The group stages of the Summer Cup wrapped up in Week 3, with four teams securing spots in the semifinals set for next Tuesday, August 6, in Kansas City.
To catch up on the latest Summer Cup developments and find out the semifinal matchups, schedule, and how to watch here.
Wednesday, July 31
Group A: North Carolina Courage 3 vs. Monterrey 0
The North Carolina Courage defeated Rayadas de Monterrey 3-0 in their final group play match of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park and by the end of the weekend, was enough to secure Group E and advance to the semifinals. Ashley Sanchez opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, Haley Hopkins added an insurance goal in the 82nd minute, and rookie Landy Mertz capped the win with her first professional goal in the 90th minute. Marisa Bova’s performance as goalkeeper also secured a clean sheet.
Group B: Washington Spirit 2 vs. Chicago Red Stars 3
The Washington Spirit's Summer Cup run concluded with a 2-3 loss to the Chicago Red Stars at home. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, the Spirit struggled to convert, with key opportunities from Makenna Morris, Ouleye Sarr, and Andi Sullivan. Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart made crucial saves but couldn't stop Chicago from taking the lead just before halftime. The Spirit equalized twice, first through a penalty by Sullivan and then with Lena Silano's second goal of the tournament, but a late strike from Sarah Griffith secured the win for Chicago.
Group C: Portland Thorns 1 vs. Seattle Reign 0
The Portland Thorns and Seattle Reign concluded group play in the Summer Cup when the Thorns secured a 1-0 victory over rivals Reign on Wednesday evening, courtesy of a first-half goal from Payton Linnehan and a shutout by goalkeeper Shelby Hogan. Seattle initially dominated the match, pressuring Portland's backline, but Hogan and her defense successfully thwarted all attempts. In the 40th minute, Portland midfielder Marie Müller set up rookie forward Payton Linnehan, who scored the decisive goal. The Thorns held on to their lead and the game ended with the Thorns winning the Summer Cup Cascadia Clash.
Group D: Utah Royals FC 5 vs. Tijuana 1
Utah Royals FC, building on their impressive form after a win against Portland Thorns the previous week, secured a 5-1 victory over Club Tijuana in their final group stage match of the Summer Cup. Despite an early goal from Aisha Solorzano, captain Paige Monaghan leveled the score in the 20th minute, followed by first-half goals from Hannah Betfort and Ally Sentnor. Rookie Brecken Mozingo delivered a standout performance in the second half, scoring her first professional goal in the 64th minute and adding a second in stoppage time. While this win positioned the Royals at the top of Group A on goal differential, it was not enough to guarantee a spot in the semifinals.
Thursday, August 1
Group E: Orlando Pride 1 (3) vs. Racing Louisville FC 1 (4)
In the final Group E match of the Summer Cup, the Orlando Pride and Racing Louisville drew 1-1, with Louisville securing an extra point in the shootout. Midfielder Evelina Duljan scored her first NWSL goal with a header in the 38th minute, assisted by Kerry Abello. Louisville equalized in the 67th minute through Reilyn Turner’s header from Emma Sears' cross. Despite the draw, the Pride did not advance to the knockout stage and remain unbeaten in all competitions for the 2024 season.
Group F: Houston Dash 2 vs. Pachuca 0
The Houston Dash secured their second consecutive victory in the Summer Cup with a 2-0 win over Pachuca CF in their final Summer Cup match. Andressa opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a cross from Amanda West, and Diana Ordoñez extended the lead in the 61st minute with a header from Andressa’s corner. Goalkeeper Heather Hinz recorded a clean sheet with six saves in her second professional appearance.
Group G: Kansas City Current 4 vs. Tigres UANL 1
The Kansas City Current advanced to the Summer Cup semifinals with a decisive 4-1 victory over LIGA MX Femenil titans, Tigres UANL, at CPKC Stadium. Finishing atop their group with a perfect record and a goal differential of +8, the Current secured the top seed for the semifinals over runners up the Dash. Eighteen-year-old Claire Hutton scored her first professional goal in the 80th minute, adding to earlier goals from Lo LaBonta, Ellie Wheeler, and Debinha. Tigres' Thembi Kgatlana scored the lone goal for her team.
Group H: Angel City FC 0 (5) vs. San Diego Wave FC 0 (3)
Angel City secured a spot in the Summer Cup semifinals with a victory over San Diego Wave FC following a scoreless draw in regulation and a 5-4 win in the penalty shootout. Goalkeeper DiDi Haračić played a crucial role, saving a penalty to clinch the win. Christen Press made a notable return in the 89th minute after 781 days of being on the SEI list, contributing to the victory by converting a penalty in the shootout. Despite strong early attempts by San Diego, including a save by Haračić on a header from Alex Morgan, both teams struggled to score throughout the match. In the shootout, Haračić’s save against Amirah Ali and successful penalties from Press, Claire Emslie, Alyssa Thompson, and Rocky Rodríguez secured Angel City's advancement. The team will face its semifinal opponent on August 6 at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.
Friday, August 2
Group I: NJ/NY Gotham FC 3 vs. C.D. Guadalajara 0
NJ/NY Gotham FC secured a spot in the Summer Cup semifinals with a 3-0 win over C.D. Femenil after a weather delay. Forward Katie Stengel scored twice, while Ella Stevens added a goal of her own and assisted both of Stengel’s goals. Ironically, Stengel assisted Stevens’ goal. Gotham FC will travel to Kansas City for the Summer Cup semifinal to face Angel City FC on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Group J: Bay FC 2 vs. América 1
Bay FC secured a victory against Club América in their final Summer Cup match with goals from Maddie Moreau and Dorian Bailey. Moreau, who has become a fan favorite for her exceptional performances in the tournament, scored her second goal of the Summer Cup and is sure to secure more minutes in the regular season. Bailey's first goal of the tournament, the game-winner, sealed the win for Bay FC. The match saw every available Bay FC player participate, with rookies like Moreau earning multiple starts. Bay FC's victory was their first over an international opponent and showcased the impressive depth of their roster. Head coach Montoya has increasingly relied on this talent, providing valuable match experience and highlighting the team's strong bench ahead of their upcoming international friendly with FC Barcelona.
