operate at their best. Like what I can say to this person versus what I can say to that person. We also have some international. So like there's going to be a bit of a language barrier. I might learn some Portuguese this season. I might learn some Spanish. I might learn some French. You know I'm going to be tryling Google Cooper. Just yeah, I will have a lot of conversations off the field, just making sure we're on the same page so that when we get on the field we're ready to rock. Well what would make this season a success for you personally and for this group? Yeah, I think just showing up every day, like bringing my best, and really just being like in the moment, like present every day, bringing good energy, having good attitude, helping people when they need to be helped. But also just having fun too. Like, you know soccer is a game, it's fun. And so I just want to go out there and remember like, there's always a part of me that wanted to live this life. And during the tough moments, reminding myself like, I've always wanted this. I always dreamed of doing this, so not forgetting that. Yeah, definitely very excited to see how excited she is to play for Boston Legacy, which says a lot about a team that's in their first year, Jeff. And I'll go to you for this one. What does success look like for Boston in this first year? That's a great question. I mean, I think playoffs, when you have, I mean, expanded to 16 teams now, so half the teams make the playoffs, I think that's cherry on top, right? I mean, if you're an expansion team and you can get that, it's only happened a couple of times, so it's, that's a bonus. I think success looks like forming an identity. I mean, I think you look at Boston. I don't know, I mean, they've taken some swings, right? I mean, they haven't gone for NWSL experience. They've gone more international. I think it's a bit of a mystery of what it's going to look like. I think, I've said this before, Philippa Patum, I've talked to her once and I've run through a wall for her. I mean, she seems like an amazing coach, at least from a motivational perspective. So I'm really interested to see what she can do, obviously making a big jump for her career. And so I think to see like a clear identity, even if it doesn't mean playoffs, even if it doesn't mean consistent wins, I think you're happy with that, and then you build on that for year two. Yeah, I mean, it's kind of tough to ask Boston, crystal to make playoffs, or first year, like Jeff said, only half of the teams are making the playoffs. Would regular season, decision day kind of, okay, we have to see what Boston can do to kind of get in and not make it still be considered successful? I mean, yeah, I think to Jeff's point, I think success is having an identity and being okay building on that and knowing it's not going to be perfect and understanding that the league is also very challenging. It's challenging for teams that have found success historically in it. Like, it is really like a, you have to show up on that given day and kind of build on that and take it day by day. So I think for me, it's about forming that identity, having that belief in your players to, you know, also be themselves and create in a way that is authentic to them, because the last thing you want to do as a coach is also, especially a new coach coming into this league, is demanding excellence from day one. You know, these are a lot of these players have not been in the end of your cell before. So it's all new for everybody. And I think, you know, it is about probably trying to be as disruptive as possible. Like, I would love for Boston to just be like, we don't know what necessarily we are going to be later down the road, but we're going to disrupt teams. Like, we're going to let teams know who have, you know, found success in years prior. Like, it's not going to be easy, you know? And that's what I would love to see actually between, you know, Boston and a Denver coming in is like, listen, be, be hard to be. It seems like a very Boston mentality. You too, right? It's a Boston mentality to kind of have it already. Yeah, I think you hit it. You hit it perfectly. But not only Boston, we know for Denver as well, Ali, I want to kind of bring both of them to here and expansion teams in general. What could be their biggest edge or biggest concern for an expansion team, specifically? I think their biggest edge would be just the unpredictability of how they're going to show up, because teams are going to be unfamiliar with, you know, the formation and the style and the identity. Like, John, that just, excuse me, Jeff was talking about. And, mind some real sound. Yeah. But all jokes aside, the foundation has to be there. And then they have to worry about week to week and how they can perform week to week. And really try to buy into the plan that the leadership group and the coach has, you know, designed. And I think that would look like success, because like Crystal said, you can't be too hard on yourselves. You have to enjoy it, you have to fight. But it's not always going to be pretty. And the league is so difficult. So I think to kind of take that pressure off, just understand who you are, go week to week, but continue to build that foundation. And enjoy being able to be the first team to build an identity at a new club, because