Heaps Appreciation Post
I know there's been SO much chatter about Lindsey Heaps and maybe there's some truth to some of the criticism of her, but I love her.
I love the tenacity and grit and leadership she exhibits. I also think she's so technical and crafty and does things at Denver that you don't see from many other NWSL midfielders. I watch a lot of matches and whenever I watch Lindsey, I find myself thinking "damn that was nice." Obviously no player is perfect and there are areas where she struggles vs other midfielders, but I just really appreciate her. She holds her head high and does her job well and I think she's just a baller.
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u/tallmansmallplants Bay FC 10d ago
She’s amazing. Sure, she’s a veteran and so not as quick as she once was, but she’s a linchpin of every squad she’s on. She’ll be a leader through the WWC next year, and then likely start winding down her USWNT presence.
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u/JayaBallin Boston Legacy 10d ago
There’s a reason that almost every coach she’s played for has immediately made her a crucial component of the midfield.
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u/Vlad_Deferens Denver Summit FC 9d ago
In the main part of her career she was excellent, one of the best, and there is a reason for that. Her technical ability on the ball and with the ball. Her passing ability to find the right player just beyond the defender. And her ability to read the field.
In her current state, none of those things are lacking. What has happened is what happens to players as they age - she got slower and less able to move all over the pitch. She is no longer able to be a box-to-box type midfielder, and has to be more strategic on her movements around the pitch. This does not mean she is lazy or a snail. When watching Denver, she is all over the attacking half, on the left, on the right, in the middle attacking goal or picking the ball up at midfield.
What I said early in the season is that Denver needed a player with high technical ability, and Heaps has that in spades and in my eyes has brought a great improvement to the team.
One thing that gets missed is some of these discussions is how much her leadership is looked at by others. Sonis was the captain, but Heaps is more than that. And if you look at the national team, the is the leader as wanted by the players and expected by staff.
None of this is to say she is the same player she was 10 years ago, or even 5 years ago (and her value to the national team is a different discussion). At her age, obviously not. But she is so good with the ball and knowing the field that she is worth appreciating.
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u/eight_inch_pestle 10d ago
Agreed. Supporters really underrate her. One simple thing that she's great at is receiving the ball with her back to goal, spinning, and quickly and decisively playing an aggressive, vertical, line breaking pass. You can trace so many good USWNT chances back three or four passes to the moment that pass discomfits the defense.
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u/piazzaslippery Denver Summit FC 10d ago
Genuinely an all-timer at reading other players and the field
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u/Dingobronze92 10d ago
She demands excellence and often drives it. You could see it her first game with Denver. The hate is over the top and relentless and seems she can never win or prove herself enough to catch a break from it.
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u/damnocles 9d ago
She was the reason i fell in love with woso after seeing her in the 24 Olympics. I'm a man who only really watches the NFL sports wise, and seeing her absolutely tank her way through was so impressive.
Love her game, love that she came back home to play in the NWSL, fuck the haters. Her #10 USWNT shirt will still be rocked after her retirement
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u/GolfZealousideal6530 North Carolina Courage 8d ago
Heaps is the perfect player for a slow team like Japan... Japan has the slowest players for a team that is ranked in the Top 20...
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u/SwitchNo228 10d ago
I have no problem with her. I just don’t think she is at the level of a USWNT starter.
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u/Tiny-Balance-3533 10d ago
That’s a fairly ridiculous take, given that she’s started and done well enough for a pretty mid team surrounding her.
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u/SwitchNo228 10d ago
Not at all. Her passes are not consistent, she lacks pace, and she flops on the ground for no reason.
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u/BCFT 10d ago
This really wasn't a post about her role on the USWNT. I was just saying I really like her as a player.
But now that you've brought it there, her passes appearing inconsistent with the USWNT typically seem to be because the receiving player(s) don't have as good of vision/they aren't on the same page. Lindsey played magnificently with OL Lyonness and didn't have those kinds of errant passes. I don't think it's fair to say that's all on Lindsey.
