Exclusive: Claire Hutton interview on Bay FC transfer | Unpacking Croix Bethune’s shock move to KC Current

(soft music) Throughout the process, I did consider going overseas. As I was going through it, talking to coaches, talking to sporting directors, GMs, Bayes really struck me as a place that they were ready to build. Meeting the owner, Alan Maxman, was really cool for me because he's such a cool guy to put it straight. And I'm just excited what they have for, like, are trying to create. And I'm just so excited to be a part of it. (soft music) Hello, everybody. A very warm welcome to Full Time. I'm your host, Juliet Sackvitz. What a wild week. Day, shall I say, in the NWSL? This is one I am going to remember for a very, very long time. I'll ask you, the listener, this question. Where were you? Where when US Women's National Team Midfielders, Claire Hahn and Croy with Thune, made lockbuster moves on the very same day, just hours apart. That's exactly what happened on this Wednesday. I'll tell you where I was. I was sitting right here in this very chair with my headphones on, my microphone on, getting set to record this podcast. And then boom, yes. So we have coming to you, rapid response, all the Intel, a one-on-one interview, and some very, very special Intel from one-on-one to Marigriffin of the Athletic. So here's what we got for you. Claire Hahn and two Bay FC from the Kansas City Current for a transfer fee of 1.1 million. And as if that wasn't enough, Croy with Thune, to the Kansas City Current from the Washington Spirit for $1 million. What do these moves mean for the players? What does it mean for their former clubs, for their new clubs, the league, and for the US Women's National Team? I'm going to be getting into all of that. It's going to be great. But before that, two celebrate Black History Month to Maranite have been getting into every episode with a little bit of Women's Soccer Black History. So your full-time Black History trivia question of the day is which legendary Black player is the NWSL's all-time leading goal score, 82 goals. Stay tuned, we'll reveal the answer, as always, at the very end of the show. And if you want to submit your own Black History trivia questions or let us know some fun facts you stumbled on, hit us up. You can DM us at TA full-time or shoot us an email at fulltimeathathletic.com. We'll be right back after this. [MUSIC PLAYING] OK, to help us break it all down, to help us make sense of it all, we're bringing now the athletics to Marigraphan. To Mara, you are rapidly firing away on that keyboard, also jumping in on the mic. How are you doing? You know, I'm actually doing well. I think this is a result of a very intentionally restful off season. And yes, we're getting back into the chaos. And today definitely feels like that cold splash of water on your face. But it's like cold plunge. I'm feeling like a cold plunge. I could just go out of a cold plunge where, yes, that was intense and a lot. But it kind of revved me up for the season. Like, I'm ready to get started. OK, so let's start with the coldest splash, I'd say. And that is Kroy Bethune, traded from the Washington Spirit to the Kansas City current. This all unfolded at 4 p.m. Eastern time, just as we were set to record this very podcast on Wednesday, February 11th, to Mara, what was your reaction? And what do you know? The reaction that I can safely say on this pod was, oh my gosh, but if you use your imagination, I'm sure you can figure out what my actual thought was or something in the realm of it, because I was preparing, as I know you were, to not even be talking about this. This was not on anybody's radar. I think that there was probably an implicit assumption that when it was clear that Trinity Rodman was going to stay with the Spirit, I mean her relationship with Kroy on and off the field is well-known, well-documented. It feeds families just from vibes alone. And that's before you even get to the sporting side. I think there was probably an expectation that Kroy would also stay, even if it was never quite spoken, I think it was sort of just implied. And so the fact that the shock for me is coming in sort of like two parts. First, the fact that she's leaving. And then I think if someone had pressed me and asked to Mara, if Kroy Bethune were to leave the Washington Spirit, where do you think she would go? I don't know that I would have chosen or predicted another NWSL team. I think I would have been more inclined to look abroad at the, I don't know, Manchester City, like somewhere in the WSL most likely. If pressed, but even then, I would have to sort of force my mind to go there. I just know how Kroy feels about living in DC, how she's felt about the club, how the club have felt about her, supporters, love her. It only takes one experience watching her play, I think to fall in love if you're like a football sicko. So I'm completely shocked. I think also when I consider where she's going in the Kansas City current, obviously 2025 NWSL shield winners who were knocked out earlier than most expected from the playoffs by