ALSO IN TODAY’S ROUNDUP, NOTTS COUNTY LADIES FOLD AHEAD OF SPRING SEASON, CANADIAN MIDFIELDER KAYLYN KYLE RETIRES FROM CANADA SOCCER, KACEY WHITE AND KERI SARVER JOIN USYWNT STAFF
Marta is expected to debut for the Orlando Pride in their home opener tomorrow. (Photo Copyright Patricia Giobetti for The Equalizer)
Late Thursday, Marta officially arrived stateside as she stepped off a plane at Orlando International Airport. The Brazilian superstar signed with the Orlando Pride earlier this month and arrived just in-time for the club’s second game of the season.
Official. #MartaWatch ?? pic.twitter.com/NV8odsL2v6
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) April 21, 2017
She received an exceptional reception upon arrival. Fans showed up with banners and flooded the terminal to welcome the forward to Orlando.
Before we get to the intro presser, let’s relive last night’s legendary welcoming! #MartaWatch ? pic.twitter.com/SAXuDCHL1m
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) April 21, 2017
This morning, Marta was officially introduced as a member of the team during a press conference. She then went on to train with the team this afternoon. Marta is expected to make her debut in a Pride jersey on Saturday when the Pride host the Washington Spirit in their first home game of the season. The Lifetime Game of the Week will also be the Pride’s first match in the new Orlando City Stadium.
Meeting the squad for the very first time. #MartaWatch ? pic.twitter.com/9sXoONK4bQ
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) April 21, 2017
Notts County Ladies fold two days ahead of spring season
Four players from Sampson’s Lioness squad for EURO 2017 no longer have a place to play club soccer. (MEG LINEHAN/Equalizer Soccer)
Notts County decided to terminate its Ladies team two days before the squad was set to take on Arsenal in its first match of spring play.
The club, who finished sixth in the FA WSL 1 in 2016 and reached the 2015 FA Cup final, includes Lioness goalkeeper Carly Telford, defender Laura Bassett, and midfielders Jade Moore and Jo Potter. All four were named to Mark Sampson’s squad for the European Championships this upcoming summer.
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The club was in a bit of financial trouble as it owed debts to HM Revenue and Customs. Alan Hardy, a local businessman, bought both the men’s and women’s club in December with the goal of clearing all debts to HMRC. According to the club statement, Hardy admitted that he was unable to keep the ladies side operating as he faced a £1m expenditure in order to do so. “I am devastated that we cannot continue the Ladies project but the numbers simply do not stack up,” said Hardy to BBC. “Continuing would have been little short of financial suicide.”
The FA made an official release as well where they announced that they are aware of the sitaution and are liasing with all involved parties. “Our priority is the welfare of the players and we will work closely with them, the PFA and wider stakeholders to support them through this time.”
Many of the players were devastated and Carly Telford noted the timing of the announcement particularly upsetting- saying that perhaps the club knew this ahead of time and could have let them know in advance of being only two days out from the spring season. To add insult to injury, the WSL transfer window is closed, and it is not yet clear if any of the players from the club will be able to sign for another English club in the top division this season.
Notts County, although the only club to cease operations this year, was not the only ladies club in financial trouble in the WSL. In January, the Sunderland AFC announced that Sunderland Ladies would begin to operate on a part-time basis only, after two full seasons operation as a team with a roster of full-time professionals. Telford discussed the heartbreak that came with the announcement as well as what it means for the livelihood of the players. “You’re looking around the room and seeing that obviously people are upset. People are crying–their livelihoods are kind of ruined,” she said. “People are now homeless and jobless.”
“People are now homeless and jobless” – Notts Ladies & @lioness goalkeeper Carly Telford on the closure of the Lady Pies… pic.twitter.com/LdGOxyMIBS
— BBC Nottingham Sport (@BBCRNS) April 21, 2017
Kaylyn Kyle retires from Canada Soccer
Kaylyn Kyle made 101 appearances for Canada. (Photo: Canada Soccer)
After 101 appearances with the Canadian national women’s soccer team, midfielder Kaylyn Kyle announced her retirement via Twitter earlier today.
For her country, Kyle played in the 2012 London Olympics where she won a bronze medal. More recently, she competed for Canada at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where the hosts made it to the quarterfinal round.
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On Twitter, she expressed gratitude to the Canadian Federation. “Canada Soccer allowed me to grow on both a personal and professional level, they have allowed me to travel the world and meet some incredible people,” she said. “But, most importantly it introduced me to some of my closest friends in the world.”
Kyle played with the Orlando Pride in the NWSL last season making 17 appearances. She was released by the club in January. Prior to the Pride, Kyle spent time with various NWSL clubs including the Portland Thorns, Houston Dash, Boston Breakers, and Seattle Reign FC.
— Kaylyn Kyle (@KaylynKyle) April 21, 2017
Kacey White, Keri Sarver join USYWNT staff
U.S. Soccer announced that former professional players Kacey White and Keri Sarver will serve as full-time head coaches for the U-16 girls’ national team and the U-19 women’s national team, respectively. The news about White was tipped by Xavier when she gave up her job as head coach after four months.
White, a UNC alum, earned 18 caps between 2006-2008 with the USWNT. She played professionally in Sweden with Balinge IF and AIK as well as in the WPS for Sky Blue FC, magicJack and the Atlanta Beat. White was also an alternate for the 2008 Olympic team. White served as an assistant goal with the U-15 girls national team over the last four years. She was also Director of Coaching for the u-15 through u-19 girls’ teams for the Capital Area Soccer League as well as being head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She was an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma, Texas Tech University and a volunteer assistant at Southern Methodist University. Her role with the u-16 girls’ national team will start immediately.
Sarver, an All-American forward from the University of Maryland, played professionally in the WUSA with the Washington Freedom, New York Power, and Carolina Courage. She also represented the U.S at the youth levels from the U-16 to U-21. Sarver worked mostly as the first assistant with the u-18 women’s national team over the last four years. Prior to that she served seven years as Director of Coaching at the Internationals Soccer Club in Ohio. She also coached with the Internationals part-time from 2003-2010. In addition, she was an assistant coach at the University of Akron. She will begin her role officially on August 1 with the u-19 women’s national team.
See below for a more comprehensive look at the current youth head coaching positions below.
2017 Head Coaches – U.S. Youth Girls’ and Women’s National Teams
Under-23 WNT: TBD
Under-20 WNT: Jitka Klimkova
Under-19 WNT: Keri Sarver
Under-18 WNT: Jaime Frias
Under-17 WNT: Mark Carr
Under-16 GNT: Kacey White
Under-15 GNT: TBD
Under-14 GNT: April Kater
