<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11931248" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="washington-spirit" source="Orion">Washington Spirit</keyword> star <keyword id="11931249" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ashley-sanchez" source="Orion">Ashley Sanchez</keyword> scored a stunning <keyword id="11931246" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="goal" source="Orion">goal</keyword> against the Orlando Pride Sunday.</li><li>The 22-year-old striker launched a rocket into the upper 90 from 25 yards out in the 89th-minute.</li><li>The goal gave the Spirit a 2-1 win and helped Washington leapfrog four clubs in the <keyword id="11898436" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl" source="Orion">NWSL</keyword> standings.</li></ul>Ashley Sanchez hit the shot heard 'round the world - or at least 'round the National Women's Soccer League.The 22-year-old striker scored a stunning goal at the 11th hour Sunday evening to lift her Washington Spirit past Marta and the star-studded Orlando Pride. In the 89th minute of the match, Sanchez settled a pass well beyond the 18-yard box, shook off a charging Pride defender, and launched a rocket past the outstretched arms of Orlando goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and into the upper 90 of the net.<div type="image" title="Ashley Sanchez scores a last-minute game winner for the Washington Spirit." height="1602" width="2880" msid="85572488" hostid="261"></div>The late-game goal - Sanchez's fourth of the season - was absolutely brilliant in and of itself, but its league-wide implications made the strike all the more impressive. The game-winner enabled Washington to leapfrog four different clubs in the NWSL standings and land at third place in the league.With one stellar shot, Sanchez blasted the Spirit squarely into playoff contention.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1429563188501172228">August 22, 2021</a></blockquote>Let's get another angle on that <keyword id="11931247" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="golazo" source="Orion">golazo</keyword>:<iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/bclpv3" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe>Sanchez and her Washington squad will look to carry the momentum from Sunday's massive win into their next contest. The Spirit will host perennial powerhouse and current second-place side North Carolina Courage at Audi Field August 29. A win against the reigning champions and three-time shield winners would only further secure Washington's spot near the top of the NWSL table.

A 22-year-old star drilled a stunning last-minute game-winner to help her team leapfrog 4 clubs in the NWSL standings

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="4451134" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="washington-spirit">Washington Spirit</keyword> have been an unexpected force to be reckoned with thus far at the National Women's <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">Soccer</keyword> League Challenge Cup.</li><li>In their Sunday-night matchup against the perennial powerhouse Portland Thorns, the Spirit scored a late-game equalizer thanks to a brilliant assist from <keyword id="9527641" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ashley-sanchez">Ashley Sanchez</keyword>.</li><li>The rookie forward used a mind-boggling back-heel flick to save a corner kick from sailing out of bounds, lofting the ball into the box for Washington defender Sam Staab to head the ball into the back of the net.</li><li>The Spirit went on to finish the match with a 1-1 draw to move them into a three-way tie for second place in the <keyword id="9527642" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl-challenge-cup">NWSL Challenge Cup</keyword> standings.</li></ul>The National Women's Soccer League's Challenge Cup —<a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-players-kneel-national-anthem-wear-black-lives-matter-shirts-2020-6">the first professional contact sports event to return in the US since the coronavirus pandemic began</a> — has been full of surprise success stories through its first few games, and the Washington Spirit certainly qualify as one.The DC-based team has risen from one of the league's weakest contenders to <keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword> frontrunners — and the young squad has done so in style.<div type="image" title="washington spirit.JPG" height="1667" width="2223" msid="76819871" hostid="261"></div>Sunday night's matchup against the perennial powerhouse Portland Thorns was no exception.Mere minutes after USWNT star midfielder Lindsey Horan put the Thorns on the board with a <a href="https://twitter.com/ThornsFC/status/1279983910533787650">diving header off of a set piece</a>, the Spirit answered back with a late-game equalizer. Though Washington defender Sam Staab was the one to knock the ball into the back of the net with a header of her own, Spirit striker Ashley Sanchez walked off the pitch with the highlight of the night — and maybe of the whole tournament — thanks to her flashy assist on the play.The rookie out of UCLA used an improbable back-heel flick to save a corner kick from hitting the side netting in the 77th minute of play. The ball soared into the box, where Staab rose up for the finish to tie the game at one goal apiece.Check out the mind-boggling play below:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1279990967639126016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2020</a></blockquote>It's even more impressive from this angle:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1279986022202425344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2020</a></blockquote>After the match — which ended in a 1-1 draw to move the Spirit into a three-way tie for second place in the NWSL Challenge Cup standings — <a href="https://twitter.com/not_carlisle/status/1279990527308505088">Sanchez said she had "no idea" how she managed to pull off the flick for the assist</a>. Washington coach Richie Burke, meanwhile, said that his young star's impressive play "was more like a kung-fu move.""I don't know what Sanchez thought, but that was not a rehearsed play, and that was not something that we expected," Burke said, <a href="https://twitter.com/thegoalkeeper/status/1280003748551630849">per The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jonathan Tannenwald</a>. "I don't think she expected it. ... But, you know, we'll take it under the circumstances."<div type="image" title="ashley sanchez.JPG" height="1571" width="2095" msid="76819873" hostid="261"></div>"[Sanchez is] obviously a bright young talent," Burke added. "We're loving what she's doing for our football club. She's one of the kids I think is really benefitting from these matches."The Spirit will play their final match of the NWSL Challenge Cup qualification round on Sunday, when they'll take on the surging Houston Dash in one of the most highly-anticipated matches thus far.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/julie-ertz-casey-short-kneel-cry-during-national-anthem-nwsl-2020-6">Julie Ertz and US women's national team, Chicago Red Stars teammate Casey Short took a knee, held each other, and cried during the national anthem at their first game in 8 months</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-players-kneel-national-anthem-wear-black-lives-matter-shirts-2020-6">Every single NWSL player kneeled during the national anthem at the first professional contact sports game to return in the US since the coronavirus pandemic began</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-watching-guide-first-pro-sports-united-states-2020-6">Here's your viewing guide for the NWSL — the first American professional contact sports league to return since the coronavirus pandemic began</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/orlando-pride-drop-out-nwsl-challenge-cup-league-return-jeopardy-2020-6">An entire team in the top women's soccer league dropped out of their return to action after 6 players tested positive for coronavirus following trip to local bar</a></li></ul>

Ashley Sanchez's brilliant back-heel flick to assist the Washington Spirit's late-game equalizer may be the best play of the NWSL Challenge Cup so far

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/uswnt">USWNT</a> defender Alana Cook scored her first international goal Tuesday against Ireland.</li><li>The star center-back netted a strike from 40 yards out to beat the goalie in ridiculous fashion.</li></ul>Alana Cook celebrated her 26th birthday in epic fashion.The US Women's National Team center-back scored a ridiculous, long-range goal to put the Stars and Stripes on the board against Ireland in a friendly Tuesday night. The 43rd-minute strike — which Cook launched from closer to midfield than to the 18-yard box — marked the OL Reign star's first-ever international goal and wound up securing the USWNT's win in St. Louis.<div type="image" title="Alana Cook strikes the ball." height="1666" width="2223" msid="99442562" hostid="261" sizebytes="360184"></div>The birthday girl's breakthrough came mere minutes before halftime in a matchup. The USWNT had earned a corner kick and, after striker Sophia Smith opted for a short give-and-go pass with midfielder Ashley Sanchez, one of Ireland's players stepped up to intercept and clear the ball out of the 18-yard box.Cook calmly collected the ball towards the left flank of the field and took one touch towards the goal. Then she wound up and unleashed an arching ball that, at first, could have easily been mistaken for a pass.Instead, the ball carried. Ireland keeper Courtney Brosnan, who had pushed up off the goal line, left her feet in an attempt to punch the shot out of the air. But she was too late; the ball ricocheted off her glove and dribbled into the back of the net.Check out the incredible birthday banger:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1645936786357510144">April 11, 2023</a></blockquote>And the slo-mo, which is even better:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1645953786387521538">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote>The goal put Cook in extremely rare company as one of only three USWNT players to ever score on her birthday. She joined team legends Mia Hamm and <a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-goal-uswnt-vs-brazil-stoppage-time-video-2023-2">Alex Morgan</a> — both known goal-scorers — on a very short list that, until Tuesday, did not include a defender.Cook is one of several players competing for the final spots on the USWNT's 23-player roster for <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/2023-world-cup">this summer's World Cup</a> in Australia and New Zealand. Should she make the team, Cook will look to help FIFA's top-ranked national team win its unprecedented third-consecutive World Cup.

