RSS
Home
WPS playoff format proves successful
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
New Jersey/New York Sky Blue FC did the impossible, defeating three teams that they never defeated .jpg)
all season to win the inaugural WPS Championship with team captain Christie Rampone filling in as interim head coach.
Many considered Sky Blue FC at a disadvantage from the outset. To win the title Sky Blue would have to play three games on the road in less than two weeks. The way the WPS playoffs were established may have leveled the playing field though. Yes, the team that notched the top spot got to rest, but rest and taking an extended break are two different things. In the August 19th Super Semifinal match, the Athletica seemed to be shaking off rust in the first half as the last game Saint Louis played was on August 9. Los Angeles looked a little out of sorts during the championship match after having a two week layoff. The Sol was also missing one of their best players, Camille Abily, who had commitments to the French national team, and the Sol had to play a majority of the match a player down. Defender Allison Falk was ejected in the 27th minute after throwing a phantom elbow that knocked Sky Blue forward Natasha Kai to the ground on a breakaway. I’m not trying to take anything away from Sky Blue whose play was exceptional, but those were just unfortunate events for Los Angeles.
The usual format in which every team plays in some form or another doesn’t always favor the top team. Occasionally, the heavily favored team gets dropped in the first or second round, and the playoffs can lose appeal quickly. In the WPS format, even though the top team only has to play one game to win the title, the layoff can really test a team’s mettle. The new format surely made for an interesting playoff, watching the underdog teamn, Sky Blue FC, win and advance, playing teams of a higher caliber every round.
The new playoff format will continue next season which definitely provides a unique approach in deciding a champion. However, before I fall head over heals with the new format, I would like to see what the future holds during next year’s playoffs.
.gif)
More About:
Women's Professional Soccer ·
New Jersey/ New York Sky Blue FC ·
St. Louis Athletica ·
Los Angeles Sol
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
The Indiana Fever lost game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Detroit Shock on Wednesday, 72-56. After watching the Fever this season, the …
I thought something like this couldn’t happen at such a high level of athletics. You would think a professional athlete would know what the …
