Wave can advance to the semifinals of the Concacaf W Champions Cup with a win on Wednesday – San Diego Union-Tribune

In a season marked by disappointments, unexpected departures and two coaching changes, the San Diego Wave still has something to offer.

No, no spot in the National Women's Soccer League playoffs. Their hopes all but ended on Sunday.

But the Wave can advance in the Concacaf W Champions Cup by defeating Club América Femenil when the teams meet at Snapdragon Stadium on Wednesday night. The international match starts at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Paramount+.

make progress. In fact, it's probably even more important considering that a year after winning the NWSL Shield, the Wave struggled to finish with the best regular season record in the league. San Diego is 5-12-7 in NWSL play this season — but 3-0 in Champions Cup Group B play that began in August. Club America is 2-1 in Group B; A win over the Wave would advance them based on a tiebreaker.

“Whether you play 90 consecutive minutes or come off the bench in every single game, it doesn’t matter, we all have to take it very seriously,” Wave midfielder Savannah McCaskill told reporters after Sunday’s game. a 2-0 loss to last-place Houston.

“And I think now that tonight is over, the goal is to win on a Wednesday. That is the top priority. That's what's on everyone's mind now and we want to win the group. That’s something we can say for this season, which is… that we won and that’s what the group will be aiming for on Wednesday.”

The Wave and Club América Femenil have already played once this season. The Mexican visitors won 2-0 at Snapdragon Stadium in late July as part of the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup, an exhibition series played during the NWSL's Olympic break.

San Diego played without Naomi Girma, Jaedyn Shaw, Kailen Sheridan, Delphine Cascarino, Kaitlyn Torpey and Emily van Egmond, all of whom competed in London. In addition, Kyra Carusa, Hillary Beall and Kennedy Wesley were out due to injuries. The club started Morgan Messner in goal while Sheridan and Beall were unavailable.