A US women's soccer defender scored her first international goal with a wild 40-yard strike on her birthday

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13645967" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trinity-rodman" source="Orion">Trinity Rodman</keyword> scored two goals to lead the Washington Spirit past Gotham FC on Sunday.</li><li>The standout performance came a few weeks after the young star beefed with Gotham's veteran goalie on social media.</li></ul>The beef is hot and sizzling in the National <keyword id="12225642" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-soccer" source="Orion">Women's Soccer</keyword> League.And now, it's safe to say the Washington Spirit and NJ/NY Gotham FC are officially rivals.Washington bested Gotham 3-1 on their home turf at New Jersey's Red Bull Arena Sunday, behind a pair of exceptional goals from reigning Rookie of the Year Trinity Rodman. The young Spirit star has been on a tear for club and country in recent weeks, and her heroics against NJ/NY served as the latest chapter in a brilliant <keyword id="11931408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="feud" source="Orion">feud</keyword> between herself and Gotham's starting keeper: former US Women's National Team star <keyword id="12752658" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ashlyn-harris" source="Orion">Ashlyn Harris</keyword>.<div type="image" title="Ashlyn Harris." height="1666" width="2222" msid="90921661" hostid="261"></div>It all started the last time to two teams faced each other. Their March 25 matchup at Washington's Segra Field ended in a 1-1 draw, but the Spirit celebrated the tie like a win the following day. Washington's official <keyword id="11892744" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="twitter" source="Orion">Twitter</keyword> account shared a clip of forward Ashley Sanchez juking out Ali Krieger and sending the NJ/NY defender — who is Harris' wife — stumbling to the ground."Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/GothamFC">@GothamFC</a>, too soon?" the Spirit captioned the post.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1507731396495822857">March 26, 2022</a></blockquote>Harris quickly came to her wife's defense, critiquing Washington's field and telling the team to "take your amateur shit back to your high school field." But Rodman saw through Harris' excuse, noting in the replies that she "didn't see anyone else fallin like that" and that the goalie should "accept her ankles got broke."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Trinity Rodman (@trinity_rodman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1507829139427971081">March 26, 2022</a></blockquote>Unsurprisingly, the <keyword id="11898436" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl" source="Orion">NWSL</keyword> veteran wasn't pleased with the 19-year-old's snide remark. She replied to Rodman, "Oh my bad…" then mocked her for "feeling confident hunny" after her first call-up to the USWNT.Both Harris and Krieger have extensive national team experience, having won two World Cups with the Stars and Stripes. Krieger is one of 41 players in USWNT history with more than 100 caps.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Ashlyn Harris (@Ashlyn_Harris) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1507837491675643910">March 26, 2022</a></blockquote>Washington didn't forget Harris' slight after Rodman recorded a brace — scoring on <a href="https://twitter.com/WashSpirit/status/1516041488383229969">a 39th-minute volley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/WashSpirit/status/1515794047952203783">again in the 75th minute</a> to put the nail in Gotham's coffin — in Sunday's grudge match. Once the final whistle blew, the Spirit's social media manager not-so-subtly trolled Harris, using the keeper's own words:"Feeling confident hunny "<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1515799963594366979">April 17, 2022</a></blockquote>Washington's big win puts the reigning champions in a strong position to claim the East division in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup. NJ/NY, meanwhile, sits at third in the division with a 1-2-2 record in the annual tournament.

The Washington Spirit trolled an opposing keeper after the young star she squabbled with on Twitter scored on her twice

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11976918" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="alex-morgan" source="Orion">Alex Morgan</keyword> thinks the <keyword id="11931671" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt" source="Orion">USWNT</keyword> has "big shoes to fill" as some of its superstars near retirement.</li><li>Carli Lloyd will step away later this year, while Megan Rapinoe is still mulling over her future.</li><li>"Those are huge players ... who lead by example."</li></ul>Though the Tokyo <keyword id="11896183" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="olympics" source="Orion">Olympics</keyword> are just barely in the rearview mirror, Alex Morgan and the US Women's National Team are already looking ahead to what comes next."You look at the next big tournament, which is the <keyword id="11895958" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="world-cup" source="Orion">World Cup</keyword>, and we have two years," Morgan told Insider. "People ask when you start preparing for that, and you start now.""You start talking about it, you start making every decision based on it," she added.<div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1708" width="2277" msid="86079259" hostid="261"></div>With the 2020 games postponed by a full year, the USWNT has even less time than usual to prepare for the next World Cup. And while Morgan doesn't foresee "huge turnover" on the team's roster between now and then, she knows the four-time World Cup champions will be missing at least one - and perhaps two - key pieces headed into the 2023 World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand.Carli Lloyd, the legendary 39-year-old striker who collected two World Cups, two Olympic gold medals, and an Olympic bronze medal in her 16 years with the USWNT, <a href="https://www.insider.com/carli-lloyd-announces-retirement-us-soccer-national-team-2021-8">announced her retirement from the national team</a> shortly after this summer's Olympics. And Megan Rapinoe, another veteran prolific scorer for the USWNT, is mulling over her own future with the stars and stripes, telling <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-usaw/story/4455851/uswnts-megan-rapinoe-needs-to-take-some-time-to-think-about-future">ESPN's Sarah Spain and Jason Fitz</a> that she needs "to take some time to think about" whether or not she wants to step away.<div type="image" title="Megan Rapinoe Alex Morgan" height="1283" width="1711" msid="86079262" hostid="261"></div>Morgan knows it'll be a challenge to replace Lloyd's and Rapinoe's contributions on the pitch and in the locker room."Those are huge players," Morgan said. "Not only huge players in the moment, like big-time players but actually vocal players. They're players who lead by example, players who have really taken on this team as who they are and done everything for this team for 10, 15 years.""And that's a huge accomplishment to those players, but it's also really big shoes to fill," she added.Of course, the USWNT is as deep a team as any on the planet, so head coach Vlatko Andonovski has plenty of offensive talent to work with between returning players and up-and-coming stars. Alongside Morgan, veterans Tobin Heath and Christen Press are likely to feature prominently on the front line.<div type="image" title="tobin heath" height="1763" width="2350" msid="86079265" hostid="261"></div>Lynn Williams, who has less international experience than the aforementioned stars, will look to carry her <a href="https://www.insider.com/lynn-williams-uswnt-glory-after-tokyo-alternate-world-cup-snub-2021-7">stellar play during the Olympics</a> into the USWNT's bid to three-peat as World Cup champions."We're very fortunate to have had a very similar team from the World Cup to the Olympics," Morgan said. "It doesn't always happen like that."Some younger players are poised to breakthrough for the national team, too. Sophia Smith, a 21-year-old striker who spent much of the lead-up to the Olympics with the USWNT, has already gotten called up for the team's September matches. So too has Mallory Pugh, the 23-year-old forward who was with the USWNT in France for the 2019 World Cup and Rio for the 2016 Olympics.<div type="image" title="mal pugh 2016" height="989" width="1320" msid="86079266" hostid="261"></div>Though those two and midfielder Andi Sullivan are the only non-Olympic roster members invited to the team's latest training camp, other budding stars may very well find their way into the fold in the lead-up to the World Cup. National Women's Soccer League standouts like Bethany Balcer, Ashley Hatch, Trinity Rodman, and Ashley Sanchez could all get their chances in the near future, as could UCLA junior Mia Fishel. And Margaret Purce, the outside back who narrowly missed the Olympic roster, could potentially make her mark in Andonovski's attack given her offensive prowess for the NWSL's NJ/NY Gotham.Morgan, Heath, Press, Rapinoe (should she return), Kelley O'Hara, and team captain Becky Sauerbrunn are among the most experienced players on the national team. But a younger generation of stars - including Crystal Dunn, Julie Ertz, Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis, Lindsey Horan, and Rose Lavelle - have already become leaders in their own right and are poised to grab the baton from those veterans.<div type="image" title="crystal dunn slide tackle" height="1666" width="2222" msid="86079267" hostid="261"></div>The USWNT will miss its longtime superstars, to be sure. But with talent abound and a strong contingent of returners, Andonovski and company are positioned just right to continue the USWNT's reign atop the women's soccer world."As great as the Olympics was, and as much as we're proud of the bronze medal, we look forward now," Morgan said.

Alex Morgan says the US women's soccer team has 'really big shoes to fill' as longtime superstars near retirement

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Sky Blue FC star Nahomi Kawasumi scored on a blast from more than 40 yards out in one of the most impressive goals of the <keyword id="9527642" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl-challenge-cup">NWSL Challenge Cup</keyword> thus far.</li><li>The 34-year-old midfielder scored a remarkably similar game-winning <keyword id="1934" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Goal">goal</keyword> nine years earlier during the 2011 World Cup in Germany.</li><li>Sky Blue secured a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dash to earn their first win of the Challenge Cup thus far.</li></ul>Nahomi "Naho" Kawasumi scored an absolute golazo for Sky Blue FC Wednesday night, and though it was a remarkable goal, it looked strikingly familiar.That's because the Japanese international had scored in nearly identical fashion almost a full decade earlier.Kawasumi booted a blast from more than 40 yards out to beat Houston Dash keeper Jane Campbell and put her Sky Blue squad up by two in their third match of <keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword> Challenge Cup.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Sky Blue FC (@SkyBlueFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1281057792900632576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2020</a></blockquote>Sky Blue held on for the 2-0 victory — the club's first win by multiple goals since June of 2017, <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDanLauletta/status/1281077555525816320">per The Equalizer's Dan Lauletta</a>.As for the goal, it may be time to start referring to long-range rockets from the left flank as "The Naho."Nine years ago, Kawasumi put the icing on the cake of Japan's come-from-behind 3-1 victory in the semifinals of the 2011 World Cup with a remarkably similar shot to the one she scored on Wednesday night. The goal was the then-25-year-old's second of the match and all but locked in Japan's spot in that year's World Cup final against the United States.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MpPO8xSaIUM?start=187" frameborder="0"></iframe>Though Kawasami's most recent NWSL goal came nearly 10 years after her famous World Cup strike, many women's <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">soccer</keyword> fans were quick to point out how closely the two strikes resembled each other. Kawasumi hit the ball from almost exactly the same spot on the pitch, catching both netminders well off their lines.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—NWSL (@NWSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1281096879607091201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1281061450585440256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1281087548492783616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2020</a></blockquote>Kawasumi and Sky Blue will face off against the top-ranked North Carolina Courage Monday night for their final match of the qualifying round of the NWSL Challenge Cup.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-challenge-cup-fans-players-conflict-2020-7">The NWSL may be heading towards a showdown with players after the host team teased the addition of fans for future Challenge Cup matches</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-ashley-sanchez-heel-flick-washington-spirit-nwsl-challenge-cup-2020-7">Ashley Sanchez's brilliant back-heel flick to assist the Washington Spirit's late-game equalizer may be the best play of the NWSL Challenge Cup so far</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/julie-ertz-casey-short-kneel-cry-during-national-anthem-nwsl-2020-6">Julie Ertz and US women's national team, Chicago Red Stars teammate Casey Short took a knee, held each other, and cried during the national anthem at their first game in 8 months</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-watching-guide-first-pro-sports-united-states-2020-6">Here's your viewing guide for the NWSL — the first American professional contact sports league to return since the coronavirus pandemic began</a></li></ul>