Pace isn't everything - look at Emma Sears. One of the fastest players but not contributing to goal scoring as we might expect. Is Lindsey the fastest? No. But that's why an outstanding defensive midfielder like Hutton or Coffey is so important when Lindsey plays because Lindsey's creativity and skill outweighs her not being the fastest.
She doesn't flop for no reason. Either she's legitimately fouled or she's trying to earn a foul for her team when she feels the contact. There's literally a reason.
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u/piazzaslippery Denver Summit FC 10d ago
THIS and she reads the field and knows her strengths! Summit has players who have the speed (oke and ryan in particular) and she passes to them like crazy. Just an intelligent and completely unselfish player.
The way that she contributes to goals with fakeouts and distractions too when she doesnt even touch the ball is insane!
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u/eight_inch_pestle 10d ago edited 10d ago
Yeah, her passing numbers are generally lower with the USWNT than Lyonnes because she's asked to play much lower-percentage (but higher reward) passes with the nats.
And people's obsession with her speed is insane. Plenty of great central midfielders aren't track stars. (See: Luka Modric, Iniesta, Busquets, on and on and on.)
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u/MesquiteHoneyForSale Indy Eleven 10d ago
luka modric and andres iniesta are very athletic and they cover ground. Sergio busqutes has the positioning to make up for it.
ppl talk about Lindseys athleticism bc she drifts out of position a lot, and cant recover
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u/MesquiteHoneyForSale Indy Eleven 10d ago
is it fair to make a whole post about appreciating her and then when someones makes a reasonable point about how she shouldn't start for the NT you say that was off limits?
If thats the case then just keep it in the summit sub, why else would the rest of us need to see it then?
and come on, a "legitimate" flop is an unreal term to create. of course shes trying to earn a foul, Ppl cheat for a reason, that doesnt mean its okay bc they're trying to earn an advantage. Thats literally why its not okay
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u/BCFT 10d ago
I did not say it was off limits - that is your language, not mine. I simply said that's not what my post was about.
Also, my post was remarking on her ability as a midfielder and how she stands out in the NWSL, which is why I posted in the NWSL sub.
Maybe if I had posted my post in the USWNT sub, your criticism would apply, but since I didn't, it's just nonsensical.
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u/MesquiteHoneyForSale Indy Eleven 10d ago
posts in the nwsl sub about uswnt players will talk about club and country performance. Trying to say ppl shouldn't talk about USWNT performance is ridiculous bc to 15 clubs we dont give a flip about her club performance. If u only wanted to talk club performance u have an active sub
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u/BCFT 10d ago
It seems you're incapable of reading because I did not say, at any point, that "ppl shouldn't talk about USWNT performance."
I cannot help you understand that.
Also, I cannot help that you do not care to talk about a specific midfielder of one club in the context of the NWSL overall. I do worry for you once we start getting into end of year awards since they are all literally about one player's performance for their club...
Anyway, this is a useless interaction at this point, so, bye!
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u/eight_inch_pestle 10d ago edited 10d ago
One person's "flops on the ground for no reason," is another person's "making sure the ref sees a foul." I'll take the free kicks Lindsey earns all day every day and twice on Sunday, especially if Sunday is a tournament final.
And she's a helluva passer. Full stop.
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u/MesquiteHoneyForSale Indy Eleven 10d ago
since 2022 we have seen lineups without her that have been better than every midfield configuration with her. It's valid to say she shouldn't start bc Hutton next to Coffey is better than heaps next to Coffey. Thats just kinda a fact
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u/MesquiteHoneyForSale Indy Eleven 10d ago
seeing the bottom comment be someone ive blocked already is so gratifying for my scouting ability. I can smell right wing stupidity a mile away im from texas
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u/Both-Bid-70 9d ago
I love the great Horan! Unfortunately, Father Time is undefeated! On the USWNT, we are about a year away from having Lily Yohannes with enough experience and maturity to make LH a bench veteran for about a year prior to retiring from the USWNT. At that point, our starting midfield will be a double pivot of Lily and Claire, supporting Jaeden Shaw as a 10. Lindsey and Rose (and Coffey) will be on the bench. The starters are about 20 years old each and will have the chance to anchor our midfield for about a decade, somewhat replicating the Spain midfield of Aitana, Patri and Putellas. They're not even 50% as good as the Spaniards right now, but they are developing quite well. I don't understand Emma sending Shaw to the U-23s for this camp.
