The WSL Is Better Than The NWSL...Or Is It?
WSL giants Arsenal Women’s Football Club and Chelsea Women’s Football Club played preseason matches against The Washington Spirit and New Jersey/New York Gotham, respectively. The teams from across the pond beat both American teams, sparking a debate among fans: Is the WSL better than the NWSL?
The Matchup
Arsenal and Chelsea played their first team during both matches. Arsenal has the likes of Beth Mead, Leah Williamson, and Alessia Russo, who are all on England’s National Team.
Chelsea has Lauren James, Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Aggie Beever-Jones, Niamh Charles, and Hannah Hampton, who are also on the English National Team. England did not qualify for the Olympics this year, so all players had time to spend with their team and relax at home.
The Spirit could not play Trinity Rodman, Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt, and Casey Krueger during this friendly due to their recent gold medal win in Paris. During this game, Gotham did not play Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Tierna Davidson, Lynn Williams, Crystal Dunn, and Jenna Nighswonger. Bronze medal winner Ann-Katrin Berger made an appearance later in the game. Already, these matches are lopsided.
While it is impossible to prove that the NWSL teams would have won the games if the Olympians were on the matchday roster (hey, I’m not a clairvoyant), the games would have been more level if both teams had the same level of international experience.
Facilities
Being the top teams in London, Chelsea, and Arsenal are blessed with state-of-the-art facilities and fields to practice and play on. Both teams’ facilities are funded with the assistance of the men’s teams, which are worth billions of dollars.
In America, Gotham shares a stadium and facilities with The New York Red Bulls, and both teams have less money to spend on training grounds. The Spirit plays on the dreaded Audi Field, known for its terrible pitch conditions. One could only imagine what they are forced to practice on.
Development
Clubs outside of the United States have been running youth camps for years to develop players and hopefully have the girls play for their clubs in the future. The pipeline and amount of support children and teenagers receive in places like the United Kingdom are eons better than American camps.
America has a pay-to-win system with sports. The youth academies that received more money from families won local and national competitions, leaving out talent that would never be seen due to financial strain.
Most American youth play their sport in college to develop their skills in a more professional environment. The schools with the most money invested in their athletics programs, such as UNC and Stanford, are more likely to produce professional athletes.
Soccer is also not the most popular sport in the United States, so accessibility is limited compared to the United Kingdom. Parents who can afford it sometimes move to European countries to develop their child’s talent.
Is It Better?
The hidden advantages that WSL players have over NWSL players do not make them better. Bringing two Champions League teams with fresh legs to play against mid-season squads would result in a win. The games were not shutouts, though, as Gotham and The Spirit were able to score a goal.
The NWSL also houses most of the United States, Brazil, Nigeria, Zambia, and South Africa’s Women's National Teams. The league's diversity displays new talent from across the world, and its lack of relegation develops a fast-paced, high-scoring, play-to-win mentality. This also gives many players a chance to play against internationals they would never have played with.
While Gotham and The Spirit are good teams, they are not currently in the top two in the league. The Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride are the top two record-setting teams and I would bet that Chelsea and Arsenal would have a hard time fending off their killer offenses.
Cherry-picking world-class teams to go against clubs just putting their feet on the international stage is not a way to prove that one league is better. Could Liverpool go against The North Carolina Courage? Brighton would have a hard time winning against The Portland Thorns. There is no chance Tottenham is beating the Chicago Red Stars with Alyssa Naeher in goal.
There is a reason so many WSL players are moving to the NWSL. The league is thriving without the need for development through clubs. Playoffs and no relegation give the athletes something to play for each game. International playing styles are exciting to watch. The NWSL is the better league.
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