NWSL combine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it was a great opportunity for the younger girls - great competition. A chance for the teams to get an idea of who the younger players are (though most are known).

That said, I heard the best college players aren't attending the college combine this week. The top players are already well known and don't need to attend this event - some are signed and others are in active communication w teams.

This makes a lot of sense. The NWSL got rid of the draft.

so was it worth the the exposure

[Anonymous]

Interesting what NWSL is doing with these and trying to get players in front of them in a common location.

60 Players from U13-U17 is a pretty small group and I am assuming many of the players would have been already known through their high levels of play at USYNT events or ECNL, GA National type events...

The college group will be interesting, as other has mentioned, maybe some of the top players may not attend.

Similar stuff happens in the NFL when some top players, not many, choose not to go to the combine and run their own event at their school.

We'll see what shakes out moving forward.

Heck, some of the players that reclassed to 2026's only plan to attend 1 year of school and then jump to the pros. We'll see if that pans out for them.

[Anonymous]

I saw on IG the photo of the college group - yeah, no way those are the top college players.

But a great chance for this second tier to be seen. Certainly, there is talent there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting what NWSL is doing with these and trying to get players in front of them in a common location.

60 Players from U13-U17 is a pretty small group and I am assuming many of the players would have been already known through their high levels of play at USYNT events or ECNL, GA National type events...

The college group will be interesting, as other has mentioned, maybe some of the top players may not attend.

Similar stuff happens in the NFL when some top players, not many, choose not to go to the combine and run their own event at their school.

We'll see what shakes out moving forward.

Heck, some of the players that reclassed to 2026's only plan to attend 1 year of school and then jump to the pros. We'll see if that pans out for them.

Those reclassified 2026s should take a look at the players that reclassified to 2025 as a lesson.

If the players are that good - then they are likely to be on the annual (used to be every two years) U17 World Cup. Those college players at were part of the U17 world cup this fall missed a ton of games. They had two international camps prior to the month they were gone for the world cup. Throw on top of it minor injuries before or after the world cup, etc. and some of these players didn't get much time on the field. Still, I think two of the 7 college players that went to Morocco are going pro. One hardly played at all in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting what NWSL is doing with these and trying to get players in front of them in a common location.

60 Players from U13-U17 is a pretty small group and I am assuming many of the players would have been already known through their high levels of play at USYNT events or ECNL, GA National type events...

The college group will be interesting, as other has mentioned, maybe some of the top players may not attend.

Similar stuff happens in the NFL when some top players, not many, choose not to go to the combine and run their own event at their school.

We'll see what shakes out moving forward.

Heck, some of the players that reclassed to 2026's only plan to attend 1 year of school and then jump to the pros. We'll see if that pans out for them.

Those reclassified 2026s should take a look at the players that reclassified to 2025 as a lesson.

If the players are that good - then they are likely to be on the annual (used to be every two years) U17 World Cup. Those college players at were part of the U17 world cup this fall missed a ton of games. They had two international camps prior to the month they were gone for the world cup. Throw on top of it minor injuries before or after the world cup, etc. and some of these players didn't get much time on the field. Still, I think two of the 7 college players that went to Morocco are going pro. One hardly played at all in college.

That's an interesting aside from the combine and a fair point as well. It will be interesting to see what these players end up doing.

[Anonymous]

The combine is not really for recruiting. NWSL already has ways to find players. The combine is a marketing and awareness event for NWSL teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The combine is not really for recruiting. NWSL already has ways to find players. The combine is a marketing and awareness event for NWSL teams.

What are these “ways”? I would think a combine is a way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait a second. Why would they have a combine for youth players? Weren’t all the GA dads saying that GA and NWSL are linked now because MLS next is linked to MLS next and they said so? Why would they even have the combine? Just scout from the GA, right? That’s where all the best teams and players are, right?

Great point!

[Anonymous]

The top college and post college women already have NWSL offers/contracts. They will not participate in a combine!

[Anonymous]

The top VDA all Americans weret picked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top college and post college women already have NWSL offers/contracts. They will not participate in a combine!

Are you taking some sort of shot at them? The ones that already have contracts won’t but the ones that don’t have contracts will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top VDA all Americans weret picked.

VDA had players picked. They posted about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The combine is not really for recruiting. NWSL already has ways to find players. The combine is a marketing and awareness event for NWSL teams.

What are these “ways”? I would think a combine is a way.

I mean, at the younger ages you see NWSL scouts at ECNL showcases, etc. Scouts/coaches were also in Morocco watching the U17 WWC (Vlatko was there, etc.).

At the college age, the scouts are at games in the stands and even attending college trainings at top programs (FSU, etc.).

Clearly, the top college prospects were not at the combine (no Stanford, FSU, etc. No Engle, Dudley, etc.). These were second tier players, a few of which should get a chance to attend preseason as a NRI...

But the NWSL clubs know the younger players, too. McKeen is going pro. Others have had contracts offered, but are going to/staying in college because the money doesn't make sense yet or playing time, etc.

[Anonymous]

You have no clue what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The combine is not really for recruiting. NWSL already has ways to find players. The combine is a marketing and awareness event for NWSL teams.

What are they marketing?

You’re right though. It’s not for “recruiting”. It’s for “scouting”.