Sam Kerr scores her first Gotham FC goal as the Bats draw Portland Thorns FC 2-2, while Sofia Cantore lifts Washington Spirit past Lindsey Heaps and Denver Summit FC 1-0. GOAL ranks all 16 NWSL teams in this week’s Power Rankings.
The NWSL Challenge Cup, presented by e.l.f. Cosmetics, brought the league's first match to Ohio as reigning champions Gotham FC met NWSL Shield winners Kansas City Current.
Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga won NWSL MVP and Golden Boot honors for the past two seasons and the Ballon d'Or shortlisted player just re-signed a contract with the Current through 2029 by way of the High Impact player rule.
Aitana Bonmati has won each of the last three Ballons d'Or Feminin - but the accolade will go to someone else in 2026. Will it be two-time winner and fellow Barcelona star Alexia Putellas who reasserts herself as the best player in the women's game? Or could there be a new name on the honour roll when the Golden Ball is handed out in Paris in October?
The NWSL has unveiled its 2026 regular-season schedule, opening March 13 with Washington Spirit hosting the Portland Thorns. Opening weekend also features expansion sides Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC making their league debuts on March 14, with Boston hosting defending champions Gotham FC and Denver opening on the road against Bay FC. Here are GOAL’s six takeaways.
From Christian Pulisic’s individual success to the USMNT exiting the World Cup earlier than hoped, GOAL outlines its predictions for American soccer in 2026.
NWSL sides San Diego Wave and Kansas City Current will join the World Sevens Football tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in December, the organization announced. The two clubs join an Americas-focused iteration of the tournament, which now has seven teams committed to play. The debut edition of the tournament featured entirely European clubs.
Alessia Russo is one of 11 Lionesses on the list of nominees for this year's FIFPRO XI, which also includes seven players from the Spain side England beat in the European Championship final - albeit not Mariona Caldentey, who put La Roja ahead in that game and finished as runner-up to Aitana Bonmati at the Ballon d'Or. That's not the only surprise, either, with Mary Earps included and there no representation for the United States women's national team.
Kansas City Current captain Lo'eau LaBonta has been added to the U.S. women's national team roster for the upcoming October friendlies, replacing injured Seattle Reign midfielder Sam Meza ahead of matches against Portugal and New Zealand. LaBonta will have opportunity to play in front of her club crowd on Oct. 29.
The Kansas City Current have become the quickest team ever to win the National Women's Soccer League Shield after extending their winning streak to 14 matches. The Current beat Seattle Reign FC 2-0 to secure the title with five games to spare in the 2025 season. This was the club's first major trophy since being formed in 2020.
Kansas City Current
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.JPG?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
