2026 nwsl week 4: g+ pass networks & shot charts

Apologies for this being later than I wanted, life happened over the weekend. Dealing with the sudden and unexpected loss of a pup you’ve had for over ten years is sad and quite a lot to cope with.

They don’t talk or go to the movies with you, but you still miss all the ways they were involved in your daily life. The flat-footed thudding of his heavy paws, the high-pitched squeaks that punctuated his yawns, barks at squirrels or literally any body outside because how dare they; and silly idiosyncrasies like the way he absolutely hated when I sneezed (he’d glare at me and leave the room lmao). I miss the guy quite a lot, he was a good boy, and at least I told him he was (slightly more than I lovingly told him that he was a brat).

Alright, to the woso again. I’m using this international break to reset a bit so I will get back to my normal schedule soon. But here are the data vizzes from the weekend’s games, which featured four penalties in one game, Banda v. Gorden, San Diego getting it from the mud, giants getting their groove back (or having a mid-off, I discuss), and the Spirit continuing to kick the ball everywhere but into the net.

Let’s nerd about it.

a quick explainer

If you want some deeper info on the nerdery that’s about to follow, I got you. Read and reference this explainer for a breakdown of all the elements on the shot charts and goals added (g+) passing networks I’ll be dropping all season. The good Cata Bush helped bring these to life, and there’s a lot of data captured across the two visualizations.

Week 4

Ew, quite the stinker from both teams. Dragging a game into the mud is the one thing Boston has been able to do, but that alone won’t really cut it in this league and San Diego showed why. Every team has a player capable of doing a madness when needed, and Ludmila yanking three points out of this slop is why they dropped a milli for her.

The key to dragging a match into the mud is that the primary purveyor of said mud knows their way around in there. It’s supposed to be a ‘you’re trapped in here with me’ situation. Except Boston haven’t found their escape routes, so they flail around aimlessly and confused until eventually the opponent finds their way out. It’s why they’ve scored 1 goal and still zero points.

San Diego’s way out was—as shown above in hilarious fashion—Ludmila.

Neither team managed to put up a quality xG shot, but it didn’t matter. Ludmila finished the only shot she had, a .06 xG shot that she curled around Casey Murphy.

Three quality shots, two from Haley McCutcheon, one by Barbra Banda, and it’s McCutcheon scoring both of hers that decides the game. Silly sport.

The Pride’s right sided overload worked wonders for them. They racked up the shots, and dropped over 2.0 xG on a defense that had been solid to start the season. Banda with players around her is an even bigger headache, and I like when Orlando finds more versatile ways of using Banda in attack beyond the playground ‘go long!’ tactic.

Orlando’s overloading of Angel City’s left side kept the ball away from Gisele Thompson and Kennedy Fuller, and lured Sveindís Jónsdóttir over to try and combine with Riley Tiernan. Gisele managed to score, but she and Fuller were kept to a low numbers of touches.

I gotta give a shoutout to Sarah Gorden though. Her work defending Barbra Banda was incredible. I’m sure she’s sore af right now, but she put in a hell of a shift and is the only defender I’ve seen make up ground on Banda in a foot race.

This game was absurd. Four penalties split evenly between the teams, and each one converted to a goal. I can’t even be mad at the penalty decisions either, they all seemed correct. It just led to a very weird game that Houston eventually won—with a penalty.

A little while ago on a broadcast a commentator mentioned how Houston wants to envelope teams in a ‘net’, and I think this is maybe what they mean. It’s working because loading up with college stars who can run their asses off is helping to quickly close spaces to attack them. In possession they’re doing a lot of work narrow and centrally, which is putting a lot of pressure on teams to condense—trapping them in the net.

Also if for some very strange reason the league decided to hand out an MVP trophy every five games or so, Kiki Van Zanten would be on the shortlist. I love when something clicks for a player and they’re suddenly full of confidence, creativity and audacity. That’s been Kiki so far this season. Her brace was lovely, but she’s consistently doing bits of filth on the ball to create chances for herself or others.

