Thanks for reading: Support Women’s Sports is a fan-written and centered newsletter. It is the next step of a project I started in 2010 to elevate women’s sports stories and athletes. I am a full-time feminist creator and your support of this newsletter, both as a subscriber and member, helps me devote more space in my day for more content. Support this work by forwarding this newsletter to a few friends.
— Veronica
Review: Ted Lasso S4E1
Slight spoilers ahead! I do plan to review each episode as they drop, so go watch the episode and then let’s chat.
The Plot: When we first learned that Ted Lasso would return to our screens most fans were ecstatic. I…was skeptical. Shocking, I know. I was skeptical as to why Rebecca, with her fierce dragon stance, would look around the football world and decide that she needed Ted to coach the new women’s team.
Why a woman coach: Sadly the stats haven’t changed much since my personal newsletter post from last year.
According to WECoach, prior to Title IX 90% of coaches for women’s college teams were women. Today it is 41%. And these numbers do not improve when we get to the professional level. In addition, at the youth level 26% of coaches are women.
Even FIFA Gets It: Earlier this year FIFA created a rule that states every team in the tournament “must include at least one female head coach or assistant coach”. And yes, I know this season of Ted Lasso has a woman assistant coach.
BUT…: Here comes a spoiler. Last chance!
There is a scene in the episode where Rebecca scoffs at the idea of Alice Chilton being head coach. She’s talking with Leslie and
Immediately says, “I don’t think she likes me very much.” And Leslie responds with, “She doesn’t like anyone.”
Says that if Ted won’t coach AND a growling Rottweiler won’t coach, “there’s always Alice Chilton waiting in the wings, growling even louder.”
That scene feels very season 1 Rebecca, not this evolved Rebecca. I hope there is a scene to reveal why Alice doesn’t like Rebecca and not just some “loosen up kid,” story.
Girl Power: In an episode season with Rebecca & Keely loving the women’s boutique, Keely being inspired by the KC Current’s match, and Leslie’s educating the museum guy (and the audience) on the history of women and soccer/football in England, most things point to a very feminist season. And if a Spice Girl doesn’t have a cameo this season…
THAT SAID the episode was like a big hug from a friend you only see every few years. When they get out of the car, I was crying. Also not cause Hannah’s legs. * fanning myself * Ted is still Ted. His mom is a riot.
BBQ: I loved how quickly the English trio came to love American experiences. Very reminiscent of what we saw during the Men’s World Cup earlier this season.
Co-Parenting: We got to see Ted co-parent Henry with Michelle in a very loving manner. He is still working on his heart regarding his dad and how that impacts his relationship with Henry. I hope they can keep this up cause we definitely need a good pop culture co-parenting family to watch.
Sacrifice: We also watch Ted put everyone but himself first in this episode. Maybe as he works on that, he’ll find it in himself to have a fun romance.
The business of women’s sports: Almost all the pieces are set out for us to understand what this new team is up against. The economics of building a team. The legacy of women not being able to play until the 1970s. They are hinting at the media and publicity issues. Of course we’ll if fans turn out. In other reviews, apparently the fans turn on the women’s team thinking they are siphoning resources from the men. Great window to bring the Tart back to join Kent to set the fans straight. Speaking on straight, Coach Jackie was on the red carpet for the premiere and confirmed that we will get some Sapphic representation on the team. Billie Jean King and other icons from women’s soccer were consultants on scripts. They seemed to have done everything right. Which makes overlooking the coaching issue so frustrating. If they can find a way to add the women as coaches issue in, I think they will nail this season. I have to believe they will.
While this newsletter and the larger project of supporting women’s sports is my passion project, I still need to buy groceries and buy nachos at games.
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