November 27, 2023 • 19 mins
Aly Wagner spends some time with Racing Louisville and USWNT midfielder Savannah DeMelo to discuss her inclusion on NWSL's Best XI Presented by Mastercard for the 2023 season, the difficult transition from this year's World Cup back to league play, and the teammates she looks up to.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
And only her second year as a professional, Savannah Demelo
put together an absolutely stellar season. The twenty five year
old midfielder scored eight goals and recorded three assists for
Racing Louisville. She was named to the NWSL's Best eleven
of the Month in both May and June. Her hot
start in league play earned her a surprising spot on
(00:24):
this year's World Cup squad. I sat down with the
twenty twenty three NWSL Best Eleven presented by a MasterCard honoree,
to discuss her quick ascension in the league and how
the league's rapid speed of play has helped her take
her game to the next level.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Savannah, congratulations on being named to the twenty twenty three
NWSL Best Eleven presented by MasterCard. I mean, this is
coming off an incredible rookie season and now you find
yourself in one of the top spots across the league.
Did you ever imagine that you'd have such a quick ascension?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
No, I mean, this is such a dream come true.
The NWSL is the best league in the world, and
I think there are so many amazing talented players that
play in this league. So just to be mentioned as
a top eleven players, something I could have only dreamed of,
and I'm just super grateful for my team and my
teammates and my club for all this success.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Why do you think the NWSL is one of the
top leagues in the world, if not the top league.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I think just the pace and just the speed of
the game. I know, it's so transitional and how quick
the ball can be, like in a goalkick to then
getting a shot off on goal on the other side
is just like an instant and I think that has
just taken my game to the next level. My fitness,
my ability to make quick decisions on and off the
ball is just I think what makes the NWSL the
(01:44):
best league.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Would you attribute that exposure to going from not being
on the radar for the US one's national team's World
Cup roster to then suddenly finding yourself starting matches in
the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, I mean even Vlacho had said the reason I
did make the national team was.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Largely due to my NWSL play.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
So I think it just shows that how you perform
in your league day in and day out is just
super important for national team coaches and to get on
the radar.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Well, when you talk about speed of play, How were
you able to actually assimilate so quickly in the NWSL,
Because it's one thing to understand that you need to
play quickly, think quickly, but it's another thing to actually
execute in a high pressure moment. How has that been
so easy for you?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah, I think coming from I went to college at
USC and I was done playing college soccer November I
think fifteenth, and then that January I was already playing
against Jess McDonald like a bunch of other girls that
have been in the league for so long. So I
think just being able to play and practice every single
day with top players, and even though we play at
(02:51):
such a high speed, we also train at that high speed.
So I think it was just living day in and
day out.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
As a professional that really helped me.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Explain to me one and then of yourself preseason versus
where you ended this second season of your career, what
evolution you've gone through as a player.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
I talked to a lot of my close friends about
it that was on my team that first day, and
I remember one thing was I took like too many
touches to get from point A to point B, and
just not that like too many touches is bad. But
I think I was able to limit the amount of
touches but still able to get to where I needed
to be. And I think that's what also helped my
speed to play a lot. I was able to do
(03:31):
something a lot quicker rather than taking as many touches.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
And I also just remember it being freezing in Louisville.
There had just been like an ice storm, not even
a snowstorm.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
It was like an ice storm, and I'm coming from
sunny California and I was like, where am I? But
you know now, I'm all adjusted and I love it there.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Less touches is better in the cold? Is that what
you're telling me?
Speaker 4 (03:53):
I guess, so, I guess so.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I mean that had to be a bit bittersweet because
you're an artist on the ball, So when you're told
to take less touches, is there a little bit of
you that is resistant to that idea because you want
to be on the ball.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
I think it's just knowing when and where to take
those touches is what I learned, and like, I think
it took my game to the next level. I think
I'm a lot more effective with my touches rather than
in college. I think I was taking extra touches just
because I could, if that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, no, absolutely, And when you splashed in the season
at Race and Louisville, you suddenly became a leader very quickly,
and we don't often see that. I mean, I've covered
the league for many years now, and rookies to come
in and have the imprint and have the effectiveness that
you had, I think it's very rare. Was there any
(04:43):
sense of pressure that came along with now, suddenly you're
rookie leading this team.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I remember coming in and I just remember, like my
rookie year two years ago, I was like, okay, I
just want to come in and learn as much as
I can. And at first I wasn't starting. I think
it was Cup was in the beginning, and I was
coming off the bench and I was just doing everything
I could, and I remember someone got hurt on our
team and I was playing the six for like my
first start ever, and I just remember taking in every
(05:11):
opportunity I could and just trying to be better than
I was the day before.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
But yeah, I don't think I ever felt like pressure.
I think it was just.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Always an honor and I always it was just something
that I love to do, so I always just saw
it to be super fun. And I'm really close with
the girls on my team, and they always made me
feel so comfortable and allowed me to be myself, also
pushing me to be a better player every day.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Even though you're one of the younger players. Are you
a leader vocally on your squad.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I've never been like the vocal leader. I just kind
of I think I'm more individual, Like I like to
go to every single player and have different conversations rather
than be the one giving the pregame speech, like I
leave that to Jalen likes to do that, and Abby
on our team and na Yea and like those are
ones that like like to vocalize and talk to the group.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Who are you closest with in the in the squad?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Ooh, I'm close, I would say with Lomley is like
someone that I've learned, I think so much from since
my rookie year, and she's someone that I've always looked
up to how she plays, so I'm really close with her.
Jalen Howell, Jordan Bloomer, Hillary Beale, like those are like
my close I say group of people. Ari Borges just
(06:23):
came to the team, and we became super close this year.
It's funny because she speaks Portuguese and my dad is
from Portugal, so us trying to speak to each other
as always just.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
A funny time.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
So can you speak the language?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
I can understand it, but I don't speak it very well,
but I do know like what she's saying, so I can.
I'm known as her translator, but I'm not really the
best translator for her.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So you just felt her what she needs to know,
right exactly. Coming back from the World Cup when I
don't think people understand how hard it is to go
from such a high to then coming back into club
play and then needing to step in again and be
a leader even though you've been gone for a month
a month and a half. What are the challenges of that?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
It was really it was one of the hardest things
I think I've ever gone through my career, and it
was at a time that I didn't think it was
going to be like that difficult your whole life, you think, Okay,
I hope I make the national team, and then I
want to win the World Cup with the US, and
you kind of just think this is how things are
going to go, and for one day for US as
a team, like the US team being together, and then
(07:29):
the next day, like me and Emily Fox are like
saying goodbye to like Alex Morgan with her daughter, and
I'm like, it's it's over, just like that. So that
was really difficult in like the flight home, and then
I was with my family for a couple of days.
I came home to Long Beach, got to like debrief
with them, But it was hard because the team, the
US team, never debriefed what had happened. We kind of
(07:51):
just all went back to our club teams because we
had to get back.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
So that was really hard. It was kind of like
no closure as to what had happened.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
But it was really nice because after when we went
to camp that next camp, we all had like a
two hour debrief where we all talked about everything we
were all feeling, and I felt like that was the
closure we all needed and really helped a lot.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Well, what about going back to your to your club
team then and actually putting away or putting behind you
the World Cup and trying to focus on what was
ahead of you. What did that process look like.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Yeah, we had a game against LA that weekend and
it was a sellout crowd, so I was like, oh
my god, I'm gonna be so pumped to play, like
let's do this, like I want to get back on
the field, like I feel fire in me. And I
don't know what it was, but once the whistle blew,
I just felt so like like not even like motivated
to play. It was it was like the weirdest thing
(08:44):
I And then I remember I like had lost the
ball and I was almost in tears because in like,
I don't know, it was just so much emotion that
I think I never dealt with. Was like triggering every
time I would do like something small. So definitely talk
to a lot of my friends families and talked to
my coaches, my staff, and I think just giving me
(09:05):
some time to like do my own thing and not
be around soccer.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
It was huge. So I kind of took it.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Then another couple of days off because I think I
came back too quick into soccer. I didn't really give
myself the detachment that I needed to like heal all
the stuff that had happened.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
And then it was better once you did reinsert yourself.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Yes, it was so much better. I felt more motivated.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I was like excited to start training and be with
my team, finish off the season, and even go back
to camp.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
I was super excited for all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Yeah, I mean you had such an emotional year because
you know, we touched on it a bit earlier, but
you went from not really being on the radar to
suddenly being a focal point for the US and starting
some of those matches in the World Cup group stage.
