<p>The reshuffle in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/uswnt-tv-schedule/">United States women’s national team</a> (USWNT) continued on Friday as general manager Kate Markgraf stepped down. </p>



<p>Markgraf’s decision came just hours after the team’s head coach, Vlatko Andonovski, left his position. Markgraf previously hired Andonovski to take over for the successful Jill Ellis in the fall of 2019.</p>



<h5>Changes made after poor showing at Women’s World Cup </h5>



<p>The duo depart the organization after a disappointing display by the USWNT at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. </p>



<p>Andonovski’s team was knocked out of the tournament in the round of 16, the worst finish ever by the Americans at the competition.</p>



<p>U.S. Soccer announced Markgraf’s departure on Friday evening. “Kate has been an instrumental part of the Women’s National Team both on and off the field for many years, and we’re very thankful for the tireless work she has given to the USWNT and all our Youth National Teams,” <a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/08/kate-markgraf-departs-us-soccer-federation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker. </p>



<p>“We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and look forward to building on the foundation she helped establish over the past several years.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="da" dir="ltr">Kate Markgraf departs U.S. Soccer Federation » <a href="https://t.co/fjmUvXXurS">https://t.co/fjmUvXXurS</a> <a href="https://t.co/PpbzAWkgnV">pic.twitter.com/PpbzAWkgnV</a></p>— U.S. Women&apos;s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USWNT/status/1692649688166515154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Markgraf joined the USWNT only just a few months before Andonovski. The former standout player became the first ever general manager of the team after U.S. Soccer created the position. </p>



<p>Markgraf worked alongside Andonovski to organize the team’s technical plans. She also worked with the U.S. youth teams as well. Her first job at the position was the hiring of Andonovski.</p>



<h5>Markgraf to leave at the end of month</h5>



<p>“It has been an incredible honor to work with the players, coaches and staff at U.S. Soccer on the mission of keeping our program at the top of the women’s game,” <a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/08/kate-markgraf-departs-us-soccer-federation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> Markgraf. </p>



<p>“I am proud of the foundation we have built, and even more proud of the character and commitment demonstrated by our players as they represent the United States on and off the field. I look forward to supporting all of our programs and have every confidence that we will maintain our standards of excellence moving forward.”</p>



<p>It remains to be seen how general manager position will evolve in the near future. Nevertheless, U.S. Soccer will now essentially get to work with a clean slate moving forward. The organization must address the GM and head coaching positions in the coming months.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire</p>


USWNT overhaul continues as GM Kate Markgraf steps down

United States Women's National Team (USWNT) general manager Kate Markgraf is stepping down from her position.

USWNT overhaul continues as GM Kate Markgraf steps down - World Soccer Talk

<p>The National Women’s Soccer League looks set to add three more teams. Although not yet official, reports claim that the top American women’s league will expand to Boston, Utah, and the San Francisco Bay Area in the near future.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/bay-area-reportedly-lands-nwsl-team-for-50-17747269.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>San Francisco Chronicle</em></a> and <em><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/national-womens-soccer-league-san-francisco-boston-utah-11674857126?st=u2romc6n83h7sm5&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wall Street Journal</a></em> are reporting that the wheels are already in motion for the expansion.</p>



<p>According to the news outlets, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nwsl-tv-schedule-and-streaming-links/">NWSL</a> board approved the moves earlier in the week. Financial terms of the expansions are interesting as well. </p>



<p>The Boston and Bay Area team owners will pay a $50 million franchise fee to join the league. However, the Utah-based club is set to fork up between $2 million and $5 million. The low price tag was reportedly agreed years ago.</p>



<p>San Francisco and Utah are set to begin play for the 2024 season, while the Boston team will join at a later date. The NWSL currently has a dozen clubs competing for the title.</p>



<p> The addition of the aforementioned trio will eventually bring the total teams to 15. </p>



<h5>NWSL popularity rapidly growing</h5>



<p>A massive rise in franchise fees is a credit to the league’s growth here Stateside. Popularity of the NWSL is now rapidly growing. In fact, the league experienced a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardmegdal/2022/11/04/why-record-breaking-ratings-came-at-the-perfect-time-for-jessica-berman-nwsl/?sh=5685c33c554b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">71% increase</a> in television viewing last season.</p>



<p> The impressive numbers even came at time in which the women’s top flight was having <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/nwsl-bans-4-coaches-for-life-following-abuse-and-misconduct-20230110-WST-414999.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">serious off-field issues</a> with a number of their coaches.</p>



<p>Franchise fees for Angel City FC and San Diego Wave were previously in the $2 million to $5 million range. The two teams are the most recent additions to the league and formed just a couple of years ago.</p>



<h5>Familiar faces joining team ownerships </h5>



<p>The Bay Area team is financially backed by a major investment firm. However, the group also includes former USWNT players Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner, Leslie Osborne, and Danielle Slaton. </p>



<p>Boston, a city that previously had an NWSL team, will be founded by a group led by Jennifer Epstein. </p>



<p>The businesswoman created Juno Equity and is the daughter of Boston Celtics co-owner Robert Epstein. The Boston Breakers played five years in the NWSL before folding in 2018.</p>



<p>Much like Boston, Utah also has experience in the women’s soccer league. The Utah Royals played three seasons in the NWSL before ceasing operations in late 2020. </p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire</p>


NWSL to expand to San Francisco, Boston and Utah, report says

The NWSL is about to expand to 15 clubs after Boston, San Francisco, and Utah teams are added to the league.

