2025 nwsl midseason reset

After a summer break the most chaotic league in the world is back for the final, serious business half of its season. There’s a lot to find out through the upcoming matches of the regular season, then playoffs, but let’s take a second to reset in preparation of the league’s return with a look back at the first half of the season.

where they stand

To quote the great Sylvs of Shea Butter FC: “We got our league back.” Last season the NWSL decided to do its European league impression and showcase a clear top-4 for the majority of the season and heading into the playoffs. That’s not what we have going on here in 2025.

Kansas City Current appear to be running away with the Shield already, but five points separate second through seventh. The eighth spot is the final playoff spot, and there are currently three more teams within at least three points of Gotham, who presently occupy that spot.

There is, sadly, a basement though. It is wild to me that Utah Royals only have five dang points. Five! Five. After thirteen games. 13! That’s wild. Chicago Stars only have six, which is also not good for the ol’ Soccerdonna market value. Houston Dash are four points away from the teams above them in 10th & 11th, and there are enough games that can lead to a climb up the table, I’m just not sure they can climb high enough to join the playoff conversation.

So, at worst, we have eleven teams scrapping for eight playoff spots, and that’s not only delicious, it is the NWSL that I know.

golden boot race

Esther was in absurd form in the first half of the season, and tbh Gotham needed it. Just last season we were hootin and hollerin about Temwa Chawinga’s twenty-goal debut season, and now coming out of the midway point Esther is on the exact same pace, with ten goals in the first thirteen matches of the season.

Chawinga and Barbra Banda, naturally, aren’t far behind. The shocker is rookie Riley Tiernan being on this list with seven goals. She’s scored them in a variety of ways too, and has been one of the best surprises from the first half of the season.

Ashley Hatch’s six goals helped the Washington Spirit through a fairly weird first half of the season, but they won’t be able to count on her for a while since she recently announced her pregnancy.

This looks a little different.

No real surprise to see Chawinga and Banda topping the list, they are two of the most dynamic forwards in the entire world and we are #blessed to have them in this league. Below them, though, things get fun.

Reilyn Turner has been excellent for Portland Thorns, and is chillin alongside Banda on the same block when it comes to xG per 96. The difference is that Banda has play 1,103 minutes, while Turner has logged just 795. Still, that is not an insignificant amount of minutes and while you could expect that number to fall if her minutes were dramatically increased, there’s a long way to go before they’d drop out of ‘excellent’ range.

Gift Monday is another terrific surprise and yet another outstanding move by Washington Spirit’s scouting team. She’s hit the NWSL like she’s been a multi-year veteran of the league and has bee an outrageous attacking presence, either drifting wide or playing as a central striker.

Debinha makes the list because she was playing at 2019 North Carolina Courage Debinha levels until she was injured. If she comes back anywhere near the same form, scary hours will resume. With five goals prior to her injury, she could just find her way back into the golden boot race.

look for the helpers

Last season Croix Bethune went bonkers and bagged ten assists—tying the league record—before a season ending injury in August. This season things are a lot tighter, and quite varied.

Cascarino has been immensely fun for San Diego Wavé. She’s looking like she’s been waiting for the NWSL her entire life, and it feels like she’s making up for lost time. The rest of the names were a bit of a surprise though. Hailie Mace is thought of as more of a tough tackling fullback for Kansas City Current, but has bagged four assists already. When healthy Gisele Thompson has been outrageous for Angel City, and 21-year-old Manaka Matsukubo is becoming comfortable enough in the league to show the full range of her skills for North Carolina Courage.

However, the expected assist (xA) race can be even more eye opening. Not every creator is blessed with quality finishers around them, so looking at xA per 96 can tell us who’s been out here hoopin in spite of teammates not getting the ball into the net.