What happened for you emotionally? I would say that when
you saw your name on that roster, when you got
the call from Vloco. You know, we've seen the videos,
(09:57):
but really, what did you process?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
It wasn't I feel like I'm still to this day
like processing all the things that happened. I was with
my mom the other day and I was like, I
can't believe, like I went to a World Cup this year.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
It's just like sometimes it hits you and it and
then it doesn't. But during that time I really had
no time to process because I was like, okay, like
I just made this World Cup roster. I have a
game though with my team this weekend. We're playing Gotham.
It was like a huge game, like you kind of
have to put it to the side. I celebrated. I
went to dinner with my family that night, like we
(10:33):
had we had a great time just being together. But
it was like the next day I had training and
I had to prepare for Gotham, my NWSL team. I
couldn't even focus on national team stuff yet.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yeah, when you hear the national anthem at the World
Cup first time ever, Yeah, what was going through your head?
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I was, it's crazy because the whole walkout, like the
fans were there was like I think seventy thousand people
at that game, forty fifth whatever something, a crazy amount
of fans at that game. So I was just trying
to take it all in. But then once you hear
the national anthem, it's like something truly so special. I
had I had the chills. I was wanted to get emotional,
(11:12):
but then I'm also like, oh my god, we are
the US at the World Cup first game, like defending champs,
like we need to beat this Vietnam team. So as
much as you want to like and be emotional and
like wow like all this stuff, but you're like, we
have a job at hand and like we have stuff
to do, and I think that's kind of the mentality
the US has, So that's kind of where I was
(11:32):
emotional roller.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Coaster throughout the whole national anthem.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Yeah. So when you think about your season, you've you know,
you've gone from Louisville, do you make the World Cup
and then you come back into club play again, what
was the high? What was the low? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:46):
I would think my high would just be making that
World Cup roster and getting that first cap. I think
it was just a lot of emotions, but I was
really excited just to get the World Cup started. And
then I think a low was just losing against Sweden
in that round of six team that was really hard.
But then it's funny because then another high was, like
my team then we made Challenge Cup and we made
(12:07):
it all the way to the finals and that's the
first time the club has made a tournament like that,
so then it was another high. And then we obviously
did not make playoffs, which was a low. So it's
just a lot of highs and lows in soccer and
that's just how it is. But just trying to maintain
like a steady level through it all is kind of
what I've learned through it.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Yeah, how have you embraced living in Louisville.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
I think I lived in Long Beach in California my
whole life, went to college here, so I was really
excited to do something new, live somewhere new, and Louisville
is like my home. I just bought a house there actually,
so I invested their congratulations, thank you. I just resigned
my contract too, So I'm really happy where I'm at,
and I think it's all due to the staff, my teammates,
(12:51):
and just the community.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Do you go out to the horse races? Because when
I took my family there for the championship Game a
year or two ago, we went out to the horse
races and experienced what a high that can be, even
though it was just a one off.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Yes, we we actually went to Derby or Derby it's
like the Thursday before Derby. We went last year and
it was one of the coolest experiences.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
I've ever had. And we get to go.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
There's a lot of horse races during the summer, so
whenever we have time, we like to go and ben
on some So it's really fun.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
What makes Louisville so special in the community that you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
I've never like I think living in la there's just
so much going on and so many people like have
their own thing they're doing, like going here, going there.
In Louisville, it's just a lot more calm. The people
are just awesome, always talking to me, want to know
what's going on. So much support for the club, and
we're the only professional team in Kentucky, right, So I
(13:47):
just think it's super It's a super cool thing that
we get to do in the role models that we
get to be in that city.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Are you recognized whenever you walk around town?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
A lot of us are.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, And it's cool because I was driving the other
day and I I saw like all of our internationals
on the back of someone's car, like the stickers and
so like I drove past him and I like looked
at him, and he looked at me, and he had
no idea who I was. But I just think it's
just cool to have like the support, like even though,
but yeah, like when we go to coffee shops, people
are always saying hey and like good luck this weekend.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
So I just think that's always a cool experience.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Yeah, you mentioned the calm, and when I watch you
play on the field, I see that you seem incredibly
at peace and everything slows down for you. Is that
fair assessment of how you feel or is that just
how you're portrayed.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
I don't think I really feel that in like my head,
like I think I'm thinking about a lot of things.
My mind's going like a mile a minute. But I
do think I try to stay calm on the ball.
I think that's one of my better attributes. And I
think that's just from playing the game for as long
as I have and watching as much soccer as I do.
