The amount is cranked up on the second half of the 2025 NWSL common season. The weekend slate of matches provided a number of examples of the chaos NWSL matches can deliver, with high-scoring attracts and game-changing targets by goalkeepers as highlights throughout week 15. There are simply 10 weeks remaining within the season, and the margins are getting narrower between groups, regardless of the standings, so meaning it is time for an additional NWSL Workforce of the Week by Attacking Third.
Whether or not it is first-place Kansas Metropolis Present or Thirteenth-place Chicago Stars FC, there are 9 NWSL golf equipment represented on our week 16 staff. After weekly fixtures throughout the 2025 NWSL marketing campaign, Attacking Third analysts choose a greatest XI, head coach, and honorary captain primarily based on performances throughout the weekend. If you happen to’re conserving observe of who has been on our previous lineups, ensure to look again at our greatest XI from week 15.
Week 17 will likely be right here faster than a flash, and 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.
Let’s break down the standout performers who outlined NWSL’s triumphant return. Check out our greatest XI:
Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Stars FC)
Goalkeepers in NWSL make it tough to slender issues down to at least one greatest keeper to rule all of them, however this week, Chicago Stars FC keeper Alyssa Naeher is that participant. Not solely did she rating a late-game equalizer, however extra historical past was made by the veteran participant as her positioning earned her a spot on our greatest XI not as soon as, however twice. Ensure that to take a look at the place else she landed on our staff of the week.
Defender: Natalie Jacobs (Houston Sprint)
Your complete first half of the NWSL season offered some huge rising pains for Houston. Poor performances, conceding targets, not scoring, and a sense of extra of the identical for an additional season. That is not the case within the second half of the yr, and Houston’s elevated performances have earned wins and a primary time defensive greatest XI honor on our staff of the week for Natalie Jacobs. She led the backline in tackles (three) and duels (10).
Defender: Ellie Jean (Racing Louisville FC)
Racing Louisville are maneuvering their lengthy season slightly bit otherwise than in years previous. They have been in playoff competition final earlier than the summer season break, and three weeks again into the second half of the season, they usually’re nonetheless within the higher half of the desk, two factors shy of the playoff line. Scrappy video games with chaotic finishes have performed a task, and so has defender Ellie Jean.
“I feel that she has been dynamite all season lengthy,” stated Lori Lindsey on Attacking Third. “when you take a look at one participant on their staff that has elevated their recreation, has been such a catalyst for his or her togetherness, and the way in which that they play. I really feel like little doubt, Ellie Jean. So, need to sing her praises and [was] huge a part of why they acquired the tie on the highway towards Washington.”
Defender: Kayla Sharples (Kansas Metropolis Present)
Beneath powerful warmth warnings at residence, Kayla Sharples helped anchor the backline towards second-place rivals Orlando Delight. The centerback has emerged because the face of Kansas Metropolis’s protection and has turn into a staple of their stingy protection as a cleansheet chief. A scorching summer season delay be dammed, Sharlpes and the backline now lead the league with 9 cleansheets.
Defender: Emily Sams (Orlando Delight)
Orlando have had their factors include extra slender scorelines this season, and defender Emily Sams is a large issue week to week. She brings the crunch together with her tackles each time she’s on the hunt to snuff out assaults, and week 15 was no totally different.
“I assumed she was like, insane. Generally I am like, ‘How are your legs nonetheless hooked up?’ Which is at all times, like, perplexing. However [Orlando] had slightly little bit of a tactical adjustment the place they went with, like, a decent again 4,” Lindsey defined on Attacking Third.
“Often, it is Carson Pickett that they launched on the left facet. However this time they launched Sams and towards Izzy Rodriguez for Kansas Metropolis, who will likely be extra of an attacker than a left again. I assumed Sams timed her choices of when to go and be aggressive towards Rodriguez, additionally, whereas having to be conscious of caring for Chawinga and no less than limiting her influence. So, Sams, I assumed, was large, particularly after they misplaced Banda; they knew they have been going to must defend as a result of there wasn’t going to be as a lot of an outlet up high.”
Midfielder: Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns)
Olivia Moultrie is just 19 years previous, however she’s already a long-time Thorns legend who’s been with the membership since she was 13 in its youth academy. She’s 4 years previous her first common season debut in 2021, and her week 16 aim for the Thorns ranges her with Jaedyn Shaw (now 20 years previous) for many NWSL targets by a teen, a document Moultrie can probably break this season.
Midfielder: Kenza Dali (San Diego Wave FC)
The France worldwide placed on a grasp clinic within the midfield. She’s been a reasonably constant presence on our weekly lineups, and this time isn’t any totally different. Her long-distance, no-hesitation end on San Diego’s game-winner has her proper again on our staff of the week.
“I like watching her, since she’s come to the NWSL and the aim that she scored … She was the one which created that construct up, after which she continues her run to get within the field to obtain it once more, and finally ends up ending it,” former participant McCall Zerboni stated on Attacking Third.
“Midfielders that create their very own targets. for me, that’s simply unbelievable … She’s not an enormous aim scorer, however when she has that chance to get credit score, [because] she’s at all times establishing others and doing all of the soiled work, simply chef’s kiss for me.”
Midfielder: Claire Hutton (Kansas Metropolis Present)
After a three-hour delay on account of extreme warmth, midfielder Claire Hutton nonetheless introduced the additional gasoline for the midfield tank in week 15. The 19-year-old central midfielder had the very best likelihood on aim for Kansas Metropolis and was dominated offside, however her efforts off the ball have been equally spectacular, too.
“She’s enjoying towards Orlando Delight, a teenager, not even 20 years previous, but, enjoying towards one of many high groups within the league, high midfield gamers on the planet [Marta],” Zerboni defined.
“She was shining. She stood out to me. She was clear, she was sharp, she was defensively strong, making her tackles, stringing passes collectively. I imply, she’s a standout, and she or he actually shined the opposite evening towards Orlando for me.”
Ahead: Jordan Huitema (Seattle Reign FC)
Seattle Reign racked up the targets in week 16, however it’s ahead Jordan Huitema stole the present with a bicycle kick. The Canadian worldwide has the peak and hops for headers, however confirmed off her athleticism with this end.
Ahead: Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit)
It hasn’t taken lengthy for Sofia Cantore to make an influence with the Washington Spirit. The Italy worldwide already made historical past because the first-ever Italian participant to sign up NWSL and now she has her first aim within the league. An absolute cracker from distance by the 2025 UEFA ladies’s Euro semifinalist to introduce herself to NWSL audiences
Ahead: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Stars FC)
Alyssa Naeher isn’t any stranger to changing (and saving) penalties, however down a aim late within the recreation on the highway in Seattle, the goalkeeper stood tall within the six-yard field on a set piece to attain an equalizer.
Coach: Ella Masar (Chicago Stars FC)
Interim-head coach Ella Masar cracks the very best XI for a second consecutive week. The Chicago Stars are unbeaten in three video games, the three wild attracts coming beneath the steering of Masar, with a reinvigorated sense of nothing left to lose. The self-belief has turn into contagious, and the Thirteenth-place facet have quickly turn into essentially the most irritating staff to play towards when you’re a squad preventing towards Chicago’s strangulating grit to remain within the combine.
Honorary Captain: Kansas Metropolis Present followers
A 3-hour delay on account of warmth meant that loads of followers made the decision greatest for themselves and their households on whether or not to stay round for a recreation or not. However even with a smaller crowd at kickoff, Kansas Metropolis trustworthy confirmed as soon as extra why they’re among the greatest supporters within the league. Sticking it out for the gamers and one another is simply a part of the particular season Kansas Metropolis are placing collectively.