NWSL to expand to San Francisco, Boston and Utah, report says - World Soccer Talk

<div id="attachment_363501" style="width: 1210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-363501" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-363501 size-full" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2021/12/usa-women-2021-attendance-1200x751.webp" alt="" width="1200" height="751" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-363501" class="wp-caption-text">Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images</p></div>
<p>This year brought many things to celebrate for the US Men’s National Team. The same cannot be said for the US Women’s National Team.</p>
<p>On one hand, the men’s side pulled in its highest audience in recent years while lifting the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup. Contrarily, the USWNT failed to even reach the gold medal game at the Olympics for the second consecutive Games. Additionally, the attendance at home left much to be desired.</p>
<p>Some of the factors that led to the poor attendance were outside of their control. For example, repeated use of the same venues took away some of the grandeur. Similarly, COVID-19 restrictions on capacity limited attendance numbers, especially early in the year.</p>
<p>However, failing to win the gold medal in Tokyo prevented the USWNT from being going on a <a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2019/08/victory-tour-2019-uswnt-vs-portugal-preview-roster-schedule-tv-channels-start-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">long victory tour</a>. That is something they did after lifting the Women’s World Cup in 2015 and 2019.</p>
<p>Here’s how the USWNT attendance in 2021 panned out.</p>
<h3>USWNT attendance in 2021</h3>
<table class="tableizer-table">
<thead>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow">
<th>Date</th>
<th>Competition</th>
<th>Opponent</th>
<th>Stadium</th>
<th>City</th>
<th>Attendance</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>January 18</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>Colombia</td>
<td>Exploria Stadium</td>
<td>Orlando, FL</td>
<td>2,042</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>January 22</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>Colombia</td>
<td>Exploria Stadium</td>
<td>Orlando, FL</td>
<td>3,202</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>February 18</td>
<td>She Believes Cup</td>
<td>Canada</td>
<td>Exploria Stadium</td>
<td>Orlando, FL</td>
<td>3,104</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>February 21</td>
<td>She Believes Cup</td>
<td>Brazil</td>
<td>Exploria Stadium</td>
<td>Orlando, FL</td>
<td>4,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>February 24</td>
<td>She Believes Cup</td>
<td>Argentina</td>
<td>Exploria Stadium</td>
<td>Orlando, FL</td>
<td>3,702</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 10</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>Portugal</td>
<td>BBVA Stadium</td>
<td>Houston, TX</td>
<td>9,951</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 13</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>Jamaica</td>
<td>BBVA Stadium</td>
<td>Houston, TX</td>
<td>8,737</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 16</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>Nigeria</td>
<td>Q2 Stadium</td>
<td>Austin, TX</td>
<td>20,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>July 1</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>Mexico</td>
<td>Pratt and Whitney Stadium</td>
<td>East Hartford, CT</td>
<td>21,637</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>July 5</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>Mexico</td>
<td>Pratt and Whitney Stadium</td>
<td>East Hartford, CT</td>
<td>27,758</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>September 16</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>Paraguay</td>
<td>FirstEnergy Stadium</td>
<td>Cleveland, OH</td>
<td>14,117</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>September 21</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>Paraguay</td>
<td>TQL Stadium</td>
<td>Cincinnati, OH</td>
<td>22,515</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>October 21</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>South Korea</td>
<td>Children’s Mercy Park</td>
<td>Kansas City, KS</td>
<td>18,467</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>October 26</td>
<td>Friendly</td>
<td>South Korea</td>
<td>Allianz Field</td>
<td>Saint Paul, MN</td>
<td>18,115</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>TOTAL: 177,847</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>AVERAGE: 12,703</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The 14-game average of 12,703 for the USWNT in 2021 marks their lowest average attendance since 2014 when they drew 10,791 through 15 games. That average represents a 13% drop from 2020 when the four-time World Cup Winners averaged 14,559. The USWNT attendance in 2020 benefitted from eight home games prior to COVID shutdowns. Moreover, the USWNT attendance in 2021 shows a drop of an eye-popping 49% from 2019. That year, the World Cup Winners pulled 25,122 per game. That was also the last year with a full slate of home games.</p>
<h5>Standout numbers</h5>
<p>One of the biggest things that stands out is first seven games of the year all drawing fewer than 10,000 fans per game. The reason is probably two-fold. First, similar to the Gold Cup group stage for the MNT this year, multiple games being played in the same stadium over the course of a few days is usually going to hurt the attendance for several of those games. Furthermore, games that were played in January and February were still subject to COVID capacity restrictions. And, as mentioned earlier, the lack of a gold medal victory tour in the late summer and early fall caused US Soccer to miss out on</p>
<p>Despite the overall depressing tone of the attendance for the USWNT this year, there were still one or two bright spots. Selling out the brand new Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas was certainly a positive as was drawing a large crowd for the first international game at the brand new TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. With qualification for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia set to take place in July of 2022, hopes are high that bigger crowds will come back to see the USWNT play in meaningful matches.</p>


USWNT attendance in 2021 dips due to COVID, lack of success

USWNT attendance in 2021 did not benefit from COVID restrictions. A relative lack of success for the World Champions hampered that as well.

USWNT attendance in 2021 dips due to COVID, lack of success - World Soccer Talk

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USWNT attendance in 2021 dips due to COVID, lack of success