NWSL Playoff Chaos, An Angry GOAT, and EOY Awards Discourse.

Upset City Baby! 

The NWSL needed a firm reminder of its defining characteristic. Chaotic parity.

It's the most unforgiving league in the world.

Last season, Orlando was the first #1 seed to make the final since the 2018-2019 NCC squad that featured NWSL greats like Lynn Biyendolo, Jessica McDonald, Debinha, Crystal Dunn, Sam Mewis, and Kristen Hamilton. It’s fitting then, that a KC Current missing both Michelle Cooper and Temwa Chawinga wouldn’t be handed a one way ticket past the eighth seeded Gotham FC. It’s one thing to win the NWSL Shield — as the best team in league history, no less — and it’s an entirely different accomplishment to win the Cup as the top seed.

The fact that KC arrived here, able to consistently grab results week in and week out, only highlights how impressive their regular-season dominance was this season.

Dominance reflected in the end of season rewards finalists that list Temwa Chawinga and Debinha as MVP finalists, Izzy Rodriguez and Kayla Sharples as Defender of the Year finalists, Lorena as a Goalkeeper of the Year finalist, Debinha and Claire Hutton as Midfielder of the Year finalists, and Vlatko Andonovski as the favorite to win Coach of the Year. 

Their early playoff exit is a reminder that nothing is a given in the NWSL.

In today’s newsletter, I want to explain my EOY awards ballot, and then we’ll dive into a weekend that served up Orlando and DC as the semifinal host sites for a second straight season. 

MVP:

The NWSL MVP is the most straightforward of any awards this season. I know I made an outsider case for Claudia Dickey last week, but it’s Temwa Chawinga, there’s no other choice.

Playoff performances shouldn’t have a bearing on EOY awards, but a quick look at how the Current performed and gameplanned without Chawinga this season strengthens her case. Chawinga won the Golden Boot with 15 goals compared to Esther’s 13, had 4 more Goals + Assists than Manaka Matsukubo’s 14, only slightly overperforming her expected numbers. A dive into ASA’s goals added statistics paints an even stronger picture, Chawinga led the league with 7.58 goals added this season, leading Barbra Banda’s 4.60 g+ and Gift Monday’s 2.66 g+ above average. Chawinga was worth 11.39 goals above replacement, tracking positively on both sides of the ball, leading in both interrupting + fouling g+ amongst all attacking players. 

Compared to Manaka Matsukubo, Delphine Cascarino, Esther, and Debinha, only Manaka has directly added more expected points through her goal and shot creating actions. 

TemVP for a second straight season, a first in league history – Sam Kerr’s MVPs were disrupted by Lindsey Horan(Heaps)’s 2018 season. 

Defender of the Year: 

This is where the road becomes more difficult. The finalists for the award will come down to Jordyn Bugg (SEA), Tara McKeown (WAS), Avery Patterson (HOU), Izzy Rodriguez (KC), and Kayla Sharples (KC), with two clear front runners.

Avery Patterson led all defenders in goals added and grew into an elite Fullback in her sophomore season, ranking 10th in tackles + interceptions, leading defenders in progressive carries, and only trailing Sam Staab in goals added among defenders. Patterson had an incredible year on a pretty bad Houston Dash squad that would have been much worse without her ability on both sides of the ball. 

However, when the conversation is best defender, Kayla Sharples appears to be the front runner. 

The case for Sharples is interesting. She doesn’t lead the league in any individual categories, but she only trails Chawinga in xG+/-, meaning that starting XI’s featuring Sharples averaged a +1 goal differential vs lineups without her in the back line. That’s not a perfect stat, KC Current players make up most of that stat, but it doesn't speak to her importance along the Current’s backline – a backline that allowed just 13 goals against through 26 matches. 

Sharples generated 1.4 g+ through her interventions, but KC’s defensive success was born through aggressive defending up and down the formation – particularly with Lo’eau LaBonta and Claire Hutton breaking up plays before the back line was threatened. Positioning is a key component of that success, and solid defending positioning doesn’t show up in counting stats, but it adds to Sharples's case. 

