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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Joseph Palmer

The World Cup drains NWSL teams’ talent. Here’s how one side cope

North Carolina Courage forward Haley Hopkins, center, is congratulated by defender Sydney Collins, left, and defender Ryan Williams, right, after scoring a goal against the Orlando Pride during the second half of a July match at WakeMed Soccer Park
North Carolina Courage have ploughed forward despite interference from the World Cup. Photograph: Jared Bundick/USA Today Sports

Many of the best footballers in the world have been with their national teams at the Women’s World Cup for well over a month and yet, during that time, it’s been business as usual in the National Women’s Soccer League, the highest level of professional women’s soccer in the US and, arguably, the world. (More on that admittedly contentious claim in a moment.)

The NWSL’s regular season runs from March to October and, with no break incorporated into clubs’ schedules to accommodate for this summer’s World Cup, many of the 12 teams have been forced to compete with depleted rosters. Such hurdles make the recent success of the North Carolina Courage all the more impressive.

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