The Interview: Marisa Pilla
The Philadelphia-based broadcaster Marisa Pilla has become a regular on soccer TV broadcasts in recent years, especially for the NWSL and the USWNT during the Olympics. It seemed like a good time to discuss the year ahead for domestic women’s soccer, and we addressed that in a fun talk here.
Grant Wahl:
Our guest now is a regular on TV coverage of the NWSL and the Philadelphia Union. Marisa Pilla is a Philadelphia-based broadcaster who you can find on Twitter at @Pilla_talk. Marisa, it's great to see you. Thanks for coming on the show.
Marisa Pilla:
Great to see you too, Grant. Thanks for having me.
Grant Wahl:
Yeah. There's a lot to talk about for the year ahead in things that you cover. But before we get going, I have to tell you, a mutual friend of ours who lives in Philadelphia told me she's kind of disappointed that you recently moved out of the city and into the suburbs. She wasn't upset, actually, she was just having fun. But is that accurate?
Marisa Pilla:
It is accurate. And it's worse that she's disappointed, if she was mad. You know that saying it's like, "I'm not mad. I'm disappointed." Oh, that hurts even more. I just want, whoever is curious to know, I did move out of Philadelphia. You can take the girl out of Philadelphia, you can't take the Philadelphia out of the girl. So no need to worry on that end [laughs].
Grant Wahl:
Good. Good to hear. So you do several different soccer things. And I can still remember not long ago when very few people kind of came out of college and got into the media business wanting to do soccer. Did you want to do soccer specifically when you came out of college? And what's your story with that?
Marisa Pilla:
Yeah. When I came out of college, I just wanted to work [laughs]. I really didn't care who hired me as long as somebody did. And I kind of tell this story often that I graduated school and I applied to over 200 on camera jobs. I didn't get a single one. I did hear back from Fargo, North Dakota. They didn't want me, but at least they let me know.
So they had the kindness to be like, "Hey, we saw your reel. We hate it. Thanks again." And so I was really discouraged. You graduate, you think you know everything, you think you're going to hit the ground running and make all this great work, and that didn't really happen for me. So I actually started off as a production assistant, moved into digital producing for a little bit, social media reporting.
And I always say I annoyed the right people enough times to let them put me on air covering college basketball, college football. I did a little NBA coverage in the beginning of my career, and I eventually kind of found my way back to soccer. And I say back because I grew up in a very soccer-focused household. My dad was an Italian immigrant.
So I'm first-generation Italian on my dad's side, and he just lived and breathed soccer. So of course we had to. So grew up playing, grew up watching. And then when he passed away, I kind of saw myself pulling away from soccer a little bit, subconsciously even. I was able to see that kind of later on as an adult. So I kind of found my way back to soccer, found my way back to that love. And it's been a wild ride ever since. And I've really been enjoying it.
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Grant Wahl:
Well, I enjoy the work that you do. What are all the different things you're doing these days in soccer?
Marisa Pilla:
Mainly as you said, a lot of coverage on the NWSL, which I love. I think it's an incredible league. It definitely has had its highs and lows, but I think it's important that we shed light on the lows and also highlight the highs, and understand that in perspective of all the other professional leagues in this country that we're used to watching, it's only 10 years old.
And to see it turning into what these players deserve it to be is something really exciting to me and kind of gives me a little bit of hope. So I've been covering the league for, I think this is going to be my fourth year. I've been doing the drafts. I do cover MLS for Fox as well as the Philadelphia Union. So still holding true with the Philly crowd there.
Grant Wahl:
And one of the more recent things that you did was a very long broadcast for Paramount+ on the NWSL draft and expansion draft. How many hours did all that stuff end up being and how did you prepare for all of it?
Marisa Pilla:
It's an extremely long day. And I tried to tell people who might be new to the draft that it feels like you're thrown into a casino, because you have no concept of time. There's no outdoor lights. Like you go in, the sun's up, you leave, the sun's down. You're like, "Oh my God, what happened to me during this weird span of time that I've been talking?"
And you always feel like by the end of it, you don't know how you're creating any more words. You don't know how words are coming out of your mouth. It's a long day, especially the college draft, because there's four rounds, teams have timeouts and they often take them much to my dismay. It's just prolonged..
I know last year, the 2021 draft, our first round took two hours. And I just kept saying this year, I'm like, "As long as this first round doesn't take two hours, we're on pace to be better than last year." And I think we were about like an hour and a half. So it was much better. But it is. It's a very, very long day.
Grant Wahl:
It's a good thing that I don't work that because I think if somebody called a timeout, I would get angry on the air. And I would just say, "Time out? You can't do that!"
Marisa Pilla:
Yeah. It's like, oh my gosh.
Grant Wahl:
But it's an impressive thing to be able to be on the air that many hours and do all of that. When I look at the NWSL season ahead, one of the biggest stories looks like the new teams, Angel City and San Diego out in California, both in terms of the attention they're bringing as well as just how good they might be on the field now that we see the players that they're going to have. What stands out to you the most about these two teams right now?
Marisa Pilla:
I think a lot of it has to do with how much culture is a part of how they're building their teams. And it feels very deliberate in how they're building expansion teams, which is something very refreshing and kind of security-wise for me a little bit, because I've seen other expansion teams come in the league and be really excited about being in the league, but not talk and hit certain talking points that I've heard Angel City and San Diego talk about how they want to be, not just creating a good culture in their own locker room, but in the community and be representative of the communities that they play for, which I think is huge and often overlooked in sports.
And that's why it's so incredible that in the NWSL there's still opportunities to build a club. You can build something from the ground up and create that culture and make sure that it's the right kind of roots you're putting down.
And as you said, the big names that they're bringing in, it's wild. You look at these rosters for both teams, and it's just national team players and really exciting players that they picked up through different trades. And of course, they're a really sought after market, so who doesn't want to play in California? So of course, it's going to kind of just bring up the competition level a whole bunch.
And I know it's hard being an expansion team. Oftentimes expansion teams aren't super successful. But with who these players are on these teams, I think we could see that bar being raised a little bit in terms of what to expect out of expansion sides. And then for whoever wants to come in next into the league, that bar is going to be a little bit higher to meet knowing that, well, Angel City did it, San Diego did it. So you kind of have to meet that level too.
Grant Wahl:
One person who really intrigues me is Jill Ellis. And she's running the San Diego team. She's not coaching it. The coach of that team is the former Man United coach Casey Stoney. But how public of a face do you think Jill Ellis is going to be now that she's in this role because of what she's accomplished over the years as the two-time World Cup winning coach of the U.S women? She's a big name. Do you think she's going to be seen publicly a lot this year?
Marisa Pilla:
I think so. Just from my experience with the draft, she was in the war room. She was very much involved in that. We talked to her after certain draft picks. After the expansion draft, we were able to grab her for a quick interview.
And we've all were kind of saying it on draft day, she's showing a lot more personality than we've ever seen her show, which I think is really interesting because I think maybe in this role as a non-coach, but a front-facing person, she can kind of let her personality shine a little bit more and be maybe a little more laid back in a certain way.
So I think it's going to be interesting to see how all of that knowledge and experience she has can be put to use, not in an implementation of a coach. And I think that's what's going to be very, very intriguing, but I think she's going to be super involved. I mean, it's Jill Ellis. I don't think she's going to kick her feet up and be like, "Have fun everyone."
Grant Wahl:
It kind of plays into a theory I have, though, because I feel like, and I feel this way about Bob Bradley when he was the U.S men's national team coach. I think Jill Ellis, as you're saying, might fit this as well.
I think there's so much pressure involved with being the senior national team coach of the U.S men or women, that they're different when they're not in that position anymore. Because I would say that both Bob Bradley and Jill Ellis seem more approachable maybe, and less tightly wound, now that they're no longer the U.S national team coaches.
