The Spirit still has the Shield in its sights, as No. 2 Washington trails No. 1 Gotham by just five points going into this Sunday’s clash with No. 5 Portland.

The Spirit broke a four-game winless skid in last weekend’s 1-0 win over No. 14 Bay FC, with Paige Metayer driving home a Trinity Rodman rebound.

The Thorns enter on a five-match unbeaten streak, after stealing a point from the Bats last Friday behind Sophia Wilson’s game-tying strike.

Both clubs will look a little different, as Washington defender Rebeca Bernal completed a transfer to WSL side Manchester United this week while Portland added a ringer to its staff.

The Thorns hired USWNT legend and longtime captain Becky Sauerbrunn as a technical consultant for the rest of the 2026 season.

“As a player, I loved watching film, talking tactics and details, working with a backline, and this opportunity affords me all those things with a lot less running,” the 41-year-old said.

Washington takes on Portland on Sunday at 4 PM ET (CBS).

No. 1 Gotham has the Shield in its sights, but the shorthanded Bats will first have to fly past No. 3 Portland in this weekend’s Gotham vs Thorns NWSL clash.

Gotham midfielder Rose Lavelle (head) will sit out tonight’s match. A first-half collision saw her exit Sunday’s 0-0 draw with No. 9 Angel City.

“She’s going through the testing, but she’s in the concussion protocol, so she won’t be available,” said Gotham acting manager Shaun Harris.

Gotham sits atop the NWSL table on a nine-game unbeaten streak. The Thorns subsequently carry their own three-game winning streak, despite losing star Olivia Moultrie to a season-ending ACL tear.

Bolstered by Sophia Wilson and Pietra Tordin, Portland ranks third in goals scored. However, the Thorns meet their match in the Bats’ league-best defense.

“It’s about making sure we can control the game from early, establish good positions and good possession, and try to dominate as much as we can on the ball,” said Harris.

Gotham takes on Portland tonight at 8 PM ET (Prime).

Portland is upping its game, as the Thorns and Fire unveiled their $150 million training facility on Saturday. The opening marks a first for women’s sports.

The first-ever dual women’s sports complex houses two soccer pitches and two basketball courts. Additional features include dining areas, a strength and performance center, dedicated family spaces, and more.

“We’re creating more than something that’s just for both teams,” Fire and Thorns Governor Lisa Bhathal Merage told Just Women’s Sports. “We are creating a complete women’s sports ecosystem.”

The Thorns and Fire are the only jointly-owned NWSL and WNBA teams. The arrangement allows RAJ Sports to create an elite environment for both squads.

“Our athletes are so multifaceted,” Bhathal Merage said. “They love music and art and food and culture and fashion, and we’ve been very intentional when we built out our Kaiser Permanente Performance Center.”

The Portland Thorns are climbing ESPN's NWSL matchday 17 power rankings — even after losing midfielder Olivia Moultrie for the season. The young USWNT star tore her right ACL on August 11th, and will miss the rest of 2026 club season.

But Portland hasn't felt her loss on the scoreboard, most recently notching 2-1 home win over the Orlando Pride on August 15th.

Portland Thorns Keep Scoring Behind Sophia Wilson Attack

Sophia Wilson is the reason why the Thorns' offense keeps pushing forward. She returned to Portland this season after maternity leave and has slotted back in at the top of the attack. Her presence has given the club a steady scoring threat while it reshuffles the midfield without Moultrie.

But the mood is different in Kansas City.

NWSL Power Rankings Shuffle Sees KC Current Drop 5 Spots

The Current sat near the top of the NWSL power rankings earlier this summer but have since slipped, falling 2-1 at Gotham FC on August 14th. That loss capped a rough stretch that has knocked them down ESPN's order to 10th place.

Other teams making moves in a more positive direction this week are the Seattle Reign, who rose to No. 6 on ESPN's list, and the North Carolina Courage, checking in at No. 8. Meanwhile, Gotham FC, the Utah Royals, and the San Diego Wave all held onto their top three rankings.

The 2026 Golden Boot race is heating up, with just three goals separating the NWSL’s leading scorers heading into this weekend’s lineup.

Orlando’s Barbra Banda tops the leaderboard after netting 12 goals across just 15 games, as the Zambia star returns from WAFCON this week.

Courage star Ashley Sanchez is just one goal behind Banda with 11. Washington’s Trinity Rodman, Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga, North Carolina’s Evelyn Ijeh, and Portland’s Sophia Wilson sit tied at nine apiece.

Fans could witness a Banda-Wilson shootout tomorrow, as the No. 5 Thorns and No. 11 Pride hunt consistency amid recent struggles.

Injury-struck Portland has tallied just one win in its last five games, while Orlando has fallen out of playoff positioning on a similar skid.

“The belief is still there,” Pride manager Seb Hines said. “We have to keep going. We have to keep trying, not get too out of discipline either.”

Portland hosts Orlando tomorrow at 8:45 PM ET (ION).

US Soccer lost one of its brightest stars this week. NWSL and USWNT midfielder Olivia Moultrie landed on the season-ending injury list after tearing her ACL in training.