Even outside of the numbers, Sharples’s role as the key cog and the main ball progressor out of the backline dictated most matches. Opposing clubs were mainly forced to attack the space behind Izzy Rodriguez, but Sharples's range and ability to deny balls into the area stopped most attacks. Take KC’s 2024 season, while they upgraded in the summer, it wasn’t until Sharples arrived that they became defensively solid, allowing just three goals in the seven matches after she arrived. The DPoY should be draped in teal. 

Goalkeeper of the year:

The finalists for GoY are Ann-Katrin Berger (GFC), Claudia Dickey (SEA), and Lorena (KC), but this is an easy one. AKB is here on reputation; her shot-stopping numbers actually took a step back this season. Then, Lorena had a great season and, again, backed up a club that allowed just 13 goals this year. However, it’s Claudia Dickey who runs away with this award. 

In another world where MVP meant the most valuable player to their team’s success, Dickey would make the Temwa Chawinga conversation more difficult. Dickey’s post-shot expected goals saved +/- was 11.9, almost double Lorena and Aubrey Kingsbury’s numbers. If either of those two played in Seattle, the Reign would likely miss the playoffs with a -3 goal differential. There hasn’t been a goalkeeping performance like this since Kailen Sheridan’s 2019 with Sky Blue. 

Seattle only finished 5th because of Dickey, and with completely average goalkeeping, their goal differential is equal to Angel City, and Laura Harvey is on shaky ground heading into 2026. 

Midfielder of the Year:

Ok… what a bizarre list of finalists in Kenza Dali (SD), Debinha (KC), Claire Hutton (KC), Manaka Matsukubo (NC), and Olivia Moultrie (POR). Firstly, is Manaka Matsukubo a midfielder? She started most of the year at the top of North Carolina’s formation, and while you could certainly argue that NCC doesn’t actually field a striker… It’s a strange look. Then there’s the lack of Sam Coffey or Taylor Flint on this list, two players who would have had strong cases to win the award based on their DM work.

However, with the players at our disposal, Manaka Matsukubo will win this award. As Important as Dali was to San Diego, as great as the KC midfield was, as much of a dead ball specialist as Moultrie has become, Manaka only trailed Temwa Chawinga in both goals + assists and expected goals + assists. North Carolina certainly needed her efforts this season, and she should be a genuine MVP candidate in 2026. 

Rookie of the Year: 

The finalists for this year’s RoY are Maddie Dahlien (SEA), Lilly Reale (GFC), and Riley Tiernan (LA). This one will be interesting. There are two big numbers here as Dahlien was crucial for Seattle, creating 8 goal contributions, and Tiernan scored 8 goals and grabbed an assist in LA.

However, Lilly Reale has been the best rookie this season across the board. Reale played over 2000 minutes for a Gotham that can’t seem to miss at college FB signings. Reale was the only one of the trio with a positive goals added contribution, and is the only one who was rewarded with 350 minutes for the national team across two callups this season. 

I think Tiernan probably wins, but Reale’s USWNT appearances could still influence the fan vote. 

Coach of the Year:

Buckle up, the finalists this year are Vlatko Andonovski (KC), Adrian Gonzalez (WAS), and Bev Yanez (LOU). There are three strong cases here:

Andonovski secured the NWSL shield faster than any club in NWSL history, finishing 21 points above the Spirit. He managed a swuad that lost Vanessa DiBernado's maternity leave, and key injuries along the back line… but he did so as the preseason favorite to win the Shield, with a roster that mitigated DiBernado's minutes with the acquisition of Utah's Ally Sentnor.

González inherited an already strong season in DC, and while he definitely improved the club’s form amidst a myriad of injuries, he benefited from the addition of Italian international Sophia Cantore in the summer.

Bev Yanez has not had that luxury. When 2024’s Caitlin Carducci acquired Alana Cook and Kayla Sharples in the fall, Louisville was trading away captain Jaelin Howell and $50,000 in allocation for Bethany Balcer. Over that time, DC has acquired multiple world class starters, while Yanez has had to rely on college FA signings – that’s not a knock on Caitlyn Flores Milby, who nailed the signings of Ella Hasse and Katie O’Kane – and the fruitful decision to try Janine Sonis at Right Back. 

