The playoff field has its first confirmed guest, and transfer rumors are swirling over Angel City. Meanwhile, the Sphere of Mediocrity grows ever larger.

Here’s how they shape up after most of Week 18:

Cream of the Crop

x-Kansas City Current (15-2-1, 46 pts; vs Courage, 2-0):  Temwa Chawinga did not score against the North Carolina Courage, but neither did the Courage. That leaves Chawinga with 11 goals while the Current have conceded only 10. Kayla Sharples continues to stay in the discussion for Defender of the Year, and even as it has taken Ally Sentnor some time to fully integrate into the attack, the defense has become a well-oiled machine, and the win over the Courage made the Current the first team to secure an official invite to the 2025 playoffs. The only bad news is that Esther Gonzalez scored for Gotham to edge ahead of Chawinga in the Golden Boot race.

Angel City wins two in a row as transfer rumors involving Alyssa Thompson heat up, the Kansas City Current clinch a playoff spot before Labor Day, bottom teams continue to make things interesting, and Racing Louisville drop yet more points in stoppage time.

Where does Angel City stand amidst Alyssa Thompson’s reported transfer interest?

Angel City earned a 2-1 win over California counterparts Bay FC, and now sit just outside the playoff line in ninth place. Monday night’s result, however, feels like a burial of the lede, as it was set in the backdrop of multiple departures. On Wednesday, the club announced the transfers of Alana Kennedy and Katie Zelem to the Lion City Lionesses for an unspecified fee. Those exits were soon overshadowed by bombshell reports of Chelsea’s interest in 20-year-old star winger Alyssa Thompson. The deal is reportedly in “advanced talks” prior to the FA Women’s Super League’s deadline day on September 4, as Thompson was an “excused absence” from Monday’s match.   

9.) North Carolina prove progress is impossible without change

The Courage endured a nightmare start to its 2025 campaign, earning just two points from an available 15. The early crisis in Cary prompted tweaks to North Carolina’s trademark playing style. Under head coach Sean Nahas, the Courage has become famous for its silky, dynamic, possession-dominant play. But with such a style failing to yield results, North Carolina has since swapped its obsession with possession for pragmatism. It adjusted its formation to a three-back system to enable more stability in midfield and wide areas.

The changes have paid off. The Courage have accrued an impressive 5-2-1 record in the interim, and are tied on points with the current eighth place holders Gotham. Courage forward Manaka Matsukobo has particularly profited, scoring a team-leading four goals and notching four assists in the last five matches. 

North Carolina’s late comeback win over the Houston Dash in the final matchday before the summer break symbolizes its first half of the season. It overcame an early deficit to score two unanswered goals in the closing 20 minutes. Forwards Jaedyn Shaw and Hannah Betfort both broke their goal-scoring ducks with the vital goals. According to the sports analytics service Opta, the Courage now lead the league in points gained from a losing position, with eight.  

10.) Bay FC find themselves in the messy middle

So close, yet so far. Bay FC feel like a protypical mid-table club in that they often outplay opponents this season, yet they do not have the points to show for it. Only once has Bay conceded more than two goals in a match and lost by more than a two-goal margin — and that was away at imperious Kansas City. Bay FC often hangs tough in games but simply cannot deliver the goods when it matters most. They own the third-worst big chance conversion record, per Opta. Asisat Oshoala remains mired in ‘bust’ territory with zero goals or assists on the season.

Bay FC are on a quest for consistent form, as Albertin Montoya’s side has not yet strung together consecutive wins or draws this season. Bay FC will need to discover another missing piece to its jigsaw to return to the playoffs. 

11.) Can Angel City discover its mettle?

Head coach Alexander Straus officially joined Angel City from Frauen-Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich on June 1. In the three matches Straus has overseen, Angel City have lost twice and drawn once. For context, Straus only experienced two Bayern Munich league losses in the entirety of the three seasons in which he helmed the club. Perhaps it is a culture shock, a deficient squad, or a glaring symbol of the parity absent in other global leagues. Regardless, Angel City has yet to benefit from a new manager bounce and currently sits three points outside the playoff position. 

Notably, since Savy King’s horrifying on-field medical event on May 9, Angel City has yet to pick up a win or keep a clean sheet. Straus is tasked with helping Angel City strike a more even balance between attack and defense. Led by rookie Riley Tiernan and starlet Alyssa Thompson, Angel City are the only team outside the top four with 20 goals to its name. However, they have conceded the third most goals in the league, with 58% of its shipped goals occurring in the second half. It has certainly been a tough go, but Angel City will need to emerge from the international break with resolve and resilience. 

12.) Houston Dash fail to launch, again

The Houston Dash has been plagued by mediocrity through the entirety of its existence. Only once in its 11-year history has the Dash qualified for the postseason. Based on results and performances at the midway point, the Dash appear to remain on that turgid trajectory.

Despite several splashy off-season pick-ups such as Yazmeen Ryan, Delanie Sheehan, and Messiah Bright as well as a spate of promising early performances, Houston has reverted to the mean. They are now seven points adrift of a playoff spot. Matchday 13 saw Jane Campbell return to the net and reclaim her captaincy after a five-match stretch that saw her dropped in favor of Abby Smith. However, it did not spur a positive result, as the Dash failed to protect a lead against North Carolina and came away with zero points following another late collapse. Similarly, in early June, the Dash were seconds away from securing an impressive point away at Orlando before capitulating in 90’+9. Houston now dubiously lead the NWSL with most points dropped from a winning position, with 8. 

Though avoiding another last place finish would technically be an improvement from 2024, more was expected from Houston.

13.) Has Chicago already hit its ceiling?

Despite losing taliswoman Mallory Swanson to maternity leave, few could have foreseen the depth of Chicago’s despair in 2025. Chicago’s 6-0 mauling at the hands of the Orlando Pride in the season opener appears to have been a harbinger for the poor season ahead. The 2024 playoff side have been seemingly locked in 13th place thus far this season, with just a single victory and three draws through the halfway point. 

The dismissal of head coach Lorne Donaldson after an abysmal 1-6-1 start was met with mixed reaction, as some observers believed Donaldson was the scapegoat for an insufficient squad. Since the promotion of former assistant coach Masaki Hemmi to an interim role, the Stars have shown scant signs of life. Despite some positive passages of play, the Stars have only picked up six points of a possible 33. It appears Chicago is in need of a meaningful roster upgrade in order to avoid a lost season.    

14.) Will Coenraets survive the summer?

The Utah Royals sit bottom of every statistical category — fewest points, fewest goals scored, most goals allowed, and worst XG difference. Its lone win of the season came against fellow cellar dwellers the Chicago Stars back in April. While a brutal injury list has contributed to the Royals’ underperformance, the team’s lack of any forward momentum and management’s stubborn insistence on a particular style of play is concerning. 

Last year Utah endured a similarly turgid start to the season, collecting just four points through the opening 14 matches of its inaugural season. It cost then-head coach Amy Rodriguez her job. Jimmy Coenraets helped right the ship, as Utah went on to snatch 17 points out of a possible 27. The 30 year-old was rewarded with a contract that would make him permanent head coach through 2027. 

However, Utah currently lay claim to even fewer points than it had when Rodriguez earned the sack last season. The climb out of last place after the international break does not get any easier. Utah will face a thankless run-in at the restart, as four of its next five opponents currently occupy playoff positions. Will Utah’s ownership show Coenraets grace, or opt to make a second successive mid-season coaching change? 

The terms of the sale were not made public but The Athletic reported that the sale totaled around $600 million. The purchase includes MLS side Real Salt Lake, NWSL’s Utah Royals FC, the Real Monarchs of MLS NEXT Pro and the RSL Academy. It also includes real estate assets in the form of America First Field, Zions Bank Stadium and Zions Bank Training Center. 

“We are honored to join the Real Salt Lake Club and invest in the highest levels of men’s and women’s soccer in both RSL and the Royals,” said Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Company in a statement. “We are grateful for David Blitzer’s trust, and I am confident our combined experience in sports leadership will elevate soccer within Utah and support the Club’s goal of winning championships. We are proud to join the ‘RioT’ and an incredibly passionate fanbase.”

The clubs were initially sold to Blitzer, Ryan Smith and Arctos Partners, a private equity platform, in January 2022 after racist behaviors of then-owner Dell Loy Hansen were reported by The Athletic in 2020.

Blitzer, who is staying on as a minority owner, is involved in ownership groups across numerous leagues like the NBA, NFL, NHL and professional soccer clubs throughout Europe. But he is not local. This was part of the impetus to sell as they felt that “the control owner of a franchise should really be local and immensely embedded in their community,” Blitzer told The Athletic.

The Millers are well known in Utah as the 35-year owners and stewards of the NBA’s Utah Jazz before selling the franchise in October 2020. They are “pioneers of professional sports and entertainment in Utah and have a legacy of commitment to the community that spans more than four decades,” according to the clubs’ official release.

The hope is that the combination of local ownership with Blitzer’s global sports leadership will form a powerful partnership.

“The Millers have a long-standing commitment to community, youth sports, and sound business operations, and we have a proven history with David, one of the most accomplished sports owners in the world,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “Together, this group is perfectly positioned to strengthen the club and grow soccer in Utah and the region.”

Steve Miller, Chairman of the Larry H. Miller Company Board of Directors, will serve as Chairman and Governor for the Utah Royals FC, with Steve Starks serving as the alternate Governor.

The Utah Royals are in their second year of operation in the franchise’s second iteration. It was announced in December 2020 that the Royals, then an expansion franchise under Hansen, would be folding. At the time, a buy-back clause was included in the termination of the Royals franchise for future prospective owners to trigger. The return of the Royals to the NWSL, led by Blitzer and Smith, was announced in March 2023 and the club began play in 2024.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman, alongside Garber and the governor of Utah Spencer Cox, was in Sandy Friday to welcome the new owners to the league.

“This powerful partnership between the Miller family and David Blitzer will elevate women’s soccer in Utah and continue to build fandom for the Royals FC,” Berman said in a press release. “Miller Sports + Entertainment has consistently demonstrated commitment to building sport and community both on and off the pitch- aligning with our values at the NWSL – and we welcome this new ownership group to the league.”

But three matches into 2025, and alarm bells can already be heard in the Wasatch Valley. The Royals have taken only one out of nine points—less than the start of their expansion year—are being exploited trying to play out of the back, and remain without several injured players heading into Friday night’s home match against the Thorns.

“I think we made the right analysis and had a lot of individual talks as well,” Royals coach Jimmy Coenraets said Wednesday. “A lot of what we’re doing right now is not bad at all. It’s just making sure we fine-tune the individual things.”

A look at the Royals gameplay suggests they may have to do more than just fine-tune. The last match before the FIFA break saw them get smothered by the Kansas City Current, turning the ball over in dangerous spots time and again.

Coenraets said his team did a decent job against the Current advancing the ball from Zone 1 to Zone 2 (the back line to the midfield) but struggled to get to Zone 3, particularly with any amount of danger.

“They had 20 box entries, we only had six,” Coenraets said of the Current match. He preceded that by quoting 47 final third entries for the Royals against 48 for the Current. But many of the Royals were last-ditch, desperation balls. On the other side, the Current were often creating turnovers and entering the final 3rd in transition.

“We have a (set) of rules and principles that we introduced to the team that we’re applying 70 percent,” the coach said. “It’s getting that 70 percent to a 90 percent or 100 percent, and then we will be successful.”

Time will tell if the Royals will remain stubborn and keep playing through keeper Mandy McGlynn in buildup play. Friday’s guests, the Thorns, are likewise struggling to fill the back of the net and are without their best defensive forward Sophia Wilson, who is pregnant.

Asked last week about the process of playing a strict, possession style, McGlynn said: “It’s a work in progress.” McGlynn has always been aggressive off her line and capable of sweeping up attacks before they materialize. Using her feet to elude pressure and keep opponents off-balance is a different story, though.

“The hardest thing was how we conceded those goals, we trained a lot on that,” midfielder Dana Foederer said. “That’s what we have continued doing now. How is our press? How do we defend in our own box?”

Foederer pointed to her relationship with Claudia Zornoza and said, “I know I can pass her any ball.” That partnership will only become stronger with more precision passing from the backline. And Sentnor, who has spent too much time dribbling into defenders who have swarmed her en masse. That is a problem that could be largely alleviated by stronger service.

Coenraets is pleased with the amount of possession the Royals have had, but said too much of it has been horizontal. He would like to see that possession used to push the ball down the pitch.

“Can we have the same possession but play the vertical balls instead of keep on going horizontal, keep on going back to our goalkeeper. So very happy with the fact that we are on the ball more but not it’s translating that on the ball performance into forward threats, making sure we’re getting into the final third.”

The coach is remaining calm, though, and cautions that it has only been three games out of 26.

“We’re three games into the season,” he said. “I do understand the results, but it’s a process thing and we have to make sure we’re not throwing everything overboard.

“We have to become better at what we do.”

You know how it goes by now.

Ally Sentnor gets the ball at her feet, then cuts inside, beating one, two, three defenders, before she finds herself 20-25 yards from goal. Keep dribbling? Nah. Look for the open pass? Waste of time. Uncork a screamer toward the top corner? Now that’s the stuff.

The 21-year-old winger did it again last month in the SheBelieves Cup, a signature long-range torpedo against Colombia that put Sentnor’s reputation on its biggest stage yet. The 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Rookie of the Year finalist — and the league’s final No. 1 draft pick ever — had brought her calling card to the U.S. women’s national team, and was rewarded in the process.

Sentnor’s performances across her two starts were bright spots for head coach Emma Hayes during SheBelieves. “She’s got qualities that can decide a game,” Hayes noted after the U.S. loss to Japan. “She certainly finishes the minimal chances she might get. That’s what top players possess, and I think she’s got that.”

Such a vote of confidence from Hayes caps a year of gradually increasing notoriety for Sentnor, who scored three goals and garnered a hefty number of downballot Rookie of the Year votes with the Utah Royals in her inaugural professional campaign.

New kits can only mean one thing: Kit rankings! Who delivered and which clubs got it totally wrong? Allow me to do my annual moonlighting as a fashion critic, through the lens of an NWSL expert.

We’re going worst to first here on each new kit:

14. Chicago Stars

Look, some of this is about a rebrand that is a downgrade and never needed to happen, but the kit itself is also a far cry from the days of standard-setting creativity found in the “Elevated” kit or even the “Foundation” kit. Chicago once set the bar in branding and kits. Now, the “Stars” have “liquid metal-like patterns symbolizes the relentless intensity that lies within.”

Luckily, their primary jersey is great. Here’s to hoping they were that blue one as much as possible in 2025.

13. NJ/NY Gotham FC

Gotham and Nike got it right by going back to the Sky Blue FC roots with this color palette, and that should be the standard going forward. The light blue and black play off each other nicely, and they will always contrast enough to serve as the primary color of a separate kit.

That said, it’s impossible to look past the shoulder-pad vibes here. Are shoulder pads in again? I’m saying no.

12. North Carolina Courage

Utilizing a bold red — an actual color in the team crest — is a step up from last year’s dip into the world of pink, and the marketing around this jersey as having “subtle rosettes, the unique markings found on lionesses — symbols of both power and grace,” all sounds great.

From a distance, however, those details are unlikely to show up, and this could look like the early NWSL days of red color blocks.

11. Racing Louisville FC

On the one hand, I like this kit. On the other hand, I want more from it.

I, among others, have been begging Louisville for a real take on a mint kit, and this is it from the club and Nike. The expectation around that was for a lighter, ‘minty’ green rather than this darker hue, but the team already has a light-colored kit, so this had to be a darker color.

Green and black go great together, so there’s that. They beat Boston and Denver to this colorway, too, so points to Louisville. Unfortunately, this is not really a mint kit, with the NWSL/Nike marketing even mentioning “hints of mint green.” It’s OK, but it isn’t a home run and seems off brand.

10. Washington Spirit

Obnoxiously bright yellow is back in the nation’s capital, and at least this time it looks better than last year’s gradient template that unfortunately had to be worn in a final.

