Rip Me Out The Plastic, I Been Actin Brand New

Full disclosure, I really, really wanted to use a Kanye lyric for the title of this week’s edition, but that man has ruined himself for me and I can’t let him prosper, not even in my free newsletter. I feel the alternative still matches the energy I was looking for, because it seems the beginning of spring is the kickoff to the summer of Black Girl Magic, but Footy. The young and young at heart Black players in the game have been showing out as the weather turns warm, and that in turn warms my heart. These are players thriving in a world where “DEI” (this means Black people and women, and specifically Black women, all women) is being legislated out by people who cannot compete. “If you can only be tall because someone else is on their knees, then you have a serious problem.” Toni Morrison wasn’t talking about football, but football is but a microcosm of the world. Watching players excel in the face of the racism, sexism and misogynoir swirling around them helps to fuel hope and the desire to fight. We’ve been here before, we know our worth, and so do these players. I say this refrain often, but absolutely ball out Black women, with a fist in the air.

We have merch!

What’s up y’all! We still have our new HBCU merch for sale. Rep your favorite HBCU or organization while supporting SBFC and a good cause. Below is a blurb about why we chose this line. Thank you for your support and we hope you love your new gear!

Elevate, Celebrate, Educate. These are three words that get to the heart of why Shea Butter FC was created. We elevate and celebrate Black women in the game through education and community building. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have lived these principles in support of Black people in America since Reconstruction. It felt right to throw our support behind these institutions that elevate Black intelligence and talent, celebrate our many accomplishments and leaders, and educate Black people in a country that continues to fight against it. Furthermore, HBCUs have men’s and women’s soccer programs that are rarely amplified, despite their success. We want to change that. You can join the movement to Elevate HBCU Soccer with this merch. Tell your family, tell your friends, and support your favorite HBCU by choosing from our many color combinations. HBCUs and young Black people need us now more than ever!

Grab your gear here!

*A portion of sales for this line will be donated to the United Negro College Fund. To find out more about UNCF, pleases read their mission here

Match Recaps and Notable Goal Scorers

*the number next to the name denotes the goal scorer and the minute of the match their goal was scored. (P) means it was a penalty goal, and a plus (+) sign added means the goal was scored in stoppage time

It wasn’t quite as busy a week thanks to a return from international break for players in all leagues. Many players who were in form over the break kept their form in club play. As the leagues in Europe are winding down and the NWSL is heating up, let’s get into who scored some Shea Butter Bombs this week.

Adobe Women’s FA Cup Semi-Finals

Chelsea 2, Liverpool 1 - Olivia Smith 21

Manchester United 2, Manchester City 0 - Celin Bizet 6

National Women’s Soccer League

Portland Thorns 1, Utah Royals 0 - Reilyn Turner 14

Angel City 3, Houston Dash 1 - Alyssa Thompson 86

Orlando Pride 1, Seattle Reign 0 - Barbra Banda 41

Gotham FC 3, North Carolina Courage 1 - Brianna Pinto 90+4

Chicago (Red) Stars 2, Bay FC 1 - Ludmila 5, 41

Black In Action: Phallon Tullis-Joyce

My professor for my Research Methods in Education course once told us that all research is biased and that avoiding any bias hurts your overall work. I try to remember that for other aspects of life as well, including how I cover women’s soccer. I have my biases and my player preferences, and that is part of our charm (we hope) and our brand. But, we try to bring you accurate information and leave it to you do agree or disagree with us. It truly matters to me that we get as close to that as possible.

Okay, so now that you understand the place I and the show try to start from, I am now going to devolve into my hardcore bias. I’ve made no bones about my love for Phallon Tullis-Joyce. She played for my beloved Seattle Reign, and so I got to know her as someone covering the team as well as a fan. I knew early on she was one of the best people in this game, and I also knew that she had the tools to be a goal keeper one for any club or her nation one day. Her journey from France as a trialist for a Division Two French side, to getting her first cap and start for the USWNT has been a unique one. Phallon loves the ocean as much as she loves her family and football. She left her family and the ocean to sit behind Mary Earps in Manchester for a full season, biding her time, no ocean in sight. Well, we’re here now, and this double save in a heated Manchester Derby seems to be the culmination of Phallon’s talent and patience coming together. Neigh, no roar has moved me more in quite some time in women’s football. It’s an incredible display of athleticism and agility, and a confidence that makes her team want to run through a wall for a clean sheet. I don’t disagree with Emma, there is room to improve with her feet in distribution. But Phallon is the best at doing the keeper’s most important job, keeping the ball out the back of the net. Her United teammates view her as a leader and the goal keeper they trust unequivocally, and with this level of confidence in her play, it feels like a #1 spot on either team is hers to lose. The Black Goal Keeper Union in the U.S. is back, and Phallon looks up to carrying the mantel.

