The NWSL has officially hit pause, as the league enters its month-long Men’s World Cup break with a new leader at the top of the NWSL standings: the San Diego Wave.
Sunday’s 2-0 win over No. 15 Chicago launched No. 1 San Diego atop the league table, leapfrogging No. 3 Portland and No. 2 Utah after the pair’s Saturday clash ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
“Everyone’s excited to go into the break — we’re going to come back even stronger,” Wave midfielder Tatum Wynalda told reporters. “So happy we ended on a W.”
While several teams enter June with games in hand, stiff competition has been on full display through the 2026 NWSL season’s first half.
Just eight points separate the eight clubs currently in playoff contention, with four points dividing first and sixth place and two points sitting between the final postseason ticket and the first elimination slot.
The Stars join No. 14 Boston and No. 16 Louisville below the nine-point mark, with Racing sitting last on a 2-8-1 record.
