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2015 Washington Spirit Season
The 2015 season was Washington Spirit's third season of existence in which they competed in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Review Building off 2014's playoff achievement, the Spirit added a few key contributors including midfielder Joanna Lohman (from Boston Breakers), defenders Megan Oyster (drafted out of UCLA) and Katherine Reynolds (from Western New York Flash), and Nigerian international Francisca Ordega (signed from Piteå IF). The season also served as the breakout year for Crystal Dunn who was awarded the 2015 NWSL Golden Boot Award, scoring 15 goals during the campaign. The Spirit finished the 2015 season with a record of 8-6-6 and repeating their 4th place league position. The playoff result, again, ended in an away loss to Seattle in the semifinals. At the conclusion of the season, Mark Parsons stepped down as head coach and general manager to take over as coach of the Portland Thorns FC. Club ...
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Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area that participates in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). It is a continuation of the D.C. United Women of the W-League and continues to field both an amateur WPSL team and a youth team, both under the Spirit name. History Establishment The foundation of the National Women's Soccer League was announced on November 21, 2012, with Washington selected as a host for one of the eight teams selected for the inaugural season. In December 2012, the team's name was announced as the Washington Spirit. D.C. United Women head coach Mike Jorden was kept on as well as assistant coach Cindi Harkes. Harkes is married to the former U.S. international and D.C. United star John Harkes. Bill Lynch, the original Washington Spirit's owner when the National Women's Soccer League launched in 2013, sold the majority of the team to tech executive Steve Baldwin in late 2018. Several ...
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UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the athletic teams that represent the University of California, Los Angeles. The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pac-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I (formerly Division I-A). UCLA is second to only Stanford University as the school with the most NCAA team championships at 120 NCAA team championships. UCLA offers 11 varsity sports programs for men and 14 for women. UCLA is scheduled to join the Big Ten Conference with their crosstown rival, USC, in 2024. History Nickname and mascot Upon UCLA's founding as the Southern Branch of the University of California in 1919, the football team was known as the "Cubs" because of its younger relationship to the California Bears in Berkeley. In 1923, the team adopted the nickname "Grizzlies." In 1926, the Grizzlies became the 10th and final member of the Pacific Coast Confe ...
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Diana Matheson
Diana Beverly Matheson (born April 6, 1984) is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played for the Canada national team from 2003 to 2020 and multiple professional women's teams over the course of her career. She is best known for scoring the bronze medal-winning goal for Canada in the 92nd minute against France at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She also won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games with the senior national team. Early life Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Matheson attended White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario, where she received Principal's Award for athletics and academics. As a member of the Ontario provincial team from 1999 to 2002, she won the national championship in 2001 and was runner-up in 2002. She was captain of the team in 2002. Playing for the Oakville Women's team, Matheson was a 2002 Ontario Cup champion and club national women's champion. Princeton University, 2004–2007 Matheson majo ...
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Christine Nairn
Christine Marie Nairn (born September 25, 1990) is an American retired soccer player from Annapolis, Maryland. She previously played for the Houston Dash, Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit and Seattle Reign FC in the NWSL and has had regular loan spells with Melbourne Victory in the Australian W-League. She has represented the United States at senior level as well at numerous youth levels. In 2008, she helped the under-20 national team win gold at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile. Nairn announced her retirement from professional soccer on September 18, 2021, in order to pursue a career as a professional firefighter with the Houston Fire Department. Early life Born in Annapolis, Maryland to parents Tommy and Danamarie Nairn, Christine attended Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland where she was all-time leader in assists, goals and points from 2004–2007 and was a four-time Parade All-American. Besides excelling in soccer, she played four years o ...
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Angela Salem
Angela Marguerite Salem (born July 24, 1988) is an American soccer coach and former professional player who played as a midfielder. She is currently an assistant coach for the Washington Spirit of the NWSL. In 2016–17, she played for the Boston Breakers. She previously played for the Spirit, the Newcastle Jets in the Australian W-League, the Atlanta Beat and Sky Blue FC in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league, Western New York Flash in the NWSL, and the Finnish club Åland United of the Naisten Liiga. Early life and education Born in Akron, Ohio Salem attended Copley High School in Copley, Ohio where she ended her high school career with 81 goals and 46 assists. She scored 23 goals and recorded 13 assists in her senior year alone, leading Copley to its fourth straight Suburban League title. Salem also played club soccer for Cleveland FC and was a member of the Ohio Olympic Development Program (ODP) team. Francis Marion University Salem attended Francis Marion Univ ...
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Whitney Church
Whitney Marie Church (born April 30, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who played for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League. Playing career Penn State Nittany Lions, 2011–2014 Church attended Penn State University, where she played for the Nittany Lions from 2011 to 2014. She was named Big Ten Conference Defender of the Year in 2012 and 2014. Washington Spirit, 2015–2018 In 2015, Church was selected by the Washington Spirit as the 30th overall pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft The 2015 NWSL College Draft was the third annual meeting of National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchises to select eligible college players. It was held on January 16, 2015 at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, PA. Format *Draft order wa .... Church played in 16 games in the regular 2015 season, totaling 1364 minutes for the Spirit. In 2016, she played in 11 regular season games, 7 starts, plus all 120+ minutes of both post season matches. On October ...