A women's soccer star scored a screamer from more than 40 yards out, and it was uncannily similar to her World Cup goal from nine years earlier

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The bottom-ranked <keyword id="9476667" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="portland-thorns">Portland Thorns</keyword> eliminated the reigning <keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword> champion North Carolina Courage from the <keyword id="9527642" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl-challenge-cup">NWSL Challenge Cup</keyword> in a 1-0 thriller Friday afternoon.</li><li>The Thorns' massive <keyword id="6359471" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="upset">upset</keyword> came on the back of keeper Britt Eckerstrom, who entered the tournament as the team's third-string netminder and hasn't started an NWSL game since August of 2019.</li><li>The 27-year-old notched eight saves between the pipes, including an unbelievable late-game robbery of Debinha's free kick from just outside the 18 that was headed for the upper 90.</li><li>Eckerstrom and Portland will face the winner of tonight's match between the Utah Royals and the Houston Dash in the tournament semifinals on July 22.</li></ul>The Portland Thorns have pulled off the biggest upset in recent NWSL history, due in large part to a sensational performance from their third-string <keyword id="6592919" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="goalkeeper">goalkeeper</keyword>.Netminder Britt Eckerstrom was instrumental in the Thorns' stunning 1-0 victory over the reigning NWSL champion North Carolina Courage Friday afternoon. With the team's first win of the NWSL Challenge Cup, Portland eliminated the Courage juggernaut — which features the likes of Crystal Dunn, Lynn Williams, Sam Mewis, Abby Dahlkemper, Jessica McDonald, and Debinha — from the tournament and, against all odds, advanced to the tournament's semifinals.Eckerstrom's stellar defense was on full display throughout the game. However, she ascended to an entirely new level as the clock wound down in Portland's first contest of the knockout round. In the 79th minute of play, Debinha lined up for a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box after Mewis drew a foul.The Brazilian superstar blasted a rocket past the Thorns' wall and towards the upper-90 of the <keyword id="1934" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Goal">goal</keyword>, but Eckerstrom soared multiple feet into the air to punch the ball away with one hand and make the highlight reel-worthy stop.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Just Women’s <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">Sports</keyword> (@justwsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1284192906526564353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2020</a></blockquote>Minutes later, Debinha broke away from the Portland defense and was one-on-one with Eckerstrom when the 27-year-old keeper charged at her and stifled any attempt she might've had on goal.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—CBS Sports <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">Soccer</keyword> (@CBSSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1284195036389879809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2020</a></blockquote>Eckerstrom — who entered the tournament behind USWNT keeper Adrianna Franch and backup Bella Bixby on Portland's depth chart — recorded eight saves while fending off the most lethal offense in the league.After the game, Eckerstrom — who had not earned a start in the NWSL since August of 2019 — credited a "team effort" for the Thorns' unfathomable victory over the tournament frontrunners."We know that every game we were gonna get better and better and better, and we were just waiting for it to click," Eckerstrom said in her post-game interview. "Today we put it in the back of the net."<div type="image" title="morgan weaver.JPG" height="1667" width="2223" msid="77027687" hostid="261"></div>Rookie striker Morgan Weaver scored Portland's game-winner in the 68th minute thanks to a cross-goal assist from Thorns and Costa Rican national team standout Rocky Rodriguez.Portland will move on to face the winner of the match between the Utah Royals and the Houston Dash in the tournament semifinals on July 22. And though it's unclear whether Bixby will once again be available for the Thorns by kickoff next week, Eckerstrom made as strong a case as possible to earn a second consecutive start.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-challenge-cup-fans-players-conflict-2020-7">The NWSL may be heading towards a showdown with players after the host team teased the addition of fans for future Challenge Cup matches</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-nahomi-kawasumi-sky-blue-goal-identical-world-cup-screamer-2020-7">A women's soccer star scored a screamer from more than 40 yards out, and it was uncannily similar to her World Cup goal from nine years earlier</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-ashley-sanchez-heel-flick-washington-spirit-nwsl-challenge-cup-2020-7">Ashley Sanchez's brilliant back-heel flick to assist the Washington Spirit's late-game equalizer may be the best play of the NWSL Challenge Cup so far</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/julie-ertz-casey-short-kneel-cry-during-national-anthem-nwsl-2020-6">Julie Ertz and US women's national team, Chicago Red Stars teammate Casey Short took a knee, held each other, and cried during the national anthem at their first game in 8 months</a></li></ul>

A remarkable save from a third-string keeper helped the bottom-seeded Portland Thorns pull off the upset of the Challenge Cup

