Christine Sinclair is arguably the greatest female soccer player in history. Americans will reasonably counter with Mia Hamm or Abby Wambach or Michelle Akers. Brazilians will submit Marta for consideration. China says Sun Wen, Japan gives us Homare Sawa, Spain will ask us to wait a few years on Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, and none of them would be wrong. It's an argument, after all, not a definitive statement.
Returning the argument, because sports, consider her bona fides. Over her international career, Sinclair scored 190 goals in 329 matches, by far the most of any player ever. The all-time leader among men, Cristiano Ronaldo, has scored 127 goals. After tallying 110 goals in 94 collegiate matches for Portland, Sinclair scored another 113 club goals in 266 matches for five clubs across three leagues.
Sinclair has an Olympic gold medal and two bronzes. She's one of a very few players to have participated in six World Cups, and one of only three to have scored in five (Marta and Cristiano Ronaldo are the others). She, more than any other player, is responsible for Canada's ascendance into the world's elite women's soccer countries.
Because she's Canadian, and notoriously shy, we haven't heard as much about Sinclair as perhaps her on-field exploits would warrant. And I'm guessing that's the way she'd want it.
As Sinclair exits the world stage, so too do a pair of Americans, both of whom have lived in the spotlight in ways far different from their Canadian contemporary.
Krieger has received less press attention than the magnetic Rapinoe, but she's been a pioneer starting from when she became one of the first American women to play in Europe, competing for FC Frankfurt in Germany from 2007-2012. The Penn State graduate (who played for the same youth club that I did - which is nice) went on to earn 108 caps for the United States, winning World Cups in 2015 and 2019.
In addition to her on-field trailblazing, Krieger was one of the first female athletes to openly celebrate her same-sex marriage. She and USWNT teammate Ashlyn Harris married in 2019 to much celebration. The two recently announced their divorce, which has led to a very public taking of sides by the women's sports community, nearly all of whom are lining up behind Krieger.
The NWLS Championship will mark a turning of the page for the league and the sport. I have no doubt that Rapinoe (and her wife, Sue Bird) and Krieger will continue to be a large presence on the American sporting scene. And I expect Christine Sinclair to operate more quietly to continue to advance the game. All three walk off the stage as legends. Much respect.
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o/u for rutgers @ iowa this weekend is 28.5. just absolutely a mockery of the sport.
That's an unreal cross.
made all the more so because it came with the uswnt down a goal in stoppage time of an elimination game at the world cup. insane.
Our fratre the Senator Monty Mason is down but not out in last night’s race yet. Too close to call, they say. We shall see. I’m a-feared for him in that eventual result.
Also… flying to Austin TX at the moment. 2 nights’ stay for work. My first trip there. Please send recs stat!
Terry Black's bbq joint
Amazing play by Rapinoe and Wambach. Made all the better by Rapinoe's remark several years later: "I didn't see [Wambach]. I don't even think I looked up. I took a touch and thought, 'She better frickin' be in there.'"
i was in austin when the world shut down for covid. watched the rudy gobert press conference from a hotel bar. had a couple of killer meals while there, but i don’t remember the names of the restaurants. glad i could help.
monty conceded the race. bummer for him. bummerer for his constituents.
Yep, Danny Diggs is a jack-ass. We no happy. No Bueno! Can't remember if I told y'all, but I met (re-met) Monty at our neighborhood's Pride festival (first one ever) in June. The churches we serve are open/affirming and had booths there in support. He was out stumping, and he met my family. I told him I knew some PiLam folks -- when he heard my year, we spoke fondly of Evan especially. Our neighborhood really wanted him to win. But we're glad VA not only held-on, they made-up some seats from the GOP. I'm thrilled Karen Greenhalgh lost (she's wacko). So, here's to hoping Diggs isn't around long. Y'all see JMU's petition to NCAA? Wild stuff.
working on a post about the jmu situation. spoiler alert: i think the dukes have a legit argument.
If we can get the persuasive power of gtb behind their cause, who knows what’s possible? Four seed in CFB playoffs? Not like the semis are ever competitive anyway.
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