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NWSL final: USWNT players and future call-ups featured in Washington Spirit vs. Chicago Red Stars title game

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The Washington Spirit will face the Chicago Red Stars for the NWSL championship on CBS this Saturday. While this may not be the championship matchup that was expected, both teams turned their hot end to the season and stout defenses into an appearance in the final in Louisville, Kentucky. Neither team has won an NWSL title before, so no matter what happens, we’re guaranteed to see a first-time champion crowned.

On the field, there will also be a host of United States women’s national soccer team players and we’re here to help you out with who to look for while you’re tuning in watching the biggest NWSL game of the season on CBS.

Washington Spirit

Kelly O’Hara, left back (148 caps): One of the most decorated players on the national team, O’Hara has been a stalwart in defense for both club and country. Always in the right place at the right time, O’Hara has made some impressive blocks this postseason to keep the Spirit in games despite them having a worse expected goals then their opposition.

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Want more coverage of the Spirit? Listen below and make sure to follow Attacking Third, A CBS Soccer Podcast devoted to bringing you everything you need to know from the NWSL and around the globe.

Emily Sonnett, right back (61 caps): Another stay-at-home defender, Sonnett has been in and out of the national team rotation since 2016 but she has become a mainstay as of late. Involved in the 2019 World Cup title team, Sonnett has picked up steam since then, registering five assists for the national team.

Andi Sullivan, defensive midfielder (20 caps): Sullivan’s two-way ability has been integral in the Spirit getting to where they are right now. Just as capable going in for a tackle as she is setting up a goal, Sullivan has been involved in five goals this season. She has been in and out of the national team due to her knee injury in 2017, but post-recovery, she has been stronger than ever.

Just missed: Ashley Hatch isn’t far from getting another look in for the national team after winning the golden boot with 11 goals. Trinity Rodman has also been involved in the youth setup but has yet to make her senior debut. That said, after a season that saw her grab six assists in limited playing time, she too will likely be in Vlatko Andonovski’s future plans. Ashley Sanchez is also on the radar after helping make the counter tick for the Spirit. While they may have been a team led by defense, there are also some solid attackers in the mix.

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Chicago Red Stars

Julie Ertz, midfielder (116 caps): There aren’t enough superlatives to describe what Ertz does on a soccer field. Everywhere she goes, the team gets better and wins. While her counting stats don’t jump off of the page, when you look at Ertz play, you can see her leadership and ability shine through as she orchestrates the team.

Want more coverage of the Red Stars? Listen below and make sure to follow Attacking Third, A CBS Soccer Podcast devoted to bringing you everything you need to know from the NWSL and around the globe.

Mallory Pugh, forward (67 caps): Pugh just cleared the COVID protocol and could fill what was expected to be a huge void for the Red Starts in the final. Pugh was in the conversation for league MVP for the Red Stars coming off of a five-goal, four-assist campaign. One of the brightest young stars in the league and for the national team, she’s irreplaceable to this Chicago side.

Alyssa Naeher, goalkeeper (78 caps): Only conceding 13 goals in league play, Naeher has quite the pair of safe hands in this match featuring two extremely strong keepers. Keeper has been a position in flux for the national team, but Naeher is very much in the mix for the overall No. 1 shirt.

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Casey Krueger, right back (37 caps): Essentially in a direct competition with Sonnett, this is a game that could have extra incentive for Krueger to shine. She has won almost half of the tackles that she has gone in for while providing safe progression up the flank. 





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Yankees Are Looking To Avoid Unfortunate History

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(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

 

The New York Yankees have consistently been one of the best teams in baseball over the past few decades.

When you have a payroll like them, it is easy to compete for championships year in and year out.

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But, the Yankees took a major step back in 2023.

Not only will they not be in the postseason, but they are in danger of not having a winning record.

According to Bryan Hoch, the Yankees need just one win in their last five games to avoid a losing season.

That is important to New York because they have not been under .500 since 1992.

If the Yankees can get two more wins they will have a winning record for the 31st consecutive year.

While some fans may care about this streak, it does not mean much if they are not in the playoffs.

One of the main reasons for the Yankees’ downfall this year was due to injuries.

They lost Aaron Judge for a few months and got mostly nothing out of newly-signed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon.

It just seemed like everything that could go wrong for this team did.

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The only bright spot from this year is Gerrit Cole, who is in the driver’s seat to win his first AL Cy Young award.

Cole has been dominant and is proving to be well worth the massive contract the Yankees gave him a few years back.

Even in a lost year like this, the Yankees can take a few positives.

The pitching of Cole is one along with finishing the season with a winning record.

The post Yankees Are Looking To Avoid Unfortunate History appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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Brewers Took Time To Celebrate Latest Feat

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The Milwaukee Brewers lost a home game to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

But they still had a reason to get together and celebrate in their clubhouse.

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That was due to the Chicago Cubs losing to the Atlanta Braves and the Brewers clinching the NL Central.

Each season when a team clinches a playoff berth, they celebrate in the locker room.

But most times it is after a team wins a game of their own.

Milwaukee still wanted to celebrate even after a loss.

That is because winning the division title is so much more than just one game.

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According to Adam McCalvy, Corbin Burnes was in the clubhouse when the Braves took a late lead over the Cubs.

He talked about how the staff started to get the clubhouse ready for a celebration.

The Brewers deserved the opportunity to celebrate after having a strong season.

Before the year many people were uncertain how good they could be.

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There were questions about how good their lineup was and if they had enough to keep up with the top teams.

Milwaukee has won 88 games this year and has seemingly answered all of those questions.

One spot where they have thrived is with their pitching rotation.

It all starts with Burnes, who has turned in another strong season.

He has a 10-8 record on the year with a 3.46 ERA and is leading the league in WHIP with 1.060.

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Along with Burnes, they have Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta.

Not to mention one of the best closers in baseball, Devin Williams.

Many people may still be overlooking the Brewers, but they are a sneaky pick to win the NL pennant.

The post Brewers Took Time To Celebrate Latest Feat appeared first on The Cold Wire.





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Dan Orlovsky Makes All-Time Claim About 1 AFC Duo

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When it comes to top players in the NFL, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs are two of the all-time best at their respective positions.

Mahomes and Kelce are coming off a Week 3 game in which they helped the Chiefs defeat a miserable Chicago Bears team by 31 points.

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ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky came away from the latest performance of this duo thoroughly impressed, but it probably isn’t for a reason that most noticed while watching the game live this past Sunday.

Orlovsky couldn’t contain his excitement when discussing a play he shared on Wednesday from a Kansas City offensive drive in Week 3.

In his post, the ESPN analyst did his best to share with the world how much Mahomes and Kelce are on the same exact page when they’re out on the field together each week.

In the play he shared, Orlovsky points out how Kelce likely cut off his planned route to the corner of the left side of the field in order to avoid a defender, and instead of throwing the ball to the original planned spot, Mahomes noticed the same thing the tight end saw, and he put the football right in Kelce’s bread basket.

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It’s this kind of excellence that has resulted in the Chiefs being able to appear in three of the last four Super Bowls and win two of them.

Mahomes and Kelce already possess enough physical tools to excel at their craft in the NFL, but it’s the mental skills of this duo that have allowed them to separate from their peers in terms of greatness.

The post Dan Orlovsky Makes All-Time Claim About 1 AFC Duo appeared first on The Cold Wire.





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