The soccer season is officially in full swing, and it wasted no time bringing the drama! The opening match between Angel City and San Diego Wave was a 1-1 stalemate, but it was a game that had it all. Alyssa Thompson, the young lady, with a knack for stealing the spotlight, scored an equalizer in the 54th minute with a beautiful shot from the corner of the box. And guess who was there to celebrate? None other than Disney CEO Bob Iger, sitting right next to NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman, looking like he was witnessing a real-life fairytale moment.

Thompson, who was Angel City’s leading goal scorer and assist maker in the last season, established herself as the main character of this team again. But before Thompson sailed through, a real storm was brewing in San Diego: Gia Corley, the rookie. The former Hoffenheim baller did not take time to make her mark on the NWSL by scoring within five minutes of her debut match and also joining an elite list of only four players to have done so. But while fans were expecting to be entertained by the game on the grass, feelings were high for another reason. The return of San Diego’s former coach had hearts feeling some type of way, bringing back memories of last season’s drama.

San Diego’s game sees their former coach in the stands!

Women Kick Balls’ very own Jackie Gutierrez took to X on March 16 with a little tea that had fans spiraling! Dropping a gem, they shared, “Former Wave Head Coach Casey Stoney is in LA watching the #NWSL SoCal rival from the stands. LA 1-1 SD.” And ohhh, you know that sent the NWSL world into a full-blown emotional rollercoaster! Fans had all the feelings—some nostalgic, some bittersweet, and others just straight-up shook.

One fan was out there having an existential crisis, commenting, “I was breathing the same air as my cooler coach again and I didn’t know🥲🥲. Ughhh she so missed bring back my cooler coach!!!” And honestly? That’s the kinda heartbreak you feel in your soul. Because yup, Casey Stoney, she is back and this time she is on the field with Canada’s women’s national team. And in true Stoney fashion, she is making it evident that some of the things about her will always remain the same. “I’m not (going to) change,” she said in the Full Time podcast, giggling, but she is not going to give up her throne on that trusty cooler.

And not just any cooler—she’ll be perching on it in “nice coats and nice blazers” with that Doc Martens attitude. The only thing missing? “I don’t have a red (blazer), though,” she said. “So I need to get one.” And just like that, Stoney’s era in Canada is off to a start, cooler, coats, and all. But let’s be real, it’s not just about the fit checks. She’s in the Canadian camp to do what she does best: build trust, bring confidence, and maybe, just maybe, turn that neon red drinks cooler into a Canadian soccer legend. But this was just the beginning!

Casey Stoney’s presence makes fans emotional!

Another fan chimed in with some truth, “Probably rooting for LA. Wouldn’t blame her after how she was treated.” And honestly? They might be onto something. And if you go back to June 2024, you will discover a dramatic turn of events that rocked the soccer fraternity. One minute, Casey Stoney was at the helm, having recently signed a contract with the team in January 2024. The next? Boom—San Diego Wave FC showed her the door. The shock? Real. The frustration? Palpable. And the fans? Let’s just say, they haven’t let this one go.

Stoney wasn’t just any coach—she was the coach, the first in club history, she created a team that never failed to make the playoffs and even managed to take the 2023 NWSL Shield for the best record during the regular season. However, when the postseason magic failed to click and, the team couldn’t register a win for seven games straight, the club decided to eject. Still, the timing had everyone side-eyeing. And fans? They were feeling it, with one straight-up pouring their heart out: “I miss you Casey you have no idea 😭😭😭.”

Another fan jumped in with some detective work, saying, “She needs to see Sheridan and Leon.” And honestly? Makes total sense. Kailen Sheridan and Adriana Leon are two of the players who played under Casey Stoney at San Diego, and they are now players with her for the Canadian national team. Well, of course, the fans began to draw conclusions–is their former coach among the spectators to encourage the team a bit? Probably! But the real gut punch? Seeing Stoney up in the stands instead of running the show from the sidelines. That hit different.

The energy was changed, and the fans could notice it. It was quite strange that Stoney was not pacing the technical area of the field and directing the game in her cooler-side manner. And let’s face it; her appearance on the touchline was so lit. Therefore, the fans were very emotional, and one of them captured the mood in a nutshell: “She should be on the sideline stills😭.”