This week saw some of the most exciting matches of the season, with the last unbeaten team in the league losing to a team that had yet to experience the highs of winning in 2025, the 2024 NWSL Champs overcoming a two-goal deficit to claim a last minute victory, and two teams battling it out goal for goal to ultimately share the points. Here’s what you might have missed if you weren’t locked in to Week 6!
READ: NWSL Week 6 Midweek Recap: First Roses for Four Thorns
Friday, April 25
Houston Dash 1, Utah Royals 0
Continuing the NWSL match week after a rare Tuesday match, two games kicked off Friday night, one of which took place in Houston between the Houston Dash and Utah Royals. Much of the game was neck and neck between the two teams. However, the Houston Dash would ultimately secure their first home victory of 2025 thanks to a late strike from Delanie Sheehan — her first goal for the club and her fifth goal of her career. All five of her NWSL goals have been game-winners. To cap off the night, Jane Campbell recorded her 40th regular-season clean sheet, becoming the fifth goalkeeper to reach the milestone.
Orlando Pride 3, Angel City FC 2
While the Dash and Royals faced off in Houston, the Pride hosted Angel City FC in Orlando.Angel City FC jumped out to an early lead but couldn't hold off a late Orlando surge, falling 3-2. Riley Tiernan opened the scoring in the ninth minute after a sharp run and finish, her third pro goal which leads all rookies this season so far. Katie Zelem doubled the lead just before halftime, capitalizing on a scramble off a Claire Emslie corner. Throughout the first half, Angel City created several dangerous chances, including close efforts from Tiernan, Kennedy Fuller, and Alyssa Thompson, but goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse came up big for Orlando to keep the margin manageable.
The Pride began their comeback in the 72nd minute when Marta redirected a cross from Oihane to pull a goal back. Just four minutes later, Barbra Banda leveled the match with a header off a Carson Pickett assist. Despite Angel City's efforts to regain momentum—including a near-miss from Thompson—the hosts completed the comeback in stoppage time when a Pickett cross deflected off an ACFC defender and into the net. It marked the first time in club history that Orlando overcame a multi-goal deficit to win.
Saturday, April 26
Washington Spirit 0, Gotham FC 3
Gotham FC rebounded from a midweek loss in emphatic fashion, cruising past the Washington Spirit 3–0 at Audi Field in the second Rivalries presented by Ally matchup of the season — a classic District vs. Empire showdown. Rookie Sarah Schupansky opened the scoring just three minutes in, and Esther González added a brace — her third brace in her last four matches — to cap a dominant first half. The Washington Spirit had a better second half but unfortunately for the hosts, Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was in form, with the German making several clutch saves to preserve the clean sheet. Gotham now sits third in the standings, but the Spirit — who welcomed back 2024 NWSL Rookie and Midfielder of the Year Croix Bethune from injury on Saturday — remain a dangerous threat.
North Carolina Courage 3, Kansas City Current 2
The winless North Carolina Courage delivered a stunning comeback to defeat the previously unbeaten Kansas City Current 3-2 at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday night. The Current came into Week 6 with a clean 5-0-0 record, so the win surprised NWSL fans everywhere who have been closely watching them dominate the league this season. After an early exchange of goals—Haley Hopkins striking for Kansas City against her former team and Ryan Williams responding for North Carolina—the Current regained the lead through Bia Zaneratto in the 57th minute. As the final minutes of the match waned, the visitors appeared ready to continue on with their perfect season, but the Courage remained resilient, pressing forward in search of at least one more goal.
Their persistence paid off and then some. Kaleigh Kurtz smashed home the equalizer in the 90th minute and three minutes later, Ashley Sanchez netted the winner after a clever setup from Williams, giving North Carolina its first win of 2025. It was one of the latest double-strike victories in league history and an incredibly rare feat at that—the first since 2017—as the Courage handed Kansas City their first loss of the year.
Chicago Stars 0, San Diego Wave 3
For the first time in NWSL history, three U.S. U-17 YNT players—Kimmi Ascanio, Trinity Armstrong, and Melanie Barcenas—started in the same game, and all three featured heavily for the victors, the San Diego Wave FC. A goal from Hanna Lundkvist as the result from a play started by Barecenas and continued by Armstrong, an own goal forced by Adriana Leon, and a first professional regular season goal for the 17-year-old Kimmi Ascanio. Kailen Sheridan also played a huge part in the results, recording four saves to earn her a first clean sheet of 2025. The Wave now sit fifth in the standings, trailing only Kansas City and the Orlando Pride with total goals this season.
Bay FC 1, Seattle Reign 1
Bay FC and Seattle Reign FC battled to a 1-1 draw at PayPal Park, with Racheal Kundananji opening the scoring for Bay with her first goal of the season. Seattle responded early in the second half through Jordyn Huitema’s header off a set piece. Despite late pressure from Bay FC, including near-misses from Rachel Hill and Asisat Oshoala, and a high work rate from Taylor Huff—the only rookie still to have played every minute of the season so far—both sides ultimately split the points in a physical contest.
Sunday, April 27
Portland Thorns 3, Racing Louisville 3
In the second draw of the weekend (and month), the Portland Thorns FC fought back to salvage a 3-3 draw against Racing Louisville FC at home, extending their unbeaten home streak to four matches. After falling behind early on a Savannah DeMelo goal, Reilyn Turner headed in an equalizer for Portland. Louisville, however, responded strongly with two more goals before halftime, forcing the Thorns to chase the game. Jessie Fleming buried a penalty kick just before the break to keep Portland within striking distance.
The second half saw Portland pile on pressure, searching for an equalizer against a disciplined Louisville backline. In the final moments of stoppage time, after a VAR review called for a penalty kick, rookie Jayden Perry stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to secure a hard-earned point, the third UCLA Bruin to score of the night for the Thorns. Portland remains unbeaten at home this season and is the last team in the league yet to concede a goal in the second half.