Marisa Pilla:
For sure. It's a such a pedestal, especially the women's side. They'll put everybody on that team from players to even just the athletic trainers. Everyone is put on a pedestal. And every national team player I've ever talked to said, it's just this expected excellence, and it's unreal how much that excellence is expected.
So to have that expected excellence all the time, you have to wonder, how much does that affect how you carry yourself? How on guard you might feel in front of media who you don't know, who are trying to get information from you to do their own job? So I think you're right.
I think that role while it's so coveted and it's an incredible role to have, especially on the women's side to coach the best in the world, it comes with different things. Maybe you have to keep your guard up a little. And I think we're seeing Jill Ellis's guard in sunny San Diego start to come down a bit.
Grant Wahl:
Now the Washington Spirit ended up making a late-season run and winning the league title last year. And I would argue that the best player on the field in the final was 19-year-old Trinity Rodman. And I'm wondering how much is she improving almost like in real time, in your opinion? And how much better could she be even this season?
Marisa Pilla:
I think she's just been so impressive because we often talk about, in drafts, one, can a player physically keep up with making the transition from college to pros? She didn't even play in college. So when she was getting drafted, we were like, "This is a girl, really a girl because she's not a college-aged woman yet. This is a young woman who didn't play any minutes in college, and she's making this huge, gigantic leap to the professional level. That's very physical. It's so transitional. It's so fast. Can she physically keep up?"
And then you also have to think she's so young too, she's still a teenager. What's the mental effects of this? Do they have the resources in place to make sure that she feels mentally supported? And obviously they did. And she did because she was just so phenomenal and so confident. And that's what stood out to me is her confidence on the ball to try things.
And you often hear that from coaches that younger players almost have this amazing ability just to kind of block out how big the situation around them might be, because they're like, "Oh, let's just go have fun." They don't have that pressure almost, because they're so young.
And I think that's amazing and something I wish I could kind of tap back into. But she was just lights-out at that final and was able to compose herself really well, because they had to come back in that game. They weren't always in control of that game. And that was kind of very representative of how Washington was the entire season. They had come back and won more games from a deficit than any other team in the league. And for them to do it once again for a final time at the championship game I think just was the perfect ending to their season.
Grant Wahl:
So when you look at the league heading into this season, which teams do you think should be among the favorites to win it?
Marisa Pilla:
I think you have to obviously go with Washington. You can't sleep on the reigning champ. I think the Reign made such a great run at the end of the year. They finally kind of got their pieces back in place. And Laura Harvey reignited that team. And it finally felt like things were fitting, whereas before you were like, "What's going on here? There's so much talent with the Reign."
And plus I point back at Lumen Field. I think that's going to just add another level. Let me think about it. Gotham is very interesting too with who they're bringing in. Got Kristie Mewis now, Ashlyn [Harris] and Ali [Krieger]. And they already had such a talented team as well. They made a nice run in the playoffs.
Chicago's interesting just because it's a whole new phase for them. The longest-tenured coach in the league was Rory Dames, and he resigned. So now they're kind of starting fresh. They're telling us it's not a rebuild, it's a restart. Whatever you want to call it, it’s something new. But I think those are kind of the interesting teams to me, at least. But the great thing about NWSL too is that a team can make a change so quickly and all of a sudden go on a run.
And that's what I appreciate about this league is that, I'm not the only one to say it, but it's so competitive, where there's not a clear runaway. Portland's always going to be good. I can't believe I didn't mention Portland and I hope they don't kill me. But they're always going to be good.
So it's never that clear runaway favorite, which I think makes the league very interesting to watch and see who can peak at the right times, but also who uses different tactics to make sure they get the most out of their players. Because you don't necessarily need the biggest names. You just all need to work together.
Grant Wahl:
I should point out by the way, and we'll see how things develop here. But one thing the New Real Salt Lake owners said this week is that they do plan to bring the Utah Royals back into the league. And they at least indicated sooner rather than later. So I almost wonder if for 2023 that could be a real possibility.
