The Current thrives, Portland finds its identity, more from a muddy playoff race.

Rivalry week helped crystallize that 2025 will be remembered as the year of the Current, but there was more at play than just KC’s continued dominance.

Cascadia was rowdy, DC wasted an opportunity, and young players stepped up in major ways across the league. The playoff picture is a muddy mess. Would we have it any other way?

Let’s talk about it.

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Kansas City Current

KC traveled to Utah for the first annual Ally Sentoríco Friday night and left with their winning streak intact… but it wasn’t as straightforward a win as they would have expected.

Jimmy Coentraets' Utah was structured, rigid in their defending, and successfully slowed the match down to limit KC’s counterattacking opportunities.

It was a similar tactic to how Bev Yanez deployed her Racing Louisville squad a week ago, forcing Kansas City to beat them with their width, while keeping play in a compact block so that defenders aren’t being stretched vertically or diagonally. It has been a successful tactic… even if it hasn’t been reflected in the scorelines.

Kansas City has generated just 0.59 expected goals combined over the past two first halves, and while neither Louisville nor Utah could keep Temwa Chawinga contained for all ninety minutes, it’s a blueprint that Orlando and Washington should be keying in on for future use.

The bottom line is that the Current are always going to face the toughest match from whoever they’re facing, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Vlatko Andonovski addressed the close scoreline after the match, credited Utah and the NWSL in general for making every match meaningful. “This league is a difficult league; it doesn’t matter who you play, it doesn’t matter when you play them, it doesn’t matter where you play them; every game is a game. And unless you play your best game, you have no chance at seeing success.”

Anyways, attacking “struggles” aside, the Current haven’t allowed a goal in three matches and have outscored their opponents 18-5 throughout this eight-match winning streak. They’ve been dominant, Ally Sentnor is still acclimating, and DM Rocky Rodriguez hasn’t gotten nearly enough credit — four tackles, one block, and three interceptions on top of five passes into the final third.

Orlando Pride

The Pride are hanging there but are winless in their last three, with just two goals scored during this slump.

It’s uncharacteristic, but the underlying numbers tell of a squad that has simply been unlucky in their finishing opportunities. While they needed a stoppage time own goal to draw Louisville last weekend, they dominated the run of play 2.96 xG (with 2! missed PKs).

Defensively, there is no slump.

Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Haley McCutcheon have been immense throughout the middle. Louisville completed just six passes into the box, and none were completed through the central channel.

Long-term outlook: Seb Hines just needs to keep his squad healthy and engaged, the luck will come back around — especially with the addition of Simone Charley in short stints so far.

It may not be rivalry week anymore, but the Pride visit KC this Saturday, a rematch that both clubs have had circled for over a year.

If Orlando can replicate last year’s success against the Current then they have to be more efficient with their opportunities, and they can not be dragged into a transition game.

Washington Spirit

The Spirit had trouble unsteadying a 10-player Gotham this weekend, but left Harrison with a point for their troubles.

The rematch of last year’s semifinal wasn’t as much of a barn burner as neutrals would have expected, but the Spirit has to take solace in avoiding a complete disaster. Gotham plugged the middle, the Spirit poked and prodded, but was ultimately unable to capitalize despite the 73% field tilt.

0.94 expected goals and just 0.41 expected goals on target showed a real stagnation in the final third for Adrián González’s squad that missed a few clear cut opportunities. Gift Monday was shut down, Trinity Rodman was just as ineffective as her replacement, and the Spirit ended the second half with just two shots on target over the final frame.

It isn’t a disastrous result for the Spirit; drawing their “fierce rival” away from home has kept them level with Orlando as they host Louisville this weekend. It’s more of a missed opportunity, and a reminder that they won’t be able to find quick transitions against a deeply bunkered opponent.

San Diego Wave

The Wave drew their third straight last weekend in their 1-1 SoCal derby draw. That’s one goal in their last three (but just one goal allowed), and their grasp of fourth place in the table feels tenuous at best.

Of course, we’ve been saying that all season.

The bright spots for the Wave come in the play of Delphine Cascarano and Kimmi Ascanio in the wide spaces. Ascanio has had an up and down season — expected for a first-year pro — but was the second most effective player vs Angel City.