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Caprice Dydasco
Caprice Ka'anohikula Dydasco (born August 19, 1993) is an American soccer defender who plays as an right back for the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League. She previously played for Pali Blues, the Washington Spirit, and Newcastle Jets. She played college soccer with the UCLA Bruins. Early life The daughter of Jose and Misty Dydasco, Dydasco played soccer for Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu and the Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club. She was a youth All-American in 2009 and 2010. Her brother, Zane Dydasco, played soccer for the United States Air Force Academy. Her sister True currently plays for the University of Oregon. Dydasco began playing for U.S. national soccer teams at the age of 14. She was a starter on the United States women's national under-17 soccer team in 2009, but was injured and unable to compete in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Playing career College Dydasco was a four-year starter as a defender for the UCLA Bruins from 2011 to 2014. She app ...
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Ashlyn Harris
Ashlyn Michelle Harris (born October 19, 1985) is a former American soccer player for Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States women's national soccer team. She made her debut for the senior national team on March 11, 2013, and was a member of the championship–winning team at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada and at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. She retired on November 14, 2022. Harris played college soccer for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and helped the team win three NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championships. Professionally, Harris has played for the Saint Louis Athletica, Washington Freedom, and Western New York Flash of Women's Professional Soccer as well as FCR 2001 Duisburg of Bundesliga (women) in Germany and Tyresö FF of the Swedish Damallsvenskan. She also played for the Orlando Pride . Early life Born to Tammye and M ...
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Portland Thorns FC
The Portland Thorns FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2012, the team began play in 2013 in the then-eight-team National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which receives support from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The Portland franchise is owned by Peregrine Sports LLC, which also owns the Portland Timbers. Alongside the Thorns, the Houston Dash and Orlando Pride are other NWSL teams with Major League Soccer affiliations. In its inaugural season, the Portland Thorns FC placed third during the regular season and, in the playoffs, won the first NWSL championship. The club won the NWSL Shield in 2016 and a second NWSL Championship in 2017. In 2020, they won the Community Shield with the best record in the pandemic-shortened regular season. In 2021, the Thorns won the NWSL Challenge Cup, the Women's International Champions Cup, and the NWSL Shield. They followed up in 2022 by winning the NWSL championship. T ...
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NWSL Awards
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) presents six annual awards to individual players. The Golden Boot award is presented to the top scorer at the end of the regular season, while the Most Valuable Player, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year awards are voted on by various league constituents. these awards are voted upon in two rounds: in the first round, players (50%), owners/general managers/coaches (25%), and media (25%) vote to determine the nominees; in the second round, players (50%), owners/general managers/coaches (20%), media (20%), and fans (10%) vote among the nominees to determine the winners. In addition, the league also presents two teams of the season awards, the NWSL Best XI and the NWSL Second XI, to individual players. the teams of the season awards are voted on by players (50%), owners/general managers/coaches (20%), media (20%), and fans (10%). Voters for the teams of the season awards are required to nam ...
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Piteå IF
Piteå Idrottsförening, commonly known as Piteå IF, is a Swedish football club located in Piteå that currently competes in Sweden's top-division women's league, Damallsvenskan. In 2018, they won the Swedish national Championship for the first time. History The sports club was formed on 24 May 1918 but did not take up men's football until 1920 when they united with their local rival club IFK Piteå, which then was dissolved. The women's team was founded in 1985. Piteå IF's female section is currently playing in the highest league, Damallsvenskan, which it reached for the first time in 2009. The club has one of the largest football youth academies in the county of Norrbotten and is one of two clubs who arrange the large international youth soccer cup, the Piteå Summer Games. Players Current squad . Former players Stadium The club plays their home matches at LF Arena. Domestic League * Damallsvenskan (Tier 1) ** Winners (1): 2018 File:2018 ...
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Francisca Ordega
Francisca Ordega (born 19 October 1993) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for CSKA Moscow in the Russian Women's Football Championship. She represents Nigeria women's national football team (Super Falcons) at both the FIFA Women's World Cup and African Women's Championship. She was also nominated for best female African footballer Playing career Club Bayelsa Queens Ordega began her career at the youth level for Bayelsa Queens, before being promoted to the professional side in 2008 where she played at Nigerian Women's Championship. Rivers Angels In 2011, she moved to Rivers Angels, one of the top clubs in Nigerian Women's Championship. WFC Rossiyanka In 2012, Ordega left Nigeria to sign with Russian champions Rossiyanka of the Russian Women's Football Championship. In November 2012, it was announced that Ordega and Rossiyanka mutually parted ways. Piteå IF In 2013, Ordega signed for Piteå IF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan. She scored her first ...
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