that's very rare. Yeah. And going back to the Boston thing too, they have great fans. I really hope fans will show up for Boston Legacy FC, not only in this coming week, but throughout the season and throughout their existence, speaking of what's coming up this week and very much looking forward to Boston Legacy FC, versus Gotham FC, a little Boston New York rivalry is always good, especially on a Saturday afternoon, until 30 p.m. Eastern, especially on the ABC, Disney Plus, and the ESPN app. It's loud, just like me, so naturally, I'm obsessed. This jersey is so Colorado. It's beautiful. I think it's cool. This will make everyone look even faster. This is one of my favorite jerseys. Yeah, I'd buy it if I was a fan. It's giving, like, I'm gonna hypnotize you. Exactly, they're gonna look straight in my chest. Trippin, for sure. I find it dripping. It's dripping. I think it's dripping. For sure. I think it's dripping. I think it's dripping. I think it's dripping. It's dripping, for sure. It's dripping. It's not what we see. I wouldn't say it's pretty dripping. It's dripping. Check. It's dripping. Ah, one of the segments that I really look forward to once a year because as soon as the NW sell kids dropped, I was like, when are we gonna do our top five? When are we gonna do our top five? We're gonna do it right now. This is our consensus top five of the NW sell 2026, 2027 season. Let's start with number five. Seattle Rain. This was originally not on the list, and I said, come on guys, Seattle Rain one is this. It's pretty cool. Crystal Thuts. I like it. I mean, I like the colors. I think it's like almost simple, but has a pop to it. So I think, you know, for me, you can't go wrong with it. Yeah, I love the little neon green pop color, like Crystal said, Ellen. Yeah, they come a long way. I feel like they've really elevated their jersey from the recent years. So I like it. I'm into it. That's a great point, because it completely is unexpected, which is maybe what Seattle is looking for this season, too, Jeff. Yeah, I mean, I'm a big fan of blue, so I like that. Obviously, I maybe I need to... We're talking about colors. I need to... It's super hot, don't you, Jeff? Yes, unexpected on the field, in a good way, would be good for them, too. Yeah, absolutely. I love this. Green and blue aren't my favorite colors. Nobody asks, but I'm just telling you. Let's take it to number four now. This is City Current. Yeah, this one's cool. I know it's meant to be like, you know, the current, but this looks truly like electricity current, and it's really what the team is, Crystal, right? They're just electric. I mean, again, I think I love the storyline, so I'm all for it, because fans want to know what they're getting themselves into. When they put on the jersey, they want to know why was this selected? Why were these colors put in there? So I think to be fair, I think job well done. I mean, the storm, third kit, a storm's a common alley again. I mean, we'll see. We'll see. I know that a storm's coming with the players. I don't know if it really matters what they have on. They're still going to be brilliant, but yeah. I'm attracted to it. I think it's really cute. I like you saying that you're attracted to it. It truly is a part of it. As both of you know, I mean, the cool, the jersey, the cool thing you feel on the field, and that confidence just kind of comes out. Jeff, thoughts? I like it. I like it as a third kit, too, because the teal is awesome. Yes. The reds, obviously, they've leaned into that. And black. It's not like a traditional black jersey. It's got a lot going on, so there's some style to it. Yeah, from the get that teal and red combo, again, unexpected, fashionable, and yeah, it's quite the twist on a third kit. That takes us two hour. Number three. Got them had to make it high on the list on the podium, guys. Hit number one. Listen. I've been in Yorker, so I just feel like I'm always going to be attracted to Lady Liberty. It's such an iconic symbol, obviously, and it just represents the area. And, yeah, of course, right? Yeah. I think the orange, too. Yes. It's just unassuming. I don't know if I would have paired the orange shorts with the jersey. So I'm excited. I think it's different. I think it's new and vibrant. And I think that's the style that they're going to have this season. You don't know if you would have paired the orange. No, I don't think I would have thought. Oh, you like it. You like it. Yeah. But I do. I like it. I think a little pop of color, unassuming, vibrant. Yeah. I'm into it. Yeah. I don't know. Oh, it's not blowing up. It's not blowing up. Well, I want to see it on a field, because I think it looks cool right there. But it's one of those that it can play some games with your head when you're watching on the field. Maybe that's the advantage. Maybe. I don't mean, yeah. We'll see how it looks in motion. I think that's what I want to see. I will say our producer Beto would agree with me that this on TV is maybe not the best choice, because it gets a little vibrant like that. But I really like it. All right, let's take it to our number two. Mm-hmm. This is beautiful. It's beautiful. Yes. Yes. Yes. I have to speak on this. First of all, me and Kris have spent quite a bit of time in DC. And it just goes with the story. I mean, Terry Bossy, everyone knows