Photo by: Rabale & Liebe / Martin Stein
#ProDeacs: NWSL, Frauen-Bundesliga, USL Super League Updates
8/23/2024 4:53:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Take a look at where the #ProDeacs stand as the NWSL resumes following the Olympics. Plus, previews for the Bundesliga and USL Super League.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – With the second half of the NWSL season resuming Friday and a few other ProDeacs getting their seasons underway elsewhere, here's a quick preview on what to expect from our Wake Forest women's soccer alums competing at the professional level.
NWSL Update
With 10 match days remaining, there is a tight race at the top of the NWSL table. Three ProDeacs are within seven points of the league leaders Orlando Pride. Bayley Feist and the KC Current, who recently qualified for the finals of the NWSL x LIGA MX Summer Cup, are just three points behind the leaders. Feist has made nine appearances for the Current this season with five starts, going the full 90 three times. She logged a goal in the 5-2 victory over Bay FC in April.
Aubrey Kingsbury has started all 16 matches for the Washington Spirit so far this season, who find themselves third in the league, four points back from the leaders. Kingsbury has kept three clean sheets in her last five league matches and has led her team to six wins in the last eight to close the gap to the top.
Three points behind the Spirit sits Katie Stengel and Gotham FC. Katie is coming off of a stellar showing in the Summer Cup and will be taking on Feist and the Current in the final on Oct. 25. Stengel bagged a brace in Gotham FC's final match of the group stage against Chivas and also tallied an assist as she played a role in all three Gotham goals on the night.
Another Demon Deacon that had a great summer was Hannah Betfort, who started all three Summer Cup group stage contests for Utah and scored in the final two. The first of which came in the fourth minute against Portland with a perfect first-time flick to the far post for her first goal in a Utah jersey. The Royals went on to win 3-1 as Betfort's tally earned her Player of the Match honors. She will look to continue the form into league play as she takes on Bay FC Friday night at 9:30 p.m.
Maddison Hammond has appeared in 14 of Angel City's 16 matches so far this season with seven starts and has recorded the third-highest pass completion percentage on the team (min. 10 matches). She took advantage of the opportunity in the Summer Cup, as she started and played every minute of the group stage and led the team with 10 tackles won throughout the three matches. She also registered an assist on the second goal against Club America as she poked the ball free from a defender into the path of a teammate in the box, who doubled the advantage in the 89th minute.
Ryanne Brown will unfortunately miss the remainder of the season for the Seattle Reign, but will look to bounce back better than ever next season.
Victoria Krug Set for Fourth Season with Leipzig
After helping the club get promoted for the first time in 2022, Victoria Krug and RB Leipzig will look to build off of a respectable eighth-place finish in their inaugural season in the top-flight of German soccer last campaign.
Last year, the defender started 21 of the club's 22 matches and was a crucial part of the back line. She led the squad in tackles (47), interceptions (56) and clearances (124) by a wide margin. Her 56 interceptions also ranked second in the entire league. Additionally, her 79.4 tackle success rate on dribblers ranked third in the league and highest of anyone with at least 30 attempts.
She enters 2024 as one of the undisputed best defenders in Germany and will look to once again take Leipzig to another level.
New League Kicks Off
Two Wake Forest alums battled against each last weekend in the inaugural match of the new USL Super League. Giovanna DeMarco and the Carolina Ascent hosted Mariah Lee and the DC Power. Carolina earned the first-ever USL Super League victory, 1-0, over the visitors at American Legion Memorial Stadium in front of a sold out crowd.
The two will be back in action this weekend, with Carolina taking on Lexington SC and DC facing off against the Tampa Bay Sun.
NWSL Table Following Matchweek 16
#ProDeacs Upcoming Slate (All times eastern)
NWSL Update
With 10 match days remaining, there is a tight race at the top of the NWSL table. Three ProDeacs are within seven points of the league leaders Orlando Pride. Bayley Feist and the KC Current, who recently qualified for the finals of the NWSL x LIGA MX Summer Cup, are just three points behind the leaders. Feist has made nine appearances for the Current this season with five starts, going the full 90 three times. She logged a goal in the 5-2 victory over Bay FC in April.
Aubrey Kingsbury has started all 16 matches for the Washington Spirit so far this season, who find themselves third in the league, four points back from the leaders. Kingsbury has kept three clean sheets in her last five league matches and has led her team to six wins in the last eight to close the gap to the top.
