It was a fiercely competitive weekend marked by returns, milestones, and razor-thin margins. Jaedyn Shaw returned to San Diego and scored in her Gotham FC debut, Jacquie Ovalle recorded her first NWSL start and assist for Orlando, and Olivia Moultrie capped a historic teenage era with another landmark goal. With the Shield race still alive and playoff positioning tightening, every point mattered. Here’s what you might have missed!
Note: Seattle Reign vs. Racing Louisville was suspended due to a medical emergency experienced by Racing’s Savannah DeMelo. The resumption of the second half (score 0–0) will be announced soon.
San Diego Wave 0, Gotham FC 2
Gotham made a statement on the road, blanking San Diego behind Ann-Katrin Berger’s goalkeeping masterclass while Esther González pounced on first-half pressure for her league-leading 13th goal and Jaedyn Shaw headed in a late clincher on her debut. San Diego, led by Kailen Sheridan and creators Adriana Leon and Kenza Dali, couldn’t find a breakthrough in a third straight match without a goal.Gotham ended the weekend third in the standings and for the first time since their 2023 NWSL Championship title, left San Diego with a first win.
North Carolina Courage 2, Angel City 1
The Courage seized a pivotal home win in the playoff chase with a fast start: Manaka Matsukubo curled home inside six minutes (her team-high sixth of the season) assisted by Payton Linnehan, her first for the Courage. Brianna Pinto doubled the lead before the 20-minute mark. Angel City halved the deficit late through Sveindís Jónsdóttir for her first NWSL goal, but a resolute Courage back line saw it out to the final whistle.
Orlando Pride 1, Bay FC 1
Orlando halted a three-match skid by salvaging a point, but Bay’s disciplined, counterattacking approach – backed by Jordan Silkowitz’s seven-save performance – secured a hard-earned draw on the road. Racheal Kundananji’s first-half header gave Bay the lead before Ally Watt equalized off of a Jacquie Ovalle assist, her first for the Pride. It’s the first time Orlando has failed to beat Bay, and with both sides settling for a share, the result does little to boost either team’s playoff push.
Kansas City Current 0, Washington Spirit 0
In a top-of-the-table chess match, the league leading KC Current recorded their eighth straight clean sheet while the Spirit extended their unbeaten run to eight. The scoreless draw was the perfect example of how fierce the competitiveness is at the top. Lorena’s sharp stops and last-ditch clearances from the KC back line neutralized Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune, and Aubrey Kingsbury answered at the other end against Bia Zaneratto, Debinha, and Michelle Cooper as both sides banked a high-quality point. With the draw, the Current clinched a top-2 finish, a semifinal berth if they advance past the quarterfinals. With another win next weekend, plus if the Spirit drop points, the Current can lift their first-ever NWSL Shield.
Chicago Stars 1, Portland Thorns 1
Portland struck first via an Olivia Moultrie postage-stamp free kick – her 14th NWSL goal and a great way to end your teenage years – before Chicago responded through Bea Franklin just before halftime. Ludmila spearheaded the Stars’ second-half surge (and rattled the woodwork via a feed from Jameese Joseph), while Mackenzie Arnold produced a late save to preserve the draw. The result kept both clubs firmly in the crowded mid-table playoff race.
Utah Royals 2, Houston Dash 0
Utah rode set-piece precision and a long-range stunner to another strong performance since returning from summer break. Kaleigh Riehl headed in Cloé Lacasse’s early corner, and Paige Monaghan doubled the lead just before the break with her third goal in as many games. Yet again, Mandy McGlynn headlined the shutout win with a string of confident stops as the Royals’ unbeaten form continued. Meanwhile, Houston’s six-match unbeaten run is over despite Jane Campbell’s five saves and good effort from Clarissa Larisey and Messiah Bright.