if you visit DC at this particular part of the year, you're going to storm into such a beautiful, beautiful scenery of all your sherry blossoms, fluttering onto the floor in your hair. And it just, I mean, it's dreamy. All four stories, like it has to align. People want to know what is it about this and go to DC and you'll see. Yeah, I think it's beautiful. I love the green with the pink and the white and just the touch of the city. I think it does tell the story. Like Crystal mentioned earlier. And I think it's, yeah, every other DC sports team has done this in their past. And I think this, you know, this team with the spirit, we were probably one of the last ones to jump on this, you know, this train. So it's exciting to see for the new 2026 season to represent in a little pink flare. It matches the logo as well. Even the sponsor, too, they're changing the pink a little bit. Jeff? Yeah, I really like this. I do. I think could be number one. We'll see who number one is. I think as a known skeptic, if you remember last year of that loud yellow jersey that they have. I love that, Jay. They started to bring the green around in warm-ups and they've tied it together nicely. Yeah, I know they've had their cherry blossom collection in the past, so I'm glad to see it now as a regular appearance for them. Here is our number one drum roll, please. I mean, I don't want to say it was a no-brainer. I really think it was between Washington spirit and Angel City FC. But Crystal Angel City just does it right with the black and pink. Listen, I love playing in a black jersey, so I will probably always root for any team rocking a black jersey. One, I think it's just like an intimidation factor when you're lined up against the team and you're like, oh, my gosh, they're in black. They're going to come correct. So hopefully that's the case this season for Angel City. Obviously, their kit ranked number one. And we'll see. Yeah, I think it's sharp. It's simple. It's chic for footballers. And I would be proud putting on a jersey every single weekend. And also, at NWSEL Media Day, they had an iridescent vibe to the badge, which I thought you can't really tell on the photo. Yeah, because you saw all of these in person. Yes. And it's so cool in person. And so they're going to be shining out there on that field. Yeah, I like the color combo always, as you said. I'm not in love with central crests, but I mean, that's nitpicking. The reminder of what's coming up on Sunday London City Line SS versus Arsenal, some WSL actions starting at 755 AM Eastern on ESPN Plus. And of course, the ESPN app. All right. I need to show inside with another top five, but our top five goals of the week. Allison Read for Honduras vs. Dad Allie, what a shot. I mean, I wish I could have done this in my day. Left footed. Left side. The goalkeeper didn't really have a chance to put the ball in the back. A beautiful goal. Let's take it to the Asian Cup a little bit further away. Park Su Jung for South Korea Jeff outside the ball. More top. And when you can freeze the goalkeeper, we've said this before. I mean, just make her stare at it. Perfect placement. Absolutely perfect. Top corner. And in a big game. Yeah. She creates a space for herself. A great hit there. Let's take it to number three. Lucia Corales for Spain vs. Ukraine. Crystal outside the box is the trend today. I mean, doing what Spanish players can do. Yes. Just pop that ball right in there. Top corner. You know, honestly, from such a far distance out too, goalkeeper made an valiant effort to see that. But, honestly, it was pretty perfect. But she'll take valiant from that play. That was typical. Number two with the Asian Cup again. Allie. Yuzuki Yamamoto. I mean, I don't even know if it's really the goal. Obviously, that's the most important. But the skill, the technical ability to be one, two, mega player. And then, put it in the back of the net. Unbelievable. The pace was great. Now, let's see what part of the foot she hit it with. Two. Let's take it to number one. We saw it once. We saw it again. And we can see it three more times, Jeff. Well, as Lindsey Heep said, post-game, a banger. I mean, absolutely defines the word here. I mean, this is perfectly placed from Thompson off the underside of the bar. And I mean, she, Alyssa talked about decision-making post-game. This was the right decision. Absolutely. And great execution. Talk about that little shimmy from Jade and Shaw, too. It's so good. A great tough five to end the show. But we do want to remind you that we will be back. We'll be back. Yes, the four of us. Friday, 6 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, too. So excited to break down what we expect from the NWSL season. We expect great things. That is something that I can tell you. That is a big picture always for us. So we're so excited. We will be back on E2. Crystal, we're so excited that you will be back with this. Thanks for having me, guys. Hey, anytime. This is your house here at football w. ESPN. We know it's a little waste away. But hey. You can ride with Ali. I'm excited with Creams. Not Ali too. I'm like, who is that? Yeah, who is that? Thanks for hanging out. See you Friday. Appreciate it. I'm excited with Creams. Not Ali too. I'm like, who is that? Yeah, who is that? Thanks for hanging out. See you Friday. Appreciate it.