We got four days to enjoy the action

Week 16 in the NWSL featured matches played Friday thru Monday. The "big one" was considered Saturday afternoon's 1 vs. 2 matchup.

Turns out, for this viewer anyway, the "big one" of the week was the final match in Seattle on Monday as the KC vs. Orlando match was played in Hell.

Friday, August 15, 2025

Washington Spirit vs. Racing Louisville FC Draw, 2-2.

Audi Field on Prime Video at 8:00 p.m.

Let's start with this: There was 12 minutes of stoppage time added to the match when the clock struck 90. And, that made the difference for the Spirit as Rosemonde Kouassi was able to pick up an open ball from just outside the box and drill it past the keeper for the equalizing score.

Now let's back up to how the scoring opened. Sofia Cantore (39') knocked in a pass (assist) from Gift Monday to put the home team on the board first. Rebeca Bernal was charged with an OG (53') early in the second half to even things, 1-1. Savannah DeMelo (80') converted a PK to give Racing Louisville the lead before Kouassi's heroics. In the all important tangle between the No. 2 - 10 spots on the table, Washington went to bed in second, a point ahead of Orlando (28-27). Stay tuned!

Utah Royals FC vs. Angel City FC Draw, 0-0.

America First Field on NWSL+/ P+ at 10:00 p.m.

Utah controlled possession more of the match (55.1 - 44.9) and they outshot Angel City, 14-10. But when the score ends in a draw, both teams leave with a point for their table.

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Kansas City Current vs. Orlando Pride Draw, 0-0.

CPKC Stadium on CBS at 4:00 p.m. (Delay)

The match was delayed because of something calls the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT). Fans and the brain trust at CBS learned about this as the NWSL explained that a reading of "air temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover (solar radiation)" (per ProSoccerWire) was in excess of 92.3 degrees putting the match into the league's extreme heat policy which requires a delay to await less dangerous conditions. They could've just said, "It's Hell hot so we're in a delay," but no one asked me what the PA announcer's script should've read.

It finally started two and a half hours after listed time. No one scored, each team took a whopping 1 shot on goal, everyone was still too hot, the crowd (still listed as a sell-out at 11,500) dwindled, and the teams left sharing a point for their trouble.

NC Courage vs. Portland Thorns FC Draw, 1-1.

First Horizon Stadium on ION at 7:30 p.m.

Olivia Moutrie (44' unassisted) on a put-back miss, got Portland off to a lead when the half-time whistle blew. But Tyer Lussi (70') returned basically the same favor to even the score when she put a miss into the bottom left corner of the net. Both teams stay relevant in the race to the play-offs as Portland finished the night in 5th with 24 points and NC Courage is in 9th, tied with Gotham (well, until Sunday at least) with 20 points on the table.

Bay FC vs. San Diego Wave FC Wave, 2-1.

PayPal Park on ION at 10:00 p.m.

In the late game from the west coast, San Diego's win vaulted them into sole possession of second (29 points). Wave got second-half goals from Kimmi Ascanio (52' assist to Morroni) and Kenza Dali (63' assist to Leon). Bay FC's score came when Caroline Conti (75') converted a PK.

Sunday, August 17, 2025

Gotham FC vs. Houston Dash Dash, 2-1.

Sports Illustrated Stadium on NWSL+ / P+ at 4:00 p.m.

When Esther González booted a pass from Porilho (assist) into the bottom right corner of the goal at the 8-minute mark, she moved herself back atop the league-leaderboard for goals scored in 2025. And her squad may have thought that would win it.

But, after an OG was charged to Emily Sonnett (51') to even the score, it was Houston who used the additional time given and a Michelle Alozie (90+3' assist to Puntigam) goal to emerge with the W before the final whistle blew two minutes later.

And, just like that Houston finds itself in the mix for the playoffs, just two points back of the 8-spot on the table.

Monday, August 18, 2025

Seattle Reign FC vs. Chicago Stars FC Draw, 3-3.

Lumen Field CBSSN 10:00 p.m.

Turns out the offensive fireworks for the week came during the Monday night match. Jess Fishlock (3') slipped a shot passed the outstretched arms of Alyssa Naeher from an endline to middle pass by Huitema (assist) just in front of the goal and Seattle was on the board. Huitema (34') put another one on the board, also from close range, following a fastbreak opportunity. (Truly both of the first-half goals were scored in at least some small measure because of Chicago's new attacking shape.)

A minute in to the second, Emeri Adames (46') put the Reign up, 3-0, on a score from the center of the box into the bottom right corner. A three goal lead with less than a half to play? Insurmountable, right?

Not so fast. Ludmila (73' assist to Schlegel) found the back of the net following a free kick and the visitors woke the scorer up to make the board change. Then, Camryn Biegalski (78' assist to Malham) scored and suddenly, the Stars were down by one.

Thirteen minutes were added for stoppage time, during which Naeher broke free of her goal cage to join Stars teammates on a corner kick situation and kerfuflle at the 90+9' mark to get a shot past Claudia Dickey. Alyssa Naeher, in her 200th match in the league, scored her first goal!

So, that's how Chicago recovered from a 3-goal deficit with 18 minutes to play in regulation to escape with a point and remind all of us to keep watching!

Live Table (Standings)

Player Leaderboard (Individual stat leaders)

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Also announced during Week 16 by the league:

"FIVE NWSL PLAYERS EARN PRESTIGIOUS 2025 BALLON D’OR FÉMININ NOMINATIONS

The Ballon d’Or (French for “Golden Ball") is the most prestigious award a footballer could ever hope to earn, and this year, five NWSL players received nominations.

Orlando Pride’s Marta and Barbra Banda, Gotham FC’s Esther González, Kansas City Current’s Temwa Chawinga, and Washington Spirit’s Sofia Cantore all are among the footballers nominated for Ballon d’Or Féminin.

The reigning Ballon d’Or Féminin winner is Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí, who won the award in both 2023 and 2024. The first Ballon d’Or was given out in 1956, but women weren’t included until 2018. Megan Rapinoe is the first – to date, only – NWSL player to win the Ballon d’Or Féminin (2019)...

Nominations are determined by France Football magazine’s editorial team, and then a panel of journalists from the top FIFA-ranked countries vote for a winner. The 2025 Ballon d’Or Féminin will be awarded on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris."