dale wave playlist: roster edition

Look, this post should definitely be about Taylor Flint being traded. I had convinced myself I should save it for the season preview post, but it definitely deserves its own post. Anyway, who needs serious news when you can read this and listen to cool music!

Welcome to our first playlist. We put together a playlist based on where players were born, went to school, or any connections we could find, and paired them with musicians from the same places and connections. Some were exact cities, some were similar states or countries, and some we reached for connections because we can. The descriptions below each player lists the music connection or reason we chose the song. Mostly it’s just music we enjoy and a fun way of sharing it with you folks. Spoiler: there’s definitely at least one more of these in the works for March.

note: we only did players we expect on the final roster.

Casey Stoney, England // The Last Shadow Puppets - standing next to me

Like the band and album, Stoney is cool, English and stands next to the pitch during games. Pretty straight forward.

Kailen Sheridan, Canada // Kaytraminé - letstalkaboutit

What advanced stats won’t tell you about goalkeepers is that the position relies on 80% skill and 20% vibes/attitude (fictional numbers don’t look this up). We had to pick a Canadian artist with music that brings top-tier vibes and the Kaytranada-Aminé narrowly beat out Caribou here.

Christen Westphal, Ohio // Isley Brothers - baby don’t do it

Our beloved right back and frequent Cruyffian cutter has defenders saying baby don’t do it with her turns down the wing.

Naomi Girma, San Jose/Ethiopia // Girma Bèyènè - enkèn yèlélèbesh

I immediately wanted to go with Tigres Del Norte because duh and because I could not think of any other music from San Jose. But I decided to type Girma into Spotify and this artist from Ethiopia came up. So Naomi Girma is the best defender in the world, does important work in mental health for athletes and now leads us to incredible music on an international scale WHAT CAN’T SHE DO! Anyway, highly recommend the entire album, great stuff.

Abby Dahlkemper, Lancaster, PA // Harry Styles - as it was

Stay with me here: Dahlkemper was born where we listed but grew up in the Bay Area. There is a musician from there named Madi Diaz who joined Harry Styles’ band for Love on Tour so that’s where Styles fits here. Research! Plus, every playlist needs to carry a pop song banger and this track moves mountains.

Kristen McNabb, New Jersey // Yo La Tengo - today is the day

YLT is top-tier music from NJ and honestly just want to link this random performance on McEnroe.

Kennedy Wesley, Santa Monica // Massive Attack feat. Hope Sandoval - paradise circus

This one was easy. Of course we’re going to include the Santa Monica native and beloved Mexican-American hero of Mazzy Star. And everyone loves Mazzy Star.

Hanna Lundkvist, Sweden // The Radio Dept. - why won’t you talk about it

The band is from Lund, Sweden. Hanna has Lund in her name and is also from Sweden. Wow! Anyway, these guys make the nicest sounding music with the absolute dirtiest, fuzziest guitars. Here’s hoping we talk plenty about Lundkvist’s impact in her first season with the Wave.

Kaitlyn Torpey, Australia // The Presets - girl and the sea

Look at this perfect matchup of song title, band, and topic at hand. Might be the most fitting in the entire playlist honestly. This intro though–just peak early aughts dance track minimalism. Make sure you get a little neck stretch in before putting this one on, it’s about a 5-minute bopper.

Danielle Colaprico, New Jersey // Titus Andronicus - arms against atrophy

Colaprico kicks ass and so does this song.

Sierra Enge, San Diego // Hong Kong F*** You - peace and silence

While based in Tijuana, they have members from San Diego. Whether Enge plays in the midfield or as reserve center back, we want her causing anything but peace and silence on the pitch.

Emily van Egmond, Australia // The Avalanches - subways

Real greatness is dropping a classic album and waiting 16 years to release a follow up. EvE is entering her 16th season as a professional baller and we’re hoping it’s as memorable as her game-tying goal in the 2022 playoffs. And of course a healthier season than 2023.

Mel Barcenas, San Diego // Thee Sacred Souls

No song, just the entire band. As Barcenas is must-watch tv any time she’s on the ball, Thee Sacred Souls (best band to ever come out of San Diego by the way!) are a must-listen with anything they release.

