Well dear readers, we’ve arrived upon the last three match days of the NWSL season. There’s plenty we know, and much yet to be determined this coming weekend, but we had a few teams step up to get crucial points, while another team was officially eliminated from the postseason race. The spoiler roll can be a fun one as we find out the teams that are set to try and stop Kansas City with a trip to San Jose on the line. Let’s get into it.
Pride goeth but they do not fall
Her first goal in three years! 🙌
Simone Charley comes in CLUTCH with this looping headed goal!
It’s been a season of regression for the Orlando Pride. After a historic season in which the captured the double in only the club’s second postseason appearance, they’ve struggled to find the formula of shutdown defending and goal scoring that made them so dangerous last season. This became more difficult once Barbra Banda was lost to a season ending injury.
The Pride finally got the first win of the second half of the season against San Diego and looked to be back to their losing ways before Simone Charley buried a header, her first goal in three seasons, to salvage the point and propel Orlando into the Top 4 with three matches to go. Orlando has a ton of pressure in their other tournament, with a must win match against Pachuca looming to advance in the CONCACAF W Champion’s League, but they must feel better about their postseason chances now with the point won.
Orlando still looks like a shell of themselves, but they have the advantage of knowing how to win an eight (8) team playoff. They are the only team currently with that knowledge, and they may be able to tap into that at just the right time. Their date with Seattle at home on Decision Day may very well determine who plays at home the next weekend.
Winning the games you must win
SET. PIECE. QUEEN.
Olivia Moultrie grabs her second goal of the game!
Portland has struggled for consistent form and his carrying a near starting eleven of injured wide players, hence their trade for M.A. Vignola to add to their width, especially in defense. The cure for most struggling sides seems to be playing Bay FC this season, who have struggled for form all season, and would be eliminated with a loss against Portland.
Bay started off well and scored the first goal, and likely should have scored more, but Portland had two moments of brilliance from Olivia Moultrie that saw the home side to victory on a night where Christine Sinclair’s jersey was retired. Portland, much like Chicago last year, won the matchup they needed to win to secure their likely playoff berth. They are still playing to solidify their spot and will want to try and push for a playoff home match, but getting into the postseason and keeping their postseason streak alive seems like their big win for 2025.
They’re a team that has a lot of decisions to make in the offseason, so, for now, fans can enjoy this run and the set pieces of Olivia Moultrie before potentially big changes come about for 2026.
Cardiac Capitol
ABSOLUTE CINEMA.
A moment for THAT Rosemonde Kouassi game-winner 🎥 pic.twitter.com/2zShSbSQ4w
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 5, 2025
The Washington Spirit have are the only team besides Kansas City to clench a playoff spot and will most likely finish second in the league table. They play fun football, with pace and width, and they have a dynamic midfield which is spurred by the creative play and vision of Croix Bethune. They have a bonafide US superstar and several international players with a wide range of skillsets.
Deb Abiodun has been a revelation for the side since being recalled from her loan spell, and has brought stability and muscle to the team, and they create so many chances, even if they struggle to finish them consistently. With all of that on the squad, DC tends to save their final goal for the waning moments of the match.
They led San Diego Wave, who were desperate for points as they slip further down the table, and looked to have control of the match. Then, Delphine Cascarino, just back from injury, scores an equalizer late, and it looks like both sides would settle for the point. But shooters shoot, and Rose Kouassi took a shot from the sun into the shadows, and it was enough to freeze Kailen Sheridan as the ball floated into the top left of the net for the game winner.
Those three points mean the playoffs will probably go through Audi for the Spirit, who are finally winning at home, after being road warriors for the first half of the season. They are a team that turns off at moments, but their ability to rally regardless of the score line will serve them well in the postseason.
Bold prediction, Louisville won’t finish 9th
Credit: NWSL
Racing Louisville set a very reachable goal for themselves this season, to finish higher than 9th place in the table. They have finished in that exact spot every season since they were established, and it means they have never made the postseason. They changed ownership, gave Bev Yanez backing, and started building a football identity.
In many ways, they are a throwback NWSL club, that will press you, outwork you, and hit their attacking players directly to get shots on goal. They utilize the skill set of a player like Emma Sears, who can get pressure on the opponent with her pressing and tracking, and has the speed to make runs to create or runs to shoot. She netted a brace against North Carolina, a team right behind them in the table, and secured Louisville’s first multi goal victory of the season.
They can secure a postseason berth with a win this weekend, and with a six (6) that wins duels at the rate Taylor Flint does, and physical play that combines with timely opportunities, Racing could pose a threat to the teams at the top of the table. Most of all, they’ll be the team with nothing to lose, as they truly are happy to be somewhere different for once. There’s a roster to build on and a project to sell new players on, but for now, the fanbase deserves to celebrate this next step, because success is hard fought and never guaranteed.
Big Purp, have yourselves a season.
It’s fall but temperatures are rising
Credit: Taylor Vincent, Spotrac
The most “inconsequential” match of the weekend was a battle between the Chicago Stars and the Utah Royals. Utah faced pressure early on the road but managed to get out to a 2-0 lead against the home side, and looked to be in control for a decent portion of the match. Unfortunately for Utah, Chicago’s used to going down multiple goals. In fact, they seem to thrive on the challenge of the comeback, and this match was no exception.
New signing Ivonne Chacón scored her first NWSL goal to bring the match to 2-1, and Michayla Johnson scored late to end the match at 2-2. This didn’t officially eliminate Utah from the playoffs, but everything would have to break their way, including goal differential, for them to get 8th. It feels more like a delay in the inevitable, but they do maintain their unbeaten streak, with only Kansas City and Washington having longer ones in the second half of the season.
However, the best action happened after the whistle, when the coaches from both sides got into a shouting match over the drop ball during the match. You can read the statements from both coaches here but watching them have more fight post-match than during the game is always a sight to see. The NWSL season is long and draining and emotions boiled over. It’s a natural consequence of sport, but it made for a more exciting weekend.
Credit: Taylor Vincent, Spotrac
That’s all for now dear readers. It’s do or die for several teams next week, and we hope to have a clearer picture of who is in and who is out for the post season. The hopes and dreams of each fanbase begin again, whether it’s a dream of a trophy or a dream of a better 2026, the last three matches should entertain the masses. Buckle up, and before you sit down to root for your favorite team, go outside and touch a few blades of grass. The playoffs start now.
—
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.
Just over two months ago, the Las Vegas Aces held onto the eighth seed as the team’s chances of chasing a championship appeared to be dwindling by the game. From […]