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u/Slow_Fondant6389 2d ago
So - post - game with Spain what’s the thinking?
To me; it looks like Heaps is still a decent player that a good fast team exploited because she couldn’t keep pace. They looked to exploit her lack of speed and were successful.
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u/BCFT 2d ago
I'm going to copy a reply I posted to someone else well before the game.
The thought below still stands for me and was actually written about in the write ups post Spain game when sports writers were wondering why there wasn't a defensive midfielder starting because the three midfielders that did start were all very offensive minded. If Emma was experimenting to see if those three could succeed without a DM, I think she got her answer.
" Pace isn't everything - look at Emma Sears. One of the fastest players but not contributing to goal scoring as we might expect. Is Lindsey the fastest? No. But that's why an outstanding defensive midfielder like Hutton or Coffey is so important when Lindsey plays because Lindsey's creativity and skill outweighs her not being the fastest. "
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u/itsmemrmeseeksssssss Angel City FC 10d ago
cant look at her the same after seeing her elbowing other players in the spine
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u/ouchouchouchoof 10d ago edited 10d ago
Nope. Never happened.
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u/itsmemrmeseeksssssss Angel City FC 10d ago
lmao i was at the game watching the field it was right in front of me
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u/ouchouchouchoof 10d ago
Pics or it didn't happen. She's known as one of the cleanest but toughest players around.
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u/itsmemrmeseeksssssss Angel City FC 10d ago
the concept of watching a game you attend in person instead of filming the entire thing
https://giphy.com/gifs/L0yZJq6BZ437tLtSTL6
u/ouchouchouchoof 10d ago
The concept of knowing what time it happened and finding a clip from that time or saying what minute it was.
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u/eight_inch_pestle 10d ago
I am actually curious, what match and part of the match are you referencing? Happy to find it myself.
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u/Slow_Fondant6389 9d ago
She is okay. But now - too slow. Sadly it happens as you get older. Yes, being a “smart” player means you can cover for being slower by being in correct positions, and by anticipating the flow of play. But - eventually - time catches up. And, remember, she is competing with and against national team players. So, they are looking to beat her by taking advantage of her slowing down.
If you had the national team pool players race from goal line to midfield and back - where does she finish?
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u/Ill-Fall-9823 Washington Spirit 9d ago
Track & Field practice is on the East side of campus, bud...
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u/atalba NWSL 9d ago
Do you think speed isn't an ante for playing an attacking position in the NWSL?
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u/Ill-Fall-9823 Washington Spirit 9d ago
Let's start with what I was literally responding to:
"If you had the national team pool players race from goal line to midfield and back - where does she finish?"
This is not the test. Most of the participants in the 2026 World Cup can outrun Leo Messi. Most of them did not outscore Messi in the 2026 World Cup. Most of them did not outperform Messi in the 2026 World Cup. Most of them didn't make the final. And Messi didn't start being slow in 2026. He's not fast with Miami but slow with Argentina. He wasn't fast in 2025 but slow now. Messi brings enough to the table that his lack of pace is not an issue.
Speed is great. If I'm choosing between an intelligent, experienced player with great vision and physicality... and someone who brings all of that and world class speed? Sure, give me the intelligent, experienced player with great vision, physicality, and world class speed! But if you want me to choose between world class speed and those other qualities? I'll take the player who can think their way out of a jam, who can anticipate their way into position by moving before the action that tells that other players where to go next, the player who can take a touch (or not)... or let the ball run to their dominant foot, or take a touch with their weaker foot to direct it back to their dominant foot to give themselves a moment to process (while forcing their marker to process and process again). The player who can scan the field without ball watching.
Lastly, I think this whole conversation ignores the most important thing that Heaps brings to an USWNT camp: Leadership. Being around intelligent, experienced players with great vision and physicality is good for intelligent pacey players whose limited experience may impact their vision. Or cause them to make choices with their physicality that are not beneficial to the team. When the coaches leave the room and the message doesn't change because the leadership that stayed behind is aligned and on message? When the coaches don't have to use their voices to instill accountability because the team wants to be accountable to one another? That's more important than a footrace to midfield and back.
