Pre-Match Press Conference • 4-28-23
OL Reign Pre-Match Press Conference • Friday, April 28, 2023
Head Coach Laura Harvey
Captain Lauren Barnes and Racing Louisville FC Captain Jaelin Howell
Head Coach Laura Harvey
On if there are any changes to the availability report from the last game:
“No change.”
On how they’ve been scoring goals consistently and how they will prevent Racing Louisville FC from scoring:
“Obviously, we’ve played Louisville in preseason in the Portland tournament, so we got to see them there. I think they are a good side. I think that they are hard to play against. I think we need to be at our best to get a result in this game. I think we’ve tried to look at the really good things we did against Chicago, push on with them, but you know, being very clear that we need to make sure that we don’t give our opposition anything easy, I think, is the key for us, which we tend to do a good job of. So, the Chicago game was one that we didn’t, but we obviously scored the goals when we needed to, which made a big difference.”
On the progression of their attack:
“Yeah, I mean it’s been good. I think, a year ago, we were frustrated with ourselves that we weren’t doing those things, so the fact that we have been, is a positive. But, we know that Louisville is a team that we’ve struggled against since I’ve come back to the club – we haven’t beaten them in the regular season since I’ve been back. So, it’s an opponent that we know is also a threat on set pieces. We know obviously from playing them in preseason that they also like to press, so we’ve got to be prepared to be able to counteract that a little bit and we don’t take any opponent lightly. I feel like when we played Louisville last year, we played them both times coming off games with a short turnaround, so I’m glad that we’ve been able to prepare for them properly because I think that they need that preparation because they are a good team.”
On their defense:
“I think, historically, any team that I’ve coached, that’s the premise of who we are. I think we have to be really hard to beat. We want to be free-flowing and we want to create opportunities and score goals, but I believe that in this league you have to be really hard to beat, we have to be hard to score against. Yeah, we’ve done a good job of that, so we were disappointed to let that up a little bit against Chicago. So, we always have that as a mindset, no matter what. It’s not sort of looking at it differently, but happy with the way that we’ve been doing things. I think we believe that our defending is our biggest attacking threat when we get that right, so we will continue on that moving forward.”
On defender Emily Sonnett and midfielder Jess Fishlock’s connection:
“Yeah, you’ll see more of that pairing, yeah.”
Captain Lauren Barnes and Racing Louisville FC Captain Jaelin Howell
On preparing for the game:
Lauren Barnes: “I think we want to continue to build off what we accomplished the last week. Obviously, the schedules are so crazy right now with travel and three-game weeks and stuff like that. Right now, we’re focusing on being healthy and continuing yet to build off what we had last week.”
Jaelin Howell: “I just think for us, we’re super excited to be back home. That was a long trip for us, just going to LA and then staying there and playing Portland – those are two really big environments to play in, so it’s good experience for us. But, obviously like you said, we are still looking for that first win and we’re trying to build off of the games that we have already played and we’re looking forward to playing at home.”
On the growth of the league as they get ready to play in the league’s 1,000th game:
Lauren Barnes: “I knew I was doing this interview and had a lot of thoughts coming from 2013 to where we are now. I think, for Seattle and the community that we have built there, it’s been huge. There has been a lot of change, especially with the last three years. But, like you mentioned, we started at Starfire and then now we’re ending in Lumen (Field), just goes to show you where the league is going and where the investments are going, which I think is really important to highlight. I think that’s something that – when I started in 2013, the value of women’s sports was still pretty low and you can see that we deserve a lot more, but we’re actually getting the recognition now and that’s across the board, like Louisville came in, [their] facilities and things like that have been incredible. Also, I think just seeing what you have to do to actually come into this league now is a great testament to where we are at with the sport and I think expansion in general. Like you talked about, Louisville wasn’t even here, so we’re continuing to grow and that’s really great. I think, for me, with this being my 11th [year], I think it’s the best competition I have seen, from top to bottom, which is really fun for me. I think the development and investment in the younger and the youth has been incredible to watch. I just think that when I was here in 2013, the pool was very limited, diluted as well and we continued to expand. But now you see the growth of that and kids coming straight out of high school is something that was not even talked about when I was playing. So, that has been really fun for me as a veteran to see and just to see where this league and the youth for U.S. and abroad, I guess you could say too because hopefully, this continues to be the top league in the world. That’s been really, really cool.”
Jaelin Howell: “I think for me, being a younger player and this only being my second year, how much the league has grown, even since I’ve been in college, is actually crazy. But also, for me, I know it took a lot of hard work from the older players and from older staff to be able to get the league to where it’s at right now and we know that it’s not always been like this and we’re so grateful, but I think for us, as the next generation, we want to continue to push it forward and we’re excited to do that and we’re excited to learn from the experienced players on how to do that. But obviously, right now, you can just see each year it’s growing and growing and being at Louisville, obviously, mentioned the facilities and the resources we have and I think each team, each year is gaining more and more of that. I’m really excited that our club was kind of on the forefront of that. Like I said, I think the older players and the older staff and experienced players have done just an incredible job in getting to where it is right now and just – it’s short, 11 years, it’s really impressive and I’m excited to see where it goes.”
