As the 2026 NWSL season tips over the halfway mark — teams have played an average of 15.875 games — the Shield race is closer than it’s ever been in recent memory. Just five points separate the top five teams, and seven points separate places six through 14. The table being a sardine can give every game stakes. Look no further than the weekend’s three upsets.
Louisville wins first game since May
With a 2-1 win over Angel City on Sunday, last-place Racing Louisville won their third game of the season, and their first since May 8. Both of Louisville’s goals were scored by rookie Maja Lardner. The first was a tap-in after chaos in the box, and the second a leaping header.
Angel City, motivated to not lose points at home, pressed hard in the second half, and Sveindís Jónsdóttir got them on the scoresheet. But otherwise, Louisville keeper Jordyn Bloomer stood on her head and prevented any other goals for the home side, securing all three points for Racing. Bev Yanez’s side has been struggling this year, and even though they’re still in last place, this win will provide some much-needed hope.
Seattle reigns over San Diego, Boston thwarts Kansas City
The weekend saw two other upsets, with the Boston Legacy beating the Kansas City Current 1-0 on Saturday and the Seattle Reign defeating the San Diego Wave 2-0 on Sunday.
Boston’s goal was scored in the first half by Aïssata Traoré, and a quality performance from keeper Casey Murphy secured the shutout in the fairly even match. Controversy came late in the game when Penelope Hocking stood on Alba Caño’s ponytail after felling the Boston midfielder from behind. The official opted not to give a card to Hocking. He did deliver a red card to Boston’s Ella Stevens late in stoppage time for elbowing Kayla Sharples’s head as both players went up for a header.
Out on the west coast, Seattle finished their three-match gauntlet against some of the league’s top teams. After defeating Portland but losing to Gotham, they finished strong in San Diego. Maddie Mercado scored her third goal in as many games and centerback Jordyn Bugg doubled the lead just three minutes later. Both header goals were assisted by Ainsley McCammon.
Instead of squandering the 2-0 lead, as they had done against Gotham, they stayed strong and saw the game out. The x-factor was keeper Claudia Dickey, who played her first game since May after returning from injury. She made eight saves to stop San Diego, a career high. The Wave are now on a three-game winless streak; they look to be lost without Dudinha.
Gotham and Thorns battle to a draw in instant all-timer
Gotham FC visited the Portland Thorns at Providence Park and came away with a hard-won point. But the point is just one of many stories of the chaotic game.
In the second minute of the match, Midge Purce hit a perfect volley off of a perfect cross from Guro Reiten, putting the visitors up 1-0. Gotham’s joy was muted a few minutes later, however, when Emily Sonnett went down with a knee injury and had to be stretchered off the pitch. The status of the Gotham and USWNT star is unclear.
Rookie Renee Lyles, who originally joined Portland’s preseason camp as a non-roster invitee, made a loud entrance to the league when her shross found the side netting to tie it up. In the beginning of the second half, Jessie Fleming put the home team ahead. A team play that involved carries by Pietra Tordin and Sophia Wilson brought the ball to Lyles, who tapped it to Fleming at the top of the box. The Canadian midfielder’s shot deflected off of a Gotham defender and into the net.
A few minutes later, Gotham’s star rookie Jordynn Dudley — who tends to receive an immense amount of physicality from defenders — was issued a yellow card after practically throwing Jayden Perry to the ground. The fans at Providence Park thought a yellow wasn’t severe enough, and proceeded to boo Dudley every time she touched the ball thereafter.
Gotham wouldn’t be stopped, however. New signing Sam Kerr was hungry for a goal, and she finally got it when a ball bounced to her after a corner. She cleanly put it away for her first NWSL goal since her return to the league, bringing Gotham level again.
Kerr wanted more, and found herself on a breakaway in the 74th minute. Perry, the last defender, opted to tackle her, and was issued a red card for DOGSO. In better news for Portland, forward Morgan Weaver returned from injury for her first appearance in nearly two years. She looked threatening immediately, and helped Portland play out the last of the match without conceding despite being a player down.
Utah thrashes North Carolina
The Utah Royals notched their second win in a row in convincing fashion. They defeated a floundering North Carolina 4-1 with goals from Kate Del Fava, Tatumn Milazzo, Mina Tanaka, and Cloé Lacasse, underscoring the breadth of their contributors this franchise-best season. The first three goals were all from corner kicks, and the last a penalty kick.
The Courage nearly doubled Utah’s shots but were far less clinical, with only Evelyn Ijeh managing to finish one. North Carolina still hasn’t found a solution to losing Manaka Matsukubo, and it’s becoming dire. To make matters worse, Ashley Sanchez has now gone three games without scoring, her longest scoreless streak so far this season.
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