(14:54):
My dad played soccer. He's been my coach like my
entire life, so I just kind of feel like I've
learned that from him and the lifestyle of it all.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Where are you focusing on your game right now? To improve?
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Definitely defending more defending from me is what I'm trying
to improve.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
I love to attack, I love to.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Go forward, and I'm just shifting my mentality to defending
to then go forward, which I've done a better job
of since college. But I just want to keep improving
on that side of my game because it's something I
don't love to do.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, so how do you do that?
Speaker 4 (15:31):
That's a good question.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
I've watched a lot of film, and I think it's
more just the mentality of it that that's.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
Kind of gotten better.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
And I just look at as like, the faster we
get the ball back, the faster we get to go
do the fun stuff, which is the attack.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Don't do sometimes good to go. Look, I'm like the tent.
So you guys can go win the ball. Let me
consider my energy and then I can go be creative.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Yes, but that is not I think that, But then
the thought immediately has to leave my mind because I
can't think that way with national team.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
I know.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
That was something Vladco had always like, was like I
need you to defend. I want you to defend, like
keep working on that. Not that I was bad at it.
He was just like, I just want to see you
keep improving. So that's just something I've been wanting to improve.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Do you have a favorite ten that you watched to emulate.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
I mean, Messi is the best ten in the world.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Yeah, but he's not even a ten, right, He's whatever
he wants to be.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Yeah, but I think him, Kevin de Boyna, those are
like just people I try to emulate and play. Like
Carly Lloyd, I watched ever since I was a young girl,
and I always love the way she played and even
Rose levelt.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
I think Rose.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Is such a great ten and someone that I try
to learn from even practices.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
I love to see, like her movement. I love playing
with her.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
So yeah, so you named MESSI he doesn't defend. Carly
learned to defend maybe later in her career. So now
I'm understanding why your head layer in the defending side
of your Yeah, exactly before in a defense.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Yeah, that's the one that I'm more like. I just
started watching and I'm like, Okay, he does defend.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
This is how I need to be.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yeah, no doubt. Do you have a team that you
watch or support?
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Yeah, I honestly, I just watch soccer like I love
to watch. So I'm a huge Ronaldo fan because the
Portuguese community and it's hard to watch his games anymore.
So now I just watch English Premier League La Liga,
like Champions League. I just like to watch and watch
it all. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Yeah, I'm sorry that you're a huge Ronaldo fan. We'll
let that one pass.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
I know it's not a fan favorite, but I got
to stick by him.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
I think he's got enough support.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Yeah, I think so too.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Who is your favorite person to play with now that
you've played on the national team and obviously in the Movieville,
you have special connections.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Yeah, I would say on Global probably low Malay.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Like I said, I think so.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
She's usually a midfielder but plays outside back now for us,
and I just think she is such a smart player,
someone who's so knowledgeable in the game, and I just
think someone that I get her, she gets me, and
I think we play great together. So she's one of
the best players I've ever played with. And like on
national team, I just think there's so many but lindsay,
I love to play with Rose mal I just think
(18:17):
there are so many talented players and I'm so honored
to play with them all the time and practice with
them and learn from them.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yeah, And clearly it's impacted the season that you've had
because it was your best yet in terms of production,
and you continue to lead the way in Louisville's So
congratulations on that front. Thank you, Savannah. What would be
then your priceless moment from the twenty twenty three season.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
I think my priceless moment would be when we beat
Portland at home. I wasn't even playing in the game,
but I had too many yellow cards, so I was
watching in the stands, but just being able to see
the team come together and perform the way they did
against the top team in the league was just awesome
and I was so proud of the group.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
And it was huge win for us in the club.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
And I can't forget going to the World Cup, getting
my first cap. All that kind of stuff was awesome.
