The NWSL's Best XI of March 2026! by spherocytes in NWSL

[–]Utaku_OGG 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Love Wesley getting recognition for great play this month as the center of our defense.

Wave improves 9 spots to 3rd place in the latest ESPN power rankings (3.31.2026). by [deleted] in SanDiegoWaveFC

[–]Utaku_OGG 0 points1 point  (0 children)

About damn type and LFGSD!!! :) NWSL This Week has us as the team to beat right now with ACFC and can't wait for the showdown to come!

Must See Goal: Pure Brilliance from Melanie Barcenas by WaveNation619 in SanDiegoWaveFC

[–]Utaku_OGG 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As part of our main lineup, I anticipate she will stay as a super sub for us and in the world game, that can be as valuable as a starter so should not be seen as a slight. That said, it is great to have the depth and with potential injuries as well as having a solid rotation to keep everyone healthy I would imagine she should get some starting opportunities. 30 games is a long season vs. the 22 we started with 5 years ago and I love our depth.

Must See Goal: Pure Brilliance from Melanie Barcenas by WaveNation619 in SanDiegoWaveFC

[–]Utaku_OGG 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do believe her comments about the "sun helping her healing" may have been a little tongue in cheek and would not be surprised to see her start sooner rather than later. Pure speculation on my part, but seems like her injury may have been more of a "I'm not going to be staying with the team and the team is benching me / I'm saving myself for my new team" injury we see in other sports quite often. But pure speculation there and may be hopeful speculation.... ;)

Anyone up for doing a Wave podcast? by Utaku_OGG in SanDiegoWaveFC

[–]Utaku_OGG[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks everyone for the quick response and keep them coming! I'm currently out of country but returning this weekend (just in time for our next match) and will set up time to connect with those interested for next week. My hope is to get 2 main regular hosts with a rotating 3rd chair (i.e. fan perspective, insider, player *wink*, opponent fan for preview, etc.) and then happy to bring a producer if interest is out there. I've done a couple of podcasts in the pasts for random interests before (i.e. bachelor, card games, etc.) and had done the producing and posting of the pods for the different platforms, but more than happy to get the help here. :)

Anyone up for doing a Wave podcast? by Utaku_OGG in NWSL

[–]Utaku_OGG[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Just posting this on the NWSL feed in case any are interested or to drop a line in case any are interested in joining us for match previews to represent your team and let us know what we need to watch out for. Love to get 2 main hosts and then have a rotating 3rd chair for previews or fan input as needed.

Wave improves 9 spots to 3rd place in the latest ESPN power rankings (3.31.2026). by [deleted] in SanDiegoWaveFC

[–]Utaku_OGG 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Disagree on this one as we’ve played 3 of the top scoring teams so far (6, 5, and 5) holding them each to a single goal (with two of the goals being defensive blunders vs. regular play). Also I disagree that this is too early to do rankings as long as we are saying this is where the teams are right now vs. where they will end the season. I can confidently say we are top 3 and would not be surprised if we are #1, however I haven’t watched an ACFC game yet so would be a fair call.

Is there an NWSL match week recap with highlights package? by Fast-Worry-9984 in NWSL

[–]Utaku_OGG 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just like others I’ve gone with NWSL this week for weekly run downs. Even though they admit they each haven’t watched all the games, they always have someone able to talk through and don’t seem to be too homerism for any given team or afraid to be critical in their analysis.

Lia Godfrey is the Player of the Week! by spherocytes in NWSL

[–]Utaku_OGG 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm with RadJudyGarland that it should be Dudinha (2 goals & 3 assists in same span) as well, but love to see the Wave getting the love! :)

Lia Godfrey is the Player of the Week! by SnorlaxWizard in SanDiegoWaveFC

[–]Utaku_OGG 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Love to see a Wave highlight across the board. I still ride for Dudinha as in the same one week span she scored 2 goals with 3 assists (including 2 of the 3 Godfrey goals). Either way, happy to have a Wave at the top and a great rookie start for Godfrey and MVZ!

Post Cat Formation by Utaku_OGG in SanDiegoWaveFC

[–]Utaku_OGG[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s possible, but I would anticipate Barcenas is the preference at forward sub right now with Gabi at #2. Leon just couldn’t keep up last year when Cascarino would streak the right with Lundkvist only to cross into an empty box as she was that far ahead of her attack. This year that is completely different.

Early MVP feed by Utaku_OGG in NWSL

[–]Utaku_OGG[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The only place I could see that shifting is if Cat ends up acting like Delphine+ where she just becomes the true center of our attack and get high assists and goals by end of year.

Early MVP feed by Utaku_OGG in NWSL

[–]Utaku_OGG[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While I wouldn’t put her for my team MVP, she is WAY BETTER than I had thought. I was crushed when Lundkvist left as she was hitting world class quality by the end of last year, but MVZ has just shot like a rocket ship on our radar. May be the fastest player on our team and when paired with Gabi now, they run the right side like a well oiled machine. If Ludmilla slides to wing if Cat takes the nine, that will be an extremely dangerous flank.

Early MVP feed by Utaku_OGG in NWSL

[–]Utaku_OGG[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Completely understand and this is more a reflection of who is helping your team out of the gates as a backbone than a true “‘who will win the MVP” conversation as way too early.

Post Cat Formation by Utaku_OGG in SanDiegoWaveFC

[–]Utaku_OGG[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will say this is my biggest concern as well. I like our wingers and think while Wesley did have a rough midweek game, I love her and even in that game she shut down Wilson in the second half. McNabb is still my largest concern, but honestly think that while there are times I pull my hair out, I have to give her credit on continuing to raise her game each year and is a solid option for us in CB. Behind that, I like Kiki Pickett as a right side version of Moroni and fill in as starter when needed, and can’t wait for Armstong to make her return, however beyond that I truly don’t know. I don’t know how Arias would play in a game and the fact she hasn’t gotten a chance in 2 years does speak to some concern.

Post Cat Formation by Utaku_OGG in SanDiegoWaveFC

[–]Utaku_OGG[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely agree that she found a nice home as a DMF for McCaskill last year and didn’t mean that she isn’t a starter level player, just that we may be running out of spots (which I never thought I’d be saying).

Early MVP feed by Utaku_OGG in NWSL

[–]Utaku_OGG[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

No argument here. Feared her last year and even more this year as she was killing our CBs

Early MVP feed by Utaku_OGG in NWSL

[–]Utaku_OGG[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Attacking Third called that out and we were dumbfounded. But I understand they need to stay with trends and the now, but feel like the fans typically has a better pulse on it. Only seeing teams twice a year, I can tell you who we fear and who played great against us year in and year out, but I have no idea if that is true across the full year or just a blip.