October 15, 2025 • 25 mins
Tonight on Reign Weekly, Keely Dunning, Laura Schott and Steve Schlanger talk about the Reign’s recent 1-1 draw vs Bay FC, and discuss the incredible career of NWSL legend Lauren Barnes
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
His Fishlock drifted wide now driving inside Fishlock Doleen Dolen
drives doors fish old fish drop the fishlock.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It's alway, it's gonna be.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Jess fish up.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
The crowd goes well, because see I'm ready to equalized.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Backline, driving and dragging the center backs back, doing enough
here to just keep it alive. And then Fishlock says,
all right, I'll take it from here, puts her body
in front of it, chest foot, back.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Of the neck.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
I love how quick it is from Fishlock to get
that shot off. This is what she did earlier this year,
she drove the comeback. Can't she drive it yet again?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Jess Fishlock time and time again, elating Laura Harvey.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Everywhere beyond people.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
What a.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Fight the way we changed the game, No penal change me.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Break away divide.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
We're built to drive right, We're shot with Genewhere upon.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
The ras Hey rise up, hey hey panda, He.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Rise up, hey, hey.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Panda. Hi.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Everyone back with Rain weekly Keeley Dunning here with Lord
Shot and Steve Schlin, our broadcast talent for Fox thirteen
plus all season this year. Following the Rain, A lot
to go over today, huge retirement announcement. We'll get to later.
Lou Barnes legend amazing, incredible, so excited about that for
her and her next chapter. But the Rain still playing
(02:18):
this season, still a couple of games and still not
technically in the playoffs yet. Let's start with a look
back at the match last week last Friday. I know
there was a Mariners game that ended up finishing somehow
after our game. I have no idea how that was
even possible, but somehow, some way. But the Rain are
also in a playoff push, tying Bay FC one to one.
(02:42):
You guys were both calling that game. Laura your take first,
and then Steve, want to hear what your guys' thoughts
on the Tiber's Bay.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Well, it was a competitive game, like we thought it
would be, you know, babing out of the playoffs. That
adds a different dynamic this time of year, and also
their coach will be leaving at the conclusion of the season.
But Bay's spin and they've had a potent attack all year,
and that was really that game was really no different.
They got that first goal off of a giveaway in
(03:11):
the back and encountered very very quickly, so you know
it was Kuna Naji to huff and she buried it.
But coming back from that, the Rain know at this
point in the season that they can come back from
goals like that, and I think that that's one of
the big takeaways from that game, coming back and getting
the tie. Also, you know they've made a habit of
this now where and I hate to bring it up,
(03:34):
but of course we go back to the Chicago game
where it ended up being a tie. I think everybody
wanted the three out of that. Of course, However, when
you have an experience like that, and you have a
young team, and then you have the leadership that you
have and those all come together like you want them to,
you start to build a resilience. The players experience that
and they go, we can that can't happen again. And
so I love the fact that the Rain are starting
(03:56):
to build that resilience they have. The young players who
have that experience now can play any nomer of lineups,
number of people. So there's a lot of mystery I
think for opponents now looking forward for the Rain and
how they're going to come out, what formation they're going
to play, what players are going to start, how many
minutes they are going to get When Jeff Fishlock's going
to come on and get a game winner. I think
all those things are in play, so it's really exciting
(04:17):
looking forward. But it was a very very good, big game.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
Steve, that's on the game versus big.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
I agree, and I'll see you Friday.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Now.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
All of that I believe is true. In addition, I
think that one of the things that I liked about
the game is the fact that even though they only
got the goal from Fishlock late in the second half,
they created a lot of chances in different ways, and
that's something that's kind of been missing, and a few
(04:52):
of those opportunities, you know, we're near misses, they were close,
and the fact that they're starting to generate some of
those I think is a good sign because I think
the biggest deficiency over the last probably two months now
is the fact that they just haven't scored goals. And
you know, they've been getting some results, they've been pulling
off draws, but they just haven't been, you know, making
(05:14):
big statements. With the exception of that come from behind
win over North Carolina, And as you're getting closer to
the postseason, at some point, you know you have to
see balls going into the back of the net. You
have to have the belief that you can win. You're
going to win, you have ways and when a team,
(05:35):
I don't care at what point in the season you are,
and it is just something that goes even beyond the
sport of soccer. I think if you are starved for offense,
if you're going through a drought, that can weigh on
you mentally and then you start to think, oh my god,
we got to play so much better defensively. We can't
make a mistake. Anything you know, we do could be
(05:57):
fatal for us. So you got to have multiple ways
and confidence that the offense is going to come through.
And I think that again, while they didn't convert a
lot of those chances, they started creating them and I
think that you know, hopefully that is a trend over
the final couple of weeks of the season, and that continues,
they bury a few and then they're in a much
better place with that going into the postseason.
Speaker 5 (06:21):
All Right, I know this is the million dollar question,
but what is the key to sort of unlocking this
offense and this attack on the rain side. It's been
tough with Lyndn bian Dolo obviously being out for as
long as she has. I think that she was brought
into this team to spur offense. Right now, we're really
depending on just Fishlot coming in and you know, her
late game heroics. But we've got some real serious talent
(06:44):
in the attack. It's not you know, we're not starup
for talent. Jordan Heidema obviously twenty four years old, but
a huge veteran. Emriya Damas set to you know, set
a record potentially for goals by a teenager. We have
the offense, Matty Dolleen with all of her game winners.
We have pieces, but maybe put on your Laura Harvey hat.
What can we do to spur this attack? Is it
(07:07):
just a matter of just taking more shots and more chances?
Speaker 4 (07:09):
You know, like Steve said, you know this this last game,
there were a lot of opportunities. You know, if we
look back at Gotham, there weren't. But I think when
you go on the road for that game and to
get the point, you play that game a little bit differently.
I think that that was a tactical decision to just
stay very sound defensively and then you know, if you
get one, you get one, But you want to get
a point out of that game on the road, coming
home and playing Bay, they were a little bit more
(07:31):
app to go forward take those chances, and they had
really good chances. For me, it's really just a matter
of connecting a bit better. You saw some connection, but
then maybe a final pass was a little bit off,
but those chances were there. There were a lot of
very good chances, a lot of balls played through that
did connect, and then a few more that were just
(07:52):
a little bit off. So I think it's just building
on that consistency. I think, you know, if that clicks,
that clicks this weekend, amazing clicks on freight. But it's
not that the final third play has been poor. It's
just that they're getting in and then sometimes there's just
that little extra thing missing, or the ball is just
a little too far as played behind when it needs
(08:13):
to be played in front. So that gets corrected and
I think you're gonna see a lot more chances from
the rain.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
I think patients in the build up would be a
big benefit for them as well. Sometimes, as we've noted
on the broadcast, they get possession, they try to play quickly,
they try to play long balls, whether it's over the top,
whether it's on the ground, tighten the spaces between the players.
When you win possession, you know, kind of take inventory
of where everybody is, take a breath, you know, maybe
(08:41):
take a few touches, try to dribble for a moment
or two, and make safer passes, you know, not necessarily
negative passes and going backwards or sideways, but you know
something where there's just a shorter distance between players, and
then you can start the build that way instead of
(09:03):
immediately giving it back by playing a low percentage ball
up the pitch. So I think that if they can
get on the same page that way, that would go
a long way. In terms of personnel. The players I
like the most right now. Obviously Doleen with her pace
and the way she can cut in from the left
hand side is dangerous. I think a damis is due.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
I mean, she had the.
Speaker 6 (09:25):
Six goals earlier this season, but it's been two months
now since she scored. I think that she's dangerous and
is due for another goal or two here down the stretch.
I like Ainsley McCammon and the way she has come
in the last two weeks and helped create plays a
lot more mature than her age. She's only eighteen years old.
But I think her ability to not only score, but
(09:47):
set people up and be creative, I think is a
huge asset. I think those three and then if Sally
Menti can come back, if she's healthy after sitting out
last week. I think she is a big part of
offensive puzzle. And I think when you get into the
final third, not just settle for crosses, right and players
who might not be in position to receive those crosses.
(10:08):
Have runners, all right, have runners making the proper runs,
getting diagonal, going into the channel, and then having players
on the ball with the patients to wait for it,
find it and then feed it properly, I think is
the key as well.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
All Right, Laura, you are a former attacking player. I'm
sure you still play, you know, out in the backyard,
et cetera. Not so much for sure, I'm going to
say recently retired.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Oh wow, Okay, As.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
An attacking player, can you talk a little bit about
the psychology that goes. I mean, like Steve mentioned, Emery
Damas is two months away from a goal. She's definitely
do what's on in your head. If you're a you know,
an attacking player and your job is a score and
you're just not scoring, I think.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
A lot of the time. I mean, in the attacking third,
you really have to be to be resilient and know
that goals don't come easy in a spot where scoring
doesn't happen frequently. In order to kind of take that
pressure and take that pressure off, you have to continue
to be the most positive person on the field. Right,
It's always gonna be the next one. It's always gonna
(11:12):
be the next game. It's always going to be the
next moment that ball doesn't quite connect, I make the
next run, I lost it on the dribble. I'm gonna
do it again. It's gonna work this time. Keep her
held at that time. I'm going to follow. She's not
gonna hold it this time. It's always expecting the next
best thing is going to happen and then mentally being
prepared to capitalize that on that for your team. So
(11:32):
for me, it's it's I mean, it sounds kind of silly,
and I'm not sure that people always think of it
that way that that really on the attacking end, you
have to be very very positive. Now when you're defending,
it's a little bit different, right, you always have cover Why, well,
what if pressure doesn't work out, so you're always kind
of padging, and you know, like, let's make sure that
we have this cover just in case the attacking end.
(11:53):
You know, because you're not in the defensive third, you're
not in the most dangerous area of the field where
you're gonna get quote unquote punished for trying something and
not working out. You got to try things right, it's
got to be Oh, I think I can change this
little nuance of my run. I can split the defender's vision.
I can get into this gap. And I mean we
talk about her a lot, and there's a number of
players on this team that can do it, but I
(12:14):
think the best example of it right now is Jess Fishlock,
and just how does she always end up in the
right spot? Right? She's just kind of reading play. She's
getting in her years and years and years of experience
and knowing where the ball is likely going to go,
where she needs to be, how she needs to formulate
her calculation of how she's going to make the run.
Those things come with time, but at the end of
(12:35):
the day, it's really about always expecting the next one
to work out, all.
Speaker 6 (12:40):
Right, I like that.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
Okay, So a couple of positive postgame insights from this
BAFC results, so and this one actually stood out for me.
Seattle Rene have won eight points from losing positions in
the NWS all this season, and only Portland and Houston
dash ever covered more.
Speaker 6 (12:57):
There's been times this season where things have kind of
gone sideways for the Rain where it could have really snowballed,
and it could have really left them in a bad
situation in terms of a loss or just feeling really
bad vibes about a certain game, and they haven't let
(13:17):
that affect them. They have been resilient and they've come
back and they've turned that particular game around a couple
of times, whether it's been averaging a drawer or getting
all three points. You know, they have shown the ability
to do that. And I think, as we talked about
earlier with the offense, sometimes you just need to see
the ball go in. Sometimes you need that psychology to
work in your favor. I think that this is something
(13:39):
that is also a big benefit for them knowing that
they have the ability to do this, And I know
Laura Harvey has you know, drilled it into them that
you don't want to rely on it, but you know
that if you need to pull it out that you
have the capacity to do so. So I think that's
comforting going down the stretch too.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
I've got I've got thoughts. Now, you know this is
a this is a league where five hundred often gets
you into the playoffs. Right, you're not well over the
five hundred mark getting into the playoffs. That line is
typically right around five hundred. And what that tells me
is that you're gonna have to be resilient because you're
(14:19):
gonna tie games, You're gonna lose games. You know, everybody
is except for let's just say the share. Let's give
credit where credits to. Kansas City's only dropped two and
tied to which is an unbelievable regular season. But I mean,
after you look at that second in league is twelve wins,
four losses, eight draws. The playoff line. If you look
at eighth right now, you've got Louisville, they're nine wins,
(14:42):
six draws and nine losses. Right, so they're right at
five hundred. So over five hundred in this league for
a team, for a staff, for a club is a
good season. That's a playoff season. So in order to
continue to pursue and get over that line. You really
have to continue to be resilient because the bottom line
is is it those teams that make the playoffs, they're
(15:03):
not going to be well above five hundred. They will
have taken some losses and they're going to be fighting
to get in.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
That's a great point, and I actually didn't think about
that if you're at Kansas City. I mean, listen, everyone
wants to have the season that Kansas City is having.
You wouldn't read that and would take that just crazy.
But they also haven't really faced any adversity and going
into the postseason. And the team that I think of
when I think of the lack of adversity is that
Mariners team way way way back when that set the
(15:30):
regular season record and then lost the Yankees in the
pole season because they hadn't faced that adversity yet. Looking
ahead playing Utah Royals, hosting them at home. We actually
faced them back in June right before the break, winning
for to one. So that was a quite a match
and quite an offensive. I don't know if we've scored
(15:53):
four goals in another game, to be honest, off the
top of my head, that probably that's got to be
our highest total of the season. Not a terrible opponent
to be hosting, especially as we're moving towards the postseason hopefully.
What do we have to look forward to against Utah
on Friday?
Speaker 4 (16:11):
Hey, Utah is a team that I mean, the second
half of the season, they've been a much different team
than they were the first half. They really put themselves
at a disadvantage in the first half. Somehow with the
Centineur move, they seem to, at least record wise, have improved.
And that's not a reflection of centin Or, it's just
an observation of results. And their last five they've won
(16:33):
three out of their last five. So this is a
team that has had some momentum. Can't pinpoint exactly what
it is. Maybe it was pressure off and they went
into the second half and they were like, hey, let's
make a run. Let's see what we can do. But
you know, this isn't always the case. If you look
at Bay below them, you look at Chicago below them,
they haven't won a game last five and Utah has
won three out of five, So I think that says
(16:54):
something about where they're at and how they've been competing.
So I expected to be a very very competitive game that.
Speaker 6 (17:00):
Being said, I think it's a game that the rain
really need to win. It's not a must win mathematically,
but I think it's a game where coming off a
draw last week, in a series of draws, low scoring
over the course of the last couple of months, a
team you pounded on the road in your first meeting,
(17:23):
it's fan appreciation night, last home regular season game, a
team well below you in the standings, and the type
of team they've had trouble with all season long. They've
played down to some of their competition, teams below them
in the table they haven't gotten victories against. I think
this is one you have to take care of in
convincing fashion with the long term view of being in
(17:44):
the right mindset going into the playoffs, because after this game,
you go all the way to Orlando to wrap up
the regular season, and we know when you go west
to East, longest road trip of the season for them
here playing in Orlando, it's going to be hot and humid.
That's a game you could easily drop. So you know,
if you come away with another let's say, pedestrian nil
nil draw against Utah, then go and get beat by Orlando.
(18:08):
I mean you're limpid into the playoffs at that point,
that's not where you want to be. I think this
one has to be an emphatic victory for several different
reasons for the Rain to continue their progress and take
that next step.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
Yeah, I completely agree, And there's going to be a
ton of fanfare. Steve, you mentioned fan appreciation. On the seventeenth,
also the final home game, final home regular season game
for the legend, Lauren Barnes legend both in NWSL and
Seattle Rain. We will have more on her amazing career
when we come back. I have had the most incredible journey.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
It is storybook.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
I feel like I could not have imagined anything like this.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Yeah, and I'm just I'm proud of that. And Louke
kind of just looked up and was looking up at
the space name and she was like, man, how can
you have a bad day out here?
Speaker 5 (19:25):
I don't think there's anyone better for any organization to
have picked up thirteen years ago and allowed.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Her to lead the way she has.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
I mostly, I just I love it here.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
All right. We are back here with Rain Weekly. I
am Keiy Dunning with Laura Shott and Steve Schlanger, Huge
insane incredible. I don't even have another word for it.
News for the Rain and for NWSL, the absolute legend
Lauren Barnes Lou Barnes announcing her retirement at the end
(20:02):
of the season.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Well, I mean that longevity, that career, the accomplishments, everything
that she means to the city, everything that she means
to the club. I mean, I can't say that when
you're at that point in your career. It's ever, you know,
a complete surprise to hear that somebody might be considering retiring,
and then when they do, it's a little bit of like,
you know, oh, like we're not gonna We're not gonna
(20:25):
have her on the field anymore. I mean, she's just
been such a staple, she's such an icon. She's so steady,
She's played so many minutes, She's had so many appearances.
I think maybe the the graphic that I saw on
social that really hit me hard was how many more
appearances she has than some NWSL clubs. I liked at
(20:48):
that graphic and I was like, oh, my goodness, how
I can't even wrap my head around how many games
she's played and the impact she's had. When you put
up statistics like that, I mean, the two hundred and
fifty appearances was huge, but the fact that the league
was so young, there were so many less teams, and
then there's been so much change in teams. Just the
(21:11):
breadth of her career and what she's covered and just
to know that she's seen it all is really something
that makes her one of one.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
Longevity is not something easily achieved in this sport. It's physical,
it's demanding. You see a lot of careers that last
one or two years and then they end not by
the player's choice but by the body's choice. And to
be able to last this long, the durability, the reliability,
(21:42):
the level of skill and excellence that's been displayed on
a regular basis is extremely impressive and to me, as
far as the statistics in the records, the one that
is most notable is in minutes played. She is far
and away the leader in league history. The next closest
(22:05):
player in total minutes is some three thousand minutes behind her.
Three thousand minutes. Now, last I checked, the soccer game
itself was ninety minutes, so that's a lot of games.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Now.
Speaker 6 (22:20):
The one exception for the minute rule is obviously when
you play Chicago, and there's fifty minutes of at a
time at the end, but it's totally totally separate conversation.
But for Lou, I mean, three thousand more minutes than
the next player. You know, some of it comes down
to good jeans, good fortune, you know, the ability for
the body to hold up. But so much more of
(22:41):
that is just taking care of yourself, having the right mindset,
the right preparation, and just doing things that need to
be done to continue to prolong your career. And let's
face it, you know that, you know, sometimes you just
don't want.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
To do it right.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
You get to a certain point, and we've talked to
Kellen about this too, it's like I'm just done, you know,
I'm just I get to I've been taking care of
my body for so long and doing the right things,
and it requires so much on a daily basis, not
just days of training and games, but even when you're away,
even when you're on vacation, paying attention to how you
(23:21):
eat and the physical activity you do, the rest you get.
I mean, it's a NonStop, twenty four to seven process.
And to be able to do it this long with
this much discipline is something that's also extremely impressive.
Speaker 5 (23:33):
And she's really solidified herself as an icon in Seattle
doing so much off the field as well as on
the field. I'm just gonna you know, here's her final
accolades leagues all time leader in games played two fifty
games started, two thirty eight minutes, twenty nine hundred and forty.
In twenty twenty four, Lou became the first player in
n WSL history to reach one hundred regular season wins.
(23:56):
She helps Seattle to three and WSL shields twenty four ten,
twenty fifteen, twenty twenty two, twenty. She was the twenty
sixteen NWUSL Defender of the Year, and she was named
the NAUSEL Best eleven first Team twice in twenty fifteen
and twenty sixteen, the second team twice in twenty fourteen,
twenty nineteen only Cow. She is truly one of She's
(24:16):
got to be on the Mount Rushmore of Seattle athletes.
I think that's kind of a no brainer, to be
totally real. We've talked about, you know what award, what
league awards should be named after Lou Barnes, and there's
a number of them that, frankly, I mean, I don't
even know where to start. She's amazing. Congratulations Lauren Barnes.
We're so excited for you. We're sad for us that
(24:38):
we aren't going to get to watch you play soccer anymore.
But you have so much more to offer other than
just being a soccer player, and you've shown that throughout
your entire career. So congratulations to you.
His Fishlock drifted wide now driving inside Fishlock Doleen Dolen
drives doors fish old fish drop the fishlock.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It's alway, it's gonna be.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Jess fish up.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
The crowd goes well, because see I'm ready to equalized.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Backline, driving and dragging the center backs back, doing enough
here to just keep it alive. And then Fishlock says,
all right, I'll take it from here, puts her body
in front of it, chest foot, back.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Of the neck.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
I love how quick it is from Fishlock to get
that shot off. This is what she did earlier this year,
she drove the comeback. Can't she drive it yet again?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Jess Fishlock time and time again, elating Laura Harvey.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Everywhere beyond people.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
What a.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Fight the way we changed the game, No penal change me.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Break away divide.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
We're built to drive right, We're shot with Genewhere upon.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
The ras Hey rise up, hey hey panda, He.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Rise up, hey, hey.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Panda. Hi.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Everyone back with Rain weekly Keeley Dunning here with Lord
Shot and Steve Schlin, our broadcast talent for Fox thirteen
plus all season this year. Following the Rain, A lot
to go over today, huge retirement announcement. We'll get to later.
Lou Barnes legend amazing, incredible, so excited about that for
her and her next chapter. But the Rain still playing
(02:18):
this season, still a couple of games and still not
technically in the playoffs yet. Let's start with a look
back at the match last week last Friday. I know
there was a Mariners game that ended up finishing somehow
after our game. I have no idea how that was
even possible, but somehow, some way. But the Rain are
also in a playoff push, tying Bay FC one to one.
(02:42):
You guys were both calling that game. Laura your take first,
and then Steve, want to hear what your guys' thoughts
on the Tiber's Bay.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Well, it was a competitive game, like we thought it
would be, you know, babing out of the playoffs. That
adds a different dynamic this time of year, and also
their coach will be leaving at the conclusion of the season.
But Bay's spin and they've had a potent attack all year,
and that was really that game was really no different.
They got that first goal off of a giveaway in
(03:11):
the back and encountered very very quickly, so you know
it was Kuna Naji to huff and she buried it.
But coming back from that, the Rain know at this
point in the season that they can come back from
goals like that, and I think that that's one of
the big takeaways from that game, coming back and getting
the tie. Also, you know they've made a habit of
this now where and I hate to bring it up,
(03:34):
but of course we go back to the Chicago game
where it ended up being a tie. I think everybody
wanted the three out of that. Of course, However, when
you have an experience like that, and you have a
young team, and then you have the leadership that you
have and those all come together like you want them to,
you start to build a resilience. The players experience that
and they go, we can that can't happen again. And
so I love the fact that the Rain are starting
(03:56):
to build that resilience they have. The young players who
have that experience now can play any nomer of lineups,
number of people. So there's a lot of mystery I
think for opponents now looking forward for the Rain and
how they're going to come out, what formation they're going
to play, what players are going to start, how many
minutes they are going to get When Jeff Fishlock's going
to come on and get a game winner. I think
all those things are in play, so it's really exciting
(04:17):
looking forward. But it was a very very good, big game.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
Steve, that's on the game versus big.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
I agree, and I'll see you Friday.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Now.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
All of that I believe is true. In addition, I
think that one of the things that I liked about
the game is the fact that even though they only
got the goal from Fishlock late in the second half,
they created a lot of chances in different ways, and
that's something that's kind of been missing, and a few
(04:52):
of those opportunities, you know, we're near misses, they were close,
and the fact that they're starting to generate some of
those I think is a good sign because I think
the biggest deficiency over the last probably two months now
is the fact that they just haven't scored goals. And
you know, they've been getting some results, they've been pulling
off draws, but they just haven't been, you know, making
(05:14):
big statements. With the exception of that come from behind
win over North Carolina, And as you're getting closer to
the postseason, at some point, you know you have to
see balls going into the back of the net. You
have to have the belief that you can win. You're
going to win, you have ways and when a team,
(05:35):
I don't care at what point in the season you are,
and it is just something that goes even beyond the
sport of soccer. I think if you are starved for offense,
if you're going through a drought, that can weigh on
you mentally and then you start to think, oh my god,
we got to play so much better defensively. We can't
make a mistake. Anything you know, we do could be
(05:57):
fatal for us. So you got to have multiple ways
and confidence that the offense is going to come through.
And I think that again, while they didn't convert a
lot of those chances, they started creating them and I
think that you know, hopefully that is a trend over
the final couple of weeks of the season, and that continues,
they bury a few and then they're in a much
better place with that going into the postseason.
Speaker 5 (06:21):
All Right, I know this is the million dollar question,
but what is the key to sort of unlocking this
offense and this attack on the rain side. It's been
tough with Lyndn bian Dolo obviously being out for as
long as she has. I think that she was brought
into this team to spur offense. Right now, we're really
depending on just Fishlot coming in and you know, her
late game heroics. But we've got some real serious talent
(06:44):
in the attack. It's not you know, we're not starup
for talent. Jordan Heidema obviously twenty four years old, but
a huge veteran. Emriya Damas set to you know, set
a record potentially for goals by a teenager. We have
the offense, Matty Dolleen with all of her game winners.
We have pieces, but maybe put on your Laura Harvey hat.
What can we do to spur this attack? Is it
(07:07):
just a matter of just taking more shots and more chances?
Speaker 4 (07:09):
You know, like Steve said, you know this this last game,
there were a lot of opportunities. You know, if we
look back at Gotham, there weren't. But I think when
you go on the road for that game and to
get the point, you play that game a little bit differently.
I think that that was a tactical decision to just
stay very sound defensively and then you know, if you
get one, you get one, But you want to get
a point out of that game on the road, coming
home and playing Bay, they were a little bit more
(07:31):
app to go forward take those chances, and they had
really good chances. For me, it's really just a matter
of connecting a bit better. You saw some connection, but
then maybe a final pass was a little bit off,
but those chances were there. There were a lot of
very good chances, a lot of balls played through that
did connect, and then a few more that were just
(07:52):
a little bit off. So I think it's just building
on that consistency. I think, you know, if that clicks,
that clicks this weekend, amazing clicks on freight. But it's
not that the final third play has been poor. It's
just that they're getting in and then sometimes there's just
that little extra thing missing, or the ball is just
a little too far as played behind when it needs
(08:13):
to be played in front. So that gets corrected and
I think you're gonna see a lot more chances from
the rain.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
I think patients in the build up would be a
big benefit for them as well. Sometimes, as we've noted
on the broadcast, they get possession, they try to play quickly,
they try to play long balls, whether it's over the top,
whether it's on the ground, tighten the spaces between the players.
When you win possession, you know, kind of take inventory
of where everybody is, take a breath, you know, maybe
(08:41):
take a few touches, try to dribble for a moment
or two, and make safer passes, you know, not necessarily
negative passes and going backwards or sideways, but you know
something where there's just a shorter distance between players, and
then you can start the build that way instead of
(09:03):
immediately giving it back by playing a low percentage ball
up the pitch. So I think that if they can
get on the same page that way, that would go
a long way. In terms of personnel. The players I
like the most right now. Obviously Doleen with her pace
and the way she can cut in from the left
hand side is dangerous. I think a damis is due.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
I mean, she had the.
Speaker 6 (09:25):
Six goals earlier this season, but it's been two months
now since she scored. I think that she's dangerous and
is due for another goal or two here down the stretch.
I like Ainsley McCammon and the way she has come
in the last two weeks and helped create plays a
lot more mature than her age. She's only eighteen years old.
But I think her ability to not only score, but
(09:47):
set people up and be creative, I think is a
huge asset. I think those three and then if Sally
Menti can come back, if she's healthy after sitting out
last week. I think she is a big part of
offensive puzzle. And I think when you get into the
final third, not just settle for crosses, right and players
who might not be in position to receive those crosses.
(10:08):
Have runners, all right, have runners making the proper runs,
getting diagonal, going into the channel, and then having players
on the ball with the patients to wait for it,
find it and then feed it properly, I think is
the key as well.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
All Right, Laura, you are a former attacking player. I'm
sure you still play, you know, out in the backyard,
et cetera. Not so much for sure, I'm going to
say recently retired.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Oh wow, Okay, As.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
An attacking player, can you talk a little bit about
the psychology that goes. I mean, like Steve mentioned, Emery
Damas is two months away from a goal. She's definitely
do what's on in your head. If you're a you know,
an attacking player and your job is a score and
you're just not scoring, I think.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
A lot of the time. I mean, in the attacking third,
you really have to be to be resilient and know
that goals don't come easy in a spot where scoring
doesn't happen frequently. In order to kind of take that
pressure and take that pressure off, you have to continue
to be the most positive person on the field. Right,
It's always gonna be the next one. It's always gonna
(11:12):
be the next game. It's always going to be the
next moment that ball doesn't quite connect, I make the
next run, I lost it on the dribble. I'm gonna
do it again. It's gonna work this time. Keep her
held at that time. I'm going to follow. She's not
gonna hold it this time. It's always expecting the next
best thing is going to happen and then mentally being
prepared to capitalize that on that for your team. So
(11:32):
for me, it's it's I mean, it sounds kind of silly,
and I'm not sure that people always think of it
that way that that really on the attacking end, you
have to be very very positive. Now when you're defending,
it's a little bit different, right, you always have cover Why, well,
what if pressure doesn't work out, so you're always kind
of padging, and you know, like, let's make sure that
we have this cover just in case the attacking end.
(11:53):
You know, because you're not in the defensive third, you're
not in the most dangerous area of the field where
you're gonna get quote unquote punished for trying something and
not working out. You got to try things right, it's
got to be Oh, I think I can change this
little nuance of my run. I can split the defender's vision.
