Seattle Reign FC vs. Racing Louisville FC Pre-Match Press Conference • Saturday, June 22, 2024

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Head Coach Laura Harvey and Midfielder Quinn

 

Head Coach Laura Harvey

 

On what the team has focused on this week to limit Racing Louisville FC’s chances, especially since they are a team that attacks quickly:

“Honestly, we’ve focused on ourselves a lot. I think we know we’ve faced that a lot this year. We’ve faced that in multiple games – Orlando, Kansas, the list goes on – and we’ve always felt that when we do the things that we know we can do and we limit the mistakes or opportunities that we give to them easily, we manage the game pretty well. So, it’s been a lot of focus on us, I would say.”

 

On how much the style of play in the NWSL has evolved with all the international players coming into the league this season and if the transitional aspect has changed at all:

“I actually think it’s got more that. I actually don’t think it’s been transitional for about four years, since I came back into it. I think in [20]21, when I came back into the league, it wasn’t transitional. That wasn’t how you got success. I think in [20]22, when we won the Shield, yeah, I mean, transition was there, but I think it was more possession based. I think people were a bit more structurally solid, people were really hard to break down. Last year, very similar. Then this year, if you look at the players that have come into the league – Chawinga, Banda, specifically – I think that type of player has changed the dynamic of the league to, they’re just a cheat code and you could defend structurally, really well, you could tactically get it right, but someone could just play a long, hopeful ball over the top that no one else is getting and they get it and that’s changed the dynamic, that specifically. It’s actually got more athletic. It’s actually got more fast. It’s actually got more, not direct, but like, you look at a lot of the goals that are scored, they’re scored in transitional moments. I actually think it’s quite interesting, if you look at the teams that were relatively successful last year, let’s say got in the playoffs, none of us went that route. None of us went that route. None of us have that in our team. Portland have Sophia Smith, which we all know about, but everyone else in the league didn’t go that route, they added to their rosters in whatever way was working for them last year. The teams that didn’t make the playoffs last year, a lot of them have gone in a route that has changed the dynamic of the league dramatically, in my opinion, and made it a lot more dynamic, a lot more fast and furious, even more than it was before. Is that maybe a reflection of the women’s game? Maybe, I don’t know, but I think that the offseason acquisitions for a lot of teams – I just named two of the players that have really impacted – I think Bia at Kansas, similar, powerful, quick, can get in behind you easily – have really, really changed the dynamic. If you look at the top of the table right now and who’s really pushing ahead? It’s those people plus Washington, who have added young players, who again, are very fast, very athletic, very dynamic and play at a pace that is a really electrifying, to be honest. So, in my opinion, it’s actually got faster and quicker and less structured and tactical than it was over the last three years. I actually think the last three years leading up to this year have been very, very like a game of chess, like European, in the sense that you didn’t see many three, four, five-goal games, whether 3-2, 4-2, you don’t see blowouts very often. But this year you’ve seen them all the time. The amount of goals that have been scored this year in the league – I don’t know this for fact, but it’s got to be up there with some of the most amount of goals that’s ever been scored in this league, at this stage of the season, and I think that says a lot about where the league’s at.”

 

On if there are more challenges now with preparing for a game than before:

“I think ourselves, Portland, Gotham, San Diego, Angel City, Washington are all playing in a similar way to where we’ve played for however long those teams have been in the league. For us, all of our NWSL life. Portland, all of their NWSL life. I think Kansas, Orlando and a couple of other teams have not changed the way they play, but the dynamics of how they can play have just changed overnight, changed overnight. I mean, credit to those clubs for recruiting, credit to those players for being able to come into this league and execute because it’s tough. But I say this a lot to people, I’m not sure you could have predicted that. When you looked at the end of last year and you were reviewing the league and what we did or what another team did or what you think you need going into this season, predicting that was a challenge because, did everyone know that Banda was good? Yeah, I think everyone knew Banda was good, but we’d never seen her domestically at this level. Chawinga, the same, we’d never seen her domestically at this level. They’re not playing in the top leagues in Europe or vice versa. So, I think that’s been the challenge is – and I had a conversation with Vlatko in the preseason, he was like, this Chawinga, I’ve never seen anything like her in my life and she’s either going to be so unbelievable that it’s scary, which is exactly what it was, or something different and you just didn’t know. So, I think that that’s been the interesting piece. It’s not, no one’s surprised by Banda’s ability, she’s shown that on international level, but at domestic level in the Champions Leagues or anything of the high domestic level, outside of China, you’ve never really seen it week in and week out and she’s come here and she’s absolutely proven it, which is phenomenal for the league. I actually think it’s great for the league. It makes the league very watchable, exciting and keeps us all on our toes. Even we played Orlando and Banda didn’t really get in behind us at all and she didn’t cause us a ton of problems, but she scored two goals because that’s the type of player she is, she can just make things happen. So yeah, it’s just an interesting dynamic and obviously from a coaching perspective, it’s exciting, but it’s also a reflection of now looking at how you recruit and what you need to be able to compete and ultimately beat these opponents and it may look different than it did a year ago, I think it does.”

