Becki Tweed, Bev Yanez share the field from colleagues to competitors

Photo credit: Jackie Gutierrez / Women Kick Balls

Within the same month, September 2023, both Becki Tweed and Bev Yanez were named head coaches of National Women’s Soccer League clubs.

As interim head coach for the second half of the 2023 NWSL season, Tweed led the way for Angel City FC as she coached the team to the NWSL Playoffs and recorded one loss under her leadership. For Yanez, she previously played in the NWSL as a key player for Seattle Reign FC and served as an assistant coach with Racing Louisville FC for a season where she led the club to reaching the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup Final. 

Although both of their coaching careers have included various individual milestones, Tweed and Yanez were once on the same side, both assistant coaching with NY/NJ Gotham FC in 2021. Though they remain close friends and colleagues from their time with Gotham, the pair of coaches are now on opposite sides as the two faced against each other for the first time since becoming head coaches.

“This league is so small but Bev is definitely one of my closest friends in this league,” Tweed told The Equalizer. “She is someone I have massive respect and admiration for and somebody that I want nothing but success for, other than on Wednesday. We’re always going to laugh about it but I think we respect each other massively on the field and off the field. I’m just so happy to see her doing as well and she’ll be somebody that I’ll continue to be a friend for and to be someone I wish success for, except for when we play against each other.”