Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip!

What a week in the NWSL. The Spirit and Angel City went blow for blow in a 2-2 draw that stretched Washington’s unbeaten run, while Utah outlasted Racing Louisville 3-2 in a wild one that pushed Louisville out of playoff position. Kansas City showed why they’re on top with a 2-0 win over Seattle, Orlando slipped at home to North Carolina, and Bay and Gotham split points in San Jose. Off the field, the headlines were just as big: the Current became the fastest team in league history to clinch the Shield, the NWSL quietly tweaked its in-game heat policy after August’s controversy, and our latest MVP Tracker highlights the players who’ve risen above the chaos to define this season.

Here’s what’s in store this week:

• NWSL: Angel City vs Washington Spirit (2-2)

• NWSL: Utah Royals vs Racing Louisville (3-2)

• NWSL: KC Current vs Seattle Reign (2-0)

• NWSL: Orlando Pride vs NC Courage (0-1)

• NWSL: Bay FC vs Gotham FC (1-1)

• News: KC Current Clinch Franchise First NWSL Shield

• News: NWSL Updates In Game Heat Policy Rather Quietly

• News: Our NWSL MVP Tracker

Angel City vs
Washington Spirit (2-2)

The Washington Spirit stretched their unbeaten streak to nine games with a 2-2 draw against Angel City FC in LA, highlighted by clutch goals from Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune. Rodman converted her own rebound from the penalty spot in the eighth minute, only for Angel City to quickly equalize through Evelyn Shores. After a first half filled with near misses and defensive stops, Angel City took the lead early in the second half on a McKeown own goal. Bethune rescued a point in the 71st minute with a header off a Leicy Santos cross, and the Spirit pressed late, with Sofia Cantore nearly finding the winner in stoppage time.

Utah Royals vs
Racing Louisville (3-2)

Racing Louisville slipped out of the playoff spots after a third straight defeat, falling 3-2 on the road to Utah Royals. Utah struck three times before halftime through Mina Tanaka, Janni Thomsen, and Cloé Lacasse, putting Racing in a deep hole despite an early VAR-denied goal. Playing on short rest after a grueling week that included the suspended Seattle match due to the DeMelo scare, Racing fought back in the second half with goals from Emma Sears and Janine Sonis, but couldn’t complete the comeback. Despite edging Utah in expected goals (1.41 to 1.38), Racing’s late push wasn’t enough, and the team now sits 10th in the table ahead of a pivotal home clash with Angel City on Sep 27.

KC Current vs
Seattle Reign (2-0)

Seattle Reign fell 2-0 on the road to league leaders Kansas City Current, undone by a first-half penalty from Debinha and a second-half strike from Temwa Chawinga. Despite Kansas City dominating possession, goalkeeper Claudia Dickey kept Seattle in the game with multiple key saves, including a diving stop on Debinha. The Reign grew into the match after halftime with stronger spells of possession and chances from Sofia Huerta’s set pieces, but they couldn’t convert. Kansas City sealed the result in the 74th minute when Chawinga pounced on a rebound to double the lead, leaving Seattle unable to find a late response despite a spirited finish. Fun fact, Chawinga’s first goal was against the Reign.

Orlando Pride vs
NC Courage (0-1)

The Orlando Pride fell 1-0 at home to the North Carolina Courage after Shinomi Koyama’s late strike in the 89th minute broke a scoreless deadlock. Orlando had pushed for much of the night, creating pressure and forcing errors, but couldn’t find a breakthrough, with multiple chances cleared off the line and a stoppage-time shot from Summer Yates sailing just over. Head coach Seb Hines praised the team’s intent and resilience despite the narrow defeat, emphasizing belief with enough time left in the season to turn things around. The Pride now embark on a 10-day road trip, starting with a visit to San Diego on Sep 26 before facing Club América in Mexico City and then Houston.

Bay FC vs
Gotham FC (1-1)

Gotham FC wrapped up its West Coast road trip with a 1-1 draw at Bay FC, extending its unbeaten streak to eight matches across all competitions. Rose Lavelle put Gotham ahead in the 36th minute with her second goal in three games, finishing off a clever assist from Esther González. Bay equalized in the 68th minute through Racheal Kundananji’s curling strike, and the teams shared the points after a cagey finish that saw Maddie Moreau nearly snatch a late winner. Despite struggling to generate chances, Gotham collected seven points on the trip and remains in third place with the best goal differential among its playoff rivals.

