“Can’t get any more thumbs than this,” said co-host Lisa Carlin while commenting on Naomi Girma’s blockbuster transfer to Chelsea. Technically, she wasn’t alone in approving this record $1 million deal Chelsea completed last week. Fellow CBS Sports Golazo co-hosts Alexis Guerreros, Charlie Davies, and Jimmy Conrad also showed their hands in full confidence. Yet, one question remained in everyone’s mind: what does this transfer mean for the NWSL?

Is it ultimately going out of trend? Why have those players suddenly lost interest in playing there? While such doubts arise in the supporters’ minds, Lisa Carlin isn’t worried. “I think it’s fine for NWSL. I think it actually makes the value of the players that are still in the league worth a lot more,” she said in the latest segment.

Yet, USMNT icon Davies questioned Lisa whether she wanted the NWSL to be the end-all-be-all place. Shouldn’t this have also made Naomi Girma reconsider before leaving, given the American women’s domestic league is regarded as the best in the world? But Carlin still managed to defend the NWSL. She stated that 24 might just be the best age for a young Girma to explore what’s outside the States.

“It doesn’t diminish the value of NWSL by any means because she still chose to start her career there, played the first three years there… She’s fine, she just won a gold medal… She wants to play in the Champions League,” emphasized Lisa, even though she simultaneously claimed the NWSL is far more competitive than any domestic league in Europe, including those in Spain, France, or England.

“She’s betting on her career for the next two years let’s just say based on a handful of games in the Champions League and winning Champions League with Chelsea. Because that’s the one thing that’s eluded Chelsea and that’s all they want,” added Carlin, backing the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist for taking a good step in her career. For most players, the Champions League remains the cherry on top of the icing. 

While Carlin did her best with all of her defending points regarding the potential downgrading of the NWSL, her fellow hosts had similar yet different points. Charlie Davies acknowledged how every player would want to achieve new goals and live new experiences. However, the former American striker raised the question of quality and competition Naomi Girma faces out in Europe. 

Carlin quickly denied it, stating the star USWNT defender will not be “challenged day in and day out the way she was in the NWSL.” Yet, the debate surely didn’t end there as one argument surfaced regarding the NWSL not being an ideal choice of players anymore.

Naomi Girma looks to face new challenges in Europe!

Fellow co-host Alexis Guerreros argued Naomi Girma’s million-dollar transfer to the Blues is a “step down” for the NWSL. It has somehow turned it into a selling league rather than a buying one. Guerreros also emphasized that he wants America’s women’s league to be the top choice for players, rather than the Champions League suddenly becoming the main draw.

This only saw Lisa cite the example of forward Kerolin, who is leaving North Carolina Courage because she aspires to play in the Champions League. “There’s a conversation there. But there’s also an element of day-in and day-out competition you’re getting in the NWSL because the parody is insane. Anyone can win on any given day,” said Carlin.

She even highlighted the bigger picture in Naomi Girma’s transfer. She stated how she had to leave a toxic workplace like San Diego Wave. “They’ve been a trashcan for this last year. The coaching, ownership changes, and a lot happening within the club outside of a player’s control that there comes a point where you like, ‘I just can’t worry about all of this. I have to go to do what I need to do more personally,'” concluded Carlin.

Is the NWSL a league that will soon falter in front of European super leagues? It seems multiple talking points arose from this decision. But we are rather interested in your thoughts on NWSL’s quality compared to European soccer. Sound off in the comments below.