The growth of the Women’s Super League has certainly led to top talents taking their skills to England and Kristie Mewis became the latest American standout to embark there this winter.
Mewis, who is currently sidelined through injury at West Ham United, made the move from reigning NWSL Champions NJ/NY Gotham this past offseason. The veteran midfielder has made three substitute appearances for the Hammers, joining Catarina Macario, Mia Fishel, and Emily Fox in the U.S. women’s national team contingent in England.
Although she hasn’t featured for West Ham since February 18, Mewis has relished the opportunity to play in one of the best women’s leagues in the world.
“It’s honestly been amazing so far, unfortunately I haven’t been able to play as much as I would have wanted because of injury,” Mewis said in an interview with Betway.
“But it has been amazing, it’s been a dream of mine to play in England, so I’m happy to be here and to be part of a great club. I’m excited to be here and hopefully I can get out on the pitch.”
The 33-year-old Mewis has had several stops in her club career to date, which previously featured stints in Germany, Australia, and Japan. Most of Mewis’ playing career though has featured in the United States, where she is an NWSL and Challenge Cup Champion.
Mewis has certainly seen differences in the style of play in both the NWSL and WSL, but also seems similarities too.
“I think the one thing I would say is the NWSL is very transitional a lot of the time,” she said. “The games are more 50/50 a lot of the time, and the ball isn’t as well controlled as it is in the UK.
“I don’t think one league is better than the other necessarily, but I think they are different in terms of the games being transitional and a bit more athletic in America. It’s more athlete driven in the US, but here there’s a bigger concentration on looking after the ball, keeping possession and more tactical.”
In addition to her club achievements, Mewis has remained a consistent contributor with the USWNT over the past three years and now has to prepare for a new head coach at the helm later this year. Emma Hayes is set to begin her reign as head coach at the conclusion of the current WSL season, kickstarting a new chapter for the program.
Hayes will lead the USWNT into the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France after a stellar spell as manager of WSL heavyweights Chelsea. The 47-year-old hasn’t stepped on the USWNT sidelines yet, but already has the backing and support from Mewis to help get the program back to winning major competitions.
“I think she’s going to do an amazing job with the team, I think she’s just going to bring her knowledge,” Mewis said about Hayes. “All the reasons she’s been a successful coach are the exact reasons why the US needs her.
“She is a really good player-manager, she’s so intelligent and reads the games so well,” Mewis added. “I’ve watched a lot of the games she’s coached in, and you can see she’s an incredible leader and I think all the girls will look up to her, so it’s going to be interesting to see.”
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