el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: it says Mototo cycles.

M-O-M-O-T-O-T-O-R Cycles.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: M.A.

Toto.

like Toro M.A.

Totoro.

I love that so much.

Hi everyone.

Welcome to Casual fc, an Angel City Match preview and Footy Therapy pod, featuring two podcast certified footy therapists.

I'm your host Angel Morales with my wonderful co-host Mario Salazar.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: look, you did that in one take so many the last couple of episodes, that has been part of our outtakes because we keep screwing it up.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: one of us can't talk, so it is Tuesday night.

We're recording 10 seconds before this goes live for our match on Thursday.

So 2 36 hours from now, roughly, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: September 18th at BMO versus the Washington Spirit kickoff is gonna be at seven 30 if you're not able to make it to the game, which is a super bummer, but I understand life happens.

The game will be el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's a school night.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, it's a school night.

Exactly.

but who cares if you aren't living?

Make memories.

If you're late to school or whatever, who cares?

Anyway, I'm just a degenerate, a grownup degenerate who, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I'm like, you're not the one dealing with the kid that's like super tired and angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I don't care.

I'm just like, just don't do it.

but the game will be streaming on CBS Sports Network, our least favorite place in the whole wide world, along with FanDuel Sports Network.

So if you got it, watch it.

If you don't listen to it on the radio, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: the iHeart iHeartRadio app and listen to Isaac and Tracey.

Just search Angel City the channel will come up.

super great.

You're just gonna get hype.

Isaac's amazing with his play by play.

Tracey knows every single thing about soccer and the lore, and it's wonderful.

obviously listen to them.

My mom is a recent convert.

I don't think I told you this.

She was like, why didn't you tell me there was like an iHeartRadio station.

I was like, where have you been?

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: We say it every episode.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: it every episode.

She's I don't listen.

I was like, I know you just asked me what to, what I need to pay attention to.

She's yeah, I don't have to listen.

I have you in the car on the way to the game.

And I was like, that's fair.

on Thursday it is.

Hello kitty night.

So season ticket holders, check the account management login thing in M.A.

jiggy, if you want the key chain, if you are not a season ticket holder and you don't already have tickets to the game, is a special ticket to get this giveaway.

It's one of those not for el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's not a gate giveaway.

Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: whatever dollars to get it.

But yeah, that's what we're here for.

What's what we're here to talk about.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: first, before we get into anything, before we get into the soccer of it all.

we just wanna send a big mountain of and good things and answers and a pathway forward to Savannah DeMelo and big love to the racing and Seattle Reign players.

So racing Louisville and Seattle Reign players and the fan bases who are at, to all of their fan bases, but especially to those who are in the stadium this weekend.

for those who don't know, Savannah of collapsed again in the middle of a game.

She did something similar happened at the end of March, couple months back, and it was discovered that she has Graves disease and hyperthyroidism.

So something's wonky, like the wiring is weird.

but this is much more serious it seems than previously el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I really just hope whatever that pathway forward is, there's a smooth plan, transition, everything.

And I wish her the best.

I know you do.

Everybody was watching does, obviously we're not privy to any more details than anybody else is, nor should we be.

So give her time to rest, give her time to recover.

Her family's in Seattle.

I'm not sure if she's gone back to Kentucky yet, or if they still have her in Seattle, but good on Laura Harvey and Bena for just being like, nah, we're not playing this game.

they called the game a minute before halftime and then continued it tonight.

And, I really appreciate the way they did this.

They called the game and then tonight, Tuesday night, they had a closed game to just finish it out.

We talk about that a little bit later.

The hard part too is that this was actually supposed to be a really celebratory and really fun night.

Veronica Lako on Seattle Reign announced her retirement to go to law school, which is dope.

and it was her quote unquote retirement match in the sense so that they could celebrate her before the end of the season.

she, this is her last season now, so was supposed to be really fun.

And then it just ended up being really stressful and sad and not great, but we wish her the best too.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: well wishes to Sav DeMelo.

It's a weird year for Savannahs and Savvy's and all the things, so take care of yourself guys.

watch the footage.

It hasn't been circulated.

Thank goodness.

It's one thing I really believe that the NWSL does better than just about every other professional sports league out there.

Nobody needs to see somebody in crisis 300 times.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: no.

the, it was traumatic enough if you were watching it, live, and, I.

Weirdly enough, I was starting to watch the game because I was like, Ooh, the game's on.

I can stream this real quick before we head out.

And it just happened to be the last couple minutes of the half.

And so then the discord started popping off with holy shit.

And then I was just like, oh, dammit.

And then we left out for, for the evening.

So I was like, oh God.

and so I, yeah, and I kept seeing the discord, but then eventually I saw that, you guys all, oh, it's being called off.

And I'm like, okay, good.

and so yes, wishing all the best to, Savannah Damilla on that.

because of the, I'm gonna say debacle of how it was handled with angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: With R el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: King.

Yeah.

There was no way that the NWSL wasn't going to call this, which is the right decision.

It's not to say no.

I'd like to think a little bit more that Laura and Bev were just like, yeah, hell no.

That's not gonna happen.

And then, yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: that's pretty much what happened.

Laura Harvey said, I checked on my team and I made sure my players were okay, just went and made sure Bev was okay 'cause she played for Laura.

Like it's not just their two separate coaches.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: family.

That's was a player in the league.

Bena has played for Laura Harvey.

so much history there.

they're friends off the pitch.

There's God just, there's so much intertwined everything el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: these two teams, and I'm so grateful that.

The compassion was there on both sides.

The empathy was there on both sides, and that the care for the players, the fans, everybody el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: took precedent.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

So good on everybody making decisions there at the match.

Good.

On the medical staff, like they just, they didn't wait for anybody else to say anything.

They all just rushed, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: it.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: which is great.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: like both el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, both, I think, I wanna say the visiting site, so the, was it the Rain Medical staff, got there first?

Like they just booked it.

Yeah.

They were the closer ones and they got there first and, seconds count, a lot of times with these things.

again, wishing her all the best and the moving forward, whatever that means for her and her career and her family, we're.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: the fans will be there, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: absolutely.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Uhhuh.

So from that, we get an announcement today from the NWSL, which was, there's going to be yet another way to watch the matches next year.

another broadcasting partner was announced for the 2026 season, a streaming app or called Victory Plus, like all these apps need to stop it with a plus, especially Victory Plus, you don't have a Victory tv.

yeah, but I get it when it's like ESPN, esp n plus, but angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: stuff el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: a.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: okay.

Either way, the good thing it's gonna be free, the bad thing, which we've already been complaining about this year, and everybody was like, yes, go get your money.

But also this is a pretty.

Bad decision in fragmenting everything.

Like I know you want to.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: it accessible, which it is not cumbersome, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

and I'm not gonna go through the whole breakdown that I did that was a Discord exclusive.