eventual champions got the MFC, but they've also been going through a lot of changes. Black Kowan and Nowsky is no longer the head coach. Chris Armas, I think a lot of people rightfully have questions about considering his total lack of experience coaching a women's professional football team. There have been departures of players like Nishal Prince, Biazana Rado, Vanessa DiBornardo is still out on maternity leave, which does in one sense, pave the way for a player like Roy because they occupy the same position. But given the ceiling and sort of a scent of Kroybus soon, this is also not necessarily an NWSL club that again, if pressed, I would have had at the top of my list in terms of where I was predicting that she's going to go. But it's also the kind of move. This is my last point for now. I'm processing in real time, Jill, sorry. But this is also the kind of move that I think in the midst of so much change and turnover that we're seeing at the Kansas City current. And I know we're going to talk about Claire Hutton next among those departures. Kroy is the kind of player that even if whatever questions you might have had about a club, when they are able to acquire a player like her, it answers some of those questions without the club needing to do much more. Because Kroy is also a very, she's as measured off the field as far as I've known her as she is on the field. So I think if I'm a Kansas City supporter, I'm thinking, "Okay, I don't really know exactly what things are going to look like next season, but I do know that it's going to involve Kroy." And I think that that would put anybody at ease. So this is such a fascinating move. I'm sure that we will all continue to process and unpack it over the next week or so, but I'm completely shocked. The biggest surprise for me is, again, this could be hearsay. But in some of the stories that I very quickly consumed, it said sources say that this was player requested. And when you think about the fact that the Washington Spirit made it to an NWSL final, they have now locked up Trinity Rodman until 2028. It just seemed like it was the place to be to your point. I thought she'd be sitting there until she moved to expansion side, Atlanta, come 2028. So I think I can't wait to hear from Kroy Bethune on this. And that's the bad news is we don't have her. But the good news is we do have Claire Hutton that you had a very exclusive one on one with him. We're going to air that for everybody in just a little bit. So let's move on now to Claire Hutton. The commons denominator obviously in all of this is the Kansas City current. So Hutton moves on from the Kansas City current to Bay FC. Hutton signed with KC at 17 years old. So now at 20, she's moving on to just her second club. Why was this the right move for Hutton? This was also a surprising move for me. I mean, I had a bit more time to process it. Thankfully, because I was not only able to speak to Claire, but had the exclusive in a little bit more advanced notice than the Kroy news. But frankly, I was also surprised. And I think this is a very different scenario, of course, from Kroy with Claire, as you mentioned, KC is where she began her professional career. It's where she, for a time, was able to play alongside one of her best friends in Ali sent nor the two lived two units away from each other in the same apartment building, which is absolutely dreamy. Claire won the NWCL shield with Kansas City. It's where she also made her foray onto the senior US women's national team. 13 caps just in last calendar year. And clearly, a lot of potential that head coach Emma Hay sees in her. So there's a lot tied, I think, to the Kansas City current for Claire. But what she told me was that she was ready to take the next step in her career. And I think leading up to the news that she chose Bay FC, there was even more active swirling rumors that she might take her career abroad. As we've seen so many other US women's national team stars do in the last couple of years, thinking about Alyssa Thompson, thinking about Naomi Guierme, of course. But one of the things that Claire mentioned to me was that a word that she used a couple of times was alignment. alignment of values between herself and Bay as a club, alignment of dreams and aspirations that she has for herself between her and the club. She mentioned the relationship that she is already beginning to build with Bay of C's new head coach that they hired in December, Emma Coates, who's joining Bay of C from having coach the England U23s, which is also a very interesting storyline. Her first time in the NWSL, her first time in a long time, coaching a women's professional side. But Claire told me that in Emma Coates, she sees a fellow soccer nerd. And I think especially for a midfielder who's a soccer nerd, to be able to connect with the manager who's also a soccer nerd is usually a match made in heaven, at least in theory. She and other Bay of C players that I've spoken with recently have talked about Coates's approach to football, which paints a picture of some very fluid, free-flowing, like