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thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
@thechaosleague.com
100 followers 79 following 660 posts

Companion feed for The Chaos League site: essays and thoughts on the #NWSL and everything that happens for the plot (hopefully more good than bad) #woso #USWNT

https://thechaosleague.com

(Posts by Eric Schwarz)

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Economics 23%
Sociology 21%
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thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 5h
Feel free to share any thoughts! I cross-posted this from over there just because I know there's a lot of folks navigating the post-Twitter world of text-feed social media. ☺️

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 5h
I don't want to be too hasty with winding one down or bridging things, but wonder how I can best address this since I have a small handful of people over there that are wonderful, but maintaining two similar feeds kinda sucks, too.

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 6h
I've been doing some tidying up of social media over the break. While I personally love Mastodon as a platform, it seems that usage, especially for #NWSL has dropped off significantly—so many people for *this* content went to Bluesky instead.

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 17h
We’re an hour away from Defiance so any time we go through there, it’s a laughing-through-the-pain joke!

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 1d
We did a Scandal rewatch about 3 months ago—the last time I saw it, it was the original broadcast, so there’s a *lot* that I forgot or lands much differently now.

We’re watching Eureka now and Joe Morton is also on it and he has moments where I’m like “is this actually Eli’s origin story?”

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 1d
I’m doing my part dot GIF
NWSL account on Bluesky blocked

Reposted by James Goodwin, Eric C. Schwarz

bayfcsupporters.bsky.social
Bridge Brigade @bayfcsupporters.bsky.social · 2d
We have blocked the NWSL account and call on you all to do the same. Bye NWSL til you negotiate with NWSLPA 👋
NWSL Bluesky account shown as blocked with posts hidden.

Reposted by James Goodwin, Eric C. Schwarz

spiritsquadron.bsky.social
Spirit Squadron @spiritsquadron.bsky.social · 2d
We, and our fellow independent supporters groups, stand with the players.
We stand with the NWSLPA in its opposition to the High Impact Player (HIP) rule and urge the NWSL to negotiate with the Players Union as required by the collective bargaining agreement.  The criteria for HIP status put forth by the league are arbitrary and unjust, largely leaving the earning potential of NWSL players in the hands of media members. Moreover, the HIP rule creates two tiers of players, will impact USWNT player development, and does not account for international player success.  We condemn the NWSL’s persistent attempts to interfere with fair pay, and we call on all fans to show the league that we stand with the players:  • Block the NWSL on all social media platforms • Boycott of merchandise from the NWSL shop • Email your team and the league that you are opposed to the HIP rule and the league’s refusal to bargain with the NWSLPA

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

lesleyryder.bsky.social
Lesley Ryder @lesleyryder.bsky.social · 2d
The ESPN FC top 50 is here and we need to talk about the sudden conflict of interest the league has created with the high-impact player rule.

With coaches and GMs weighing in on these lists, they can influence whether or not their players can get a bag.

www.espn.com/soccer/story...
The espn top 50 voters: • Vlatko Andonovski (Kansas City Current sporting director; former U.S. national team coach) • Lesle Gallimore (Seattle Reign FC general manager; former University of Washington coach) • Mark Parsons (sporting director for Angel City FC; former coach of the Dutch national team, the Washington Spirit and the Portland Thorns) • Denise Reddy (assistant coach of the U.S. women's national team; former assistant at Chelsea and the Washington Spirit) • Antonio Contreras (head coach of Chivas; former head coach of Atletico Madiod and Real Betis) • Jimmy Coenraets (head coach of the Utah Royals; former head coach of Oud-Heverlee Leuven) • Yael Averbuch West (general manager of Gotham FC; former player for the U.S. national team) • Natalia Astrain (soccer commentator for ESPN's UEFA Women's Champions League coverage; former coach of FC Barcelona and the U17 USWNT) • Sam Mewis (commentator; former World Cup champion and NWSL champion with the USWNT and North Carolina Courage; No. 1 on FapN Fe Women's Rankin 20o1 • Emma Byrne (commentator; former UEFA Champions League winner with Arsenal and former member of Ireland national team) • Janelly Farías (commentator; former player for Mexico national team and Club América) • Cristina Alexander (commentator and host of Futbol W on ESPN+; former ESPN correspondent covering Mexican soccer) • Maria Tikas (journalist covering Spanish soccer for Sport) • Sophie Downey journalist covering WSL for The Guardian) • Ameé Ruszkai (journalist covering WSL and UWCL for Goal) • Suzy Wrack (journalist covering women's soccer at The Guardian) • Mayca Jiménez journalist covering soccer for Dazn; formerly AS and Relevo) • Samantha Lewis journalist covering women's soccer for The Guardian and ABC Australia) • Yash Thakur (ESPN journalist on women's soccer in Europe and the UK) • Angela Christian-Wilkes (co-host of ESPN Australia women's soccer podcast "The Far Post") • Marissa Lordanic (ESPN Australia editor and co-host of "The Far Post") • Audrey de Ridder (ESPN Netherlands editor, writer and presenter) • Emily Keogh (ESPN's lead journalist for UEFA

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 2d
Applying that video (which I’ve seen plenty) to this is just excellent!

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

aaronclerner.bsky.social
Aaron Lerner @aaronclerner.bsky.social · 2d
Do we think the NWSL looked at the players that would and wouldn’t make the HIP list before announcing it or nah?