If Vlatko Andonovski wins, it’ll be deserved. KC had a historic season behind a dominant defensive setup and another great attacking season, improving their goal differential by +10 as every other favorite fell down to earth.

However, Yanez developed a squad that wasn’t viewed as a playoff squad in the preseason, and turned them into a strong team and a tough out even after losing Sav DeMelo. Louisville has succeeded in the face of hardships that should have broken its concentration. 

Yanez has been transparent, taking a leave of absence earlier this season after opening up about her second miscarriage in as many years. “We feel for Bev in this moment,” Arin Wright said in July, “This team is here to support her in any way and capacity that she needs us to. We’re a family here and we’re going to have her back and her family’s back all the way through this. I know it’s disappointing and the team feels that. But I think a way that we can show her that we care is coming together as a group for this game on Sunday and playing for her and having that in the back of our minds for every minute of the game.”

Louisville beat the odds, triumphed through the tragedies of Yanez and DeMelo’s medical emergencies, and beat out squads that many deem as “more ambitious”. 

Yanez is the first former NWSL player to reach the playoffs as a manager. Coach of the Year honors would be great for a league that needs to encourage more former players to jump into management. 

It’s Andonovski’s award to lose based on the sheer dominance of KC this season, but Yanez’s case deserves consideration. The league would benefit greatly from it.

Alright, let’s talk soccer.

Orlando Pride 2 - 0 Seattle Reign

Neutral viewers could be forgiven for not believing in these Orlando Pride, but Seb Hines reminded everyone that his squad knows how to win a playoff game. 

The Pride met Seattle where they were, and dared the Reign to take possession after Laura Harvey’s side found some success in the attack the week prior. The unfortunate outcome for Seattle is that – until the late pen – they should have been on top in this one. The Reign outperformed Orlando over every phase of play, but could not penetrate the box enough to grab a high quality chance. The Reign created 17 shots, 8 on target, outdueled, and outpassed Orlando… 

Unfortunately, the Reign couldn’t account for the activation of playoff Marta. Marta rolled back the clock again, creating a chance and drawing a crucial penalty to clinch the win.

Marta drew the clincher, and used to moment to honor Luana in her most important moment since returning from cancer treatment earlier this fall. 

Orlando won the right to host Gotham in the semifinal, but it won’t be that easy. Gotham is not the typical 8 seed and has had better underlying stats than Orlando all season. It’s tough to win back to back playoff matches on the road, though, and Marta has found a way to motivate her squad ahead of this one. 

Marta, reacting to a segment on the Attacking Third show, took offence to former Gotham player McCall Zerboni saying Gotham were the better team, star for star, than the defending champions. 

…She may have been a little upset.

That’s some much-needed Bulletin Board material. D:

Washington Spirit 1 - 1 Racing Louisville 

The Spirit needed PKs to advance past a Louisville squad that massively overachieved expectations, but they pulled it off thanks to Aubrey Kingsbury’s continued PK excellence. DC did a good job of marking Emma Sears out of the match, but also struggled to pull away with Trinity Rodman still on the edge of returning to the lineup. 

This was a tight match, and should be one Louisville is proud of, especially given the perception of DC as a title favorite. 

Gift Monday, Croix Bethune, and Rose Kouassi were all effective in creating openings and chances. Monday has been impressive since arring in the Capital, she's been top 5 in goals added through the regular season, and was rewarded with 10 goal contributions for her efforts. Even without Rodman, Monday has been the Spirit's most important attacker, it was only fitting that she was the attacker that finally broke the deadlock.

Louisville didn't go away however, and equalized in the 92nd minute thanks to an incredible Courtney Peterson delivery.

DC has to find more of an adjustment as they look ahead to Olivia Moultrie, Reilyn Turner, and Sam Coffey. Portland has more attacking options than Louisville, and can make the Spirit pay if they allow as many dangerous set-piece opportunities. Can they figure out their transition?

