The 2025 NWSL common season will roar again to life with a playoff push because the league resumes play this weekend after a mid-season break. The hiatus was introduced on by a busy summer time of worldwide tournaments, with the 2025 UEFA Girls’s Euro, Girls’s Afcon, and Copa America Femenina. A number of of the league’s gamers participated in the worldwide competitions and are again for NWSL motion with additional accolades in tow.
The month-long break noticed NWSL Golden Boot chief Esther Gonzalez (Gotham FC) win prime scorer within the Euros with 4 targets within the competitors as Spain ended up as runners-up to England, who boast Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Anna Moorehouse (Orlando Satisfaction), and Jess Carter (Gotham FC). Nigerian internationals Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC) and Michelle Alozie (Houston Sprint) are triumphant Afcon champions, as extra gamers flock again to the league for the home membership grind.
All 14 golf equipment will get again into the common season routine this weekend with matches starting on Friday, and everyone seems to be chasing Kansas Metropolis Present, the leaders within the NWSL Defend race. They will be powerful to catch, with a league-best 11 wins and a six-game win streak. Orlando Satisfaction, final yr’s winners, are in placing distance, simply eight factors behind.
Followers can watch choose NWSL common season matches throughout CBS platforms together with CBS, CBS Sports activities Community, Paramount+, and CBS Sports activities Golazo Community.
Because the second half of the season picks up, let’s revisit some early predictions for the yr. Who’re the groups which might be already trending miles forward of final season? Which golf equipment are trending, and who has impressed, as end-of-year award buzz will improve because the season rolls on.
Try some up to date picks for among the honors which might be definitely a methods away from being determined:
NWSL Golden Boot
The Golden Boot race has a pacesetter in Esther Gonzalez, however that does not imply it is not a detailed one on the midway level of the season. Gonzalez leads with 10 targets, however proper behind, tied for second with eight targets, are Orlando Satisfaction’s Barbra Banda and Kansas Metropolis Present’s Temwa Chawinga.
A lot of issues might have an effect on the end result of this race, hopefully not damage, however perhaps schedule load and remaining opponents. I am unsure that there is sufficient within the scoring developments to make a name at this level within the yr, however I do suppose it may very well be the wiser option to go along with consistency of purpose scoring somewhat than present quantity. Gonzalez’s 10 targets have been scored over six video games, whereas Banda’s eight targets are over 5 matches, and Chawinga’s eight targets are by eight video games.
My choose then: Chawinga (KC Present)
My choose now: Chawinga (KC Present)
NWSL MVP
As a rule in NWSL historical past, Golden Boot has paved the best way to MVP awards, and a few of our skilled picks forward of the yr appear to notice this pattern with picks for Banda and Chawinga. Nonetheless, this yr is an actual toss-up between the attackers within the race and different standout performers within the league. Kansas Metropolis Present attacker and Brazilian worldwide Debinha was a transparent frontrunner for early MVP candidacy, however an damage to her MCL and ankle after 9 video games opened issues up for others within the league to make their very own first half of the season instances.
Angel Metropolis ahead Alyssa Thompson has been an integral a part of the membership’s marketing campaign this yr and may very well be decrease than eleventh place with out her. Portland Thorns FC midfielder Sam Coffey is a very powerful participant for the squad this season, and San Diego Wave FC attacker Delphine Cascarino has hit one other gear because the France worldwide settles into yr two with the membership.
Rather a lot down the stretch of the season might play a job in how this one shakes out, with a postseason image and general staff information in the direction of the top. May the time without work for Debinha imply she comes again for the second half and claims the MVP? Or perhaps one other of her Kansas Metropolis teammates takes heart stage. All that mixed with the truth that I simply do not wish to jinx my earlier choose means I am nonetheless all in on Chawinga.
My choose then: Chawinga (KC Present)
My choose now: Chawinga (KC Present)
NWSL Defender of the 12 months
Loads of choices amongst this class, and a trio of consultants had Orlando Satisfaction’s Emily Sams taking this one, whereas others had their eye on Gotham FC’s Emily Sonnett or Washington Spirit centerback Tara McKeown. There’s loads of motive to both pivot or follow any of the unique picks, as every participant has made large impression.
Sams, Sonnett, and McKeown are nonetheless in play for the person accolade. Though McKeown may also get competitors from considered one of her heart again teammates, Rebeca Bernal, who additionally capabilities as a defensive midfielder and is in competition for that end-of-year award as nicely, if new coach Adrian Gonzalez retains her within the center third.
Others are placing collectively robust performances this season throughout the league, and prime aspect Kansas Metropolis Present have made large strides after struggling defensively within the first half of final season. Kayla Sharples has performed an enormous half, particularly after a season-ending damage to Alana Cook dinner. Sharples’ elevated play additionally has low whispers of long-shot MVP chatter, although no defender has ever received that award within the league to this point.
My choose then: Sams (Orlando Satisfaction)
My choose now: Sharples (KC Present)
NWSL Midfielder of the 12 months
Our consultants had a big selection of decisions on this class, from Washington Spirit’s Hal Hershfelt, who simply returned to kind shortly forward of the midseason break, to Jaedyn Shaw, who went from a starter to an impression sub this season for North Carolina Braveness. Both means, the picks have been off, and if there was going to be a participant to swap into the combination, Attacking Third analyst and former NWSL striker Jess McDonald thinks San Diego’s Kenza Dali must be a number one candidate.
“My goodness, the consistency. Her Chef’s kiss of a free kick going into the again of the online, I might simply watch on repeat,” McDonald mentioned of Dali’s performances this yr. “I can watch the best way that she performs and the way clever she is on and off the ball. I watch her motion typically after I watch their video games, and I am like, “have a look at her” together with her soccer information, and I like her expertise that she brings to the sport and her full-on understanding of it … she’s simply considered one of a form this season.”
My choose then: Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit)
My choose now: Dali (San Diego Wave)
NWSL Goalkeeper of the 12 months
This was a class the place lots of the consultants have been separated throughout the board. There have been six totally different gamers among the many seven picks, with Jane Campbell incomes two nods. Campbell has since been relegated to splitting time on the goalkeeper place with Houston Sprint teammate Abby Smith. One other candidate, Alyssa Naeher, was positioned on the 45-day damage record retroactive to Could 24. Utah Royals Mandy McGlynn has needed to handle one other powerful season and leads the league in targets in opposition to (29).
However similar to the preliminary number of prospects for the person accolade, there’s nonetheless a “something is feasible” vibe to this one for keepers who’ve performed a minimum of 10 video games by the season.
San Diego’s Kailen Sheridan isn’t any stranger to successful the award, and the Wave’s turnaround might result in votes as a finalist. One other veteran, Washington Spirit’s Aubrey Kingsbury, leads the league in complete saves (45) and crosses confronted (234).
Seattle Reign’s Claudia Dickey has been a constant presence for the staff, second within the league in targets prevented (5.76). Kansas Metropolis’s Lorena leads the league in clear sheets (six), and Orlando Satisfaction’s Anna Moorehouse leads the league in save proportion (79.2%) amongst keepers with 13 video games this yr.
Control this one, as a result of it might actually come right down to essentially the most slender of votes.
My choose then: Casey Murphy (North Carolina Braveness)
My choose now: Dickey (Seattle Reign)
NWSL Coach of the 12 months
To start out the 2025 season, a transparent frontrunner for practically all our consultants is a supervisor who’s now not within the league. Former Washington Spirit coach turned OL Lyonnes supervisor Jonatan Giraldez had everybody wanting to see what he might do with a full season on the Spirit sideline, however the former Barcelona head coach left simply in need of a yr with the group.
Because the league returns, there is a new main candidate in Kansas Metropolis Present head coach Vlatko Andonovski, however different analysts suppose San Diego Wave FC’s Jonas Eidevall and Racing Louisville FC’s Bev Yanez might emerge as darkish horses for the end-of-year award.
“A coach I have been actually impressed with is Vlatko Andonovski, and it is easy to say that if you’re midway by a season and Kansas Metropolis is on the prime of the desk and separating themselves,” mentioned Lisa Carlin on Attacking Third.
“I believe Jonas Eidevall at San Diego may very well be a contender, however to me Andonovski has performed such a great job of getting his staff on the identical web page, tightening up on defensively, and going by adversity, and its arduous to go back-to-back years the place you are on the prime of the desk and you’re the staff everyone seems to be chasing and Andonovski has performed that with Kansas Metropolis.”
My choose then: Giraldez (previously of the Washington Spirit)
My choose now: Andonovski (KC Present)
Who wins all of it?
So far as who’s taking the large titles this yr? That continues to be unchanged. Kansas Metropolis Present have been picked 4 occasions by our seven consultants as prime contenders to win both the NWSL Defend or the NWSL Championship in 2025. Washington Spirit have been additionally talked about as a prime rival to compete for the league’s largest accolades, and whereas something can occur within the postseason, for now, Kansas Metropolis seems to be in cruise management on the best way to the NWSL Defend.
Awarded to the staff with essentially the most factors on the finish of the season, the Present have an eight-point lead within the standings over their subsequent closest rival for the trophy, Orlando Satisfaction. The Spirit, 2025 Problem Cup winners, are in fourth place with 23 factors and a 10-point margin to make up. There are 13 matchweeks left for any adjustments to occur, however for now, we’re sticking with Kansas Metropolis because the staff to beat.
My picks then: Defend — KC Present; NWSL Championship — Washington Spirit
My picks now: Defend — KC Present; NWSL Championship — Washington Spirit
What’s subsequent
The NWSL returns on Friday with Seattle Reign FC vs. Angel Metropolis FC at Lumen Subject in Seattle on Paramount+ at 10:30 p.m. ET
