How Casey Stoney turned San Diego Wave from expansion side to NWSL title contender

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She was the first head coach of San Diego Wave FC. The long-time English international defender transitioned to coaching after hearing that.

A hard-working player who brought that spirit to her early managerial career, Stoney built Manchester United's women's team from the ground up, earning promotion to the top flight, and challenging for a European spot all over the course of three seasons. Since the first week of the regular season, the Wave have sat at or near the top of the table, a surprising feat for an expansion team.

Alex Morgan, who is enjoying a career year with 15 goals in her first 19 games, is one of the reasons for the Wave's success. Wave players bought into Stoney's approach which created a defined identity.

Culture and environment are important in any team. I played at a high level so I have seen good and bad coaches. Good and bad environments have been seen by me.

"Culture is a word that I think everyone throws around now, but I think culture is what you live and breathe every single day." The standards are set by what you are willing to ignore. That's not something we do. Each day we are challenged to be better. Players can make mistakes in the environment created by us. It's important that psychological safety is taken care of.

The last point is important. She embodies the no-nonsense approach that she promised, but also does it with a touch of compassion. The concept is timely as the NWSL emerges from a year of turmoil that unearthed alleged abusive coaches and bad actors. Half of the league's 10 coaches were let go because of inappropriate behavior. By the time the regular season began in 2022, the longest-tenured coach in the league was Stoney.

The context is still there. She's heard terrible stories from her players. She makes sure to watch the antics of the youth coaches on a daily basis.

The coaching process needs to be morecollaborative. She stated that players have a voice in her environment. She doesn't stop training sessions to point out mistakes anymore, instead allowing players to work through them and address issues in individual settings. She abides by the concept of positive reinforcement, which is something of an antithesis to previous NWSL coaches who have been removed.

"If you're a teacher and you're in the classroom, you're not yelling at the kids," he said. "Why do we think that in youth soccer, and even when we go into professional environments, that we're going to get the best out of people if we just humiliate them?" I don't use that methodology and I don't use that model.

I don't know if I'm going to challenge my players. It's absolutely true. Is it possible that I will demand standards. I will. There are ways to get around it. We provide an environment that is slightly different to what they've experienced.

Morgan has won two World Cups and an Olympic gold and bronze medal. Morgan said that the proactiveness in wanting collaboration from everyone, wanting input and valuing that from players and her staff, gave all of us player confidence to be able to speak up in meetings. "So, I think that's helping this team be so successful and have a really good locker-room culture and good team energy, only six months into our first season."

How Stoney's approach works for a diverse group of players is noteworthy.

Morgan is joined by other veteran international players such as Emily van Egmond and Kailen SHERIDan. Several of the rookies in San Diego play important roles in the team. The Wave has a player who has played in all three forward positions and in the No. 10 role. A late-game spark off the bench is provided by Amirah Ali, as well as important roles in the attack and in the middle of the ice by Marleen Schimmer.

Naomi is one of the best rookies in the NWSL, but she is also one of the best center-backs in the league. She gives the U.S. women's national team a unique profile in the position and should challenge for a starting role at the World Cup.

Every player has to defend. She said that part of the job description was non- negotiable. The assumption was that Florida State's Jaelin Howell would be the first pick, but that wasn't the case.

"I played center-back for 18 years, so I know a good one when I see one," he said. She gives us so much in terms of coverage, the way she can play out of pressure, her ability to read the game. I wasn't going to give up on her because she is going to be one of the best.

The first signing was a center-back from the U.S. The team got a solid defensive spine with the first pick in the draft. The U.S. women's national team has an ability to set the attack from a deep-lying area if they choose to. The Wave have owned that identity, pressing teams into mistakes with all 11 players defending high. Their 13 goals conceded is the best in the league.

It takes a bit of time for a new player to get used to the speed of the game and the physical nature of it. "Casey has done a great job of breaking things down for me while I look at film." I transitioned from college to pro because we analyze everything in so much detail.

There's a beautiful game here. You can watch tournaments and teams.

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