Week 21, Sept. 18-21, in the NWSL

This week featured a Thursday night match, followed by three on Friday, two Saturday and the concluding match on Sunday. All times shown were eastern.

With only five weeks remaining before the playoffs begin and the No. 1 seed clearly established (Kansas City Current) there is still a lot to determine, even at the bottom of the table.

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Angel City FC vs. Washington Spirit Draw, 2-2

BMO Stadium on CBSSN at 10:30 p.m.

Washington's Trinity Rodman (12') got things rolling when she put back her own blocked shot, but L.A.'s Evelyn Shores (14') used her left foot and a nice pass from Thompson (assist) to equalize two minutes later. At 55' Washington's Tara McKeown suffered an OG and Angel City took the lead, 2-1, but Croix Bethune (71') knotted the score with a header from a Santos cross (assist) and that's how this one finished, 2-2.

Friday, September 19, 2025

Houston Dash vs. Chicago Stars FC Houston, 1-0

Shell Energy Stadium on Prime Video at 8:00 p.m.

On a fast break counter, Houston's Yazmeen Ryan (28' unassisted) knocked in the game's only score and Chicago's streak of not losing ended at seven. Houston finds itself in the mix for a playoff spot only two points back of No. 8, NC Courage.

Orlando Pride vs. NC Courage Courage, 1-0

Inter&Co Stadium on NWSL+ at 7:30 p.m.

North Carolina Courage got a last-minute goal from Shinomi Koyama (89') following a fast break to give the Courage three points and nab the No. 8 spot in the standings just before Houston put the pressure on them with their win over Chicago.

What a Friday night for dual screens!

Utah Royals FC vs. Racing Louisville FC Utah, 3-2

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

Utah got all its goals (Mina Tanaka, 13' unassisted, Janni Thomsen, 38' from Tanaka, and Cloè Lacasse 45+3' from Monaghan) in the first half and then hung on as Louisville chipped away at the lead with two of their own in the second (Emma Sears, 68' from Weber and Janine Sonis, 81' from a free kick), but then ran out of time.

With Utah's three points, the battle for the bottom of the table (which is really a battle of pride at this point) between the Royals and Stars is on heading into the final four weeks.

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Kansas City Current vs. Seattle Reign FC Current, 2-0

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

No. 1 Kansas City just looks unbeatable (but of course they have two losses on the season so...) as they beat Seattle to add three more points to their now insurmountable lead in the standings. Debina (34') converted a PK and one of the leagues' most exiting players to watch, Temwa Chawinga (74') headed a blocked attempt back into the goal to account for the scoring.

Portland Thorns FC vs. San Diego Wave FC Draw, 1-1

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

In the late final on Saturday, San Diego scored first when Savannah McCaskill (56' unassisted) drilled a left footer from outside the box into the bottom left corner, but Portland equalized 30 minutes later when Reyna Reyes (86' unassisted) followed up and used her right foot after a shot by Moultrie bonked off the crossbar.

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Bay FC vs. Gotham FC Draw, 1-1

PayPal Park on ESPN 2 at 8:30 p.m.

Gotham's Rose Lavelle (36') took a terrific pass from Esther (González) in the center of the box and booted it into the bottom right corner, but Bay's Racheal Kundananji (68') got a similar great pass from Malonson and though she was behind the box she, too, buried it into the bottom right corner to earn the draw. Both teams add a point to their table and Week 21 is in the books.

Live Table (standings)

Individual Stats Leaders