Darian Jenkins
Appearances
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
Now, when you put them all together and they're vibing, how quickly they transition and you have Rose Lavelle who can dribble past anybody, the way that they can break down spirit, I think, is relying on those 1v1 players and then their combination play to get in front of goal.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
Because as soon as they are, as soon as they start heating up and they're bouncing the ball around quickly with their front maybe five players, I don't know if Spirit can stop them because we've seen even in their last match leading up to playoffs, they just look like they're in the zone. They feel it right now.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
And I don't know if Spirit can handle that, especially with how many players they're missing.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
My pride girls are going through. What about you, Logan?
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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I'm going to go with Gotham.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
I also have Gotham going through. I see them making it to the final, but they don't have the Allie Krieger to fight for this year.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
I feel like this is the correct answer. Although the Kansas City playing at home for their final would be epic. It really would be.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
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.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
Please. I should have bet something on this. You should have.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
I mean, they've got a lot to replace in Christine Sinclair. She's been the... part of this team. I think since she became part of it in the inaugural season, having somebody to fight for like Christine Sinclair obviously gives you an extra push going into playoffs, which Portland desperately needed alongside Sophia Smith coming back.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
And if I'm not mistaken, I think Sophia Smith is potentially up for contracts or up for negotiating a new contract after this season. They need her there. This is a team that I don't think we saw enough dynamic goal scorers in the front line without her and Morgan Weaver. They also need, I think, another midfielder.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
They lost a couple of players, like a Rocky Rodriguez, somebody that's a little more daring in the midfield. They had very similar profiles in their midfield three that didn't offer enough. And I think this team can get back to where they are. I mean, it's weird to think of NWSL playoffs without the Portland Thorns in them, which we almost had that case.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
But they really need to acquire some players and have some stability with Rob Gale next year that can just make them the really dangerous team that isn't solely through Sophia Smith.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
I'm going to give a shout to my fellow Bruin UCLA, Jessie Fleming. She's a player that It's so dynamic and really dangerous in the attack. We've seen her do it for Canada. In college, she did it. For Chelsea, she did it. And I feel at Portland, she sat back so much more.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
We didn't see her making those daring passes, these daring dribbles, the game-changing moments that we're used to having from Jesse Fleming. She's a player that I think they can build around, that they can growl around, they can rely on for that stability and to be a leader. But we need to see it on the pitch. I will say going from Chelsea to the NWSL, it's a huge adjustment.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
It's a huge adjustment. Every single game feels like it could be a final. Every single game is much more physical and physically taxing. And everybody's faster than you. It's a huge adjustment. And I think she needed this year to have that. And hopefully next year, she can really grow into that role that we've seen her have with all of her other teams.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
100%. That was the game of the weekend where I think that was the one we all predicted. That could be the only match where there is an upset, realistically. They fought really hard. We have to give a lot of credit to that team and Albertine Montoya. They overcame so much adversity throughout the year of being an expansion team, doing that well, making it to playoffs.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
And then it finally coming together during playoffs, the attack and defense, it was kind of one or the other. That was the story for Bay every single game throughout the season. until the last few weeks. So I love this.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
I think it's very promising for the future for Bay and seeing what they can do next year now that Albertine Montoya is more used to the league and what it requires and maybe bringing in personnel that he can build around like a Tess Bodie and Rachel Kundunanji and Oshwala and Abby Dahlkemper. But it is tough to go out like that. And another fellow Bruin of mine, Caprice, I feel for her. That's
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
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.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
Sucks to score an own goal, especially in a moment like that. But she's a vet. She'll get over it. And I think, like I said, it's really promising for Bay's future.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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I'm really looking to see the growth of Rachel Kindanaji. We finally saw her become that X factor forward. It was this close all year to her being it. It was just the final product, the final type of shot decision making or... Pass it, do I shoot it? And it was always kind of the opposite. It was chosen of what she should have done, but she's a young player. We've seen a lot of growth.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
I'm excited to see her back next year. Same with Tess Bodie. She is unsung hero of Bay. I think that every coach I talked to when I was covering matches before coaches calls was, who's a player that you're looking to shut down? Who can you shut down that'll affect the game? Every coach would say Tess Bodie for Bay. So she's a player I'm looking forward to seeing her game. And I think they need...
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
Another midfielder, a pure midfielder, Kiki could do great, but I think they need a six that can really help distribute play that's like the Andy Sullivan that directs everybody and breaks things up and can organize so that it's not so reliant on their backline to have their s**t together. But make sure they have everything together in the back. But it's going to be good for them next year.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
They're just missing a couple of key pieces to have that consistent season to get them to a final.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
The African takeover. I love it. The fact that most of the players we were talking about for Golden Boot are players of color. Most impact on the league are players of color, players from Africa. I mean, I can't wait to see next year. I was joking with Latko Andonofsky, because Temo, her sister Tabitha, plays for Lyon. And I'm like, you need to get Tabitha over here. You all will be unstoppable.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
Imagine.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
And I like that when they did lose, they were like, yeah, who cares? Who else is
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
you guys are putting me on the spot. I'm going to stick with A player that's impressed me since she entered college. Sorry, I'm sticking with UCLA. I feel like I've said it five times in this podcast. But Lily Real, she plays center back for UCLA, Honda Award winning, Mac Herman Trophy finalist. She was a forward, converted to center back.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
And I think we see elements of her game that's similar to an Emily Sams that would be great for any team in the league. She would have a huge impact.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
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
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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I'm going to wreck the cool against one of my coworkers. Yes. Yeah. Alexis Carreras and Christian Blanco have a podcast called the cool against two comedians. Hilarious. They drop news, but in the most digestible, great way to great human beings, but follow their and watch their podcast called the cool against it. You won't regret it.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
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.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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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.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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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.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
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...
