The common season was outlined by …
… Kansas Metropolis's dominance. The NWSL, like all US sports activities leagues, is often constructed on parity. The Present made a mockery of that notion, profitable 21 and drawing two out of their 26 video games to complete 21 factors forward of second-place Washington. Their aim distinction was an absurd plus-36, scoring seven extra targets than every other workforce and conceding 12 fewer than anybody else. Beau Dure
… Kansas Metropolis's dominance. Whereas Temwa Chawinga adopted up her spectacular NWSL debut final season to once more lead the league in scoring, it was the Present's lockdown protection that saved them from shedding a single recreation at house on their strategy to breaking the NWSL factors document. Jakub Frankowicz
… a good crowd within the center. There's solely a six-point hole within the standings between third-place Portland and unfortunate ninth-place North Carolina. The center cluster of groups was jostling all season, proving the league's calling-card of parity. However Kansas Metropolis's supremacy solely emphasizes the inconsistency of that core bunch, a results of the comparatively low wage cap. If the league desires its competitors to be of the best high quality, it should increase its requirements. Abigail Segel
The well being of the league is …
… simply wonderful. Attendance dropped by 5% from 2024, however that's no trigger for alarm, particularly with plenty of star gamers out on maternity depart or coping with long-term accidents. TV broadcasts are in all places in each the literal (many various networks) and figurative (erratic high quality). Commentators are inclined to fawn over routine performs whereas griping excess of is required concerning the referees. However these are trivial points in an enormous image that appears vibrant. Subsequent yr, Denver welcomes a brand new workforce, and ladies's professional soccer makes a long-overdue return to Boston. BD
… robust. Whereas attendance slipped a bit in 2025 in comparison with the peaks of 2024, a lot of massive identify departures had been accountable. The NWSL will likely be again with growth in Boston and Denver in 2026, and the lads's World Cup can even doubtless improve the curiosity in direction of all soccer within the US. JF
… depending on what your priorities are. There was solely a slight drop in total match attendance numbers (not too regarding in a yr with out the Olympics or World Cup) and Jessica Berman inked a shiny new TV deal, however management bungled a number of moments that put individuals across the league in danger. Forcing Angel Metropolis and Utah to proceed taking part in after Savy King collapsed on the sector, saying the league has “no responsibility of care” to victims of harassment in San Diego, placing gamers and followers at risk in excessive warmth in Kansas Metropolis as a consequence of a nationwide broadcast window, and, most just lately, failing to adequately defend marginalized gamers from transphobic, racist hate point out that the league isn't a wholesome place for a lot of of its members. AS
Finest workforce that didn't make the playoffs
As apparent as it could appear to select the ninth-place workforce, it's unusual to see the playoffs with out the North Carolina Braveness within the combine. Japanese phenom Manaka Matsukobo had 11 targets, however nobody else on the workforce had greater than three. Jaedyn Shaw's arrival was speculated to invigorate the offense, however the Braveness bought her to Gotham FC throughout the season. BD
North Carolina Braveness, who gained their remaining two matches by way of a flurry of targets from Manaka Matsukubo. However they'll rue shedding their 4 Octobe tie with Racing Louisville, who put collectively a robust remaining 5 matches to make it into the playoffs after years of shut misses. JF
Undoubtedly, the North Carolina Braveness. They had been solely above the playoff line for 2 weeks in the entire season, however they had been at all times knocking on the door. Twenty-year-old Manaka Matsukubo had an MVP-caliber season, and the workforce was excessive on the checklist of targets scored (fourth, with 37). They weathered the sudden firing of supervisor Sean Nahas in August and the two-month absence of captain and midfield anchor Denise O'Sullivan shortly thereafter, however not even a thrashing of Gotham on Determination Day might push them over the road. AS
Darkish horses
Anybody who isn't Kansas Metropolis? Twenty-one factors separated the Present from the second-place Spirit. The hole between the Spirit and eighth-place Gotham FC was solely eight, and the injury-riddled Spirit aren't taking part in just like the second-best workforce within the league. No consequence apart from a Present loss can be an upset. However to select one, let's go together with the perfect coach in league historical past: Laura Harvey, who's already a tactical mastermind and is now utilizing AI to offer the Seattle Reign much more of an edge. BD
It's been a feast or famine season for Gotham FC as they managed the second-best aim differential regardless of being the eighth seed. But when they defeat the Goliath-like Present within the first spherical, they'll be filled with self-confidence and have current championship expertise. That's an enormous if, nonetheless. JF
San Diego Wave. They performed to a valiant loss in opposition to goliath Kansas Metropolis on Determination Day, and midseason acquisition Dudhina may be the X-factor that might trigger chaos within the bracket. Jonas Eidevall's workforce loves possession, and at their greatest they'll make opponents run circles round them. I give Portland a slight edge within the quarter-final as a result of Windfall Park isn't pleasant to guests, however Gotham gained there on the way in which to their 2023 championship win, so something's doable. AS
Massive workforce liable to going out early
Washington Spirit. They've been taking part in with out Andi Sullivan, Casey Krueger and Ashley Hatch – all on maternity depart. Trinity Rodman has been battling accidents all yr. Croix Bethune sat out the season finale. The Spirit have proven no reluctance to spend cash on gamers, however that doesn't assist if the gamers aren't truly taking part in. When Louisville final performed in Washington, the Spirit wanted a aim within the tenth minute of stoppage time to salvage a draw.