I had to like, M.A.

let my brain take a break from work a little bit.

So I was just like, I'm gonna research this real quick.

but it essentially came down, like if you break it down through all the streaming apps, all the cable subscriptions that you need, and everything, you're at about 1950 angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I will el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: for the season.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: wrong el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: how, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: because one, if you have cable subscription for el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: ESPN Plus is included in that.

You just log in so you el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: is it 'cause ESPN is Oh, okay.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah, you just, that's, you just log in, like you go through ESPN and it's like log in with your TV person el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: so I know you can, yes, you can log to ESPN plus with your TV login.

And what it gives you is access to all of the ESPN content, not the ES esp n plus content.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Oh, you right.

I also have ESPN Plus, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: but that's because it's looped in with Disney el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: It no, I know.

everything is all a big tangle web of streaming.

we all cut the cable just to give ourselves more wireless cables.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: honestly.

And I re back in my day, this shit was regulated because we had regulations.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: the FCC did stuff.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Guys?

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: so yeah, it comes out to about a, just shy of two grand.

A season.

and I'm doing this based on if you're only trying to pay for the season, you're only gonna be paying for the couple months.

So you can't get like whatever the full year is cost.

The thing that throws this out, the out the door of fuck, this is expensive, is the games on our most hated network.

The CBS Sports Network, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: really the kicker, honestly.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: that's the only channel on most cable packages that puts you in the like premium tier.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: So yes.

ion you can get ion, free.

Yeah.

It's on two B, it's on, Roku.

There's a co yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: It's, I think because it's considered like network tv.

It's just tv.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

It's from Chicago, isn't it?

Ion, I think Ion tv.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: was UPN, which was open.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

So all of that to say like it, the whole landscape is just getting even more fragmented.

The only upside with all of this is that it's going to be free.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: now.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: for now, it's for the, I think for two seasons they said at least, 'cause they have the contract for two more seasons, they will be doing, it's 30 matches for the year out of 200 something, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: we're getting two more teams.

So it is what it is.

There you go.

Information.

That's what we're doing.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: That's what we're here for.

Here's some facts.

Shit's weird guys.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

All right.

Chaos award.

let's, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: So two things.

The first one, so there's a strange chance of rain in the next 36 hours.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: You can actually blame Mario because the hurricane that it's name like that is breaking up and causing.

This is Hurricane Mario down in el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: is it angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: My mom el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: edit?

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: texted me, she's have you recorded yet?

And I was like, no.

And she's cool.

You know how it's supposed to rain?

Blame Mario.

And I was like, what are you saying to me?

So yeah, hurricane el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Oh, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: if el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: that's funny.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: on you, bro.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: That's funny.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: And then, I learned something this weekend that I don't recommend.

I got a tattoo this weekend.

As most people know, if you're in the Discord, you have seen it.

here's the thing, the Angel City game was at nine 30.

My appointment was at 11.

My tattoo artist was dope.

And she's if you wanna just stream it, just keep it on your phone.

I was like, okay, cool.

don't try to watch the most stressful team while trying to get a tattoo.

And it's in parts of it where in my inner arm, the soft part of your arm.

And I'm just like heavy breathing, like doing big yoga, breathing or like Lamaze to just get through it and go to another place.

And then Angel City is just maybe I'll play.

I don't know.

so don't do that.

I think I had it on for three more minutes.

Eva's across the room.

She's like, why are you doing this?

You want more pain?

I was like, apparently.

So that's my chaos award is don't try and watch soccer while getting a tattoo on your arm.

your arm.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: that's great.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: sneak peek of it.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I thought you got it.

I thought you got it.

I thought you watched the game and then midway through started getting it, but I didn't realize you were watching the Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: 'cause we were driving 'cause the tattoo shop was in Highland Park or like Montecito Heights.

And so we were driving, I'm streaming it in the car.

We get there and I turned it off I'm gonna be respectful.

I'm not gonna be a jerk.

And then I was like, she goes, no, put the game on.

That's cool.

And I was like, okay.

And then I was like, Nope.

Hard pass.

And it was like 10 seconds.

I turned it off right before we scored I like couldn't handle it.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: All right.

speaking of all of that, we'll get to it.

the, let's check the scores around the league.

as we just said, the Reign and Racing game got, called off in the middle because of an emergency, and they ended up playing the game today, the second half of the game, the rain ended up beating out, racing, went to nothing, with a, like goal angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: 90th el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: at the ring, at the whistle, at the bell, at the, whatever you wanna call it, at the death.

So that happened, let's see.

Gotham beat San Diego, two to nothing.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Gotham is on a tear beating people to nothing, and it's irritating.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Orlando tied again, one to one against BFC.

They've now dropped to seventh place, which is like insane with how I think NWSL recently has been posting a bunch of, pre international break, post international break, like runs.

And angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's weird to see us a apply angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: that we've been doing fairly well after the international break.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: That el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, still, I don't quite believe it, but Okay.

It doesn't feel that way.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: We're not passing the eye test.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: But then you see like Orlando, like down and.

Racing down and like it's just like really, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, it, there's that happens in sports, like across the board where somebody could be having the season of their life and sometimes it just is, you're like, really?

They're playing like that?

They're doing el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: it doesn't feel like it when you're watching those games.

Or maybe you caught them the one game you did see, you caught them on a weird night they only had a 75% pass rate instead of 99.

like whatever.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Asia el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: And angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: only scored 24 and not 40.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

And then this is also like also indicative of like just the American soccer way of doing things is that there's always going to be a dip except for those freak years where like it's just angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: This el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: lights out.

Although Kansas City has tied a couple of their last matches, so it's like they're not just completely blowing out.

But that being said, they're still insane.

the teams that know, or the coaches that know the, how they're playing, they're like, yeah, we're not gonna completely burn ourselves out because we still have the playoffs.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: turn the gas down just a little bit, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: just a little bit.

You let it simmer just a little bit.

'cause you're gonna have to save your players for that playoff like everybody else is fighting.

the, I do have the calculation later down of the spread, it's only a few points, but like everything else beyond first place is tight.

So yeah.

Kansas City and, Washington, the spirit, tide Zero, Chicago and Portland.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: bonkers.

I'll talk about it a little bit 'cause we're, we're prepping to see Washington, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Kansas City, Washington game was insane, but we'll come back to it.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

can, Chicago and Portland tied one, one and then Utah beat Houston.

Thank you.

Two to nothing angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: has been, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: this weekend was a chaos award.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: oh man.

again, geez.

And jumping from that, we ended up losing to the North Carolina courage two to one in one of the more frustrating games that we've seen in a while.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Maybe I'll el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I, maybe I was watching the game at swim practice.

