“Wake Up!”

“Wake Up!”

“Wake Up!”
“Wake Up!” “ Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium
”
There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of...
“Wake Up!” “ Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium
”
There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of...
“Wake Up!” “ Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium
”
There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of...
“Wake Up!” “ Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium
”
There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of...
“Wake Up!” “ Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium
”
There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of...
“Wake Up!” “ Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium
”
There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of...
“Wake Up!” “ Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium
”
There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of...
“Wake Up!” “ Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium
”
There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of...
“Wake Up!” “ Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium
”
There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of...
“Wake Up!” “ Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium
”
There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of...

“Wake Up!”

Words and Photos by Eric Beard and Julie Logan, from the NWSL Final between the Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City at Starfire Stadium

There’s something immeasurably inspiring about witnessing a winner lose. It silences a stadium full of ardent supporters. Amongst immediate despair, there’s a fire that has yet to be fully extinguished. It’s an unnatural air of defeat in the lungs of those who know what it means to transcend second best. Above all, it’s a wake-up call.

Because anyone can step up at any time. New champions can always be made. And they aren’t playing to provide a reminder to always bring your best; they’re emphatically declaring that your best isn’t good enough anymore.

Even if every possible ounce of sweat was shed over the course of 90 minutes, passes could have been sharper. Chances could have been taken. Unconvincing tackles could have led to counter-attacks. Analysts often refuse to reduce a game down to a science, but for elite athletes, it’s inevitable. Because when a match truly matters, when a defeat leaves an emptiness that is palpable across an entire pitch, everything falls under the microscope. And after losing the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) Final 2-1 at home to FC Kansas City, that microscope has fallen into the hands of the Seattle Reign, a squad full of stars such as Hope Solo, Sydney Leroux, Megan Rapinoe, Scotland’s Kim Little, and Japan’s Nahomi Kawasumi.

Today isn’t the 5th of July, 2015. (Obviously.)

But that is the date with which every women’s soccer match will be referenced until the summer of 2015 comes to a close. On that day, millions will mark their calendars and tune into the Women’s World Cup final in Vancouver, Canada. Only 141 miles north of Seattle. 

On Sunday, some players, like FC Kansas City and US Women’s National Team midfielder Lauren Holiday, showcased their ability to rise in big matches against the world’s best. Holiday wasn’t shy to share her opinion that “this [win] is right there with [winning the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics].” Momentum is invaluable, regardless of whether it’s used for an extra stride to set up a match-winner or simply to stamp down a place in a national team squad ahead of the World Cup.

Momentum demands attention, but it often leaves opponents with an unbearable bitterness and sense of stagnation. And stagnation doesn’t adequately represent a successful Seattle Reign squad, especially through the larger lens that has seen both NWSL and the international women’s game make tremendous strides. As Amy Rodriguez noted, “The quality of player is just going to keep growing, developing through this league.”

Raising the bar is one thing, but being the individuals to keep pushing it higher is a weight that has fallen on a few of the Reign’s shoulders. The look of dejection on Megan Rapinoe’s face was undeniable, despite a moment when she broke through Kansas City’s wall of defenders and scored. Hope Solo’s disgust as she glared at a silver medal was clear for all to see, especially after a constant exertion of energy and unwillingness to be held back. Sydney Leroux was left knowing that she has to find her form quickly if she wants to make an impact next summer. Nahomi Kawasumi had to apologize to Japanese media outlets who expected her to lift another trophy, after Japan’s high of winning the World Cup in 2011. The NWSL Final was a test, and - in the black and white world of soccer - these world class stars failed.

But failing doesn’t create failures. When you fall short, especially in sport, there’s always a choice. You can give up, or you can adapt and attempt to reach new heights. Neither of these options are easy, but for some of the most competitive people in the world, one of them is nearly impossible. One day doesn’t strip a leader away from a career of accomplishments. Yet there is a pause, a natural questioning. Self-doubt meets self-assurance.

Every champion has a memory of failure that pushes them. Before winning gold at the Olympics, the U.S. Women’s National Team had the 2011 World Cup Final. But for a few of that team’s leading figures, this past Sunday’s loss feels fresh. There is time to reflect, but hardly a moment to stand still. And next summer we’ll see who made watching the success of others a habit, or a source of motivation.

This piece features photos and words from Julie Logan and Eric Beard. Comments below please.