Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip!

It was a headline-grabbing weekend in the NWSL, with drama on and off the pitch. Washington Spirit spoiled Bay FC’s record-setting night at Oracle Park, edging a 3–2 win in front of a league-best crowd. The KC Current kept their unbeaten surge alive with a 2–0 road statement against the Portland Thorns, who also announced the signing of U-20 USYNT star Laila Harbert. Racing Louisville stunned the San Diego Wave with a narrow 1–0 victory, while Houston and Seattle split points in a 1–1 draw. Out west, Angel City clipped Orlando 1–0 to climb back into playoff contention. Off the field, midfielder Morgan Gautrat made headlines with her decision to leave the NWSL for a move to England, while Bay FC’s record attendance set a new standard for the league’s growth.

• NWSL: Bay FC vs Washington Spirit (2-3)

• NWSL: Portland Thorns vs KC Current 🟥 (0-2)

• NWSL: SD Wave vs Racing Louisville (0-1)

• NWSL: Houston Dash vs Seattle Reign (1-1)

• NWSL: Angel City vs Orlando Pride (1-0)

• News: Laila Harbert joins Portland Thorns

• News: Morgan Gautrat Ditches NWSL for England

• News: Bay FC Sets New NWSL Record

Bay FC vs
Washington Spirit (2-3)

The Washington Spirit secured a historic 3-2 victory over Bay FC at Oracle Park in front of a record-breaking 40,091 fans, setting a new high for professional women’s sports attendance in the U.S. Washington jumped to a 3-0 first-half lead with goals from Kate Wiesner, Croix Bethune, and an own goal before Bay FC responded through Racheal Kundananji just before halftime. Kelli Hubly redeemed her earlier mistake with a header in the 54th minute to bring Bay closer, but Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury made a dramatic stoppage-time save on Bay’s last-gasp equalizer attempt. The Spirit, now 6-1-2 on the road, moved into second place in the NWSL standings and will host the Chicago Stars in their Pride Match next Sunday at Audi Field.

Portland Thorns vs
KC Current 🟥 (0-2)

The Kansas City Current cemented their place atop the NWSL table with a 2-0 win over the Portland Thorns at Providence Park, marking their sixth straight road victory and 10th consecutive match unbeaten. Ellie Wheeler opened the scoring just 55 seconds in—the third-fastest goal of the 2025 season—before setting up Temwa Chawinga’s 71st-minute breakaway finish. Goalkeeper Lorena recorded four key saves en route to her league-leading ninth clean sheet of the year and the team’s fifth straight shutout, tying the NWSL record for the longest regular season streak. The result also set a new franchise mark with 10 shutouts in a single season and extended Kansas City’s defensive dominance to 452 scoreless minutes.

SD Wave vs
Racing Louisville (0-1)

San Diego Wave FC dominated possession and chances but fell 1-0 to Racing Louisville at Snapdragon Stadium after Emma Sears’ 59th-minute strike proved decisive. The Wave controlled 71% of the ball, completed nearly 600 passes, and fired 22 shots but couldn’t find a breakthrough against goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer, who made eight saves to preserve the clean sheet. San Diego’s best looks came from Gia Corley’s first-half header and a late sequence in the 78th minute when Kenza Dali’s shot deflected to Makenzy Robbe, whose effort was denied. Despite the loss, San Diego remains in the playoff hunt and now heads to Seattle to face the Reign on Aug. 29.

Houston Dash vs
Seattle Reign (1-1)

The Houston Dash extended their unbeaten streak to four matches with a 1-1 draw against Seattle Reign at Shell Energy Stadium, keeping themselves just two points shy of the playoff line. Yazmeen Ryan opened the scoring seconds into the second half with her second goal of the season, but Jordyn Huitema equalized for Seattle in the 65th minute. Houston created multiple chances—including efforts from Messiah Bright, Delanie Sheehan, and Sarah Puntigam—but were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. New signing Clarissa Larisey made her NWSL debut off the bench, sparking late opportunities, though the Dash couldn’t find a winner. Houston now heads into a three-match road stretch starting with Racing Louisville.

