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American Soccer Analysis
EXPECTED OWN GOALS: USWNT in SheBelieves, Portland Thorns' New Coach, and Gabi Portilho's Move to San Diego
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The guys are knee-deep in season preview content, but they catch up with some news around the league, from the Thorns' hire of Robert Vilahamn as their new head coach, Aubrey Kingsbury's pregnancy, Gabi Portilho's transfer to the Wave, and the risible new docuseries, The Final Third.
Like & subscribe to our YouTube page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series!
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Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at xog@xowngoals.com
Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Season Preview Week — Seattle Reign, with Kari Anderson of Yahoo! Sports
40:40|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free!No team overperformed their xG more than the Seattle Reign last season. What's more, they only brought two new players into the roster. How can they hope to make it back to the playoffs? Kari Anderson of Yahoo! Sports joins the guys to piece together Mia Fishel's role, and whether the suite of promising youth talent can build on the successes of 2025.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 — Orlando Pride, with Abigail Segel of Defector
23:39|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free!Some major contributors will be absent from the Orlando Pride's 2026 roster, and not too many players have come in to replace them. So how does Seb Hines keep the team performing at top-4 levels? Abigail Segel of Defector and The IX chats with the guys about the changing vibes of the group, and the quality that still remains in their ranks.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 — San Diego Wave, with Bridie O'Toole of Busy Watching Women's Soccer
31:44|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free!The San Diego Wave under Jonas Eidevall are possession monsters. But with an all-Brazilian front three of Dudinha, Ludmila, and Gabi Portilho, will transition and directness work their way into the Wave's tactics? And how will they handle a largely new backline? Bridie O'Toole of Busy Watching Women's Soccer talks to the guys about San Diego's new identity, and how even only four seasons of history has been largely moved on from.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 — Racing Louisville, with Bekki Morgan of Butchertown Rundown
34:29|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free!Racing Louisville finally broke the ninth-place curse, and nabbed their first-ever playoff spot along with Bev Yanez named Coach of the Year. Several new faces join the ranks, but is there anyone who can help push Racing back up the hill to the postseason? Bekki Morgan of Butchertown Rundown and NWSL This Week takes the guys through the new signings, whether the likes of Katie O'Kane and Kayla Fischer can maintain their breakout heights, and what the club does in the absence of Ary Borges and Janine Sonis.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 — North Carolina Courage, with Dr. Meredith Shea
24:23|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free!The North Carolina Courage have a new head coach in Mak Lind, and a new face of the midfield after Denise O'Sullivan's departure. What is this team going to be now that the final vestiges of the old regime have departed? Dr. Meredith Shea joins the guys to marvel at Manaka Matsukubo, the arrival of Ally Schlegel, and if one of the most successful franchises in the NWSL can get back to the promised land.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 — Houston Dash, with Dr. Meredith Shea
27:23|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free!The Houston Dash were eerily quiet this offseason, and it's hard to separate the newly restarted sale process from only a handful of college signings coming in. Can they build on their respectable showing last year to make an honest playoff push in 2026? Dr. Meredith Shea talks to the guys about the potential and the pitfalls that await the Dash in the coming months.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 — Utah Royals, with Catalina Bush
27:28|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free!The Utah Royals have brought in some Japanese stalwarts like Narumi Miura and Miyabi Moriya, as well as Mexican attacking talent Kiana Palacios. But is that anywhere close to enough to get them to the playoffs? Catalina Bush of ASA Viz Hub chatted with the guys about the clear strategy behind Utah's roster construction, and how it likely won't be enough for respectability in 2026.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 — Angel City, with Trebor Tracy of Angels on Parade
32:37|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to our Patreon for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free!Angel City are kind of exciting again! They sport one of the youngest rosters in the game, and with a full offseason, head coach Alex Straus is confident he can mold them into a winner. But are additions like Emily Sams and Ary Borges enough to weather any hiccups further up the field? Trebor Tracy of Angels on Parade joins the guys to talk about the state of the NWSL's loudest club as it gets ready for its fifth season.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 — Chicago Stars FC, with Lesley Ryder of Gal Pal Sports
38:21|Buy official xOG merch now!Subscribe to Patreon for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content!Sooooo how's the 1,000-day plan going? Chicago Stars FC have been one of the worst teams in the NWSL for three years running now, fluke 2024 playoff berth notwithstanding. They've shipped Ludmila to San Diego, and haven't brought in reinforcements. Lesley Ryder joins the guys to hunt for any signs of hope, and whether Laura Ricketts and Richard Feuz can be trusted to build a winner in the years to come.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