🪵COLE BASSETT TRADED TO PORTLAND TIMBERS

Cole Bassett is now a Portland Timber. There's no easy transition into the Newsletter is there?

ICYMI - Box State Footy Podcast - Connor Tobin

Topics

🪵Cole Bassett ➡️ Portland Timbers
⭐ Ayo Oke Shines in USMNT Debut
⚽ Sportswomen of Colorado Honorees
📦 Box State Open Cup Matchup
🎗️ Colorado Executive Inducted to Colorado Soccer Hall of Fame

Cole Bassett Traded to the Portland Timbers for General Allocation Money

Cole Bassett's departure from the Colorado Rapids is a seismic one. For the past eight years, Bassett, 24, matured into a ready-made MLS-level starter and his stark development from within the club's academy stands as the club's best success story of Rapkids homegrowns.

'Outside the Box' co-host Jeremy Peterman (of Cascadia FC) joined Burgundy Banter for a morning after "emergency" podcast.

A lot of the immediate reaction to the news is in the podcast but this move warranted a bit more of a section to finalize thoughts and wrap up a more concise take on the situation.

Two things can be true.

Cole Bassett was due a scenery change
The change could not have come at a worse time.

Bassett's best season in Burgundy came in 2024 when his work in central midfield catapulted him to the top of ASA's Goals Added for holding midfielders. The team still leaked a lot of goals, but Bassett's dynamism and work from midfield was crucial to that team's success. It's worth noting that after Bassett's injury in 2024, the team collapsed.

Cole Bassett's 2024 Match Logs (Sept. 15-Nov. 02)

His ability to dribble the ball centrally into space forced opponents to either concede the space he attacked or leave their marker to stop Bassett's run. It was very effective in 2024.

In 2025, Bassett saw less time in his 2024 role and as a result his play suffered. There was a lot of change throughout last season more of a need for different positional stand-ins. This meant we saw less of the box crashing and deep lying dribbler and instead saw a player who was being asked to do a variety of things- none of which highlighted his strengths.

Soccer is a team game. One criticism I've seen of Bassett is that he "wants" to be "the guy". I think this is quite a narrow way of seeing the game as a whole given that the things he was being asked of come directly from coaching, structure, and game model. Which leads us to our next point.

If head coach Matt Wells couldn't find a way to fit Cole Bassett into his game model, in a log-jammed midfield, it's completely understandable to shop him around. My biggest concern with the move is how late into the offseason it happened. I've gone on record of saying that I like the fee and I still do. I don't know if there was going to ever be a better offer and one much less later down the line when Bassett's U22 initiative designation spot expires requiring all of his $850,000 salary to count against the cap. The timing of the move is mostly what stings about it. With three weeks until the season starts, the use of that GAM may be deferred to the Summer meaning the Rapids could be in for quite a tumultuous start of the season. This is, as many of the front office's moves have been, a set up for future business and squad planning; far from a win-now move.

Ayo Oke impresses in her US Women's National Team Debut

— Box State Footy (@boxstatefooty.bsky.social) 2026-01-28T06:14:07.148Z

Ayo Oke's played 45 minutes in the USWNT's dominant 5-0 friendly win over Chile. Oke's perfectly weighted ball to Croix Bethune opened the scoring for the Nats.

Oke, 22, had a strong performance on the right-side of the field. The Liga MX Feminil Champion's strong positioning allowed for her to threaten dangerous crosses into the box; Oke could have very easily had two more assists.

With her appearance in the friendly, she becomes the first ever Denver Summit player to earn a USA cap. It's no surprise that her rising profile as a USWNT prospect landed her this honor. The Summit's intent to go for younger players shows the kind of squad building the team will be looking towards. Buying young players amidst their rise and extracting as much talent from that development is not too uncommon in the Box State. There's just a lot more to love about Oke and her standing in the current Summit's team. We expect a big season of Summit green for the Georgia-born defender.

Sportswomen of Colorado 2025 Honors

The Sportswomen of Colorado will hold their 52nd Awards Celebration and have highlighted some familiar figures in the Colorado soccer scene.

Among the athlete honorees is CU Buffs standout Hope Leyba, Bella Campos from Colorado School of Mines, and Teagan Myers of Fossil Ridge High School.

Also honored is Rob Cohen who will be receiving the Dorothy Mauk Pioneer Award for their efforts in bringing the NWSL and professional women's soccer to Denver.

Some prior Colorado Sportswoman Honorees include Jordan Nytes, Sophia Wilson, Nicki Fraser, and Shyra James. Some notable names in their Hall of Fame includes the likes of Lindsey Heaps, Janine Sonis, and Mallory Swanson.

Click here to read the full press release.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks and Azteca FC 5280 to meet in the US Open Cup

The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup holds a very special place in our hearts. The longest running open American soccer competition stands tall as the country's most historic competition. While the leagues around the competition change, adapt, and continue to grow, the Open Cup remains a strong pillar of American soccer. For that reason, we are super thrilled to be able to get a Box State Matchup between the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and Azteca FC 5280.

Opponent is set. Tickets are now live.

🆚: Azteca FC
📍: Weidner Field
🏟️: Open Cup
🎟️: https://t.co/cGqDKQzP2i #switchbacksfc #coloradosprings pic.twitter.com/BX8ostaxGY
— Switchbacks FC (@SwitchbacksFC) January 27, 2026

We have previously covered the US Open Cup here on the site and even did a feature for Azteca.

We look forward to another round of coverage for the Open Cup and are thrilled to see these types of matchups. Could we be in for a cupset?

Brian Crookham to be inducted into the Colorado Soccer Association Hall of Fame

Fresh off a remarkable Rapids 2 season which earned him MLS Next Pro Executive of the Year, Brian Crookham has been formally named to the Colorado Soccer Hall of Fame.

Crookham's impact on the sport here in the Box State is remarkable and of the key guiding tenets of the "Rapids Way" op-ed back in 2017, the establishment of the youth pipeline has allowed players like Cole Bassett, Sam Vines, Darren Yapi, Oliver Larraz, and countless others to develop from within. Congratulations to Crookham who is most deserving of the recognition.

And that's a wrap for this one. Before you close the tab, we will be in Seattle for the Rapids first away match of the season. The night before, we will be hosting an All-Day MLS Watch Party at The George and Dragon! We hope to see some of you there. Thanks for reading!