Compelling storylines that kept the league interesting during a crowded sports summer.The interval years that aren't Olympic or World Cup years are often quieter for the NWSL (see: average attendance was essentially flat among the non-expansion teams). In a year with the men's World Cup on home soil and a major anniversary season for the WNBA, most of the NWSL's teams gave a solid showing, with close competition for the Shield, an entertaining Golden Boot race and the returns of several big stars. Even those teams who did not give a solid showing – hello, Chicago – finally made some encouraging moves in the right direction. (Louisville next, please.) Ella Brockway
The league working to gauge the heart of its fanbase.Recent weeks have seen contentious scenes, especially in Portland, as transphobic organizations try to work into the league discourse as they have with the WNBA. But beyond that, there have been considerable innovations made with an eye on garnering more attention. The "Rodman Rule" was hurried to production in part to keep arguably the most marketable US player from going abroad. The league briefly considered following MLS's lead and inverting its schedule, only for a vote to be spurned after initial backlash from players and the public. It even got a feature in Ted Lasso. These efforts take time, but that's a lot of willingness to change just about anything about the league's structure if it moves the needle. Jeff Rueter
Races to the top – and the bottom.The competition for both the Shield and Golden Boot was fierce. Ashley Sanchez pulled ahead for the Boot, but Barbra Banda, Sophia Wilson, Janine Sonis and Trinity Rodman provided some real fireworks. (Had Banda not been kept out of the country for the last month of games due to federal travel policies, she may have given Sanchez a run for her money.) The Shield race was even tighter, with three teams still in contention with two matches to go. However, the league struggled to maintain that quality across the board. Chicago, Louisville and Bay FC were embarrassingly bad – and boring – throughout the season. It's a story that is too familiar, and doesn't seem poised to change in a real way any time soon. As much as the league's marketing centers parity, its choices prioritize expansion. With two new clubs arriving in 2028 and more on the way after, I worry the talent across the board will continue to be watered down, especially as the league's salary cap and low minimum salary drives elite players away to teams in Europe, Mexico and Brazil. The NWSL will have to contend with what growing pains are inevitable, and which should really be avoided. Abigail Segel
Related: Goals, guests and 6,561 scenarios: inside ESPN on the biggest NWSL Decision Day yet
Denver Summit.I'm as disappointed as anyone that we won't get to see Sanchez's goalscoring feats continue this postseason, but I'd also like to see what Denver and their goalscorers could have done as just the second expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in their first year. They tied 2018 North Carolina with the third-most goals (53) of a team in any regular season. EB
On talent and in moments, it felt like expansion Denver Summit's place in the top eight would be inevitable. Ultimately, inconsistency and an inability to turn close games from draws into wins held them back. Only Chicago had a more languid defensive press after the summer break, and while being the league's lowest-fouling team wins spirit points, it did afford Denver's opponents plenty of time to build into sequences. JR
For the second year in a row, the North Carolina Courage.The Courage spent most of the season above the playoff line, but when Sanchez's numbers came back down to earth in the final month, they lacked an attacking structure to keep the goalscoring, which had papered over their leaky defense all year. Mak Lind will look to use his first full offseason to find a sustainable way to make up for Manaka Matsukubo's absence – her midseason departure to Chelsea did him no favors, and the success they had for almost the entire rest of the season is all the more impressive considering it. AS
Angel City.No team is in better form. After a rough start to the season, Angel City steadied the ship after the summer break and have been blistering of late, with eight wins, two draws and zero losses since 31 August. They have nine goals in their last three, and will have new signing Maddie DiMaria, fresh off a 12-goal showing at the U-17 World Cup , available to face Kansas City. I'd fear them. EB
For once, Gotham don't qualify. Since selling Alyssa Thompson to Chelsea, Angel Cityhave come out of their doldrums with impressive aptitude. No team has maintained a higher points-per-game rate since 28 August (2.6), and they notched a draw at Gotham and an away win over Washington. Ally Sentnor has made a quick acclimation, and there's considerable talent including Sveindís Jónsdóttir's goal threat, Emily Sams's defensive mettle and Gisele Thompson's all-around strengths. JR
Angel City.The club whose branding has traditionally been better than its soccer started the season hot, but within a few games they fell back to their expected place in the middle of the table. In June, GM Mark Parsons had seen enough, and gave the boot to manager Alexander Straus. His interim replacement, Leif Smerud, has managed to get the most out of the roster by bringing them back to the basics. Even Sentnor, who did not reach her potential at Utah or Kansas City, has been shining bright after joining midseason. This is a scrappy team peaking at the right time. AS