I can get into this gap. And I mean we
talk about her a lot, and there's a number of
players on this team that can do it, but I
(12:14):
think the best example of it right now is Jess Fishlock,
and just how does she always end up in the
right spot? Right? She's just kind of reading play. She's
getting in her years and years and years of experience
and knowing where the ball is likely going to go,
where she needs to be, how she needs to formulate
her calculation of how she's going to make the run.
Those things come with time, but at the end of
(12:35):
the day, it's really about always expecting the next one
to work out, all.
Speaker 6 (12:40):
Right, I like that.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
Okay, So a couple of positive postgame insights from this
BAFC results, so and this one actually stood out for me.
Seattle Rene have won eight points from losing positions in
the NWS all this season, and only Portland and Houston
dash ever covered more.
Speaker 6 (12:57):
There's been times this season where things have kind of
gone sideways for the Rain where it could have really snowballed,
and it could have really left them in a bad
situation in terms of a loss or just feeling really
bad vibes about a certain game, and they haven't let
(13:17):
that affect them. They have been resilient and they've come
back and they've turned that particular game around a couple
of times, whether it's been averaging a drawer or getting
all three points. You know, they have shown the ability
to do that. And I think, as we talked about
earlier with the offense, sometimes you just need to see
the ball go in. Sometimes you need that psychology to
work in your favor. I think that this is something
(13:39):
that is also a big benefit for them knowing that
they have the ability to do this, And I know
Laura Harvey has you know, drilled it into them that
you don't want to rely on it, but you know
that if you need to pull it out that you
have the capacity to do so. So I think that's
comforting going down the stretch too.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
I've got I've got thoughts. Now, you know this is
a this is a league where five hundred often gets
you into the playoffs. Right, you're not well over the
five hundred mark getting into the playoffs. That line is
typically right around five hundred. And what that tells me
is that you're gonna have to be resilient because you're
(14:19):
gonna tie games, You're gonna lose games. You know, everybody
is except for let's just say the share. Let's give
credit where credits to. Kansas City's only dropped two and
tied to which is an unbelievable regular season. But I mean,
after you look at that second in league is twelve wins,
four losses, eight draws. The playoff line. If you look
at eighth right now, you've got Louisville, they're nine wins,
(14:42):
six draws and nine losses. Right, so they're right at
five hundred. So over five hundred in this league for
a team, for a staff, for a club is a
good season. That's a playoff season. So in order to
continue to pursue and get over that line. You really
have to continue to be resilient because the bottom line
is is it those teams that make the playoffs, they're
(15:03):
not going to be well above five hundred. They will
have taken some losses and they're going to be fighting
to get in.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
That's a great point, and I actually didn't think about
that if you're at Kansas City. I mean, listen, everyone
wants to have the season that Kansas City is having.
You wouldn't read that and would take that just crazy.
But they also haven't really faced any adversity and going
into the postseason. And the team that I think of
when I think of the lack of adversity is that
Mariners team way way way back when that set the
(15:30):
regular season record and then lost the Yankees in the
pole season because they hadn't faced that adversity yet. Looking
ahead playing Utah Royals, hosting them at home. We actually
faced them back in June right before the break, winning
for to one. So that was a quite a match
and quite an offensive. I don't know if we've scored
(15:53):
four goals in another game, to be honest, off the
top of my head, that probably that's got to be
our highest total of the season. Not a terrible opponent
to be hosting, especially as we're moving towards the postseason hopefully.
What do we have to look forward to against Utah
on Friday?
Speaker 4 (16:11):
Hey, Utah is a team that I mean, the second
half of the season, they've been a much different team
than they were the first half. They really put themselves
at a disadvantage in the first half. Somehow with the
Centineur move, they seem to, at least record wise, have improved.
And that's not a reflection of centin Or, it's just
an observation of results. And their last five they've won
(16:33):
three out of their last five. So this is a
team that has had some momentum. Can't pinpoint exactly what
it is. Maybe it was pressure off and they went
into the second half and they were like, hey, let's
make a run. Let's see what we can do. But
you know, this isn't always the case. If you look
at Bay below them, you look at Chicago below them,
they haven't won a game last five and Utah has
won three out of five, So I think that says
(16:54):
something about where they're at and how they've been competing.
So I expected to be a very very competitive game that.
Speaker 6 (17:00):
Being said, I think it's a game that the rain
really need to win. It's not a must win mathematically,
but I think it's a game where coming off a
draw last week, in a series of draws, low scoring
over the course of the last couple of months, a
team you pounded on the road in your first meeting,
(17:23):
it's fan appreciation night, last home regular season game, a
team well below you in the standings, and the type
of team they've had trouble with all season long. They've
played down to some of their competition, teams below them
in the table they haven't gotten victories against. I think
this is one you have to take care of in
convincing fashion with the long term view of being in
(17:44):
the right mindset going into the playoffs, because after this game,
you go all the way to Orlando to wrap up
the regular season, and we know when you go west
to East, longest road trip of the season for them
here playing in Orlando, it's going to be hot and humid.
That's a game you could easily drop. So you know,
if you come away with another let's say, pedestrian nil
nil draw against Utah, then go and get beat by Orlando.
