Q&A with Simone Charley
Checking in with the former Commodore star during the NWSL Challenge Cup
Welcome to the Music City Sports Report.
For today’s newsletter, I interviewed former Vanderbilt soccer star and current Portland Thorns forward Simone Charley.
Charley and the Thorns played in the opening match of the NWSL Challenge Cup on June 27, which was aired on CBS, making it the first-ever professional women’s soccer league match shown on a major broadcast network in America. Charley scored the Thorns’ lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the two-time defending NWSL champion North Carolina Courage.
Today, the Thorns close out the group stage with a must-win game against the OL Reign at 11:30 am.
I asked Charley about the Challenge Cup, her time as a Commodore, Vanderbilt’s new athletic director, the growth of women’s soccer in America, and more.
Q: How did it feel to not only play in but score during the first-ever professional women’s soccer league match to be shown on a major broadcast network in America?
A: I really enjoyed being back out there on the pitch! It has been a whirlwind few months with everything going on right now, so it was nice being able to get back to playing. Being able to score was icing on the cake for me. It was definitely a special moment that I will never forget!
Q: With the NWSL being the first major sports league back in the US, there are a lot of new eyeballs on the league. How do you think this will help grow the game of women's soccer in America?
A: This is definitely a special opportunity for the league to garner more support and increase viewership. With the success of the U.S. Women’s National Team, this is a cool opportunity to capitalize on an already growing soccer fan base while showcasing the talented female athletes across the league. With being the first league playing, we have a unique spotlight and opportunity to draw attention that we may not normally have when there are other sports playing. This unique opportunity is great for the league as more people are tuning in and becoming new NWSL fans!
Q: You had some powerful words on social media about the #BLM Movement. Is it encouraging to see that the younger generation seems to be motivated to make actual change happen?
A: While it has been motivating seeing people be more willing to take steps towards change, I am more concerned about the momentum being sustained over time. Racism is so ingrained in society that it is going to take more than people merely vocalizing their support or being cognizant of their actions for a few weeks to combat it. Creating the lasting change that needs to happen is going to take a sustained effort. This is not something that will change overnight. While I am encouraged by the momentum, I am still skeptical and will remain so until the changes that need to be made continue once the trendiness has faded.
Q: As a former Commodore, what are your feelings on Candice Lee becoming the new Vanderbilt AD?
A: I am beyond ecstatic that Candice Lee is the new Vanderbilt Athletic Director! I could not think of anyone more fit and prepared for the job. I am excited to see the amazing things that she will do for Vanderbilt Athletics!
Q: During your playing days at Vanderbilt, what was your fondest on-the-pitch memory?
A: I would say one of my favorite Vanderbilt soccer memories was my junior year. We beat the University of South Carolina in overtime. They were ranked No. 8 in the country at the time, and that win is what put us in the SEC Tournament for the first time in almost a decade. I remember being in the dog pile after the game, and coach Darren chanting “WE ARE GOING TO ORANGE BEACH!” as we all hugged on the field.
Q: You were also a track star at Vandy - do you ever break out the triple jump skills in training or even just for fun?
A: It has definitely been a while since I last triple jumped! Last season we used to do triple jump for our plyometric workouts…That was always a fun day for me. Maybe one day I will dust the spikes off and see if I still have a couple jumps in me!
Links
Welp, Nashville SC’s time in the MLS is Back Tournament was over before it started. (I guess my tournament guide was slightly premature). The team joined FC Dallas as one of two clubs barred from entering the tournament due to COVID-19 infections amongst the team. The Tennessean’s Drake Hills did some thorough reporting on what happened and why. It was a tough call by the MLS, but the right one. On the bright side, NSC defender Jalil Anibaba, a board member for the BPCMLS, is heavily featured in this roundtable discussion in The Athletic.
USA Today posted a story this past week on the likelihood of the MLB coming to Nashville soon. Former Tennessean reporter and current USA Today reporter Joey Garrison pointed out that no one from Nashville was actually quoted in the piece.
The Grizzlies are officially in the Orlando bubble. The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington is already chronicling every step of the journey.
Former UT Lady Vols star Kara Lawson was hired as the new coach of the Duke women’s basketball team. That’s a great hire for the Blue Devils.
In an unprecedented move, Vanderbilt eliminated their athletics communications department. As someone who works in athletic communications, it is unbelievable that not only a Division I school, but an SEC school would do that.
From David Ubben in The Athletic: A war, a pandemic and a century-long dispute: Tennessee’s lost football seasons.
Former Blackman and Vanderbilt star David Price joined the growing list of players who have chosen to opt out of the 2020 MLB season, leaving the Dodgers with just three other Nashvillians.
Marquase Lovings was named the interim head coach for Austin Peay football.
The Draft Network’s Benhamin Solak on Rashaan Evans’ impressive year two growth.
The Titans sent out a letter to season ticket holders on what to expect for the upcoming season when it comes to fan attendance.