I'm a 77yr old male that has followed womens soccer since the 1991 WC. Since 2019 it's astonishing the growth of the womens game around the world, & I'm here for it. The USWNT is, I believe going to be great again when we settle on 23 or 18 players & let those players practice together in the same positions they were picked for. This podcast was really enlightening, making me happy knowing the NWSL is I believe, going in the right direction, thanks. You two are the perfect pair, knowledgeable about the game, great sense of humor & work so well together interviewing your fantastic array of guests.
This is the most comprehensive interview of a pro sports commissioner I have ever seen. Jessica Berman was direct in every answer, and she was personable and humorous. And she spelled out the plan for the future of expansion as well as the existing teams straight up. There is a lot of nuances in a global game, and to reconcile that with a domestic league is no easy task. Great questions Lynn & Sam you asked, and she answered. Commissioner Berman said she's not a soccer person, and you both replied that she IS. She IS a soccer person. What I have seen in my long love affair with pro sports is commissioners that only exist to help owners screw over taxpayers with threats to move beloved sports franchises to coerce taxpayer funded stadiums. You need only look at the Oakland A's stringing along their real fans in Oakland, and then scamming the people of Las Vegas to build them a new park. I didn't catch even a whiff of that underhanded BS from Commissioner Berman. I have long been a fan of USWNT. This '23 World Cup opened my eyes. There's a ton of competition out there! No easy path. I love it. My $$$ still has USWMNT for Gold in Paris.
The interview with Jessica Berman was excellent. It was a great peak at some of the things that are involved to grow the league and the considerations one must have because of the International Nature of Soccer. Not an easy task to run the league and I wish her continued success. Being a Commissioner sometimes is like herding cats!
Great interview and awesome insights. AND still most of the examples provided center Europe. There is much to learn from how Brazil grow players and provide opportunities to players without money to develop and become the Marta's, Cici's of the world, etc.
Do you guys see the league getting more players from the European league the commissioner listed? 59:12 The clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Barca clubs have players from 1-23 that can be starters.
One thing I would have loved to have Snacks ask Jessica Berman would be about the USL Suoer League, which has decided to enter as a Division 1 league as opposed to a Division 2 league (like they have on the men’s side in their relationship with MLS). I’m not sure there is enough talent to support two Division 1 leagues, which is what Berman stated regarding the speed of expansion of the NWSL. Having a “Promotion/Relegation” system would allow for training and development of mostly American players. Whereas two Division 1 leagues competing for the best talent can only result in reducing the overall talent in the NWSL. Salary caps will definitely be increased and more internationals will probably be coming either to the NWSL or the USL Super League. Even with the two leagues playing in different seasons of the year I see the negative consequences outweighing the positives. This is too many teams too fast.
Please be cautious when looking to model the NWSL after NFL/NHL/MLB. Those leagues have evolved to solely server the oligarchy of owners, sponsors, networks. The average fan has been priced out of in-person games.
Not likely to happen with the NWSL being an American League. Americans don’t use promotion/relegation in our sports. We instead have “semi-pro” or “minor leagues” or College teams, and you can go to a pro team from there
the hosts being players interviewing the commissioner is not conducive to good interviews. allowing Berman to boast about a terrible stadium plan in Boston and let that go unquestioned is just one example - not bringing up the dumpster fire that ownership is walking into in Chicago *at all* is like, what are we even doing? just stick to the fun stuff with peers rather than come up short in an interview with someone with such limited access.
I'm a 77yr old male that has followed womens soccer since the 1991 WC. Since 2019 it's astonishing the growth of the womens game around the
world, & I'm here for it. The USWNT is, I believe going to be great again when we settle on 23 or 18 players & let those players practice together in the same positions they were picked for.
This podcast was really enlightening, making me happy knowing the NWSL is I believe, going in the right direction, thanks. You two are the perfect pair, knowledgeable about the game, great sense of humor & work so well together interviewing your fantastic array of guests.
Terrific show - interview with Commissioner Berman was so interesting. She is terrific. You two rock!
