San Diego Wave FC had its first, pardon the pun, big splash as a women’s soccer franchise Wednesday afternoon, hosting a launch event at UC San Diego’s Scripps Seaside Forum complete with a podium backed by a giant video screen, live streaming on the web, speeches, introductions, appetizers, goodie bags and the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop.
Asked about her expectations for the Wave’s inaugural season in the 12-team National Women’s Soccer League, star forward Alex Morgan told the couple hundred people in attendance: “I think we want to win a championship.”
Morgan then hedged slightly: “Obviously, there are going to be growing pains with an expansion franchise. But we’re off to a really good start.”
The club owned by billionaire businessman Ron Burkle and managed by former U.S. women’s national coach Jill Ellis unveiled its crest: a wave curling over a sunset on the horizon, in pink, orange and a couple shades of blue.
The day’s other big announcement was by San Diego State Athletic Director John David Wicker, who confirmed what was widely expected: The Wave will play at 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley when it opens next September. The club’s temporary home from March through August will be 6,000-seat Torero Stadium at USD.
“We will create the best home-field advantage in the NWSL,” Wicker promised.
Morgan took the stage to answer questions with defender Abby Dahlkemper, the club’s first acquisition. So did head coach Casey Stoney, who fulfilled her obligations at the event and then rushed off to find them some teammates.
San Diego Wave FC debuts with star forward Alex Morgan
Most of the roster should be secured by the weekend. The NWSL expansion draft is today (4 p.m., CBSSN) and college draft on Saturday.
The Wave and fellow newcomer Angel City FC of Los Angeles will participate in the former, with each allowed to select one player from nine other teams. The Kansas City Current, which ed the league last season, is exempt.
Teams can protect a maximum of nine players and can lose only one from the U.S. national team pool. Many make pre-draft deals to avoid having someone selected, and Stoney said the Wave has done so with six teams — some of which haven’t yet been announced.
The three remaining teams are the OL Reign from Seattle, Houston Dash and Racing Louisville FC.
Thelist of unprotected players includes some of the game’s biggest names: national teamers Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (Houston) and Tobin Heath (Louisville).
The issue is they’re all in their 30s (Rapinoe is 36) and, while providing instant star power, might not be prudent for an expansion franchise that already has a 32-year-old forward in Morgan.
“The hardest thing is I want players who want to be here,” said Stoney, who previously was coach of the women’s team at Manchester United. “You have to know if the player wants to relocate. In England, if you’re moving from Chelsea to Manchester City, it’s a four-hour drive. If you’re moving from Gotham FC (in New York) to here, you’re moving someone across the country.
“You want to know: Are they going to be happy where you’re taking them, are they going to thrive, are they the right character fit? There’s lots more to consider when you’re going through this. I want players who are fully invested. I want players who want to come on the journey, because I’m going to ask a lot of them and I’m going to stretch them and I’m going to put certain expectations on them.”
The biggest need, Stoney said, is midfield, which they’ll try to address in the expansion draft while picking the best available player with their five selections in the college draft. Teams can also sign foreigners outside the league who don’t qualify for the drafts.
NWSL rosters have 26 players, and depth is a necessity in a league that doesn’t always pause during FIFA international windows. You could lose your national team players for a week or two; in most cases, you play on without them.
But the experience of building a roster from scratch is not new to Stoney.
“I’ve done it before,” she said. “At Manchester United, I built that entire team. I did it in four weeks. Here, I’ve had a little bit longer. Obviously, there are moments where your stress levels go up based on the conversations you’re having: Are you going to get this player, are you not going to get this player?
“But at the end of the day, we know we are in a really desirable location, we’re building something really special and players do really want to be here.”