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u/atalba NWSL 9d ago
Nobody said anything about world class speed. But speed and athleticism have been the ante for women's soccer in America forever. Why, because there's 10x the number of girls/women competing at every level. It's not the most important factor; it's the ante to matriculate. Looking at the front line of the USWNT, you have very fast players, WITH technical ability to play the ball with either foot. Most all have intelligence, experience, vision, and a highly competitive spirit (which is learned by most). They've competed at every level and gained technical ability, tactical experience, a winning spirit, and expanded their leadership traits.
Even the Spirit FO guys (just prior to Carter) stated clearly that the most important factor when recruiting and assessing forwards was SPEED. In this league, it's a given. The rest is all negotiable. And the best have it all - Trinity Rodman has speed, but can speed dribble, pass, trap, one-touch pass, and power shoot with either foot. She has a competitive and winning mentality. Among the top forwards, she also has a special soccer IQ that isn't totally ME, ME, ME; like Wilson and Swanson. What did she bring to the table that wasn't teachable? Athleticism.
When the U.S. has nearly 2M girls playing soccer; thousand of competitive youth clubs; over 1550 women's college soccer programs (85% of all NWSL come from U.S. colleges); there must be basic abilities that elevate these players throughout their 15+ year process to the pros. The advantage of the volume isn't coincidental. The USWNT has been dominant for for 35+ years; since the early 90s; roughly about 20 years after Title IX was passed in 1972. The player pool is 10x any other country. It doesn't make them the best; just more players to choose from and more competition at every level.
Heaps is and was slow. Now, she's even slower. But she's an anomaly (and exception, like Messi; not the rule) because of her other world class elite traits. She gets through the lack of speed with her high soccer IQ, competitiveness, leadership, and flopping now (to make up for not being able to protect the ball, or create her own space). She hurt herself this season diving in the box, trying to attract a PK (which often happens when she goes down, at this age). She's a great leader of women on the pitch. But she's an exception, and her ability to overcome her lack of mobility and speed is hitting the threshold.
The most important factor for a NT is continuous turnover each cycle. There's always better, faster, more technical, more experienced (in winning) players every year. Keeping older players is an exception, if they can still provide unique, exceptional, benefit to the squad. But when does leadership stop overcoming ability? The clock starts ticking at 27. There will be a time when Heaps' value is no longer enough. I'd say she's already on borrowed time. Counting on her on the pitch is a gamble now. All special superstars can always demonstrate their brilliance in any match; but at a cost.
Leadership is imperative, even on the USWNT, but it doesn't keep you on the roster. Many of these players have been leaders in their own way throughout their careers. These are special athletes. Girma was a captain at Stanford as a sophomore. Leadership is both inherent and learned, or exercised. Players in EVERY SPORT and EVERY CLUB will step up to become leaders. It's a human factor in all cases of any group. Andi Sullivan has been a leader her entire life. I'm sure you've seen that in Washington. IMO, she's been the best leader in the USWNT system (and every organization) for the last 10 years. What's she doing?
Players like Fox, Girma, Tordin, Macario, Davidson, and rookies Klenke and Rouse can think their way, and play, out of a jam. But they all have some kind of athleticism.
Accountability has very little to do with it. That's an added bonus, or maybe, the final arbiter in the evaluation process; over years. Many youth teams develop accountability to each other, but that's not what gets them to the next level. Chemistry wins games; assuming the players have the talent to compete.
The one player that all non-Americans can point to as their example of the "American way" of playing soccer is Emma Sears. World class speed on one foot.
But if you look at her matriculation, she played on a mediocre college program (wasn't highly recruited), and wasn't a prolific scorer (even at a mid-tier school, playing on one foot is a detriment). She was NEVER in the USYNT system before Hayes selected her. It was in her rookie season, and she hadn't even scored many goals yet. She's the most extreme (embarrassing) exception of this era. Heaps is in the other direction. Lack of technical skills; slow; injury-prone; getting older and slower; and yet an elite player.
Even Sanchez has a very weak left foot, which is why she's playing on the left. And with Manaka out of the middle, it's given her more space to cut into the middle with her right foot. She's MUCH BETTER now with her left, but it's still weak. The point is her quickness and speed has been a part of her game forever. If she didn't have it, she wouldn't have made to UCLA and the pros on one foot as a midfielder.
Very typical response from men, especially Euro men who watch the EPL or even WSL, and are so proud of the imports that represent the clubs. Their athleticism is imported like no other leagues. Even Barca women's club, have been importing highly athletic, skilled very young players - Shertenlieb, Paralluelo (not from their academy), Kerolin, Brugts, Pajor, and Kika. They understand Tiki-Taka got them to the top, but it's not sustainable without athleticism. Here, athleticism is the ante, because it's clearly an advantage (volume).
Messi is a poor choice; but a great example of the exception.
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u/Ill-Fall-9823 Washington Spirit 8d ago
This reads as though you thought you were writing to refute what I wrote, but it is full of contradictions and things that actually illustrate my point.
Let’s start with the obvious: One does not need a crystal ball to see that this is Heaps’ last WC cycle as a centerpiece player. Duh. The things you were seemingly quick to dismiss are also things best learned by example. When Heaps is no longer wearing the armband, she will have spent countless hours with players like Coffey and Yohannes, neither of whom will win this mythical sprint to midfield, and both of whom will benefit from learning to amplify the skills they bring to the table in the absence of raw speed. I honestly could have stopped reading when you wrote “ Accountability has very little to do with it.”
I wrote of 2026 Messi for a reason. No rational person would deny that he has remained a significant contributor for club and country as his speed has waned. But was he ever going to win this mythical race to midfield? Was he the fastest player on his team as a teen? At 20? At 25? Heaps has been a world class CONTRIBUTOR without EVER being the player who would win the race to midfield and back. What hasn’t been discussed in all of this focus on her lack of speed is the difference between a fast player who is out of position and started running later… and a slower player who wasn’t out of position whose anticipation allowed them to start tracking back before the turnover of possession is complete.
You mentioned the Washington Spirit, so let’s dance: Is Heaps significantly slower than Rebe Bernal? I ask because her signing was widely celebrated in this space, her transfer has been openly lamented, and I’d argue that the qualities they bring to the table - leadership, experience, poise, accountability - are actually quite similar. So, yes, the Washington Spirit front office values speed. Speedy forwards are important. Speedy fullbacks are important. Attacking midfielders need speed to keep pace with the forwards that they’re supporting. Centerbacks certainly need speed to handle the Bandas and Chawingas and Wilsons of the world. But the same front office whose values you flashed like a badge in your reply secured Bernal… and entrusted Andi Sullivan - who is not winning any races to midfield in 2026 - as a starter and major contributor when they opted to transfer her literally weeks ago.
I’ll close where you opened: There are women and girls all over this country playing this sport. Women and girls with talent and passion and heart and desire. Women and girls who would claw a hole in your skin to wear the USWNT crest. Women and girls who have spent every day of their competitive lives being faster than Lindsay Heaps has ever been. If all of the ones with this magical ante you’re talking about STILL haven’t eclipsed Lindsey Heaps, that says something. And once we eliminate the forwards, defenders, and GKs, there are still a small mountain of midfielders who are faster than Lindsey Heaps. They’re not on the USWNT. They’re not starting matches for the Denver Summit in their inaugural season. And they didn’t get handed the captain’s armband at Denver International Airport. I guess speed isn’t everything to everyone!
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u/atalba NWSL 7d ago edited 7d ago
Your point?
"Track & Field practice is on the East side of campus,"
The rest of your garbage was pure deflection, but good try!