Angel City vs
Orlando Pride (1-0)

Orlando Pride fell 1-0 on the road to Angel City FC after an unlucky night in front of goal despite creating multiple quality chances. Ally Watt and Haley McCutcheon were denied early by strong saves, and Watt later struck the crossbar as the Pride pressed for a breakthrough. The match was ultimately decided in the 86th minute when Alyssa Thompson’s shot deflected off a defender and found the net for the hosts. Head coach Seb Hines admitted his side lacked sharpness in key moments but praised their defensive effort. Orlando now looks to regroup ahead of hosting NY Gotham FC on Aug 29.

Where NWSL Stands

Laila Harbert Joins
Portland Thorns

Arsenal midfielder Laila Harbert, 18, will join the Portland Thorns on loan through the end of the 2025 NWSL season as she continues her development abroad. Harbert, who signed with Arsenal in January, previously gained experience on loan with Southampton in WSL 2 and spent time at Watford under dual registration. She has already made two senior appearances for Arsenal, including a 2024 preseason match against the Washington Spirit, and has been with the club’s academy since age nine. Speaking on the move, Harbert acknowledged the challenges of adapting to a new league, including travel and competing for minutes, but highlighted Portland’s commitment to young players as a key reason for the switch.

On the international stage, Harbert has been a standout for England’s youth national teams. She captained the U-17 Lionesses to their first-ever UEFA European Championship final in 2024 and also led them to a fourth-place finish at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup the same year. Now with the U-19s, she recently played a key role in securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Arsenal released a statement wishing her well in this next stage of development, as she takes her talents to Portland in hopes of earning valuable playing time and experience in the NWSL.

Morgan Gautrat
Ditches NWSL for England

Orlando Pride midfielder Morgan Gautrat has been loaned to Newcastle United in England’s WSL 2 for the rest of the season while announcing her retirement from the NWSL. A two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion with the USWNT, Gautrat expressed her excitement about taking on a leadership role at Newcastle, hoping to help the club build a lasting legacy as they aim for promotion to the top flight. Gautrat, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NWSL Draft, had a decorated league career that included playoff runs with the Chicago Red Stars, a stint with Kansas City, and most recently, 34 appearances for Orlando, where she helped the Pride win both the NWSL Shield and Championship.

Orlando leadership praised Gautrat’s professionalism, leadership, and impact, emphasizing that she will always be part of the Pride family. Beyond club play, Gautrat’s career highlights include a season with French powerhouse Lyon, an appearance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and 88 caps with the USWNT, where she tallied eight goals and 11 assists. The St. Simons Island native was the youngest member of the 2015 World Cup winning squad and also lifted the trophy again in 2019.

Bay FC Sets New
NWSL Record

Bay FC’s 3-2 loss to the Washington Spirit at Oracle Park was overshadowed by the historic attendance figure: 40,091 fans, the largest crowd ever for a women’s professional sports league match in the U.S. The spectacle (complete with smoke bombs, rap performances, and baseball legend Barry Bonds in attendance) underscored Bay’s ability to turn matches into cultural events. For head coach Albertin Montoya, the milestone illustrated how far the women’s game has come since the WPS era, while players like Racheal Kundananji emphasized how the crowd’s energy fueled Bay’s comeback push. Despite the defeat, Bay has now been part of the two biggest gates in NWSL history, proving the club’s potential to drive record-breaking moments even while struggling in the standings.

The event also raises larger questions about the future of Bay FC and the league. With PayPal Park in San Jose limiting accessibility for many Bay Area fans, Oracle Park’s sellout highlights San Francisco’s viability as a permanent home, especially as the club prepares to open a new training facility nearby. The success strengthens San Francisco’s case as a potential 2031 Women’s World Cup host city and sets a new benchmark for what’s possible in the NWSL. Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune captured the sentiment, noting that games like this point toward even bigger ambitions, perhaps at MLB or NFL stadiums. For both Bay FC and the league, this match signaled that the ceiling for women’s soccer attendance in the U.S. is far higher than previously imagined.