The NWSL is starting to show its true colors, as No. 2 Washington and No. 3 San Diego square off this weekend in a cutthroat race to the top of the table.
The teams are tied on points with 18 apiece, trailing No. 1 Portland by just one point. However, Washington holds a +9 goal differential.
The Spirit also has an advantage on recent form, riding an eight-game unbeaten streak that features five straight wins. The team is finding its footing after a slow start to the season — and according to the players, it’s all thanks to a plastic coyote named Jose.
"We’re so excited," Spirit star Hal Hershfelt said after a recent win. "Maybe it’s because of our good luck charm, but we’re pumped."
Washington will aim to contain San Diego’s young firepower, as the Wave leans on assists co-leader Dudinha, rookie scoring leader Lia Godfrey, and midfield wizard Kenza Dali to break down the Spirit defense.
“We have what I would say is a really whole squad,” San Diego assistant coach Becki Tweed said. “We can use people in different ways and it’s then about deciding and adjusting during the game.”
Where to Watch Wave vs Spirit in NWSL Weekend
San Diego hosts Washington tonight at 10 PM ET, live on Victory+.
The Bats might be taking flight, as Sportico reported reigning NWSL champion Gotham FC is exploring a move to MLS side NYCFC’s planned $780 million Etihad Park in Queens.
Gotham has played at New Jersey’s Sports Illustrated Stadium since 2021, with the state serving as the team’s home base since its 2009 inception as Sky Blue.
“Like many clubs, especially in the NWSL as the league rapidly grows, we regularly evaluate options to best support our players, supporters, and organization,” the club said in a statement.
Despite earning two NWSL championships in the last three years, Gotham has struggled with attendance, averaging just 8,892 fans per game last year.
Set to open in 2027, Etihad Park will be New York City’s first pro soccer-specific stadium, part of a complex that includes the US Open’s Flushing Meadows and MLB’s Citi Field — host to Gotham’s Queens Classic this July.
The venue will seat some 25,000 — similar to Sports Illustrated — with easy access to public transportation playing a key role.
Racing Louisville is apparently exploring its options, as ESPN reported the 2021 NWSL expansion side looks to sell a minority investment stake this week.
Primary owner Soccer Holdings is seeking additional buy-ins to help keep up with more aggressive spending league-wide, though a spokesperson told ESPN and The Courier Journal a majority stake is not on the table. The club also has no plans to relocate.
"As the NWSL experiences unprecedented growth, Soccer Holdings is constantly evaluating strategic opportunities to ensure Racing Louisville has the resources to compete at the highest level," the club said in a statement.
While NWSL valuations have exploded in recent years, Racing Louisville has struggled to keep pace. The club's $127 million valuation ranked lower than 11 of its 16 competitors entering the 2026 season, according to Sportico, despite a 75% increase from mid-2024 that matched the league average.
Low local turnout continues to spur concerns about the franchise's long-term viability. Racing Louisville averaged just 5,409 fans in 2025 — the lowest among 14 NWSL clubs and an 11% drop from 2023. Lynn Family Stadium can host approximately 15,000 guests.
The team currently sits 14th in the NWSL standings after eight matches — despite knocking off first-place Portland Thorns 3-1 last week.
However, Racing isn't alone in exploring an NWSL sale. Houston remains up for grabs after last winter's sale failed to pass, while North Carolina sold a stake to Marc Lasry and Avenue Sports Group in March.
An NWSL rivalry was born on Saturday, as expansion side Boston visited Gotham FC for the first time this season — ultimately splitting the difference in a 1-1 draw.
Both goals came over the course of three minutes. Gotham forward Jaedyn Shaw scored in the 37th minute, before Legacy midfielder Alba Caño leveled the field in the 40th.
“I think the team starts to understand,” said Legacy manager Filipa Patão. “To beat us will start to be very, very hard, because we fight until the last minute.”
“I don’t feel a rivalry, yet, but maybe my standards are a little high,” laughed Gotham forward Midge Purce.
The regional feud drew a crowd. 11,308 fans took advantage of NYC Mayor Mamdani’s $5 ticket campaign, ranking as Gotham’s fourth-most attended regular-season match on record.
And the stars definitely came out. The mayor subsequently linked up with NWSL icon Ali Krieger, WNBA legend Sue Bird, and USWNT coach Emma Hayes at Red Bull Arena.
“That’s what you dream of as a player, to be able to get out and give a crowd something to cheer about,” said Gotham midfielder Savannah McCaskill.
The NWSL kicks off another El Clásico on Saturday, as No. 8 Angel City welcomes the No. 4 San Diego Wave in a Southern California showdown.
Both teams enter the weekend looking to snap losing streaks. San Diego (5-3-0) is coming off consecutive defeats, while LA (3-3-0) dropped its last match 1-0 to Utah Royals.
Angel City will be without midfielder Maiara Niehues after she was shown a red card in last Saturday's 1-0 loss to Utah. She later received an additional one-match suspension for Major Game Misconduct.
San Diego Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall is also sidelined after becoming the first coach to get sent off this season in last weekend's 1-0 loss to Bay FC. ACFC assistant coach Becki Tweed will take on lead managing duties on Saturday.
"These are things that you have to go through early in the season to experience, to come out the other side," Tweed said.
The San Diego Wave made its own waves when it announced the signing of USWNT forward Catarina Macario in March. The hometown product joins midfielder Lia Godfrey, who's tied for third in the NWSL with four goals scored.
San Diego Wave goalie DiDi Haračić returns to face her former team. The Bosnian keeper spent three seasons with the LA squad before moving south.
Angel City holds a 3-2-3 all-time record against San Diego across eight meetings.
Where to Watch NWSL Rivals San Diego Wave vs. Angel City
Angel City hosts the San Diego Wave on Saturday at 8:45 PM ET, live on ION.