stylistic approach that Claire said gives a lot of agency to players in terms of making their own decisions, commanding the ball. She's a defensive midfielder who was massive for Kansas City last season, the best defense in the league. So I think in terms of what Bay can expect to receive, not only more help in the midfielder, which I think that they had sorely missed last season, but also help with defense. She is a young player with such a high ceiling. I have continually enjoyed watching our play and develop. And one of the things that Emma Coates said in the release once the announcement was live was that she was drawn to Hutton's desire to even get better, which as we've discussed on previous podcasts here is major heading into the eve of a world cup year. So this one also surprised me a lot for very different reasons, but lots of midfielder movement today. I am barely hanging onto my wig. Okay, so you mentioned the world cup. So I want to get into the implications of what this means for their respective roles, with the USWM's national team and Emma Hayes. But to your point, yes, I'd say on paper, obviously the Claire Hutton De Bay move seems a little bit more like a leap of faith. This is a team that has really struggled. It's a coach we don't know a lot about. Whereas when you look at the Thune, you think, okay, yes, Chris Aramis is there now, but but they're structured to this team. This is a team that shattered every record on the planet last season before falling short in the playoffs. And she's teaming up with people like Tim Waschewing. So it seems like a no brainer. Whereas Bay at 20 years old for Hutton, that seems a little bit, it seems a little bit more bold and risky. And of course, only time will tell. So let's move on to the USWM's national team because both of these players very much hope and plan to be big part of that World Cup roster in Brazil come 2027. How do you think that these moves affect or can affect or will affect each player? That's such a good question. I'll start with Claire because to your point, which I think is a great one, on paper, her move to Bay seems a little bit more like a leap of faith. And one that was clearly informed by conversations that we have not been privy to with the club, with the owner, Alan Waxman, with Emma Coates. Claire has actually played with a few of the Bay FC players who are already on the roster like Onyekig Amaro, who is active now back to full health following her time with Barcelona B. So I am very curious to see from just a general Bay perspective how all of these pieces are going to come together in a lot of ways because there is so much newness. Part of me is wondering if it's going to look a little bit like their very first season where they did make the playoffs. It's important to point out as they work to sort of gel these pieces. But I'm also wondering from a USWM national team perspective, when I think about, let's just say, for example, that base struggle, a bit this season to fit those pieces together. I think about players like Avery Patterson, who plays for the Houston dash, who yes, did have a very interesting season and were making a very respectable playoff push toward the end. But missed out. Avery Patterson, it didn't seem like in terms of her getting called up to the USWM national team that that affected her too much. So I do think from Emma Hayes' perspective, there is sort of like a bifocal analysis happening where, of course, club form from a club performance perspective is going to factor into her selections. But she's also evaluating players individually. And when I think about the sort of common denominator between the Emmas, Coats and Hayes being the FA, of course they're going to have different styles. But I do wonder if Coats' plans for Bay style of play could suit what Emma Hayes might be needing of Claire Hutton for the national team. So it's possible that this works out regardless of how Bay season goes. And based on my conversation with Claire, she considered many options, including those abroad. And she's always struck me similar to Croy Batoon actually as a very grounded, very thoughtful person, which makes me inclined to trust her decisions, of course. So ultimately remains to be seen. But I'm feeling glass-helpful about it for Claire for sure. And then with Croy, in some ways, I think there is also a bit that remains to be seen. But that's looking specifically at Kansas City's roster at the moment because as I mentioned earlier, they've lost a lot of attacking players. They've now lost Claire Hutton as well. They have a new head coach. Yes, Blackwann and Offsky is still very much involved but from a higher up or front office perspective. They've got a bit of work to do. They lost Alex Fiverr who's actually now at Bay with Claire Hutton. And of course, I'm very excited to see Croy and Lola Bonta build a partnership together. I think if you hear the name Croy Batoon and Tamasha Wingen the same sentence, wearing the same teal jersey and don't feel emotional, you might need to go get something checked because that is going