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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 16 — Draws, Heat, Misery Define the Weekend's Action
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RECORDED BEFORE THE ALYSSA NAEHER - LIZBETH OVALLE INSANITY
For the second week in a row, we do not have a featured game of the week. That's because external forces have pushed the soccer out of the spotlight. Both Kansas City - Orlando and Gotham - Houston experienced triple-digit heat indexes at kickoff, and for the third straight weekend, the NWSL saw more than half its fixtures end in draws, a first in league history. The guys dig into the league's handling of the CPKC Stadium fiasco, and how climate change could affect games for years to come.
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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: USWNT vs. Japan, Round 2 — The Kids Couldn't Lock it Down
34:24|Buy our scarves and more merch at the xOG store now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW2" to get 50% off an annual membership! Emma Hayes rotated heavily when the USWNT headed up to Seattle on a cold, rainy, windy Tuesday evening, and lost 1-0 to a Japan who just looked better, especially without the ball. What are the lessons here? What should we expect in Colorado on Friday? The guys ponder a tricky performance and its stakes for the World Cup in 2027. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series!Follow us on TikTok and InstagramDid we make an own goal? E-mail us at xog@xowngoals.comArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: USWNT vs. Japan, Round 1 — Is This Emma Hayes's Preferred Lineup?
27:05|Buy our scarves and more merch at the xOG store now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW2" to get 50% off an annual membership! The U.S. women's national team got past Japan 2-1 on a cold, wet Saturday in San Jose, and this might portend a lot for the World Cup knockout stage in 14 months' time. The guys try to determine what looked good, what needed work, and whether Emma Hayes is committed to this group going forward, or if there are some positions that can still be challenged for. (Yes, this is mostly about Lindsey Heaps.) Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series!Follow us on TikTok and InstagramDid we make an own goal? E-mail us at xog@xowngoals.comArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 4 — Checking in on All 16 Teams
01:36:49|Buy our scarves and more merch at the xOG store now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW2" to get 50% off an annual membership! The NWSL is taking three weeks off, so the guys decide to see where things stand with every club. Is Kansas City maybe not as bad as they seem? Is Haley McCutcheon working as an attacking midfielder? What's good about the Boston Legacy? All that and much more! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series!Follow us on TikTok and InstagramDid we make an own goal? E-mail us at xog@xowngoals.comArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 3 — Angel City is Top of the Table, and the Houston Dash are Evolving
53:36|Buy our scarves and more merch at the xOG store now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW2" to get 50% off an annual membership! The three-game week so early in the NWSL season did a number on many teams, especially ones that traveled. After the guys round up the weekend's slate—including Eric being pitchside for the Denver Summit's record-breaking home opener—they dig into the top-of-the-table clash between Angel City and the Houston Dash. Are these teams really good? What has Houston changed since last year? What are Angel City doing well and what's smoke and mirrors? Early-season weirdness abounds! Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series!Follow us on TikTok and InstagramDid we make an own goal? E-mail us at xog@xowngoals.comArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 2 — Portland Thorns Go Spelunking on the Seattle Reign
54:44|Get exclusive xOG merch now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW1" to get 50% off an annual membership! Wait, WHAT?!? The Portland Thorns beat the Seattle Reign 2-0 in their Cascadia Rivalry home opener, but did it playing with only nine players for 40 whole minutes. This is unprecedented for a number of reasons. After whipping around the rest of the league (where wind, red cards, and a host of other silliness drove results), the guys try to figure out what signal can be pulled from the noise of a raucous derby that saw the shorthanded squad take home all three points. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series!Follow us on TikTok and InstagramDid we make an own goal? E-mail us at xog@xowngoals.comArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: USWNT Star Catarina Macario Joins the San Diego Wave! Plus, the Boston Legacy's Entry to the NWSL
01:04:05|Get exclusive xOG merch now! Join Patreon and use the code "XOGNEW1" to get 50% off an annual membership! After months of rumors, speculation, and journalistic teases, Catarina Macario has finally made the move to the NWSL, joining her hometown San Diego Wave for a record-breaking five-year, $8 million contract. How does she help the Wave? What is still left to be done for San Diego to remain a contender? The guys ponder it all. Plus, Eric shares his wild weekend hitting three NWSL games in three days, including the Boston Legacy's inaugural home opener at a cold and windy Gillette Stadium. Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series!Follow us on TikTok and InstagramDid we make an own goal? E-mail us at xog@xowngoals.comArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Season Preview Week — Gotham FC, with Jenna Tonelli of Sports Illustrated
30:52|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free!Two Championship titles in three years. Are Gotham on their way to a dynasty? Maybe, if they can win the big one without squeaking into the playoffs. Jenna Tonelli of Sports Illustrated joins the guys to make sense of the arrivals of young prospects Jordynn Dudley and Andrea Kitahata, and how the roster can stay balanced while improving on their goalscoring record.Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series!Follow us on TikTok and InstagramDid we make an own goal? E-mail us at xog@xowngoals.comArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Season Preview Week — Washington Spirit, with Riss Willett of Shea Butter FC
31:05|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free!It was a second straight Championship loss for the Washington Spirit last year, and now they are without Croix Bethune. But they gain a new front office head in Haley Carter, as well as 18-year-old wunderkind Claudia Martínez. And there was something about Trinity Rodman...Do they have what it takes to get back to the title game? Riss Willett of Shea Butter FC breaks down one of the deepest rosters in the league, and how they can build on an impressive two years.Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series!Follow us on TikTok and InstagramDid we make an own goal? E-mail us at xog@xowngoals.comArt by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs