November 12, 2025 • 27 mins
Sounder At Heart’s Susie Rantz joins Reign Weekly to give her quick takes on the 2025 season following the Reign’s 2-0 postseason loss at Orlando. Keely Dunning, Laura Schott and Kelyn Rowe breakdown that final game, give out some team superlatives, and discuss the legacy of Lu Barnes.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Everywhere we go.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
You fight me way we changed the game, no fear,
no change me. Freak away.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
You must divide.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Were filed to drive Watch Up with Jane, where upon
ras Hey rise up, he he he rise up he heyda.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Hi everybody.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
I am so excited to be joined by Susie, Rant's
longtime contributor to Sounder at Heart, Covering Seattle, Raying, Epsy. Susie,
so excited to have you. It's been a while since
our last radio broadcast that we did together, way back
when I'm sure we'll do more of those next season. Unfortunately,
we now have to start talking about next season because
the Rain did fall to nil to Orlando, the defending
(01:14):
NWSL champions at Orlando. Susie, let's go through your thoughts
on that to nil loss.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
First, Yeah, I mean, well, one word I guess we
can start with, which is mart not to talk about
the other team too much. But she continues to be
such a threat, and she showed why she is one
of the greatest of all time in that match and
definitely got the better of the Rain despite that, though
there were so many promising things that that the Rain
(01:40):
did that certainly put them so close to equalizing or
even multiple goals. But that is where as Laura Harvey
likes to say, goals change games. And that was the
one stat that the Rain couldn't dominate and they couldn't
find the back of the net.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Yeah, I will say yes, the Rain went down one
nil and about the twentieth minute, twenty first minute off
of that Haley McCutcheon goal, which was a very well
played goal by Orlando, starting all the way at the
end of their half and just building it up in transition.
Was pretty incredible to watch. And Fete mclarenan was actually there,
so she was in position. We didn't do anything wrong.
(02:19):
It was just sort of quality on their side. But
a lot of positives to take away from the Rain season.
Last year finishing second to last, this season finishing in fifth.
What can you say about the growth of this team
from twenty twenty four to the end of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 5 (02:36):
Well, it's yeah, last year twenty three points, this year
thirty nine points in the regular season, and like you said,
that jump in where they finished on the table and
there were not as not a lot of expectations of
this Rains squad heading into the season after what they
went through last year. They brought in a lot of
young players, but not a lot of like proven talent.
(02:57):
So I think the theme that I I come back
to this year is the team was a real mix
of veterans who have been with this team for a
long time and really young players, many of whom have
not played professionally for more than a year. And to
see that mixture come together so quickly was really promising,
(03:19):
And to see the team play really consistently throughout the
year was something that was really nice to see. There
weren't really high highs and there weren't really low lows
throughout the season, so lots to build on for next
season for sure.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Mattie Dellen the perfect encapsulation of that, being able to
play on the left wing back as well as you know,
on the wing, really really exciting from her and Rookie
of the Year candidate.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Yeah, one thing that was really exciting to see is
she finished with four goals and for assists. So not
only can she create her own shot and using her speed,
but she can set up her teammates from the left wing,
and like you mentioned, she was doing that from a
deeper position as a wingback or starting higher up the field,
so she brings just so much versatility. So she tied
(04:04):
with Jess Fischlock for the most goal contributions on the
team this year, and I think she was, like most
the most consistent attacker on the team. And this is
her first professional season. She just turned twenty one this season,
so nowhere to go but up. You know, how does
she take that speed and continue to develop the decision
(04:25):
making in front of goal? How does the team continue
to try to find her in better positions. That's all
stuff that we get to figure out over the next
couple of years.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
It does feel like there are going to be less
questions for the Rain going into next year, as opposed
to the previous off season. I think it was very
uncertain where this team was going to go. Like you said,
a lot of really young players, Maddy Dollan playing her
first for example, playing her first professional season this year.
You know, you see the talent of these players obviously
(04:53):
and where they came. I mean, she was played at UNC,
one of the powerhouses. Of course she's going to be great,
but you never know going from college to professional.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
All tons of questions.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Were in this past off season, you know, are just
fishlock and a lou Barn's going to retire. For example,
lou Barnes retiring at the end of the season kind
of unfortunate. Her last game was at Orlando. You know,
not ideal by any means, But I don't want to
take anything away from the celebration of what she's done
(05:23):
for this team and the effect that she's had. And
you have to believe that she's a big reason why
these young players were able to integrate as well as
they were. Just from a leadership perspective. Let's take a
couple of minutes and just you know, you've been covering
the team for forever. You've been there, You've seen her
through memorial, you've seen her through all of the years.
(05:43):
Talk about lou Barnes's journey and what she's meant to
the Rain.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
Yeah, someone who has been with the Rain since the
very beginning in twenty thirteen, and I don't think people
can truly appreciate what it means to lead your team
from behind the scene. For the twelve years that she's
been here, she was the leader in the locker room.
She is the reason that players want to come to Seattle.
(06:08):
That she's created a culture where every player feels embraced, accepted,
and she's done that all on top of being a
really high caliber player. Played the most minutes in the league,
the most appearances in the league, and you don't do
that without being consistently good, consistently really good to take
care of your body, and to do this in a
(06:31):
league and with a team that had so much uncertainty,
So it's not just you want to just be able
to play soccer. But the league went through transitions. Pay
was bad back in the day. The Rain have gone
through ownership changes, training facility changes, home field changes, and
she's been kind, welcoming and a really consistent player throughout
(06:55):
it all.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Susie, any closing thoughts as we unfortunately close off twenty
twenty five on the field, will obviously continue to follow
NWSL playoffs as they continue, but any final thoughts on
the Rain and their performance this year.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
I think that there's lots to improve in the off
season and improve in this team, but it was so
exciting to see the growth in one year, and from
the NWSL teams that I've seen have a lot of
success in recent years, they struggled two or three years ago. Orlando,
the Washington Spirit, even Kansas City Current. All these teams
(07:31):
that are still fighting in the playoffs didn't make it
a few years ago, didn't make the playoffs a few
years ago. So the build does take time, and I
think we saw a lot of exciting components come together
fast this year. But I'm really eager to see what
the off season brings and how they are able to
kind of keep that core of great talent but add
(07:52):
a lot of fun components. So that's what I'll be
paying attention to.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Yeah, definitely a lot of positives to build on. I
think that, you know, this is a new Rain in
a lot of ways, with a lot of really new faces.
But they proved that they can get real results this
year and bigger and better to next year.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Thanks for joining us, Susie, appreciate it. Laura Shatt and
Kelen Row join Rain Weekly when we come back.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Kiley Dunning here for Rain Weekly with Laura Shott as
usual and special guest and normal guest Kellan Row.
Speaker 6 (08:33):
Let's stick with the special piece.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yeah, special guests will go special.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
He just got done with his well not done, but
he's in the middle of his grown up job and
now we get to you know, not be grown ups
and have some fun for twenty minutes. Unfortunately, Rain season
is over. I'll let you guys, let's rip the band
aid off really quick. What were your guys' thoughts on
that to no loss, just real quick, and then we'll
move on to positives.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Well, I think I would speak for all of us
that you know, we were sad and it was a bummer,
disappointing not to go on well fought match, hard to
go back to back, hard to be in Orlando in
the last game of the season and then go back
to Orlando to play a playoff match, So a lot
of variables there.
Speaker 7 (09:14):
Yeah, just a.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Bummer for the Rain. Congrats to Orlando. I mean, a
lot of a lot of good plays in that game,
a lot of good attacks, a lot of good chances
for both sides. And you know, I also just want
to acknowledge that I think we all also felt the
heart strings for Orlando at the end of the game
with Murder's run and how that ended with the PK.
(09:38):
So you know, hats off to Orlando. Very very good
season for the Rain and the thirteen finish the previous
year to the fourth.
Speaker 7 (09:48):
That's ur sorry, fifth, that's very hard.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
To do.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
So, yeah, all around, good season, looking forward to twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
None of us are unfortunately it's very sad, but I
don't think anyone's were, right, none of us were really surprised.
It's towards the specit towards the end of the season
and what was going on everyone. In my mind, I
was like, I want the game to end. When Lou
retired at home, like that was it. That season's done. Thanks,
everyone wipe it away because obviously everything else is just
added on. Obviously she adds to her itally again, right,
(10:18):
more games played, more games started, that's really cool, playoff
games included, so that's that's great. But I don't think
anyone's surprised. I don't love the I don't know it's
seeding in things. But like you said, Orlando back then
back to Orlando again, it's like some kind of regional
thing has to happen, right, we had to add more
teams for that to happen, But there's got to be
some sense of a regional based tournament to make it
(10:42):
into the final, right, very similar to what the MLS
does or any other league does, where you have that,
you know we should be playing the West coast West
esque coast teams and then East coast teams and you
kind of meet up in the middle. I do like
that aspect because it is it's difficult, right, it's a
six six hour flight there, three hour time difference, try
and get acclimated. Don't really get acclimated. And what are
(11:02):
you going to do? Stay for a week and a half. No,
you're not going to stay for a week. That sucks.
So you fly back because everyone has families, people have kids,
people have whatever it may be. You go back to
your home base, sleep in your bed, and then you
know two days later you got to fly another six
hours back. My legs can't do that. And I'm not
playing like it's just that's a hard that's a hard ask,
(11:24):
So I'm not surprised. Unfortunately, the season's done, which means
we don't get to see each other's pretty faces as much.
We will still see it, but not as much. And yeah,
looking forward to twenty twenty six, see what happens.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I was going to say, I'll hear less about UCLA,
but both of my parents went to UCLA, so that's
not going to happen. When I go home for Christmas,
I'm going to get to hear it all over again
because I'm trapped.
Speaker 6 (11:45):
Uh, by the way, I didn't say anything, no UCLA,
I didn't even bring up college. I didn't even bring
up anything.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
However, triggered now all the time.
Speaker 6 (11:52):
Everyone just loves talking about my alma mater.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Yeah, don't they just us speaking.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
Alter if you don't graduate, I don't know either way,
it's it is.
Speaker 7 (12:00):
We just can't knows the difference you don't.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Have somewhere all my mater. Absolutely it is. That's yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Of course, speaking of lou Barnes records, she actually did
set one more record, so pretty cool. Most playoff appearances twelve,
She was tied with Megan Rappino.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
They both had eleven.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
Now she is twelve, so what is that then twenty
records that she has. No, she's got, I mean, she's
got the award named after her now, but build a frickin' statue,
Holy cow, first name drop the jersey. I don't care,
do it.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
All? We did talk about that shirt looking like she
belonged on Mount Rushmore, and I think does I mean, yeah,
you're speaking of statues.
Speaker 7 (12:39):
I mean I think we have a good mold for that.
Speaker 6 (12:41):
And well, everyone needs us, Everyone needs the soldier, right,
you talk about like these these different Mount Rushmore's and
things of that sort. You talk about the greatest players,
obviously Meg Megan Rappino, the biggest name that one of
the best players to ever play in the NWSL. You
talk about Marta as well, again the player esque. But
you talk about someone who's been here for a very
long time, right, what thirteen.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Seasons the longest she could have longest she.
Speaker 6 (13:04):
Could have because she played for one team. She was
the soldier the whole time. Everyone years. She did have
a small stint with the national team, but when people
were away of the national team, the games are still
going on, who was still involved. Lou Barnes like she
is the she is the one holding up that Mount Rushmore.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
In my opinion, well, it just feels like from an
outsider perspective that and just speaking with everyone who knows her,
that she does so much unseen work behind the scenes
all the time, and it's just so wonderful to everyone
that she meets, no matter who they are, what their
status is, where they work, what they do, and that
alone deserves to me a place in Seattle's sports Mount Rushmore.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
But then we can't forget what an incredible player she's
been too.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Oh yeah, well yeah, stepping out of this rain family
with you guys, and I mean, know, Kellen, I don't
know how many years you've been friends with her. I
know it's been a lot of years. I think for me,
that's just been evident that while she has all these
awards and all these accomplishments and all these things she's
done and how she's led this team, you don't get
(14:07):
the respect that she has earned, and you don't you
don't have the same feeling if somebody hasn't put their
heart and soul into an organization and that everybody feels that.
And that's been evident for me from the beginning getting
in here. And it's just like everybody loves Lou Barnes.
They speak of her so highly, and you don't get
that by winning one award or a few awards, or
(14:29):
all the awards that she's won. You get that from
all that other work that people are doing behind the scenes,
and you can tell that this organization feels that inside
and out.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
I'm gonna pull something out, Kellen. Your favorite movie as
a kid was What Hercules? Right, Yeah, you're a big
Hercules fan.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
She's Hercules like she literally is. She is going to
have a constellation.
Speaker 8 (14:48):
Sure, sure, sure, but she's going to have a constellation,
not just a statue like that's the legacy.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Oka, It's not just.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
The on the field, it's clearly the off the field.
And again from an outside perspective.
Speaker 6 (15:06):
Flourished your Disney nerd just love it.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
I was just listening to the soundtrack on my way
to work because it's not well, no, this is my
other nerdness. It was it's now a Broadway musical, so
of course I had to listen to the Broadway musical
version of that is.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Checking out on Spotify. It's now on Broadway.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
I'm also, while we're on the topic, obviously Tarzan has
the best soundtrack.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Phil Collins, I mean yeah, I mean that's just.
Speaker 6 (15:33):
His it's just his new album, right, that was just
his album at the time.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
It was great, dude, if you rewatch that movie, the
way the villain dies is very dark. Just rewatch It's
that's a dark movie for kids.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Dear.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Okay, uh, let's talk back to soccer.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
Back to soccer.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
This was my This is totally my fault.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
This was one hundred percent of my fault, Lou Barnes,
Hercules calend Rowe you get to be uh Megara?
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Uh? Why not? Purple looks great on you, so you
can wear purple? I heard there you go, all right.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Lots of rain players are up for end of season awards,
which is super exciting. Claudia Dickey Goalkeeper of the Year,
Jordan Bug Defender of the Year, and Maddie Dalen Rookie
of the Year. Incredible. I don't disagree obviously with any
of those choices. Who do you think has the best
shot of winning one of those?
Speaker 7 (16:23):
Do you think, ooh, Kellen, do you want to go first?
Speaker 6 (16:26):
You got Laudia, I got Claudia. I think there's a
good amount of rookies that were in the league that
scored more goals, that were a little last year. Has
got some more minutes with the national team than Maddy DLin.
I think she was incredible for the Rain. I think
she is just starting. She's going to grow so much
if she continues on the trend that she's on. Jordan
Bug again youthful. I think there were some veteran players
(16:49):
in there that have to be taken into account. And
our season wasn't as good in the defensive areas. In
many of times we didn't win enough games in that sense,
so I think that one's going to go a little
bit on the lower side. And then Claudia Dicky, I
think with the up and coming of the national team,
playing for the national team, consistently playing for the national
(17:10):
team at least one game during these friendlies, and the
amount of shutouts she had for US, but also the
quality of saves she was up to save the week,
I think almost every week. That's an incredible stat. And
I understand that more players are going to have more
shutouts than her because the teams were a little bit
better on the defensive side. But I think that her
stature of saves and the amount of saves and the
(17:33):
quality of saves will push her to the top.
Speaker 7 (17:36):
That'sry well, Ellen, I love that.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Well. I'm going to piggyback off of Killen here and
I will say, Claudia Dickey, I lost track at eighty
eight saves.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
That's what she was at eighty eight.
Speaker 6 (17:45):
YEAPZ, you lost track, right.
Speaker 7 (17:49):
This took a time to lose track when you're right
and then it's over.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Okay, you pulled that up. That was amazing.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Claudia Dickey had an outstanding season, and I think for
me it's it's that I don't know that the Rain
finish where they did without Claudia Dickey. I think that
there are a lot of rotations in the back. Bug
had an outstanding year. Obviously, she had the goals that
she had. She's probably gonna be up for maybe Goal
of the Year. I would imagine with that banger out
(18:17):
of North Carolina that.
Speaker 6 (18:19):
That's right, is it a second game of the season
or something like that.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Isn't that her first goal? Her first.
Speaker 7 (18:27):
Which she hit that? That was my thought.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
It was like, that's your opening goal. That's how you're
starting your goal scoring. And then wslack to.
Speaker 7 (18:36):
Center back. You're a very center back.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Okay, welcome, welcome to the league. That was amazing. Maddy Dolan,
love her, Love what she brings to the team. She's
so dynamic. I love her in the attack. She can cross,
she can score, she's great on the dribble. You know,
hats off to all these players for the seasons that
they have had. But I really don't think that the
Rain finished where they do and have the season that
they did, going from thirteenth to fourth without Claudia dick
(19:01):
Ye playing some of those saves that she did, and
just being solid in goal the whole year.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
No, I completely agree. I think that Jordan bug and
Maddie Dollan both incredible seasons and absolutely deserve the nomination.
And that's a you know, great recognition. I'd actually, I
think I'm actually going to be upset if Claudia Dickie
doesn't win.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
I think she should win.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
For sure, most saves the season eighty eight, second best
saved percentage seventy six point seven percent, and seven clean sheets,
which is still a huge number. So I I and
four caps with the US women's national team this year.
She deserves the win. I just I'll be upset if
she doesn't win. Uh, superlatives for this team.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
Well, we've got Broadcaster of the Year stepping in when
we need her, kee Re Dunning for sure.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
Hey, I got hit in the face with a didn't
I think that's the play.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
I think that's the big accomplishment ever, that.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
Is the award winning That that's just getting hit as
you getting hit with the ball is what's on the
back of the screen as you walk up to get
your award. And actually, I want a slow motion of
it too, as you're walking over the super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I feel like what really stood out for me in
that moment, Keeley, was that even when it was slowed down,
you handled it like I mean the recovery you wouldn't
recover that fast, and you you.
Speaker 7 (20:27):
Took it like a champ. You didn't miss a beat.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
We made jokes about it, Kellen, I mean, oh, yes,
about forty seconds, I think.
Speaker 7 (20:33):
But how does something like that happen in the middle
of an injury report? I mean, that's perfect.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
I swear people think that it was planned because it
doesn't even make like I could not have planned that
any better.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Oh worse. The fact that it.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Didn't give me a bloody nose or a black eye,
and it didn't even hurt is a miracle. So you know,
and thank you guys for making it funny, because I
was going to make get funny. And that's all you
can do when life smacks you in the face, you
just have to laugh about it.
Speaker 7 (21:05):
That's just teamwork. That's just teamwork.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
I just got to laugh about it.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
The metaphors, man, they just keep coming, they just keep coming.
Actual team superlatives. I have, Yeah, so best goal. I
think we obviously that Jordan Bugles, no question. What about
most surprising, Like, who were you the most surprised with
this year?
Speaker 7 (21:25):
I'll give one actually, yeah, gosh, there's a few. The
end of the season. I want to tip my hat
to Mercado coming back.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
It's really hard to come back into that situation start
and be so effective, So certainly want to say and
shout her out and say that that.
Speaker 7 (21:40):
Was that was really impressive. I also want to mention
a Damis.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
I'm not I didn't necessarily expect her to be the
leading scorer as long as she was into the year,
as far as she wasn't And I expected her to
be a great attacker, and I expected her to be
an impact player. But she really kind of took that
role and ran with it and made a lot out
of it. So she did very, very well.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
It was very good. Shouts Kellen was your biggest surprise.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
I've got so I've got three, but hang on, we
hang on with me here the midfield. So I've got
sam Mesa, which what she was really Claudia Dicky played
every game, in every minute, but sam Mesa was our
iron woman.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Yeah she was.
Speaker 6 (22:20):
She was the heart of that defense. She was winning balls.
She was like, for me, if we had a comeback
player of the Year, it would be Sam. But Sallymenty.
Sallymenti was a surprise for me. Kind of came out
of nowhere. I didn't know who she was, and then
I heard that she was in training. This is the
girl you need to watch. And I was like, okay,
And then I saw a few games and I'm going, oh,
I see it. She slows the game down, like her
(22:40):
brain definitely moves faster than her feet because they don't
move that fast. I could say that because mine either. Okay,
I could say that because mine either. But She's got
this like silkiness to or this ease to her that
just slows things down. While Sam is more so the
go go go. Sally's the calm. And I think that's
the perfect thing in the midfield that you can grow upon.
And now you had the attacker. When Jess was healthy
(23:03):
and playing as that number ten, you had two sitters
who were kind of the ones that go around and
then just get pass the ball to Jess and let
her do her thing. I mean, that was such a
good combination. But my number three spot, and this is
funny because we just talked about her. I'm surprised how
many minutes lou Barnes had at the end of the season.
I'm surprised her body could hold up. I'm surprised that
(23:23):
she was as good as she was for how long
she has played. I know that you think brain obviously
works a lot faster than her legs too, but it's
incredible how tenacious she still was from someone who kind
of lost it at the end there, like she's continuing
to do it and playing at such a high level
at the age that she is, I mean year, I
(23:44):
many years she's done. How many minutes she's put on
those legs, and the quality that she had at the
end of the season pretty incredible.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
That's a great shout out, and actually that's a great
way to sort of We're never going to end the
Lou Barnes discussion, but just to put a cap on
her for this episode. You know a lot of times
players retire, it's agonizing and you're like.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Oh, come on, guys, it's time to go.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
It's time, Like, I know how hard it is for you,
Like I understand, But she was still insanely effective and
an amazing player, and she probably still has something in her.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
I don't ye, so like, hats off to your hats
off to her? All right.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
Quote of the year mine was Phoebe McLarnon saying that
you know she was infuriated by Kansas City. I had
to include that just because that was the quote of
the year, and I'm obsessed with it, and I feel
like I don't know her at all, but to me,
I feel like I might say something about her as
a person. I loved it so much. I loved it, Phoebe,
thank you for giving us that sound bite. I will
(24:42):
play it next year too. Don't even worry.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
It was so good. Get it on a T shirt,
Get on a T shirt.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
Oh, Emria damas. When they were like she's getting an
interview after the game, it's like, don't worry, guys, I'm
getting my license.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
That was hilarious.
Speaker 6 (25:01):
It's like I was like, what eighteen like just getting
your license? And I'm like, does so funny? That's so
funny to me?
Speaker 3 (25:07):
It was great. It was great, all right, team MVP. Oh,
I'll let you guys take this one.
Speaker 7 (25:16):
Well that's tough.
Speaker 6 (25:19):
I got too, So I got too too.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Do we want to see if they're the same too?
Probably well, I'm gonna circle back to Claudia Dickey. I
think she definitely deserves that, and I'm also going to
say Jess fishlock especially how she pulled us through that
turn in the season as soon as we got back
from that break, and she was coming into games, changing games,
(25:44):
getting game winners, really leading the team in every way
that you possibly can, working back on defense, making runs
forwards that were timed so well, so perfectly the leader
that she is. I think that those two players are
my biggest impact players for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
I mean, Canon Green more impact of Jess Fishlocke was huge.
We saw when she came back. She immediately scored, immediately assisted,
she was she was the runner of the sense of goals.
Everything went through her. I think Claudia Dicky has to
be in that conversation. I think she's both of ours,
so she's probably going to be on that number one spot.
I'm going to throw in Sam Mesa as well, because
(26:20):
when Jess wasn't healthy and available, I think Sam ran
that midfield and maybe it was the surprise factor for
us and the comeback season and the story of it.
But I think Sam Masa needs to be in that
conversation of a full season MVP.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
We had a great season. We're actually going to be
back next week. We're still going to be doing these
shows as long as the NWSTL season continues on, so
we'll have way more to talk about, way more to
go through, especially once these awards get handed out.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Everything. You know, this season, yes, on the field for
the Rain is over.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
But we will still be here and we will still
be chatting everything Rain EPCY huge off season. I know
that we may have you know, exceeded expectations this year.
I know Kellen would argue that we shouldn't have exceeded expectations.
Everyone should have expected that we were this good. But
twenty twenty six move more, more ahead, only better things
on the horizon. Super exciting for you know, Rain fans.
(27:15):
Stay with us on ninety three point three f KGr
FM as we continue Rain weekly and more broadcast next season.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
So stay with us. Thanks for joining
Everywhere we go.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
You fight me way we changed the game, no fear,
no change me. Freak away.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
You must divide.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Were filed to drive Watch Up with Jane, where upon
ras Hey rise up, he he he rise up he heyda.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Hi everybody.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
I am so excited to be joined by Susie, Rant's
longtime contributor to Sounder at Heart, Covering Seattle, Raying, Epsy. Susie,
so excited to have you. It's been a while since
our last radio broadcast that we did together, way back
when I'm sure we'll do more of those next season. Unfortunately,
we now have to start talking about next season because
the Rain did fall to nil to Orlando, the defending
(01:14):
NWSL champions at Orlando. Susie, let's go through your thoughts
on that to nil loss.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
First, Yeah, I mean, well, one word I guess we
can start with, which is mart not to talk about
the other team too much. But she continues to be
such a threat, and she showed why she is one
of the greatest of all time in that match and
definitely got the better of the Rain despite that, though
there were so many promising things that that the Rain
(01:40):
did that certainly put them so close to equalizing or
even multiple goals. But that is where as Laura Harvey
likes to say, goals change games. And that was the
one stat that the Rain couldn't dominate and they couldn't
find the back of the net.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Yeah, I will say yes, the Rain went down one
nil and about the twentieth minute, twenty first minute off
of that Haley McCutcheon goal, which was a very well
played goal by Orlando, starting all the way at the
end of their half and just building it up in transition.
Was pretty incredible to watch. And Fete mclarenan was actually there,
so she was in position. We didn't do anything wrong.
(02:19):
It was just sort of quality on their side. But
a lot of positives to take away from the Rain season.
Last year finishing second to last, this season finishing in fifth.
What can you say about the growth of this team
from twenty twenty four to the end of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 5 (02:36):
Well, it's yeah, last year twenty three points, this year
thirty nine points in the regular season, and like you said,
that jump in where they finished on the table and
there were not as not a lot of expectations of
this Rains squad heading into the season after what they
went through last year. They brought in a lot of
young players, but not a lot of like proven talent.
(02:57):
So I think the theme that I I come back
to this year is the team was a real mix
of veterans who have been with this team for a
long time and really young players, many of whom have
not played professionally for more than a year. And to
see that mixture come together so quickly was really promising,
(03:19):
And to see the team play really consistently throughout the
year was something that was really nice to see. There
weren't really high highs and there weren't really low lows
throughout the season, so lots to build on for next
season for sure.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Mattie Dellen the perfect encapsulation of that, being able to
play on the left wing back as well as you know,
on the wing, really really exciting from her and Rookie
of the Year candidate.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Yeah, one thing that was really exciting to see is
she finished with four goals and for assists. So not
only can she create her own shot and using her speed,
but she can set up her teammates from the left wing,
and like you mentioned, she was doing that from a
deeper position as a wingback or starting higher up the field,
so she brings just so much versatility. So she tied
(04:04):
with Jess Fischlock for the most goal contributions on the
team this year, and I think she was, like most
the most consistent attacker on the team. And this is
her first professional season. She just turned twenty one this season,
so nowhere to go but up. You know, how does
she take that speed and continue to develop the decision
(04:25):
making in front of goal? How does the team continue
to try to find her in better positions. That's all
stuff that we get to figure out over the next
couple of years.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
It does feel like there are going to be less
questions for the Rain going into next year, as opposed
to the previous off season. I think it was very
uncertain where this team was going to go. Like you said,
a lot of really young players, Maddy Dollan playing her
first for example, playing her first professional season this year.
You know, you see the talent of these players obviously
(04:53):
and where they came. I mean, she was played at UNC,
one of the powerhouses. Of course she's going to be great,
but you never know going from college to professional.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
All tons of questions.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Were in this past off season, you know, are just
fishlock and a lou Barn's going to retire. For example,
lou Barnes retiring at the end of the season kind
of unfortunate. Her last game was at Orlando. You know,
not ideal by any means, But I don't want to
take anything away from the celebration of what she's done
(05:23):
for this team and the effect that she's had. And
you have to believe that she's a big reason why
these young players were able to integrate as well as
they were. Just from a leadership perspective. Let's take a
couple of minutes and just you know, you've been covering
the team for forever. You've been there, You've seen her
through memorial, you've seen her through all of the years.
(05:43):
Talk about lou Barnes's journey and what she's meant to
the Rain.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
Yeah, someone who has been with the Rain since the
very beginning in twenty thirteen, and I don't think people
can truly appreciate what it means to lead your team
from behind the scene. For the twelve years that she's
been here, she was the leader in the locker room.
She is the reason that players want to come to Seattle.
(06:08):
That she's created a culture where every player feels embraced, accepted,
and she's done that all on top of being a
really high caliber player. Played the most minutes in the league,
the most appearances in the league, and you don't do
that without being consistently good, consistently really good to take
care of your body, and to do this in a
(06:31):
league and with a team that had so much uncertainty,
So it's not just you want to just be able
to play soccer. But the league went through transitions. Pay
was bad back in the day. The Rain have gone
through ownership changes, training facility changes, home field changes, and
she's been kind, welcoming and a really consistent player throughout
(06:55):
it all.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Susie, any closing thoughts as we unfortunately close off twenty
twenty five on the field, will obviously continue to follow
NWSL playoffs as they continue, but any final thoughts on
the Rain and their performance this year.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
I think that there's lots to improve in the off
season and improve in this team, but it was so
exciting to see the growth in one year, and from
the NWSL teams that I've seen have a lot of
success in recent years, they struggled two or three years ago. Orlando,
the Washington Spirit, even Kansas City Current. All these teams
(07:31):
that are still fighting in the playoffs didn't make it
a few years ago, didn't make the playoffs a few
years ago. So the build does take time, and I
think we saw a lot of exciting components come together
fast this year. But I'm really eager to see what
the off season brings and how they are able to
kind of keep that core of great talent but add
(07:52):
a lot of fun components. So that's what I'll be
paying attention to.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Yeah, definitely a lot of positives to build on. I
think that, you know, this is a new Rain in
a lot of ways, with a lot of really new faces.
But they proved that they can get real results this
year and bigger and better to next year.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Thanks for joining us, Susie, appreciate it. Laura Shatt and
Kelen Row join Rain Weekly when we come back.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Kiley Dunning here for Rain Weekly with Laura Shott as
usual and special guest and normal guest Kellan Row.
Speaker 6 (08:33):
Let's stick with the special piece.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yeah, special guests will go special.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
He just got done with his well not done, but
he's in the middle of his grown up job and
now we get to you know, not be grown ups
and have some fun for twenty minutes. Unfortunately, Rain season
is over. I'll let you guys, let's rip the band
aid off really quick. What were your guys' thoughts on
that to no loss, just real quick, and then we'll
move on to positives.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Well, I think I would speak for all of us
that you know, we were sad and it was a bummer,
disappointing not to go on well fought match, hard to
go back to back, hard to be in Orlando in
the last game of the season and then go back
to Orlando to play a playoff match, So a lot
of variables there.
Speaker 7 (09:14):
Yeah, just a.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Bummer for the Rain. Congrats to Orlando. I mean, a
lot of a lot of good plays in that game,
a lot of good attacks, a lot of good chances
for both sides. And you know, I also just want
to acknowledge that I think we all also felt the
heart strings for Orlando at the end of the game
with Murder's run and how that ended with the PK.
(09:38):
So you know, hats off to Orlando. Very very good
season for the Rain and the thirteen finish the previous
year to the fourth.
Speaker 7 (09:48):
That's ur sorry, fifth, that's very hard.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
To do.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
So, yeah, all around, good season, looking forward to twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
None of us are unfortunately it's very sad, but I
don't think anyone's were, right, none of us were really surprised.
It's towards the specit towards the end of the season
and what was going on everyone. In my mind, I
was like, I want the game to end. When Lou
retired at home, like that was it. That season's done. Thanks,
everyone wipe it away because obviously everything else is just
added on. Obviously she adds to her itally again, right,
(10:18):
more games played, more games started, that's really cool, playoff
games included, so that's that's great. But I don't think
anyone's surprised. I don't love the I don't know it's
seeding in things. But like you said, Orlando back then
back to Orlando again, it's like some kind of regional
thing has to happen, right, we had to add more
teams for that to happen, But there's got to be
some sense of a regional based tournament to make it
(10:42):
into the final, right, very similar to what the MLS
does or any other league does, where you have that,
you know we should be playing the West coast West
esque coast teams and then East coast teams and you
kind of meet up in the middle. I do like
that aspect because it is it's difficult, right, it's a
six six hour flight there, three hour time difference, try
and get acclimated. Don't really get acclimated. And what are
(11:02):
you going to do? Stay for a week and a half. No,
you're not going to stay for a week. That sucks.
So you fly back because everyone has families, people have kids,
people have whatever it may be. You go back to
your home base, sleep in your bed, and then you
know two days later you got to fly another six
hours back. My legs can't do that. And I'm not
playing like it's just that's a hard that's a hard ask,
(11:24):
So I'm not surprised. Unfortunately, the season's done, which means
we don't get to see each other's pretty faces as much.
We will still see it, but not as much. And yeah,
looking forward to twenty twenty six, see what happens.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I was going to say, I'll hear less about UCLA,
but both of my parents went to UCLA, so that's
not going to happen. When I go home for Christmas,
I'm going to get to hear it all over again
because I'm trapped.
Speaker 6 (11:45):
Uh, by the way, I didn't say anything, no UCLA,
I didn't even bring up college. I didn't even bring
up anything.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
However, triggered now all the time.
Speaker 6 (11:52):
Everyone just loves talking about my alma mater.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Yeah, don't they just us speaking.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
Alter if you don't graduate, I don't know either way,
it's it is.
Speaker 7 (12:00):
We just can't knows the difference you don't.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Have somewhere all my mater. Absolutely it is. That's yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Of course, speaking of lou Barnes records, she actually did
set one more record, so pretty cool. Most playoff appearances twelve,
She was tied with Megan Rappino.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
They both had eleven.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
Now she is twelve, so what is that then twenty
records that she has. No, she's got, I mean, she's
got the award named after her now, but build a frickin' statue,
Holy cow, first name drop the jersey. I don't care,
do it.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
All? We did talk about that shirt looking like she
belonged on Mount Rushmore, and I think does I mean, yeah,
you're speaking of statues.
Speaker 7 (12:39):
I mean I think we have a good mold for that.
Speaker 6 (12:41):
And well, everyone needs us, Everyone needs the soldier, right,
you talk about like these these different Mount Rushmore's and
things of that sort. You talk about the greatest players,
obviously Meg Megan Rappino, the biggest name that one of
the best players to ever play in the NWSL. You
talk about Marta as well, again the player esque. But
you talk about someone who's been here for a very
long time, right, what thirteen.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Seasons the longest she could have longest she.
Speaker 6 (13:04):
Could have because she played for one team. She was
the soldier the whole time. Everyone years. She did have
a small stint with the national team, but when people
were away of the national team, the games are still
going on, who was still involved. Lou Barnes like she
is the she is the one holding up that Mount Rushmore.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
In my opinion, well, it just feels like from an
outsider perspective that and just speaking with everyone who knows her,
that she does so much unseen work behind the scenes
all the time, and it's just so wonderful to everyone
that she meets, no matter who they are, what their
status is, where they work, what they do, and that
alone deserves to me a place in Seattle's sports Mount Rushmore.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
But then we can't forget what an incredible player she's
been too.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Oh yeah, well yeah, stepping out of this rain family
with you guys, and I mean, know, Kellen, I don't
know how many years you've been friends with her. I
know it's been a lot of years. I think for me,
that's just been evident that while she has all these
awards and all these accomplishments and all these things she's
done and how she's led this team, you don't get
(14:07):
the respect that she has earned, and you don't you
don't have the same feeling if somebody hasn't put their
heart and soul into an organization and that everybody feels that.
And that's been evident for me from the beginning getting
in here. And it's just like everybody loves Lou Barnes.
They speak of her so highly, and you don't get
that by winning one award or a few awards, or
(14:29):
all the awards that she's won. You get that from
all that other work that people are doing behind the scenes,
and you can tell that this organization feels that inside
and out.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
I'm gonna pull something out, Kellen. Your favorite movie as
a kid was What Hercules? Right, Yeah, you're a big
Hercules fan.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
She's Hercules like she literally is. She is going to
have a constellation.
Speaker 8 (14:48):
Sure, sure, sure, but she's going to have a constellation,
not just a statue like that's the legacy.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Oka, It's not just.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
The on the field, it's clearly the off the field.
And again from an outside perspective.
Speaker 6 (15:06):
Flourished your Disney nerd just love it.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
I was just listening to the soundtrack on my way
to work because it's not well, no, this is my
other nerdness. It was it's now a Broadway musical, so
of course I had to listen to the Broadway musical
version of that is.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Checking out on Spotify. It's now on Broadway.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
I'm also, while we're on the topic, obviously Tarzan has
the best soundtrack.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Phil Collins, I mean yeah, I mean that's just.
Speaker 6 (15:33):
His it's just his new album, right, that was just
his album at the time.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
It was great, dude, if you rewatch that movie, the
way the villain dies is very dark. Just rewatch It's
that's a dark movie for kids.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Dear.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Okay, uh, let's talk back to soccer.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
Back to soccer.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
This was my This is totally my fault.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
This was one hundred percent of my fault, Lou Barnes,
Hercules calend Rowe you get to be uh Megara?
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Uh? Why not? Purple looks great on you, so you
can wear purple? I heard there you go, all right.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Lots of rain players are up for end of season awards,
which is super exciting. Claudia Dickey Goalkeeper of the Year,
Jordan Bug Defender of the Year, and Maddie Dalen Rookie
of the Year. Incredible. I don't disagree obviously with any
of those choices. Who do you think has the best
shot of winning one of those?
Speaker 7 (16:23):
Do you think, ooh, Kellen, do you want to go first?
Speaker 6 (16:26):
You got Laudia, I got Claudia. I think there's a
good amount of rookies that were in the league that
scored more goals, that were a little last year. Has
got some more minutes with the national team than Maddy DLin.
I think she was incredible for the Rain. I think
she is just starting. She's going to grow so much
if she continues on the trend that she's on. Jordan
Bug again youthful. I think there were some veteran players
(16:49):
in there that have to be taken into account. And
our season wasn't as good in the defensive areas. In
many of times we didn't win enough games in that sense,
so I think that one's going to go a little
bit on the lower side. And then Claudia Dicky, I
think with the up and coming of the national team,
playing for the national team, consistently playing for the national
(17:10):
team at least one game during these friendlies, and the
amount of shutouts she had for US, but also the
quality of saves she was up to save the week,
I think almost every week. That's an incredible stat. And
I understand that more players are going to have more
shutouts than her because the teams were a little bit
better on the defensive side. But I think that her
stature of saves and the amount of saves and the
(17:33):
quality of saves will push her to the top.
Speaker 7 (17:36):
That'sry well, Ellen, I love that.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Well. I'm going to piggyback off of Killen here and
I will say, Claudia Dickey, I lost track at eighty
eight saves.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
That's what she was at eighty eight.
Speaker 6 (17:45):
YEAPZ, you lost track, right.
Speaker 7 (17:49):
This took a time to lose track when you're right
and then it's over.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Okay, you pulled that up. That was amazing.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Claudia Dickey had an outstanding season, and I think for
me it's it's that I don't know that the Rain
finish where they did without Claudia Dickey. I think that
there are a lot of rotations in the back. Bug
had an outstanding year. Obviously, she had the goals that
she had. She's probably gonna be up for maybe Goal
of the Year. I would imagine with that banger out
(18:17):
of North Carolina that.
Speaker 6 (18:19):
That's right, is it a second game of the season
or something like that.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Isn't that her first goal? Her first.
Speaker 7 (18:27):
Which she hit that? That was my thought.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
It was like, that's your opening goal. That's how you're
starting your goal scoring. And then wslack to.
Speaker 7 (18:36):
Center back. You're a very center back.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Okay, welcome, welcome to the league. That was amazing. Maddy Dolan,
love her, Love what she brings to the team. She's
so dynamic. I love her in the attack. She can cross,
she can score, she's great on the dribble. You know,
hats off to all these players for the seasons that
they have had. But I really don't think that the
Rain finished where they do and have the season that
they did, going from thirteenth to fourth without Claudia dick
(19:01):
Ye playing some of those saves that she did, and
just being solid in goal the whole year.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
No, I completely agree. I think that Jordan bug and
Maddie Dollan both incredible seasons and absolutely deserve the nomination.
And that's a you know, great recognition. I'd actually, I
think I'm actually going to be upset if Claudia Dickie
doesn't win.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
I think she should win.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
For sure, most saves the season eighty eight, second best
saved percentage seventy six point seven percent, and seven clean sheets,
which is still a huge number. So I I and
four caps with the US women's national team this year.
She deserves the win. I just I'll be upset if
she doesn't win. Uh, superlatives for this team.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
Well, we've got Broadcaster of the Year stepping in when
we need her, kee Re Dunning for sure.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
Hey, I got hit in the face with a didn't
I think that's the play.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
I think that's the big accomplishment ever, that.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
Is the award winning That that's just getting hit as
you getting hit with the ball is what's on the
back of the screen as you walk up to get
your award. And actually, I want a slow motion of
it too, as you're walking over the super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I feel like what really stood out for me in
that moment, Keeley, was that even when it was slowed down,
you handled it like I mean the recovery you wouldn't
recover that fast, and you you.
Speaker 7 (20:27):
Took it like a champ. You didn't miss a beat.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
We made jokes about it, Kellen, I mean, oh, yes,
about forty seconds, I think.
Speaker 7 (20:33):
But how does something like that happen in the middle
of an injury report? I mean, that's perfect.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
I swear people think that it was planned because it
doesn't even make like I could not have planned that
any better.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Oh worse. The fact that it.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Didn't give me a bloody nose or a black eye,
and it didn't even hurt is a miracle. So you know,
and thank you guys for making it funny, because I
was going to make get funny. And that's all you
can do when life smacks you in the face, you
just have to laugh about it.