I dunno how long Louisville is going to have to keep playing Taylor Flint at center back but it’s kinda messing up their whole vibe. Hodge and O’Kane are trying to replicate her defensive work in midfield, which is limiting the ability of both to progress the ball. They combined for just one progressive action (a pass from Hodge to Sears, obvs).

I know Louisville doesn’t exactlywant or need the ball to be dangerous, they just have to get it to Emma Sears a few times and let whatever happens happen. But the impact of losing Ary Borges to Angel City and Flint dropping out of midfield is leaving the burden of ball progression to fullbacks.

Chicago, pls.

Lmao Utah basically just played a rondo between the boxes. That’s wild.

CHICAGO, PLS.

Honestly, I hate this so much. Laura Ricketts of all people should know what Chicago can be as a sports city. The fact that they’re instead trying their damnedest to sever all connection to the community’s passionate sports fandom is a fucking waste.

Finally both teams looked somewhat confident in attack (well, Gotham did until Jaedyn Shaw was subbed), but I’m still struggling to figure out what we watched. We either witnessed two very talented teams get their groove back, or a very fun mid-off. Time will tell.

Temwa Chawinga starting was as devastating as we thought it’d be, and Chris Armas might already be in desperation mode. Despite her only being cleared to play a half hour, Armas chose to start her, requiring a planned first half sub. That boy’s seat must be well-seasoned and boiling right now.

Hilariously, this passing network shows a lot of Kansas City’s problems. Debinha, Bethune and Sentnor are all racing to the same space on the pitch. When one of them drops deeper to get the ball, things suddenly seem better connected—until they get to the final third, because they’re down a player in attack. And losing possession forces Lo LaBonta doing her best Jon Snow impression.

Man, I don’t even know.

This match had some dope finishes, which is how you get a 2-2 game from four quality shots that only led to one goal.

Left wing Ashley Sanchez is back and we are so blessed. She’s a curious player, but when she’s full of confidence and given the green light to Try Shit™, things can get real fun real quick.

I kinda like what new head coach Mak Lind is teaching. This is a super narrow shape but when it works it lets Sanchez, Manaka and Koyama receive the ball in spaces within the width of the box.

The early Reilyn Turner sub messed with this passing network a bit. It’s from minutes 25-51, right after Alidou was subbed on for Turner, but is more representative of the team trying to adapt to Turner’s absence.

But you can still see how North Carolina’s narrowness can be exploited in wide areas.

Three quality chances, three misses. Oof.

I’m kinda digging this well-defined 2-4-1-3 attacking shape from Seattle. Meza’s ability to cover ground helps make it work, as do the narrow fullbacks. The way to beat it is with speed, but that’s something Denver doesn’t have a lot of in their starting attack.

Denver’s 4-2-3-1 shape is super evident. Head coach Nick Cushing is having them lean into a solid foundation that’s hard to break down. It’s Soccer 101, but it’s effective to start the season. It will be interesting to see if/how he adds wrinkles as the season goes on.

Side Note: Ok so Janine Sonis is just gonna be one of the best right backs in the league? She had 92 touches, .23 xG, .21 expected assists (xA), four chances created, 10 passes into the final third, 10 ball recoveries, 3/4 duels won, zero times dribbled past, zero times dispossessed, and zero fouls committed. Ok!

Sweet merciful Christ.

The Spirit’s finishing woes aren’t behind them, but they’re still a very dangerous team when desperate for a result. They put up all six quality shots in the game and only got one goal out of it. If they ever figure out the whole ‘ball go into net’ thing they’d become a real problem.

Heavens. The Spirit’s high press had Bay shooketh and they never found their way out of it. Even though the first goal was extraordinarily fluky, they should probably just be happy this ended in only a 2-0 L, it should have been a lot worse.

The Spirit are using a collection of methods to replace the progressive distribution nof Croix Bethune. The straight line from Tara Rudd to Trinity Rodman is one way, as is Esme Morgan to Leicy Santos and Rose Kouassi. When it works, it’s a problem. But relying on center backs to consistently complete long balls that bypass midfield is a bit hopeful. ◼︎

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