So that's exciting, because they had a nice fan base out there that I feel good for today seeing that their team is coming back. Another new team, we've seen this new team in Kansas City make a big splash with infrastructure with $85 million now being committed toward a new practice facility and a new stadium total. It's going to be in downtown Kansas City on the river.
We saw Sam Mewis join the Kansas City Current. They were at the bottom of the league last season on the field, but how much better do you think Kansas City will be this season once they get going?
Marisa Pilla:
I think a lot of people are going to be surprised at how much better they're going to be. Not just because you add probably one of, if not the best midfielder in the world right now in Sam Mewis, who's so excited to be there. I was able to speak with her before the expansion draft and she said she's just so motivated and inspired by the ownership there.
And knowing that they're putting so many resources into making this a world-class facility. And she couldn't stop talking about how much she's bragging about the first ever NWSL-specific stadium. So that really does make a difference from players, especially when you have markets like LA and Portland who are really eye-catching, you need something to bring you into a Kansas City. I think they're going to be really good.
It's going to be interesting to see who they bring in as a coach and all that, because there's a lot of things to build. [NOTE: Matt Potter has just been announced as the new coach.] But they started making a lot of tweaks too mid-season, really starting to get their footing a little bit. Because when you think about what happened to them last year, I think they had something crazy, like 28 days from the time that the franchise was announced to draft.
So it takes me much longer than that to prepare for the draft, just to report on it, let alone build a team through a draft. So they really were just kind of doing the best they could with the confines they had. But I think it's a great city. They have a really good base of a roster. And I wouldn't be surprised either if they're going to make some more moves.
Grant Wahl:
Are there any established U.S women's national team stars who you think have some pressure on them to perform in the NWSL this season?
Marisa Pilla:
I like that you used established because it's tough. It's so hard to think of where the cracks, if you will, could be in that roster, because we saw at the Olympics, they obviously didn't perform the way any of us expected them to. But we were all having a conversation of like, "But who's at home that you would want to bring in?" And we couldn't really think of anyone that was sitting at home that we’re like, "Ah, I just wish they were here."
So I think it's interesting. I can't think of any established players, but some of the younger players that I think are on the verge of really breaking through, obviously Sophia Smith. It's going to be interesting to see how Jaelin Howell adjusts to the professional league. She's already made a name for herself on the national league.
So if she can kind of prove that she can keep up with the pacey style NWSL, I think that's even going to get more looks for her. There's a lot of different younger strikers like Morgan Weaver, who I think is really talented. Just needs to show, I think, a little more consistency in areas that could kind of get her off that bubble and into the camp a little bit more.
Establishment wise, I don't know. It's tough because it's also like I'm fans of them. So I'm like, "They're all perfect. Don't worry about them!" But to put on my journalistic hat and think, but I know by the time the World Cup rolls around in 2023, that team's going to look completely different. And I think we all have to accept that. The first part is accepting and understanding that there's change coming. But I don't know about this year in particular.
Grant Wahl:
When you look at the U.S women's national team, the big event this year is in July, the tournament that's going to serve as qualifying for both the World Cup and the ‘24 Olympics, which is a new thing. I just wrote a big story on Catarina Macario and her chances for a bigger role on the national team this year.
How much change are you expecting this year? I know you just alluded to it. As I was writing my Macario story, I was like, if the choice is Alex Morgan or Macario at center forward, is that a choice that might actually get made? Should we just assume that Alex Morgan would start?
Marisa Pilla:
That's the thing. And it's so hard because you can't deny that Alex Morgan had a good NWSL season last year. She had probably her best NWSL season. She played pretty well in the Olympics too. And also it's Alex Morgan. When you say it, you're like, "Am I really going to be the crazy person that doesn't start Alex Morgan?" But at a certain point, the page has to be turned.
The question is, when do you turn that page? And who's ready to come with you still? Obviously we know Carli Lloyd hung up her cleats this year. And I think she could have physically still played, but is she still going to be that difference maker? And there are players like that on that team. And I think what's going to be interesting to me too is the defense a little bit too.
