Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip!

Week two brought no shortage of drama across the NWSL and WSL. Portland and Angel City played to a cagey 1-1 draw, while the San Diego Wave pulled off a wild 3-2 win over Utah. Washington Spirit couldn’t keep the momentum going, falling 0-2 at home to a dominant KC Current. Across the pond, Chelsea edged out Manchester City in a top-of-the-table WSL clash, and Leicester stunned Brighton with a thrilling 3-2 comeback.

Off the field, all eyes remain on Trinity Rodman’s future as speculation swirls around a potential overseas move. Will Washington keep their star or is Europe calling? It’s all here in this week’s Goalside Gossip—the best goals, biggest stories, and everything in between. Let’s get into it. ⚽🔥

What's in store this week:

• NWSL: Portland Thorns vs Angel City FC (1-1)

• NWSL: SD Wave vs Utah Royals (3-2)

• NWSL: Washington Spirit vs KC Current (0-2)

• WSL: Manchester City vs Chelsea (1-2)

• WSL: Leicester City vs Brighton (3-2)

• News: Trinity’s Future Remains a Mystery

Portland Thorns vs
Angel City FC (1-1)

The Portland Thorns opened their 2025 home campaign with a 1-1 draw against Angel City FC, extending their unbeaten home record against the LA side. After conceding early to Kennedy Fuller, Portland responded with a 30th-minute equalizer from Reilyn Turner—her first regular season goal for the club. The Thorns dominated the second half, generating 21 total shots and controlling play in the final third, but couldn’t find a winner.

Despite the result, Portland came away with their first point of the season and encouraging signs, including a strong defensive showing and solid debuts from new additions like Sam Hiatt. They’ll look to build on that performance when they host the North Carolina Courage next weekend.

SD Wave vs
Utah Royals (3-2)

San Diego Wave FC grabbed their first win of the 2025 season in a thrilling 3-2 home opener against the Utah Royals. Gia Corley led the charge with a goal and an assist, while Maria Sánchez and Adriana Leon each netted their first goals of the season. After taking a 2-0 lead by halftime, San Diego saw Utah storm back with two second-half goals, but Corley responded quickly with a decisive strike in the 74th minute to seal the victory.

The match featured standout performances from several Wave newcomers, including Canadian international Adriana Leon, who scored in her first home start. Delphine Cascarino added her league-leading second assist of the season, continuing her red-hot form. With eight international starters, San Diego tied an NWSL record and showcased their global talent in front of a home crowd.

Washington Spirit vs
KC Current (0-2)

The Kansas City Current continued their perfect start to the 2025 NWSL season with a 2-0 road win over the Washington Spirit. After a tightly contested first half, KC broke through in the 56th minute with a composed penalty from Lo’eau LaBonta, awarded after a VAR-reviewed handball in the box. Temwa Chawinga then sealed the win deep into stoppage time, racing past the Spirit defense to slot home her second goal of the season.

KC's goalkeeper Lorena came up big with several clutch saves, including a highlight-reel stop in the first half that kept the game level. The match also saw historic moments with Rocky Rodríguez making her 150th NWSL appearance and Flora Marta Lacho becoming the first Angolan to play in the league. With the win, Kansas City sits at the top of the table with six points and strong momentum heading into the next stretch of the season.

NWSL: Where We Stand So Far

Portland’s attack still isn’t quite clicking, and Castellanos hasn’t found her rhythm in their system yet. She’s clearly talented, but the fit doesn’t seem natural at the moment. Over in Kansas City, Giráldez experimented with a 3-4-3—an interesting choice that had some promising moments but also left them vulnerable at times. Meanwhile, San Diego’s attack looked sharp, stringing together some of the best team goals of the weekend. And North Carolina? Still committed to their patient build-up, though it’s not always yielding results. Also, a quick shoutout to Lily Reale, who was thrown into a tough spot this week and handled it like a pro.

Manchester City vs
Chelsea (1-2)

Erin Cuthbert’s dramatic stoppage-time header secured a vital 2-1 win for Chelsea over Manchester City, keeping their WSL title hopes firmly on track. The match, the third meeting between the two sides in just over a week, was a thriller—City struck first with a stunning solo effort from Kerolin, but Chelsea hit back early in the second half through Aggie Beever-Jones. Despite several heroic saves from City goalkeeper Khiara Keating, Cuthbert sealed the win in added time to give Chelsea a crucial three points.

The match wasn’t without controversy, as a disallowed goal for City’s Jess Park—due to a premature whistle—sparked frustration from the home side. Officials reportedly admitted their error after the game. With the win, Chelsea now sit eight points clear at the top with five games to go, while City’s hopes of Champions League qualification are slipping, now four points behind Manchester United in the standings.

Leicester City vs
Brighton (3-2)

Leicester City grabbed a crucial 3-2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion to take a major step toward WSL survival. Three first-half goals—scored by Shannon O'Brien, Saori Takarada, and a Rachel McLaughlan own goal—put the Foxes in control. Brighton fought back with a long-range strike from Madison Haley and a Fran Kirby penalty, but Leicester held firm through a tense finish to secure their first league win since mid-February.

The Foxes, who entered the weekend just three points above the drop zone, now sit six points clear of bottom-placed Crystal Palace with five matches to go. It was a rare high-scoring performance from a Leicester side known more for their defensive discipline, and manager Amandine Miquel praised her team’s sharpness in front of goal. With Tottenham up next, Leicester has a golden opportunity to push even closer to safety—and Miquel hopes the momentum, paired with strong home support at King Power Stadium, keeps building.

WSL: Where We
Stand So Far

Chelsea sits comfortably at the top of the table with 47 points from 17 matches, remaining unbeaten and boasting an impressive +36 goal difference. Arsenal and Manchester United are tied on 39 points, with Arsenal edging ahead on goal difference. Manchester City rounds out the top four with 32 points, despite recent inconsistency. Brighton holds fifth place with 22 points but a negative goal difference, while Liverpool closely trails with 21 points. The mid-table is tightly packed, with Everton, West Ham, and Tottenham all struggling for form. At the bottom, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace face the biggest challenges, with Villa conceding 36 goals and Palace suffering the league's worst goal difference at -28.

Trinity’s Future
Remains a Mystery

Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman has sparked speculation about a potential move overseas after publicly expressing her desire to play abroad before retiring, calling it something she’d “kick” herself for not doing. While Rodman emphasized her commitment to the 2025 NWSL season with the Spirit, the end of her current contract this summer and a lack of reported extension talks have only fueled the rumors. Her comments caught the attention of retired USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe, who encouraged Spirit owner Michelle Kang to "get that checkbook out" and keep Rodman in the league.

Kang seems to have taken Rapinoe’s advice seriously. Ahead of the team’s home opener against KC Current, the Washington Spirit owner responded to the exit rumors by affirming her intent to do everything possible to keep Rodman. She emphasized Rodman’s importance not just to the Spirit but to the NWSL as a whole, calling her "an integral part" of the club’s success. Kang’s remarks suggest that negotiations or offers may be forthcoming, even as no official extension has been reported yet.

Rapinoe, speaking on her A Touch More podcast, acknowledged the allure of European football and the UEFA Champions League, which has drawn many American players overseas. However, she argued that Rodman—one of the league’s top talents and most marketable stars—should be secured long-term by the NWSL, ideally with a high-value contract. With Kang now publicly aligning with that vision, the ball appears to be in motion to keep Rodman stateside, at least for the foreseeable future.