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="11931671" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt" source="Orion">USWNT</keyword> ended its 2021 campaign with a pair of matches against the Matildas in Australia.</li><li>The young squad came away from its stint Down Under with a 3-0 win and a 1-1 draw.</li></ul>A new era has arrived for the US <keyword id="11892913" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="women" source="Orion">women</keyword>'s national <keyword id="11897666" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="soccer" source="Orion">soccer</keyword> team.Following a bronze-medal finish at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, the world's top-ranked team prepared to embark on a transformational period, the likes of which it hasn't seen in many years. <a href="https://www.insider.com/carli-lloyd-scores-5-goals-us-soccer-vs-paraguay-video-2021-9">Veteran superstar Carli Lloyd</a> played <a href="https://www.insider.com/top-photos-womens-sports-october-2021-wnba-finals-carli-lloyd-2021-11">her final game</a> for the stars and stripes <a href="https://www.insider.com/carli-lloyd-announces-retirement-us-soccer-national-team-2021-8">after 16 years with the USWNT</a>, and 2019 <keyword id="11895958" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="world-cup" source="Orion">World Cup</keyword> Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/megan-rapinoe">Megan Rapinoe</a> publicly stated that <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-usaw/story/4455851/uswnts-megan-rapinoe-needs-to-take-some-time-to-think-about-future">she's mulling over retirement</a> herself.<div type="image" title="Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd (left) hug after Lloyd was substituted for the final time as a member of the US Women's National Team." height="907" width="1209" msid="88034147" hostid="261"></div>With a changing of the guard imminent, the USWNT traveled to Australia for two friendlies against the Matildas to end the year. And in a stark departure from the veteran-laden roster he brought to the Midwest for the team's four-game slate, USWNT head coach <keyword id="12396032" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="vlatko-andonovski" source="Orion">Vlatko Andonovski</keyword> called in a markedly younger, less-experienced group for the trip Down Under.With an average age of 26.2 and a whopping six newcomers without a single cap for the national team, Andonovski's 23-player roster was full of fresh faces. And the budding stars delivered, earning a 3-0 win and a 1-1 draw against a talented Matildas squad playing in front of record crowds on its home turf.<div type="image" title="USWNT players line up ahead of a matchup against Australia." height="1667" width="2500" msid="88034148" hostid="261"></div>But more relevant — and more consequential — than the final scorelines are the implications each individual performance has on the national team's future. So as the USWNT looks ahead to a busy 2022, here are the biggest takeaways from the team's final camp of 2021.<h2>Casey Murphy is the next goalkeeper in line for the USWNT</h2>Murphy has long been a force between the pipes at the club level. First a keeper for French Division 1 Féminine club Montpellier HSC, the 6-foot-1 Rutgers alum took her talents stateside to the National <keyword id="12225642" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-soccer" source="Orion">Women's Soccer</keyword> League (NWSL) beginning in 2019.She enjoyed a spectacular debut season in Seattle, allowing just nine goals in 19 games in front of the net for OL Reign. With six clean sheets to boot, Murphy finished second behind Washington Spirit's Aubrey Bledsoe in 2019 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year voting.<div type="image" title="Casey Murphy makes a save for the North Carolina Courage." height="1667" width="2500" msid="88034150" hostid="261"></div>The following year, Reign traded their young keeper to the North Carolina Courage. Murphy thrived in the Tar Heel State and once again had a compelling case for Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021. Through 23 games, she led the league with 96 saves — good for a third-best in the NWSL 81.4% save percentage — and 11 clean sheets.Andonovski called Murphy into November camp as a direct result of her stellar play at the club level, and it translated to the pitch down in Australia. Somewhat surprisingly, Murphy got the starting nod for the USWNT's first matchup against the Matildas and made the most of the big moment.The 25-year-old became the seventh goalkeeper in USWNT history — the first since Alyssa Naeher — to record a clean sheet in her first cap. She recorded eight saves, several of which were acrobatic and awe-inspiring, to keep the national team out of trouble for the full 90 minutes and earn Budweiser Woman of the Match honors.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1464454378090336256">November 27, 2021</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1464457777884061697">November 27, 2021</a></blockquote>"I thought this was a great experience for Casey; it could not get any better for her," Andonovski said after the match. "Playing in front of a great crowd — very loud, very stressful — against some of the best forwards in the world, what else can we ask for? She came out big. It's not just that she helped us win, but [she] gave us confidence.""I thought she was great for the team," he added. "She was great for the back line — they felt very comfortable with everything that went behind them."<div type="image" title="Casey Murphy makes a save for the USWNT against Australia." height="1649" width="2500" msid="88034153" hostid="261"></div>Rather than giving fellow netminders Jane Campbell and Bella Bixby a shot in goal, Andonovski stuck with Murphy for the second game of the two-part series. And once again, Murphy did not disappoint.She and the USWNT defensive unit held the Matildas scoreless through the first 87 minutes of regulation, pulling off an impressive, fully-extended fingertip save on a line-drive volley from Australia's Mary Fowler. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1465614894208897026">November 30, 2021</a></blockquote>An unlucky deflection resulted in Murphy's first — and only, to this point — goal against in her senior national team career. In the 88th minute, Australia's Kyah Simon launched a low, hard ball from just outside the penalty arc, which ricocheted off the outstretched leg of veteran USWNT center-back Becky Sauerbrunn and found the back of the net.Murphy, who was following the likely trajectory of the ball when it left Simon's foot rather than the deflected path, couldn't recover the lost ground to make the save. Despite the concession, Andonovski expressed full-throated support for the young star."I feel comfortable saying that even though this is the first cap for Casey, it's just one of many," the head coach said.<div type="image" title="Casey Murphy leaves her feet to make a save for the USWNT." height="1666" width="2500" msid="88034154" hostid="261"></div><h2>A young defensive core is emerging as the national team's back-line-in-waiting</h2>Tierna Davidson has long been the future of the USWNT's defense. As of the Tokyo Olympics, she's seemingly become its present; the 23-year-old center-back started ahead of national team regular Abby Dahlkemper in both the USWNT's semfinal loss against Canada and its bronze-medal match against Australia.Now, the next generation of stars who will surround Davidson on the back line is beginning to take shape.<div type="image" title="tierna davidson" height="1666" width="2222" msid="88034156" hostid="261"></div>A superstar at the collegiate level for Anson Dorrance's North Carolina Tar Heels and Racing Louisville FC's prized first-overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, Emily Fox is poised to find a foothold within the USWNT's defensive unit. She's been to several camps ahead of November's stint in Australia, but her masterful performances at outside back leave little question that she'll be welcomed back to the national team many times again.In a combined 121 minutes at left back the two matches Down Under, Fox showed poise as she locked down some world-class attackers coming up the wing for the Matildas. She went toe-to-toe with Manchester City's Hayley Raso and Olympique Lyonnais' Ellie Carpenter throughout the series, using her physicality and standout speed to contain offensive threats from the pair of Aussies.<div type="image" title="Emily Fox (right) defends Australia's Ellie Carpenter." height="1665" width="2220" msid="88034157" hostid="261"></div>And on the attacking end, Fox was not at all timid about pushing forward to place pressure on Australia's defense. She nearly had an assist in the first game. In the second, she did enough to earn Budweiser Woman of the Match honors.The impressive effort in just her seventh and eighth appearances for the national team caught Andonoski's attention."First I want to say that Fox played an incredible game," he said following the team's second game in Australia, citing her ability "to deal with players like Hayley Rasso and [Ellie] Carpenter — to stop them on every transition and to stop them from penetrating on every attack" and "create as many problems as she did" in the attacking third. "I'm very proud of her and I think that she showed how much potential she has or how good she can be."<div type="image" title="Emily Fox wins a tackle against Australia's Hayley Raso." height="1750" width="2333" msid="88034159" hostid="261"></div>Fox wasn't the only newcomer to earn significant time on the defensive end. Alana Cook, a 24-year-old center-back for OL Reign, played back-to-back full 90s in Australia. In tandem with Davidson, she did well to limit the efficacy of Sam Kerr — the Chelsea striker who is undoubtedly one of the most lethal attackers in all of women's soccer.Cook's club teammate, Sofia Huerta, helped her own standing with Andonovski and the national team as well. Not only did the 28-year-old hold her own in the defensive third over her 130 minutes of play, but she managed to generate offense from the right back position.And even though Imani Dorsey — the 2018 NWSL Rookie of the Year who naturally plays as a forward — only got a few minutes on the field in her first-ever national team cap, she too managed to expertly balance shutting down Aussie onslaughts with catalyzing the US attack.<div type="image" title="Alana Cook (left) holds Australian superstar Sam Kerr off the ball." height="1666" width="2222" msid="88034160" hostid="261"></div>Much to USWNT fans' collective chagrin, Sauerbrunn has reached the twilight of her career. At 33 years old, veteran outside back Kelley O'Hara is not too far behind. And with Crystal Dunn — the do-it-all Portland Thorns superstar who has predominantly played left back for the national team — out for the foreseeable future due to her recently-announced pregnancy, now is as good a time as any to introduce some new talent into the defensive rotation.So far, so good.<h2>No need for speed — the new-wave attackers have the USWNT covered</h2>The future of the national team's offense is really, really speedy.Let's start with lightning fast Lynn Williams. The Courage forward overcame a 2019 World Cup snub and alternate status for the Tokyo Olympics to become a pivotal member of Andonovski's offense. She <a href="https://www.insider.com/lynn-williams-uswnt-glory-after-tokyo-alternate-world-cup-snub-2021-7">scored a goal and added an assist</a> in the USWNT's Olympic quarterfinal matchup against the Netherlands, and since then, she's kept her foot on the gas.<div type="image" title="Lindsey Horan (left) and Lynn Williams high five during a USWNT game against Australia." height="1666" width="2500" msid="88034161" hostid="261"></div>In the five friendlies she's played in this fall, Williams has tallied two goals and three assists. And while her speed is certainly a useful tool in her arsenal, its far from the only one at her disposal. She's crafty, she has impressive field vision, and her ability to pressure the opposing defense upon a change in possession is second to none.And while Williams isn't exactly new, her 43 caps were more than any other forward on Andonovski's Australia roster. The rest — Bethany Balcer, Ashley Hatch, Margaret Purce, Sophia Smith, Ashley Sanchez, and Morgan Weaver — had 19 caps combined heading into the two-game slate.That same group of six combined for two goals and two assists.<div type="image" title="Ashley Hatch reacts to scoring her first-ever USWNT goal." height="1667" width="2500" msid="88034163" hostid="261"></div>Hatch scored twice, and twice she did so in the first five minutes of play. Her speed allows her to beat defenders head-on, and her ability to time her runs and sneak behind the back line helps teammates find her at opportune times. Both contributed to her scoring efforts in Australia.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1464446659119783936">November 27, 2021</a></blockquote>Originally pegged as a defender for the national team, Purce made her way onto the November camp roster as a forward thanks to her efforts with the NWSL's NJ/NY Gotham.Andonovski's decision to switch her position proved fruitful, as Purce had two assists — one to Rose Lavelle and another to Hatch — in her 146 minutes on the pitch. In both instances, the 26-year-old Harvard alum forced her way down the right flank through smart runs and impressive speed, then cut back to deliver through balls on a silver platter in the penalty box for her teammates to bury.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1464463324326866944">November 27, 2021</a></blockquote>24-year-olds Weaver and Balcer and 26-year-old Hatch all earned their first USWNT caps on the trip. Though none of the three saw significant minutes, they each got a taste of the pressures of national team play and held their own. Smith, the 21-year-old who has factored into the USWNT's offensive scheme for the better part of two years, was held off the field Down Under due to concussion protocol.Andonovski seems keen to combine the aforementioned six forwards with experienced, but still young, national teamer Mal Pugh and up-and-coming superstar Trinity Rodman. Both players opted out of the Australia trip despite receiving invites to camp, potentially signaling that they did not meet the COVID-19 criteria for traveling into the country.<h2>'The kids are gonna be alright'</h2>There's still plenty of work to be done, and there's still much that can change between now and the USWNT's next major tournament: the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. But seeing a group of young — and mostly inexperienced — players travel halfway across the world and successfully rival a formidable opponent like the Matildas is an encouraging sign for fans and Andonovski alike.<div type="image" title="USWNT midfielder Andi Sullivan runs on the ball." height="1666" width="2222" msid="88034164" hostid="261"></div>Should Naeher — the USWNT's starting keeper since 2014 — go down with an injury like she did at the Olympics, Murphy would be a better-than-good option to slide in between the pipes.If Sauerbrunn or O'Hara retires, or Dunn doesn't return from parental leave in time for the World Cup, or the back line catches an injury bug, Fox, Cook, Huerta, and Dorsey will be ready to hold the line around Davidson.And when the veteran national team attackers start stepping away from the pitch, a deep pool of physically, tactically brilliant up-and-comers are poised to take the reins.<div type="image" title="midge purce" height="1666" width="2222" msid="88034166" hostid="261"></div>When Purce found Hatch for a fourth-minute goal in the second of the two USWNT-Australia matchups, ESPN broadcaster Sebastián Salazar proclaimed "The kids are gonna be alright!"<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1465612015926394887">November 30, 2021</a></blockquote>Consider that sentiment seconded.