It took the kids to swim class and I was like, as I was like sitting, I was have streaming it on my phone and I was just like, what the hell is going on?

And then I was gladly putting it away to go take care of the kids and do the shower and all of that stuff.

And then, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: maybe I made a comment in the discord of, this tattoo might not be as painful as watching this game.

It was frustrating to say the least.

And I think frankly, everybody was frustrated with it.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

Ev angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: fans.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I think everybody was frustrated and that really led into what the prompt was.

Really.

The prompt was like, eh, there's like a thumbs up and a thumbs down.

What's yours?

Thumbs up though.

I'm gonna say Sveindís goal.

'cause we've been waiting for this.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: You're welcome everyone.

I called that shit.

I said she's gonna score.

She's gonna score.

She's gonna score.

Thanks.

Thanks for, you know.

I don't like to talk about this a lot, but I love being right.

Like I love it.

I love it.

It's like el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: No, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: the way I love winning, it's the same thing.

It's like in my head it's like a point for me, if I'm right about something.

So Sveindís, thank you very much.

I appreciate it.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I just, I, you see the release and the excitement when it happened and even though we couldn't rally to get that next, goal in for the point, you can tell that unlocked a little bit of something.

And hopefully that's, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: the pressure.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: And hopefully that carries on and we're gonna get that a little bit more.

And then it's just gonna be lights out, from here on out.

like that's what I'm hoping for.

And while I did not continue watching the match.

After I put my phone down because I was just like, this is a bit too frustrating.

I'm just gonna take care of the kids.

We're gonna get ready, we're gonna head out and go do our thing for the day.

As we were heading out, I decided to put on, iHeartRadio.

If I'm in the car, I will definitely listen to it, at as I'm out.

And I caught one of the best gems that I've heard Isaac this season so far, and I'm just like, oh God, I love this.

This is why I love listening to Isaac on iHeartRadio.

We all know, and we've all seen Sveindís with the long throw ins.

Like she's got an arm to just lob that thing in.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: it.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: It's essentially a corner kick, like from the sidelines for her, and the ball goes out.

And then I hear Isaac saying, "it's time for a Jóns distance throw in".

And I was just like, oh God.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: that is, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I really hope Sveindís isn't oh my God, these freaking Americans keep making like puns with my name.

But it just fits.

Girl.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: oh, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: You're gonna Svein-dís this goal you're going to, it's a Jóns distance throw in.

it's so good.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's so good.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's all coming from a wonderful place.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yes.

From a place of love and a place of encouragement.

A place of we want to see you do your best and do what you can do.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: excited when it happens.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: so cin, throw in merch.

Who knows?

Maybe, who knows?

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: knows?

Who knows.

Yeah.

as Mario said, we had our little, how you feeling prompt.

Little thumbs up, thumbs down.

What is this like, Ethan came in with a haiku per you.

With quite unfortunate pace picked up with sub switching iHeart Jóns distance.

Max said it's pretty hard to win a game when you only play 7% of it.

Yep.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: That I think, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I saw that.

I saw that gun.

'cause he was the first one after, like I set it up in Discord and I was like, damn.

Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: That, yeah.

The general consensus amongst everyone who responded was the suspend, his goal and the subs making a difference is really what everyone took away from this game.

oh, okay.

okay.

Okay.

it's cu we're in a curious place, and I, we've talked about this a lot.

We're gonna have ups, we're gonna have like high highs and low lows because shit's switching all over the place.

trying stuff out, we're reaching for, I don't know how to explain this in a way that isn't I don't know if I'm gonna explain this correctly, but I'm gonna try.

When you're maneuvering into a new system, whether it's coaching system because there's a new coach, or you're a new player on a team or whatever, something that really good coaches do that like pulls at the very depths of your ability and it like pulls out these things that you don't know that you can do.

hard part is that it comes after shit like this game, like you have to hit some lows in order to get those things to come out of people sometimes.

Sometimes you're just like, oh, you've unlocked new skills because nobody ever approached, the sport like this for certain players, which is what it sounds like for Sarah Gorden is happening.

Like she said in the post game two games ago.

I wish I had a coach like this 10 years ago, but.

For some players, sometimes it takes like essentially hitting rock bottom in the sports world of just that was a bad game and I think everybody would agree.

Players, coaches, like everybody, nobody was happy with that performance for a variety of reasons.

But don't be surprised if Thursday is like 180 different from certain players.

Especially because sometimes it's just that little thing of I never wanna feel like that again to, also in WNBA playoffs, so I will relate this to the WNBA middle of the season.

The ACEs played the links.

The links are on a tear this season.

They've been first place since day one.

Essentially, Kansas City of Women's Basketball, the ACEs have won a championship every other year.

For, it's like they didn't win last season, then one season before that, and then two seasons, like boom.

They have who I believe is one of the best players in the world in Asia Wilson.

They have the point guard and Chelsea gr like I'm a Big ACEs fan.

Partially because, mostly because the players.

But after that matchup, the ACEs lost by 50, it was the ugliest blowout I have seen in years, and it made no sense.

Asia sent a text, made a phone call.

I don't know the specifics of how the sentence was provided to other players, but essentially she said, that was most embarrassing moment of my career and it should be of yours too.

If you don't think so, we don't need you on this team.

if you aren't so embarrassed that you are gonna spend the next six hours in the gym figuring out what you did wrong, you don't need to be here.

That's the kind of thing.

That's gonna start happening more and more on the back end of Angel City is you're gonna have different players be like, I'm not doing this anymore.

If you think this is okay, go ahead, you're not welcome here.

And that's the shift in a winning team.

And it's not like people are gonna be like, oh my God, it's abusive, or it's this, no.

Like it's not that.

It's are you here to win?

Are you here to produce or are you just here to have fun?

that's not what we're here for.

And there's a different shift that happens and I really feel I've been this from the announcement of shouts coming in.

This shit's gonna be weird and it's gonna be difficult and it's gonna be hard, but everything is going to slowly shift and slowly get better.

already through a big part of it.

And this is part of that.

This like really funky, ugly, nobody wants to admit that last weekend happened.

Loss.

Like we don't wanna talk about this ever again el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: No.

No.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: remember how Angel City lost that one game and then they never lost another game again?

the kind of thing.

And like right now, after that loss, the ACEs were on a 17 game win streak.

They lost tonight by two in the playoffs.

It's best of three.

So they go back so they play one more, but that's, then they went on a 17 game win streak and not just like win, go home and cry about it.

'cause your feelings got hurt the way you lost win streak.

So I still fully believe we're trending up, but it's gonna be weird and it's gonna Sometimes el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: put my soapbox away.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: you can step down now.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: really into the sports psych side of things.

My el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yes.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: pays off, sometimes el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: we've, as a fan base, and as a podcast, we've gone through these highs and lows and you've heard us go like.

Hell yeah.

