Orlando Pride's Marta, Barbra Banda, Kansas City Current's Temwa Chawinga and the top 10 players to watch this NWSL season

Alyssa Thompson was selected first by Angel City in the 2023 NWSL Draft. Thompson was still in high school and has already made a name for herself beyond her years.

In 2024 she scored four goals and added seven assists, and 2025 is looking even brighter for her after announcing her contract extension with the club through 2028.

The 2024 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year and 2023 NWSL first-overall draft pick, Ally Sentnor returns to Utah for her second season in the league.

While her first year didn't see the Royals go past the regular season, she still put up some good numbers in her own right scoring four goals and adding three assists.

Sentnor has a big task in front of adding some goals and wins to the Royals' resume, but after her performances with the USWNT in the SheBelieves Cup, she is more than ready.

Rose Lavelle has been out of commission for far too long, so the hope is that this season she'll return in full health and be Gotham's pulse in the midfield.

Lavelle joined the NWSL in 2017 after being drafted first overall by the Washington Spirit. In 2024, Lavelle joined Gotham as part of a three-year deal alongside fellow USWNT teammates Crystal Dunn, Tierna Davidson and Emily Sonnett.

Assuming Lavelle is back and healthy, she will absolutely be crucial to Gotham making another playoff run.

Yazmeen Ryan is a two-time NWSL Champion and is poised for a big season after joining the Houston Dash from Gotham. Ryan is a midfielder on the U.S. women's national team and joined the Dash for a reported $400,000 fee, an historic number for an intra-league transfer.

Ryan will offer the Dash all kinds of options both attacking wise and defensively. She's innovative going forward, but also tracks back and takes pride in her defense.

Esther González' 10 goals and four assists in 2024 were a work of art.

Her clutch winning goals, creativity in the final third, and ability to get Gotham far in the post-season was major. González will be a major piece to Gotham's front line this season, especially with many offseason transfer moves.

Seattle Reign FC landed a star in Lynn Biyendolo. She has won four titles in seven years, and looks to bring her winning ways to Seattle.

Biyendolo was named NWSL MVP in 2016 and also won her first Championship with the Flash that same year. After the Flash became the North Carolina Courage, she went on to lead the team to three-straight NWSL Sheilds and two Championships.

Biyendolo will be a major offensive asset for the Reign, who struggled last season to score goals.

Trinity Rodman was a force last season for the Spirit, scoring eight goals and chipping in six assists. Audi Field couldn't get enough of the "Trin Spin" and the attitude she would bring the field.

Assuming her back is in full health, expect to see Rodman putting on a show and helping the Spirit back into the playoffs. She's reaching her stride in the league and assuming she's healthy, there will be many more goals and moves named after Rodman.

Marta announcing she's not done yet and returning for the 2025 season was seismic. Marta and the Pride won their first NWSL Shield and Championship last year, adding the only two prizes Marta hadn't already won.

Marta's presence in the league goes beyond her creativity and ability to score - she's a legend and a leader and why so many people watch the game. Almost every year she's a player to watch, but this one especially as she's fresh off two major trophies and a historic season.

What else can Marta possibly bring to the NWSL?

Barbra Banda could not be stopped in 2024, and this was her first season in the league. Banda scored 17 goals, going neck-and-neck with Chawinga for goalscoring.

The Zambian international made an immediate impact for the Pride, not only scoring goals, but working back defensively time and time again for her teammates.

Banda will be hungry for more goals in 2025, and if any team has the pressure on them it's Orlando after winning the 2024 Shield and Championship.

Temwa Chawinga was hard to miss in her NWSL rookie season, scoring 21 goals and setting the league's single-season scoring record.

The Kansas City Current forward brought fans to the edges of their seats with her ability to score insane goals, dribble past the league's best defenders, and make the game look endlessly entertaining. If 2025 is anything like last year, expect the Malawian star to build off of her remarkable first season.

The Current are welcoming back many of their superstars, and the only thing Chawinga didn't accomplish last year was an NWSL title, so expect to see her hunting for more goals and a trophy this year.