 ̶K̶e̶l̶s̶e̶y̶ ̶T̶u̶r̶n̶b̶o̶w̶,̶ ̶A̶r̶i̶z̶o̶n̶a̶̶ // J̶i̶m̶m̶y̶ ̶E̶a̶t̶ ̶W̶o̶r̶l̶d̶ ̶-̶ ̶s̶w̶e̶e̶t̶n̶e̶s̶s̶

̶O̶n̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶I̶’̶m̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶w̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶u̶p̶c̶o̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶s̶o̶n̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶w̶e̶e̶t̶n̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶s̶e̶ T̶u̶r̶n̶b̶o̶w̶ ̶l̶e̶f̶t̶ ̶f̶o̶o̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶c̶r̶o̶s̶s̶e̶s̶.̶ ̶I̶n̶s̶t̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶d̶a̶n̶g̶e̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶.̶

Elyse Bennett, Chicago // Noname - rainforest

So many to choose from here. I wish I knew more about the local house music scene to share but I do not. Noname gets the nod because she rules and you should listen.

 ̶T̶a̶y̶l̶o̶r̶ ̶F̶l̶i̶n̶t̶,̶ ̶N̶e̶v̶a̶d̶a̶ ̶ // S̶u̶r̶f̶ ̶C̶u̶r̶s̶e̶ ̶-̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶t̶h̶e̶r̶s̶

̶ ̶A̶n̶y̶ ̶e̶x̶c̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶p̶i̶z̶z̶a̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶e̶r̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶i–̶e̶r̶r̶ ̶s̶u̶r̶f̶ ̶r̶o̶c̶k̶.̶ ̶F̶l̶i̶n̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶b̶o̶r̶n̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶M̶i̶c̶h̶i̶g̶a̶n̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶g̶r̶e̶w̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶N̶e̶v̶a̶d̶a̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶g̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶u̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶f̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶o̶p̶p̶o̶r̶t̶u̶n̶i̶t̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶i̶n̶c̶l̶u̶d̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶u̶r̶f̶ ̶r̶o̶c̶k̶ ̶b̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶R̶e̶n̶o̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶n̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶i̶r̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶e̶a̶m̶ ̶n̶a̶m̶e̶.̶ ̶

Kyra Carusa, Republic of Ireland // My Bloody Valentine - sometimes

Another example of dropping a classic album then disappearing for decades. Like the band, Carusa drops classic goals in minimal minutes when she plays as a striker then gets banished to the wings or bench for some reason.

Sofia Jakobsson, Sweden // Bathory - hades

This song is what I imagine defenders hear when they get isolated with Jakobsson on a wing: defender is surrounded by 25k fans. Miles of grass and an 18-yard box separates them from any help. The nearest friend is a line of chalk to the right. Everything around them starts to close in and get dark as the song gets louder. They see Jakobsson emerge from the darkness. They black out and come to after hearing their teammates yell “get back” as they watch Sofibrah disappear in the distance.

Amirah Ali, New Jersey // The Shirelles - dedicated to the one i love

A classic group full of bangers. Here’s hoping for some inspired bangers from Ali in 2024.

Makenzy Doniak, Chino Hills // Phantom Planet - the happy ending

This one is a stretch but it’s our playlist and we will not be bound by “rules”, even our own: One of The O.C.’s main characters is from Chino > the show’s main theme is by Phantom Planet > big bad Mak Doniak gets her song.

Savannah McCaskill, South Carolina // Dizzy Gillespie - a night in tunisia

As much as I wanted to include chillwave hero Toro y Moi here, I couldn’t pass up the chance to include jazz legends on one of the coolest songs I’ve ever heard.

Mya Jones, Canada // Broken Social Scene - almost crimes

Almost crimes is what we want to see when she’s dribbling defenders into a twist.

Jaedyn Shaw, Dallas // Erykah Badu - u don’t have to call

Shaw grew up in Frisco but played youth ball at FC Dallas, where Erykah Badu is from. From the moment Jae made her debut, she established herself as a must-start on the Wave. Since her first call up with the USWNT, she’s established herself as a main-stay on the 23-player squad. She’s not waiting on anyone’s call anymore, Shaw is an auto spot on any roster.

Alex Morgan, Los Angeles // Frank Hutton, Goodie Train - old man me

There are so many choices to pull from LA but I couldn’t pass up this song. A perfect ender-ender to the playlist, and a fitting track for our ageless superstar. (This song plays on her being the oldest player on the team if that wasn’t clear). A little in-season note I’ll hopefully repeat all season: She was left off the Gold Cup roster recently. It’s either a transition to a younger era, or coaches wanting to see younger players in a big tournament, knowing they plan on calling in Morgan for the Olympics anyway. Regardless, last time she was left off an Olympic roster, she led the league in goals and was runner-up for MVP…

Team Anthem // Wavves - wavves

It’s in the band name. It’s in the song title. It’s from San Diego. What are we doing not playing a snip of this at the Snap friends.