2023 National Women Soccer League NWSL Championship Playoffs: Sheehan and Ryan find form for NJ/NY Gotham
Could the NWSL Championship Playoffs be NJ/NY Gotham's Delanie Sheehan and Yazmeen Ryan time to shine?
Football
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is home to some of the brightest young talents in world football.
While household names like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and Alyssa Thompson often grab the spotlight, two other stars shone brightly during NJ/NY Gotham's NWSL Championship playoff quarter-final victory.
24-year-old midfielders Delanie Sheehan and Yazmeen Ryan each found the back of the net, propelling Gotham to a 2-0 triumph over the North Carolina Courage and securing their spot in the semi-final round of the NWSL playoffs.
Sheehan's goal in the fixture marked her very first professional goal for Gotham since joining the team in 2021.
As the pair prepare for their NWSL playoff semi-final clash against the reigning champions Portland Thorns, the Olympics.com delves deeper into the careers of Delanie Sheehan and Yazmeen Ryan.
Delanie Sheehan
Delanie Sheehan’s college career saw her play in both defensive and midfield roles as she developed her style of play at the University of California.
As the team’s vice-captain, she helped them win their first Pac-12 Championship in six years whilst earning herself Midfielder of the Year award, and a Senior CLASS Award candidate nomination.
Throughout her college career Sheehan managed 15 goals and 18 assists, proving herself not only as a goalscorer but as a top playmaker. She also made appearances for the US at U18, U19 and U20 level.
On her 21st birthday, Delanie Sheehan was selected in the fourth round of the NWSL draft by NJ/NY Gotham - then known as Sky Blue FC.
In that same year, she took the opportunity to join Ligue 1 Féminine side Paris FC on loan to further improve her game before returning to the NWSL.
“It was out of the blue, but when the opportunity came, I didn't even feel like I hesitated,” Sheehan told media, “I was like, of course, I'll go play at Paris FC."
The 24 year-old has previously expressed how detail-oriented she believes her game to be. What she lacks for in pace, she makes up for in vision and tactically across the pitch.
In January 2023, Sheehan signed a new two-year deal with Gotham and since then, has played in more of an attacking midfielder role for the side.
“I think we’ve seen how difficult it can be to play against her,” said Gotham boss Juan Carlos Amorós. “She knows how to occupy space and is very good on the ball. She just works extremely hard and is a team player.”
And her hard work has started to pay off.
Scoring Gotham’s opener in their playoff quarter-final against North Carolina Courage could just be the start for Delanie Sheehan.
Yazmeen Ryan
Growing up in Oklahoma, Yazmeen Ryan led her freshman side to their first-ever girls soccer state championship.
Her first taste of senior football came at Oklahoma City where she was named in the club’s all-time Best XI, and much like Delanie Sheehan, Ryan struck luck at the 2021 NWSL Draft.
Yazmeen Ryan was the top target for Portland Thorns back in 2021, with the club trading two later picks plus an international slot to move up and secure the Oklahoma-born midfielder.
Her time in Portland proved valuable, as she featured in the Thorns’ NWSL Championship winning side last season alongside the likes of Sophia Smith and **Christine Sinclair. **
In 28 appearances for the club Ryan found the back of the net twice, before NJ/NY Gotham swooped in for the midfielder as part of a four-way trade.
“Coming to a team like Gotham, I related so much to their story of starting from scratch, literally, if we’re speaking of last season and working back to the top,” Ryan told media. “That’s my wheelhouse. That’s a road I’ve been down before. I know what it takes and I’m willing to work and end up at the top.”
The 24 year-old started sixteen games this season, including Gotham’s playoff quarter-final win over North Carolina Courage where Ryan secured her side’s progression to the semi-finals with a stoppage time goal.
And that exact goal set her up for a semi-final clash against her old team Portland Thorns, with whom she won the NWSL Championship with next season.
When to watch Delanie Sheehan and Yazmeen Ryan for NJ/NY Gotham
NJ/NY Gotham take on Portland Thorns in the NWSL Championship playoff semi-finals on Saturday 5 November, 2023.
Should they win, they will progress to the NWSL Championship final against either OL Reign or San Diego Wave Sunday 12 November, 2023.
Both Sheehan and Ryan are expected to start against Portland Thorns, given their impressive performances in the quarter-final round.