to be lethal. It's going to be lethal. But similar thing, I think in terms of the players around Croy, I'm still waiting to see what Kansas City is going to do in terms of filling out their personnel. But Croy is one of the most adaptable high caliber high performing players, not just mid-shoulder but players that I've seen in a very, very long time. So I'm not even really worried about that. And I think that now that she is getting more called getting called up more regularly to the US Women's National team. Same thing, Emma Hayes has made it very clear how often she's in communication with national team players and the players have always been clear and open about how clear Hayes is with them about their expectations. So I think now that we're firmly in 2026, every single player who has even half of a shot of making that World Cup roster understands the assignment in the most literal sense. So when it comes to getting onto that roster, yes, where you are as a club matters. But I am going to be curious to see how much club form matters as opposed to individual performance. And these are two players whose individual performance is I rarely worry about at the end of the day. So you mentioned kind of how adaptable Croy Bethune has had to be when she was 2024, rookie of the year, the year she also won mid-fielder of the year. We have to remember she tore her maniscus and then twice tore her ACL in college and has come back to rally, perform and be dominant each and every time. So that kind of speaks to the player that Croy Bethune is. So I just want to kind of leave that there. And I also want to leave one more thing here. We've gotten some incredible comments already all over this news. The first one being, no, Croy was one of my favorite spirit players. I will be looking forward to a healthy trend and Croy playing together this season. I will miss her sellies and her creativity on the pitch that coming from M. I'm so devastated. We love Croy for the spirit. Wish her all the best in KC except when playing against the spirit from M. And then a good one off blue sky. Washington spirit fans are grieving. Bay FC fans are elated and Kansas City current fans are experiencing both extremes simultaneously. That blue sky skit coming from Andrew. And here's what we do know about how Trinity Rodman feels about it. Her posting to her Instagram. I'm sad, my baby with a picture of Croy Bethune. But we'll see what that holds for perhaps more blockbuster moves coming from the Washington spirit because, you know, Trinity Rodman, it isn't going to be doing it all. Who's she going to be doing it alongside with spirit? We will have to find out. But now time for the drum roll for the big one on one, Tamara, please take it away. T. up this interview that you had with Miss Hyde. Yes. To help bring a little bit more context to the news that we've already discussed, I had a great sit down conversation with now Bay FC and US Women's National Team midfielder, Claire Hutton. Yeah, I'm a Bay Area native. So even more, more added significance to this interview. But just to get started, can you sort of walk me through your decision process? Before we get into the specifics of Bay, I'm curious how you knew that it was time to start thinking about making a move and sort of what the journey has been like. Because this is a big one for you. Yeah, definitely. I think just to start giving like thanks to Kansas City the past two years, just starting my professional career has been amazing and it was like more than I could have asked for a dream to have. And then kind of with that, I think I am ready to take another step in my career. And that's kind of where me deciding to go to Bay was the right decision for that. Throughout the process, I did consider going overseas. I looked at some domestic clubs and as I was going through it, talking to coaches, talking to sporting directors, GMs, Bayes really struck me as a place that they were ready to build and wanted to create an identity for them that was known domestically worldwide and just something that I aligned with instead for. And meeting the owner, Alan Maxman was really cool for me because he's such a cool guy to put it straight. And I'm just excited what they have for like, are trying to create. Yeah, I'm thinking about the significance of this transition to, I mean, beginning your career, your professional career in Kansas City and everything that we've been seeing them build over the past couple of years. Obviously with the stadium being a huge factor, CBKC stadium, all of those sell-out crowds, everything that they have been doing in terms of academy and development. And then for you to, you know, be beginning your career there and then making this move to Bay, very new expansion team, very much and like very openly. And then I'm thinking about the building process. So I know you mentioned the cool points that you were giving last one. I'm curious like what specifically about his vibe made him seem so cool to you. But I'm also curious specifically what was it that you saw from Bay of Sea that maybe you