Anatomy of a Goal: Ludmila

Ludmila’s signing last summer for Chicago was one of the more intriguing moves of last season. She didn’t get a lot of time with the team, thanks in part to a suspension late in the season that kept her out of the playoff match and the first match of this season. But, the former Atletico Madrid striker was an exciting veteran prospect for a team that needed goals and the audacity to help create them in the absence of Mal Swanson. Ludmila finally became that player for Chicago in their match against Bay FC. With the result of the early season, the front line of Ally Schlegel, Ludmila, and Jameese Joseph sprung quick counter attacks that led to both of Chicago’s goals. I chose to highlight the second goal because I want to pay special attention to Ludmila’s footwork to get this goal.

Jameese Joseph lays off a simple but well weighted pass to Ludmila to give her space to run at the defender on the ball. Ludmila looks up and sees Abby Dahlkemper, who she beat for her first goal of the match by putting the keeper between herself and Dahlkemper, making it a matter of rounding the keeper and slotting it home. On this goal, she forces Dahlkemper to backpaddle in defense, which invites the help defense to her left to cut off the best shot. Ludmila dribbles with control and flare, pushing Abby back, then using a series of stepovers in the box to cheat her defender to cut off the far post angle. She is then able to cut the ball back to her right, putting Dahlkemper off balance and taking away her ability to reset. To avoid the defensive help, Ludmila creates space with her right foot and takes, and makes, a shot from the far side of Dahlkemper that beats the keeper low and at the far post. It’s a wonderful individual effort to finish this chance, and reminds me a bit of Kerolin’s goal against Chelsea a few weeks back. Deception to create the space makes for efficient goal scoring, and Ludmila has started to use that skillset to help her team score goals at a time when they need them the most.

Hidden Figures: Jameese Joseph

I don’t know if Jameese Joseph is that hidden anymore. She has been called up to the last two WNT U23 camps and has grown both in her attacking and defensive abilities after just one full professional season. She can score via holdup play, but Chicago set up their attack to hit on the counter against Bay FC. This worked to perfection twice, and Jameese Joseph’s vision led to assists on both of Chicago’s goal, making it her first two assist game as a professional. The clip above is from the first goal, and the weight of her pass that allows Ludmila to take her first touch in stride is wonderful, and leaves her striker the chance to manipulate both the trailing defender and the keeper to slot it home. I’m impressed with how coachable Joseph is, and how quickly she’s improved. If she continues to improve at this rate, she won’t be hidden or a sneaky good shout anymore.

Cultural Cuts: Goal Diggers UK

One of my favorite shows to follow about footy is Gold Diggers UK. It’s a collection of Black and brown women in England who are diehard football fans, covering both men’s and women’s football in their country. They have great analysis and perfect banter, and I almost always leave an episode learning something new about English football and culture. All of their links and platforms can be found in their YouTube bio. Please give them a listen, you won’t be disappointed.

Final Thoughts: Watch Women’s Sports

I don’t have anything profound to share this week, so I’ll just yell about all the women’s football that’s on this during this Holy Weekend. Sunday marks the end of both Lent and Passover. It invites in the spring and a sense of hope and renewal. Teams go again in Week 5 of the NWSL and the first legs of the UEFA Women’s Champion’s League. We also continue the opening weekend of the Northern Super League (NSL) whose first goal was scored by Quinn, in a moment that was storybook and a middle finger to the transphobes of the world. We had a successful WNBA Draft and we have the announcement of two new PWHL teams in Vancouver and Seattle. In a world that says women can’t, and in a world and a country that says trans women aren’t women, watch women’s sports. Understand it’s an imperfect light in the darkness, but one worth shining all the same. Happy Easter and Chag Sameach to those who celebrate either holiday, and go get ready for some football!