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By: NWSL Editor
Week 6 Preview: NWSL Pitch Notes

Below is a selection of moments to watch for and notes to know entering Week 6 of NWSL regular season action.

Week 6 match coverage begins Friday, April 26 as the Washington Spirit host the Orlando Pride at Audi Field. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET on NWSL+.

NOTES TO KNOW

TUNE IN

Viewers tuning in to the NWSL this season can catch more than 120 matches across CBS, ESPN, ION and Prime Video. The remaining matches will be available for free on NWSL+, the league’s first-ever domestic direct-to-consumer streaming platform.

Full details on how to watch all Week 6 matches can be found here.

MEET THE NEIGHBORS

San Diego Wave FC hosts its neighbors to the north and the NWSL’s newest expansion side in Bay FC for the first ever match-up between these two California clubs. The meeting will be a homecoming for Bay FC Forward Rachel Hill, who spent the 2023 season with the Wave before being acquired by Bay FC in the 2024 Expansion Draft, presented by Ally. With the Wave, she appeared in 17 games and led the club with 23 tackles won.

KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE

Kicking off this weekend’s match slate, the second-place Washington Spirit, who currently hold a four-game win streak, will go head-to-head with the unbeaten Orlando Pride as both teams look to keep their respective streaks alive in the Nation’s capital. Hosting the Pride at Audi Field, the Spirit have won the previous three games at home, marking the longest run since they won four in a row at home between September 26, 2021, and May 1, 2021.

REMATCH AT BMO

Angel City FC hosts the Kansas City Current for a Friday night showdown at BMO Stadium. With both teams coming off a winning week, Angel City’s back line looks to stop current golden boot leaders Temwa Chawinga and Bia Zaneratto who each tallied a goal and an assist in the Current’s 4-2 win over the 2022 expansion side on March 30. Midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo and forward Alexa Spaanstra also tallied a goal while Angel City’s forward Sydney Leroux and rookie defender Madison Curry put LA on the board.

PLAYING WITH COURAGE

The North Carolina Courage are off to their best regular season start in club history (3-1-0) since 2018 when the club went 4-0-0 to start its campaign. Courage forward Ashley Sanchez, who joined the team from the Washington Spirit this past offseason, has created 11 chances for the Courage, tied for third-most in the league, and has recorded a goal contribution in three straight matches.

NAEHER LEADER

With her next clean sheet, Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher will be the first NWSL keeper to record 40 shutouts with one club. In Week 2, Naeher became the first keeper to reach 50 regular season wins with one club.

ROOKIES ROCKING

Washington Spirit rookie midfielders Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt have started every game of the 2024 season, with Bethune leading all rookies in scoring with three goals.

Angel City FC rookie defender Madison Curry notched her first goal in Week 3 against the Kansas City Current in her first pro start and will look to do it once again this weekend in a rematch of the two sides.

Kansas City Current defender Ellie Wheeler and midfielder Claire Hutton join Croix Bethune and Utah Royals forward Ally Sentnor as the four rookies to play all 90 minutes throughout the first five weeks of play. Sentnor leads Utah with eight shots, seven on target, and two goals.

WEEK 6 MATCH SCHEDULE

Friday, April 26

Washington Spirit vs. Orlando Pride | Audi Field | 7 p.m. ET |NWSL+

Angel City FC vs. Kansas City Current | BMO Stadium | 10 p.m. ET | Prime Video

Saturday, April 27

North Carolina Courage vs. Seattle Reign | WakeMed Soccer Park | 7 p.m. ET | NWSL+

Utah Royals vs. Houston Dash| America First Field | 7:30 p.m. ET | NWSL+

Chicago Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns | Seatgeek Stadium | 7:30 p.m. ET | ION

San Diego Wave vs. Bay FC | Snapdragon Stadium | 10 p.m. ET | ION

Sunday, April 28

NJ / NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville| Red Bull Arena | 5 p.m. ET | NWSL+

NWSL Pitch Notes

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