KC Current 1 - 2 Gotham FC

Heartbreak in Kansas City as the Current were knocked off their perch following the most dominant season in NWSL history. 

It’s a tough way to end the year after dropping four points at home all season, but this wasn’t as simple as the 1 seed losing to the 8th seed. 

The Current had to lineup without Temwa Chawinga and Michelle Cooper, two of the league’s top attacking players. The absences were made worse by Vlatko Andonovski’s bizarre day at the office, admitting to playing Bia for 114 minutes on an injured MCL, and failing to adjust his game plan to that reality. Andonovski stated that the medical staff cleared Bia to play, but it was obvious that her mobility was somewhat limited by the injury. 

Is there a benefit in starting Feist and moving Sentnor into a false nine role? Is there a world where Alex Pfeiffer starts the day despite just 86 minutes following her ACL recovery? It’s a difficult situation, and one that left the NWSL Shield winners with surprisingly few options. 

Ultimately, Temwa Chawinga led the league in ASA's goals added model (7.57), and Michelle Cooper was 7th (2.04). The Current still pushed into extra time; it’s a testament to the team's depth, but the game plan wasn't good enough to overcome the absences. Especially when the last ditch effort was to throw on 17 year old Alex Pfeiffer. Even then, Pfeiffer’s reprisal of Michelle Cooper’s role in stretching Gotham’s defensive structure helped the Current equalize, and kept the Current dangerous in the first period of extra time. Bia gave it all in 113 minutes, and the Current didn’t have the firepower with Debinha exiting late to bring on Pfeiffer. 

Those excuses ring hollow when scanning across the league. The Spirit advanced past Louisville while missing Trinity Rodman, while Gotham upset KC without leading scorer Esther, along with Geyse, and the continued absence of Tierna Davidson. 

It comes down to how a side adjusts, and the Current did not adjust.

Juan Carlos Amarós has his Gotham side figured out, unlocking the Current without risking Esther on a cold day in Kansas City. Jaelin Howell was the key, slotting just in front of Emily Sonnett and Jess Carter, while making 16 recoveries, 6 interceptions, 7 interceptions, and 15/22 duels. Howell was immense on both sides of the ball, freeing Midge Purce and Jaedyn Shaw to cheat forward and stretch KC out of their formation without Chawinga and Cooper to answer. 

This was a good day’s work, and they were rewarded with a 120th minute go ahead goal by Katie Stengel. AKB's Free Kick was excellently delivered into the DYCHE ZONE.

Onto Orlando, where Gotham won 0-2 last time out, can they do it again? It depends on whether Esther is ready to go. 

Portland Thorns 1 - 0 San Diego Wave

It was so nice of the NWSL to offer up an additional 90 minutes of extra time this weekend. San Diego made it tough for the Thorns, with Kenza Dali allowed the time and space to orchestrate the Wave’s game plan, but that was answered by Sam Coffey’s day at the office. Both sides traded near falls over the course of 90 minutes, but neither budged. 

 The stalemate at fulltime was well earned, but Olivia Moultrie opened things up with her play in extra time, taking advantage of a lapse in the Wave’s marking scheme, taking the ball to the endline and sending a clean cross into the waiting Reilyn Turner. 

The result is why winning home pitch advantage on Decision Day was so important. Rob Gale’s side fed off of the Providence Park crowd in ET, and held on just enough to see out the win.

Now, they head to DC to attempt to cash in a one-way ticket to the NWSL Final quicker than most would have expected in the post-Sinclair/Sauerbrunn era.

They should feel confident, too. 

The Spirit has not been at the height of their powers, and a Trinity Rodman still searching for full health leaves the door open to a Thorns side that beat DC 2-0 in Portland earlier this season before losing 2-1 in DC two months ago. That match featured a Rodman winner in stoppage time and a rare poor Sam Coffey performance.

Both sides will have adjustments to make, but the Thorns deserve to be taken seriously as contenders. Three straight clean sheets, just two goals in the last five, something has clicked for Rob Gale’s side since the Hina Sugita trade, and DC will have to be careful of taking on too much possession against another side that is happy to concede the majority of the ball. 

As Sam Coffey said: