The pure athletic superiority doesn't work so well when your constantly injured. The more technical players will have a longer career. |
| The US has the population and resources to be very competitive in any sport that is popular enough to attract the best athletes toward that sport. For US women as long as soccer continues to grow in popularity and the best girl athletes continue to play soccer, WNT will stay competitive. It’s why we remain at the top in men’s basketball, football, track and field, but not men’s soccer. Soccer is different for girls than boys in the US. It is a tier 1 sport for girls along with basketball, volleyball. Maybe flag football becomes a tier 1 sport for girls but I don’t see soccer dropping in popularity for girls in the US. Trinity Rodman is a big reason why. I wish US men’s soccer had a player like her to bring more boys into the sport. |
You’re pretty confident or ignorant stating us women’s soccer remains competitive. The 2019 World Cup was won with dubious referee calling. Spain spanked us and yet we had to beat them with two penalties that were soft and weak at best. The rest of the world went full-on pro-feminine soccer and in about 10 years they’ve not only bridged the gap, but surpassed us. You can convince yourself as much as you want… if you watch, study, have played, and coach or ref the game you know women’s us soccer is not going to smell golden trophies for a hot minute sadly enough |
Not the poster you were responding to, but I suppose we will discount that gold medal won at the 2024 Olympics. But how are you defining competitive versus dominant? It seems like you are thinking dominant. Winning by wide margins, easily moving through and winning World Cups, Olympic gold medals. Just the class of the world at the sport. I am thinking of the Russians in hockey in the 70s. They, under the guise of an amateur program, were running pros out at the Olympics and in IIHF competitions until an upstart USA squad upset them in 1980 but then went right back to winning in 1984 and 1988. Competitive is something completely different. Consistently make it through to knockout rounds and deep into the tournament. Winning medals in the Olympics. But not always coming out on top every time. Let's say a much better performance overall than the men's US soccer squad. I can see that continuing to happen. There are just too many top level young women playing soccer here in the US. The pool is not diluted by other many other sports. And I believe that with the investment that is being made in looking at many more players than in the past and getting them involved and exposed to the national team culture earlier can only help. The rest of the world comment...I give you that there are many more oppurtunites for women's soccer now in other countries than in the past. The US was certainly an early adopter which allowed for the early dominance. Title IX and college teams played a big part in that early success. But, I don't think everything is rosy though in all countries with women's leagues. I posted it earlier but will post again. It's not great with the Barca - the women's squad is pretty limited in roster construction and salary due to the heavy debt on the men's side. But, the Spanish women overall are certainly really, really good. Competition is a good thing, but needs to be addressed and handled well. I don't think that was done the right way when Vlatko was running things, but I have more confidence in Emma Hayes & Co. Oh well. Different opinions. It will be interesting to see how things play out both in the near and long term future. |
If you think Trin is purely athletic superiority then you know nothing about soccer. She is a generational gifted player |
You neglected to allude to the PP being a racist like with every other post. Isn't being athletically superior and "gifted" pretty much the same thing? Every player at the highest professional level, for the most part has to work extremely hard at their sport. However, they are not all athletically the same level. They are not all "a generational gifted" or athletically superior compared to some of their peers. You are both saying the same thing except you insult the PP before you said it. |
That was the whole point. |
For all the theatrics about impending doom, they ignore a basic historical fact: the ’99ers didn’t dominate China, they beat them in a lottery. |
??? There are absolutely some folks that are riding on coattails on the NT. |
I say this as a genuine fan: Trinity Rodman is a very good footballer, but she isn't a special one…at least not yet. While she brings pure athletic chaos to the wing, her technical and tactical game still has holes that world-class opponents can exploit. To pretend otherwise is to admit you watch the highlights, not the full 90. Her game is built on explosiveness, which is a nightmare for defenders but a tax on her own body. She compensates for a heavy touch with sheer power, often losing the ball only to hunt it back down. That reliance on physicality over technique is exactly why she’s struggling with injuries; she is driving the car continuously in the red. All that aside, she is electric entertainment. Better yet, she is forcing the NWSL to put its money where its mouth is. The fact that the league’s highest-paid player isn’t its best player is actually a triumph…it’s the leverage that every girl following in her footsteps will benefit from |
Good post. Watch out though, the #1 TR fan will allude to you being racist because you don't think she's the bestest ever in the whole world. I have a feeling I know who you think are better than her (because they are) and that wouldn't suit #1 TR fan's "you're racist" agenda but nevermind all that. |
Excellent post and very true. |
I agree with this. I feel they kept Rodman in Washington because she does what every owner wants....she puts butts in the seats. But she is kinda whiny and gets "hurt" too much. |
Isn't that the case with many star players in lots of sports? Messi gets lots of questionable injuries and sits out games. Lebron James and the rest of the NBA practice load management. When you're the star who drives ticket sales you can do what you want. Good for them for knowing their own worth. |
I don't think she's actually particularly "whiny." She's great with fans and has been around/involved when rehabbing/playing limited time. She's the first one into the stands, the last taking pictures/signing autographs/etc. Yes, she gets injured a lot and, yes, that's likely a result of her own style of play. But I think she is actually known for having a good attitude and being good for the team dynamic. She is definitely popular among USNWT and Spirit teammates. |