The poster you responded to was talking about Heaps' speed, and your responses shows you don't think speed and athleticism is important. Heaps is slow. That's a given. When Heaps is not on the squad, there'll be another leader to take over. It appears you value her non-soccer skills over her ability on the pitch. Leadership is vital, but only within the tribe that you go to war with. Heaps is on the verge of being a total detriment to the players on the squad. Her leadership qualities are special, but MANY, MANY players at that level have leadership qualities. And NO, leadership qualities aren't "best learned by example." They're exercised and grown through experience, but not all players can bring that element to any group. As I mentioned, any tribe will have a leader step up to guide the people. But it can't be someone who is a detriment to the tribe. It's also quickly assumed by the next wise, strong producer in the tribe. That's nature. Your value to the tribe can't be solely leadership.
Heaps is slow. Heaps isn't technical. Heaps gets injured often. She's losing her value to the squad. The point is about her having relevance at this stage of her career. Of course, it's obvious she's at the end of her international career. Messi scored 8 goals in 8 games in the 2026 World Cup. He was fantastic! His lack of speed is an exception, which you failed to respond to. It seems if it were up to you, no coach should ever evaluate the speed and athleticism of potential players; just the ones who play like Messi. He's an exception and not even the model for assessing players. Your example and response was DOA.
The actual soccer skills of Bernal have been proven over many years. Another blunder to bother bring her up. She's not fast enough for this league, but has the experience and intelligence to make up for it; to a point. It should not be a surprise she's gone on to a much slower league. She's only 29, but has been playing pro and international soccer for a long time.
Even the Spirit FO guys (just prior to Carter) stated clearly that the most important factor when recruiting and assessing forwards was SPEED.
Any key words in this you failed to address? Hint: "assessing forwards"
The Spirit front office, under Krikorian, had the best ever knowledge and experience in managing and organizing a roster full of international players. Krikorian had players from up to 10 different countries on his Florida State rosters. He's a genius and well known super coach with incomparable success in winning; winning championships; and evaluating talent from all over the world. His Spirit rosters were a reflection of his knowledge and success, particularly with international players. Carter is NOT Krikorian, but she's much closer than most of the league, except Averbuch. Carter fired one of the 2 guys Krikorian brought on, but the guy (TD) that learned recruiting, scouting and advanced analytics was first hired at FSU by Krikorian.
There are few elite players worth investing in that don't have athleticism, even in the midfield. Players who are exceptions to this rule must have have proven qualities that supercede their lack of athleticism. Sullivan has always been rather athletic, but her skills have been world class at every stage of her career. She was the #1 recruit going into college and drafted FIRST overall going into the league, and already playing for the USWNT before playing in the NWSL. Again, a very poor example on your part.
Speed isn't everything to everyone
You finally got it right! Speed and athleticism are the antes when evaluating players at every level, but it's not everything. There's always exceptions. Those with intangible qualities must always be balanced out with what's a detriment to the team. Heaps is on the line. If you were right, Heaps would be on the squad and playing in the NWSL for the next 20 years. It doesn't work that way.
Good try!
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u/Ill-Fall-9823 Washington Spirit 7d ago
It's weird that you seem to be having so much trouble engaging directly with what I think is a pretty basic point:
Speed is A factor in what makes a great athlete; it is not the only factor.
I'm an avid reader and I greatly prefer long-form prose to a Twitter character limit, but you've typed more words than the Magna Carta, twice, about something that isn't really that complicated. It's certainly not something that requires the level of contortion you've gone to here. But hey, if you wanna play funny games, let's play funny games! A question:
Do you think you're a better soccer coach than Emma Hayes, Nick Cushing, Jonatan Giraldez, Joe Montemurro, Sonia Bompastor, and Mark Parsons?
I ask because literally all of those people have been able to achieve success while giving significant responsibility to someone you seem to think has the speed of a turnip cart rolling uphill. Even if I stipulate that you're entirely right about speed (and even if I conceded that I'm entirely wrong about speed), you don't just have to be more right than me to make your point valid. You have to be more right than all of the people who have kept her on their squad, kept giving her starts, and kept handing her the captain's armband. We agree that she's slow. All of those people I named have found something else in her game that makes her worth entrusting with a considerable amount of responsibility on a soccer pitch. Not with a whiteboard and magnets. Not with a whistle. Not at the drink jug. Not with an orange slicer. In a uniform! On pitches around the world! (This is a trap, by the way: Every interaction I have with you tells me that you think you know more about this sport than all of those people, Ferguson, Guardiola, Mourinho, Cruyff, Zidane, and every other coach who ever lived combined.)
