Casey Stoney calls USWNT February window an interruption to NWSL preseason

The US women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski named a 23-player roster for the SheBelieves Cup, forcing several NWSL clubs to navigate preseason without several key players.  

The February international window is currently interrupting the development of club teams, an ongoing issue NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman and the board of directors attempted to avoid by enforcing a new rule in 2023. 

Berman instructed teams to no longer release players to their national teams outside of designated FIFA windows, a policy that stands as common practice in several leagues but had not been previously enforced by the NWSL. USWNT players heavily pushed back on the ruling, according to The Equalizer, citing their need to be with their team to prepare for the World Cup. 

Given the upcoming international tournament, the NWSL changed course and granted the release of all players on February 6 for the current window. 

“It’s not ideal that the US players have gone away seven days before they even needed to, but there’s nothing we can do about that,” San Diego Wave head coach Casey Stoney said. “We’ve missed them for a week more than we needed to, but they’ve obviously got a big year ahead in the World Cup and I completely respect that.”

Stoney added that the Wave will provide players on international duty with access to video and learnings from camp to stay up to date “if they want to,” but also respects their need for space during these windows.

“I also leave them alone during international duties. It is key that they focus on their international teams. If they wanna reach out, they can. We just monitor how many minutes they’re playing, if they’re okay, if they need any support. We’re here if they need us,” she said. 

“And then it’s my job to focus on the players that are here, develop the players that are here, and then when those internationals return onboard them tactically what we’ve worked on so they don’t miss out on anything.”

The 2023 NWSL campaign kicks off on March 25, giving teams a month to prepare following the end of the international window.