Three points behind the Spirit sits Katie Stengel and Gotham FC. Katie is coming off of a stellar showing in the Summer Cup and will be taking on Feist and the Current in the final on Oct. 25. Stengel bagged a brace in Gotham FC's final match of the group stage against Chivas and also tallied an assist as she played a role in all three Gotham goals on the night.
Another Demon Deacon that had a great summer was Hannah Betfort, who started all three Summer Cup group stage contests for Utah and scored in the final two. The first of which came in the fourth minute against Portland with a perfect first-time flick to the far post for her first goal in a Utah jersey. The Royals went on to win 3-1 as Betfort's tally earned her Player of the Match honors. She will look to continue the form into league play as she takes on Bay FC Friday night at 9:30 p.m.
Maddison Hammond has appeared in 14 of Angel City's 16 matches so far this season with seven starts and has recorded the third-highest pass completion percentage on the team (min. 10 matches). She took advantage of the opportunity in the Summer Cup, as she started and played every minute of the group stage and led the team with 10 tackles won throughout the three matches. She also registered an assist on the second goal against Club America as she poked the ball free from a defender into the path of a teammate in the box, who doubled the advantage in the 89th minute.
Ryanne Brown will unfortunately miss the remainder of the season for the Seattle Reign, but will look to bounce back better than ever next season.
Victoria Krug Set for Fourth Season with Leipzig
After helping the club get promoted for the first time in 2022, Victoria Krug and RB Leipzig will look to build off of a respectable eighth-place finish in their inaugural season in the top-flight of German soccer last campaign.
Last year, the defender started 21 of the club's 22 matches and was a crucial part of the back line. She led the squad in tackles (47), interceptions (56) and clearances (124) by a wide margin. Her 56 interceptions also ranked second in the entire league. Additionally, her 79.4 tackle success rate on dribblers ranked third in the league and highest of anyone with at least 30 attempts.
She enters 2024 as one of the undisputed best defenders in Germany and will look to once again take Leipzig to another level.
New League Kicks Off
Two Wake Forest alums battled against each last weekend in the inaugural match of the new USL Super League. Giovanna DeMarco and the Carolina Ascent hosted Mariah Lee and the DC Power. Carolina earned the first-ever USL Super League victory, 1-0, over the visitors at American Legion Memorial Stadium in front of a sold out crowd.
The two will be back in action this weekend, with Carolina taking on Lexington SC and DC facing off against the Tampa Bay Sun.
NWSL Table Following Matchweek 16
| Pos. | Team | GD | Points |
| 1 | Orlando Pride | +20 | 38 |
| 2 | KC Current | +18 | 35 |
| 3 | Washington Spirit | +14 | 34 |
| 4 | Gotham FC | +6 | 31 |
| 5 | Portland Thorns | +7 | 27 |
| 6 | North Carolina Courage | +3 | 25 |
| 7 | Chicago Red Stars | +1 | 23 |
| 8 | Bay FC | -9 | 18 |
| 8 | Racing Louisville | +1 | 16 |
| 9 | San Diego Wave | -5 | 15 |
| 10 | Angel City FC | -10 | 15 |
| 12 | Houston Dash | -12 | 14 |
| 13 | Seattle Reign | -12 | 11 |
| 14 | Utah Royals | -20 | 9 |
- Hannah Betfort - Utah Royals
- Next Match: vs. Bay FC (Friday, August 23, 9:30 p.m.)
- Katie Stengel - Gotham FC
- Next Match: vs. Portland Thorns (Saturday, August 24, 2:30 p.m.)
- Madison Hammond - Angel City FC
- Next Match: vs. San Diego Wave (Saturday, August 24, 4:30 p.m.)
- Mariah Lee - DC Power
- Next Match: vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC (Saturday, August 24, 7 p.m.)
- Aubrey Kingsbury - Washington Spirit
- Next Match: vs. Kansas City Current (Sunday, August 25, 12 p.m.)
- Bayley Feist - Kansas City Current
- Next Match: vs. Washington Spirit (Sunday, August 25, 12 p.m.)
- Giovanna DeMarco - Carolina Ascent
- Next Match: vs. Lexington SC (Sunday, August 25, 2:30 p.m.)
- Ryanne Brown - Seattle Reign
- Next Match: vs. North Carolina Courage (Sunday, August 25, 10 p.m.)
- Victoria Krug - RB Leipzig
- Next Match: vs. Köln (Sunday, Sept. 1, 12:30 p.m.)
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Players Mentioned
Midfielder
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Matt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
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