Uncertainty for National Women’s Soccer League
In Tacoma, Washington, Meg Brandt was making her way to practice. On the other side of the country, in Cary, North Carolina, Sinclaire Miramontez was getting ready to go back home, all the way to Kansas City, Missouri.
Then the National Women’s Soccer League announced that the season was getting suspended.
Midfielder Brandt and defender Miramontez both played for the Nebraska Corn Huskers in 2019 and both got drafted into the NWSL in January. Brandt was taken in the third round with 34th to Reign FC, which has since become OL Reign, and Miramontez got drafted by the North Carolina Courage in the same round with the 27th pick.
Despite this, neither of the two players have signed a contract yet. They are both still trialists and have to earn their spots during the preseason. One result of their status is that they were pushed, if not ordered, to go home, since they’re not getting paid.
Brandt Describes it as a Bolt from the Blue
Brandt had been practising with her new team for three days and was looking forward to another normal training session. Then an impromptu team conference call occurred which saw coaches telling players about the season being suspended.
Brandt reveals that she thought it was likely that drills would be halted temporarily but she never expected things to go on for as long as they have. She says that although she suspected that the team’s preseason would be affected, she never thought the entire thing would go out the window!
In the few days that she had the chance to exercise, Brandt says that the atmosphere was wonderful, fun and competitive and she felt as confident as if she’d just come off a lucky real money casino slots playing session.
Miramontez Makes Her Way Home
Meanwhile, Miramontez was making ready to get back to Kansas City after The Courage’s front office recommended she do so until training camp began. They told her it looked like things would get postponed for a while and official word was handed down the day she left.
She says that she did not think the season would shut down completely and assumed that she and her teammates would just need to be more careful and follow certain restrictions. But, she says, when other pro sports leagues started shutting up shop, the picture started to clear up. North Carolina Football Club of the USL Championship is officially attached to the Courage, so she knew her team was bound to follow.
Miramontez reports that, initially at least, she was just praying things didn’t get shut down completely. But, as things started progressing, she thought that the suspension was unavoidable and started expecting it. Although she too has only had a few short practice sessions, she described the experience as intense on the whole, even though not all players had even reported to camp yet when she left.
She says that training was vigorous, and the team was looking great, adding that she knows everyone is itching to get back on the field as soon as possible.