I know the danger of picking against this team in the playoffs, but I'll say Gotham. Of any team in this league, they are probably the one with the best plug-and-play system, where players can fill in for others as needed. The question: will they have the healthy bodies to do so? Much depends on the availability of Jaelin Howell, Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw. EB
I wouldn't say I necessarily expect any of the top four to falter, but seeding isn't the only reason I'd lean Kansas City. For a few years now, the Current have been able to outlast the fiercest of challenges thanks to the singular brilliance of Temwa Chawinga on the break, but Angel City's Sarah Gorden is the rare defender with the backtracking pace to keep in stride with the Malawi international. The Current fare well against teams trying to play out of the back, but Angel City are quite capable at bunkering and countering. I could see them pulling a quick curtain on Chris Armas's first NWSL postseason. JR
Washingtonhad their best performance of the season on 17 October, defeating rival Gotham for the first time since 2024. It was finally a complete, convincing game from an inconsistent side. But the following game, at Kansas City, was a 2-1 loss made significantly worse by midfield mainstay Hal Hershfelt tearing her ACL. Next was Decision Day against last-place Chicago. Instead of a rout, the Spirit put in a quiet 2-0 win that left little confidence the team is peaking for the playoffs. Washington have reached the last two finals, and it's possible they will again, but they need to quickly solidify a midfield that's been fluid all season and will rely heavily on new players Clara Luvanga and Mélissa Bethi to perform as if they know the league inside and out. AS
Related: Rodman rule has been revised but the fight to keep stars in the NWSL goes on | Moving the Goalposts
Trinity Rodman. For the first time in two years – I almost want to knock on wood as I'm typing – the Washington Spirit's star forward enters the NWSL postseason healthy. In 2024, she played every minute of their three playoff games but was battling back issues throughout. In 2025, she was limited to just 35 minutes in three games with an MCL injury. This year, she started all 30 regular-season games and played some of her best soccer (12 goals and eight assists). She's vital to any Spirit run. EB
If you haven't yet had the pleasure, make sure to watch Pietra Tordin. The Portland Thorns playmaker has been electric in her second season, settling in as a tricky attacking midfielder with plenty of tricks to thwart anyone marking her one-v-one. Her partnership with Wilson will keep Washington from getting too comfortable, and she's absolutely one to watch for the USWNT in the short and long term after debuting for Emma Hayes in October. JR
The Current have perhaps the most exciting roster of attackers in the league. Chawinga, Michelle Cooper, Debinha and Haley Hopkins are a formidable bunch. Yet the mastermind behind them is who makes everything tick. Croix Bethuneremains the most fun player to watch in the league, constantly connecting teammates and creating chances out of thin air. Bethune was out with an injury earlier this fall but has come back without missing a beat, including earning an assist against her former Washington team two weeks ago. If Bethune continues her MVP-caliber season, there's nothing Kansas City can't do. AS
San Diego 2-1 Angel City.An all-west coast matchup for an east coast final. Angel City have a win and a draw with Kansas City this season (albeit the latter result was against a shorthanded Current team). They're good at pulling off surprises, and I can see a run to the final in DC. The Wave fell just short of the Shield, but they've done an excellent job assembling talent across the experience range, from rookie-of-the-year favorite Mimi Van Zanten to 23-year-old Trinity Byars to Kenza Dali, a sneaky MVP candidate at 35. They have the blend to take home the championship. EB
Gotham 2-1 San Diego.While high-flying attacks win hearts and minds, a dependable defense is an invaluable floor-raiser. Gotham won their first Shield thanks to establishing greater control in matches, but their low goalscoring record suggests there's more to tap into in the final third. I back the collective brilliance of Lavelle, Shaw and Sam Kerr to step up as they so often do in the big moments. JR
San Diego 2-1 Angel City.The bracket feels awfully lopsided this year. The winner of Kansas City v Angel City will probably face off against Gotham in New Jersey for the semi-finals (assuming the Shield winners defeat eighth-place Seattle). Gotham are postseason monsters, as evidenced in 2023 and 2025, but without the injured Howell and Jordynn Dudley, they look a lot less sturdy and a lot less threatening. (Keeper Ann-Katrin Berger, however, can negate a multitude of sins.) The winner of this semi-final is a toss-up between the three, but I'll go with Angel City for the sake of chaos. On the other side of the bracket, San Diego are peaking while Washington, Portland and Utah are much less convincing. The Wave have nearly perfected their possession-based style with an extremely balanced and consistent lineup. I don't see a better team right now. AS