(18:08):
I mean you're limpid into the playoffs at that point,
that's not where you want to be. I think this
one has to be an emphatic victory for several different
reasons for the Rain to continue their progress and take
that next step.
Speaker 5 (18:23):
Yeah, I completely agree, And there's going to be a
ton of fanfare. Steve, you mentioned fan appreciation. On the seventeenth,
also the final home game, final home regular season game
for the legend, Lauren Barnes legend both in NWSL and
Seattle Rain. We will have more on her amazing career
when we come back. I have had the most incredible journey.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
It is storybook.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
I feel like I could not have imagined anything like this.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Yeah, and I'm just I'm proud of that. And Louke
kind of just looked up and was looking up at
the space name and she was like, man, how can
you have a bad day out here?
Speaker 5 (19:25):
I don't think there's anyone better for any organization to
have picked up thirteen years ago and allowed.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Her to lead the way she has.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
I mostly, I just I love it here.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
All right. We are back here with Rain Weekly. I
am Keiy Dunning with Laura Shott and Steve Schlanger, Huge
insane incredible. I don't even have another word for it.
News for the Rain and for NWSL, the absolute legend
Lauren Barnes Lou Barnes announcing her retirement at the end
(20:02):
of the season.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Well, I mean that longevity, that career, the accomplishments, everything
that she means to the city, everything that she means
to the club. I mean, I can't say that when
you're at that point in your career. It's ever, you know,
a complete surprise to hear that somebody might be considering retiring,
and then when they do, it's a little bit of like,
you know, oh, like we're not gonna We're not gonna
(20:25):
have her on the field anymore. I mean, she's just
been such a staple, she's such an icon. She's so steady,
She's played so many minutes, She's had so many appearances.
I think maybe the the graphic that I saw on
social that really hit me hard was how many more
appearances she has than some NWSL clubs. I liked at
(20:48):
that graphic and I was like, oh, my goodness, how
I can't even wrap my head around how many games
she's played and the impact she's had. When you put
up statistics like that, I mean, the two hundred and
fifty appearances was huge, but the fact that the league
was so young, there were so many less teams, and
then there's been so much change in teams. Just the
(21:11):
breadth of her career and what she's covered and just
to know that she's seen it all is really something
that makes her one of one.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
Longevity is not something easily achieved in this sport. It's physical,
it's demanding. You see a lot of careers that last
one or two years and then they end not by
the player's choice but by the body's choice. And to
be able to last this long, the durability, the reliability,
(21:42):
the level of skill and excellence that's been displayed on
a regular basis is extremely impressive and to me, as
far as the statistics in the records, the one that
is most notable is in minutes played. She is far
and away the leader in league history. The next closest
(22:05):
player in total minutes is some three thousand minutes behind her.
Three thousand minutes. Now, last I checked, the soccer game
itself was ninety minutes, so that's a lot of games.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Now.
Speaker 6 (22:20):
The one exception for the minute rule is obviously when
you play Chicago, and there's fifty minutes of at a
time at the end, but it's totally totally separate conversation.
But for Lou, I mean, three thousand more minutes than
the next player. You know, some of it comes down
to good jeans, good fortune, you know, the ability for
the body to hold up. But so much more of
(22:41):
that is just taking care of yourself, having the right mindset,
the right preparation, and just doing things that need to
be done to continue to prolong your career. And let's
face it, you know that, you know, sometimes you just
don't want.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
To do it right.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
You get to a certain point, and we've talked to
Kellen about this too, it's like I'm just done, you know,
I'm just I get to I've been taking care of
my body for so long and doing the right things,
and it requires so much on a daily basis, not
just days of training and games, but even when you're away,
even when you're on vacation, paying attention to how you
(23:21):
eat and the physical activity you do, the rest you get.
I mean, it's a NonStop, twenty four to seven process.
And to be able to do it this long with
this much discipline is something that's also extremely impressive.
Speaker 5 (23:33):
And she's really solidified herself as an icon in Seattle
doing so much off the field as well as on
the field. I'm just gonna you know, here's her final
accolades leagues all time leader in games played two fifty
games started, two thirty eight minutes, twenty nine hundred and forty.
In twenty twenty four, Lou became the first player in
n WSL history to reach one hundred regular season wins.
(23:56):
She helps Seattle to three and WSL shields twenty four ten,
twenty fifteen, twenty twenty two, twenty. She was the twenty
sixteen NWUSL Defender of the Year, and she was named
the NAUSEL Best eleven first Team twice in twenty fifteen
and twenty sixteen, the second team twice in twenty fourteen,
twenty nineteen only Cow. She is truly one of She's
(24:16):
got to be on the Mount Rushmore of Seattle athletes.
I think that's kind of a no brainer, to be
totally real. We've talked about, you know what award, what
league awards should be named after Lou Barnes, and there's
a number of them that, frankly, I mean, I don't
even know where to start. She's amazing. Congratulations Lauren Barnes.
We're so excited for you. We're sad for us that
(24:38):
we aren't going to get to watch you play soccer anymore.
But you have so much more to offer other than
just being a soccer player, and you've shown that throughout
your entire career. So congratulations to you.
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