Week 9 had something for everyone: record-breaking goals, game-saving heroics, and more huge performances from rookies. Kansas City continued its dominant run atop the standings with a historic goal from Temwa Chawinga, while Portland and San Diego each extended their unbeaten streaks on the road. Washington and Utah played to a wild 3-3 draw in front of a packed Audi Field, and Bay FC claimed NorCal versus SoCal bragging rights with a shutout win over Angel City. Here’s a look back at all the action.
Friday, May 16
Gotham FC 0, San Diego Wave FC 1
San Diego extended its unbeaten run to five games with a narrow 1-0 road win over Gotham FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The game’s lone goal came in the 30th minute when Kimmi Ascanio curled it through traffic into the far post after a composed build-up from Delphine Cascarino and Perle Morroni. It was the 17-year-old’s third goal in four games and her first career game-winner. Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan earned her 25th shutout for the club, as San Diego notched a third consecutive away victory. They now sit in second place in the standings.
Houston Dash 1, Portland Thorns FC 4
Portland Thorns continued their undefeated streak with a commanding 4-1 victory on the road against the Houston Dash. Rookie Pietra Tordin opened her NWSL scoring account with a composed finish in her first career start, followed by goals from Payton Linnehan and Sam Coffey, who recorded a goal and assist. Caiya Hanks added a fourth early in the second half. Houston pulled one back via a deflection off Portland’s Sam Hiatt, but the Thorns’ control of the match never wavered. With the result, Portland notched its fifth straight unbeaten performance and ninth all-time away win over Houston.
Orlando Pride 0, Kansas City Current 1
In a battle between the league's top two teams, the Kansas City Current earned a gritty 1-0 win over the Orlando Pride at Inter&Co Stadium. Temwa Chawinga broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to score her fifth goal of the season and 25th in NWSL regular-season play, setting a league record for fastest to reach the milestone in the process. Kansas City goalkeeper Lorena made several key saves to earn her league-leading fifth clean sheet, and the Current’s back line held firm even through 12 minutes of second-half stoppage time. The win preserved KC’s place atop the table and extended the gap between them and the next team to four points.
Saturday, May 17
Racing Louisville 0, Seattle Reign FC 1
Seattle Reign edged Racing Louisville 1-0 in a game largely controlled by the hosts. Maddie Dahlien scored the decisive goal in the 39th minute, finishing a through ball from Sam Meza after a midfield turnover. Louisville registered a season-high 20 shots and controlled 62% of possession but failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities, including a final-minute free kick from Savannah DeMelo that struck the post. The result snapped Louisville’s three-game unbeaten run and kept Seattle above the playoff line.
North Carolina Courage 2, Chicago Stars FC 0
The North Carolina Courage extended their unbeaten streak to four games with a 2-0 home win over the Chicago Stars. Manaka Matsukubo netted a second-half brace, first finishing a feed from Denise O’Sullivan in the 51st minute, then curling home a second in the 77th with an assist from Shinomi Koyama. Casey Murphy made four saves to secure the clean sheet in front of a crowd of 8,592, marking one of the largest standalone regular-season attendances in club history.
Washington Spirit 3, Utah Royals FC 3
A back-and-forth thriller at Audi Field saw the Washington Spirit and Utah Royals FC share the points in a 3-3 draw on Saturday night. Five goals were scored in a wild first half, with Brecken Mozingo scoring her first goal of the season and Cece Kizer her 20th career NWSL goal, followed by Spirit goals from Ashley Hatch and Meg Boade. A Rebeca Bernal own goal gave Utah a 3-2 lead heading into halftime. The Spirit pushed for an equalizer throughout the second half and were awarded a penalty in the 89th minute, but Mandy McGlynn saved Hatch’s attempt. In the 90+12th minute, Casey Krueger redeemed the moment, heading home the equalizer off a cross from Tara McKeown.
Bay FC 2, Angel City FC 0
Bay FC secured a 2-0 win over SoCal rivals Angel City FC behind first-half goals from Penelope Hocking and Caroline Conti. Hocking struck in the 23rd minute after a well-placed cross from Caprice Dydasco and a flicked assist from Taylor Huff. Five minutes later, Conti converted a penalty drawn by Huff to double the lead. Bay’s defense stayed organized throughout the second half, limiting Angel City’s chances and earning their third shutout of the season, as goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz made four saves to preserve the clean sheet.