Game: Angel City FC vs. San Diego Wave

Where: BMO Stadium, Los Angeles

When: Sunday, April 23, 2023

Time: 5:00 p.m. PST

TV: Paramount+

The San Diego Wave will play its fourth game of the 2023 NWSL season this Sunday, April 23, as Casey Stoney’s team will face Angel City FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

This will be the Wave’s second consecutive away match in league play, as San Diego is coming off a 1-0 loss to OL Reign on the road.

The Wave played a mid-week NWSL Challenge Cup game against the Portland Thorns and came away with a 1-0 victory at Snapdragon Stadium. Manager Casey Stoney did not start several key players like Alex Morgan, Naomi Girma, and Jaedyn Shaw against Portland to try and keep squad fitness.

Sierra Enge made her professional debut against the Thorns and proved to be versatile, playing as both a center-back and midfielder. It will be interesting to see if Casey Stoney awards Enge some minutes in league play going forward. It is also important to note that Emily van Egmond played in the Challenge Cup match as the Australian international is fully fit after having some injury problems that saw her get no minutes in the recent international window.

van Egmond is a vital piece to the Wave’s midfield, as the veteran should slot back into coach Stoney’s starting lineup.

Angel City FC is coming off a 2-0 loss to OL Reign in the NWSL Challenge Cup and only has one win in three games played in the NWSL regular season. Angel City’s latest result in league play was a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Racing Louisville at BMO Stadium. Former San Diego Wave striker Katie Johnson scored one of the goals in that match for Angel City, and she will be one of the key players to watch as she has scored two goals in league play so far.

This is a nice opportunity for the Wave to secure its first road win of the season, given the slow start that Angel City FC has had. However, this is a rivalry match between the two teams, and it is expected to be a very hard-fought encounter at BMO Stadium.

For the Wave, the player that has been in the best form this season is clearly goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. Sheridan is coming off another spectacular game this season as Katie Johnson and the Angel City attack may potentially struggle to surpass the Canadian shot-stopper.

San Diego’s offense has been less productive than it is expected to be recently, but the talent is there to come away with a positive result in Los Angeles.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.