Fuck yeah.

We're the best team in the world right now.

And we are going to we're going to the moon.

We are like, like just ACEs, like everything.

And then the next game we get proven wrong and we're like, like angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: kicking el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: dog shit.

Like kicking and screaming and then like, why am I a fan of this?

But then, we all know that this is part of sport and this is part of being a fan of something.

if you wanna be a fair weather fan or a fair weather, casual fan and things like that, totally fine.

hey, you're watching angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: mentally, but I'm really happy for you.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

Fine, because you're still supporting the league, you're still supporting, what's being built, all of that good stuff, and yeah, be fair with, watch it, whatever, the rest of us will stew and suffer because we know there's greatness and we know we can get there.

just look at the Orlando fans that stuck around for so long.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: when you look at sports, and we've said it a million times, they're cyclical.

It took a hundred years for the Red Sox to win another championship because of the curse.

It took 70, 98, whatever, how many it was for the Cubs to break their curse.

And win a championship.

The same thing happens in every single sport.

There are still teams that, from the inaugural season, have not won shit and el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: show up because we are a weird cursed group of people.

when a team reps your city and you love what they do, and you're proud of your city, it hits different el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: It does.

and look, to keep your fan base excited and happy.

You don't need to, it helps if you win those championships, right?

I'm not gonna lie like that.

That's what you want.

I, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: a lot.

Yeah.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: but if, like Angelo was saying, if you rep the city, if you are an integral part of what the city is, especially in soccer and the soccer community, right?

that's the whole, the American franchise is still a whole different thing.

But like you're still rooted.

The teams are supposed to be rooted in their community angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: and it's an entertainment product, right?

Like as long as you're.

Having fun at the matches.

If the product is competitive and you're having fun.

There's been games right where we've lost and we're like, damn, that was a good game.

But shit we lost angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: is, if that's happening, great, but, when everything's just going downhill and usually that ends up happening because there's no investment anywhere and you can't, you can't do, you can't compete when you don't want to compete, and as much as, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: have the facility to compete.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

So angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I will say while we're on the topic of facilities, BMO Fix your food situation, was so good the first season.

And then when the switch, it went from the bank to BMO, from Can Canada Bank to other bank?

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: from the Banc to Le Banc.

Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: What?

What the hell?

Why are your vendors so bad?

Anyway, please just have Caulipower open.

'cause sometimes I can't eat enough before the game and then I feel like I'm dying halfway through.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: It's also, 'cause the first couple years there was like local vendors that were part of the, now it's just like concession conglomerate.

That's, yeah.

It sucks.

I will say that during, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: because they're also local.

They're from el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Okay, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I was gonna try to keep going with it, but I was like, nah, it's fine.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Just get us better food please.

Because honestly, what is that nacho cheese?

I will go on record saying that nacho cheese looks so gross.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Their pizza was a hundred times better like a year ago Now.

it feels like stove's, like frozen pizza that you get at Costco and like you, and you're like warming up.

Like it literally and it's angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: pizza.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yes.

And it's in a fucking oval.

It's in an oval.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Okay.

So the oval pizza almost gluten me one night because the Caulipower folks just started making other pizza.

And everyone who was gluten-free was like, is this gluten-free?

What is this?

Why is it different?

'cause we know, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, it's an oval.

I.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's an oval, it's not a circle and it's not burnt as cardboard.

why does this look like bread?

Dustin, who is, has celiac disease, and I'm like, did you get pizza today?

He's yeah.

I was like, what did your pizza look like?

Send me a picture.

Sends me a picture on Instagram.

We're like DMing each other back and forth, and he's what is that on mine?

My mom took a bite.

She goes, yeah, it's not gluten-free.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: No, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I knew it.

So I really hope that night nobody else got el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: that sucks.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: sick because if you're gonna have a gluten-free stand it sure as hell better be gluten-free or you're gonna have awful repercussions.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, that, that sucks.

That shouldn't be happening.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Nope, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Bring back BMO.

Bring back the local vendors.

bring back like mom and pop shops to get angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: have nacho cheese, don't have it be beige.

it's so icky.

I have more gripes with Bemo right now than I do the team.

I understand weird things el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Hey, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: sports.

I don't understand bad concessions el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I'm gonna say silver lining on PMO before we move on.

They fix the, security.

Order where you've, you go through security now before you do the ticketing thing before, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: not on Did was, did you el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: they have, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: game?

Did they el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I wanna, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: on the south side of the stadium, like the southeast corner, the Figueroa side, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Nope.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: They haven't changed it.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: scan your ticket, then you go through security and then half the time people are like, I have to go put this back in my car.

Because they've made some other arbitrary rule, like you can't bring in a sharpie.

Did el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: that you could stab someone with a Sharpie?

That's what I was told.

I was like, legitimately, nobody is gonna do that.

No one on this planet who isn't Severely mentally ill is going to take a Sharpie and make it into a weapon at a soccer game.

I hope security has changed their order it makes el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: they've changed it on the, Pepsi Plaza side on the side with the team store.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: that's good.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Okay.

All right.

Let's check.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: ranching now because I could just, I could go a lot of places with this and I'm not going to, because I love Angel City and BMO is just where we play.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yes.

let's check out the standings.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Bring el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: besides, Kansas City being the only team to have secured a playoff spot this weekend, they also secured they all, and I'm surprised it hasn't been like all over the NWSL yet, but I guess they just don't want to keep propping up the one that, the one team that has already been propped up.

But, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: gold differential.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: they are.

and this is according to, thank you TJ for the new moniker of.

PrimoGPT, they have qualified for a home field spot.

They can no longer drop lower than fourth place.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: duh.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: the mathematically they can, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: have been, they drive you crazy and you love them, but duh, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I Yeah, I know, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: level.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: but like mathematically they can't.

and all really, it comes down to us whether or not they secure the supporter shield this weekend.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Ooh, spicy el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: If we win angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: when we el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: and they, actually, even if we tie, if we win or tie angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: we win el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: when we win, and of course they will win.

they will have the points needed to secure the supporter shield already insane.

yeah, that's insane.

and then this is what I was talking about second through eighth place.

Right now there's only a 10 point spread, but if you take second place out of it, so three through eighth, there's only a five point spread.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: in one of the broadcasts, this, it was either this weekend or last weekend.

They're like, this is insane.

this is really, truly the closest the table has ever been.

I el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

It's, it is.

it's especially stressful for us because I keep finding ways for us to keep climbing the ladder and they keep finding ways of not doing that.

So we're currently in 11th place because someone else decided not to lose by more than two points dash.

So they are still above us by goal deferential, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: just barely.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: just barely.

So here's, permutation, primo, calculations for this weekend.

Basically, we can move up in position eighth place with us winning the courage, losing the dash drawing or losing and racing, losing.

