The San Diego Wave has had a less-than-ideal six months since the start of the season. Beginning in March, the team has experienced five wins, seven draws, and 11 losses, ranking them tenth in the NWSL league out of 14 teams. The season hasn’t gone as most would have hoped, especially when they made their mark at the start of the season by claiming the NWSL shield in 2023 and winning the one-off 2024 NWSL Challenge cup against NJ/NY Gotham. And yet, with all of their prior wins, there are some key factors as to why the San Diego team hasn’t currently been able to replicate the success of the past two prior years.
A Change of Coaches: Playing Styles
The major news of head coach Casey Stoney‘s mid-season replacement surprised most. On June 24th of this year, it was announced that the coach would be “parting ways” with the team and would be replaced by interim manager Paul Buckle, who then became current interim coach Landon Donovan. The change had a significant impact on the team. These directional changes, adjustments to their flow, and coaching style may not have been an easy transition.
With each coach comes a new playing style and formation that players must become accustomed to. In past seasons with Stoney, it was observed that her form leaned more…