On having a bigger player pool:
Lauren Barnes: “I think that is what you want, overall. I think in a lot of leagues, I’ve played in a lot of different ones as well is that, sometimes there’s kind of this big gap between the really good teams and expansion teams coming in or teams that are just fighting to stay in the table. So, I think that’s something that I’ve loved about this league for so long and a reason I’ve never wanted to leave because it’s so competitive at all times. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing on any given day, you’re going to have a game and I think as athletes, that’s what you strive for and that’s what you want to play in. I think, overall, the standards of expansion teams coming in – (Louisville midfielder) Jaelin (Howell) talked about it a little bit that those are high now. So, if you are going to come in and you want to compete in this league, you’ve got to bring it all and I think we’ve deserved that for a very long time, but you can definitely see the ties are changing within that and just the overall professionalism of clubs coming in, they continue to raise the standards – you see San Diego (Wave FC) and LA [Angel City F.C] as well last year coming in – the crowds, the environment that they’re providing for us to play in, their facilities as well that they’re providing us to play in, those are things that I think, really, will change the future of our league and I think it is really important highlighting that and being able to be a part of that and see that has been really fun.”
On what players hope to see in the future of the NWSL:
Lauren Barnes: “I think, always, you want to see the investment continue to grow. Like I said, maybe the last three years I’ve seen that grow probably fastest within my 11 years in the league. Professionalism, I think is a huge thing, obviously having a CBA and there’s protection of the players is really important, moving forward and that we continue to have to grow as well. It’s obviously very new and I still think there’s a lot of improvements in it, but I think they did a great job on that. That was the first time I’ve ever even had protection or being able to go to a PA and ask questions about a lot of things, so I think that’s really important to continue to have but also to continue to grow. I think brand growth is going to be huge for us, whether it’s social media outlets, TV outlets, I think those are things that we have to continue to see in the future and see those becoming bigger as well. I think there’s been a lot happening in our league and a lot of those things have to continue to happen, but I think some of the major things to hit on are obviously protection of the players. I love seeing the league expand, so putting markets in places where they’ll thrive and continue to grow, I think is really important and then overall professionalism from top to all the way down to the players, I think, is something that we need to continue to strive, and have that protection for the players.”
Jaelin Howell: “She basically hit everything. But I think, just the overall awareness of the league and if people realize just how great the NWSL is and how fun it is to watch and continuing to broadcast it on bigger networks and our fan base grow more and more, then we’ll get more investors. So, just spreading the overall awareness of the league and I think continuing to invest in the players. We kind of touched on it, but facilities, staff, resources, so that we can continue to have world-class players play in this league. I think, we touch on it again, but I think we are the best league in the world and to continue to hold that standard high, we need to have high standards for facilities, staff, crowds, marketing, everything. So, just continuing to develop with that stuff.”
On Racing Louisville FC Captain Jaelin Howell’s adjustment following her first professional season:
Jaelin Howell: “I think it’s hard coming into this league knowing what to expect, honestly. It’s very different from the college game; it’s a longer season, it’s brutal, everybody in this league is good, every team in this league is good. Every day, you have to compete for a spot, so I think coming into the NWSL, I think it’s just the grind and knowing how to be a pro. I think my college did a great job of teaching that, but it’s one thing to actually live it day in and day out. So, I think for me, having to lean on the experienced players was huge for me and learning from them how to take care of your body in a long season, how to adjust the speed of play, each game become mentally prepared for what you have to go against. So, I think obviously it’s a big transition, but I think throughout the year, I was able to kind of learn. Like I said, this league is so good and it’s very difficult coming in but that’s what makes it fun, being challenged every day and so it has been an awesome experience for me and I’m just looking to continue to grow and to get better each day for myself and for the team.”
On if Barnes has any advice for Howell:
Lauren Barnes: ” I think, for me, embrace everything. I’ve been here 11 years but it feels like one day. So, all those special moments, like you said, it is a grind, the travel, all the stuff that people don’t really see on the outside that we have to deal with, could really affect a lot of things – mental health, your physical health, how you perform, all of those things. But within all of that, there are so many special moments that you need to just sometimes take a step back, enjoy what you’re doing, whether you’re winning, you’re losing, all that stuff doesn’t matter. I think at the end of the day, this environment that we are in, one, you get to meet some of the best people in the world that will be your friends for life, which I think, for me, is my most fulfilling thing and just being able to look back and be able to be like, wow, those moments were so special, because when you’re in the league and you’re in season, those things, you can kind of forget to do. So, always remember to take a breath, enjoy what you’re doing because that’s why we are here playing and, like you said, it is one of the best leagues in the world, so that’s fun in itself and just be able to soak up those moments and really appreciate them.”
On if she has any advice for the next wave of players entering the league:
Lauren Barnes: “I’ve been out of college for a really long time, but I think Jaelin hit it on the head – enjoy doing what you’re doing, lean on your experienced players to kind of figure out how to be a professional, to figure out this game, it’s crazy and just really enjoy yourself. For me, I think the biggest thing that I can pass down through my advice and words is just to continue to fight and build the league. I think it’s really important that the younger generation gets to do that and I think, for me, obviously for the WPS and this, being able to start it was really cool, but I also think being able to push it and grow it is also going to be really exciting for the next generation.”
Jaelin Howell: “Yeah, for sure. I think, kind of some of the stuff I touched on, coming out of college, being sure you do lean on the experienced players. You realize the hard work that they’ve put in to build this league and continue in that. So, knowing that you can learn from them. But I think the biggest part for me was knowing how to become a pro mentally and physically and what that takes and preparing every day with prehab, rehab, mentally, sports psych stuff, just all the little things that in college, I think sometimes you can kind of get away with not doing. You can’t really do that in this league. You have to be top notch every day. You have to be on your game every day and part of that is a learning experience. So, I think the other thing is, you’re not going to get it perfect from the start and you’re going to have to learn and grow as it goes and you have to enjoy that ride and enjoy the experience.”
Download here: Pre-Match Press Conference • 4-28-23