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Pete Morris's avatar

Why is the NWSL so far behind the European leagues? Is it as simple as those leagues utilizing the same structure as exists for the men's leagues in Europe: a women's Bundesliga, for example, and a women's Champions League. Likewise, the women's teams in Europe are part of the same club structure as the men's teams: Barca, Lyon, Bayern, Arsenal, etc..

Unfortunately, the status of the women's game in the U.S. is being dragged down to that of the men's game, when I think all of us were hoping that the opposite might occur. This World Cup looks certain to be a turning point where career paths like Lindsay Horan's appear to be the norm: skip college and play in Europe instead. She came back to star in the NWSL for several years, but tellingly, recently returned to France and Champions League glory. Other Americans should follow.

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Robert H's avatar

Great article Drew. Your comment here is telling: "The USWNT has the deepest, or at least one of the deepest, player pools to select from. The number of female players in high schools, colleges and universities, and the NWSL is incredible."

This is 100% accurate but we are wasting this advantage if we insist on funneling players into a narrow, pay-to-play USSF managed path. That player who is showing skill in high school soccer isn't getting a look if she isn't willing or able to travel to play for USSF FC nearby, and is actually disregarded in many cases because she plays high school soccer. We're broken if we insist in saying there is one way to be good enough to play for the USWNT (and USMNT btw) when you have a country as large and diverse as ours.

Again, you nailed it. Thanks for writing.

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