It’s encouraging for San Diego, their youth — especially Trinity Armstrong — has looked capable, and Cascarano has looked great next to Adriana Leon, but there is still something missing here.

The midfield can not control matches outside against teams like Angel City, completing 157 more passes while trailing Angel City in touches in the box.

Portland Thorns

Don’t let Rob Gale’s fashion decisions in the midday Portland heat distract you; the Thorns are not messing around.

The NWSL’s rivalry week didn’t produce many exciting matches, but Cascadia always rises to the occasion. The Thorns conceded early, but Emiri Adames’s goal only served to wake up a high-flying Thorns attacking display.

Sam Coffey opened the scoring, while goals from Reyna Reyes, Reilyn Turner, and Pietra Tordin sealed the deal. It’s fitting that the Thorns’ younger stars are picking up the pace like this. If they’re going to hop into the top four, it’s going to take a more consistent performance from Reilyn Turner, especially.

Turner scored her fifth of the season as Rob Gale’s preferred number nine. It’s not always about goal-scoring, but the Thorns are unbeaten in matches where she offers a lifeline.

Olivia Moultrie is playing with so much confidence.

The 4-2 win is an underachievement in a match that saw the Thorns keep Seattle to just 1.07 expected goals while creating 4.35 xG of their own. It showed a group that can be capable on both sides of the ball… and Sam Coffey might be the best midfielder in the world right now.

Seven defensive contributions, seven recoveries, six of seven duels won, Coffey was immense while creating 0.81 xG+xA with a calmly finished PK.

Now, Portland has to keep the energy high as they hit the road to North Carolina. It’s not an easy test after the derby, but it’s a test that they have to pass if they want to jump into the next tier.

Seattle Reign

Seattle’s loss in Portland was a disaster for a squad that had found success on both sides of the summer break. The loss comes down to Portland’s ability to find space on the counter and stack numbers centrally. Jordyn Bugg was targeted after conceding an early penalty and never fully recovered.

It’s a lesson young defenders have to learn, and a reminder that – despite the play of Lynn Biyendolo and Jess Fishlock – the Reign are still a young, unproven squad.

The Reign return to Seattle to host another new Chicago Stars manager, which is a prime bounce-back opportunity for Laura Harvey.

Is it time to have the Jordy Huitema conversation?

Huitema was replaced in the 60th minute by Biyendolo after just one shot attempt and four touches in the box. She created an opportunity, but it’s telling that Mia Fishel produced more in just 23 minutes, albeit in a slightly adjusted formation.

Harvey has to be looking at this formation and wondering if her 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 is the better look. Would Huitema be better playing underneath Fishel as the target striker?

Racing Louisville

Louisville was minutes away from back-to-back wins over Orlando, but instead, will settle for a tough road point. They needed a big result after faltering against the Current at home but there are still issues that the Pride were able to exploit.

Defensively, Louisville was active, needing to complete 23 interceptions in the run of play and — as Bev Yanez likes to point out — put their bodies in front of the ball with eight blocked passes.

Louisville is still missing a piece or two to fully compete, but the big story here is, and excuse my language, Jordyn F‘n Bloomer.

Bloomer has drastically improved the GK position for Racing, and Saturday’s performance was the pinnacle.

Five saves, 2.21 expected goals prevented, two PKs saved, and some good long passes along the way.

The attack hasn’t quite clicked in these bigger matches, but defensively, they’ve given themselves a platform for a strong second half. Four points out of a possible twelve against KC and Orlando are better than expected, but back-to-back road matches against Washington and San Diego will test their ability to score in the run of play.

Still, Bev Yanez has her squad punching above its weight with another chance to punch up at the top three in DC this weekend.

Gotham showed Louisville the blueprint, but they still have to create more consistently.

Gotham FC

Gotham will be happy to have survived being down to ten players for over sixty minutes against the Spirit. Gotham struggled with Washington’s press before the red card but Geyse’s poorly timed tackle caused Juan Carlos Amoros’s squad to wake up and bunker down.

Luckily, Gotham has an opportunity to open up the attack against Houston this weekend. They need to find a spark, with just three shots on target vs Bay FC, two vs Utah, and 4 low xG shots on target vs Washington over the past month.

