Week 12 is complete

Here are the recaps for Week 12, June 13-15, some with highlight videos linked.

Friday, June 13, 2025

Houston Dash vs. San Diego Wave FC Wave, 3-2.

Shell Energy Stadium on NWSL+ / Paramount+ Golazo at 8:00 p.m.

First half goals for San Diego from Kenza Dali (17' unassisted) and Adriana Leon (36' assist to Lundkvist) and an early second half one from Maria Sánchez (51' on a cross from, and assist to, Cascarino) were enough to weather the offensive display from Houston at the hour mark of the contest, when Bárbara Olivieri (61' set piece from just outside the box) and Yazmeen Ryan (68' assist from Graham) scored to keep the match exciting until the final whistle.

Match highlights, courtesy of the NWSL, can be found here:

Utah Royals FC vs. Gotham FC Gotham, 3-0.

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

Utah had no answers as Esther González scored a pair of goals (9' assist from a cross by Schupansky) and at (58' PK) and Jaelin Howell (45+1' assist by Geyse) added another to leave Sandy, Utah with 3 points on the table.

Gotham had two players pick up red cards in the second half, but even that advantage couldn't help Utah find any offense.

Match highlights from NWSL:

Bay FC vs. Orlando Pride Pride, 1-0.

PayPal Park on Prime Video at 10:00 p.m.

Barbra Banda scored the game's lone goal (58' from Pickett, off a set piece) to lift Orlando over Bay FC. But there were other highlights as shown in this video on YouTube by the NWSL video team.

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Chicago Stars FC vs. Seattle Reign FC Draw, 2-2.

Soldier Field (for real!) on ION at 5:00 p.m.

If you had tuned into ION in the 84th-minute, you would have thought Chicago was going to get a 2-0 win. But they play the final six, plus stoppage time, so Ludmilla's brace, a pair of goals at 11' (assist to López following a fast break) and 13' (assist to Staab following another fast break, whew!) felt wasted.

Seattle's first goal was scored by Lynn Biyendolo (87' unassisted) and was followed up just before seven minutes of additional time was added when Jordyn Bugg (89' assist by Dahlien) curled in a long-range shot to equalize. Desping the teams splitting a point on the standings, it had to feel to Chicago a bit like they snatched a defeat from the jaws of victory.

Kansas City Current vs. Racing Louisville FC Current, 4-2.

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

After Lauren Milliet was charged with an OG (2'), Kansas City got a pair of scores in the first half by Michelle Cooper (15' assist by Mace, a through ball on a fast break chance, which basically means a leading pass that was beautifully timed) and Bia Zaneratto (19' assist DiBernardo).

Louisville managed to sneak back in with a pair of second half goals by Janine Sonis (62' crossed to her by Milliet, assist) and Uchenna Kanu (88' this time crossed to her by Sonis, assist, of a corner set piece), but Temwa Chawinga scored in stoppage time (90+5' ) to make the score look more lopsided than it was and to reclaim the No. 2 spot on the league's goals scored leaderboard, eight in 12 matches. Esther (Gotham FC) has nine in the same number. Oh yes, and to add three points to keep the Current atop the NWSL table.

Angel City FC vs. North Carolina Courage Courage, 2-1.

BMO Stadium on ION at 10:00 p.m.

Cortnee Vine (1' from Matsukubo's assist) wasted no time putting North Carolina in the lead, but Riley Tiernan headed in a goal to equalize 10 minutes later (11' assist to Thompson with the cross, um ... that's a pass not a prayer).

The game stayed knotted until five minutes into stoppage time when Brianna Pinto's left-footed shot found the back of the net (unassisted) after her previous attempt was blocked. The shots came off a set piece situation and provided an excellent primer on staying with the action!

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Portland Thorns FC vs. Washington Spirit Thorns, 2-0.

Providence Park on CBS at 4:00 p.m.

Portland got goals from Reilyn Turner (39' assist from Fleming) and Pietra Tordin (82' another assist from Fleming, this time on a fast break chance) and Bella Bixby recorded a clean sheet (nil goals given up for a goalkeeper), to lead the home squad to a win and nab three points for the standings in Week 12's final match.

Live Standings (table).