U.S. women’s national team has felt outgoing coach Jill Ellis in their corner - St. Paul Pioneer Press

U.S. women’s national team has felt outgoing coach Jill Ellis in their corner - St. Paul Pioneer Press

While the U.S. women’s national soccer team makes a “Victory Tour” stop at Allianz Field on Tuesday, it also serves as one of the final destination on Jill Ellis’ farewell tour.

The only coach to win consecutive women’s World Cups is stepping down after this five-stop jaunt to celebrate the Americans’ latest championship in France in July. During their stay-over, Ellis has been enjoying her last moments at the helm in the most-Minnesota way possible.

“I did have a big basket of the Minnesota cookies,” Ellis said Monday about her visit to the State Fair. “I’m not sure what those were, but they were fantastic.”

Ellis was referencing Sweet Martha’s cookies more so because of what they represent: final moments for her to break bread with the important people she’s forged relationships with in her successful five-year tenure.

“What these (tours) allow you to do is kind of spend time with your staff and your players in a less pressure-filled situation,” Ellis said. “We have had meals out, just a more relaxed atmosphere. You take away matches, but more importantly, it’s the people. … I will always feel connected to this team because of the people and just the journey; that’s been wonderful.”

Ellis has a lot to be proud of. She has coached more USWNT games than anyone else and has a staggering record of 104-7-18. The only blank spot is failing to advance to the gold medal game of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

After beating Portugal 4-0 in Philadelphia on Thursday, Ellis said she wanted “arrogantly more of the same” before she credited Portugal’s coach Francisco Neto and his level of preparation.

Coaches the world over often look to minimize anything that could be considered a “distraction” from play on the field. But when the women’s national team has advocated for equal pay or other social justice issues, star players Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan said Monday they’ve felt Ellis has been in their corner. They’ve reciprocated their commitment Ellis and the USWNT by putting those issues on the side burner during their World Cup run.

“She is in a similar situation to us in a lot of ways and has been discriminated against and may not have been as vocal as we currently are,” Morgan said.

Lloyd said Ellis might have her successor in mind.

“When you see the numbers and what the men’s coach makes versus Jill or what another female coach is making, obviously there is a huge disparity,” Lloyd said. “We are kind of fighting for the same things. I think Jill is fighting for that next coach. We know the next coach coming in, there is probably going to be a gap, but I don’t think it will be as low as what it was when Jill first started. She is paving the way.”

Ellis, her wife, Betsy Stephenson, and their daughter have grown close with Morgan.

“I think that she has been someone that has opened up her family to us,” Morgan said. “I think that she is a coach that sees us as her second family and I think she definitely has a big legacy within this team.”

FEWER STARS

The U.S. will be without three of the biggest players from its World Cup run: Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and midfielder Rose Lavelle. Morgan and Lavelle have been sidelined with concussion symptoms, and Rapinoe has been dealing with an Achilles injury.

“We thought we made some progress, but also ultimately it comes down to the medical team and they have the final say on that, so they will not be available,” Ellis said.

Ellis also said Kelley O’Hara, Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger won’t play Tuesday due to injuries or conflicts.

But the team is expected to feature the likes of Lloyd, Tobin Heath, Julie Ertz and more.

RECORDS OR SELLOUTS

The match against Portugal at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Thursday set a record for a stand-alone women’s friendly crowd at 49,504.

Allianz Field is expecting a sellout of approximately 19,700, while the first stop on the tour had an announced crowd of 37,040 at the Rose Bowl on Aug. 3.

The final stops on the tour are Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Oct. 3 and Soldier Field in Chicago on Oct. 6. The U.S. will face South Korea in both games.

2019-09-03 02:33:00Z
https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/02/u-s-womens-national-team-has-felt-outgoing-coach-jill-ellis-in-their-corner/

Bagikan Berita Ini