Change is coming: Here's what we learned from the US women's soccer team's year-ending stint in Australia

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The National <keyword id="7597433" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Womens-soccer">Women's Soccer</keyword> League was <a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-watching-guide-first-pro-sports-united-states-2020-6">the first American professional contact sports league to return since the coronavirus pandemic began</a> when the 2020 <keyword id="9527642" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl-challenge-cup">NWSL Challenge Cup</keyword> kicked off June 27.</li><li>The world's premier women's soccer league has been playing in a "<keyword id="4662213" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bubble">bubble</keyword>" in Utah and has not welcomed <keyword id="1392" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="fans">fans</keyword> to any games thus far.</li><li>An email from the Utah Royals — the club hosting the tournament — offered season ticket holders "the first opportunity to purchase tickets" in the event that fans are welcome at the semifinals and finals.</li><li>The <keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword> has insisted that its "current protocols call for no fan participation in-person" but the league will "continuously review those plans."</li><li>NWSL Players Association Executive Director Brooke Elby told Insider that introducing fans "just doesn't make sense" and that "those plans are staying the way that they were written at the beginning of this tournament."</li></ul>The National Women's Soccer League was <a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-watching-guide-first-pro-sports-united-states-2020-6">the first American professional contact sports league to return to action </a>since the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> pandemic began, and, for a moment, it appeared as though it could be one of the first to welcome fans back into the fold in-person as well.<div type="image" title="North Carolina Courage forward Lynn Williams (9) and Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan (10) battle for the ball during the first half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium, Saturday, June 27, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)" height="2035" width="2713" msid="76843694" hostid="261"></div>But according to NWSL Players Association Executive Director Brooke Elby, the NWSLPA has "thoroughly" discussed with the league its intention of "sticking to protocols that have been put in place.""And that means no fans," Elby told Insider.The world's premier women's soccer league has been playing in a "bubble" in Utah since the last weekend in June and has not welcomed fans to any of its NWSL Challenge Cup contests at Zions Bank Stadium thus far. Through 10 games and over a week in isolation, not a single player, coach, or staff member has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.Still, Real Salt Lake — the club overseeing the MLS team of the same name plus USL's Real Monarchs and the NWSL's Utah Royals, who are hosting the Challenge Cup — has been publicly toying with the idea of inviting fans to participate in the final rounds of the tournament in person.<div type="image" title="zions bank stadium.JPG" height="1250" width="2500" msid="76843698" hostid="261"></div>When the league first announced its plans for the Challenge Cup back in June, Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen told <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/sports/rsl/2020/05/27/nwsl-makes-it-official/">The Salt Lake Tribune's Alex Vejar</a> that he "would like to add that energy and invite fans into the stadium because we think that's the second part that's really important." He added that the prospect of fan inclusion had not yet been broached with NWSL players because "they've got enough fears to get over."Once players arrived in Utah, it appeared as though the idea of welcoming fans to witness games in person had been laid to rest. The NWSLPA leadership was certainly under that impression.<div type="image" title="sarah gorden.JPG" height="1667" width="2222" msid="76843700" hostid="261"></div>"I'm going to say there was never the 100% definite no," Elby said regarding the state of plans to have fans present at the tournament upon players' arrival in Utah. "But it was always pretty known that it was going to be a no if that makes sense."<h2>Less than a week into the Cup, however, the idea of including fans in person at the Challenge Cup resurfaced</h2>On July 2, <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/sports/rsl/2020/07/02/real-monarchs-set-open/">Vejar reported for The Salt Lake Tribune</a> that Real Salt Lake would be welcoming "as many as 5,300" fans to Rio Tinto Stadium for the Real Monarchs' match on July 11. At the time, a team spokesperson for the Utah Royals told Vejar the club was "hopeful" that the final rounds of the Challenge Cup — which are slated to kick off at the same venue roughly two weeks later — will be played in front of fans.<div type="image" title="midge purce.JPG" height="1435" width="1913" msid="76843702" hostid="261"></div>Elby insisted that in-person fan participation at the Real Monarchs game "is totally separate from" the NWSL's plans."If the USL ends up having fans, that is their ownership's decision," she added. "For our league, I think we're all on the same page here."But the next morning, Real Salt Lake had sent an email to fans about its "RSL Family Season Member Rollover Plan." In the message, the club offered "the first opportunity to purchase tickets to our season ticket members" in the event they are able to welcome fans to Rio Tinto Stadium for the semifinals and finals of the NWSL Challenge Cup.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1279070677371441153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2020</a></blockquote>And as of Monday afternoon, a representative from Real Salt Lake's ticket office confirmed that season ticket holders "have an opportunity to select that option to be involved with the presale for those games if [the club] is granted the opportunity to host fans for those three games."<div type="image" title="tziarra king kailen sheridan.JPG" height="1667" width="2223" msid="76843705" hostid="261"></div>But a club spokesperson told Insider via email that nothing had changed as of Monday evening."There are currently no plans for fans to attend the NWSL Challenge Cup at any point," RSL Senior Manager of Communications Taran Meyer wrote. "NWSL, NWSLPA, and USWNT PA have all been in contact with applicable parties regarding these discussions."<h2>Players would not be on board with a change to the NWSL Challenge Cup plans that involves in-person fan participation</h2>When asked if a decision to change the current tournament protocols would bode well with players, Elby responded with an unequivocal "no.""We've been in constant communication with our players, and we've also been in constant communication with the league that this just doesn't make sense at the time," Elby added. "We've written these protocols, the medical task force has written these protocols — there's no need to change. I think players feel the same way and we want to represent that feeling, but I also feel like the league is on the same page about that as well."<div type="image" title="rachel daly houston dash.JPG" height="1256" width="1675" msid="76843707" hostid="261"></div>NWSL Director of Communications Kirsten Brierley confirmed to Insider via email on Thursday that there still had been "no changes in our plans at this time" but did not shut down the prospect of welcoming fans in person down the line."Our current protocols call for no fan participation in-person," Brierley wrote. "In partnership with the players associations, we continuously review those plans and will make any decisions going forward with the <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> and safety of NWSL players, officials, and staff as the number one priority."Even so, Elby expressed confidence that the NWSL Challenge Cup would finish the same way it started: sans fans."We are working collaboratively with the league and there is no plan to change these protocols," Elby said. "Whatever any league is planning on doing does not directly reflect anything the NWSL is, as the same with anything any clubs are saying.""I want people to understand that the league has been conversing with us and with the players and that those plans are staying the way that they were written at the beginning of this tournament," she added.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-ashley-sanchez-heel-flick-washington-spirit-nwsl-challenge-cup-2020-7">Ashley Sanchez's brilliant back-heel flick to assist the Washington Spirit's late-game equalizer may be the best play of the NWSL Challenge Cup so far</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/julie-ertz-casey-short-kneel-cry-during-national-anthem-nwsl-2020-6">Julie Ertz and US women's national team, Chicago Red Stars teammate Casey Short took a knee, held each other, and cried during the national anthem at their first game in 8 months</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-players-kneel-national-anthem-wear-black-lives-matter-shirts-2020-6">Every single NWSL player kneeled during the national anthem at the first professional contact sports game to return in the US since the coronavirus pandemic began</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-watching-guide-first-pro-sports-united-states-2020-6">Here's your viewing guide for the NWSL — the first American professional contact sports league to return since the coronavirus pandemic began</a></li></ul>

The NWSL may be heading towards a showdown with players after the host team teased the addition of fans for future Challenge Cup matches