weren't necessarily seeing in other clubs, but what resonated with you in terms of, this is where I can also go to build. Yeah, starting with Alan, I think when I was talking with him, I really wanted to make sure that top to bottom with that club everything was aligned and talking to him, just hearing how he looked at teamwork, leadership, development and just like a positive culture. I think for me was really cool because you do have a club, as you said, that's starting. It's new. It's in that development process, but as long as you have the right people behind it, it can only go in a good direction. And with that, there's an investment that needs to be made. And I think for me personally throughout my career, I've always one tried to bet on myself into I have known that an investment needs to go both ways. So talking with Bay and hearing that they are invested in me and are going to put forth their best foot makes me want to also do the same. And I have big dreams and I know they do too, so that is a huge alignment and then talking with Emma Coats, she's fantastic. I mean, she's just, I would just say a soccer geek, a soccer nerd and I'm very similar. So we were sitting at a table just going over tactics very simply and she really wants to give players the power to make decisions and players the power to demand and control the game. And I think that's very important and for her, I think it's very special as a coach because you're coming into the end of the day, which is such a competitive league. But at the end of the day, if you don't give your players the power to learn and to grow their soccer IQ and challenge them in those ways, they're not going to learn as a full, full like developmentally soccer players. So I think the group of girls that I'm coming into, it's a very young squad, but hungry. I played with a few of them growing up. I'm excited to be reunited with Anyeka. We played in the U17 national system together. Alex was at Kansas City, Jordan Silkewitz, and there's a handful of others that I just know their mentality and what they want to accomplish for themselves and the team or exactly a line with what I want and knowing that I'm surrounded by people that will just keep pushing me up. And I can push them. It's I'm excited. It's going to be, it's going to be an amazing couple of years. It's so funny that you mentioned Anyeka because I met her for the first time in Los Angeles at end of Usel media day. And she also had a lot to say about Emma Cotes and the plans that she has for Bay. And it sounds like we can expect a lot of creativity and fluidity based on what Anyeka said and sort of backed up by what you're saying now too. So that's really exciting. And I'm also thinking, I mean, I've spoken with you previously, but only really in a U.S. women's national team capacity at camps or in mixed zones. And I just recall this theme of you adjusting to different Emma Hayes is new tactics and steep learning curves, especially last year. And I'm just wondering, I'm thinking about how young you are. Do you kind of feel that given your age, but given the experience that you've already gained in your relatively short professional and senior U.S. women's national team career, does it kind of feel like you're in a season of like, let me take on as many changes as possible while I'm still young while I'm still sort of adaptable. I'm also thinking about that in terms of, you know, the 2027 World Cup, of course, 2028 Olympics, 2031 World Cup. How are you sort of pacing your own career and growth and taking on new challenges in the context of these big dreams that you have? Especially with the very exciting major tournaments that are coming up. Yeah, definitely. So I would say obviously, I'm someone that always loves to challenge myself in different ways. And I do think living in a bigger city, being with a new team, all that in itself is a huge challenge that I'm going to have to face. But again, like the culture at Bay is so good that I feel like I'm going to be surrounded by just extremely helpful people that want to see me at my best. So as much as it is a challenge, I think there's going to be a lot of stability within it just because of the culture environment there. And also the timing of this move, I think for me is, it was very good because it'll give me a bit of consistency, hopefully, as I work my way into the roster for next year. And being able to be around players that also are dreaming to be on that roster, it's exciting. So I think for me, obviously, yeah, it's a challenge. But at the same time, I'm really excited for this move because I think it's going to push me to fulfill my personal dreams and goals. But then also hopefully to win championships. 