Episode 495 - The AFTN Soccer Show (No Sitting Back with special guest Emma Humphries)

We're back with another packed episode of the AFTN Soccer Show, your Vancouver Whitecaps and North American football podcast. The Whitecaps selected five players in this week's MLS SuperDraft. We break down those picks and hear from head coach Vanni Sartini and first rounder Simon Becher, plus Sporting Director Axel Schuster chats to us a little bit about the club's MLS Next Pro plans. The main focus of this episode, however, is on the state of the women's game here in Canada at both international and domestic level. We bring you our final year in review wrap up as we look at the gold medal winning Canadian women's national team, hear a little bit from head coach Bev Priestman, and look at the snub to Priestman in FIFA's Best Of awards. Our feature interview this episode is with Emma Humphries the Whitecaps Director of Women's Football Development. We chat about the club game here in Canada, the lack of current opportunities, her role at the 'Caps, the launch of League 1 BC and more. Plus we have a big discussion about growing the game at club level in the country and what that might look like. Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode: 01.26: Intro chat 03.47: TVOD - Anne 13.08: Whitecaps pick five in draft with audio from Vanni Sartini and Simon Becher 39.20: Axel talks MLS Next Pro plans 46.10: Canadian women's national team Year in Review 65.40: Priestman snubbed in FIFA Best Of awards 76.15: Emma Humphries interview 111.40: Developing the women's club game in Canada discussion 138.45: Wavelength - Neil Grant - Give It All We've Got