The most exciting thing about… determining whether the Orlando Pride’s 2024 season can be replicated in any way. The team that won the Shield and the Championship the year before had, in my opinion, the most impressive season in the NWSL’s history. Marta herself put it best last week when she said that “everyone will hunt us” in 2025. It will be fascinating to see how Orlando will carry themselves as champions. TLH
Seeing how the young talents who joined the league last season progress in their second years as pros. Ally Sentnor (Utah), Gisele Thompson (Angel City), and Claire Hutton (Kansas City) all had excellent rookie seasons, but they were not yet the most important players for their teams. I want to see how those players and many others in similar circumstances progress in 2025. KM
The conflict at the top of the table. From the top to the bottom of the table, competition has been riveted by NWSL’s trademark. But last year saw four teams set themselves apart in their results: Orlando, Washington Spirit, Gotham, and Kansas City. They’ll face competition from other teams for those spots, in my opinion. But I’m looking forward to seeing if those teams can keep up their performance and which clubs can upset the top balance. MS
a player who will attract a lot of attention… Ally Watt, a forward for the Pride, feels ready to make another leap in 2025. She only started nine games during the 2024 regular season, but she was fantastic in the playoffs, starting all three games and helping the team win the championship with four goals. Pride head coach Seb Hines trusts her when the spotlight is on, and with Adriana departing there is now an opening on the wing. TLH
Bárbara Olivieri quietly had a strong second half of the season for the Houston Dash, a team going through a lot of change. He helped the team get through it all. She didn’t have a lot of help in the attack, but if she wins the starting left-wing position, the additions of Messiah Bright and Yazmeen Ryan could give Olivieri more chances to shine. KM
Mina Tanaka, a forward from Japan who is 30 years old, signed with Utah Royals in the middle of last season. In her first season with a team outside of Japan, she made seven appearances and scored once. Tanaka, who scored 39 goals in 88 games for Nadeshiko Japan and four goals in three games during the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, appears poised to make an even greater impact as a goal scorer for the Royals. MS
The trend that will define NWSL in 2025…
during the summer, retooling. Due to the NWSL’s decision to take a summer break during the women’s Euros and Copa América Feminina, teams will have time to evaluate during a second preseason. I think many clubs are planning the best way to upgrade during the warmer months, whether it’s by bringing in high-profile transfers or hiring a new head coach. TLH
Teams find valuable signings from countries that are not traditional women’s soccer powers. The success of Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga will have teams looking not just towards Africa, but completely rethinking their assumptions about where successful NWSL players come from. During the summer transfer window, anticipate an even greater diversity in the league. KM
Goals. The NWSL season of 2024 saw an average of 2.66 goals per game, which was higher than the NWSL record of 3.04 goals per game set in 2014. That was in part due to teams like Kansas City, who broke the record for most goals scored thanks, in part, to the addition of sensational NWSL rookie Chawinga, who won the 2024 MVP award. In 2025, that pace of goals looks set to continue for teams like Kansas City, Washington Spirit, or Orlando, while teams like North Carolina made moves that could unlock a higher output in the final third. MS
The offseason move with the greatest impact will be… Maddie Dahlien takes over Seattle. The team led by Laura Harvey has been requesting a player with some pace, newness, and the ability to test opponents. This may feel a bit niche, but the 20-year-old former University of North Carolina Tarheel feels like the perfect addition to the Reign squad in terms of filling a need. TLH
Player returns and absences for medical reasons might end up having a much bigger impact on the season than any transfer. Double winners, Orlando gets to add Angelina and Grace Chanda back into their lineup, while Jun Endo returns for Angel City. Kansas City Current should get a massive boost to their attack when Bia returns to the lineup, and the same for Croix Bethune and the Washington Spirit. On the other end of the spectrum, Sophia Wilson will miss this season due to pregnancy, while Mallory Swanson has yet to join Chicago training for undisclosed reasons. Those two teams will probably struggle without their superstars. KM