There are some really young, like I love Midge Purce]. I think she's such a great player. She's so dynamic that, not even that she's so just controlled on the ball, she's really smart on the ball. And I think that could be somebody on the defense that kind of sparks something a little different and gives Vlatko [Andonovski] an opportunity. And I think almost too that Vlatko now kind of has that time where he can actually assess this roster, because COVID year threw everybody off a loop.
And for him to put the Olympic roster together was hard because they couldn't play a lot of people. He couldn't see a lot of different players. So he went with who I think everybody would've gone with on that roster. But come July, even the SheBelieves Cup, I think we're going to see some different names really start to get some important minutes and kind of get them tested a little bit. We should have a pool going. We should have like a bracket. You ever do that with like The Bachelor or something who you think is going to make it?
Grant Wahl:
Yes. Nice. I like it. And I now remember. So you were at the Olympics. You were in Japan for that tournament for NBC. What was that experience like for you? Just from a work perspective, how you experienced this?
Marisa Pilla:
Work-wise, it was a lot of work. Quick turnarounds. The players talked about it a lot, so I don't know how they physically were able to do those turnarounds. Because mentally, it's exhausting for us. It's every couple days, a new game. You completely have to like wash out what you just learned, learn something completely new.
And that went on for three weeks. So it was. It was a lot of work. But you're in this business, you enjoy the work. You kind of nerd out on the prep a little bit. At least I do. So work-wise, it was a lot. But it was just an incredible experience to be part of something so global.
And I always grew up such a huge fan of the Olympics watching all the time when I was little and to be part of it, to be part of that crew with NBC, it was so humbling. And on top of that, I'm working with Arlo White and Julie Foudy.
And I had Julie Foudy's poster on my wall. I'm trying not to freak out and fangirl all the time because they're both so amazing. But it was an incredible experience. And we did get to see the city a good amount, safely. So we got to see a good amount of the culture and everything. And it was just so beautiful and it was just incredible. It really, really was. I took away a lot of positive things from that trip.
Grant Wahl:
You also have been covering the Philadelphia Union for a while now. Huge disappointment to have so many COVID cases when the team had gotten one step from the MLS final. What are you thinking right now about the season ahead for the Union?
Marisa Pilla:
I'm excited for it. I'm very much looking forward to it, because each year I've been with the Union, they've gotten substantially better each and every season. They've made huge marks. First it was, "Oh, they made their first ever. They qualified for the playoffs." Okay. That was like baseline. And then it kept building. First ever home playoff game.
Then last year, they won the Supporters Shield. And this year, it really felt like things are coming together. They didn't win the Shield, but at the end of the day, what does that mean? Nothing. You still got to win your games. So to see them kind of peaking at that time and then all of those COVID cases, it was.
It was just heart wrenching to see that they had to put out, not that those guys aren't the best, but they're not their top choices. Everybody knows that. And I could only imagine what was going through Alejandro Bedyoya’'s mind watching the game from home. Just so fired up. But I think this year, for sure, I think they're going to be a playoff team.
I think that has to be just expected of this team by now for who they've been the last couple of years. I know Philly fans were always very cautiously optimistic. We always love to be a little bit of a pessimist. But this team has shown that they're capable of being a playoff team. So then go be a playoff team.
And I think that's kind of what Jim Curtin instills as well is like baseline. That's what it is. It's playoffs. We're getting in. So that's my at least baseline expectation. I'd love to see them get back to a chance where they can get into the Eastern Conference final. I think they deserve it.
Grant Wahl:
We've had Jim Curtin on the podcast before. Really good guy. And obviously doing very well.
Marisa Pilla:
Oh, he's the best.
Grant Wahl:
I was wondering, is he like that on a daily basis when you're covering him?
Marisa Pilla:
Yeah. Oh, he's just so great. When I lived in the city, which is hard to say past tense now, I see him in the neighborhood a lot. And he'd be running with his kids and his dog. And he really is the person that you think he is when you meet him and that you hope he is when you see him.
