Week 5 was completed on Saturday

There were no games played on Easter Sunday in the NWSL so Week 5 actually concluded on Saturday.

Friday, April 18, 2025

Utah Royals vs. Chicago Stars FC Royals, 1-0.

America First Field on NWSL+ at 9:30 p.m.

In the waning moments (seconds, really) of the match, Ally Sentnor (90+10') drove a low shot past the outstretched arms of Alyssa Naeher (who had guessed correctly) and into the back of the net to score her PK opportunity and send the 17,085 Utah fans home happy and add 3 points to their table.

Week 5's featured match was Seattle Reign FC vs. Portland Thorns FC. We recommend all others, too.

Seattle Reign FC vs. Portland Thorns FC Reign, 1-0.

Lumen Field on Prime Video at 10:00 p.m.

In its "5 reasons to watch" piece, the NWSL pointed out that this is the oldest rivalry in the league. But that same story also noted that Portland Thorns FC was starting to click.

Rather, Seattle definitely rained on that notion early in the 4th minute when Maddy Dahlien took a lead pass from Biyendolo, dribbled around her defender and curled a shot past the keeper to score the game's only goal. For Biyendolo it was a measure of redemption for the offside infraction that removed her back-of-the-net beauty two minutes earlier.

In the end the Thorns outshot the Reign, but as we often say, those stats don't matter, only the shots made. And, as maybe "they" say of rivalries when fans are driving home down I-5 back to Portland, "We'll get 'em next time."

Angel City FC vs. Gotham FC Gotham, 4-0.

BMO Stadium on NWSL+ at 10:30 p.m.

Finally! An offensive barrage the American viewer yearns for... right?

Actually, for the more than 18,000 fans in attendance in L.A., it was a match that was well within reach for about 60 minutes.

It was also a painful reminder that Gotham FC now has jumped over Angel City FC on the table and sits in 4th, despite having the same record (2-1-2). In terms of goal differential (GD), the east-coast squad now has a 4 to -1 advantage over the west-coast team which demonstrates why, on the table, it's about points earned for wins or ties and the GD. (Take heart, LA fans, we have a long way to go in the season.)

Scoring for Gotham FC were: Esther (González) (18' from Portilho ) and (75' from Schupansky); an own goal (OG, Moriya 67') and unassisted by Geyse (85').

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Saturday, April 19, 2025

Racing Louisville FC vs. San Diego Wave FC Wave, 4-1.

Lynn Family Stadium on NWSL+ / P+ at 3:00 p.m.

It was a veritable tsunami of goals as San Diego Wave FC crashed over Racing Louisville FC to pick up its first W (3 points) of 2025. It started with an unassisted beauty from Kenza Dali (17') off a free kick that bent around the wall and the keeper that held up until Ary Borges was awarded and converted a PK (45+6') in additional time to equalize at half time. Dali's was the shot of Week 5 for this blogger.

Then the visitors overwhelmed their hosts adding three goals in the second: Melanie Barcenas (50' from Cascarino), Delphine Cascarino (60' from Morroni) and as if an assist and a goal weren't enough, Cascarino tacked on another (77' from Ascanio).

The brace (that's what it's called when a player scores two goals in a match, no one was hurt!) from Cascarino tallied were her first two goals of the 2025 to go along with the three assists that has her currently atop the season leaderboard in that statistical category.

Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit Spirit, 1-0.

Inter&Co Stadium on ION at 5:00 p.m.

Stop the presses! Orlando lost. But that's not the most shocking stat from this one, it's that they failed to score, something the team hadn't done since September 13, 2024, when they had a nil draw with Kansas City Current, 13 regular and postseason matches ago.

It was an unassisted goal off an uncharacteristic blunder by Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorehouse as Gift Monday (63') redirected a bonk off the keeper's leg into the back of the net to present the win to the Spirit. For Washington it provided the team with its the only good news on Saturday as it was also reported that one of the league's favorite players, Trinity Rodman, will take an indefinite leave from NWSL action and the Spirit, to address lingering back issues that the USNWT player has.

North Carolina Courage vs. Bay FC 1-0.

First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on NWSL+ at 7:00 p.m.

Kiki Pickett lifted a beautiful shot from well outside the box into the top right corner and the back of the net on an assist by Anderson in the 34th minute to secure three points for Bay FC, in front of the 7,049 Courage fans in attendance.

With the 3 points, Bay FC currently moves into the 8-spot on the table.

Kansas City Current vs. Houston Dash 2-0.

CPKC Stadium on ION at 7:30 p.m.

Kansas City Current overtook the top of the table following Orlando's loss and this win on a pair of goals by Lo'eau LaBonta (PK 21') and Kayla Sharples (62') who headed one in from close range with an assist on the cross from Rodriguez.

It's been a minute since that table was dressed differently and we'll see how Kansas City responds from the top of the league.

Live NWSL Table (standings)