It's a lot of things that need to happen, but that's a big jump from eighth, 11th to eighth, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: It el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: ninth.

It's a win plus a courage loss in a dash draw loss.

in 10th we can.

Win courage and Dash can draw.

and then we stay put.

If we draw or lose and the dash win or draw doesn't matter, we stay in the same place.

The only good thing is that we cannot drop any lower than 11th place this week.

So no matter what, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: No matter what, we're in 11th place.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: we're in 11th place.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: And when we win, we el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yes.

When we win, you have all of the versions of things that can happen.

And with us being the first game this week, again, it's just gonna be like, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I have a love hate with being like the first game of the weekend or the last game of the weekend because I'm just like, we set the precedent and have to be irritated the whole weekend or have to be like stressed or the end of the, it's, it's a Sunday night game and I'm just like, or Monday night, what, in two weeks we have a Monday night game el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I'm just like, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: two weeks ago we could have moved up into eighth place and every everything happened, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Except el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: were like, except us.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: kidding.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: All right?

So with knowing what we need to do to climb the standings, let's preview our next match.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: All right.

This is a doozy, guys, because it's a big deal.

So we're playing the Washington spirit, right?

I said earlier that the Kansas City, Washington game was bonkers, and here's why.

One Chawinga was not playing.

She's been injured.

She's had a little bit of a knock on and off all season, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Okay.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: okay, cool.

No big deal.

Hal Hershfelt on the spirit, a cruise, two yellows.

So by the 67th minute, Washington's down a player and they hold the line.

This is the thing that I was watching, because I'm like, okay, they're probably gonna give up a goal because it's Kansas City one, two, they're down a player.

Statistically, they should have not held a zero zero scoreline.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

the only way to combat that is you park that bus, you move everybody, but angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: the thing.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: they didn't.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: held the line like that.

Oh, that game.

It was such a beautiful defense, but still very offensively minded.

Like they almost scored like four or five different times.

It was a lot.

It was a very stressful game, but it was el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Okay.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: was stressful in the sense of one el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: down and you're like, oh my God.

oh my god.

every buildup for Kansas City, you're like holding your breath because they're gonna score and then they don't.

And then Washington would go off on a tear and gift.

Monday is, middle of the attacking.

Third before you even can blink.

And you're like, oh, okay.

Cool.

But yeah, it's Washington is a team, partially because of Michelle Kang, partially because of their history.

They have won, the championship a couple times.

They're a team that is built to win, but is also being rebuilt to win for the long haul.

And they're starting to come together under an interim head coach.

'cause as you, oh wait, no, that was North Carolina.

Just kidding.

no.

They are under an interim because coach went to coach in for LCL.

don't remember another Kang team.

So there's so much happening in wo so of Michelle Kang in a cool way.

And also is this conflict of interest?

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yes, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: but do I care because she's putting like a bazillion dollars No, I know.

Like it's hard.

It's hard, but.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's a very fine line.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: see through, it's like maybe a dotted fine line where there's room to go through.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: The perforated line.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

Honestly, it's scandalous, but not dangerous.

It's just maybe we need to rethink how some of this is done.

But they've had some upheaval.

Trend wasn't with them the first half of the season.

She was rehabbing her back injury.

Like it's just, there's been so much that's gone down in Washington quietly.

So it's weird.

this is gonna be a bounce back match for Angel City.

'cause as we said, ugh, last weekend was difficult.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: But the cool thing in the world of the SAVs the world, of the soccer world, it might not have a direct impact on the field, like in play, but indirectly.

Savvy King announced today, Tuesday.

She has been cleared to go back to training full time, which I don't know into what capacity.

It doesn't matter to el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: It doesn't matter.

the team dynamic and the team spirit is gonna change no matter what.

And it's all about they all suffered through that trauma together, of seeing their teammate, their family, their player, go through something so tough.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: She's bounced back to the point where she's now gonna be able to go full on training.

Of course.

We don't expect to see her at all in this next match.

no, probably not for the next couple.

there's no point.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: At el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Honestly, there's no point in this season.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: but it's, I think it's the slight, they're just going to, I think it's gonna lift up the spirits of the whole team.

It's the same kind of, emotional uplift of when Ali Riley, was finally back on the field, and actually training with them.

it, when June finally made it back, and was training with them like, so it's just gonna bring all the positive vibes with, along with it.

And I think that's gonna show itself angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: not only the 180 and the course correction of.

The game we shall not talk about anymore, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: but el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: but yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: a bounce back from that.

There's the spirit bounce, not Washington spirit, but the Angel City Hearts spirit.

back, but like Kelly O'Hara brought it up after she, I think it was at the Orlando game.

I think that was the first game we won, with Strauss like that, two to one victory at home.

She was there celebrating Ali Riley's return to the pitch.

'cause they're very good friends.

They played together for they've just known each other for a million years.

but she didn't know that was the game against Orlando was the first win since Savvy's accident.

And she goes, she was talking about it on just women's sports with merit.

she's do you know what that means for a team?

Or it's yeah, you watch, essentially you watch your teammate nearly die and now she's coming back she's cleared to play.

She went through her cardiac rehab.

all this stuff has been figured out.

This is huge.

huge.

It doesn't put you in a good mood.

Please don't talk to me about it because whatever, I don't care about you because it's a big freaking deal.

Especially as somebody who had a podcast partner, do something similar.

It will lift your spirits.

Damn it.

Or you get added to the get your ass kicked list.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

You know what, Jen, you know what Jen told me, like she was going through something, and then she was just like, and I was like, oh, it's okay.

Like I gave her a hug and I'm like, do you just need a hug right now?

And she's yeah.

And so I was hugging her and then she looks at me and she's Is it about ass kicking time yet?

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: God, love so much.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: and I look at her and I'm like, and then I start walking.

'cause like I came back to the shed, but like I started walking and I'm not yet.

Not yet.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: And I think we talked about this.

So one, a night or two before you were released, Eva and I went up to the hospital and essentially to pick Jen up and take her home.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: everybody was everywhere and the whole ride home, I don't know how much of this she told you or I told you, we just talk shit.

And it was amazing.

She goes, does he, do you think he knows that we're all gonna kick his ass?

And I was like, no, but long is that list?

And she was like, girl.

I was like, yeah, okay.

That's what I thought.

yeah.

No, but Jen is she's just great.

And she's funny as hell.

You picked a good one or she picked you.

Whatever it is, you el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: wonderful.

But anyway, back into soccer before we get all emotional and be like, we're really good friends guys.

yeah.

Don't make me cry.

Washington spirit.

They're so good.

Paige played for the spirit.

I don't know if you guys remember when she was making, she got her ring, her championship ring from them with us.

Like when we played against them, she picked it up.

It was her game that she came back and still had her earrings in after her rib thing.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Oh yeah.

Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: that was against the spirit.

Kelly O'Hara, Emily sonnet, like there's been so many prolific NWSL and women's national team players that have gone through the Spirit program, we have huge names on the spirit.

You've got Ashley Hatch, you've got Andy Sullivan who's out on maternity leave.

You've got, GIF Monday, who we talked about earlier this season.

You have Croix Bethune, who's insane Rookie of the year, like just so good.

And then you have Trinity Rodman, you have Casey Krueger, you have national team in Stalwarts, you have household names.

So there's so many good players, right?

Like so many good household names that everybody knows.

Whoa.

I just smacked my iPad and almost flew it or knocked it off.

Oh my God.

Again, I'm so dramatic tonight guys.

Sorry.

have the A-listers, right?

And then you have the rest of the team, which is as good.

They're just not as well known yet, or as well known in America.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yes, that's true.

That's true.

A lot of them, a lot of them are.

Coming from different leagues are being, and I think you hit the nail on the head where it's like they're building this team for the long haul.

Like they're not necessarily worried about pulling a Kansas city and like winning, like without prejudice, like the entire season.

'cause that can lead to burnout.

But they've also been working like where when they win, it's a solid win and angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: team win.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's a team win.

And the fact that you were saying like, look, they went down a, they went down a player and they didn't have to park the bus.

Like they can just keep doing what they were doing like that.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: The one thing one of the commentators said during that game is there was a hydration break and they just hung out.

They didn't go over to the sidelines and get like directions or anything like that.

Nothing was frantic on the wa on the spirit side.

Nothing changed for them.

They all just stepped up.

And that's terrifying.

from the opposing team.

Proce.

Prospect.

Prospect, that's not the word I'm looking for.

What's that word?

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Point of view.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Thank you.

Or, but there it is.

From the opposing team's perspective, when you watch another team go down, a player and then they're just like, okay, what?

okay.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: We will see you in the locker room.

It's okay.

Bye.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, so that's essentially what happened last weekend.

So I wanted to talk about three players all international, some names, obviously if you follow women's soccer to some degree you're gonna know them, you might not.

it's really neat.

I'm gonna start with the defense first.

Esme Morgan, she's a English national team player.

She's number 24, she's blonde.

You may remember when played the spirit back east the day after my birthday.

This season, she had a brace, two goals, and that's how we lost Yay, Esme Morgan.

But here's the thing, and this is something that you see so much defensive players who played other positions, especially if they were offensive positions.

It's one thing to be like a defensive midfielder and then go to be a center back or like an outside back, something like that.

Like it's the same, it's just a different place.

But if you like Esme Morgan, M.A.

like Becky sbr, which I feel like nobody knows.

when you start as a forward, when you start as an offensive player and then you become a defender, damnit like your brain understands how the whole pitch works.

You're not just like stuck in one side of it or one system.

You know what it takes to get the ball forward.

You know what it takes to receive the ball when you're on that side of it.

that's why players like Esme Morgan average, like an 87% pass, completion percentage.

It's insane.

I think right now she's at 87%.

She's been as high as 94.

And you're making a hundred some passes a game, or like you're touching the ball that many times.

Like what?

sure.

I guess so.

yeah, she's dangerous.

keep her under control to put it lightly.

don't let her have a brace.

We're gonna be playing at home.

Don't do that.

And then we have Leicy Santos, a midfielder.

She's number 10.

If you follow wo.

and you follow the women's national team here in the United States, for some weird reason, we have a beef with Columbia.

It just happens.

it's because weird things happen when we play Columbia.

The pitch floods at Snapdragon.

We're playing in the rain.

People are slip sliding all over the place.

Like shit goes weird.

So Leicy Santos has scored 16 goals for the Columbia National team since 2014.

And she's had injuries in the meantime.

So there's been years where she wasn't playing or she didn't play as much, that kind of thing.

She has received Player of the Year, accolades, golden Boot accolades, like all kinds of stuff at every single level she's played at.

I think one thing I saw was that she won like Player of the year in what would be considered like high school.

It was like every single level she has had that, that high like Player of the Year award given to her.

So like again, nothing to sneeze at, not one to leave, just open.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Every time you do these and we run down The amazing players that the other team has and all the accolades that these players have.

Like it's just every single time, just like God.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: But that's the thing about the NWSL, every team has these players.

It's not just like the top four.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's not and el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: offense, but it's not the WSL where you have four or five teams that run the table el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: not even four or five teams, I would say like three.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, I was being generous.

But three or four teams with the cash, and then you've got everybody else, this team, and that's, we talk about all the time.

That's the good and the bad of a salary cap league is you end up with teams that are stacked top to bottom el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: and it's a very fair distribution of players.

But that's all I'm gonna say on that because I also don't think we should have a salary cap, but it's just complicated.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Soapbox is you.

You step down the, from the soapbox, it's angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: okay.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I have many.

We both know this.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yes.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: okay, so last but not least, for the spirit we have Rosemonde Kouassi.

This woman is bonkers.

She's number 19.

She's a forward, she has scored the most goals for them this season with three.

And that's not saying much because they like TR has scored two, like everybody has two or three.

So it's very well distributed amongst their scoring.

She plays for Côte d’Ivoire, so like Ivory Coast.

I'm too tired to try and speak French right now, so it's just gonna be Ivory Coast for the rest of the night.

So she's on the national team for the Ivory Coast.

And if you have listened to us for more than 10 seconds, I love African players like el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I was yelling about Michelle Oia the other day.

Being like, are you not a super Falcons fan?

just come on.

like African soccer is so slept on, and especially by Americans.

And I'm like, no guys, they're so good collectively as a continent, not even specific countries, just as a continent.

exceptional athletes.

she was named African player of the season in the 2020 to 2021 season after winning, like after her team won championship in the Ivory Coast.

then so she wins her like country's championship and then gets named African, like continent player of the year.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: that, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: deal.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: the big ass continent, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah, just the largest continent, no big deal.

then, so she's playing in the Ivory Coast.

I have a feeling it was like big fish, small pond kind of situation at that time.

she goes to play in France for Flury in three seasons.

She had 21 goals.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Again.

What?

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: do, we have to play against them.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: But then more recently, so she comes to, she spends time in France and then she comes here to play for the spirit in the CONCACAF Women's Champions Cup, the not world Cup.

she had a hat trick.

So she's crafty, she's skilled, she's fast as hell, like it's so good.

Okay, so that's the spirit.

They have Spirit.

Yes, they do.

They have Spirit.

Oh el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: about ACFC?

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

How about Angel City?

So two players we've referred to a hundred million times this season, but I realize, I don't think I've actually talked about in depth in a very long time.

So I figured I would, I'm gonna start with Midfielder Kennedy Fuller.

Number 17.

She is becoming like one of the best midfielders in the country.

quietly, it seems to give a little background for those who are a little bit newer to the team or don't know her coming up.

she was named Gatorade Player of the year in 2023.

And in high school she el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I forget about that.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: yep, she signed with Angel City in 2024.

At 16, she was invited to Chelsea's training camp.

She was invited to Angel City, Gotham, the like four or five teams in the NWSL.

And she spent time at each training camp and then she decided on Angel City and they said, let's go.

So at 16.

She signs and makes her the second youngest player at the time.

we have M Whitman, who's 10 years old.

It is stressful and I don't really like it, and I really need us to get a development league yesterday because I don't, feels weird when somebody's like 37 bodying the shit out of a 17-year-old.

It's, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: like el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: it feels weird.

There's also the side of look, if they can play.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Absolutely.

But it's uncomfortable.

so she had her first cap with Angel City two days after she turned 17, if not a day after.

which was fun because it was like 17.

It was like a golden birthday kind of thing.

17th birthday, she was wearing 17.

Cute.

So player of the year.

Remember in high school, her freshman year of high school alone, she scored 26.

26.

That's a stupid amount of goals.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: It is a stupid amount of goals.

Even if the entire league was, shit, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

goals.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: you still need a lot of skill to, to score 26.

Like it's, it's, you can't automatically be like, yeah, the league she played in was probably complete trash.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: played el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: No.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: other teams, like Yeah, there was actually no defense.

She just stood in front of the goal.

they like a long kicker.

She said, okay, thank you Scored.

No.

So that kind of just puts in perspective what you are dealing with at 13, 14 years old is a prolific goal scorer.

So then she gets to Angel City, right?

And over the last two seasons she's had five goals.

Three last season, two this season.

She's had three assists this season.

That's what it is.

I got, I was getting my threes and twos mixed up.

So then she's in the US soccer scheme.

with U 17 team, she had 13 goals and was a golden boot winner in the 2024 CONCACAF World Championships.

So essentially like World Cup for, or Conka calf, but still el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: you?

Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: level winning for the us.

then that she's a little bit older, meaning she's 18, no longer on the U 17 team, she's on U 20.

And for those who don't know, it took me a long time to learn this.

The U means under I for like genuinely, and I don't mean that in like a sarcastic or like condu way.

That's literally, it's just under, under 20, under 17, under 18.

Oh, speaking of the under 18 team, Tony Deleon was just named the head coach and I am so pumped.

She played in Orlando, she played and coached in Iceland.

She's a fantastic player and I'm so pumped to have her in the system.

There will be great player development occurring.

She also wrote, co-wrote the cookbook with Ali Riley, their el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Oh, there we go.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: survivor two times.

anyway, back to Kennedy Fuller, I got excited.

Kennedy does not play like she's 18.

she doesn't play like she's fresh outta the box, like brand new little transplant in the league.

She didn't play like that when she started.

She just was like there.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: And I don't know if that's just what it's like to be a prodigy.

I don't know.

I never had that put on me, thank goodness.

But.

She's so good and she's already matured so much between last season and this season.

then to think like she has a little sister, same thing.

Like she has another fuller come and el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I think ACFC is just gonna be the team of families.

Like we're just gonna like we're gonna get you because you also have a couple of other siblings that are gonna come in.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: who play soccer.

Do they wanna come play soccer with us too?

like it, it feels sometimes very like games like you, then you have, the other team picks and it's and you, and it's their younger sister.

it's like boom.

but no, it, man, she's fun to watch and very, really truly, there's been like two instances where you're like, oh yeah, she's young.

And it's just because it's like you have that lapse of judgment or you haven't played in this league for longer than a season.

You don't know all the tricks up their other player sleeves, the way someone who's 10 years older than you would, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: who's been in the league for 10 years, or whatever that is.

So I'm just excited to watch her grow and play and I hope she grows and plays with Angel City for a very long time because I don't think anybody on the, our team wants to play against her at any given point.

Especially like the national team players.

Nobody want, no, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: don't want that.

like other countries, national team players.

So then go from one young score to the other edge of like career-wise with Christen Press, I haven't talked about Christen Press a lot because everybody has feelings about the press of it all.

And people need to understand, especially those who are newer who don't understand is because I got, I made the mistake of going on NWSL in Angel City, Reddit.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Oh no.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: A couple weeks ago, and I was like, oh, That's why I don't do this.

There are a lot of new fans in the Angel City fan base who weren't around for 2015.

They weren't around for the World Cups where the US just was terrifying.

Like you weren't around in the early days of the NWSL.

Like you don't have that lore, and that's okay, but understand there's a difference between watching a player in their prime and watching a player towards the end of their career.

There's a big difference.

There's also a big difference watching somebody come off a two year long injury where they thought they'd never play again because their knee wouldn't bend.

No big deal.

Like just a big difference.

There's a big difference.

But we're gonna talk about Christen Press, who is a South Bay kid.

She went to Chadwick High School.

I remember reading about her in the Daily Breeze because she's a year younger than me, or two year, two years younger than me, two years younger.

she's, she holds the scoring record at Stanford University with 71 goals over the course of her career.

for the Cardinal one, she went to Stanford.

You have to like, have to have the grades along with the athletic ability because Stanford doesn't f around.

And those who don't know the NCAA side of it, you have to maintain.

When you're in college, the minimum requirement is a 2.0.

So a C straight CS is your minimum requirement.

A lot of schools or teams specifically, will have additional requirements.

On top of that, in college, I had to maintain a 3.0 stay on the track team.

That's like the deal, and that's part of it.

It's no, you have to, are expected to balance this.

You are given the tools to allow you to do this because you have built in study hall, you built in tutors.

You have, sometimes your deadlines are extended because you aren't the state.

like you okay.

But to score 71 goals and to play for Stanford, and that's a lot.

Regardless of if you're a science major, physical science major, behavioral science, business, whatever, major marketing major, who cares?

There's a different level of stature in a school like Stanford.

So there's that.

then she's on the forefront throughout her entire career of equity and equality and better playing conditions and calling out abusive coaches and abusive like everybody's owners, trainers, every, everything.

And to be able to continue your career at such a high level.

And then also make sure that every single generation that's coming up after you comes into a better situation than you have had to deal with for 15 years.

no locker rooms pitches with divots in them.

The size of Kentucky, like you have your, it's like she took garbage.

Essentially, they're given leftovers, they're given nothing.

They're given $10 essentially as a salary.

And then is one of, me, one of the people who turn this league into what it is, turn the national team into what it is demanded that they get paid an equitable amount.

Because not only are they bringing in the fans and the money and the everything, they're actually winning, which on the national team level says a lot because the men are getting bonuses for showing up and the women are bringing home championships and getting $10 because reasons.

