It’s been another interesting week in the NWSL dear readers. We had a major trade within the NWSL, we had some important results for the playoff push in a very tight table, and we had a moment where the league learned from its mistakes. We have six weeks left to go in the regular season, another tournament that three teams are participating in, and an international break right before what looks to be a meaningful Decision Day. No team is mathematically eliminated, and the bottom of the table looks to be where the fun is right now. Let’s not waste time and get into the week that was.
The Shaw of it all
Credit: NWSL
Jaedyn Shaw scored for the North Carolina Courage in their draw against the Utah Royals on September 6th. A few days later, she was traded to Gotham FC for a 1.25-million-dollar transfer fee and was available to play in San Diego for Gotham on Friday. She would go on to score the second goal with a header for Gotham, netting Gotham FC three (3) points and a temporary stay in 3rd place. The move was a major one for a young USWNT talent that is looking to get back into the senior national team conversation.
But as fairy tale as her debut was for Gotham, which included scoring against her first former club, it may not be the death sentence we thought I was for North Carolina’s season either. The Courage made a few moves, singing Oli Pena from TCU and trading Malia Berkeley for Natalie Jacobs and intra league funds, and got a much-needed win over the team directly ahead of them, Angel City.
With plenty of football left to play, and Gotham and North Carolina with matches against other playoff teams, nothing about the postseason is guaranteed for any team Jaedyn Shaw has played for. But, for one week, it feels like a win for all involved. Time will tell how we view the price tag on this deal.
We need to talk about Utah
OFF THE CORNER!
Kaleigh Riehl scores a beautiful header for the Utah Royals! pic.twitter.com/C9G7EVz1lS
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 14, 2025
Utah has been the center of attention this week for events that are not football related. But, for the sport of women’s football, I would argue we haven’t looked enough at Sandy, Utah in the second half of the season, and it may be time to change that. The Royals defeated the suddenly surging Houston Dash this weekend 2-0, and they looked like they could score a few more goals during the match.
They’ve become a team that feels they will score in every match, and their team defense has stepped up several notches, regardless of the opponent. They have played the top teams well the second time around and have gotten multiple wins with the healthiest roster they’ve had all season. The return of Cloe Lacasse and the arrival of Lara Prašnikar, have further strengthened a squad that was an afterthought after the transfer of Ally Sentnor.
Instead, they’ve built a team identity around the players that remain, and while they may be too late to make the playoffs, they’re not far off. And, at the very least, they can play spoiler for what is sure to be a wild final stretch for the postseason.
The battle at the top happened
Trinity Rodman and Michelle Cooper catch up after the final whistle 👊
The number one and number two teams in the NWSL table faced off in Kansas City this past weekend, as the Kansas City Current hosted the Washington Spirit. The match was Chawinga-less, as Vlatko Andonovski chose to sit his superstar Temwa Chawinga out of caution, and it made for different matchup than we all anticipated. There may have been some gamesmanship from the Current coach, with the understanding this may be a finals matchup, and giving the opponent something to look at that you’re saving, is worth keeping under wraps.
The Spirit should be happy to take a point from a match they lost earlier this season, and they should be particularly proud of their defensive work, which was still required to stop several Kansas City chances. Aubrey Kingsbury also made a handful of incredible saves to keep a clean sheet for her team, who will finish second regardless of their result Thursday in LA.
This is good news for a team that has a midweek match the following week for the CONCACAF W Champions League. The Spirit aren’t in danger of not making the post season and will likely host at least one match at Rowdy Audi, if not two, but they will be looking to rotate a healthy roster with a busy end to the season. It’ll still take some work, but if they’re clicking by Decision Day, they will get one more shot at the Current in November.
A quick trip around the rest of the league
*insert photo of Lizbeth Ovalle
Chicago Stars continued their unbeaten streak, though they only managed a 1-1 draw with Portland, in a match where they needed all three (3) points to stay within touching distance in the playoff race. The Stars were the team more likely to get a second goal for much of the second half, but Mackenzie Arnold stood on her head to keep the Stars from scoring a second, and the Thorns maintained their spot in the top four for at least a few more days. They’re a team that’s trending down more than up, but they win just enough matches to keep pace and will likely make the postseason. Whether that is a home match is more up in the air.