400%. Yeah, and I feel like for an elite athlete, a challenge is sort of like an irresistible. If you don't have enough challenges in your life, then you probably start to feel a little bit uncomfortable because you need something to be striving for. So that makes a lot of sense. And I recognize that this is the furthest you've ever lived from home. I know that you're from New York and you've sort of been like making your way west. I know. Is there anything in particular that you're looking forward to when it comes to living in California, living in the Bay Area, as a Bay Area Native, of course. I'm biased about the culture that we have here. You know, the weather is a lot kinder than it can be sometimes in Kansas City to say the least. But what have you been thinking about in terms of like off the field and the lifestyle changes that are ahead of you now? Yeah, I can't wait to live near Big City. I think where I grew up in New York, I lived in upstate. So I was a near-nearic city. I've been a few times, but I think just being a city girl in my 20s is going to be really fun. The food I've heard is amazing over there. I love Asian cuisine. So I'm super excited for that. And I've heard that like all of that is delicious. I also have some really good friends. One of my best friends actually goes to Stanford. So yeah, so I'm going to live close to her, which is nice. So yeah, it's just kind of going to, I feel like already it's going to be a home away from home. And I'm super excited. There's going to be a big airport there. So it'll be easy to get home, which I can't tell myself if I wanted to take a red eye. And we've got a few days off. That'll be doable. So yeah, as much as it is such a change in farther away, I do think it's going to be accessible and just super supportive of what I've said before. And you mentioned the other teams that you are considering moving to both in the NWSL and abroad. I'm wondering if you can just sort of reflect on what it means to have even had all of these options to decide from. I know especially in the last year, there has been a lot of conversation about NWSL players, those who are from the US playing for the US Women's National Team going abroad. Your fellow midfielder Sam Coffee, most recently, of course, in addition to Kat and Naomi Alyssa. What do you make of what that sort of says about the women's game at this point? And again, you being so young, being able to even make these kinds of decisions. Yeah, I think it just shows you how competitive women's soccer is getting and not only in Europe, not only in the US, but I think both. There's always going to be the discussion and debate whether playing in Europe or playing in the US is more competitive, better, more developmental. For me, personally, I've had such a great experience in the NWSL. I think there's amazing players over here not to take away from the European league because I do eventually have dreams to play over there. But as I was going through the process and looking and just thinking about timing as well in the cycle with the World Cup and the Olympics, I've personally staying here and just hopefully consistently getting minutes and being domestic is going to be in my best interest. It does take a lot. I think I've had conversations with some of the international or international players about what it's like traveling overseas to go to camps and how that can take a toll on you and I think my big thing for this year is consistency and that's kind of where my focus is at and I really feel like I'm gonna get that at bay. I've had discussions with Emma about it as well. Yes, Emma. He's about it. And she's given me pros and cons of both and really is such a level head as I went through this process. So I am so grateful to have heard a talk about all of it and yeah, I feel like with everything I knew and going into it and trying to keep an open mind when I was talking to end of a cell clubs, European clubs. I feel like this decision really suited me the best. This is such a grounded. I'm always struck every time I talk to you by how grounded you are given how not to keep coming back to your age, but it really is striking how like grounded you are and I'm just curious where that comes from. Yeah, I would definitely say my parents. They're just two of the best people you'll ever meet. I think for them, they've always told me it's bigger than the sport. It's funny. I was listening the other day to want to Emma's press conferences and she made a comment about footballs bigger than football and I think my parents did a really good job as I was growing up teaching me about that and that there's so much more to life than just kicking a ball around and even as I talk to them I'm packing my apartment up now. They're a little bit stressed out about it. They just keep telling me, "Go get ice cream." Like it's not that serious. Yeah, you're moving, but I think there's nothing to stress about. You're doing what you love every day. So just with that and then I have two brothers who they'll let me know. They'll keep me grounded as well. I had an interview last year. Brothers are good for that. Oh my gosh. Yes, I didn't interview last year and they were like asking me about like opportunities I had and I was like, "Yeah, I'm sure I'm gonna get back to my phone and get a text from my little brother telling me that the ball swiss to go in the net." So yeah, so I have my family just they're my rock and