NWSL

The campaign to elect a new U.S. Soccer president is turning into wonderful, brilliant, shitty reality TV. It’s basically become an episode of Survivor, and the alliances are already being formed.

The U.S. Soccer Federation will elect its first new president since 2006, when Sunil Gulati started his tenure as the most powerful man in the sport in this country. Eight candidates are seeking election. Last I checked, only one can become U.S. Soccer president. 

Sometimes children are the most astute observers of human behavior in our society. For example, Sydney Leroux Dwyer and Dom Dwyer's toller son Cassius is a very astute observer of soccer behavior. Specifically, we are talking about flopping.

Amy Rodriguez, one of the most decorated players for the USWNT in the past decade, is on the move. The forward with 30 goals in 130 caps is joining NWSL expansion team Utah Royals FC, the club announced Tuesday.

The Orlando Pride have seemingy acquired a habit of snapping up USWNT attackers after their husbands move to Orlando City SC. In 2016, USWNT striker Alex Morgan moved to the Pride following Orlando City's acquisition of her husband, Servando Carrasco. Friday, the Pride traded for USWNT striker Sydney Leroux, whose husband, Dom Dwyer, was recently acquired by Orlando City.

The Boston Breakers, formerly the longest-continuously-operating women's soccer team in the United States, has folded. Players were notified on Wednesday.

The NWSL draft took place today, and there was no shortage of drama.

The 2018 NWSL College Draft was held Thursday morning in Philadelphia. Andi Sullivan went No. 1 to the Washington Spirit, as expected. But “player to be named later” was the real star of the NWSL draft. By the end of the day, Carli Lloyd, Sam Kerr and Christen Press had changed teams in blockbuster trades.

Crystal Dunn is one of America’s brightest stars. The 2015 NWSL MVP scored 15 goals in 21 matches that season and is an entrenched member of Jill Ellis’ national team. So why did Washington trade away her rights to North Carolina when she decided to return from a year abroad in England? The Crystal Dunn trade explains a lot about how the Spirit are planning to rebuild. 

Julie Ertz did it again Sunday. The USWNT defender scored in a 6-0 rout of South Korea, her fifth goal of 2017. She’s now tied with Alex Morgan for most goals scored for Team USA this year. Julie Ertz’s goal-scoring ability makes her the Sergio Ramos of women’s football. 

Ertz headed in the United States’ fourth goal of the first half for her 13th goal in international play, most among active American defenders. It was her second goal in four days and fourth in her last four national-team appearances.

Lindsey Horan struck in the 50th minute to propel the Portland Thorns to their second NWSL championship, a 1-0 victory over the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL final on Saturday in Orlando, Florida. 

A crowd of 8,124 watched the final at Orlando City Stadium.

Portland won the inaugural NWSL championship in 2013 and lost in the semifinals to North Carolina last year after winning the NWSL Shield. On Saturday, the Thorns edged the Courage, who themselves won the NWSL Shield this year as the league’s best regular-season team.