This is the most comprehensive interview of a pro sports commissioner I have ever seen. Jessica Berman was direct in every answer, and she was personable and humorous. And she spelled out the plan for the future of expansion as well as the existing teams straight up. There is a lot of nuances in a global game, and to reconcile that with a domestic league is no easy task. Great questions Lynn & Sam you asked, and she answered. Commissioner Berman said she's not a soccer person, and you both replied that she IS. She IS a soccer person.
What I have seen in my long love affair with pro sports is commissioners that only exist to help owners screw over taxpayers with threats to move beloved sports franchises to coerce taxpayer funded stadiums. You need only look at the Oakland A's stringing along their real fans in Oakland, and then scamming the people of Las Vegas to build them a new park. I didn't catch even a whiff of that underhanded BS from Commissioner Berman.
I have long been a fan of USWNT. This '23 World Cup opened my eyes. There's a ton of competition out there! No easy path. I love it. My $$$ still has USWMNT for Gold in Paris.
The interview with Jessica Berman was excellent. It was a great peak at some of the things that are involved to grow the league and the considerations one must have because of the International Nature of Soccer. Not an easy task to run the league and I wish her continued success. Being a Commissioner sometimes is like herding cats!
Best interview yet. So informative and interesting! 🎉
One of the best interviews y'all have done! Really excellent questions and very clear/helpful answers.
This is a monumentally great interview!!! Always enjoy your interviews but this one's especially good!
i can't imagine my weeks without this pod since the world cup, thank you
This was a fantastic interview. Your questions were really great and I loved hearing Jessica’s answers. They were very insightful.
Loved this interview. I love the NWSL so it was fun hearing the ins and outs a little bit.
Jessica Berman is incredibly impressive. The league is in good hands.
Fantastic interview!! Love your podcast!!
Lynn giving her socks away 😭😭😭
Can’t believe it took the league 11 years to hire a competent commissioner
fantastic interview, very informative. Thank you!
lace em back up sis we got another game! - my new fav sam mewis quote
Great interview and awesome insights. AND still most of the examples provided center Europe. There is much to learn from how Brazil grow players and provide opportunities to players without money to develop and become the Marta's, Cici's of the world, etc.
Do you guys see the league getting more players from the European league the commissioner listed? 59:12 The clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Barca clubs have players from 1-23 that can be starters.
Great interview! Super interesting stuff from the comissioner
Loved this episode so much!! ❤
One thing I would have loved to have Snacks ask Jessica Berman would be about the USL Suoer League, which has decided to enter as a Division 1 league as opposed to a Division 2 league (like they have on the men’s side in their relationship with MLS). I’m not sure there is enough talent to support two Division 1 leagues, which is what Berman stated regarding the speed of expansion of the NWSL. Having a “Promotion/Relegation” system would allow for training and development of mostly American players. Whereas two Division 1 leagues competing for the best talent can only result in reducing the overall talent in the NWSL. Salary caps will definitely be increased and more internationals will probably be coming either to the NWSL or the USL Super League. Even with the two leagues playing in different seasons of the year I see the negative consequences outweighing the positives. This is too many teams too fast.
super interesting interview. loved this
very interesting interview
Please be cautious when looking to model the NWSL after NFL/NHL/MLB. Those leagues have evolved to solely server the oligarchy of owners, sponsors, networks. The average fan has been priced out of in-person games.
When are we getting an open league with promotion and relegation?
Not likely to happen with the NWSL being an American League. Americans don’t use promotion/relegation in our sports. We instead have “semi-pro” or “minor leagues” or College teams, and you can go to a pro team from there
Om nom nom nom nom! Om nom nom
the hosts being players interviewing the commissioner is not conducive to good interviews.
allowing Berman to boast about a terrible stadium plan in Boston and let that go unquestioned is just one example - not bringing up the dumpster fire that ownership is walking into in Chicago *at all* is like, what are we even doing?
just stick to the fun stuff with peers rather than come up short in an interview with someone with such limited access.