Esther back in the lineup will help, and the Euro’s leading scorer should be hungry to pass Temwa Chawinga in the Golden Boot race. It all rests on Gotham’s midfield and how often they can create genuine chances. Esther has 10 goals from just 6.32 expected goals, meaning she can snatch goals out of low xG opportunities, but the midfield has to create those moments. Gotham ranks eighth in expected goals, eighth in big chances, and ninth in touches inside the box. They see themselves as title contenders, but have not generated enough opportunities to this point.

They need more time.

North Carolina Courage

The Courage lost their first match following the unceremonious sacking of Sean Nahas. Losing in Houston is not ideal for their playoff chase; however, the lineup decisions were illuminating. Starting Jaedyn Shaw in the midfield behind a front two of Hannah Betfort and Manaka Matsukubo could be the start of something fun, with a little more verticality than what NCC has brought to the table under Nahas.

There will be more adjustments under interim manager Nathan Thackeray, and his lineup on day one showed a willingness to stray away from what fans have come to expect from the Courage’s lineup.

It didn’t go well in Houston, but with a week of training and the spotlight drifting away from Cary, it could be the recipe for Shaw to feel comfortable in her new-ish role. She was arguably the most impactful player on the pitch in Houston where she created two chances and generated 0.40 xG + xA.

There’s just too much talent for this team to continue trending downwards.

Bay FC

Bay didn’t take a single shot on target through the second half against a deeply troubled Chicago Stars squad. The problem for Albertin Montoya’s squad is that they just don’t have the midfield control they need with Caroline Conti and Hannah Bebar in the double pivot. It might progress to that point with another year of playing together. Both have had good moments this season, but there seems to be a clear need that Bay has not addressed in the market.

As long as they have Racheal Kundananji playing well, then they have a chance.

It’s a tough spot to be in, especially with more talented clubs around them also looking to find consistency.

Bay has just been exposed through the middle of their formation and only generated 0.37 expected goals in open play against the – going on their 4th coach of the season – Chicago Stars.

Angel City

ACFC can take confidence away from being the better squad against San Diego, but it’s a small consolation during a seven-match winless streak.

ACFC has scored just six goals during this stretch, just one goal in the last three matches, thanks to Alana Kennedy’s stoppage-time equalizer.

It has not been smooth sailing for Alexander Straus, but the eye test tells you this group is better than its record.

Jun Endo returned just to be back on the injury list this week. It’s painful out west.

Facing Utah, there’s an opportunity to end the winless streak, but the Royals’ ability to play eventless soccer could pose some problems.

If they take anything away from this stretch, it’s that Riley Tiernan has been very good away from the ball… despite just 33 touches in San Diego. A tackle and six recoveries saw Tiernan lead Angel City in goals added. It’s been a nice rookie year for the Rutgers alum.

ACFC will have to take their opportunities efficiently, and there will be opportunities in Utah.

If not now, when?

Houston Dash

This was a great result for Fabrice Gautrat’s side, and they’re now undefeated following the summer break.

Jamaican international Kiki van Zanten has scored in back-to-back and is thriving with Yazmeen Ryan starting underneath.

A spectacular hit from distance.

Avery Patterson continues to build her USWNT case at fullback, and Houston has built itself up into prime spoilers with their press continuing to create opportunities.

It’ll come crashing down… maybe as soon as this weekend… but it’s been a positive few weeks for a club that needs the vibes.

Chicago Stars

The Stars have looked improved after returning from the summer break, which makes the timing of their coaching hire this week a problem.

The Stars announced the signing of Martin Sjögren from Hammarby this week.

Sjögren was competent in Norway, but is largely known for:

1) Crashing out in big matches – a 8-0 loss to England that marked the end of his time in charge of Norway, and a 9-0 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League this past season.

2) Overseeing Norway during the time Ada Hegerberg was away from the squad, citing poor standards of play.

Ella Masar will now step back into the assistant role as Sjögren’s assistant, Anders Jacobson takes charge as their fourth manager of 2025.

None of this matters if Chicago doesn’t sign impact players this offseason.

Utah Royals

There is no sugarcoating it; this was a bad week for the Royals.

Fans can find some positivity in how tough Utah played the Current, but it’s hard to feel optimistic about the club’s future following the Sentnor trade.

Brian Dunseth said it best in his report last week:

Who makes the playoffs out of this mess? Sound off in the comments.