Week 19 is here, and the playoff race is tightening with every whistle. Kansas City Current are the only team to have clinched so far, looking every bit the championship contenders, but the rest of the field is still wide open. This weekend brings an East vs. West showdown, a rematch of a season opener, and a milestone ceremony for a club legend. Here’s what to watch for!
How do I watch live games from the 2025 NWSL Regular Season?
- Friday night matches airing on Prime Video are available to U.S. fans here.
- Saturday night double-headers airing at 7:30 and 10 p.m. ET on Scripps-owned ION network are available to U.S. fans here.
- For games airing on CBS, U.S. fans can watch here. US Fans can also stream on Paramount+ here.
- For games airing on ESPN, U.S. fans can watch here. Matches on ESPN and ESPN2 will also stream on ESPN+.
- For games airing on NWSL+, U.S. fans can watch here.
- Fans outside of the U.S. can watch for free on NWSL+
- For more information on how to watch NWSL matches outside of the U.S., read more here.
Friday, September 5
Racing Louisville FC vs. Portland Thorns FC – 8 PM ET
How to watch: Prime Video
Week 19 kicks off in Louisville as Racing hosts Portland for a battle of two sides separated only by goal difference in the table. Louisville comes in unbeaten in four but frustrated by a string of late concessions, and Portland, meanwhile, are reeling from back-to-back defeats despite peppering Utah’s goal with 12 shots on target last week. With Pietra Tordin and Reilyn Turner carrying the scoring load for the Thorns and Emma Sears driving Racing’s attack, they both will need to be in top form for their teams, both of whom are fighting for playoff spots.
Saturday, September 6
North Carolina Courage vs. Utah Royals FC – 7:30 PM ET
How to watch: ION
The Courage return home seeking to snap a five-match winless run against a Utah side that just stunned Portland and grabbed their first road win of the season. Utah are showing they aren’t a team to discount, with Mina Tanaka, Bianca St-Georges, and Brecken Mozingo all contributing, and 16-year-old KK Ream fresh off becoming the youngest scorer in NWSL history. With Mandy McGlynn in inspired form after an 11-save performance, it’s going to be anyone’s game.
Bay FC vs. Kansas City Current – 10 PM ET
How to watch: ION
Bay FC’s seven-match winless skid has them sliding toward the bottom of the table, and a date with league-leading Kansas City won’t make life easier. The Current clinched the first playoff spot of 2025 behind record-setting defensive numbers, six straight clean sheets, and goalkeeper Lorena already tied for the fastest to 10 shutouts in league history. Temwa Chawinga and Debinha remain relentless up front, while Ally Sentnor continues to settle into KC’s star-studded midfield. Bay have been in every game, with Rachel Hill finding the net recently, but will need their best to halt KC’s race towards destiny.
Sunday, September 7
Chicago Stars FC vs. Orlando Pride – 3 PM ET
How to watch: Paramount+ & NWSL+
Chicago return home riding an NWSL-record streak of five straight draws, showing resilience to come from behind each time. Ludmila has been the difference maker, scoring five in her last three matches to power the Stars’s attack. Orlando, on the other hand, are mired in a six-match winless run where their once-dynamic attack has dried up, scoring just twice in that span. The last time these two teams faced off, Orlando defeated Chicago 6-0, but at this point in the season and with recent form as an example, this match will surely be closer.
Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign FC – 4 PM ET
How to watch: Paramount+ & NWSL+
Second-place Washington Spirit are hosting fifth place Seattle Reign this weekend in a mid afternoon match. Sofia Cantore has quickly endeared herself to Spirit fans, scoring in her first two home matches, while Trinity Rodman is now back to starting and Croix Bethune pulls the midfield strings. The Reign have been reliant upon Jess Fishlock and Jordyn Huitema generating the offense but with the likes of Maddie Dahlien and Emeri Adames, they have other goal-scoring threats on their rosters.
Gotham FC vs. Angel City FC – 5 PM ET
How to watch: ESPN & ESPN+
It’s another East vs. West clash as Gotham FC welcome Angel City, with both teams fresh off of big wins last weekend. Esther González continues to pace the Golden Boot race with 12 goals (10 of them before halftime) and has found the net in all six of Gotham’s victories this year. For Angel City, rookie standout Riley Tiernan has already tallied eight goals, the second-most ever by a rookie, while new signing Sveindís Jónsdóttir brings relentless energy that could be the missing spark in their attack. Still, with Rose Lavelle growing sharper each week after starting off the season injured and Ann-Katrin Berger in shotstopping form between the posts, Gotham will be a formidable hurdle for an LA side building confidence from back-to-back wins.
San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash – 8:30 PM ET
How to watch: ESPN & ESPN+
The Wave and Dash meet at Snapdragon in a matchup of defensive grit and late-game drama. San Diego have dropped points in five of their last six but remain tough to break down, with Kailen Sheridan fresh off a five-save shutout in Seattle. Houston, meanwhile, are unbeaten in five thanks to yet another stoppage-time goal, this time from Evelina Duljan. The Dash aren’t a team to count out, while San Diego lean on Delphine Cascarino’s creativity to unlock games. With playoff races tightening, neither side can afford to drop points here. And in case the onfield action wasn’t enticing enough: tune in for a special jersey retiring ceremony for retired USWNT and San Diego Wave forward Alex Morgan.
