The NWSL returns from its Olympic break on Friday, with plenty of changes to make note of in the past month and a half. Here’s what to know as things ramp back up.
Landon Donovan
There were a number of big moves made over the break. But perhaps none so big as the San Diego Wave, which hired former U.S. men’s national team star Landon Donovan as interim head coach. Speaking to the media on Monday, Donovan acknowledged a “steep” learning curve having never coached the women’s game before.
"I have a baseline, I know a lot of the players here [in San Diego] from watching them throughout the last few seasons, but the rest of the league...I'm going to have to lean on people, and I'm getting up to speed fast,” Donovan said. “I've watched a ton of film in the last two weeks trying to understand the league better."
Many have questioned the move, including U.S. women’s national team defender and Portland Thorns captain Becky Sauerbrunn. She acknowledged that she doesn’t know a lot about Donovan, but cited the differences between the NWSL and the MLS as one example of what makes it difficult for a coach to succeed if they haven’t coached the women’s game before.
"I don't know a lot about Landon, but I don't think he has that experience of living the women's game, of the ups and downs that we've gone through, both as a sport, as a league in the NWSL, as players," Sauerbrunn said. "Is it a prerequisite to have coached women to then be in the NWSL? I don't think that's necessarily true, but I think it makes it exceedingly more difficult to be successful if you haven't coached women at a high level. “It helps to know the players, to know the league, to know the world. And he's going to be thrown into something where, compared to MLS, the resources are different, the season is different, obviously the players are different."
Trades
From the Super League loans to trades, a number of teams’ rosters look slightly different than they did entering the international break.
The Portland Thorns made a cluster of moves, acquiring Alexa Spaanstra from Kansas City before then trading Janine Beckie to Racing Louisville in exchange for 2024 draft pick Reilyn Turner. Bethany Balcer will also join Racing after she was traded from Seattle in exchange for Jaelin Howell. It brings to an end a five-and-a-half-year run with the Reign. During that time, she scored 33 goals – tied for third in the NWSL.
On social media, Balcer admitted that she is “heartbroken” to be leaving Seattle. “If only there were adequate words to express what my time in Seattle has meant to me,” the Michigan native said. “I’m heartbroken to be leaving this way but am forever grateful for the last six years. This place has transformed me and allowed me to grow in incredible ways. While the soccer was fun and rewarding, it’s the people and places I’ll miss most. “Memories that will last a lifetime. Friendships that I’ll carry for the rest of my life. Seattle, it’s been an honor to represent you and play for such an incredible city and fan base.”
In a post on X, she alluded to there being more behind the trade than meets the eye, writing that “the truth will always come to light.”
Cloé Lacasse will join the NWSL for the first time, departing Arsenal for the Utah Royals. She spent just one season with the Gunners, notching five goals and two assists in 23 matches. There’s hope she could provide a boost for Utah, who currently stands at 2-11-3 – last in the league and having scored just eight goals in 16 games.
Meanwhile the Orlando Pride acquired Carson Pickett from Racing Louisville, who cited her wanting to be closer to home as the reason for the trade.
The Front Runners
While they didn’t win any of their Summer Cup games, the Orlando Pride also didn’t lose any of their Summer Cup games – drawing in all three. With six players off on international duty, younger talent gained valuable experience and the Pride’s unbeaten streak remains intact at 20 games.
A win or draw on Friday night would bring the Pride to a 21-game undefeated streak – breaking the 20-game record set by the Washington Spirit over the course of the 2021 regular season, 2022 regular season and Challenge Cup. The playoffs are all but guaranteed for Orlando, as eighth-place Bay FC sits 20 points back in the last playoff spot. Losses might feel inevitable – particularly with a match against second-place Kansas City on Sept. 13th – but it’s unlikely that the Pride would slide so far as to see themselves out of a playoff spot.
Barbra Banda will be one looking to continue her run as one of the league’s top scorers, currently sitting tied with Temwa Chawinga with 12 goals.
The addition of Grace Changa will have to wait, however, as she sustained a season-ending injury in the Olympics. While it doesn’t do much to hamper the Pride’s attacking unit, it is somewhat of a blow to the team’s depth. Kansas City is also in the hunt for the NWSL Shield and has lost just one game – to Orlando earlier this season. Similarly, they have an offensive powerhouse in Chawinga, and former USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski has done wonders in turning the team around in his first season at the helm of the Current. Washington, Portland and Chicago are all in the mix – and all three return one-third of the “Triple Espresso” that helped the USWNT to gold in the Olympics.
The return of the Olympians provides a boost, especially with their goalscoring tear in Paris.
The Race for the Playoffs
With a newly expanded playoffs set to debut at the end of the season, Bay FC’s spot is hardly secured. After starting the season with a win over Angel City, they soon found themselves near the bottom of the league table. But through the months of May and June they managed to climb their way into eighth, and entered the Olympic break with a win over Louisville, who currently sits one below them in ninth.
In 10th, San Diego has an uncharacteristic three wins thus far through 16 games. But on paper the reigning NWSL Shield winners have what’s required to make a run in the back half of the season. From one of the best defenders in the world in Naomi Girma, to offensive talent in Alex Morgan and Jaedyn Shaw – plus newly-added forward Delphine Cascarino – Donovan certainly doesn’t have a lack of talent to work with.
Make no mistake, teams like North Carolina and Chicago aren’t safe in sixth and seventh either. With 10 games left to play in the regular season, acquiring one of those eight playoff spots is pretty much anyone’s game at this point. What is guaranteed is a fun back-half for fans, as is common with the NWSL when the end of summer nears.
What about the Summer Cup?
The Summer Cup proved to be an exciting bit of action over the Olympic break, giving a number of young stars the chance to shine in the absence of some seasoned vets. Some teams, like the Spirit and Pride, looked different without their stars, while others, like Utah and Angel City, were able to further establish team chemistry and thrive in the tournament.
But it’s Gotham FC and Kansas City who will play for the Cup trophy, having advanced to the championship game on Friday, Oct. 25.