Defending champions Gotham FC’s offseason was marked by the free-agent additions of 4 USWNT standouts.
Rose Lavelle has had her moments of mastery, and Emily Sonnett and Tierna Davidson have helped solidify the again line.
However there’s a lot extra that makes Gotham hum, together with the workforce’s signature high-pressing protection and “the quantity of attacking gamers who can rating targets,” in line with former captain Ali Krieger.
“The entrance six have been good,” Krieger stated. “There’s a lot unpredictability.”
With Krieger’s assist, we picked out 5 gamers to observe in Sunday’s playoff conflict towards Portland:
Yazmeen Ryan
The 25-year-old midfielder/ahead logged her first look with the USWNT final month on the power of a five-goal, five-assist NWSL marketing campaign.
Krieger: “She’s been one of many MVPs for Gotham. She’s concerned in quite a lot of the attacking alternatives, and he or she’s scoring quite a lot of the targets in several areas of the sector, too.”
Ella Stevens
A much less heralded winter pickup, she notched seven targets and 4 assists, and ranked second within the league in goal-creating actions per 90 minutes.
Krieger: “An superior addition. She’s actually good together with her toes. … Tremendous-skillful and technical sufficient to simply type of get something completed in and across the field.”
The veteran Spanish ahead missed time due to harm however nonetheless led the workforce with 9 targets, together with 5 in her previous 4 outings.
Krieger: “Has been good simply scoring targets. Precisely what we would have liked her to be this 12 months.”
Ann-Katrin Berger
The German goalkeeper has been a revelation since becoming a member of from Chelsea, main NWSL in most superior goalie metrics.
Krieger: “You see how she will be able to distribute the ball, and he or she’s so athletic. She appears assured.”
Sophia Smith
Can not fail to say the Thorns’ two-time MVP and star of the Individuals’ gold-medal run in Paris.
Has nursed accidents within the second half, but nonetheless completed third within the league with 12 targets.