Here's the recap for Week 20

The NWSL schedule for the weekend included a match on Friday night followed by three each on Saturday or Sunday.

Week 20 in the NWSL:

Friday, September 12, 2025

San Diego Wave FC vs. Gotham FC Gotham, 2-0

Snapdragon Stadium on Prime Video at 10:00 p.m.

Here are the leagues' top-5 reasons to watch.

Esther González put her name back atop the leader list with her 13th goal of the season at the close of the first half (45' unassisted) and Jaedyn Shaw (79') headed in a score from a cross into the center of the box (assist) by Howell. With the win, Gotham vaults into 3rd-place tie on the table (live standing link below). While San Diego is, for now, in the 4th spot and each team has 30 points, goal differential gives Gotham the edge.

Saturday, September 13, 2025

NC Courage vs. Angel City FC Courage, 2-1

First Horizon Stadium on CBS at 12:30 p.m.

Manaka Matsukubo (6' assist to Linnehan) scored so quickly most of the crowd hadn't gotten settled into their seats. Then, Brianna Pinto lifted a goal (unassisted) into the high center of the goal to provide all the scoring North Carolina would need and send their 10,000+ fans into a frenzie. Angel City's Sveindís Jónsdóttir (88' from Moriya) added a goal to keep things interesting late in this one, but Courage escaped with 3 points.

Orlando Pride vs. Bay FC Draw, 1-1.

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

Racheal Kundananji (45+4') headed a goal from a cross (assist) by Dudasco to put Bay up at the end of the first frame but Aly Watt (70') headed a cross from Ovalle (assist) to equalize and the teams each finish with a point for their tables.

Kansas City Current vs. Washington Spirit Draw, 0-0.

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

A person might read the result as a dull game, but when Hal Hershfelt picked up a red card (66') it meant Washington was forced into a player-down situation and had to weather a flurry of attempts by Kansas City late. Alas, they could not capitalize.

Sunday, September 14, 2025

Chicago Stars FC vs. Portland Thorns FC Draw, 1-1

SeatGeek Stadium on ESPN at 3:00 p.m.

Olivia Moultree (12') put Portland on the scoreboard early with a free-kick goal into the bottom left corner, but Chicago's Bea Franklin (45' from Schlegel) close-range goal equalized and the teams split a point for their efforts.

Utah Royals FC vs. Houston Dash Royals, 2-0

America First Field on NWSL+ / P+ at 6:00 p.m.

Utah kept pace with Chicago at the bottom of the table a few hours later when Kaleigh Riehl (4') from a cross and assist by Lacasse off a corner early. That goal was followed up by another from Paige Monaghan (45' assist by Rábano) at the end of the first.

Seattle Reign FC vs. Racing Louisville FC Reign, 1-0.

Abandoned match (replayed later)

Lumen Field on NWSL+ / P+ at 8:00 p.m.

The teams played to an even first half (45-+3) with no score, but at that point Racing Louisville's Savannah DeMelo collapsed and was carted from the pitch. The new NWSL protocal properly in place from earlier in the season, the game was abandoned and will be rescheduled. Later reports indicated that DeMelo was "stable and alert" after the incident.

There are times that sports don't seem so important and this was one of them. The staff of NWSLines are sending their best to all within the league.

Jess Fishlock scored in the second half when the match was resumed and Seattle picked up 3 points. Here is the summary from the league, along with an update on SD7.

The Table (live standings)

The Leaders (individual stats)