Speaker 7 (21:05):
That's just teamwork. That's just teamwork.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
I just got to laugh about it.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
The metaphors, man, they just keep coming, they just keep coming.
Actual team superlatives. I have, Yeah, so best goal. I
think we obviously that Jordan Bugles, no question. What about
most surprising, Like, who were you the most surprised with
this year?
Speaker 7 (21:25):
I'll give one actually, yeah, gosh, there's a few. The
end of the season. I want to tip my hat
to Mercado coming back.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
It's really hard to come back into that situation start
and be so effective, So certainly want to say and
shout her out and say that that.
Speaker 7 (21:40):
Was that was really impressive. I also want to mention
a Damis.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
I'm not I didn't necessarily expect her to be the
leading scorer as long as she was into the year,
as far as she wasn't And I expected her to
be a great attacker, and I expected her to be
an impact player. But she really kind of took that
role and ran with it and made a lot out
of it. So she did very, very well.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
It was very good. Shouts Kellen was your biggest surprise.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
I've got so I've got three, but hang on, we
hang on with me here the midfield. So I've got
sam Mesa, which what she was really Claudia Dicky played
every game, in every minute, but sam Mesa was our
iron woman.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Yeah she was.
Speaker 6 (22:20):
She was the heart of that defense. She was winning balls.
She was like, for me, if we had a comeback
player of the Year, it would be Sam. But Sallymenty.
Sallymenti was a surprise for me. Kind of came out
of nowhere. I didn't know who she was, and then
I heard that she was in training. This is the
girl you need to watch. And I was like, okay,
And then I saw a few games and I'm going, oh,
I see it. She slows the game down, like her
(22:40):
brain definitely moves faster than her feet because they don't
move that fast. I could say that because mine either. Okay,
I could say that because mine either. But She's got
this like silkiness to or this ease to her that
just slows things down. While Sam is more so the
go go go. Sally's the calm. And I think that's
the perfect thing in the midfield that you can grow upon.
And now you had the attacker. When Jess was healthy
(23:03):
and playing as that number ten, you had two sitters
who were kind of the ones that go around and
then just get pass the ball to Jess and let
her do her thing. I mean, that was such a
good combination. But my number three spot, and this is
funny because we just talked about her. I'm surprised how
many minutes lou Barnes had at the end of the season.
I'm surprised her body could hold up. I'm surprised that
(23:23):
she was as good as she was for how long
she has played. I know that you think brain obviously
works a lot faster than her legs too, but it's
incredible how tenacious she still was from someone who kind
of lost it at the end there, like she's continuing
to do it and playing at such a high level
at the age that she is, I mean year, I
(23:44):
many years she's done. How many minutes she's put on
those legs, and the quality that she had at the
end of the season pretty incredible.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
That's a great shout out, and actually that's a great
way to sort of We're never going to end the
Lou Barnes discussion, but just to put a cap on
her for this episode. You know a lot of times
players retire, it's agonizing and you're like.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Oh, come on, guys, it's time to go.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
It's time, Like, I know how hard it is for you,
Like I understand, But she was still insanely effective and
an amazing player, and she probably still has something in her.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
I don't ye, so like, hats off to your hats
off to her? All right.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
Quote of the year mine was Phoebe McLarnon saying that
you know she was infuriated by Kansas City. I had
to include that just because that was the quote of
the year, and I'm obsessed with it, and I feel
like I don't know her at all, but to me,
I feel like I might say something about her as
a person. I loved it so much. I loved it, Phoebe,
thank you for giving us that sound bite. I will
(24:42):
play it next year too. Don't even worry.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
It was so good. Get it on a T shirt,
Get on a T shirt.
Speaker 6 (24:50):
Oh, Emria damas. When they were like she's getting an
interview after the game, it's like, don't worry, guys, I'm
getting my license.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
That was hilarious.
Speaker 6 (25:01):
It's like I was like, what eighteen like just getting
your license? And I'm like, does so funny? That's so
funny to me?
Speaker 3 (25:07):
It was great. It was great, all right, team MVP. Oh,
I'll let you guys take this one.
Speaker 7 (25:16):
Well that's tough.
Speaker 6 (25:19):
I got too, So I got too too.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Do we want to see if they're the same too?
Probably well, I'm gonna circle back to Claudia Dickey. I
think she definitely deserves that, and I'm also going to
say Jess fishlock especially how she pulled us through that
turn in the season as soon as we got back
from that break, and she was coming into games, changing games,
(25:44):
getting game winners, really leading the team in every way
that you possibly can, working back on defense, making runs
forwards that were timed so well, so perfectly the leader
that she is. I think that those two players are
my biggest impact players for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
I mean, Canon Green more impact of Jess Fishlocke was huge.
We saw when she came back. She immediately scored, immediately assisted,
she was she was the runner of the sense of goals.
Everything went through her. I think Claudia Dicky has to
be in that conversation. I think she's both of ours,
so she's probably going to be on that number one spot.
I'm going to throw in Sam Mesa as well, because
(26:20):
when Jess wasn't healthy and available, I think Sam ran
that midfield and maybe it was the surprise factor for
us and the comeback season and the story of it.
But I think Sam Masa needs to be in that
conversation of a full season MVP.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
We had a great season. We're actually going to be
back next week. We're still going to be doing these
shows as long as the NWSTL season continues on, so
we'll have way more to talk about, way more to
go through, especially once these awards get handed out.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Everything. You know, this season, yes, on the field for
the Rain is over.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
But we will still be here and we will still
be chatting everything Rain EPCY huge off season. I know
that we may have you know, exceeded expectations this year.
I know Kellen would argue that we shouldn't have exceeded expectations.
Everyone should have expected that we were this good. But
twenty twenty six move more, more ahead, only better things
on the horizon. Super exciting for you know, Rain fans.
(27:15):
Stay with us on ninety three point three f KGr
FM as we continue Rain weekly and more broadcast next season.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
So stay with us. Thanks for joining
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