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Jenna Pel broke down eight teams and their respective talking points as the National Women’s Soccer League officially hits its halfway point. Her points continue with the final eight teams.
8.) For Gotham, it’s Esther or bust
Is there a single player more indispensable to her team than Esther González is for Gotham? The Spanish forward currently leads the Golden Boot chase with 10 goals. The entirety of her team has scored a total of six goals on the season. All five of Gotham’s victories in 2025 have included at least one Esther goal.
The goals have simply not been flowing for the 2023 NWSL champions — particularly from its forward cadre. Ella Stevens has yet to replicate last year’s banner season. Midge Purce has contended with injuries through this halfway point. Neither have found the back of the net. Time will tell if league debutants, and Brazil attackers, Geyse and Gabi Portilho will make a meaningful impact this season, as the latter has not appeared since April. The return of Rose Lavelle for the back half of the season from a long injury will boost hopes.
There are less question marks in other areas of the pitch for Gotham. Rookies Sarah Schupansky and Lilly Reale have quickly bedded into the NWSL with distinction. Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and Gotham’s backline are particularly stout and well-organized. Mandy Freeman has served as a solid deputy at center back in place of the injured Tierna Davidson. According to American Soccer Analysis, Gotham owns the second best Expected Goals Against, behind only Kansas City.
As Esther departs for EURO 2025, Gotham will need to prioritize utilizing the summer to diversify its attack.
7.) Patience pays off for Bev Yanez, Racing Louisville
Thanks to an effective press, player personnel that suits the playing style and a string of tenacious performances, Racing Louisville occupy a long-eluded playoff position. Louisville has finished in ninth place every year of its four-year existence. This just may be the season in which they will no longer be on the outside looking in.
Generous credit belongs to head coach Bev Yanez, whose project is yielding results in her second season at the helm. Yanez is currently just one of two female managers in the league, and the only American. Yanez is Louisville’s fourth-ever coach and has seemed to crack the code of creating a team identity.
Racing’s roster construction can be defined by assembling and maximizing performances of league journeywomen — such as Taylor Flint, Janine Sonis, Arin Wright and Lauren Milliet. What Racing may lack in star power they more than make up for in cohesion and grit. Louisville’s signature 2-0 win versus Orlando on Matchday 13 demonstrates a sense of self-belief and determination that could finally deliver Louisville to the long sought after postseason.
6.) Seattle Reign gracefully bridge the generational gap
The Reign’s squad reaches across the age spectrum, and has generated productivity from both its teenagers and 30-something’s. The Reign’s final game before the summer break was indicative of this, as the Reign’s goal scorers ranged from 34 (Ji So-Yun) to 19 years old (Emeri Adames).
Laura Harvey has struck the right balance between youth and experience. Seattle are just two points shy of tying its final points tally from last year’s second-to-last place finish. The re-build appears to be going according to plan.
The Reign’s resolute defense is led by NWSL all-time appearance leader Lauren Barnes (36) and fellow center back literally half her age Jordyn Bugg (18). Second league all-time league goal-scorer Lynn Biyendolo (32) and Reign all-time assist leader Jess Fishlock (38) have tallied goals this season alongside youngsters Bugg, Emeri Adames (19), Maddie Dahlien (20) and Sally Menti (23).
The Seattle Reign’s offensive statistics do not necessarily portend a playoff team. They lead the league in possession lost and passes failed, have taken the second fewest shots and are tied with Chicago with the fewest carries into the final third.
This scrappy and streetwise Seattle side may not rack up style points, but the table does not lie, and results are all that matters.
5.) Playing the kids works wonders for Portland
The absence of 2023 MVP Sophia Wilson this season to impending motherhood has also provided new life for the Portland Thorns. Portland are just three points shy of second place in the table, and are comfortably above the playoff line. Its young players have much to do with that.
According to FBREF.com, the Thorns boast the youngest roster in the league by minutes played at just 25.3 years old. Rookies have accounted for a league-best eight total goals so far this season, and are the only side with more than two rookie goal-scorers, with four total. Despite the many roses, Portland were dealt a thorn before Matchday 13 as rookie winger Caiya Hanks suffered an ACL tear.
Though she is just 19, Olivia Moultrie is already on 79 caps for her club team, and has also been instrumental in the Thorns’ success. Second-year player Reilyn Turner is enjoying a breakout season and leads the club with four goals and one assist. Portland mainstays Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming, Bella Bixby and Hina Sugita have also put forth notable half-seasons thus far.
Portland faced a chorus of questions heading into the 2025 season, particularly up top without Wilson, Morgan Weaver, or Christine Sinclair. A new guard has emerged and has answered the call with resounding confidence.
4.) For Washington, meet the new boss; same as the old boss
It has been an uneven season for the Washington Spirit, to put it mildly. Though the Spirit arrive at the summer break in a home playoff position, it has been a bumpy ride — both on and off the pitch.
The Spirit have faced a revolving door of injuries to marquee names. As a result, including the triumphant 2025 Challenge Cup, 14 different lineups have taken the field in all 14 games. This irregularity has potentially contributed to the side’s defensive wobbles, too. According to Opta, the Spirit lead the league in errors leading to shots, including goals. Despite commanding performances from new addition Gift Monday, as well as Ashley Hatch and Rose Kouassi, aforementioned injuries have also affected the potency of its attack. The Spirit has been shut out four times already this year — one fewer than the entirety of its 2025 season.
This turbulence is only compounded by an impending and unexpected change at the head coach position. Jonatan Giráldez will exit the club in favor of fellow Michelle Kang-owned club Olympique Lyonnais after just 377 days in charge. Former assistant Adrián González will officially become head coach on July 18 (another peculiarity). González cuts a well-known and reportedly well-liked figure. He led the team to a 10-4-1 record in an interim role last season prior to Giráldez’s arrival.
Washington has proven to be resilient in the face of upheaval — particularly in the case of its successful 2021 NWSL Championship run. The Spirit will hope for more stability come August.
3.) San Diego Wave propelled by its French connection
Much has justifiably been commented on about Jonas Eidevall’s stylistic revolution of the San Diego Wave. The former Arsenal manager has succeeded in transforming a team that prized pragmatism and directness into a more free-flowing and dynamic outfit.
The Wave enters the halfway break in a highly respectable third place. Last season was marked by turmoil, as the Wave finished seven points short of a playoff spot and saw three coaches come and go within a single season. The Wave appear to have turned the page. Eidevall has quickly adjusted to the NWSL’s transitional pace while also deftly managing the departures of club legends Alex Morgan and Naomi Girma. San Diego has scored more goals than any team not named the Kansas City Current, and have yet to lose a match by more than a single goal.
Much of San Diego’s success is owed to its French internationals, specifically creative conduit Kenza Dali and early MVP frontrunner Delphine Cascarino. French left-back Perle Morroni has also been instrumental in the Wave’s attack with her overlapping runs and synchronicity with Cascarino. Dali’s standout NWSL performances amplify the questions around her exclusion from France’s EURO 2025 squad.
It’s officially a new wave in San Diego.
2.) The Orlando Pride return to Earth
What goes up must come down. After 2024’s nearly perfect and gravity-defying season, it is logical for the Pride to come back to Earth. The 2024 double winners have put forth a strong subsequent season, and have secured second place in the table at the interim.
However, Orlando’s comprehensive 2-0 defeat away at Louisville conveyed a leggy and battle-worn side lacking new ideas. The Pride scraped by Bay FC and the Houston Dash, 1-0, in its previous two matches, despite being largely outplayed in both times. Indeed, the mark of a champion is digging out results, but one must wonder how sustainable that will be throughout an entire season.
Striker Barbra Banda continues to score goals at an outstanding clip, and is tied with Temwa Chawinga with eight on the year. However, the Pride have had trouble producing goals elsewhere. Banda and Marta account for 65% of the Pride’s goals this year. Mart, the 39-year-old phenom, has started every match this year save for two, but has not scored a goal since April.
However, rest is not on the horizon for either Banda or Marta as they will be competing for their respective countries in the Women’s Africa Cup Of Nations and Copa América tournaments. Banda was notably goal-shy upon returning from the Olympics last season, so that will be worth observing.
1.) The Kansas City Current find a new gear
There is no stopping the Kansas City Current. Simply put, Vlatko Andonovski’s side has elevated their performance at both an individual and collective level.
Injuries to key players has been a league-wide theme this season, but Kansas City has dealt with their share of absences with aplomb. No Debinha, Alana Cook, Lo’eau LaBonta — no problem.
One past deficiency has been addressed, and then some. Goalkeeper Lorena has been nothing short of sensational in her debut NWSL season. Moreover, the Current’s high-powered offense remains electric. Michelle Cooper, in particular, has enjoyed a distinguished and productive season and leads the goals with goals + assists per 90. 2024 Golden Boot winner and MVP Temwa Chawinga has eschewed a sophomore slump and remains at the front of the pack of the Golden Boot race. Bia Zamaretto has also not skipped a beat after returning from injury and has scored as many goals (5) as she had all last season.
At this juncture last season, Kansas City were conjoined with Orlando at the top of the table with 29 points apiece. Today, the Current sit pretty in first place and are four points clear of that mark. Barring an unforeseen drop-off, Kansas City are in the catbird seat to clinch its first NWSL Shield in franchise history.
