Matildas Stars Ready for New NWSL Teams
The NWSL season is almost here, and some familiar faces are on new teams for 2025. Matildas players Alanna Kennedy and Kaitlyn Torpey both switched clubs before the season starts this weekend. You can watch it live on Optus Sport. Key Question Looms for Former Arsenal Boss.
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The NWSL always has a bunch of current and former Matildas, like Ashleigh Sykes, who won a title with the Portland Thorns back in 2017. Everyone’s watching to see how Kennedy and Torpey do with their new teams. There’s also a big question about Jonas Eidevall, the former Arsenal coach who’s now in charge of San Diego Wave after their rough 2024.
Kennedy Joins Angel City
Alanna Kennedy left Manchester City to play for Angel City. Right now, Angel City doesn’t have a full-time head coach, which makes things a little uncertain. But Sykes thinks Kennedy will do great there because she’s a good passer and knows how to play in teams that like to keep the ball.
Sykes told Optus Sport, Angel City is perfect for Alanna. She can pass really well, and Angel City likes to keep the ball, so I think she will like it in that team.”
How Kennedy plays for Angel City could be important for her future with the Australian team, after a hard year in 2024. Angel City has great facilities and is a popular team, so it’s a good spot for Kennedy to get back on track. Key Question Looms for Former Arsenal Boss.
Torpey Gets a Chance at Portland Thorns
Kaitlyn Torpey is starting over with the Portland Thorns, playing with Mackenzie Arnold, another Matilda. The Thorns are changing things up, with some players out with injuries.
Torpey didn’t get to start much with San Diego last season. Sykes thinks this is a great chance for her to prove herself, especially at left-back, which is where she likes to play.
Sykes said, We’ll see how they use her. She was on the bench a lot for San Diego, which was strange. But with all the changes in Portland, she could get a starting spot.”
The Thorns’ current situation could help Torpey show what she can do early in the season. Key Question Looms for Former Arsenal Boss.
San Diego’s Changes and Eidevall’s Test
Torpey’s old team, San Diego Wave, is going through some changes too. Emily van Egmond left, and interim coach Landon Donovan is gone. Jonas Eidevall, the former Arsenal coach, is taking over to lead the team.
Eidevall did well in England, but Sykes wants to see how he does with the American style of play, which is usually tougher than European soccer.
She said, The American style is different. He needs to figure out if his way of doing things will work here. Other teams press hard and play with lots of energy, so he has to decide how to set up his team to deal with that.”
How well Eidevall adapts to the NWSL will decide how San Diego does. His way of coaching will show if the team can compete or if they will struggle with the league’s fast-paced style.
As the NWSL season begins, everyone will be watching Kennedy, Torpey, and Eidevall as they face big tests in their careers.