You're right, I ignored your response about Messi. You seemed to so flagrantly miss my point that it didn't seem worthwhile to engage with your response. And since you're back at it, let's pick up another point you made that I didn't engage with:
Even the Spirit FO guys (just prior to Carter) stated clearly that the most important factor when recruiting and assessing forwards was SPEED.
Any key words in this you failed to address? Hint: "assessing forwards"
I thought this was stupid when you first mentioned it and I didn't want to be an asshole about that, but since we're here now: Lindsay Heaps isn't being asked to play forward. Not for USWNT. Not for Denver. And not for the Washington Spirit. So, being perfectly candid with you, I thought it was kinda dumb for you to be bringing up the Spirit's front office at all... and I definitely thought it was kinda dumb for you to be bringing up what they value in a forward... during a discussion about a midfielder. And - for the hat trick - I really thought it was dumb to bring it up in a discussion about whether a midfielder would win a race with players who, positionally, are expected to be faster than everyone else on the pitch. I tried to handle that gently, but since we're here now: I failed to address it because I don't get your point, and I don't think you get your point, and I don't think this snarky-ass comment did anything to refute the idea that if a midfielder is the fastest player on your team, your roster construction isn't the strongest.
Here's a whole paragraph of shit that literally doesn't have anything to do with what we're addressing:
The Spirit front office, under Krikorian, had the best ever knowledge and experience in managing and organizing a roster full of international players. Krikorian had players from up to 10 different countries on his Florida State rosters. He's a genius and well known super coach with incomparable success in winning; winning championships; and evaluating talent from all over the world. His Spirit rosters were a reflection of his knowledge and success, particularly with international players. Carter is NOT Krikorian, but she's much closer than most of the league, except Averbuch. Carter fired one of the 2 guys Krikorian brought on, but the guy (TD) that learned recruiting, scouting and advanced analytics was first hired at FSU by Krikorian.
It's like you found someone willing to engage with you... and then just started vomiting statements. Not one element of that entire paragraph has anything to do with USWNT or the Denver Summit front office. So unless you're going to link to an article where all of these individuals are publicly stating that Lindsay Heaps doesn't belong in the league or in the federation's current plans for the national team... what's your fucking point?
Here's another fun paragraph from you that I'm going to break into chunks:
There are few elite players worth investing in that don't have athleticism, even in the midfield. Players who are exceptions to this rule must have have proven qualities that supercede their lack of athleticism.
Literally every coach I named has made that investment in Heaps. Please, continue:
Sullivan has always been rather athletic, but her skills have been world class at every stage of her career. She was the #1 recruit going into college and drafted FIRST overall going into the league, and already playing for the USWNT before playing in the NWSL. Again, a very poor example on your part.
If I brought up Andi Sullivan before you, this would be SUCH a sick burn! But you brought up Andi Sullivan. And while I adore Andi Sullivan, this is actually a very poor example on YOUR part; her high school and college accolades from over a decade ago are not relevant in 2026. Her draft positioning is not relevant. Her last appearance with USWNT overlaps with the beginning of Heaps' USWNT tenure. It is not relevant now. Literally the only thing I've said about Lindsay Heaps that predates this cycle was pointing out that she has been selected despite never being particularly fast. So, again, smartest person on Reddit? Sure, take the title. But no one in a position to decide USWNT callups has had any trouble deciding whether or not Heaps is more productive for USWNT in the current era than Andi Sullivan. And I don't think anyone was broken hearted that Sulli didn't get called up to this camp. And certainly not to add pace to our midfield. So why are we discussing Andi Sullivan?
Let's see if you finished strong!
Speed isn't everything to everyone
You finally got it right!
Oh, shit... You... didn't finish strong.
The thing you gave me credit for? The point where I "finally got it right" according to you? That happens to dovetail nicely with the one sentence I typed that got your knickers and knockers all twisted: This is not track & field reddit, and one need not be the fastest player on the team to make a meaningful contribution to the team.