Where We Stand So Far

Kansas City have already clinched the Shield with a dominant 53 points, while Washington sit steady in second on 37, leaving the real drama in the crowded mid-table where Gotham, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle (30–31 points) are clinging to playoff spots and Orlando, North Carolina, Houston, Racing, and even Angel City remain in striking distance. At the bottom, Bay, Utah, and Chicago are effectively out, but Utah’s recent form has at least added spice to the run-in.

KC Current Clinch Franchise
First NWSL Shield

The Kansas City Current clinched their first-ever NWSL Shield on Saturday, defeating the Seattle Reign 2-0 to secure the trophy with five matches still left to play. The win not only cemented Kansas City’s place as the league’s top seed heading into the postseason but also made them the fastest team in NWSL history to lock up the regular-season title. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski praised the performance as a statement victory, highlighting how the team’s dominance all season long proved they were the best side in the league. The clinching scenario was sealed when Washington’s midweek draw left the Spirit too far behind to catch the Current in the standings.

Kansas City’s march to the Shield has been defined by consistency and control, posting a 17-2-2 record while going unbeaten since early May. The team is riding a 14-match result streak and hasn’t conceded a goal in league play since June 14, underscoring both their attacking firepower and defensive resilience. Andonovski noted that the triumph validated the work the squad has put in across the last two seasons, showing growth from 2024 and a drive to keep pushing forward. With the Shield secured, Kansas City now sets its sights on carrying that momentum into the playoffs in search of a first NWSL Championship.

NWSL Updates In Game
Heat Policy Rather Quietly

The August 16 clash between Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride, billed as one of the season’s marquee NWSL matchups, descended into controversy after extreme heat forced repeated delays and ultimately a 0-0 draw. Kickoff was pushed back nearly three and a half hours, with players repeatedly warming up in searing conditions that saw Orlando star Barbra Banda suffer a season-ending injury and at least 16 fans treated for heat-related issues. Orlando coach Seb Hines criticized the lack of communication and late decision-making, while reports indicated that commissioner Jessica Berman had initially rejected the clubs’ joint request to delay the game earlier in the day, citing concerns over losing the national TV slot. Read our newsletter about it here.

The Guardian later found that the NWSL had quietly updated its heat policy in ways that may have influenced how the match was handled. A key clause giving on-site officials discretion when readings fell just below the 92.3°F threshold was removed from the publicly available rules, while the frequency of temperature checks was shortened from 30 to 15 minutes. The Players Association said it had not been consulted about these changes, raising further concerns about transparency and player safety. This incident, alongside earlier controversies such as Savy King’s collapse in May and reports of players suffering turf burns in Portland, has intensified scrutiny on the league’s duty of care and its consistency in protecting players’ health during extreme conditions.

Our NWSL
MVP Tracker

With six rounds left in the NWSL regular season, ESPN’s MVP Tracker 4.0 highlights the frontrunners after a season full of twists. The race shifted with Orlando’s Barbra Banda suffering a season-ending injury and Alyssa Thompson transferring abroad, leaving the spotlight on others who’ve stepped up. The list features a mix of prolific scorers, creative midfielders, and defensive anchors whose impact has kept their teams in contention.

At the top, Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga and Gotham’s Esther González headline the conversation with their scoring dominance, while San Diego’s Delphine Cascarino and Kenza Dali show the Wave’s midfield power. Portland’s Sam Coffey remains the heartbeat of her team with her two-way play. Together, these five have separated themselves as MVP-caliber performers who dictate games in different ways.

Top 5 Breakdown

1. Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current, FW) – The runaway favorite, combining a league-high expected goals tally with 12 finishes and unmatched game-breaking speed.

2. Esther González (Gotham FC, FW) – Golden Boot leader with 13 goals, scoring in every way possible and carrying Gotham into third place.

3. Delphine Cascarino (San Diego Wave, FW) – Creative spark leading the league in assists and second in chances created, constantly demanding extra defensive attention.

4. Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns, MD) – The Thorns’ engine, balancing defense and attack while orchestrating play from deep and anchoring the midfield.

5. Kenza Dali (San Diego Wave, MD) – Veteran playmaker who dominates possession stats and set pieces, creating chances despite San Diego’s finishing struggles.