Darian Jenkins

Yeah, it's great to be back. I was hyped when I heard that you guys wanted me back on today to talk. The final that we thought was going to be the final, but it's actually the semifinal, and all of the things happening at NWSL, it's going to be a good chat.

Yeah, it's great to be back. I was hyped when I heard that you guys wanted me back on today to talk. The final that we thought was going to be the final, but it's actually the semifinal, and all of the things happening at NWSL, it's going to be a good chat.

No, not surprised at all. I think maybe could have been two months ago. People probably could have predicted that these were going to be the semifinal going into the final. Although I do wish we were seeing Orlando and Kansas City meet in the final. I think it's just going to be great getting this much excitement this early on before the NWSL championship is huge.

No, not surprised at all. I think maybe could have been two months ago. People probably could have predicted that these were going to be the semifinal going into the final. Although I do wish we were seeing Orlando and Kansas City meet in the final. I think it's just going to be great getting this much excitement this early on before the NWSL championship is huge.

Kansas City hosting it, I think, is massive. But I like these teams matching up. It's been really fun games throughout the season watching both of these, both the brackets match up against each other. And I will say on attacking third, we made brackets. Mine has yet to be busted. So I'm on the right track. I hope, yeah.

Kansas City hosting it, I think, is massive. But I like these teams matching up. It's been really fun games throughout the season watching both of these, both the brackets match up against each other. And I will say on attacking third, we made brackets. Mine has yet to be busted. So I'm on the right track. I hope, yeah.

If everything goes well this weekend, I'll have made it to the final with nothing going wrong. Knock on wood, famous last words. But I like this. I think especially even from the coaching perspective, these are really tactical technicians that almost play chess in the way that they play. So we're in for a good weekend of NWSL matches.

If everything goes well this weekend, I'll have made it to the final with nothing going wrong. Knock on wood, famous last words. But I like this. I think especially even from the coaching perspective, these are really tactical technicians that almost play chess in the way that they play. So we're in for a good weekend of NWSL matches.

I wouldn't even call it a reset. I think that they won the shield. They clinched a playoff spot, the number one seed. They nearly went undefeated through the season, which is so hard to do. I think that they rested their players that they needed to. They gave them a little bit of time to sit back. These losses didn't mean anything to Orlando, quite frankly. They have nothing to prove to anybody.

I wouldn't even call it a reset. I think that they won the shield. They clinched a playoff spot, the number one seed. They nearly went undefeated through the season, which is so hard to do. I think that they rested their players that they needed to. They gave them a little bit of time to sit back. These losses didn't mean anything to Orlando, quite frankly. They have nothing to prove to anybody.

And I like that when they did lose, they were like, yeah, who cares? Who else is

And I like that when they did lose, they were like, yeah, who cares? Who else is

got the shield we do so i think that they did it at the right time they let the star players take a little bit of a break they let other players who are also stars get minutes and look good i think it just added to maybe a little bit more of a chip on their shoulder going into playoffs to be like yeah that's why we let those two games slide but i don't think it reset them maybe it gave them an extra little little something to prove going into the playoffs

got the shield we do so i think that they did it at the right time they let the star players take a little bit of a break they let other players who are also stars get minutes and look good i think it just added to maybe a little bit more of a chip on their shoulder going into playoffs to be like yeah that's why we let those two games slide but i don't think it reset them maybe it gave them an extra little little something to prove going into the playoffs

I don't necessarily think that they're resting. They have such a stacked team. I think Allie Watt, this is the best I've ever seen Allie play. Marta's with her vengeance tour being back into playoffs. She was there in 2017 when they lost to Portland, who I also lost to when I was with the Courage. Sadly, they ended up winning the whole thing.

I don't necessarily think that they're resting. They have such a stacked team. I think Allie Watt, this is the best I've ever seen Allie play. Marta's with her vengeance tour being back into playoffs. She was there in 2017 when they lost to Portland, who I also lost to when I was with the Courage. Sadly, they ended up winning the whole thing.

I think this team has Adriana, Summer Yates, Allie Watt, Julie Doyle, Angelina, like, There's so many incredible players on this team that if you take Barbara Banda out of it, I think that so many others can still score. But the fact that she I don't really take her not scoring as though she's not as effective because how many other players scored in those 10 games? They were still winning.

I think this team has Adriana, Summer Yates, Allie Watt, Julie Doyle, Angelina, like, There's so many incredible players on this team that if you take Barbara Banda out of it, I think that so many others can still score. But the fact that she I don't really take her not scoring as though she's not as effective because how many other players scored in those 10 games? They were still winning.

And that's because teams have to completely adjust the way that they defend against Orlando when she's on the field. I mean, that takes two to three players to shut her down. And then you look at how much time and space other players have. I mean, Nicole Marta scored last week. She kind of faked out the defender. I mean, Chicago's not the best example just because they've had a...

And that's because teams have to completely adjust the way that they defend against Orlando when she's on the field. I mean, that takes two to three players to shut her down. And then you look at how much time and space other players have. I mean, Nicole Marta scored last week. She kind of faked out the defender. I mean, Chicago's not the best example just because they've had a...