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="133010" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="MLB">MLB</keyword> teams have been forced to postpone workouts as a result of delayed <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> testing results.</li><li>Players must return negative tests before returning to the diamond to practice with their teammates, but inefficient testing policies have disrupted plans.</li><li>The Oakland A's, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros, and other teams are reportedly facing issues with testing.</li><li>The 2020 season is supposed to begin on July 23, but continued testing snafus and subsequent delays could put that in jeopardy.</li></ul>Just one week into Major League <keyword id="23398" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Baseball">Baseball</keyword>'s "Summer Camp" — this year's version of spring training — some teams have been forced to postpone workouts as a result of unexpected challenges with COVID-19 testing.<div type="image" title="amed rosario.JPG" height="1667" width="2222" msid="76822778" hostid="261"></div>According to the <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> and safety protocols outlined by the league, all players must return negative COVID-19 tests before returning to the diamond to practice with their teammates. The process of returning a negative test, however, is not so simple.Aside from the logistical issues that could come with organizing sample collection for an entire team, individual franchises need to coordinate with MLB and CDT — the company responsible for collecting the samples — to transport completed tests to the league's lab in Utah. So far, that process has proved more difficult than either side likely anticipated.Despite MLB's promise to return test results in a 24- to 48-hour span, multiple teams have reportedly faced issues with completing the entire testing process.According to <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/07/05/extended-intake-testing-delay-pushes-as-full-squad-report-date-another-day/">Mercury News' Shayna Rubin</a>, completed COVID-19 tests from the Oakland Athletics' players and staff members waited for more than two days before they were shipped to Utah. The league had not factored in potential delays due to the Fourth of July holiday while planning the transport. As of Sunday evening, the tests still had not departed from California.<div type="image" title="Yusmeiro Petit.JPG" height="1667" width="2223" msid="76822782" hostid="261"></div>As a result, Oakland was forced to postpone its first full-squad workout since March — including the return of position players — by another day. <a href="https://theathletic.com/1911119/2020/07/06/frustrated-as-wait-as-many-of-their-covid-19-test-results-remain-delayed/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">And according to Alex Coffey of The Athletic</a>, A's general manager Dave Forst is "frustrated" and "livid" given the situation and the lack of communication from the league."On top of screwing up the logistics of this whole thing, neither MLB nor CDT communicated any of this to us until we pressed them for information, at which point all they could do was apologize, which frankly doesn't really do much for us," Forst messaged his team on WhatsApp, according to The Athletic. "Despite having our schedule a week ahead of time, they didn't alert us to the possibility of any complications around July 4, and once there were issues, they did nothing to communicate that to us or remedy the situation... If possible, I'm as frustrated and pissed as you are."<h2>Like the A's, the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros, and other teams have been forced to cancel workouts as a result of testing snafus</h2>Oakland was far from the only team impacted by issues with the league-issued testing arrangements. The Astros were also forced to cancel their Monday workout after waiting more than 72 hours to receive their team's initial COVID-19 test results. The Nationals faced the same problem.<div type="image" title="houston astros.JPG" height="1768" width="2357" msid="76822785" hostid="261"></div>The Angels, meanwhile, were forced to delay their Monday morning workout after testers failed to show up at either Angel Stadium or Blair Field — the team's alternate training location — on Sunday. Players were left with no choice but to administer their own COVID-19 tests, <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2020-07-06/angels-among-mlb-teams-delaying-workouts-coronavirus-testing-snafus">per the Los Angeles Times</a>.On Sunday, Washington pitcher Sean Doolittle told the press that he completed a second test for the novel <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> despite not having received results for the original test he took 48 hours prior."Yeah, as I sit here talking to you guys, I still don't have my test results from Friday's test," Doolittle said, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/no-test-results-lots-of-uncertainty-sean-doolittle-details-anxiety-within-mlb-summer-camps-191504642.html">per Yahoo Sports</a>. "So, like, I got tested again this morning without knowing the results of my test from Friday. So, we gotta clean that up. Right? So that's one thing that makes me a little nervous."<div type="image" title="sean doolittle.JPG" height="1874" width="2499" msid="76822789" hostid="261"></div>On Monday morning, <a href="https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/1280139227490062338">Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo released a statement</a> in which he said the entire team had waited a full 72 hours and still had not received their test results.<div type="image" title="mike rizzo.JPG" height="1814" width="2419" msid="76822793" hostid="261"></div>"We cannot have our players and staff work at risk," Rizzo said. "We will not sacrifice the health and safety of our players, staff, and their families. Without accurate and timely testing, it is simply not safe for us to continue with Summer Camp.""Major League Baseball needs to work quickly to resolve issues with their process and their lab," he added. "Otherwise, Summer Camp and the 2020 Season are at risk."<h2>The league-wide struggle to complete efficient COVID-19 testing could put the upcoming season in jeopardy</h2>Health experts have been adamant that frequent and consistent COVID-19 testing is the only way professional <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> leagues can safely return to action amidst the <keyword id="43587" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="pandemic">pandemic</keyword>. As a result, MLB committed to administering symptom screens and temperature checks twice per day, <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-06-24/how-will-mlb-operations-manual-here-are-rules-protocols-oddities">according to the Los Angeles Times</a>. The league has also arranged to issue COVID-19 tests to players every other day during the regular season, which is set to begin on July 23.<div type="image" title="eddie perez.JPG" height="1756" width="2341" msid="76822797" hostid="261"></div>Although it's still the early days of baseball's restart plan, MLB has dropped the ball on its testing protocol. This week's testing challenges — plus the league's seeming inability to quickly and adequately rectify the issues its teams have faced — are not an encouraging sign that MLB will be able to uphold its promise of regular COVID-19 testing for all 30 teams throughout the season.This uncertainty could very well dissuade players across the league from participating in the 2020 season. A handful of players — including stars like Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price and Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman — have <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/mlb-opt-out-tracker-every-player-who-has-declined-play-2020-season">already opted out rejoining their teams</a> for the year.<div type="image" title="david price dodgers.JPG" height="2480" width="1866" msid="76822801" hostid="261"></div>Doolittle said Sunday that "there were a lot of guys that were on the fence that decided to try to play to see how this was going to go." So far, the results have not been particularly reassuring, which could result in a lack of confidence in the health and safety measures the league is taking and, ultimately, even more players choosing to sit out the season."There's a lot of players right now that are trying to make decisions that might be participating in camp that aren't 100 percent comfortable with where things are at right now," Doolittle said earlier, per Yahoo Sports. "That's kind of where I am. I think I'm planning on playing. But, if at any point I start to feel unsafe, if it starts to take a toll on my mental health, with all these things we have to worry about, and just kind of this cloud of uncertainty hanging over everything, then I'll opt out."<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/ian-desmond-instagram-sitting-out-mlb-season-2020-6">The Rockies' Ian Desmond announced he is sitting out the MLB season with a powerful message about inclusion in the US and baseball</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/college-sports-programs-cut-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-7">College sports programs have been an unexpected casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. Here's the story of one student-athlete who lost his team.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-maya-moore-jonathan-irons-reunite-freed-from-prison-2020-7">WNBA superstar Maya Moore reunites with Jonathan Irons in an emotional video after she fought to have his wrongful conviction overturned</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-ashley-sanchez-heel-flick-washington-spirit-nwsl-challenge-cup-2020-7">Ashley Sanchez's brilliant back-heel flick to assist the Washington Spirit's late-game equalizer may be the best play of the NWSL Challenge Cup so far</a></li></ul>

Baseball is having major problems with testing for COVID-19, and it could put MLB's restart plans at risk

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b014fb6da811e11349aeef-1200-924/ap256137098581-1.jpg?maxX=600" border="0" alt="AP256137098581" width="600">AP/Nick UtSen. Barbara Boxer (D-California).</img>It's still early, but the impending&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fruit-of-the-loom-response-to-barbara-boxer-retirement-2015-1">retirement</a>&#xa0;of&#xa0;Sen. Barbara Boxer's (D-California) could set off a particularly wild race to replace her in 2016.
Ambitious Democrats in the Golden State have been stymied in recent years, as the top statewide offices have been held by longtime incumbents or de facto incumbents. Both Boxer&#xa0;and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) have held office since the early 90s, and Gov. Jerry Brown (D), who served as governor in the 70s, successfully ran for same office again in 2010 and 2014.
However, after Boxer announced her decision not to run for another term in 2016 on Thursday it seems a large number of Democrats are looking at the race in the left-leaning state.
Daily Kos Elections gave the following list of potential candidates for the Democratic side of the aisle:&#xa0;
 Rep. Karen Bass
 Rep. Xavier Becerra
 Treasurer John Chiang
 Rep. John Garamendi
 Attorney General Kamala Harris
 Former Rep. Jane Harman
 Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson (His office answered "no comment" when&#xa0;<a href="https://twitter.com/Ryan_Lillis/status/553315555399069696">asked about his plans</a>.)
 Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones
 San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo
 Former Treasurer Bill Lockyer
 Lt. Gov Gavin Newsom
 Secretary of State Alex Padilla
 Rep. Raul Ruiz
 Rep. Loretta Sanchez (She&#xa0;<a href="https://twitter.com/ajjaffe/status/553245729414995968">did not rule out a run</a>&#xa0;on Thursday.)
 Rep. Adam Schiff
 Los Angeles County Supervisor and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
 Rep. Jackie Speier
 Former State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg
 Billionaire Tom Steyer (Sources close to him&#xa0;<a href="https://twitter.com/LATSeema/status/553334999983095808">say he's interested</a>.)
 Former Rep. Ellen Tauscher
 Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (Sources close to him say he's "<a href="https://twitter.com/jonallendc/status/553256640255119361">seriously considering</a>" a race.)
 Former Controller Steve Westly
 Controller Betty Yee
And for the Republicans:
 Former Rep. Mary Bono
 2014 gubernatorial nominee Neel Kashkari
 Wealthy physicist Charles Munger
 Former Rep. Doug Ose
 Former Insurance Commissioner and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner
 Rep. Ed Royce
 Former state party chair Duf Sundheim (He says he's "<a href="https://twitter.com/LATSeema/status/553346357357191168">seriously exploring</a>" a bid.)
 Fresno Mayor and 2014 controller nominee Ashley Swearengin
 HP CEO and 2010 gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman

A Whole Bunch Of People Might Run For California's Senate Race

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59fce5914d05acd7028b6954-1162/rts1i81f.jpg" alt="paul ryan donald trump" data-mce-source="Carlos Barria/Reuters" data-mce-caption="Paul Ryan and Donald Trump." />Carlos Barria/ReutersPaul Ryan and Donald Trump.</div></div></div>Dear Senators and Representatives:"Ask five economists," as the Edgar Fiedler adage goes, "and you'll get five different answers."Yet, when it comes to the tax reform package aimed at fixing our broken system, the undersigned have but one shared perspective: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-gop-tax-reform-plan-economic-growth-2017-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Economic growth will accelerate</a> if the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passes, leading to more jobs, higher wages, and a better standard of living for the American people. If, however, the bill fails, the United States risks continued economic underperformance.In today's globalized economy, capital is mobile in its pursuit of lower tax jurisdictions. Yet, in that worldwide race for job-creating investment, America is not economically competitive. Here's why: Left virtually untouched for the last 31 years, our chart-topping corporate tax rate is the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-plan-corporate-tax-rate-oecd-countries-2017-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highest in the industrialized world</a> and a full fifteen percentage points above the OECD average. As a result of forfeiting our competitive edge, we forfeited <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-19/tax-code-hurts-u-s-firms-in-m-a-market-roundtable-study-finds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4,700 companies</a> from 2004 to 2016 to cheaper shores abroad. As a result of sitting idly by while the rest of the world took steps to lower their corporate rates, we lowered our own workers' wages by thousands of dollars a year.Our colleagues from across the ideological spectrum - regardless of whether they ultimately support or oppose the current plan - recognize the record-setting rate at which the United States taxes job-creating businesses is, either significantly or entirely, a burden borne by the workers they employ. The question isn't whether American workers are hurt by our country's corporate tax rate - it's how badly. As such, the question isn't whether workers will be helped by a corporate tax rate reduction - it's how much.The enactment of a comprehensive overhaul - complete with a lower corporate tax rate - will ignite our economy with levels of growth not seen in generations. A twenty percent statutory rate on a permanent basis would, per the Council of Economic Advisers, help produce a GDP boost <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-plan-gdp-effect-corporate-rate-2017-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"by between 3 and 5 percent."</a> As the debate delves into deficit implications, it is critical to consider that $1 trillion in new revenue for the federal government can be generated by four-tenths of a percentage in GDP growth.Sophisticated economic models show the macroeconomic feedback generated by the TCJA will exceed that amount - more than enough to compensate for the static revenue loss. We firmly believe that a competitive corporate rate is the key to an economic engine driven by greater investment, capital stock, business formation, and productivity - all of which will yield more jobs and higher wages. Your vote throughout the weeks ahead will therefore put more money in the pockets of more workers.Supporting the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will ensure that those workers - those beneficiaries - are American.Sincerely, James C. Miller IIIFormer OMB Director, 1985-88 Douglas Holtz-EakinAmerican Action Forum Alexander KatkovJohnson &amp; Wales University Ali M. RezaSan Jose State U (Emeritus) Ann E. ShermanDePaul University Anthony B. SandersGeorge Mason University Anthony NegbeneborGardner-Webb University Arthur HavennerUniversity of California, Davis Austin J. JaffePenn State University Barry W. PoulsonUniversity of Colorado Boyd D, CollierTarleton State University, Texas A&amp;M University System (Emeritus) Brian Stuart WesburyJoint Economic Committee Carlisle E. MoodyCollege of William and Mary Charles W. CalomirisColumbia University Christine P. RiesGeorgia Institute of Technology Christopher C. BarnekovFCC (Retired) Christopher Lingle Universidad Francisco Marroquin Clifford F. ThiesShenandoah University Daniel Fernandez Universidad Francisco Marroquin Daniel HouserGeorge Mason University David H. ReslerChief US Economist, Nomura (Retired) David RansonHCWE &amp; Co. Dennis E. Logue Steven Roth Professor, (Emeritus) Tuck School, Dartmouth Colleges Derek TittleGeorgia Institute of Technology DeVon L. YohoEconomist Ball State University (Retired) Donald J. Oswald California State University, Bakersfield (Retired) Donald KochKoch Investments Donald L. AlexanderWestern Michigan University Donald LuskinTrendMacro Douglas C FrechtlingGeorge Washington University Douglas KahlThe University of Akron Douglas O. CookThe University of Alabama Kingdon Hurlock Jr.Calvert Investment Counsel Edward M. ScahillUniversity of Scranton Eleanor CraigUniversity of Delaware Owen Irvine Michigan State University (Emeritus) Farhad RassekhUniversity of Hartford Francis AhkingUniversity of Connecticut Frank FaleroCalifornia State University (Emeritus) Gary R. SkoogLegal Econometrics, Inc. Gary WolframHillsdale College Gene SimpsonNPTC, Auburn University George LangelettSouth Dakota State University Gerald P. DwyerClemson University Gil SylviaUniversity of Georgia H Daniel FosterHDFCO Hugo J. FariaUniversity of Miami Inayat ManglaWestern Michigan University J. Edward GrahamUNC Wilmington Jagdish BhagwatiColumbia University James B KauUniversity of Georgia James C.W. Ahiakpor California State University, East Bay James D. AdamsRensselaer Polytechnic Institute James D. MillerSmith College James F. SmithEconForecaster, LLC James KeelerKenyon College James M. Mulcahy SUNY - Buffalo economics department James MoncurUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa Jeffrey DorfmanUniversity of Georgia Jerold ZimmermanUniversity of Rochester Jody LipfordPresbyterian College John A. BadenChm., Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment (FREE) John C. Moorhouse Wake Forest University (Emeritus) John D. JohnsonUtah State University John H McDermottUniversity of South Carolina John McArthurWofford College John P. EleazarianAmerican Economic Association John RuggieroUniversity of Dayton John SemmensLaissez Faire Institute Joseph A. GiacaloneSt. John's University, NY Joseph Haslag University of Missouri- Columbia Joseph S. DeSalvo University of South Florida - Tampa Joseph Zoric Franciscan University of Steubenville Kathleen B. CooperSMU's John Tower Center for Politico Science Kenneth V. Greene Binghamton University (Emeritus) Lawrence Benveniste Goizueta Business School, Emory University Lawrence R. CimaJohn Carroll University Leon WeggeUniversity of California, Davis Lloyd CohenScalia Law School Lucjan OrlowskiSacred Heart University Lydia OrtegaSan Jose State University M. Northrup BuechnerSt. John's University, New York Maurice MacDonaldKansas State University Michael A. MorriseyTexas A&amp;M University Michael ConnollyUniversity of Miami Michael D Brendler Louisiana State University Shreveport. Michael L. MarlowCal Poly, San Luis Obispo Moheb A. GhaliWestern Washington University Nancy RobertsArizona State University Nasser DuellaCalifornia State University, Fullerton Nicolas SanchezCollege of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA (Emeritus,) Norman LeftonSouthern Illinois University, Edwardsville Paul H RubinEmory University Pavel YakovlevDuquesne University Pedro PiffautColumbia University Peter E. KretzmerBank of America Peter S. YunUVAWISE (Emeritus) Phillip J. Bryson Brigham Young University (Emeritus) R. Ashley LymanUniversity of Idaho R. L. PromboinUniversity of Maryland University College (former) Richard J. CebulaJacksonville University Richard KilmerUniversity of Florida Richard TimberlakeProf. of Econ., Univ. of Ga. (Retired) Richard VedderOhio University Robert B HelmsAmerican Enterprise Institute (Retired) Robert F StaufferRoanoke College , (Emeritus) Robert H. TopelUniversity of Chicago Booth School of Business Robert HellerFormer Governor, Federal Reserve Board Robert SauerRoyal Holloway University Robert TamuraClemson University Roger MeinersUniversity of Texas-Arlington Sanjai BhagatUniversity of Colorado Boulder Scott HeinTexas Tech University Seth BiedNew York State Tax Department Stan LiebowitzUniversity of Texas Stephen HappelArizona State University T. Craig TapleyUniversity of Florida Thomas H. MayorUniversity of Houston Thomas J KniesnerClaremont Graduate University Thomas M. StokerMIT (retired) Thomas SavingTexas A&amp;M University Timothy MathewsKennesaw State University Tomi OvaskaYoungstown State University Tony LimaCalifornia State University, East Bay Victor a CantoLa Jolla economics Vijay SingalNavrang Inc Wallace HendricksUniversity of Illinois Ward S. Curran Trinity College Hartford Connecticut (Emeritus) Wayne T. BroughFreedomWorks Foundation William B. FairleyAnalysis &amp; Inference, Inc. William BuchananValdosta State University William McKillopResource Economics (Emeritus) William R. Allen UCLA Department of Economics William S. Peirce Case Western Reserve University Wim VijverbergCUNY Graduate Center Xuepeng LiuKennesaw State University Yuri N. MaltsevA.W. Clausen Center for World Business, Carthage College <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jeans-denim-small-pocket-levis-secret-2016-5">Here's why your jeans have that tiny front pocket</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/2rQm2eUO-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

An open letter to Congress from over 100 economists: Pass tax reform and watch the economy roar

