The San Diego Wave shouldn’t be viewed as underdogs on Sunday, when they take on the OL Reign in front of 30,000 fans at Snapdragon Stadium.
This a 50-50 match.
Color me mildly surprised.
After all, the Wave have never defeated the Reign — either in four regular-season matches or four exhibitions over two years.
Seattle’s club boasts three World Cup champs from the 2019 U.S. team in forward Megan Rapinoe, midfielder Rose Lavelle and defensive midfielder Emily Sonnet. Midfielder Jess Fishlock won the National Women’s Soccer League’s MVP award in 2021. Coach Laura Harvey’s record shows three regular-season titles.
But the Wave, just two years after rolling out soccer balls, have a fair shot to win Sunday’s National Women’s Soccer League semifinal match.
Coach Casey Stoney’s Wave club surged late to win the NWSL Shield, given to the team that accumulates the most points across 22 regular-season games.
While Wave stars have enjoyed good health, Harvey is crossing her fingers that Lavelle, her best playmaker, can shake off some rust. Lavelle has played just one match since Sept. 5.
San Diego’s Naomi Girma stands as the lone player from either team that has been named a finalist for NWSL MVP honors. At 23, she plays so well that Stoney said it’s like having five defenders, not four.
“She always looks in control,” she added.
Jaedyn Shaw, the Wave’s best passer, has recorded six goals and registered three assists in her second season in the NWSL.
Only 18, she’s coming on fast. Shaw scored a delicate goal in the U.S. national team’s Oct. 29 win over Colombia at Snapdragon.
“She has matured in her positioning, what she wants to do,” Stoney said.
Jaedyn Shaw, center, scored for the U.S. Women’s National Team in an Oct. 29 win over Colombia at Snapdragon Stadium.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
There’s also a Mount Rainier-sized disparity in experience at goalkeeper. Wave star Kailen Sheridan, 28, stands as reigning NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year and is a veteran of the World Cup and the Olympics. OL Reign’s Claudia Dickey, 23, will be making just her eighth career start aside from three exhibitions.
Dickey has never faced a penalty kick in a professional match. She never played as a rookie last year. In the Reign’s 1-0 quarterfinals victory, she faced no shots on goal.
Turns out, Stoney’s former team, Manchester United, dealt Harvey a challenge in September by bringing Reign starter Phallon Tullis-Joyce to England.
Playing every Reign minute last year, Tullis-Joyce led the NWSL in save percentage, edging Sheridan.
She chose to back up English star Mary Earps, who started the recent World Cup final. “The quality of (football) is just top,” Tullis-Joyce said of England’s Super League.
The San Diego Wave celebrate after they beat Racing Louisville 2-0 to earn the NWSL Shield.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Dickey has responded well. Her save rate in six matches exceeded Tullis-Joyce’s in 16 games.
Sunday’s winner advances to the NWSL championship Nov. 11 at Snapdragon. Made extra antsy, the Wave haven’t played in 20 days owing to the quarterfinals bye they earned. They scrimmaged twice and saw Alex Morgan, Girma and Shaw perform last week for the U.S.
“Honestly,” said Shaw, “we’re just ready to play.”
“This is a big game,” she added, “and it’s a great opponent, and we’re just ready to go and kick some butt.”
