10 Reasons You Should Have Been Following The NWSL This Season

It's playoff time in U.S. women's pro soccer, but it's been a great first season.

1. You could access most of the games via live stream on YouTube.

Via Twitter: @ypulongwithme

The Equalizer, a top women's soccer media outlet, did a round up of the streams. Boston charged for theirs, which turned out to be somewhat of a fiasco, but now that the kinks are being worked out next year should be better.

http://equalizersoccer.com/2013/08/14/assessing-year-1-future-of-nwsl-livestreams/

2. Remember that awesome gold-medal-winning US Women's National Soccer team from London?

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Well, the gang's pretty much all here.

(Not to mention Canadian and Mexican internationals as well)

3. Hanging out with world-class players after the game.

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This is Canadian national team goalie Erin McLeod signing autographs after a Chicago Red Stars game.

4. You could have been playing in a fantasy league.

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5. A Portlandia sketch IRL

No, but seriously, with big stars like Alex Morgan, Christine Sinclair, and eventually Tobin Heath this big-time soccer town threw down with an average home game attendance record of over 10,000/game.

6. Watching players like USWNT Midfielder Lauren (Cheney) Holiday take on new leadership roles

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Winner of this year's Golden Boot, Lauren helped to lead her FC Kansas City Blues to a #2 regular season spot and some pretty optimistic playoff chances.

7. A chance to get to know the 2012 bronze-medal players from Canada.

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Or discover new international favorites like Jess Fishlock, or revisit great players like Lori Chalupny.

8. NWSL teams and fans do social media like woah.

The Chicago Red Stars are currently in talks with HBO for syndication of their breakout hit show, formerly "The Ella and Carm Show" now "The Ella and Erin Show".

See also: #BAON and #LetItReign

9. Because of this.

This kind of soccer...for less than $50.

10. And because of this.

Facebook: ReignFC / Via Seattle Reign FC

You can still catch the playoff games, this weekend and next here.