Matchday 2 in NWSL was insane and here are our top moments:
A miracle in Goose Hollow
Portland Thorns opened its season against rival, Seattle Reign. What started as a party looked like a doomed night after the hosts went down to 9 players.
However, the team scored two goals in the first half through Pietra Tordin and Reilyn Turner and they did the work on defense to protect the lead in the second half.
Seattle couldn’t do anything against a low block and at the end of
the day, had to go back home empty-handed. Most likely, the logistical problems they had to get to Portland played a part there but also, the lack of ideas even with two more players, is concerning.
Chicago Stars stuns Kansas City Current
After a 0-4 loss against Angel City, Chicago surprised everybody with a 2-1 win against the defending NWSL Shield holders. The goals were scored by Tessa Dellarose and Jordyn Huitema, the Canadian international who got there only days ago.
Could this season be like the 2021 season, when Chicago lost on the road 0-5 against Portland in its first match of the year and then went all the way to the playoffs final?
Maybe not but who knows, really?
Legendary goalkeepers reach a milestone
Although Alyssa Naeher retired from the national team, she’s still going for club. She’s one of the goalkeepers who has held her tenure the longest and during the weekend, she joined an exclusive club when she reached 15,000 career minutes.
She wasn’t the only one, though, since Canadian international Kailen Sheridan also reached that milestone while playing for the North Carolina Courage.
Both became only the fourth and fifth goalkeeper in achieving such a feat.
Denver Summit earns their first point
“You never forget your first,” they say and we’re pretty sure Denver won’t forget its first point ever. It happened as they played Orlando Pride to a 1-1 draw.
Who scored the goal for Denver? None other than Melissa Kössler.
Is Angel City the real deal?
After cruising against Chicago in its first game of the season, Angel City won again, this time against Bay FC.
Sveindís Jónsdóttir scored a brace and Gisele Thompson put her name on the scoresheet as well.
Taylor Huff, the goalscorer for Bay, was sent off in second half stoppage time.
Red cards and drama
Referees didn’t hesitate when it came to discipline this week. A total of four players saw the red card, which is a lot, knowing that the 2025 season was pretty quiet in that department.
Who were the lucky winners? Portland Thorns’ Cassandra Bogere, who received two yellows in the 8th and 9th minutes. Another Thorn, Reyna Reyes, was sent off for violent conduct (pulled hair) in the 57’. Utah Royals’ Tatumn Milazzo was sent off after seeing her second yellow in the 82nd. Bay FC’s Taylor Huff saw a straight red on the 98th.
The return of Andi Sullivan
“It’s been 84 years…” since Washington Spirit’s captain, Andi Sullivan, played for the last time before her comeback last Friday.
Well, actually, it’s been almost two years since we saw her on the field but we’re sure that, for the Spirit nation, it felt like forever. As a matter of fact, it was October 2024 the last time we saw her balling. Her comeback follows a recovery from season ending injury and maternity leave.
Barbra Banda’s birthday celly
Last Friday, Orlando Pride played the Denver Summit at home. It finished in a 1-1 draw and Barbra Banda scoring the equalizer.
The striker was turning 26 that day and celebrated properly after gifting herself a goal.
Racing Louisville blew it
After scoring two goals in the first half (Kayla Fischer, Emma Sears), they let the Spirit grow and score two on them to finish the game on a 2-2 draw.
“It’s unfortunate, you don’t ever want to be in a position where you’re up 2-0 and you’re tied 2-2 with your home-opening match. I just think … there were multiple times in the transition moments that we just turned it over too quickly,” said coach Bev Yanez after the match.