Still, it’s hard to know what’s going on here. It has been two years since Spirit owner Michele Kang said the team’s black-and-white logo marked a “rebrand in progress.” Since then, they’ve stuck with black and loud yellow, but they haven’t made any big, formal announcements about long-term branding.

The yellow remains, and the best explanation we have is ‘just because.’ I really don’t hate it, although it’s hard not to see this as an Australia kit.

9. Houston Dash

Well, they certainly tried something different. The Dash will wear purple for the first time because… well, why not? Hard to say. Credit to the Dash for leaning into their recent ethos: “The kit represents organizing the chaotic energy to create a cosmic storm and a new beacon of hope for the club.”

I guess? There’s literally almost nothing they’d want to repeat about last year, so any fresh start is a good one. The socks stand out. I don’t love this having nothing to do with the actual Dash branding, but alternate jerseys are aloud to do that sometimes.

8. Bay FC

Speaking of on-brand, Bay FC gets its first kit in actual team colors in year two of operation. Last year’s offering was abysmal – so much so that the white jersey also got replaced in 2025 – but it was always going to be boring due to production cycles of two-plus years and a shorter timeline on an expansion decision.

Let’s focus on the new primary, the navy blue: The blue and red play off each other nicely, and the explanation that nine lines represent the nine counties of the Bay is at least something localized. However, the centered badge above the Nike Swoosh is bizarre.

7. Portland Thorns

This is a true middle-ground kit. Is it bad? No. Is it amazing or creative? Also no. Would I objectively wear it? Yes, I think so.

Portland is one of the most storied franchises in the NWSL, so consistency isn’t a bad thing. The Thorns have leaned into black as a primary for the better part of a decade now, and there’s nothing wrong with what they’ve done here. It is infinitely better than whatever that green kit was last year.

6. San Diego Wave

The water look might take some getting used to at first, but two things jump out about the design:

One, it actually exists. The loud pink alternate was cool and all, but it was just a gradient template like the rest of the league. This jersey at least tries to be something. Which leads to point No. 2.

The storytelling earns points here. San Diego won the entire 2024 kit rollout with its bold, colorful Del Sol Kit that represented the gorgeous skies of the area. This Altamar Kit represents the sea, completing the collection of sun and sea. What better describes San Diego?

5. Seattle Reign FC

Yes, it’s a white (sponsor-less) kit, but the gold accents and blue trim really make this Reign kit stand out.

This is a crisp, modern take on the classic Reign brand, one that was mercilessly chopped to pieces for a few years by its French overlords before returning last year. Maybe I’m guilty of nostalgia with rating this so highly, but I suspect I am not alone.

4. Utah Royals FC

Putting aside the sponsor here – which isn’t a heavy factor in the other kits – the actual design of the whole combination is great. The Utah mountains and terrain are always worth highlighting, the blue and yellow pop – great choice to go with yellow socks – and the use of a secondary logo really works well in this case, considering it is the shape of the state.

The designers don’t control the sponsors. This design and color combination gets high marks.

3. Angel City FC

Don’t call this black-and-white kit boring. It has a classic look with enough detail to be interesting, from the LA-area landmarks in the toile pattern to near-perfect execution of Sol Rosa pink accents. The V-neck was a very smart choice here.

If you had told me Angel City was going to ditch a Sol Rosa-based kit for white, I would have been mad. But seeing what they did makes a big difference. This is game-ready and street-ready, which should have mass appeal.

2. Orlando Pride

Remember how that one leaked image made it look like the Pride were going to wear blue? Me either.

Orlando’s new purple kit is going to be its primary, shifting the thoughtful peach outfit to its rightful place as a secondary kit. The purple hue is on point, the light blue accents – pulling from the original 2016 Lake Eola inspiration – are great complements, and the iridescent crest meant to represent the Shield and NWSL Championship double is a nice touch (still don’t like centered crests, though).

Take a look at all the new kits together, and Orlando’s really stands out, especially as Louisville leans away from purple — for now.

1. Kansas City Current

They just had to do it — and they finally did. Kansas City, the team whose motto was “Teal Rising” — with no other teams in the league utilizing teal — kept failing to deliver a truly teal kit. Now it’s here, and it should be a hit.