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

jeffkassouf.bsky.social
Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 2d
The #NWSL transaction moratorium is here but of course that wouldn't stop announcements of who knows what kind. Happy Holidays people ✌️

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 2d
Although I’ve already complained a bit, I wanted to include this for posterity and once again say that this is dumb.

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 3d
Probably a bit of a deep cut, but for anyone who watched the TV show Fringe, I’m starting to wonder if the #NWSL is just trying to hire observers as coaches?

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

lonestarstriker.bsky.social
James Clay @lonestarstriker.bsky.social · 3d
At the end of the day, this sums up #NWSL players and fans reaction to the nonsensical #NWSL labor stance itself.

#HappyFestivus #WoSo #RaiseTheSalaryCap
an older man in a red cardigan says i got a lot of problems
ALT: an older man in a red cardigan says i got a lot of problems
media.tenor.com

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 3d
One of the fun things I do in the #NWSL offseason is go to our local #ECHL hockey team—their players are also in the middle of a CBA dispute, so you know, between them, the WNBA, and NWSL, owners ain’t lookin’ so great:

apnews.com/article/echl...
ECHL players are on the verge of a strike as CBA talks reach an impasse
Members of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association are on the verge of staging a strike in the ECHL if the union and the league cannot come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreemen...
apnews.com

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

risswillett.bsky.social
TheReal Risso 🤟🏽 @risswillett.bsky.social · 3d
What are the odds and Portland would like Pitbull as their head coach?? 😂

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

nwsltoughconvos.bsky.social
nwsltoughconvos.bsky.social @nwsltoughconvos.bsky.social · 3d
This is a great read that succinctly goes into the details of the ways the NWSL owners are being downright idiots, but it's worth the read for this line alone 😂

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

abigailsegel.bsky.social
Abigail Segel @abigailsegel.bsky.social · 3d
Also, the criteria seems to disadvantage players who take significant time off due to injury, pregnancy, or mental health.

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

womensgamemib.bsky.social
The Women's Game @womensgamemib.bsky.social · 3d
The KC Current are set to hire Chris Armas as head coach, according to ESPN. Armas most recently coached the Colorado Rapids in the MLS ✍️

This would be his first stint coaching a professional women’s club, after leading the women’s team at Adelphi University from 2011 to 2015.

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

838carlisle.bsky.social
andré @838carlisle.bsky.social · 3d
one thing that’s become very obvious about jessica berman’s nwsl is that owners would still much rather pay lawyers than players
jeffreycarlisle.bsky.social Jeff Carlisle @jeffreycarlisle.bsky.social · 3d
Statement from the NWSLPA. The union is definitely not on board with the new High Impact Player Rule. #NWSL

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

jeffkassouf.bsky.social
Jeff Kassouf @jeffkassouf.bsky.social · 3d
The NWSLPA has announced its continued opposition to the #NWSL's High Impact Player rule.

"The League’s unilateral action leaves the NWSLPA no choice but to take action to enforce the rights of the Players we represent."

Meghann Burke detailed why here: www.espn.com/soccer/story...
NWSL Players Association Statement on League’s Unilateral Implementation of the High Impact Player Rule Asheville, N.C. - December 23, 2025 - NWSL Players Association Statement on League’s Unilateral Implementation of the High Impact Player Rule: "The NWSL Players Association opposes the League’s decision to move forward without bargaining over the High Impact Player Rule. Under federal labor law, changes to compensation under the salary cap are a mandatory subject of bargaining — not a matter of unilateral discretion. Fair pay is realized through fair, collectively bargained compensation systems, not arbitrary classifications. A league that truly believes in the value of its Players would not be afraid to bargain over it. The NWSLPA has put forward a clear, lawful alternative: raising the Team Salary Cap to compete in a global labor market. Additionally, we have proposed that through collective bargaining, we work together to create a system for projecting revenue sharing numbers in future years so that Teams and Players can negotiate multi-year deals with certainty. The Union remains ready and willing to engage in good-faith bargaining. The League’s unilateral action leaves the NWSLPA no choice but to take action to enforce the rights of the Players we represent."

Reposted by Eric C. Schwarz

pcattry.bsky.social
Pardeep Cattry @pcattry.bsky.social · 3d
the #NWSL’s criteria for the high-impact player rule isn’t arbitrary per se but it feels a bit silly to read a list like this, especially it almost goes without saying that teams would be targeting this type of player anyway

Reposted by James Goodwin, Eric C. Schwarz

nwslsoccer.com
NWSL @nwslsoccer.com · 3d
The NWSL introduces the High Impact Player rule.

Read more for the full list of criteria: bit.ly/4auEpL9

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 6d
Congratulations! 🍾🎉

thechaosleague.com
The Chaos League ⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @thechaosleague.com · 7d
Those are both owned by Scripps (like ION), so I wonder if these will be the standard feed just broadcast over the air or if they’ll do their own production, since they would have access to all of ION’s resources, too.
tayvincent6.bsky.social Taylor Vincent @tayvincent6.bsky.social · 8d
Denver Summit FC announced today that it has agreed to an exclusive local broadcast partnership with Denver7 (KMGH-TV) and its sister station The Spot - Denver 3 (KCDO-TV).

Under the multiyear agreement, the two stations will air all non-nationally exclusive matches of the team