WAKE UP: Introducing Our 'Throw A Bag' All-Stars

One fun thing about every World Cup is the introduction to talent not in the mainstream spotlight week in and week out. While taking risks based on a handful of performances with the intensity and motivation of national pride isn’t scientifically foolproof, global scouting and talent recognition in women’s football is lacking, and this World Cup has been a gift.

So if you or someone you know has influence at a club with enough money to throw a bag, your friendly neighborhood podcast is here to help uncover some ballers who deserve one, or more.

Mayra Ramírez, 24, forward

Ramírez has been one of our favorite players to watch. She’s often isolated at the top of Colombia’s formation, but seems to love it. Her hold up play is equal part strength, balance and dribbling technique. She’s completely unfazed by physicality, and in fact welcomes it, while also manipulating the ball away from defenders. It’s pure joy to watch her toy with professional athletes by luring them into her own personal game of keep away.

Her standout performance against Germany was a perfect display of all three, as she consistently made physical German defenders look like they were made of Kleenex (this metaphor brought to you by: André’s cold). She also possesses an outrageously powerful shot, which she can execute without much backlift.

She currently plays for Levante in Liga F, who finished third last season behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, and scored 14 goals and dropping 11 assists in 27 starts last season. Game recognizes game, throw the damn bag.

Chiamaka Nnadozie, 22, goalkeeper

Nnadozie started the tournament by saving a penalty from the greatest international goalscorer of all time, Christine Sinclair. She continued to be impressive in goal for Nigeria, controlling her area and pulling out saves when called upon.

To the nerd shit: goalkeepers are still one of the most imperfect positions to analyze with stats, but some are fairly straightforward. One is post shot expected goals (PSxG), which calculates for the quality of a strike. Think of a high xG chance from the center of the goal, whether the shot is tucked sweetly into a corner or miskicked and skied over the bar, they’ll have the same xG. Post shot xG takes into account the type of strike (angle, velocity, etc.) to determine a truer likelihood of a shot becoming a goal.

In Nnadozie’s case, she ended up saving her team over two additional goals throughout the tournament, allowing just two goals from a PSxG total of 4.43. That’s in rare, elite territory. Last year, Lyon’s Christiane Endler, one of the best in the world, faced a combined 13.83PSxG in Champions League plus league play, and only allowed 12 goals overall (six in each competition).

While the sample size is certainly smaller, Nnadozie became the starter at Paris FC in October of 20/21 and has been starting ever since. In her run, Paris FC has finished behind PSG and Lyon the last two years. Despite being just 22, she’s experienced, was key to Nigeria’s defensive prowess, and deserves several bags.

Tabita Joseph, 19, center back

Haiti had a tough tournament as far as results, losing 1-0 twice, and 2-0 in the group stages. But that’s not the full story. Haiti allowed only one open play goal, as a World Cup qualifier, against England, China and Denmark.

A big part of that was their defensive organization, and brilliant individual performances when called upon. In the latter category, Tabita Joseph was born ready and came to the rescue more than a few times. Joseph plays club football for Marseille in France, who are currently in France’s second division. Come on now, throw a bag and get her the coaching and development her talent deserves.

Hinata Miyazawa, 23, midfielder

Japan has been one of the most fun teams of the tournament. They’ve shown the ability to hurt teams with possession, and in the most extreme case against Spain, even when they see very little of the ball. The trick to this is their attacking plan – going wide to get vertical – is transferable across a variety of approaches.

The secret sauce in it is the artistry of players like Miyazawa, who have a great sense of where and when to run. In Miyazawa’s case, this has helped her score five goals from six shots on target (13 total), and all within the vicinity of the penalty spot. Any attacker who regularly gets into these positions is worth a bag.

Miyazawa currently plays for Mynavi Sendai in Japan’s WE League, and if she’s already getting the bag, good. But if not, a whole lot of teams should be stuffing theirs full of cash to send her way.

Esmee Brugts, 20, forward/midfielder/wingback

Brugts has been incredibly solid as a left wingback over the last three matches. The Netherlands are fielding a three back system full of older, not quite as fleet of foot center backs, but it’s not mattering due to the athleticism and work rates of Victoria Pelova (24) on the right, and Esmee Brugts (20) on the left.

Brugts has been simply outrageous, delivering key passes from wide areas and most recently hitting a mf’n banger so good she decided to do it again. We love a self-indulgent queen. Brugts currently plays for PSV in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, who finished fourth last season. This kinda young talent deserves to be lifting trophies, Emma Hayes somebody throw the bag.

Nouhaila Benzina, 25, center back

The Atlas Lionesses (one of the best nicknames in the tournament) just won’t stop making history and we love it. They made it to the 2022 WAFCON Final, where they lost a close match 2-1 to fellow Round of 16 qualifiers, South Africa. A key part has been the composed defense of Nouhalia Benzina.

Benzina didn’t start the opening match of the tournament, which ended up being a 6-0 loss to Germany. Since coming in, Morocco fought back to earn two wins and, most importantly, keep two clean sheets. They’ve achieved this by denying space without fouling or giving away penalties. South Korea finished the match with zero shots on target, and Colombia only managed four.

Fuck your Islamophobic hijab rules, throw the bag.

Toni Payne, 28, forward/midfielder

Toni Payne absolutely balled out as the attacking midfielder for Nigeria. She grew into the tournament in every match, only creating fewer than five chances once (the opening match versus defensively sturdy Canada).

She hit her peak when Nigeria dominated England, with Payne proving a constant creative force with seven (7!) chances created in the match. Nigeria’s tournament ended with Payne averaging 2.3 chances created per 90, the same as fellow midfielder Georgia Stanway, and more than Jenni Hermoso.

Payne currently plays for Sevilla in Liga F, and last season played just about every position along the midfield and forward lines. While the versatility is dope, after seeing her power Nigeria’s attack at this World Cup we gotta say, a la Crystal Dunn, Toni Payne is a midfielder. Someone throw the bag and let her be one.