No. 5 Utah is on the rise, climbing the NWSL standings on a club record four-game winning streak after Saturday’s 1-0 win over floundering Angel City.
Canada international Cloé Lacasse’s first-half strike broke the deadlock, putting the Royals on the front foot before LA midfielder Maiara picked up a red card, leaving ACFC to play out the second half down one.
“As a coach, you can be very proud of if there is a plan, and you tell the plan, and the plan has some small adaptions, and the team just wants to do it,” said Utah manager Jimmy Coenraets.
“That’s the biggest growth we’ve had since last season — being adaptable.”
The loss marked No. 8 Angel City’s third straight defeat, showing cracks in the foundation after a strong start to the season.
“If we come out in the first half like we did in the second half, I think we win that game,” said Angel City defender Emily Sams.
“That’s something that we can definitely learn from and take forward, that we don’t have to wait until we’re down a player, down a goal, to come out with that kind of intensity.”
Where to Watch Utah Royals vs. Houston Dash in NWSL Action
The Utah Royals will hunt another result on Wednesday, hosting No. 7 Houston at 10 PM ET, live on Paramount+.
The No. 2 Washington Spirit is riding high, overcoming a slow start to register a fourth straight win in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over No. 12 Orlando.
Spirit forward Sofia Cantore tallied two goals in the match’s first six minutes to mark the quickest brace in league history. Later, Claudia Martinez added a second-half strike while star Trinity Rodman notched her third goal in as many games.
“I’m so proud of this team, I think they’ve done amazing,” said manager Adrian Gonzalez afterwards. “Sometimes you just need to suffer.”
Washington has now racked up nine points in eight days.
However, the Spirit still trail No. 1 Portland by four points in the NWSL standings. The Thorns recorded a fifth straight result in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Chicago.
20-year-old Portland midfielder Olivia Moultrie notched a goal and an assist in her 100th club appearance, becoming the youngest player in league history to accomplish the feat.
“I can’t believe I’ve hit 100 games — it doesn’t feel like that at all,” Moultrie said. “I get to show up and do what I love every day and it doesn’t feel like a chore.”
How to Watch the Washington Spirit in NWSL Matchday 9
Washington returns on May 10th, kicking off against Seattle at 7 PM ET on Victory+.
2025 NWSL champion Gotham is righting the ship, after back-to-back wins propelled the No. 4 Bats up the NWSL standings with Sunday’s match against No. 15 Louisville waiting in the wings.
Opening the season with just two goals across five matches, Gotham now has seven under its belt after multi-goal wins over Bay FC and Chicago.
“We have played two games in a row where we’re happy with the results and the performance,” said recent addition Guro Reiten. “We always want to improve.”
The Bats face a Racing side still finding their footing, with Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to No. 3 Washington totaling four defeats in six games.
“I felt we could be a bit more confident, a bit more decisive from an in-possession standpoint,” Louisville head coach Bev Yanez said postgame. “I think [we] could have caused just a bit more havoc from them defensively.”
This weekend’s trip north will mark Louisville’s fifth away match this season, with every dropped result coming on the road.
Where to Watch Gotham vs. Louisville in NWSL Weekend Action
Gotham hosts Louisville on Sunday at 5 PM ET, live on CBS Sports.
The Portland Thorns moved into first place in the NWSL standings with a 2-0 win over the San Diego Wave on Wednesday night.
The Thorns struck early to kick off the Portland vs. San Diego showdown, controlling key moments to secure the result at Providence Park.
Portland opened the scoring in the 10th minute as defender Marie Muller netted her first NWSL goal, assisted by Olivia Moultrie.
San Diego finished with more shots, but Portland's backline held firm. Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold came up with a key one-on-one save in the second half to preserve the lead.
In the 64th minute, Sophia Wilson — fresh off her 2025 maternity leave — scored her first home goal since November 2024. Wilson's strike subsequently sealed the win.
All three of Portland's home victories this season have come on a 2-0 scoreline, something head coach Robert Vilahamn said reflects the team's — and the crowd's — confidence.
“I don’t think you can find a spot in the world in the women’s game that has this kind of fan base and atmosphere,” Vilahamn told Oregon Live. “There’s nowhere near this loudness and support we have here and it gives us something extra.”
With the win, Portland overtakes San Diego to top the NWSL table. While the Thorns haven’t won the NWSL Shield since 2021, they're back in early position in what promises to be the longest season in league history.
Still, the group is keeping a steady approach.
“We’re not going to get too far ahead of ourselves," Arnold said. "It suits us better to take it game by game... We don’t really read into that too much.”
NWSL expansion side Boston is on the board, ending a five-game losing streak — and earning its first-ever point — in last night’s 2-2 draw with North Carolina.
The Legacy scored two early goals behind Alba Caño and Sammy Smith, before nearly ceding all three points to North Carolina as the Courage battled back.
Dani Weatherholt registered a second-half goal and Golden Boot co-leader Ashley Sanchez found the equalizer, before North Carolina saw a crucial late-game penalty ultimately called back by VAR.
Last in the NWSL standings, Boston has struggled to convert performances into results, though Wednesday’s run showed signs of competitive life.
“Everything is coming together, it just takes time and we have to take it one day at a time, one game at a time,” said Smith. “We got our first point and that’s a step in the right direction. Now we’re just fighting to get our first win.”
“I think the most important thing to do right now is recover well the players,” added Legacy coach Filipa Patão.
“They have two, three days to recover before the next game and I think what we saw here was exactly this. In the second half we lost a little bit of intensity in our game and this can make all the difference inside the game.
How to Watch NWSL Expansion Teams Boston Legacy vs. Denver Summit
Boston returns Sunday, hosting fellow expansion team Denver at 3 PM ET, live on Paramount+.