As the NWSL season hurtles through its second half, there’s daylight at the top of the standings, but barely any in the Golden Boot race. Also, a team at the bottom makes a run for the playoffs, and a player coming off ACL recovery scores a tear-jerker.
Hanks returns with a bang; Leroux, Hatch, Nighswonger also make long-awaited comebacks
It was picture-perfect. The Orlando Pride had held a shaky Portland Thorns to an even scoreline, and it looked like the Florida side would leave Providence Park with a point. Caiya Hanks had other plans. The 21-year-old striker entered the match in the 88th minute — her first appearance since June 15, 2025, when she tore her ACL in the midst of an excellent rookie season.
In short order, she weaved through a swarm of defenders and launched a screamer from outside the box. It sailed into the net, and her ecstatic celebrations were enough to make anyone weepy. After the match, the broadcast caught Olivia Moultrie, who has a newly torn ACL, telling Hanks how proud she is of her — a picture of the cruel realities of the sport, and the hope that sustains its players through them.
Several other players made their NWSL comebacks over the weekend. Ashley Hatch, the Washington Spirit’s star striker, returned from maternity leave and played her first minutes since May 2025. Sydney Leroux returned to Angel City’s pitch in signature fashion in her first appearance since November 2024 after taking mental health leave. Jenna Nighswonger, the 2023 NWSL Rookie of the Year, made her first appearance as a Bay FC player since heading over to the WSL for an underwhelming 20-month stint.
Gotham extends its lead at the top of the table
With a 2-1 win against Kansas City Current, first-place Gotham FC increased its gap in points over second-place Washington Spirit to six. Goals by Midge Purce and Sam Kerr canceled out Amelia White’s goal in the first minute, making for Gotham’s first regular season win against the Current. Washington did its part to let that gap grow by tying ninth-place Angel City on Sunday.
Gotham, despite having won two of the last three Championships, has struggled to excel in the regular season. The club’s best finish was in 2024, when it secured third place. Now, the ambitious club is in the driver’s seat to win the Shield.
Louisville’s win streak grows
Just two NWSL teams have won four of their last five games: first-place Gotham and 13th-place Racing Louisville. Louisville has been in the trenches all year after finding success last year, but things finally seem to be clicking for Bev Yanez’s squad. After spending nine weeks in the bottom two places in the standings, Louisville’s string of results has shot the team up to just seven points below the playoff line.
The latest of those results was Saturday’s 4-1 win against the Boston Legacy. Kayla Fischer scored a brace, Katie O’Kane notched a penalty kick, and Emma Sears put in a nifty one-touch. Makenna Morris also had a great showing. If Louisville can keep racking up three points, perhaps we’re in store for a second Cinderella story in a row.
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Golden Boot race looks set for a photo-finish
Over the weekend, both Trinity Rodman and Evelyn Ijeh scored for their respective clubs, bringing their goal counts for the season up to 10 each. That’s good enough for third, behind Barbra Banda’s 12 and Ashley Sanchez’s 11.
On Saturday, Banda made her first appearance back for the Orlando Pride after leading Zambia at WAFCON, and Temwa Chawinga will return soon after winning WAFCON’s Golden Boot with Malawi. Chawinga has scored nine NWSL goals this year, tied for fifth with Sophia Wilson. With so many attackers on fire, we’re in for a blazing last third of the season.
