NWSL Goals Added Best XI
/A hectic decision day has come and gone and the NWSL playoffs are soon upon us, as such it’s probably a good time to look at the Best XI by g+ in NWSL in 2023.
Read MoreHow Sophia Smith Turns Good Passes Into Great Ones
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Ask any data analyst about the utility of statistics and you’ll get any number of answers, from the ability to measure shot quality to the potential to build all-in-one impact measurements, such as American Soccer Analysis’ goals added, or g+ for short.
However, the most fundamental utility of data is not found in the answers it provides, but in how it empowers us to ask questions.
For example, while pouring through ASA’s numbers on Sophia Smith in anticipation of a piece on her and the Portland Thorns, I noticed something curious. Despite dominating the NWSL in xG, she came off looking far more mediocre in Receiving g+, ranking only 26th among her peers (xG and g+ data accurate as of October 30th).
Read MoreNWSL Mini-Previews: OL Reign, Portland Thorns, and Utah Royals FC
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In the time since the first round of mini-previews, the 2020 NWSL season has taken the form of a short tournament called The Challenge Cup, which is to be played from the end of June until the end of July. Many questions remain about how the competition will shape up, including which players will ultimately choose to participate. In this edition of mini-previews, we travel out west to preview OL Reign, Portland Thorns, and Utah Royals FC. From name changes to significant roster overhauls to new coaching staff, each of these teams has something new in store for the upcoming season.
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