NWSL RETURNS
The NWSL returned to action for 2025 with an opening weekend that saw 21 goals across all matches. Reigning league champions and NWSL Shield winners, the Orlando Pride, kicked off their season with a 6-0 win against the Chicago Stars, with defender Emily Sams helping to secure the clean sheet.
With goals from Makenna Morris and Ashley Hatch, the Washington Spirit opened their season with a 2-1 victory at Houston. Forward Trinity Rodman returned to play with 23 minutes in the second half, her first on-field action for club or country since November. Also progressing through recovery, forward Croix Bethune made her way off the Season Ending Injury list, appearing on the Spirit’s bench for the first time since August 2024.
The Kansas City Current scored three goals for all three points over the Portland Thorns Saturday afternoon. Reigning MVP and Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga opened the scoring just four minutes into the match in front of a home crowd. Forward Michelle Cooper, who earned her first senior national team call up and international goal vs. Australia during the SheBelieves Cup, stayed in form with a goal from distance in the 24th minute. Midfielder Olivia Moultrie would get one back for the Thorns in the second half.
The Utah Royals and Bay FC shared the spoils of their match with a goal each. Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn notched the ever-rare keeper assist on the opening goal, finished by Canadian international Bianca St-Georges. Bay’s Kiki Pickett would equalize to close the first half and ultimately seal the draw.
Racing Louisville and the North Carolina Courage would also play to a draw Saturday night. Forward Emma Sears sent home a 13th minute tap-in, and January Futures Camp attendee, Riley Jackson scored her second professional goal to equalize for the Courage. Midfielder Jaedyn Shaw made her Courage debut in her 50th NWSL appearance.
The Seattle Reign and NJ/NY Gotham couldn’t be separated with second half goals for a 1-1 draw. While the debut of Seattle’s newly minted forward Lynn Biyendolo will have to wait, Gotham’s 14-year-old Mak Whitam made history, subbing into the match to become the youngest player in league history.
Angel City and the San Diego Wave closed the NWSL opening weekend with a 1-1 draw at BMO Stadium. Forward Alyssa Thompson had the second half equalizer, her 10th league goal, a follow up on her first international goal at the tail end of 2024.
WOMEN’S LEAGUE CUP CHAMPIONS
Across the pond, Chelsea’s Catarina Macario, Mia Fishel, and newest American signee Naomi Girma, took home the Women’s League Cup title in a 2-1 victory over Manchester City. The Blues will face Manchester City twice more in the coming week in the midweek UEFA Women’s Champions League quarterfinals legs and at the weekend in Women’s Super League play.
Paris Saint-Germain's Korbin Albert, Crystal Dunn, and Eva Gaetino have UWCL action midweek, following a 1-1 draw with Paris FC on Saturday. And Lindsey Heaps and Olympique Lyon will follow an 8-1 victory over Reims with a Tuesday UWCL leg one match.
UPCOMING ACTION
Broadcast information on upcoming matches featuring U.S. Women’s National Team players can be found below. All times listed are ET.
- Tuesday 3.18
- Wednesday 3.19
- UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarterfinal– Leg 1 of 2: Manchester City vs. Chelsea, 4:00 PM, DAZN
- Friday 3.21
- Première Ligue: Guingamp vs. Paris Saint-Germain, 4 PM, DAZN
- NWSL: Portland Thorns vs. Angel City, 10:00 PM, Prime Video
- Saturday 3.22
- Women’s Super League: Arsenal vs. Liverpool, 1:30 PM,
- Première Ligue: Saint-Etienne vs. Olympique Lyon, 4 PM, DAZN
- NWSL: North Carolina Courage vs. Seattle, 7 PM, NWSL+
- NWSL: Washington Spirit vs. Kansas City Current, 7:30 PM, ION
- NWSL: San Diego Wave vs. Utah Royals, 10:00 PM, NWSL+
- NWSL: Bay FC vs. Racing Louisville, 10:00 PM, ION
- Sunday 3.23
- Women’s Super League: Manchester City vs. Chelsea, 10:30 AM,
- NWSL: Chicago Stars vs. Houston Dash, 5:00 PM, NWSL+/Paramount+
- NWSL: Gotham FC vs. Orlando Pride, 5:00 PM, ESPN 2/ESPN+
FULL RUNDOWN
- Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, Première Ligue)
- 78 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Paris FC on March 15
- Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit, NWSL)
- DNP in 2-1 win vs. Houston on March 14
- Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign, NWSL)
- DNP, lower leg injury, vs. Gotham on March 15
- Jane Campbell (Houston Dash, NWSL)
- 90 minutes in 1-2 loss vs. Washington on March 14
- Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns, NWSL)
- 90 minutes in 1-3 loss vs. Kansas City on March 15
- Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current, NWSL)
- One goal and 67 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Portland on March 15
- Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC, NWSL)
- XX vs. Seattle on March 15
- Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain, Première Ligue)
- 90 minutes vs. Paris FC on March 15
- Emily Fox (Arsenal, Women’s Super League)
- 90 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Everton March 14
- Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, Première Ligue)
- DNP in 0-0 draw vs. Paris FC on March 14
- Naomi Girma (Chelsea, Women’s Super League)
- DNP in 2-1 win vs. Manchester City on March 15
- Lindsey Heaps (Olympique Lyon, Première Ligue)
- 90 minutes in 8-1 win vs. Reims on March 14
- Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit, NWSL)
- 67 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Houston on March 14
- Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current, NWSL)
- 67 minutes in 3-1 win vs. Portland on March 15
- Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit, NWSL)
- 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Houston on March 14
- Catarina Macario (Chelsea, Women’s Super League)
- 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Manchester City on March 15
- Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC, NWSL)
- 73 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Utah on March 15
- Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals)
- 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Bay FC on March 15
- Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit, NWSL)
- 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Houston on March 14
- Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage, NWSL)
- 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Louisville on March 15
- Jenna Nighswonger (Arsenal, Women’s Super League)
- DNP in 3-1 win vs. Everton on March 14
- Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit, NWSL)
- Subbed on for 23 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Houston on March 14
- Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash, NWSL)
- 90 minutes in 1-2 loss vs. Washington on March 14
- Emily Sams (Orlando Pride, NWSL)
- 90 minutes in 6-0 win vs. Chicago on March 14
- Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage, NWSL)
- 81 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Louisville on March 15
- Emma Sears (Racing Louisville, NWSL)
- XX vs. Carolina on March 15
- Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals, NWSL)
- 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Bay FC on March 15
- Jaedyn Shaw (North Carolina Courage, NWSL)
- 81 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Louisville on March 15
- Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC, NWSL)
- XX vs. Seattle on March 15
- Alyssa Thompson (Angel City, NWSL)
- XX vs. San Diego on March 16
- Gisele Thompson (Angel City, NWSL)
- XX vs. San Diego on March 16
- Lily Yohannes (Ajax Amsterdam, Eredivisie Vrouwen)
- 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Utrecht on March 16