But for the NWSL season, it'd be the win versus Portland.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
That's pretty selfless of you. For ten it makes a
lot of sense, I guess, not even on the pitch,
so I guess that goes without saying that. If you
want someone to win the NWASL Championship, it's not Portland.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I wouldn't say all that, you know.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
I'm just I just want to watch you get some
good games. I don't I want Gotham to win. That's
why I want to win.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Okay, well you heard it here. We'll see if it
comes true. Let's see. Congratulations Savannah on an incredible year,
an incredible season. The US ones national team is lucky
to have you in that squad for the World Cup,
and it's been a joy to watch you over the
course of the year. Especially leading the way at such
a young age for Louisville. So congratulations on your award
(19:53):
and where to come from you excited to see what happens.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Thank you, Thanks for having me
And only her second year as a professional, Savannah Demelo
put together an absolutely stellar season. The twenty five year
old midfielder scored eight goals and recorded three assists for
Racing Louisville. She was named to the NWSL's Best eleven
of the Month in both May and June. Her hot
start in league play earned her a surprising spot on
(00:24):
this year's World Cup squad. I sat down with the
twenty twenty three NWSL Best Eleven presented by a MasterCard honoree,
to discuss her quick ascension in the league and how
the league's rapid speed of play has helped her take
her game to the next level.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Savannah, congratulations on being named to the twenty twenty three
NWSL Best Eleven presented by MasterCard. I mean, this is
coming off an incredible rookie season and now you find
yourself in one of the top spots across the league.
Did you ever imagine that you'd have such a quick ascension?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
No, I mean, this is such a dream come true.
The NWSL is the best league in the world, and
I think there are so many amazing talented players that
play in this league. So just to be mentioned as
a top eleven players, something I could have only dreamed of,
and I'm just super grateful for my team and my
teammates and my club for all this success.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Why do you think the NWSL is one of the
top leagues in the world, if not the top league.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I think just the pace and just the speed of
the game. I know, it's so transitional and how quick
the ball can be, like in a goalkick to then
getting a shot off on goal on the other side
is just like an instant and I think that has
just taken my game to the next level. My fitness,
my ability to make quick decisions on and off the
ball is just I think what makes the NWSL the
(01:44):
best league.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Would you attribute that exposure to going from not being
on the radar for the US one's national team's World
Cup roster to then suddenly finding yourself starting matches in
the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, I mean even Vlacho had said the reason I
did make the national team was.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Largely due to my NWSL play.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
So I think it just shows that how you perform
in your league day in and day out is just
super important for national team coaches and to get on
the radar.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Well, when you talk about speed of play, How were
you able to actually assimilate so quickly in the NWSL,
Because it's one thing to understand that you need to
play quickly, think quickly, but it's another thing to actually
execute in a high pressure moment. How has that been
so easy for you?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah, I think coming from I went to college at
USC and I was done playing college soccer November I
think fifteenth, and then that January I was already playing
against Jess McDonald like a bunch of other girls that
have been in the league for so long. So I
think just being able to play and practice every single
day with top players, and even though we play at
(02:51):
such a high speed, we also train at that high speed.
So I think it was just living day in and
day out.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
As a professional that really helped me.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Explain to me one and then of yourself preseason versus
where you ended this second season of your career, what
evolution you've gone through as a player.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
I talked to a lot of my close friends about
it that was on my team that first day, and
I remember one thing was I took like too many
touches to get from point A to point B, and
just not that like too many touches is bad. But
I think I was able to limit the amount of
touches but still able to get to where I needed
to be. And I think that's what also helped my
speed to play a lot. I was able to do
(03:31):
something a lot quicker rather than taking as many touches.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
And I also just remember it being freezing in Louisville.
There had just been like an ice storm, not even
a snowstorm.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
It was like an ice storm, and I'm coming from
sunny California and I was like, where am I? But
you know now, I'm all adjusted and I love it there.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Less touches is better in the cold? Is that what
you're telling me?
Speaker 4 (03:53):
I guess, so, I guess so.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I mean that had to be a bit bittersweet because
you're an artist on the ball, So when you're told
to take less touches, is there a little bit of
you that is resistant to that idea because you want
to be on the ball.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
I think it's just knowing when and where to take
those touches is what I learned, and like, I think
it took my game to the next level. I think
I'm a lot more effective with my touches rather than
in college. I think I was taking extra touches just
because I could, if that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, no, absolutely, And when you splashed in the season
at Race and Louisville, you suddenly became a leader very quickly,
and we don't often see that. I mean, I've covered
the league for many years now, and rookies to come
in and have the imprint and have the effectiveness that
you had, I think it's very rare. Was there any
(04:43):
sense of pressure that came along with now, suddenly you're
rookie leading this team.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I remember coming in and I just remember, like my
rookie year two years ago, I was like, okay, I
just want to come in and learn as much as
I can. And at first I wasn't starting. I think
it was Cup was in the beginning, and I was
coming off the bench and I was just doing everything
I could, and I remember someone got hurt on our
team and I was playing the six for like my
first start ever, and I just remember taking in every
(05:11):
opportunity I could and just trying to be better than
I was the day before.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
But yeah, I don't think I ever felt like pressure.