really just helped me through it all. It's so nice to be able to have that support especially because as the women's game continues to grow as the price tags go up as there's more visibility more lucrative broadcast deals. I can imagine the pressure that that also brings and so being able to absorb that and being able to lean on your family is invaluable. So I'm really glad that you have that. I'm also thinking about how that connects to you stepping into maybe more of a leadership role. I definitely have seen this happen. At the country level when you got to captain the US Women's National team. And I'm always really intrigued by the level of experience that younger players are getting because they are going pro earlier in life. So someone like you who are, you know, going to be playing alongside players who may be older than you and age, but maybe don't have as much experience in the NW cell as you do. So I'm curious just generally how you're thinking about sort of growing in that capacity. It seems like that's something that you are ready to embrace. Yeah. Um, I would just say like it's something that I try to take on as well and I'm trying to be mindful of. I've had so many conversations with Lindsay here and she's kind of, her Lindsey heaps, I guess she's right. I didn't even catch it. I know she's become kind of like a big sister to me and I've talked a lot with her about just kind of like what responsibilities come with taking steps when you're younger and taking steps into uncomfortable situations. So just leadership aside, I think just being able to embrace where I am at the moment now and know that I've As I've said a million times in this interview, people around me that are going to support me. It's it's exciting for me and just a challenge that I'm ready to step into and know that I have people to lean on no matter how good. Yeah, let's go back to Bay a little bit because one of the things that has struck me about both the positives that I think I was able to take from last season, which you know, I think is no secret was a struggle. I think for Bay. In addition to the signings that they've made in the off season, including Emma Coates. But I find myself continually drawn to the midfield with players like Taylor Huff, for example, these young sort of like high sea. I think they're just like a lot of people who are playing in the midfields and they're just like a lot of people are playing in the midfields. And I'm just curious in addition to all of the other things that you are considering. Whether that sort of resonated with you too, it seems like there's a lot of like momentum and sort of firepower growing from that position specifically. I'm just to start with that. I've never played with any of the midfielders on the team right now. I had one camp my first ever national team camp. Hannah B. Bar was there. So I got to know her a bit and she's just a great person. Super smart. And I think that goes for all of them. I think it's a very talented group of girls. And as I said, everybody's super hungry. I think all of our qualities are going to reflect on each other. And as Emma said as well, Emma Coates. I know right. She wants to play a fluid attacking style of football and have possession. So I think the talent that we have and that we're able to fill roles and be fluid within that, whether we're playing in a three midfield with a single pivot, double pivot. We change into a box. All those players, if you look at them, can contribute in their own special ways to each and every position. So I think just with that and knowing that I'm going to have players around me that want to play good football and want to combine, go forward, who are willing to do the dirty work as well. It all stems really in the midfield because a lot of times you'll hear that's the engine of a team. That's where the heart of the team beats. So I'm hoping just stepping in with these girls that we can help carry the team, help. Defend, help attack and just create a good overall performance as a team. And C.P. Casey Stadium, of course, is iconic and historic in its own right. But again, bias Bay Area native Bay of C Paypal Park energy is definitely carrying its own reputation building its own reputation even as a newer team in the NWSL. I know that you've played there before, but how are you sort of thinking about making that shift in terms of energy in terms of playing in a totally different home crowd, different culture in the Bay. Is that something that you're looking forward to? I can't wait. I have played at Bay Stadium. I think three times now, two times in the NFL, one time internationally and every time I'm always blown away just by the fan base and how much people support. I think by itself, just do such a great job advertising for the team. And you can feel the backing behind it just as in Kansas City, there's a great fan base. And I am so thankful that I've gotten to experience that the past two years. I'm so excited just to see what the Bay has to offer because again, it is a bigger city and you're going to get a lot more drawn