The smell of football is back in the air. With less than a month away from the beginning of the NWSL regular season on March 13, clubs are beginning to open a few of their preseason matches to the public.
Eight NWSL teams played in the Coachella Valley Invitational for its first round of matches in 2026 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It was slightly cloudy, but still a beautiful day for football that gave a small taste of what NWSL teams will look like this season.
Despite the picturesque
pitches, no team played without making simple mistakes nor featured a bonafide starting XI that could start the NWSL season tomorrow.
That won’t stop me from having way too early reactions and predictions on the future of each NWSL team with only the context of one preseason match. Unfortunately I missed most of the Bay FC vs. Houston Dash match, but I caught the rest so here’s what ended up in my notebook as the main takeaways from one day of matches.
San Diego Wave FC 1 vs. KC Current 1
The Current are well-connected and seem to be following all the exact same principles as the season prior staying compact on defense and attempting to move as one while defending. Should the Current’s new head coach Chris Armas maintain the strong standards on the defensive end that seems to remain a great strength for the Current.
The Current announced the acquisition of Croix Bethune on Wednesday, and she was already playing in the second half and took the team’s corner kicks. Bethune may not have looked like her best self, but getting used to a new team should take some time, and I won’t be surprised if she gets it figured out by game one on March 14.
Still, one problem remains for the Current. They need Temwa Chawinga.
Yes, it’s only a one-game sample size, but the same problem that lost them their last match of 2025 against Gotham FC was on display.
The attack can still press high and create some positive offensive chances, but miss Chawinga in the striker spot to convert some chances. Debinha is still a dangerous threat to be sure, but it seems the rest of the league may be prepared to handle her.
On the other side of the pitch, San Diego may have solved their struggles in the striker spot. Since Alex Morgan’s decline in 2024 the Wave have lacked a consistently dangerous nine that other teams must fear. Ludmilla didn’t score, but featured intimidating speed that opposing defenses must acknowledge. Also, Lia Godfrey took the right wing position in the place of Delphine Cascarino and was dynamic and confident when entering the final third.
Head coach Jonas Eidevall did not feature Kenza Dali in the match, but the youngsters including Kimmi Ascanio, Gia Corley and Laurina Fazer were solid on offense. Corley’s performance was inconsistent in 2025, but if Corley plays like she did on Sunday, all season the Wave attack will be strong.
Portland Thorns 1 — Angel City FC 2
Angel City looked like a truly mature team that was confident in their own identity.
What does the next level of Gisele Thompson’s game look like? Her speed and tenacity attacking defenders from the right side can strike fear into opposing team’s and if the young star finds another level she continue to be a devastating force to confront.
Angel City has real potential to finally click and fulfill the promises of a powerhouse NWSL club on the field, not just off, but they may still be missing one final piece. The attack suffocated the Thorns, and the players appear truly bought in on Alexander Straus’ vision for the club.
The Thorns on the other hand left a lot to be desired. With a Sam Coffey sized crater in the midfield and without a permanent head coach, Portland looked directionless. The team struggled to create positive offensive action, and relied far too much on Olivia Moultrie to try and create magic. The young USWNT star has done it in the past, but relying on that for an entire season may be too much to ask.
On the bright side, Sophia Wilson was in attendance watching from the sidelines. Perhaps her injection into the attack could hide Portland’s deficiencies, though that is quite a lot of pressure for a player that should focus on her health rather than keeping the team away from the bottom of the table.
Denver Summit FC 2 — Utah Royals 0
The Denver Summit played their second preseason match of the offseason, and first-ever match open the public. Nobody knew what to expect, and nearly every other team present at the Coachella Valley Invitational had staff in attendance to scout the newest NWSL franchise.
Then somewhat surprisingly, they played a game that was quite entertaining. It felt like the beginning of a budding rivalry between the two neighboring NWSL clubs that are based in the mountains. But on Sunday, they were in the desert playing the most physical match of the day.
Fouls went both ways and players and coaches were heard shouting at the referee and other staffs regarding multiple tough challenges and fouls throughout the match. From the start of the match the Royals staff and bench were annoyed at Denver’s physicality.
Around the 60th minute, Ally Brazier (née Watt) made a hard tackle against Nuria Rábano that resulted in an immediate yellow card from the official. Rábano could be heard shouting in pain as the bleachers quieted to a murmur. The match paused for a few minutes, and Rábano managed to stand on her own two feet and walk slowly off the pitch to her bench.
The Royals bench erupted in frustration and the coaching staff appeared to exchange some words over the incident. After an evaluation Hammond stood up and reentered the match, but Flint was substituted off.
Minutes later Natasha Flint had the lead on a ball and while keeping it away from the newly signed Utah Royals defender, Madison Hammond, hit her in the face with her hand.
The Summit got both their goals by their nines with Melissa Kössler notching the first in the 12th minutes after a cross into the middle of the area by Brazier. The second goal came in minute 79 when Olivia Thomas took advantage of a stretched Utah defense with a counter attack.
There really was not much to say about Utah’s play. It may take another matchup to truly judge who they will be in 2026.