The Portland Thorns haven't discovered San Diego this season with two 1-1 attracts, each rescued by way of late equalizers from Portland. If the Thorns wish to advance, they'll want to forestall targets from one of the crucial dynamic offenses within the league within the Wave who've a multi-pronged assault. JF
In nightmarish déjà vu from final season, the Washington Spirit have struggled with accidents all yr. On Determination Day, solely three discipline gamers had been out there off the bench, and although a number of scratches had been precautionary, it stays to be seen if Adrián González's facet can get wholesome and set up momentum. The Spirit's quarter-final opponents, Racing Louisville, are on a tear; they haven't misplaced a match since September, and have been inflicting issues for large groups all yr. At their greatest, the Spirit are firmly the second-best workforce within the league, but when they'll't overcome their well being points, I wouldn't be shocked in the event that they falter. AS
Participant to observe
Olivia Moultrie. She's now not the perfect teenager in NWSL as a result of she is, in the end, now not a teen. The fifth-year Thorns midfielder has celebrated turning 20 in fashion, scoring 4 targets within the final 4 regular-season video games. She led the NWSL in shot-creating actions per 90 minutes with 5.5, based on Opta/FBref.com. BD
Kayla Sharples is a defensive stalwart on the backline for the Present. Her play was essential to the Present's record-breaking 16 clear sheets and she or he was one in every of two discipline gamers to eclipse 2,000 minutes on a workforce that had the luxurious of resting their starters as soon as they clinched the Defend. JF
Present Monday is the Spirit's main scorer on the yr with eight targets, together with a hat-trick in opposition to Houston on 28 September. She completed the common season fourth-best within the league for pictures on the right track per 90 minutes. The Nigerian attacker performs with a fragile fluidity that may stymie the perfect defenses, and she or he'll be key to bolstering the injury-addled Spirit. AS
Semi-finalists
Kansas Metropolis, Seattle, Louisville, Portland. BD
Kansas Metropolis, Orlando, Washington, San Diego. JF
Kansas Metropolis, Orlando, Washington, Portland. AS
NWSL Championship
Kansas Metropolis 5-2 Portland. The gulf between the Present and the remainder of the league is simply that nice, and so they're prone to come out something however tentative within the remaining. BD
Kansas Metropolis 2-0 Washington. The Present have been too dominant and too constant to select in opposition to right here. Even with a late-season harm to Chawinga jeopardizing her availability, search for Kansas Metropolis to tug off the Defend-Championship double in opposition to a Washington Spirit facet that, regardless of the accidents, have the flexibility to offer them issue after pushing them to a uncommon draw at house this season. Nonetheless I count on KC. JF
Kasnsas Metropolis 3-1 Washington. Assuming the Spirit can discipline their A-team, they'll make it to the finals, however Kansas Metropolis are simply too dominant to beat. The Present put up all types of data of their Defend-winning season, and Vlatko Andonovski's facet is, front-to-back, higher than everybody else. They'll take the ultimate, and the inferior plenty should strive once more subsequent yr. AS