I think it was just.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Always an honor and I always it was just something
that I love to do, so I always just saw
it to be super fun. And I'm really close with
the girls on my team, and they always made me
feel so comfortable and allowed me to be myself, also
pushing me to be a better player every day.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Even though you're one of the younger players. Are you
a leader vocally on your squad.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I've never been like the vocal leader. I just kind
of I think I'm more individual, Like I like to
go to every single player and have different conversations rather
than be the one giving the pregame speech, like I
leave that to Jalen likes to do that, and Abby
on our team and na Yea and like those are
ones that like like to vocalize and talk to the group.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Who are you closest with in the in the squad?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Ooh, I'm close, I would say with Lomley is like
someone that I've learned, I think so much from since
my rookie year, and she's someone that I've always looked
up to how she plays, so I'm really close with her.
Jalen Howell, Jordan Bloomer, Hillary Beale, like those are like
my close I say group of people. Ari Borges just
(06:23):
came to the team, and we became super close this year.
It's funny because she speaks Portuguese and my dad is
from Portugal, so us trying to speak to each other
as always just.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
A funny time.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
So can you speak the language?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
I can understand it, but I don't speak it very well,
but I do know like what she's saying, so I can.
I'm known as her translator, but I'm not really the
best translator for her.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So you just felt her what she needs to know,
right exactly. Coming back from the World Cup when I
don't think people understand how hard it is to go
from such a high to then coming back into club
play and then needing to step in again and be
a leader even though you've been gone for a month
a month and a half. What are the challenges of that?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
It was really it was one of the hardest things
I think I've ever gone through my career, and it
was at a time that I didn't think it was
going to be like that difficult your whole life, you think, Okay,
I hope I make the national team, and then I
want to win the World Cup with the US, and
you kind of just think this is how things are
going to go, and for one day for US as
a team, like the US team being together, and then
(07:29):
the next day, like me and Emily Fox are like
saying goodbye to like Alex Morgan with her daughter, and
I'm like, it's it's over, just like that. So that
was really difficult in like the flight home, and then
I was with my family for a couple of days.
I came home to Long Beach, got to like debrief
with them, But it was hard because the team, the
US team, never debriefed what had happened. We kind of
(07:51):
just all went back to our club teams because we
had to get back.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
So that was really hard. It was kind of like
no closure as to what had happened.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
But it was really nice because after when we went
to camp that next camp, we all had like a
two hour debrief where we all talked about everything we
were all feeling, and I felt like that was the
closure we all needed and really helped a lot.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Well, what about going back to your to your club
team then and actually putting away or putting behind you
the World Cup and trying to focus on what was
ahead of you. What did that process look like.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Yeah, we had a game against LA that weekend and
it was a sellout crowd, so I was like, oh
my god, I'm gonna be so pumped to play, like
let's do this, like I want to get back on
the field, like I feel fire in me. And I
don't know what it was, but once the whistle blew,
I just felt so like like not even like motivated
to play. It was it was like the weirdest thing
(08:44):
I And then I remember I like had lost the
ball and I was almost in tears because in like,
I don't know, it was just so much emotion that
I think I never dealt with. Was like triggering every
time I would do like something small. So definitely talk
to a lot of my friends families and talked to
my coaches, my staff, and I think just giving me
(09:05):
some time to like do my own thing and not
be around soccer.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
It was huge. So I kind of took it.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Then another couple of days off because I think I
came back too quick into soccer. I didn't really give
myself the detachment that I needed to like heal all
the stuff that had happened.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
And then it was better once you did reinsert yourself.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Yes, it was so much better. I felt more motivated.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I was like excited to start training and be with
my team, finish off the season, and even go back
to camp.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
I was super excited for all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Yeah, I mean you had such an emotional year because
you know, we touched on it a bit earlier, but
you went from not really being on the radar to
suddenly being a focal point for the US and starting
some of those matches in the World Cup group stage.
What happened for you emotionally? I would say that when
you saw your name on that roster, when you got
the call from Vloco. You know, we've seen the videos,
(09:57):
but really, what did you process?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
It wasn't I feel like I'm still to this day
like processing all the things that happened. I was with
my mom the other day and I was like, I
can't believe, like I went to a World Cup this year.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
It's just like sometimes it hits you and it and
then it doesn't. But during that time I really had
no time to process because I was like, okay, like
I just made this World Cup roster. I have a
game though with my team this weekend. We're playing Gotham.