To North Carolina, Jaedyn Shaw San Diego saw a few exceptional talents depart in the offseason. This includes the record acquisition of US center-back Naomi Girma by Chelsea and USWNT midfielder/forward Shaw by North Carolina. Still just 20 years old, the Frisco-born creative talent has yet to fully unleash her potential on the league, and North Carolina’s system under Sean Nahas seems like an appropriate place for Shaw to reach her next level. MS
Gotham FC, the Washington Spirit, the Orlando Pride, the North Carolina Courage, the Seattle Reign, the Utah Royals, the Bay FC, and the Kansas City Current TLH are the playoff teams. Kansas City Current, Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, Bay FC, Gotham FC, North Carolina Courage, Seattle Reign, Racing Louisville. KM
Washington Spirit, Kansas City Current, Orlando Pride, North Carolina Courage, Gotham, Angel City FC, Portland Thorns, Seattle Reign. MS
Chawinga. If Barbra Banda can score more than the 13 regular season goals she got in 2024 then this will be a closer race. But there is no evidence to suggest anyone has figured out how to stop Chawinga from finding the back of the net. She will receive at least 15. A braver person than I will bet against Chawinga. TLH
Banda. Even though Orlando’s 2024 was incredible, they managed it with a somewhat improvised midfield. With Angelina, Grace Chanda, and Morgan Gautrat starting the season healthy, Banda is going to get even better service and score more goals. KM
Chawinga. Last season, she made 25 appearances and scored 20 goals, so it’s hard to imagine her slowing down. Kansas City’s deep, deep bench of attacking talent helps her cause. It’s hard for opponents to isolate and try to stymie one elite goalscorer when there are 4 5 others ready to bang them in, too. MS
Trinity Rodriguez When she’s fully fit, there’s arguably no better all-around player in the NWSL. Best-case scenario, I could see Rodman reach her career high of 20 goals (she had 14 in 2024 while playing 75 percent of the Spirit’s minutes). Additionally, there is no US women’s national team tournament during the summer to exhaust her. TLH
Banda. The Golden Boot winner is usually an MVP frontrunner, and there’s no reason why Banda won’t be this year if she scores as much as I think she will KM.
Rodman. This winter, the star forward for the USWNT has been recuperating from a persistent back injury that has kept him off US rosters. She appeared on Washington’s roster for the Challenge Cup but did not appear in the Spirit’s victory. If she’s healthy, Rodman will be as key to the Spirit’s season this year as she was in ‘24, as she operates fluidly up front combining with the talented players around her, both setting up and scoring a glorious glut of goals. MS
Current from Kansas City. From top to bottom, the club seems to be heading in the right direction. Even if the Pride drop a little and the Spirit still needs time to get their team back together and fully fit, I believe the Current will be the most consistent and cohesive team over a 26-match season. TLH
Current from Kansas City. Their +29 xG differential according to FBRef was the best in the league, 10 better than Orlando. If the two teams duplicate their 2024 output, I think KC will be the one on more points this time around. KM
Washington Spirit. Ahead of the Spirit’s 2025 Challenge Cup victory, Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury told the media, “I want to win everything and this is the first trophy.” They were one of the best teams in the league and came close to winning both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship despite a slew of injuries and the hiring of a new manager, former Barcelona boss Jonatan Giráldez, halfway through the previous season. In Giráldez’s first full season as head coach in the United States, I think they win the Shield if everyone is healthy. MS
Washington Spirit. Team of Destiny, anyone? The Spirit’s perseverance is demonstrated by their recent victories in the Challenge Cup and playoff penalty shootouts. They manage to find a way even though so many players are out and sometimes struggle to perform. They will be motivated even more to win in 2025 after coming so close last year. TLH
Kansas City Current. Given my argument for Orlando’s midfield improvement, it may come as a surprise that I have chosen KC, but the Current was unfortunate last year. KM
From Kansas City, here we are. Last season, the Current finished fourth in the regular season (while just five points short of first-place Orlando) before losing to the eventual Champions (Orlando) in a hotly contested semi-final. They appear prepared to win the Championship with a strong returning roster. MS