The details are cool, although (like others in this list) they won’t show up on TV: The Teal Town Kit features a map view of Kansas City and the Missouri River, and the Current’s crest sits over the location of CPKC Stadium.

It’s a distinct color. Who would have ever thought teal and red work? I was skeptical a few years ago, but the important thing is that they’ve owned it.

The array of kits ranges from unique colors, like the Kansas City Current rolling out an all-teal kit for the first time, to bold diversions like the Houston Dash wearing purple.

Importantly, the updates to the secondary kits (Bay FC and league champion Orlando Pride will wear their new jerseys as primary kits) give each team a completely customized collection for the first time in league history. Nike and the NWSL launched a new era of their 12-year partnership last year with a custom jersey for each team, but the 2024 secondary kits were all template holders as a bridge to get to these new kits in 2025. From here, teams are expected to get one new kit each year, alternating between primary and secondary.

Goalkeeper jerseys have also been updated in 2025.

For the first time, fans can purchase authentic versions of jerseys in addition to replicas, consistent with other major leagues. Replica jerseys will feature embroidered crests this year, an upgrade from the printed crests of previous years. The authentic jerseys feature more detail and higher-end material — and cost $100 more, coming in at $195 before any customization.

All players from the 2025 NWSL season will be available for customization in the NWSL’s shop, according to the league

The league also announced expanded sizing options for replica jerseys, ranging from extra small to double XL for women, and small to triple XL for men.

“This suite of jerseys, featuring bold designs, vibrant colors and accompanying lifestyle products like the anthem jacket, represent another key step in growing the NWSL’s footprint within the global marketplace,” said NWSL VP of consumer products Katie Eaton in a statement. “As we continue to elevate our product offerings, we’re focused on blending sport and lifestyle in ways that authentically connect with players and fans alike.”

The 2025 National Women’s Soccer League schedule is out. That means it’s time to start buying tickets, planning road trips, and of course complaining. Here are a few nuggets picked up while reviewing.

Love the Challenge Cup as standalone

We already knew this was coming, but having the Challenge Cup as a standalone event a week ahead of the first round of matches is an upgrade. Last year’s setup made for an awkward Week 1 dynamic in which it was confusing for some that the San Diego Wave and NJ/NY Gotham FC had played a match that did not count toward the standings. Those clubs were then saddled with an extra midweek match.

Sure, the Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit have to start playing a week before everyone else, but I’m guessing that is preferable to adding an extra match in the same number of days. The standalone match also offers a better opportunity to promote Week 1 during the Prime broadcast and build natural excitement into the games that will count toward the 2025 standings.

Notably, the final week of the regular season will see the return of “Decision Day” on Nov. 2, when simultaneous kickoffs will potentially help determine playoff seeding and the NWSL Shield winner. The league implemented a Decision Day for the first time in 2023 but had games spread across three days on the final weekend of 2024.

The Orlando Pride will host the Washington Spirit in a standalone match on March 7 in Orlando that will take place one week prior to the start of the regular season. The game is a rematch of last year’s NWSL Championship, which the Pride won for its first NWSL title.

Twenty-six rounds of play between the league’s 14 teams will be contested over 26 weeks, with a month-long break in July for international competitions.  

In addition to a “Decision Day,” the NWSL has branded the August 8-10 fixtures as “Rivalry Weekend.” The Portland Thorns will host the Seattle Reign, San Diego Wave FC will host Angel City FC, and NJ/NY Gotham FC will host the Washington Spirit.

CBS Sports will televise 21 games – 10 over the air on CBS and 11 on CBS Sports Network – in addition to 39 games streamed on Paramount+. ESPN will air three matches on ABC (up from one last year), 10 matches on ESPN and four games on ESPN2.

Friday nights remain dedicated to Prime Video, and Saturdays to ION for doubleheader coverage. June 14 will be a triple-header on ION.

NWSL+, the league’s in-house streaming platform, will air 30 matches.  

ESPN will televise two Decision Day matches while the remaining five contests will be available on NWSL+, according to the league.

Full international broadcast details will be announced at a later date.

The NWSL Championship will be played on Nov. 22 at a venue to be determined.