thread: I think this ~conversation~ about supporting multiple teams is exposing an inherent difference in how European fans and American fans view soccer/football. at the risk of losing my head, here are some thoughts.

American fans’ support is centered more on the USWNT and specific players because we haven’t historically had a stable women’s league, so haven’t grown up supporting a specific club. plus, soccer is not a very popular professional sport in the US (yet ).

many American fans still don’t live near an NWSL club, so we’re more transient in our support and therefore don’t see the need to limit ourselves to supporting only one team in a league. it doesn’t mean we support soccer any less, we just come at it with a different history.

European fans, on the flipside, have much stronger club loyalty because football is so dominant in Europe. they generally grew up supporting their local/family club. plus, WSL teams are sister clubs of existing EPL men’s clubs, so having the same single-club loyalty makes sense.

these are all obviously generalizations and each fan has their own experience! both styles of support are valid, we’re just coming from different places, and there’s no need to fight about it!