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/decade">The 2010s</a> saw the demise of apps, devices, and even complete companies.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-story-moviepass-rise-fall-2019-8">Moviepass</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aim-shutting-down-december-2017-10">AIM</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-founder-of-vine-announced-the-name-of-his-new-looping-video-app-2018-11">Vine</a> did not make it to the end of the decade.</li><li>Other technologies like the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-galaxy-note-10-why-dongle-not-included-2019-8">headphone jack</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-macbook-pro-usb-c-port-2019-4">MagSafe</a> met their death thanks to Apple's design changes.</li><li>Insider took a nostalgic look back at some of the tech that died this decade.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul>Following is a transcript of the video.Victoria Barranco: I really, really miss the headphone jack.Nich Carlson: I really, really like AirPods, and so I'm OK with the headphone jack being gone.Jacqui Frank: Also I have a headphone jack now, so I'm really smug about it. I switched from iPhone to Android. It wasn't the No. 1 reason that I decided to do that, but the headphone jack was important to me.Barranco: Now I've got this stupid dongle that I've lost literally three times in order to listen to my music, and I'm not buying into the whole AirPods things, I refuse.Frank: I mostly use Bluetooth headphones, so it's actually not a huge impact to me but still is an irritation. If my headphones were dead and I also wanted to charge my phone, I could never do that, and I don't like being in that situation.Barranco: It's just the security of knowing, OK, if it did fall out of my ears, it's not gonna, like, go rolling down the subway or something. It's like, OK, still attached to my phone if my headphones drop out.Carlson: Remember how you would, like, move your arm and just knock the earphones out of your ears? And then sometimes you'd get them caught on a door handle as you were walking into a room? If we had to sacrifice the headphone jack to get AirPods, which I don't think is what we had to do, but if that's what we had to do, then it was a great trade.Frank: I just don't understand why tech companies want us to choose. Like, just give us what we want. We didn't ask for foldable screens, we asked for headphone jacks. It's so simple.Carlson: We got rid of the headphone jack so that Apple could sell more iPhones and AirPods. That is why it is gone. I know that a lot of people are very upset about it, but I have AirPods. I'm good.Alex Appolonia: AOL Instant Messaging.Danielle Cohen: AIM was an instant-messaging platform.Frank: AIM is basically text messaging before text messaging was a thing.Appolonia: I remember the sound of getting a notification, though. That's, like, embedded in my head. Wait, now, it's like, da-ding! Like, what was it like? Da-da-ding.Carlson: Oh, I remember SmarterChild.Alyse Kalish: Yes, SmarterChild. It got, like, really scary. I feel like I would, like, try to flirt with him and, like, see if he was interested.Cohen: I actually had maybe four AIM usernames. xxxprettyinpinkxx.Paige DiFiore: colesprouse4ever with the 4. That was me.Appolonia: cheerdivaAl12. I wasn't a diva. I don't know why that was part of my screen name.Frank: firesparx14.Jennifer Ortakales: sweetchick130693.Carlson: And then I was also boltz999.William Antonelli: swordscape40, because that was the name I used for RuneScape.Shannon Murphy: joejonaslover1996, and I would leave away messages, like, depending on who he was dating. I'd be like, "I don't like you Taylor Swift," or like, "I don't like you Demi Lovato." Something ridiculous, as if they would see my AIM away message.Cohen: If a boy liked me, he would write "Dani &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3" as his status so that everyone knew.Frank: Insert whatever, like, emo song was popular when I was 12, and that was definitely part of it.Carlson: People really expressed themselves with their away messages.Cohen: At my school, it was really important that you put in, like, all the names of your friends that are in a clique.Michelle Yan: What was it, Buddy Lists? It was, like, "best friends," "friends." Oh, yeah, I moved people off my best-friends list to the friends list.Cohen: And sometimes, you know, they would, like, let a girl know you didn't make the cut anymore by taking her out of everyone else's AIM profile.Abby Tang: AIM was the best way to get bullied. People would make these group chats and, like, invite me into them, and then they would, like, start saying nasty things.DiFiore: I probably have catfished people on AIM.Carlson: Teenage drama, friends, love, all the things were on AIM.Ortakales: After school got out, it's like, that's how you could talk to your friends.Antonelli: We would go home, like, immediately, get on AIM, and start talking to each other, like, for hours.Appolonia: I remember that adrenaline rush, like, rushing back to my computer to see, like, what my crush might have said, or something like that.Carlson: AIM was a key part of my adolescence. I think I met a girlfriend on AIM.Appolonia: It was pre-BBM, texting, Facebook messaging. It was really the first way of feeling instantly connected.Antonelli: Vine, rest in peace, was a very wonderful video-making app, and I miss it.Barranco: RIP, Vine. It's just, like, part of millennial, Gen Z culture. Quoting Vines is something that, like, people my age just can do.Trisha Bonthu: It was a big part of my personality, like, growing up in high school. I think everyone quoted Vines. Genuinely, like, a big part of my high-school experience was going to my friend's house and spending hours watching Vines.Barranco: God knows I still end up at, like, 2 in the morning watching Vine compilations.Vine clip: Hey, Tara, you want some?Tara: This b---- empty! Yeet!Barranco: [laughing] Just, like, the spontaneity of the soda can getting, like, tossed across the hallway and the use of "yeet" that proliferated culture after that. Truly inspiring.Murphy: "'Road work ahead'? Uh, yeah. I sure hope it does."Barranco: There was a very loyal fan base behind Vine, and a lot of people were very upset that it went away. I remember when I heard about Vine for the first time, I was like, "What the heck are people going to do with six-second videos?" Like, what could you accomplish in six seconds? It's so stupid.Bonthu: You only have six seconds to make a joke. Unless you're, like, really funny, it was hard to make Vines.Antonelli: Well, I think Vine really challenged a lot of people to get creative and condense their humor down into such a format where everything has to matter in that six seconds and every joke has to land. My favorite Vine is "Back at it again at Krispy Kreme."Clip: Back at it again at Krispy Kreme.Frank: MoviePass is something I wanted so deeply to work.Bonthu: I did have MoviePass, and I used it for, like, a bit of a summer, and then it was like, we suck, and we don't work anymore.Lisa Paradise: MoviePass was a way to see basically as many movies as you want in a week. When I heard about MoviePass, I signed myself up, I signed my roommate up, and I signed my boyfriend at the time up. I saw every movie that was in theaters. You saw movies you didn't really want to see because, why not? It was free. I feel like everyone you knew had MoviePass for a hot second.Frank: Great, makes sense, I see a movie every single week. This is a bargain. I live in New York City, going to the movies costs almost $20. This couldn't be cheaper. They certainly aren't making money, so I have to get in now.Paradise: It was like being a teenager again when your parents are paying for you to go to the movies.Nate Lee: I saved a lot of money through MoviePass. Until it was demolished.Paradise: I probably saw at least three movies a week. They were literally just giving you money to go see a movie. Give me an inch, I will take the whole Oscar lineup.Frank: And I abused it to no end. I saw "Black Panther" four times using my MoviePass, and they made the rule that you could only see a movie one time, like, the next week. Like, I'm convinced that "Black Panther" is the reason they had to make that rule.Lee: At its peak, I watched every single movie in the theater.Paradise: I wanted it to last forever, and even when it started to die, I clung for too long.Lee: Well, usually, when things are too good to be true, it is too good to be true. That's I think the biggest lesson I learned from MoviePass.Frank: The last, like, two months I had MoviePass, I was, like, arguing with myself on a daily basis, like, "Do I still have this? Does it make sense for me to keep this?" But it was such a terrible service. It didn't do anything that I wanted from it, and I, like, ended up not seeing any movies towards the end of it.Lee: And I think you can't ignore MoviePass, just because it really started this whole subscription phase. These subscription services that are so convenient to use now would not be around if it wasn't for MoviePass.Carlson: Blockbuster was a place where they stored Netflix movies on tape.Shayanne Gal: Blockbuster was, like, my family's, one of our greatest traditions. That was the best surprise ever, when my dad was like, "We're going to Blockbuster."Carlson: If the one copy of the video you wanted to watch was not at Blockbuster, you could drive another 10 or 15 minutes to a Hollywood Video.Ortakales: Blockbuster was an amazing, magical place to go when you're a 10-year-old kid in the middle of nowhere. It felt so expansive and, like, "Oh, my gosh, there's so many movies. I could watch any movie that I want."Carlson: And you walk around, and you're looking at all the boxes and saying which ones look cool, and.... For me, it was like, what kind of "Inspector Gadget" movie do they have? Gal: I only rented Mary-Kate and Ashley movies.Ortakales: I would go straight, make a beeline to the kids' section, and then find my movie while my parents would, like, be in their section picking out whatever new release they wanted to watch.Gal: And then, at the checkout, pick out, like, a Nerds Rope or a chocolate or whatever they had at the time. That experience of going with a family member, loved one, to a place like that and being able to, like, bond over those things is not replaceable. Our brains are now wired in the, like, binge mode. Like, one movie's not enough. Like, one episode's not enough. I'd have to go to Blockbuster, like, every day for it.Ortakales: Oh. Well, now I'm definitely team Netflix.Gal: Netflix, if I had to choose one, but I feel like there could have been an ecosystem where they both existed.Carlson: I miss Blockbuster, but that's OK. Netflix is great.Frank: MP3 players are better CD players are better tape players. Do people still know what those are?Barranco: Yeah, I remember specifically upgrading from my CD player that I, like, hand-decorated with rhinestones in, like, third grade and listened to the "SpongeBob SquarePants" movie soundtrack on, but I remember all the cool kids on the bus on field trips had iPod Touches.Frank: I used to have a CD player. It was, like, a good CD player. I remember it had all these, like, little stickers on it that said, "Never skips," or, "Barely skips," or something, and that was the best we could hope for. Like, it sometimes skipped, and that was fine.Lee: I just constantly wanted a new one. I mean, the thing with, like, the iPod MP3 players, if you look at, like, Classic, Touch, and Nano, all of them were extremely different. There was a reason to switch. Very early on, most MP3 players were mostly the same, I think, so I didn't really switch around, and I, like, stuck with one for a long time.Frank: I think MP3 players are flawed because they only have one function, but only because we live in the world now where you expect it to do so much more. At the time that they were created, it was mind-blowing! Genuinely mind-blowing. "This holds all the music?!"Lee: And then iPhone sort of made every MP3 player useless.Cohen: A BlackBerry is kind of like a mini-computer.Frank: BlackBerry is, like, the saddest version of a smartphone.Paradise: BlackBerry was my first smartphone, and I remember it being so cool that I could get internet and Brick Breaker, like, RIP Brick Breaker. BlackBerry was, I think, the first smartphone that everybody used.Frank: Now you have the luxury of being like, "Oh, it would be like if iPhones were half as cool."Cohen: Everyone had a BlackBerry, and I was begging my parents to get me one. My favorite part was BBM, which was the BlackBerry Messenger. I loved pinging people. It was almost like a poke on Facebook, but a bit more aggressive because you would ping them and it would send them a ping in all caps with a bunch of exclamation marks, and to this day I still text people the word "ping."Frank: My BlackBerry that I had in college was, like, the first phone I had that, like, did anything other than make phone calls. Like, it had a full keyboard and, like, honestly what feels now like the world's tiniest screen, but at the time was huge. It was amazing. I was like, I'm basically a Wall Street hedge-fund manager because I have a BlackBerry. I can answer emails and send text messages. I'm so chill. I'm gonna wear this blazer to class, and everyone's gonna know I'm fancy. Insane.Meg Teckman-Fullard: Amazon Dash buttons were something that I still have a few of, I still kind of use them, but they're kind of dying. The way that they wanted people to use it was, like, you stick your Tide Pod thing to your washing machine, so when you go, "Oh, I'm out of Tide Pods," boop! It orders it automatically.Matt Stuart: I think Amazon saw it as a way of customer lock-in and convenience. "Just tap it, and we'll send you more." And so it's just a very, like, kind of sticky way to keep your customer base.Teckman-Fullard: There's something really nice about the physical and the digital interacting with each other in that kind of, like, George Jetson kind of way.Jade Tungul: Amazon found that, like, customers were using other avenues. Like, people I think were using Amazon Alexa 'cause you can use your Alexa. People were also using the Subscribe &amp; Save option.Teckman-Fullard: Opening the app or opening it on a web browser is super easy. This is just one extra-easy step, and I like easy.MagSafe is a technology in which Mac laptops were able to charge with a power cord that magnetically connected instead of actually having to stick something in.Jason Sanchez: I guess it's MagSafe because it's both magnetic and safe. The cord just comes off; your laptop stays on the table. There's no accidents. There's no danger of that getting knocked over. Apple, in their sort of infinite wisdom, decided to go away from the MagSafe for USB-C, which is great, USB-C is great, but it doesn't need to be every single port. In fact, I don't have one of the newer MacBooks because of it.Carlson: The best thing about Blockbuster, though, was just going and not knowing what you wanted. If you don't know what you want on Netflix, it is chaos. You just feel desperate. I got the autoplay coming at me, and it's just like, stop!

You Searched For "ashley sanchez" and got 13 results

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The Washington Spirit trolled an opposing keeper after the young star she squabbled with on Twitter scored on her twice

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Tech that died this decade

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