The 2025 NWSL common season is rushing to the end line. With simply two match weeks left within the common season, the playoff image is lastly coming into view, and with six playoff spots nonetheless up for grabs, gamers are leaving every thing on the pitch. With so many breakout performances, it is time for Attacking Third’s workforce of the week.
After weekly fixtures throughout the 2025 NWSL marketing campaign, Attacking Third analysts choose a workforce of the week, head coach, and honorary captain primarily based on performances throughout the weekend. In case you’re retaining monitor of who has been on our previous lineups, ensure that to look again at our team selections from week 23.
First-place Kansas Metropolis Present maintain setting information whereas they cruise to the postseason. The Present’s 2-0 win over Gotham FC throughout week 24 set a report for many factors in a single season. Kansas Metropolis’s 62-point season broke the 60-point report by final yr’s NWSL Protect winners, Orlando Pleasure, with two match weeks remaining.
Final yr’s NWSL Champions, the Pleasure, will attempt to make a press release in week 25 that final season’s run was no fluke and retain a top-three spot within the standings forward of a global break. Washington Spirit just lately clinched the No. 2 seed, making certain a house quarterfinal and potential house semifinal in the event that they advance, and can host third-place Orlando Pleasure on Saturday (12:30 p.m. ET, CBS).
Week 25 can be right here earlier than you recognize it, 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.
Check out our greatest XI:
Goalkeeper: Lorena (Kansas Metropolis Present)
The Kansas Metropolis Present and setting new league information are a pattern this yr. Goalkeeper Lorena will get high honors after recording her 14th clear sheet of the season. She set one other report for Kansas Metropolis with essentially the most house shutouts (eight).
Defender: Hanna Lundqvist (San Diego Wave)
San Diego wanted an enormous three factors and received them because of defenders getting concerned within the assault. Hanna Lundqvist recorded the help on Kenza Dali’s sport winner.
Defender: Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas Metropolis Present)
It is actually taken gamers all throughout the roster for Kansas Metropolis to attain what they’ve up to now this season, and the backline might be the clearest instance of that. Fullback Izzy Rodriguez has been a relentless function on protection by 24 video games this season and recorded an help on Bia Zaneratto’s objective in week 24.
“I like Izzy Rodriguez. I believe six assists this season, I believe already is to have these sorts of numbers from an outdoor again, you recognize what I like? Crosses within the field that do not simply put it within the field. They decide gamers out, and that is what she does,” Attacking Third analyst Jen Beattie mentioned.
Defender: Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit)
Generally it is in regards to the impression you make with the time you’ve gotten, and centerback Tara McKeown will get the honors for her 45-minute shift in week 24. She was second on the workforce in clearances (three) and can be essential on protection down the stretch.
Defender: Miyabi Moriba (Angel Metropolis FC)
As Angel Metropolis continues to struggle for its playoff life, Miyabi Moriba is a silver lining amidst an ever-changing lineup for the West Coast facet this season. She functioned extra as a wing again throughout week 24, led the workforce in tackles (4), however her means to cowl floor and defend is a plus.
Midfielder: Kenza Dali (San Diego Wave FC)
In her first NWSL season, France worldwide Kenza Dali has change into crucial participant on the San Diego Wave. The way in which play runs by her is commonly a key to factors, and a savvy veteran who simply has the arrogance to strive some stuff finally ends up with the ball at the back of the web off a set piece nook.
Midfielder: Shinomi Koyama (North Carolina Braveness)
The North Carolina Braveness are making issues laborious for opposing groups as they navigate their very own playoff push. Each level issues from right here on out, and midfielder Shinomi Koyama prolonged North Carolina’s season with a late equalizer.
Midfielder: Claire Hutton (Kansas Metropolis Present)
If it is troublesome to select only one Kansas Metropolis Present defender each week for workforce of the week honors, it is even more durable to select simply certainly one of their midfielders. This week, Claire Hutton earns the highest reward.
“Each week, Claire Hutton does a lot defensive work for Kansas Metropolis, blocking photographs. She’s monitoring again, she’s being pulled vast, out and in of house, after which she needs to contribute,” mentioned Attacking Third analyst Lisa Carlin.
“She is such a think about the way in which Kansas Metropolis builds and strikes so shortly … Claire Hutton received that midfield battle [against Jaelin Howell].”
Ahead: Bia Zaneratto (Kansas Metropolis Present)
It is a scary thought to think about Kansas Metropolis Present’s attacking line getting stronger because the league winds down, however that is precisely what’s taking place with Brazilian worldwide Bia Zaneratto.
Ahead: Delphine Cascarino (San Diego Wave)
It is no secret that the Wave have been in a drought in entrance of objective, however that is lastly altering now that Delphine Cascarino is again within the combine. She’s again on the energetic roster after nursing a knee harm, and organising teammates for essential objectives.
Ahead: Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)
The extra she performs video games, the more healthy she appears, and cranking up the objective scoring is simply icing on high of the cake. Rodman’s means to make the most of the time and house conceded to her is what units her other than others.
Coach: Vlatko Andonovski (Kansas Metropolis Present)
One other report matched, set, and now damaged with the Kansas Metropolis Present, head coach Vlatko Andonovski has the glory of teaching one of many high sides of all time in NWSL. What’s most spectacular is how he is doing it at this level within the season by rotating his bench and getting extra gamers minutes and others relaxation forward of the playoffs.
Honorary captains: NC Braveness followers
A soggy wet match day? Join North Carolina Braveness followers. They’re no strangers to a playoff push, and eight,498 followers confirmed as much as assist. It marked the fourth time this season the membership achieved an attendance of over 8,000.
