There are simply 9 weeks left within the 2025 NWSL common season, and particular person performances are heating up. Week 17 matches lastly gave us extra wins than attracts, however there was nonetheless loads of chaos. With a number of groups within the hunt for playoffs, there are definitive game-changers worthy of cracking our NWSL Staff of the Week.
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. In case you’re maintaining observe of who has been on our previous lineups, be certain to look again at our greatest XI from week 16.
Week 18 can be quickly, 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: Hannah Seabert (Angel Metropolis FC)
A second consecutive clear sheet for Hannah Seabert means first-time greatest XI honors for the goalkeeper. Two shutouts throughout two begins for Anderson helped tip the scales for an Angel Metropolis victory, with 4 saves and 20 crosses confronted.
Defender: Sam Staab (Chicago Stars FC)
Conceding three targets in a recreation just isn’t fairly the defensive stat a backline would need to satisfaction itself on, however Chicago’s effort to squeeze out outcomes is a full crew effort. Sam Staab was an enormous a part of the Stars’ three-goal comeback with two assists to Ludmila.
Defender: Kate Del Fava (Utah Royals)
The middle again is making issues tough for opposing groups and turning Utah into a troublesome opponent. Helped restrict Gotham FC’s golden boot contender Esther Gonzalez and safe one other clear sheet for the Royals.
Defender: Ellie Wheeler (Kansas Metropolis Present)
In every week the place protection throughout the league was questionable, it ought to be no shock {that a} goalscoring defender made the minimize. Kansas Metropolis Present are a continuing menace with golden boot chief Temwa Chawinga, however now they have defenders racking up targets, too. Wheeler’s heads-up darting run off a set piece and calling her shot was too good to depart out of our greatest XI.
Defender: Sofia Huerta (Seattle Reign)
Defenders stepping up on offense is the theme out of week 17, and that features Reign’s fullback Sofia Huerta. The longtime outdoors again set a brand new league help document together with her thirty second help, and did it as a 3rd heart again, as Seattle head coach Laura Harvey had the crew function out of a three-player again.
Midfielder: Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit)
The Washington Spirit are getting again loads of gamers on the proper time. Midfielder Croix Bethune labored her method onto the pitch forward of the league’s mid-season break and is making an affect. Bethune scored her first objective since getting back from an eight-month harm.
Midfielder: Taylor Flint (Racing Louisville)
Taylor Flint is difficult to overlook on the pitch, and it isn’t simply due to her six-foot body. The Louisville central midfielder is doing all of it relating to aerial duels, interceptions, and tackles received, however she’s been essential in setting and controlling tempo for the crew, and it is paid off in opposition to a top quality opponent in week 17.
“When San Diego did go in transition, I assumed there have been a lot of occasions the place she simply, like, shepherded it right into a state of affairs the place there have been numbers. So, I feel Taylor Flint had, but once more, a extremely good recreation,” analyst Jordan Angeli mentioned on Attacking Third.
Midfielder: Claire Hutton (Kansas Metropolis Present)
One other week and one other greatest XI honor for 19-year-old midfielder Claire Hutton. She placed on a clinic when going up in opposition to one of many extra in-form midfields this season, in opposition to Thorns gamers Sam Coffey and Hina Sugita.
“A beast in that recreation [against Portland]. Final yr, she was defensively so good, however she lacked that calmness when she obtained on the ball. And it looks like she has now introduced these two items collectively,” Angeli defined.
Ahead: Ludmila (Seattle Reign FC)
The Chicago Stars are unbeaten in 4 video games, and out of week 17, it is due to a bonkers efficiency by Brazilian worldwide Ludmila. Not solely had been the Stars down three targets, however the ahead got here in off the bench and scored a hat trick in 10 minutes, a document for quickest three targets scored in NWSL historical past.
Ahead: Alyssa Thompson (Angel Metropolis FC)
Angel Metropolis hadn’t had a win since Could 9, and that lastly modified due to a medical end by ahead Alyssa Thompson. The striker sliced and diced contained in the field after which hammered house the objective for the sport winner.
Ahead: Rachael Kundananji (Bay FC)
There won’t be anybody who works tougher than Bay FC’s Rachael Kundananji. She’s second within the league and leads the crew in complete photographs (58), however solely had one objective to point out for it. She added one other throughout Bay FC’s historic recreation at Oracle Park.
Coach: Bev Yanez (Racing Louisville)
This is not the primary time Racing Louisville head coach Bev Yanez cracked out greatest XI, and if the membership retains profitable, it will not be her final. Louisville’s yr two beneath Yanez has felt totally different all season, and with the playoffs inside attain, one thing particular could possibly be brewing.
Honorary Captain: Bay FC possession group
Being a part of an attendance document in 2024 throughout your inaugural season and following it up with a brand new one in 2025? Massive ambitions. Former gamers and now membership founders, Brandi Chastain, Danielle Slaton, Leslie Osborn, and Aly Wagner, at all times noticed the imaginative and prescient within the Bay and introduced it to life alongside 40,091 others at Oracle Park.