And this is why numbers can be fun. Two of these spots are taken by players on teams that are in the bottom half in terms of goals scored (Rauch, Joseph). Again, told ya, 2019 Debinha showed up a lot in the first part of 2025 and is the only player to show up in the top-5 for expected goals and expected assists. Sheesh.

I like that the only player to show up on both lists is Gotham rookie Sarah Schupansky. There’s no fluke there, she’s having a solid rookie season and creating chances at a solid rate per game. Joseph is as well. Chicago are often Jameese + The Ludmila Show, but this reveals how much Jospeh is also focused on creating opportunities for others.

things to watch

Besides keeping your eye on the table, there’s a reason to be invested in several other storylines throughout the league. From the return of dynamic players to coaches on the proverbial hot seat, there’s a lot to track. Here are some highlights:

the return of trinity rodman

• Trinity Rodman has returned from an impromptu break away from soccer due to a worrying back problem. Prior to her break to seek further specialized treatment in London, she was trying to push through flare ups of back pains that have plagued her in recent years. Until it got so bad that she needed a wheelchair to exit the pitch.

  USWNT star Trinity Rodman says back injury left her 'in pain all the time'

  Trinity Rodman, now back in training with the Washington Spirit, says she has a new perspective after a lengthy battle with a back injury.

  prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nwsl/2025/07/29/trinity-rodman-washington-spirit-nwsl-uswnt/85424820007

  

  
  Jason Anderson of Pro Soccer Wire went to an open training and got quotes from Rodman in which she discussed being a much happier person now that she is ‘pain free.’ I recommend reading the whole piece, but if Rodman has found the solution to alleviating those pains, her return would be a massive boost for the Spirit and the league as a whole.

potential coach yeetings

• Some teams are down horrendously bad and very much shouldn’t be, and Utah Royals are the primary culprit here. Five points after thirteen games is as stinky as it gets, and I’m not sure how long they can or should continue with head coach Jimmy Coenraets. It’s not a top-4 level squad, but it’s not just one win and two draws level either.
  

• Chicago Stars’ front office is weird af. I don’t exactly know what they’re doing or what their plan is. They yeeted Lorne Donaldson, promoted assistant coach Masaki Hemmi, who coached seven games before bouncing to coach Lexington SC in the USL Super League. Now Ella Masar has been promoted to the top job after spending 2.5 years as an assistant. This isn’t to say Masar is unqualified, but her appointment feels like a stop gap rather than a plan, and that’s all on the front office.
  

• Another weird one is the case of Sean Nahas and the North Carolina Courage. They got everyone (it me, I’m everyone) hype about the prospect of an attack with Jaedyn Shaw and Ashley Sanchez, but still haven’t been successful in getting either to cook consistently, individually or together. Nahas then was out for a few games before the break due to a health situation (def wishing him well and hope it’s not serious), with assistant coach Nathan Thackeray taking over. The team was more vertical and direct under Thackeray, which seemed to suit more of the talent on the roster.

new hoopers have entered the villa

• I love that the summer window gives teams who are willing to show ambition a chance to elevate their squad midseason. The window doesn’t close until August 25th, but teams have already brought in a number of very intriguing talents. I shined the spotlight of the five I found most intriguing.
  

  5 best nwsl summer arrivals (so far)

  welcome, new hoopers

  btvc.beehiiv.com/p/5-best-nwsl-summer-arrivals-2025-summer-transfer-window

  

the playoffs start, erm, now

• Technically, the 2025 NWSL Playoffs don’t begin until November 7th but psh, tuh, pshaw, and other audible dismissives. The table as it currently exists is incredibly tight, and with several teams attempting to upgrade and/or stabilize their squads for the second half of the season, you can expect teams to mash the shuffle button every weekend.
  
  The only seeming guarantee is that Kansas City will win the Shield, after that there are three spots to secure a home game, and four more to ensure entry into the playoffs. Nothing is better than sports with stakes, and that’s why this league remains, in my most humble opinion, the best in the world.

happy nwsl’ing to you and yours