But, okay, so Kristen's seen some shit talked about it, and I'm sure there's things she cannot talk about due to NDAs and lawsuits and all sorts of shit.

But to be part of that class of players.

The same way the 99 ERs pushed it for her generation.

She is doing the same for the Kennedy Fullers, for the Alyssa Thompsons, the Giselles, like all these young kids coming up, changing the game internationally because in women's soccer, the trends follow based on what the US team does, they have been able to get better pay across the board in Australia, in the uk, in all different countries because of how much work they do to make sure that they're getting treated fairly, which says a lot.

But Christen Press is no fricking slouch.

We talked about it.

It was right before she got hurt, I think, or maybe right when she came back.

I don't, I think it was right when she was coming back.

I talked about her ability to score like stealthily.

doesn't have a kickback.

She can just be running and wap zero to 900 on the ball, and we haven't gotten to see that really since she came back partially because of coaching, and sub Kristen in at the 88th minute.

there's a lot.

But for a player who's coming off an injury like that, for a player who's in the latter twilight of their career, if you will, they're not usually gonna be starting unless it's weird, which it's been weird.

But expect her as a super sub, as a game changer as, I don't know, whatever you wanna call, like game changers in the second half.

The subs like expect her in that role because she can handle the pressure.

The NWSL doesn't have shit on the world Cup.

sorry, you don't have that much.

There's still a lot riding on each and every game.

But to play on the world stage and play on the world stage with.

A microscope also on the team because for those who weren't around in 2015 and then in 2019, that team was scrutinized like crazy by the media, by the government, by literally everyone.

So yeah, Chris and press is a big deal and I, if you didn't know that, I'm sorry for you because go watch some highlights.

There's there's so many breathers out there have highlight reels of both Kristen and Tobin.

Just go watch them.

They'll make your day better because they're so damn good.

Like Tobin and her prime, insane.

Kristen and her prime.

Insane.

And the fact that we still get to see CP on the pitch, don't be mad at that.

Even if it's for 10 minutes a game.

I don't care because it's a gift.

She didn't think she was gonna come back.

yeah, I.

like ninth soapbox of the night is being put away.

But overall, angel City needs to pull in a full team effort, like a full shift for the whole game.

Washington is gonna go hard because they're down.

One of, I love how Hirsch felt so much.

I, they're down Hal, like she's not, she can't play.

So they're gonna be a little funky, but at the same time, like they're not gonna care 'cause they're fine.

But everyone in an Angel City jersey has to play like they want to win, just play not to lose.

Especially el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: true.

Yeah, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: because we are currently sitting with three wins and four losses against the spirit.

I don't know about you, but there is no time like the present to make it four wins and no ties and four losses.

Like put another one in the win column.

It's not gonna be easy, but it's gonna be worth it.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's definitely gonna be worth it.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Permutation Primo showed you already.

That it's gonna be worth it.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: and if we score a lot of goals and they don't score as many goals, obviously we win.

But like goal differential guys is goal differential season.

And that's all I have to say tonight.

I'm not talking anymore.

I'll say bye eventually, but I've yapped all the yaps.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: yeah.

We'll leave it at that.

that's a pretty thorough recap and preview of what we're gonna be facing and where we're gonna be going.

Of course, we have amazing players in all positions and we really do need them to step up.

I feel it's a harsh way of saying it, but it, because it's not like they haven't for, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Oh, el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's not for a lack of trying.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: it's not like nobody's showing up.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: all do it at the same time.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yes.

Get on the same page.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: very last whistle.

Everybody needs to show up.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: So with that, with all that being said, we have our match coming up Thursday, September 18th, which if you're listening to this, it's gonna be tomorrow.

If you're listening to this on the way there.

Good luck in traffic, against the Washington spirit at BMO Stadium.

It's 7:30 PM kickoff.

It's gonna be on TV with CBS Sports Network or the FanDuel Sports Network.

So check your cable packages, or stream packages if you have it.

if you can't watch it there, check out iHeartRadio with Isaac and Tracey.

It's always gonna be great.

It's gonna make you feel like you're at BMO, you're with them Anyways, it is.

Hello Kitty night.

We've said it before in previous episode of how to get your Hello Kitty special ticket.

If you don't have it, you can still get one.

Probably, hopefully you probably won't be able to get one on a Thursday like the day of, but, maybe they're still available the tomorrow.

I don't know.

Check it out.

Talk to your season ticket, hit rep or check out the vivo link.

but it's not a giveaway for everybody.

And there's also some really cool in, hello Kitty.

Angel City Merch.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah, they just debuted it like yesterday.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

And I showed it to Maddie and she was like, Aw.

And she, so so I might, angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: some monies.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I'm about to, yeah, I'm about to say spend some money on some Hello Kitty merch, which is fine.

It's cute.

I like it too.

all right, if you like what you hear, then hit the subscribe button wherever you're listening.

Check out casual fc.com for all the pod links.

We're on YouTube.

So go ahead.

Give us a, subscribe, do the thumbs up.

do the things that other YouTubers tell you to do.

Because they know more than, Follow us on our socials at, casual FC Pod on Instagram Threads, TikTok.

You can also follow us on Blue Sky with, at casual fc.com, and then come join the Discord.

We've had a couple people join in the last couple, in the last few weeks, which is amazing and it's fun and you can hear it from them on how much fun we're all having on there, even when we're all maybe complaining a bit about what's going on.

At least you're doing it there socially with other people.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: or el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Exactly.

And.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: I keep putting my microphone down so I stop talking and then I can't.

So like misery loves company, so come hang out.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: If you can't find the link in our socials, go ahead and deem us and I will send you the link.

Personally, it's totally fine and best ways to support the pod, always like shares, comment on either one of our posts on our social media, or better yet on, YouTube or Apple Podcast, wherever you're listening, it helps other people find it and it helps us spread.

the fun of the pod.

You can always grab some merch.

We have a merch shop dot casual lift.com.

We have some fun stuff.

Go check it out and if you feel so inclined, you can always help support the pod by buying us a coffee.

You can check out our link on our socials or just go to buy me a coffee.com/casual sea pod.

It's an easy way to throw us some money and don't throw it, just hand over some money and help us with what we're doing and just keep us going.

And then last but not least, tell a friend about the pod.

It just brings us good luck and what we do is we pack that up and we give it to the team and hopefully it just brings that little bit of luck they need for that match.

And we'll see everybody at BMO then.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: See you on Thursday guys.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: Bye.

Makes a ton more sense now and how she would have a hat trick.

Okay, I'm gonna take all of this out, so we're gonna rewind, but angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Your face was like, you're making this up, and I'm like, no, I'm not.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: I'm like you just said, she plays for Africa.

That's AFCON Oh, okay.

angela--robin-hood-_1_09-16-2025_213904: Yeah.

el-se-or_1_09-16-2025_213904: My bad.