With the over half of the regular season schedule now complete, another busy week of NWSL action kicked off on Wednesday with a pair of midweek games. In a rematch of the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup between 2023 league champions NJ/NY Gotham FC and 2023 Shield winners San Diego Wave FC, Gotham exacted revenge for its mid-March loss in the Challenge Cup with a 2-1 win at Red Bull Arena. The hosts struck first late in first half stoppage time with an impressive individual effort from Rose Lavelle. The dynamic midfielder collected the ball well outside the penalty area and took the space afforded from the retreating defense before unleashing a left-footed strike into the top-left corner from outside the penalty box. It was Lavelle’s third goal of the regular season and second in three games.
With Gotham leading 1-0 at the half, San Diego quickly flipped the script with an equalizer in the 48th. The teams remained deadlocked at 1-1 until late in second-half stoppage time when Jenna Nighswonger served in a cross from the left wing to the back post which defender Maycee Bell collected and finished for the game-winning goal, lifting Gotham to its fifth consecutive victory.
The other midweek matchup featured a five-goal thriller between Angel City FC and Racing Louisville, with the hosts prevailing 3-2 on a late game-winning goal from Sydney Leroux. Angel City jumped out to a two-goal lead but Louisville responded with goals in the 41st and 64th minutes to tie that game at 2-2 before Leroux’s game-winner in the 85th minute which was assisted by Alyssa Thompson.
On Friday night, the Orlando Pride topped the visiting Utah Royals FC with a commanding 6-0 win to remain unbeaten through 14 games this season. Zambian international Barbra Banda had two goals and two assists while Brazilian legend Marta also bagged a brace for Orlando in the victory.
The Houston Dash and San Diego Wave FC played to a scoreless draw on Saturday evening at Shell Energy Stadium with Jane Campbell recording her sixth shutout of the season, tied for the most by any goalkeeper in 2024.
Bay FC picked up its third win in five games, defeating California rivals Angel City FC 1-0 on Saturday night in San Jose on a first half goal.
The Kansas City Current maintained their place at the top of the league standings and remained unbeaten on the season with a 4-1 road win over the Portland Thorns on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park. The Current led 3-0 at the half and extended their lead to 4-0 with a goal from Malawi international Temwa Chawinga in the 47th minute before Sophia Smith pulled one back for Portland in the 73rd minute, netting her 10th goal of the season. Smith, who won the 2023 NWSL Golden Boot, is tied with Banda for the league lead in scoring this season and has now scored double-figure goals in three consecutive seasons.
The Washington Spirit extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 2-0 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday night at Red Bull Arena, snapping Gotham’s win streak. The Spirit opened the scoring in the 27th minute as Croix Bethune, who earned her first call-up as a training player for the USWNT’s recent training camp in Colorado, tallied her league-leading eighth assist of the season. The visitors from D.C. then doubled their advantage shortly after halftime with a goal from Trinity Rodman in the 47th minute. Defender Casey Krueger dribbled into the middle of the field and picked out Rodman on the right side of the penalty area. Rodman took one touch to settle and then smashed her right-footed attempt into the top right corner for her fourth goal of the season. Aubrey Kingsbury saved a penalty kick attempt by Gotham in the 90th minute to preserve the shutout victory.
Mallory Swanson also put her name on the scoresheet this weekend, tallying the opening goal for the Chicago Red Stars in their 3-1 road loss to the North Carolina Courage. Swanson opened the scoring in the 12th minute on a stellar solo run that began near the midfield strike. The dynamic forward flicked a throw-in to herself in space and weaved through the Courage defense before finishing with a low left-footed shot for her fifth goal of the season and second in as many games.
Chicago’s lead was short-lived however, as the Courage equalized in the 16th minute. North Carolina scored again in the 51st and 81st minutes to seal the victory and remain unbeaten at home this season.
After playing a woman down for the majority of the match following a red card in the ninth minute, Racing Louisville FC earned a resilient point on the road, coming back to draw Seattle Reign FC 1-1 on Sunday evening at Lumen Field. Following a straight red card to Arin Wright in the ninth minute, Bethany Balcer converted her ensuing attempt from the penalty spot to give the Reign a 1-0 lead. However, Louisville remained resilient and leveled the match in the 90+7th to secure the point away from home.
Broadcast information on upcoming matches featuring U.S. Women’s National Team players can be found below. All times listed are ET.
| Friday, June 28 | ||
|---|---|---|
| NWSL: Kansas City Current vs. Houston Dash | 8:00 p.m. | Prime Video |
| NWSL: San Diego Wave FC vs. Chicago Red Stars | 10:00 p.m. | NWSL+ |
| Saturday, June 29 | ||
| NWSL: Racing Louisville FC vs. Bay FC | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes |
| NWSL: Washington Spirit vs. North Carolina Courage | 7:30 p.m. | ION |
| NWSL: Utah Royals FC vs. Portland Thorns FC | 10:00 p.m. | ION |
| Sunday, June 30 | ||
| NWSL: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Seattle Reign FC | 1:00 p.m. | ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes |
| NWSL: Angel City FC vs. Orlando Pride | 7:30 p.m. | NWSL+ |
