This past weekend, the National Women’s Soccer League kicked off its eighth full regular season (and historic ninth year overall) with all 10 teams in action, including the first-ever league games for two new clubs.
After the league’s two newest sides, Racing Louisville and Kansas City, played to a scoreless draw in the season-opener on Saturday, NJ/NY Gotham FC recorded the first win of the 2021 NWSL campaign, defeating the Houston Dash, 1-0, at Red Bull Arena. The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup runners-up got on the board in the 30th minute thanks to a right-footed strike from Midge Purce after a nifty dribble inside the penalty area. Purce, who scored twice during the Challenge Cup, played the full 90 minutes in the victory, as did her U.S. Women’s National Team teammate Carli Lloyd. Jane Campbell made one save for Houston in the loss while Kristie Mewis played 73 minutes for the Dash, tallying three shots.
💫 The Marvelous Midge Purce 💫#NJNYvHOU | https://t.co/0LtSAUK1Jw | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/VSEZgZmLCR
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 15, 2021
The West Coast nightcap between OL Reign and the North Carolina Courage also resulted in a scoreless draw. Goalkeeper Casey Murphy made three saves for the Courage while Megan Rapinoe came on for OL Reign as a second-half substitute and tallied one shot in 33 minutes of action, that a blast that smashed off the inside of the left post before bounding away.
On Sunday, the Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit played to a 1-1 draw at Exploria Stadium, with both goals scored in the final quarter-hour of action. Washington got on the board first with a header goal from Ashley Hatch in the 76th minute, but Orlando responded just eight minutes later as USWNT forward Alex Morgan calmly lifted a bouncing ball over goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe with her left foot for the equalizer. Morgan finished the night with three shots in 90 minutes of action, while Ali Krieger (90 minutes) and Ashlyn Harris (three saves) also went the distance for Orlando. Andi Sullivan and Emily Sonnett played the full 90 minutes for Washington, who controlled 55% of possession for the game, while Kelley O’Hara tallied one shot in 66 minutes for the Spirit.
You know who it is 💥@alexmorgan13 is baaaaack ⚽️#ORLvWAS | https://t.co/0LtSAUK1Jw | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/6NRuVCSP1M
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 16, 2021
One week after winning the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, Portland Thorns parlayed that momentum into an emphatic start to the regular season, downing the visiting Chicago Red Stars, 5-0. USWNT forward Sophia Smith bagged a brace in the victory with goals in the 16th and 30th minutes, while also serving in the ball which resulted in a Red Stars own goal to open the scoring just four minutes in. The match was also the NWSL regular season debut for Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, as the 2020 regular season was not played as planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Smith played 62 minutes on the afternoon, Lindsey Horan added four shots in 83 minutes, and Crystal Dunn, Becky Sauerbrunn and Adrianna Franch all went the full 90 for the Thorns, with Franch providing some stellar distribution in the build-up to both of Smith’s goals. Tierna Davidson, Casey Krueger, Julie Ertz (who had to leave the game in the first half with a knee injury), Mallory Pugh and Alyssa Naeher all saw action for Chicago in the loss.
“I’m super proud of the steps we’ve taken so far, but we still have so much we can do.”⁰
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) May 17, 2021
Sophia Smith talks about her 2 goals and our energy following our regular season opening win. #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/PkrsFAg2LA
In their final match with Manchester City before returning stateside to once again play in the NWSL, USWNT midfielders Rose Lavelle and Samantha Mewis both scored in the second half of Manchester City’s 5-1 win over West Ham United on Sunday, sending the Cityzens through to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Lavelle subbed into match in the 58th minute, followed by Mewis shortly thereafter in the 65th minute. The duo quickly connected, combining for a goal in the 74th minute as Mewis played Lavelle in with an excellent through ball and the Cincinnati native calmly finished to put City ahead, 3-1. Mewis added a goal of her own in stoppage time for her 16th goal of the season in all competitions, finishing the campaign tied with England international Chloe Kelly as the club’s top goal scorer.
Information on upcoming matches featuring U.S. Women’s National Team players can be found below. All times listed are ET.
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Friday, May 21 |
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Stade Reims vs. Paris Saint-Germain |
D1 Arkema |
2:45 p.m. |
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Bordeaux vs. Olympique Lyonnais |
D1 Arkema |
2:45 p.m. |
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Racing Louisville vs. Washington Spirit |
NWSL |
7:30 p.m. |
Twitch |
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Saturday, May 22 |
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North Carolina Courage vs. Orlando Pride |
NWSL |
7:00 p.m. |
Paramount+ |
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Chicago Red Stars vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC |
NWSL |
8:00 p.m. |
Paramount+ |
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Sunday, May 23 |
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Portland Thorns vs. OL Reign |
NWSL |
6:00 p.m. |
CBS Sports Network |
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Houston Dash vs. Kansas City |
NWSL |
7:00 p.m. |
Paramount+ |