“When you’re new in an environment, you want to be able to not take too much time, but take time to really understand where things are at, evaluate how things are working, where there are development areas, what are the things that are most important to sort of tackle, and take a little bit of time to digest all of that before you start to implement and make changes,” said Ashton.
“We had a very busy off season.”
The first major step of business? Bringing in Eidevall. According to Ashton, the Swedish coach won over the Wave due to his tactical knowledge, ability to win titles, experience in a high-pressure league in England, know-how with building teams, and ambition. Importantly, there was a sense he could translate those skills into the NWSL and create sustainability with the Wave.
For goalkeeper and captain Kailen Sheridan, the hiring of Eidevall and his staff was the most vital piece of the team’s new puzzle for 2025.
“The coaching change is going to be huge,” Sheridan told ESPN during the preseason when asked which modification at the club will be the most impactful. “It’s a complete new staff, which kind of is an opportunity to start over. Obviously, players is massive as well, but with the coaching change, that’s a whole tactical change.”
“If we had some staff that stayed with us [from 2024], the players obviously would be a big difference. They would have to come in and adapt to the style. But now we’re starting with a new style, so it’s an opportunity for the staff to kind of make their mark, and the players to learn and to grow together.”
Part of that process has also meant reinforcing the roster. Along with a list of intriguing up-and-coming names, ownership hasn’t wasted time with the incorporation of noteworthy figures like France international Kenza Dali, Canada international Adriana Leon, and Colombia international Daniela Arias.
Another key aspect of Eidevall in this rebuild is his ability to influence the players with a move to San Diego. Dali, recently with Aston Villa, wasn’t sure at first if she wanted to leave England, but was swayed after a conversation with the coach.
“I had a call with Jonas. I know Jonas, I played against him a lot,” Dali told ESPN. “I know what he is trying to do in terms of football, and that’s what really attracted me is the way he plays, his philosophy. That was [what] convinced me.”
By the second half, Orlando figured out the San Diego press and were given a lifeline through a goal in the 50th minute from Haley McCutcheon off a corner. Although youthful substitutions helped level things out for the Wave, with a goal from 19-year-old Chiamaka Okwuchukwu less than two minutes into her debut, Orlando would eventually take back the lead with a dramatic game-winning penalty from Marta in the 76th minute.
Soft penalty or not, which was retaken due to Sheridan stepping off her line, the reality of the match was that Orlando’s second-half tactical changes helped wrestle back the momentum San Diego once had. Indicative of how Eidevall’s side is still a work in progress, the result also marked the second match in a row in which the Wave ran into obstacles after half-time.
It’s far from perfect soccer, but Eidevall’s willingness to maintain his possession-heavy style of play — especially against the reigning champions — was a commendable decision. With teenage prospects like Melanie Barcenas, Kimmi Ascanio, and Okwuchukwu putting on a show once coming off the bench, there’s also reason to feel hopeful that the club already has the next generation of game-changers in the mix.
“I’m pleased with the mentality that we have in the squad. [Chiamaka] is a great example of that,” said Eidevall post-game. “Haven’t being fielded at all for the first two games, now she had a good opportunity coming in here for the third. I definitely think that we have a lot of good players in the squad. We have healthy competition and I’m really pleased with a lot of players’ contributions at the moment.”
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Shaw: Courage move not a ‘complete identity change’
USWNT’s Jaedyn Shaw discusses dealing with expectations following her move to North Carolina Courage from San Diego Wave.
Whether those contributions include more minutes for prospects, the next step for Eidevall & Co. is finding the right balance for a roster that’s struggled in the second halves of games. Of course, that’s only the sporting aspect of the new era for the Wave.
Behind the scenes and in the front office, there’s nothing that has yet to bring negative attention in 2025, but it’s still incumbent on the organization to learn from last season and prove to their supporters that they can be trusted once again. Given that Eidevall, Ashton and others represent the start of a different era, there’s an opportunity to showcase that the detrimental problems of the past won’t return, and doing so will only benefit the sporting side for the former Shield-holders, who are eager for much more than just a regular season trophy.
“Expectations for us, we wanna be competing in [the playoffs of] November this year. That’s something that I think everyone across the organization would say and feel strongly about. So for us, that’s our goal,” said Ashton.
“It’s constantly evolving and growing and trying to get better and that’s on and off the field here.”