The 20-year-old was in the midst of a career-best league run. She’s tallied five goals and five assists to propel No. 5 Portland up the NWSL table.

“Olivia is one of the most driven players I have been around, and she will use that drive during her recovery and rehabilitation,” Thorns President & GM of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos said in a team statement.

The blow is likely to sideline Moultrie for November’s Concacaf W Championship. That’s when the US kicks off its 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympic qualifiers.

“Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to sum up all of the feelings right now,” Moultrie posted.

“I know there is a reason this path has been chosen for me and I can’t promise everything but I can promise I’ll be back and I’ll be better.”

Utah Royals FC made history Sunday night, putting five past the Portland Thorns in a 5-1 win at America First Field. That final scoreline set a new club record for goals in a single match. It also marked the Royals' 10th win of the season, a first since 2019.

Cece Delzer Drives Comeback After Early Sophia Wilson Goal

It was Portland who opened the scoring early. Sophia Wilson needed just 34 seconds to give Portland the lead, netting the quickest strike in the NWSL this season. But Utah answered through Cece Delzer, who equalized in the 35th minute off a feed from Kiana Palacios.

Then Delzer did it again.

Two minutes into the second half, Cloé Lacasse sent in a cross that Delzer converted to complete her first career NWSL brace. Lacasse's assist also broke the club's single-season record for goal contributions, previously held by former USWNT star Christen Press in 2019.

From there, Utah pulled away.

Second-Half Scoring Run Breaks Records in Utah Royals vs Portland Thorns Win

Brecken Mozingo found the net just minutes after entering as a substitute, and Palacios added a backheel flick in the 78th minute. Kate Del Fava headed home a Lacasse corner in the 88th to seal it.

Lacasse finished with three assists and 13 goal contributions on the season, marking two more club records. The win moves Utah to 3rd in the NWSL standings at 10-5-3.

Soccer fans held their breath on Friday, as USWNT and Gotham defender Emily Sonnett was stretchered off the Portland field with injury in the opening minutes of the Gotham vs Thorns game’s 2-2 draw.

“Gotham FC defender Emily Sonnett left Friday’s match at Portland with a suspected left knee injury,” read a team statement. “She will receive further evaluation in New Jersey.”

“Emily’s one of our key players as a leader on and off the pitch, so it’s really difficult when you lose such a great and key player that early in the game,” added interim manager Shaun Harris.

The game that followed pitted the No. 5 Portland’s potent offense against No. 2 Gotham’s staunch backline.

Superstar signing Sam Kerr played hero for the Bats. The Australian international scored her first goal since returning to the NWSL, securing the result in the 62nd minute.

“I thought we were quite poor today, to be honest,” Kerr said postgame. “We were probably lucky to get away with the tie.”

Gotham’s roadtrip continues with Wednesday’s visit to No. 14 Bay FC, kicking off at 10 PM ET (CBS Sports).

No. 4 Portland is aiming to stop the skid, entering tonight’s heavyweight clash with No. 2 Gotham FC after dropping back-to-back matches this month.

The Thorns are chasing the Bats up NWSL table after Gotham drew level with league-leader Washington at 30 points apiece last weekend.

“It’s always difficult coming to Portland and playing in this environment,” said interim Gotham manager Shaun Harris. “But at the same time we relish these kinds of moments.”

Portland should expect an boost via forward Morgan Weaver. The veteran returns from a knee injury that’s kept her sidelined since November 2024.

Star striker Sophia Wilson tops the Thorns in goals with seven on the season. Pietra Tordin subsequently leads in assists with six across 16 games.

“Portland is a very good team,” said Gotham defender Bruninha. “They have very good players and very fast players, so we need to give them our full attention.”

Where to Watch Tonight's Thorns vs Gotham FC NWSL Match

Portland hosts Gotham tonight at 10 PM ET, live on Prime.

Lindsey Heaps is back in the NWSL, as the longtime USWNT captain made her debut for No. 10 Denver on Saturday — wearing the armband in a 2-1 win over No. 4 Portland inside a sold-out Centennial Stadium.

Coloradoans carried the day, as Highlands Ranch native Janine Sonis pulled the Summit level after Windsor’s Sophia Wilson nailed a first-half penalty, while rookie Natalie Means scored the game-winner in the 86th minute. 

Golden product Heaps signed with her hometown club in January but delayed her arrival to finish the season with OL Lyonnes, returning to the NWSL after the secondary transfer window opened.

Heaps, who played for the Thorns from 2016 to 2021 before spending the last five seasons with the French titan, praised the league she left behind. 

“Everything the organization has done — the ownership, and from there down, I think we’ve just done it in such a proper way,” the 32-year-old told reporters.

“We’ve been in clubs that are very, very professional and the top of their leagues, and to see it happen here in the NWSL, it makes it very easy for us to come in and do our job.”

“We both grew up here,” Sonis said of her teammate. “I continue to pinch myself in these moments — we need to continue to deliver performances like this.”

Denver has its work cut out for it on Sunday, taking on Trinity Rodman and No. 1 Washington at 7 PM ET (Victory+).