LIZBETH OVALLE WITH HER FIRST NWSL ASSIST TO ALLY WATT FOR THE EQUALIZER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lHBXQkfubC
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) September 13, 2025
In Orlando, the Pride looked to end their three (3) game losing streak against the current “get right” squad, Bay FC. Unfortunately for the Pride, the visitors struck first, and right before halftime, on a stunning header from Rachel Kundananji. The Pride looked much better in the second half, and a first start from Lizbeth Ovalle looked to infuse the attack with life, leading to an Ally Watt equalizer in the 70th minute. The match would end 1-1, ending the Pride’s skid, but leaving them in sixth place in the table, and with more questions than answers about what’s gone wrong for the reigning champs.
The CONCACAF W Champion’s League seems to be their one reprieve for now, as they look to collect a trophy they don’t have, but the regular season feels like it’s in danger of slipping away, even if they make the postseason. There is little to no pressure to win this season thanks to a historic season and the double last year, but this is a sign that Barbra Banda matters a great deal to this team, and that they have some work to do in the offseason to revamp the squad.
A lesson learned
Sending all our love to Savannah DeMelo 💜
— Racing Louisville FC (@racingloufc.com) September 15, 2025 at 3:36 AM
On May 9th, two days before Mother’s Day in the United States, Angel City defender Savy King collapsed late in the match against the Utah Royals, in her hometown, in front of her mothers. The league was contacted during the medical incident, and the directive, without consulting either team or the Player’s Association, was to finish the match that was at 1-0 Angel City at the time of the cardiac event. The backlash for that decision was swift and loud, and began the calls, quiet though they were, for Jessica Berman to resign from her position. In a statement about the decision, the league acknowledged their mistake, and vowed that, if a medical incident occurred again in a match, that they would make a different decision. Most of us who love and watch the NWSL hoped that these were words that we’d never have to hold the league to, and we certainly didn’t imagine that we’d have to test the league’s growth in the same season.
On Sunday, the last match of the weekend kicked off just after 5:00 PM PST in Seattle, as the Reign took on Racing Louisville, in a match that held significant playoff implications. With a win, Seattle would jump to third place in the standings. With a Louisville win, they would be one point behind the line for a home playoff spot, with matches with teams just ahead of them in the table.
The match started out like one between teams who understood the stakes, with Racing getting the better chances, buoyed by the play of their midfield. But in stoppage time in the first half, with the score still 0-0, Racing midfielder Savannah DeMelo sat on the pitch, without contact, and grabbed her leg.
I must admit, I immediately felt sick, because that’s the same thing Savy King did right before she lost consciousness. That happened with DeMelo, who passed out and began to seize on the pitch before the cameras cut away and the medical team immediately got to the pitch. Thanks to updates from those at Lumen, we knew that an ambulance came on the pitch and DeMelo was conscious within a few moments and spoke with the medical team.
Once we felt safe to say DeMelo was stable, we turned to the league, waiting for them to show that they learned from the past. The match could not continue, particularly with Racing Louisville players visibly shaking and sobbing. Teams had set up for players to come out for the second half, but players never reentered the pitch to play. The match was abandoned and we were told we would receive updates about resuming the match at a future date.
The Seattle players came back out to applaud the fans that stayed, and we now know that the match will resume on Tuesday, September 16th, behind closed doors. This date and time were agreed upon by both teams, after they were consulted. Racing has a match against Utah next weekend and likely wanted to minimize the wear and tear of travel, and the stress of it, on their players. The Reign do not have priority at Lumen Field, and its main tenant, the Seattle Seahawks, have a home game on Sunday, so Tuesday evening fits the schedule of both teams and still gives Louisville enough time to rest between matches.
It’s an unfortunate event that cannot be controlled, but the response to this episode shows that the league can learn lessons. I still have many issues with the NWSL, but they got this one right, and that means they can get more things correct as they grow.
Until next time, enjoy life, and make sure you touch every blade of grass, because tomorrow is not promised.
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Sylvia Bullock is 1/2 of Shea Butter FC and the world’s foremost Christen Press and Crystal Dunn truther. She’ll be covering the NWSL every week for Fearless SC. You can find her on BlueSky at Southern Sylvs.
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