It was like a huge game, like you kind of
have to put it to the side. I celebrated. I
went to dinner with my family that night, like we
(10:33):
had we had a great time just being together. But
it was like the next day I had training and
I had to prepare for Gotham, my NWSL team. I
couldn't even focus on national team stuff yet.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yeah, when you hear the national anthem at the World
Cup first time ever, Yeah, what was going through your head?
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I was, it's crazy because the whole walkout, like the
fans were there was like I think seventy thousand people
at that game, forty fifth whatever something, a crazy amount
of fans at that game. So I was just trying
to take it all in. But then once you hear
the national anthem, it's like something truly so special. I
had I had the chills. I was wanted to get emotional,
(11:12):
but then I'm also like, oh my god, we are
the US at the World Cup first game, like defending champs,
like we need to beat this Vietnam team. So as
much as you want to like and be emotional and
like wow like all this stuff, but you're like, we
have a job at hand and like we have stuff
to do, and I think that's kind of the mentality
the US has, So that's kind of where I was
(11:32):
emotional roller.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Coaster throughout the whole national anthem.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Yeah. So when you think about your season, you've you know,
you've gone from Louisville, do you make the World Cup
and then you come back into club play again, what
was the high? What was the low? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:46):
I would think my high would just be making that
World Cup roster and getting that first cap. I think
it was just a lot of emotions, but I was
really excited just to get the World Cup started. And
then I think a low was just losing against Sweden
in that round of six team that was really hard.
But then it's funny because then another high was, like
my team then we made Challenge Cup and we made
(12:07):
it all the way to the finals and that's the
first time the club has made a tournament like that,
so then it was another high. And then we obviously
did not make playoffs, which was a low. So it's
just a lot of highs and lows in soccer and
that's just how it is. But just trying to maintain
like a steady level through it all is kind of
what I've learned through it.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Yeah, how have you embraced living in Louisville.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
I think I lived in Long Beach in California my
whole life, went to college here, so I was really
excited to do something new, live somewhere new, and Louisville
is like my home. I just bought a house there actually,
so I invested their congratulations, thank you. I just resigned
my contract too, So I'm really happy where I'm at,
and I think it's all due to the staff, my teammates,
(12:51):
and just the community.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Do you go out to the horse races? Because when
I took my family there for the championship Game a
year or two ago, we went out to the horse
races and experienced what a high that can be, even
though it was just a one off.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Yes, we we actually went to Derby or Derby it's
like the Thursday before Derby. We went last year and
it was one of the coolest experiences.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
I've ever had. And we get to go.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
There's a lot of horse races during the summer, so
whenever we have time, we like to go and ben
on some So it's really fun.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
What makes Louisville so special in the community that you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
I've never like I think living in la there's just
so much going on and so many people like have
their own thing they're doing, like going here, going there.
In Louisville, it's just a lot more calm. The people
are just awesome, always talking to me, want to know
what's going on. So much support for the club, and
we're the only professional team in Kentucky, right, So I
(13:47):
just think it's super It's a super cool thing that
we get to do in the role models that we
get to be in that city.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Are you recognized whenever you walk around town?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
A lot of us are.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, And it's cool because I was driving the other
day and I I saw like all of our internationals
on the back of someone's car, like the stickers and
so like I drove past him and I like looked
at him, and he looked at me, and he had
no idea who I was. But I just think it's
just cool to have like the support, like even though,
but yeah, like when we go to coffee shops, people
are always saying hey and like good luck this weekend.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
So I just think that's always a cool experience.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Yeah, you mentioned the calm, and when I watch you
play on the field, I see that you seem incredibly
at peace and everything slows down for you. Is that
fair assessment of how you feel or is that just
how you're portrayed.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
I don't think I really feel that in like my head,
like I think I'm thinking about a lot of things.
My mind's going like a mile a minute. But I
do think I try to stay calm on the ball.
I think that's one of my better attributes. And I
think that's just from playing the game for as long
as I have and watching as much soccer as I do.
(14:54):
My dad played soccer. He's been my coach like my
entire life, so I just kind of feel like I've
learned that from him and the lifestyle of it all.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Where are you focusing on your game right now? To improve?