 

On going against Bev Yanez, a former player she coached:

“Yeah, it’s amazing. I’ve actually coached against Carm (Carmelina Moscato) before – when I was coaching the U-20s, she was with the Canadian U-20s and obviously, Bev’s been an assistant in the league before. I think it’s amazing for the league. I think, is it a different dynamic? A little bit, you know their insight of them as people and what they appreciate about the game. So, you know what they’re probably going to try and do with their teams and what they want them to look like. Do I think it’s fantastic for the game to see more female coaches in it? Absolutely. I think this generation that’s coming out now, who’ve had exposure to seeing female coaches, having female coaches coach them and seeing that it can actually be a career for them, I think these are paving the way, but they won’t be the last, I don’t think. So yeah, really exciting and can’t wait to see them, but I know it’ll all be business until the final whistle.”

 

On drafting Carson Pickett and her evolution in the NWSL:

“Yeah, I mean, I get hammered for not being very good in Draft, but I think I got Carson right. So, I think she’s always had the ability to be an attacking, dynamic fullback. I think the fact she got some international recognition was deserved. Her game has evolved over the years. She’s become even better than she was when she was younger in regards to that attacking threat and I think defensively, whilst getting those experiences of playing week in, week out, she’s become more and more dynamic at that as well, which is great.”

 

On Taylor Flint and what she adds to Racing Louisville FC:

“Yeah, I think in San Diego, she was really used as an aerial presence and less about the other side of her game and I think in Louisville, they’re looking at using her in all the different aspects of her game and playing her a little bit deeper at times. I think she’s been really effective for them and definitely someone you’ve got to be aware of.”

 

 

Midfielder Quinn

 

On how it feels to be back on the field:

“Yeah, it was really exciting to get back on the pitch. I think it’s been a while since I’ve had an injury that’s lasted a couple of months, so you’re always itching to get back. But yeah, it was really great to get back and I felt really good, I felt really prepared by our staff to get back on the field. It was a really nice experience to get back with the team on the pitch and hoping I can keep working on that and keep improving and getting my flow with the team coming into this week.”

 

On what their focus is to prevent Racing Louisville FC’s threats:

“Yeah, I think they do have a lot of great attacking threats. So I think for us, it’s making sure that we’re nullifying their transition, especially their a team that can transition quite well. So, I think it’s really important for the holding midfield role to be able to nullify their threat and making sure that we’re connected with our backline to make sure that we’re maintaining our numbers and trying to keep them locked out so they can’t exploit us on that transitional piece.”

 

On if they think the NWSL has evolved with all the recent international players entering the league this season:

“Yeah, I would say so. I think that the style of our league is evolving. I still think that it’s a league that’s different from any other one in the world in the sense that it’s quite a physical, fast league. I would say that, still people, even the European players or the international players that are coming over, are still needing to adapt to the unique style of the NWSL, but I also think you’re seeing that influence of people bringing their own personality and coaches bringing their own ideas. So yeah, I think we’ve seen some changes from different teams, different players and I think it’s an exciting iteration to where our league is going but I still think maintaining the things that keep the NWSL as they are is really important as well.”

 

On if they enjoy the new dynamic and challenges in the league:

“Yeah, I think so. I think that’s definitely one of the huge positives of playing in this league is just, every single game, you’re going to get a unique competition and it’s going to be extremely competitive – you really don’t know watching each game who’s going to come out on top. So, I think that’s a really exciting point to our league. I think, as a player, being able to adapt to everything that you face each week and being able to prepare for that, I think, it just allows for so much growth within the league and I think that’s something that players really seek out when they’re coming to the NWSL.”

 

On this game being the Reign’s annual Pride Match and the significance of inclusion and recognition to the LGBTQ community within the league:

“Yeah, I think it’s so important to not only me, but our team as a whole. We’re a team that really likes to put our values at the forefront and so for us, I think LGBTQ inclusion is one of them and I know me, specifically, it’s been really exciting to see the team really support the Seattle community, the partnership with TransFamilies has been hugely important to us and making sure that LGBTQ inclusion, specifically in our sport, is happening in the Seattle area and giving young folks the opportunity to see themselves in professional sports is really exciting. So, I love that our teammates are so involved in that and in the community as a whole.”