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Darian Jenkins on NWSL Playoffs, + Caitlin Clark Tees Off, & More
A rough season, I feel, for my Chicago girls. But she does it with her right. You know she's going to her left. You know she's going to her left. The frame of the goal is to her left, and you give it to her. I mean, and it's because Banda attracts so many players. So I think she's a huge asset in that way. Do I think she defines the attack for Orlando? No.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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But it does make teams have to adjust the way that they set up against them, but... It's the same battle with Kansas City. I mean, Shawinga muscled the last time she scored against them. She muscled off a couple of players. Morlando went 5v1 and ended up sliding one past Anna Morehouse.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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I mean, it's a good matchup of let's see how these coaches decide to defend against these two players and everybody else better step up.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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I don't think it affects them at all. In fact, I think that is something that that team needed watching. Not that I'm saying there should be violence, but I like in women's sports when there's somebody who's just ready to hit, somebody who's ready to kind of bunk up and be like back the hell off. Like, We need more of this like villain era in women's sports because men do it all the time.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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They're not criticized for it. I mean, men do crazy stuff and they're so allowed to come back and play. Don't even get me started on that. But to just show that, hey, we're here for her. We're rallying around Tamasha Winga and that they're not here to play. You're going to stand over our girl. Like,
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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I think it just added a little bit more fire that Kansas City honestly didn't even need going into this match, knowing that Shawinga is a player we saw Flacco say at numerous press conferences is targeted. She is. There's no way to stop this player unless you try to hit her before she starts running, because as soon as she starts going, it's a goal scoring opportunity.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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So that's how players are just going to have to deal with it. I do not want that player to get hurt. Absolutely not. But it comes with being an incredible athlete. I mean, we watch Messi get packed. especially when he was still in Europe all the time. So it's not a bad comparison to have teams have to try to knock you down before you get going to Lionel Messi.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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I think they probably had a great recovery week. I mean, you've seen Kansas City and their field and their assets and all of their trainers and all the fancy things they have there now. I'm sure she's fully recovered, rested up. I expect 100% Tamasha Winger to come show out. I think she lives for games like this as well.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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There's not a team I've ever seen her play intimidated against or like she can't handle what's coming to her. especially when it's do or die as playoffs and the semifinals. And you could get to host at your home stadium if you win this match. I think that she'll be good. And if she's not, we're not going to know. I don't think she's going to show it at all.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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Andy is a player that is kind of the unsung hero every season. She's one of those players that She's not doing the flashiest of stuff, but you watch the way that Andy plays. And I know this from playing with her. She's constantly organizing, constantly setting you up to plug holes defensively.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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She's always thinking worst case scenario so that she is there to either hit somebody or pick the ball up and regain possession. And I think you're seeing that with the spirit. It's not that they're worse off or that they don't have good enough players. You're just seeing the organization break down where I think Andy was the linchpin for it to be so successful.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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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.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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And we're seeing teams break through the middle of the pitch a lot easier, get to go at their back line much easier. And Spirit just have to then respond on the front line. They still have a ton of talent, especially having every rookie on your team score a goal in a single calendar season is not an easy feat.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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They have a great coach who's come from Barcelona and won everything you possibly could have. But it's going to be a tactical game of shutting down Gotham's attack and then outscoring Gotham.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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I was like, dang, what did I say? I love it. Standing on business. Yes. I say so many things. I have no idea. Yeah, I think going up against Gotham plays in such a fun way that's Tactically, really interesting to watch. They play with a really high back line. Everybody's in front of the half, almost. You look at the last time they played Spirit.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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Trinity Rodman had a couple breakaways over the top. You had Ulay Sar, who sadly is out. But Ashley Hatch is just as fast. Britton Ratcliffe is just as fast, who can take advantage of the way Gotham plays. But then when they do have the ball, it's such a beautiful, poetic... They move it quickly. They're constantly switching positions. They have these crazy shots on goal.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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Estera doesn't know how to just score one goal. She scores a brace every time she's on the pitch. Like they have such a talented team and no starting lineup is the same. But I think that that can also hurt them, not just against the spirit, but against the potential Kansas City with a Shawinga or Orlando with Barbara Banda.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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well given their star power and the talent that they have what i guess like what will be gotham's achilles heel then their high back line i think uh any team if i'm looking at a scouting report and i'm one of the players that's thinking especially as a forward thinking about going against them i'm thinking as soon as we win it send a ball over the top and let's run
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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Most teams haven't had, Gotham hasn't had to necessarily respect them so much in the front line that they play against. And I think Spirit with Trinity Rodman, Ashley Hatch, Brittany Ratcliffe is a team that they will have to respect. And maybe, actually, you know, I know Juan Carlos.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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He's not going to adjust at all, but they're going to have to try to close down those passes that can go long from a Casey Krueger.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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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.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
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I mean, start one of their stars. I mean, you have Esther, who's brilliant at top. Ella Stephens had a great breakout season. I think Lynn Williams, you have Crystal Dunn, who could potentially play like Yasmeen Ryan. They have so many players that I think individually can cause chaos for Spirit's backline.