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Definitely defending more defending from me is what I'm trying
to improve.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
I love to attack, I love to.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Go forward, and I'm just shifting my mentality to defending
to then go forward, which I've done a better job
of since college. But I just want to keep improving
on that side of my game because it's something I
don't love to do.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, so how do you do that?
Speaker 4 (15:31):
That's a good question.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
I've watched a lot of film, and I think it's
more just the mentality of it that that's.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
Kind of gotten better.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
And I just look at as like, the faster we
get the ball back, the faster we get to go
do the fun stuff, which is the attack.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Don't do sometimes good to go. Look, I'm like the tent.
So you guys can go win the ball. Let me
consider my energy and then I can go be creative.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Yes, but that is not I think that, But then
the thought immediately has to leave my mind because I
can't think that way with national team.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
I know.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
That was something Vladco had always like, was like I
need you to defend. I want you to defend, like
keep working on that. Not that I was bad at it.
He was just like, I just want to see you
keep improving. So that's just something I've been wanting to improve.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Do you have a favorite ten that you watched to emulate.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
I mean, Messi is the best ten in the world.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Yeah, but he's not even a ten, right, He's whatever
he wants to be.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Yeah, but I think him, Kevin de Boyna, those are
like just people I try to emulate and play. Like
Carly Lloyd, I watched ever since I was a young girl,
and I always love the way she played and even
Rose levelt.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
I think Rose.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Is such a great ten and someone that I try
to learn from even practices.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
I love to see, like her movement. I love playing
with her.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
So yeah, so you named MESSI he doesn't defend. Carly
learned to defend maybe later in her career. So now
I'm understanding why your head layer in the defending side
of your Yeah, exactly before in a defense.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Yeah, that's the one that I'm more like. I just
started watching and I'm like, Okay, he does defend.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
This is how I need to be.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yeah, no doubt. Do you have a team that you
watch or support?
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Yeah, I honestly, I just watch soccer like I love
to watch. So I'm a huge Ronaldo fan because the
Portuguese community and it's hard to watch his games anymore.
So now I just watch English Premier League La Liga,
like Champions League. I just like to watch and watch
it all. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Yeah, I'm sorry that you're a huge Ronaldo fan. We'll
let that one pass.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
I know it's not a fan favorite, but I got
to stick by him.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
I think he's got enough support.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Yeah, I think so too.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Who is your favorite person to play with now that
you've played on the national team and obviously in the Movieville,
you have special connections.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Yeah, I would say on Global probably low Malay.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Like I said, I think so.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
She's usually a midfielder but plays outside back now for us,
and I just think she is such a smart player,
someone who's so knowledgeable in the game, and I just
think someone that I get her, she gets me, and
I think we play great together. So she's one of
the best players I've ever played with. And like on
national team, I just think there's so many but lindsay,
I love to play with Rose mal I just think
(18:17):
there are so many talented players and I'm so honored
to play with them all the time and practice with
them and learn from them.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yeah, And clearly it's impacted the season that you've had
because it was your best yet in terms of production,
and you continue to lead the way in Louisville's So
congratulations on that front. Thank you, Savannah. What would be
then your priceless moment from the twenty twenty three season.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
I think my priceless moment would be when we beat
Portland at home. I wasn't even playing in the game,
but I had too many yellow cards, so I was
watching in the stands, but just being able to see
the team come together and perform the way they did
against the top team in the league was just awesome
and I was so proud of the group.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
And it was huge win for us in the club.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
And I can't forget going to the World Cup, getting
my first cap. All that kind of stuff was awesome.
But for the NWSL season, it'd be the win versus Portland.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
That's pretty selfless of you. For ten it makes a
lot of sense, I guess, not even on the pitch,
so I guess that goes without saying that. If you
want someone to win the NWASL Championship, it's not Portland.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I wouldn't say all that, you know.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
I'm just I just want to watch you get some
good games. I don't I want Gotham to win. That's
why I want to win.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Okay, well you heard it here. We'll see if it
comes true. Let's see. Congratulations Savannah on an incredible year,
an incredible season. The US ones national team is lucky
to have you in that squad for the World Cup,
and it's been a joy to watch you over the
course of the year. Especially leading the way at such
a young age for Louisville. So congratulations on your award
(19:53):
and where to come from you excited to see what happens.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Thank you, Thanks for having me
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