USWNT and OL Reign star Megan Rapinoe is hosting a documentary series called “Prodigy” on the new short form video streaming service Quibi.
The eight-episode series focuses on the lives of talented young athletes and the strength they drew from their families to succeed. The first three episodes feature basketball phenom Jalen Green, Olympic gold medal-winning snowboarder “Red” Gerard and five-time national champion boxer Chantel Navarro.
“I love watching sports, but it’s always the stories behind it,” Rapinoe said in an interview with People Magazine. “At the Olympics, I remember as a kid always watching every single backstory about all the athletes, then getting to watch the athlete you’re just so much more invested.”
Former Canadian keeper Karina LeBlanc separated from newborn after possible coronavirus exposure
Longtime Canadian women’s soccer goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc shared an emotional story of pregnancy in the midst of coronavirus on social media during the weekend. LeBlanc — who is the current head of women’s soccer for Concacaf — gave birth to her first daughter, Paris, on March 24.
After returning home, she began to face shortness of breath due to a pre-existing heart condition and when she returned to the hospital, LeBlanc said she was possibly exposed to the COVID-19 virus.
Due to this exposure, LeBlanc is currently self-quarantined in her own home, unable to make physical contact with her husband or her daughter.
“I can’t hold her, touch her, put her down for bed at night which is really difficult for a mom who has just given birth,” LeBlanc said.
LeBlanc received an outpouring of support from the soccer community on social media, and said this is helping her stay positive as she faces 10 more days of the self-quarantine.
https://twitter.com/karinaleblanc/status/1247201390394572801
Announcer Phil Schoen looks back on first MLS match
Monday marked the 25-year anniversary of the first MLS match between the San Jose Clash (now the San Jose Earthquakes) and D.C. United, and no one had the same vantage point as announcer Phil Schoen of the day.
Pro Soccer USA reporter Julian Cardillo took a look back at that day with Schoen, who recalled his favorite memories of the 1-0 San Jose victory, including the phone call inviting him to call the game and Eric Wynalda’s thrilling last-minute goal.
He also shared the importance of PBS in building up a television audience for soccer in the U.S. for both commentators and viewers before the start of MLS.
“I think it was ethereal in a sense, like it wasn’t really happening,” Schoen said. “When I showed up to the stadium, I felt great anticipation and excitement. I think all the fans did. There was this excitement of finally having a soccer league again.”
Read Schoen’s full recollection of the game here.
Orlando Pride conditioning coach finds creative ways to keep team mentally, physically healthy
With the NWSL training moratorium extended for another month, Orlando Pride strength and conditioning coach Ivi Casagrande is utilizing technology to find new ways to challenge her players through at-home workouts.
From GPS tracking units to group workouts over Zoom, Casagrande said she’s just as focused on maintaining her team’s emotional health as she is on their physical fitness throughout the league suspension.
“It goes beyond assigning them workouts,” Casagrande said. “It’s about controlling the things we can control. It’s about giving them these things in the middle of that chaos, that’s what these players need.”
Read the full story here.