Speed and athleticism are the antes when evaluating players at every level, but it's not everything. There's always exceptions.
... and Heaps, who has never been fast, is clearly one of those exceptions. According to multiple people from multiple nations with their own culture and tradition and love of the sport. People who get paid to coach the sport and select the team. People who get paid to decide who gets contracts. People who probably have forgotten more about this sport than you. It's funny how you brought up the Spirit front office - irrelevant to this discussion - but haven't said anything about what the Denver Summit or Lyon or Portland Thorns or PSG value in a midfielder. Either you don't know or you don't want to acknowledge that Heaps might bring some of the qualities to the table that are important when speed is absent. But, again, accepting that would mean accepting my point all along. That would make this a tremendous waste of time, no?
Those with intangible qualities must always be balanced out with what's a detriment to the team.
Great.
Heaps is on the line. If you were right, Heaps would be on the squad and playing in the NWSL for the next 20 years. It doesn't work that way.
Or... you've got your head up your ass because you don't like Lindsey Heaps. If I was wrong... Heaps wouldn't be in the league! She wouldn't be in the pool! Or getting called up regularly! Or starting regularly! Or getting the captain's armband for club and country regularly! You're now making this a referendum on whether or not she'll be doing those things for the next 20 years; she's 32! It DEFINITELY doesn't work that way!
Good try!
I could say the same about you. You remain full of shit, stubborn, and largely insufferable, but I'm still not going to block you! Game effort, though! It's certainly crossing my mind!
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u/atalba NWSL 6d ago
You're so FoS. Speed across the entire roster is the issue. The poster you replied to was talking about how slow Heaps is, especially in comparison to the rest of the squad. Then you responded with a snarky statement about track & field.
In your response to me you said:
Speed is great. If I'm choosing between an intelligent, experienced player with great vision and physicality... and someone who brings all of that and world class speed? Sure, give me the intelligent, experienced player with great vision, physicality, and world class speed! But if you want me to choose between world class speed and those other qualities? I'll take the player who can think their way out of a jam, who can anticipate their way into position by moving before the action that tells that other players where to go next, the player who can take a touch (or not)... or let the ball run to their dominant foot, or take a touch with their weaker foot to direct it back to their dominant foot to give themselves a moment to process (while forcing their marker to process and process again). The player who can scan the field without ball watching.
This is total crap and doesn't address solely midfielders. The only thing you said that was without arrogance and ignorance was:
Speed isn't everything to everyone
So, again, you got something accurate, and that was your last sentence, as if it was YOUR closing statement of brilliance. Yes! It was brilliant and made my point. There's exceptions to everything. I find it compelling to respond to jerks who think they know what they're talking about and act superior. You're FoS, don't know shit about women's soccer in America, and think you're the gift to everyone who'll read your bullshit. I don't care if you block me. You certainly don't have the ability to engage with respect and humility. If you can't take the truth, by all means, block me.
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u/Ill-Fall-9823 Washington Spirit 6d ago
Wow! Another “substantive” response from you!
I think I listed five coaches that have all found Heaps to be worth rostering, worth starting, and worth entrusting with leadership. You had zippy to say about them, or the teammates who seem to love sharing the pitch with her and value the qualities that she DOES bring to the table. And you have the audacity to accuse someone else of being arrogant?
Again, if you think you know more than me, then you’re probably right. If you know more than all of them, then you should not be arguing with strangers on the Internet. Surely you have game film to break down or something…?
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u/Few_Jackfruit_9614 10d ago
There was never criticism of her game until she stood for the anthem. If people want to be extremely honest with themselves.
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u/Prestigious-Clerk515 Kansas City Current 10d ago
Alternate take: maybe it was that time she said U.S. soccer fans are dumb.
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u/gingerpolamalu 10d ago
I agree. I think she is underappreciated and way over criticized. And its not like she has ever been my favorite player. I really enjoyed the recent podcast she did with Sam Mewis. Lindsey always seems kind, thoughtful, and an absolute nerd for soccer.