people from different areas and different types of people. So just to be able to like reach out to the community and see what they have to offer and to show what I have to offer to them is I'm ecstatic for it. I think it's going to be so fun. Yeah, we love sports in the Bay. You've got the Volkery is also new women's basketball team who've been doing amazingly also in their expansion season. And just to not to spoil it too much, but there is definitely a lot of like cross pollination between sports. You'll see people at Bay of Sea Games with Volkery's gear. You'll see people with, you know, at Volkery's Games with Bay of Sea gear and like it just spreads. So I do think that'll be really, really cool for you to experience. Is there anything that I haven't asked you Claire that you think is important for people to know about this decision, this move, what you're looking forward to when you arrive in the Bay? Um, I think the biggest thing is just the dual investment that I'm excited to continue and bring forth and just the investment that the ownership of the club has put into it and how the coaching staff is just so excited to get out into the field. I think it's very similar with the players. I've talked to a handful of them and there's just a joint communion version of just excitement that people are ready to start the season and I can't wait to get on the field with them. I just thought of one last question I would be remiss to not ask because one of my colleagues a few months ago wrote a story about your friendship, of course, with Ali sent Nora who at the time when you were both at Kansas City. So I'm just curious, like, purely from a bestie standpoint. Like as someone who has definitely had to move away from besties before and gone through that thing, how was that part of this decision? I know it was obviously very separate from the sporting side. But I'm just curious. Yeah, I mean, it's so tough. I mean, we've talked about it for years about playing on the same team and just being able to live. We live two apartments from each other right now. So the fact that yeah, yeah. So the fact that we're not going to be able to walk over to each other's place and watch the movie or make dinners. It's sad because we've talked about it for so long. But I think the coolest part about our friendship is that no matter what we always support each other. And we've talked about it before of like even more at national team camps like we're always going to be best friends, but we have our own groups and no matter what close a far same team different team. We're always rooting for each other and want the most success for each other. each other. So it's just part of that friendship and I guess growing up, which is a bummer, but I don't know. It's tough and I'm definitely going to miss her, but I know Allie's going to do great things this year and we'll cross pass multiple times and it'll be like we've never left. I have no doubt. And it's always nice when you're in each other's city, you can go get dinner, like, after a game and hang out sort of extends your sense of home when you get to do that. It's definitely better sweet. I completely understand. But like I said, I was curious because it is definitely a part of like the the arc of a best friendship. But it's cool that you guys were able to overlap in Kansas City. Yeah, definitely. I promise that was actually my last question. But thank you so much for your time, especially in the midst of a crazy move. Best of luck with all of the packing. And I'm very excited to see you in the bay. Are you going to be here? It's time for media day on Thursday. I know that. I'm leaving 7 a.m. tomorrow. I'll be there. Oh wow. Okay. Well, the coffee, if you're a coffee drinker in the Bay Area is it's up there. Before we get out of here at the top of the show, we asked what legendary black player in the NWSL is the all time leading goal score at a whopping 82 goals. And that is Lynn B. Andola who amassed the total scoring goals for the Western New York flash the North Carolina Courage got the MFC and her current club of the Seattle break that total of 82 goals is drawn from all NWSL official competitions. So the regular season, the playoffs, the challenge cup and the summer cup. If you include the 2020 NWSL fall series, then being dole those overall total is at 85, but that may be a good thing. Thanks so much as always for listening to us on full time. We'd love to hear from you. So as always, you can shoot us an email at fulltime at the athletic.com or shoot us a DM over on our Instagram or TikTok accounts that is at T.A. Did you know the athletic has partnered with Yahoo Sports to provide free best in class coverage of women's sports? That's right. So go check out the women's sports hub at sports. That's it for our very special episode today. My name is Jillian Zachovitz and there's no way that this episode would happen without our full time producer Theo Lloyd Hughes, our video producer Leah Griffin and our executive producer Emily Olsen. Thanks so much for listening and we'll see you next week. [MUSIC]