He's just a really great guy. He cares about his players. He gets it as Philly people like to say, like, "You get it." And I think he's just really super passionate about what he does and that comes through. Also, he has a great sneaker collection. So I think we can all get behind that.
Grant Wahl:
Do you think by the way that Philadelphia could get an NWSL team at some point?
Marisa Pilla:
If it was up to me, yes. I'd green light that. I think it's certainly a viable market, because not only is it a big market, it's got a great soccer culture attached to it. The Philadelphia Union fans are super, super passionate. They've been coming out very strong over the last few years.
And I know Philly can be tough because it's very much an NFL, MLB type city. But in that soccer culture hub of the city, it's super strong. And I used to grow up going to Philadelphia Charge games. So there was always that interest there. I still have my visor somewhere in storage [laughs]. But I think the interest is there in terms of an audience. Obviously, the infrastructure is there.
Not only do you have the Union stadium, which is a fantastic facility. If you want to be in the city, there's always The Linc that always sells out when the national team comes through. I know people in the city would love to see it. I personally would love to see it. I've heard rumblings. So I'm hoping they turn into something more concrete.
Grant Wahl:
So I wanted to ask you, you do a lot of different things. You do sideline reporting, you do studio shows, you do interviews. You've done a little bit of play by play that I've heard. Would you like to do more of that? Are there other things you would be interested in doing?
Marisa Pilla:
I love all of it. I still can't believe this is my job some days where I'm at a stadium like, "Oh my gosh, they're paying me to be here." That's incredible. So I love all of it. But I love the hosting aspect, and I really love the interviewing. I love conversations and really digging into different topics with people.
I think that's what's most fascinating is oftentimes we look at these athletes as just their production value. What have you done for me lately? Sort of thing, on the field. And there's people behind those jerseys, and that's what's so interesting to me. And that's why I'm a huge fan of yours not to kiss up, but you tell those stories.
Grant Wahl:
Thanks.
Marisa Pilla:
And that's what I love to do as well. Especially I have friends and family members who are big soccer fans. It does break my heart a bit, but I try to tell them something intrinsic about these players. So then you have somebody to root for, or why you should root for this club.
And when you kind of get them involved in that way and kind of pull on the heartstrings a bit, then you have a fan. And that's what makes us, I think, soccer fans so passionate is that there's so much emotion behind being around any fan, but especially soccer. There's already so much passion in that sport. So I really love kind of bringing out that passion and just talking to like-minded people. That's kind of what I hope I can continue to do.
Grant Wahl:
We're wrapping up here with Marisa Pilla. I really appreciate you taking this much time. I guess just to wrap up, I'd like to ask you, do you have any advice for journalism students who might be listening to this, who want to do what you do?
Marisa Pilla:
Yeah. I think the most important thing is to know that there's no one set path to get to where I am, to where you are, to where anyone else has been. We've all taken much different routes. And I think that's good and bad because sometimes, especially when I graduated college, I just wanted somebody to tell me, "Do this and you'll get a job." And I tried and I didn't get the job.
So I think it's important just to know everyone's path is going to look different. Success is never linear. You think you're just going to shoot off the charts and this job's going to lead to the next. And sometimes that great job doesn't lead to anything, but at least you got that job and you learned something from it. And I think it's just really important to always be enjoying what you're doing.
This job is such a privilege to have. And it's so incredible that we get to do it. There's so many people who want to be doing what we're doing. And the fact that we get to do it is incredible. I'm so thankful for that. And if it ever gets to a point where you're not enjoying it, then you know, "Okay, something's wrong. Let me reevaluate."
But even in the struggles, even when I wasn't getting jobs and I was working for maybe $50 a game and my gas cost me $40, so I’d net at $10, I was still enjoying it. So that's how I knew to keep going. And I think too, that's important just to know, if you're still loving it, if there's nothing else you would rather do with your time, continue to pursue it.
Grant Wahl:
Marisa Pilla is a regular on TV coverage of the NWSL and the Philadelphia Union. Marisa, Thanks so much for coming on the show.
Marisa Pilla:
Thanks for having me.