2026 nwsl week 5.5: g+ pass networks & shot charts

The midweek games produced quite a few interesting results. Boston kept their streak of looking like a competent team going, but only for a half — then North Carolina woke up. Washington handled Emma Sears and Louisville for a rare 90-minute performance, and The Real Jonas Eidevall showed up against Portland.

Let’s nerd!

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 5.5

Boston did two whole actual and intentional soccers and took a 2-0 lead against a seemingly resurgent and fun North Carolina side. But the shot chart shows that all that really did is piss the Courage off, and they responded with a bunch of shot, in the penalty area, and in and around the six-yard box.

Still, Boston held on for a point, which is their first of the season. Gotta start somewhere, even if it’s May now.

Boston might need to inject a little more directness into their game. The structure here is very Euro-coded, but the athleticism in the NWSL means Boston gives teams a chance to pack midfield and harass them off the ball, disrupting their desired buildup.

Basically, they gotta find a way to fight back, and it’s clearly not gonna be doing what they envisioned as their plan A.

It took North Carolina a half to get back to themselves, but I am liking the changes Mak Lind is making wit the squad. The fullbacks are still joining play but aren’t the primary method to break lines. The midfield is well-spaced and creating nice triangles with each wing of the attack. I am #noticing.

The Spirit handled Louisville much more comfortably than they did in their last meeting [checks notes] five matches ago.

The Spirit opted for control of the game over pushing high and camping out in the opposition’s half. There was also a lot of good work done by the front line to time their runs well to get behind Louisville’s defense.

The gameplan was different than what they opted for against Kansas City, but not dissimilar. This is the impact of Emma Sears, but unfortunately for Rahsing, the Spirit had to do the same against Temwa Chawinga last week, so they were prepared.

Rahsing tried to heavily make use of the wings but the Spirit were ready for them and pressed to limit what they were able to do with the ball along those flanks.

Side note: I’m not sure Emma Sears is fully fit. She didn’t have her trademark acceleration, and came off the pitch in the final 15 minutes as Louisville still had a chance to snatch points.

Well, this one pretty much went the way everyone thought it was going to go, and two early Gotham goals meant that there were unlikely to be any surprises. The Tsars created a quality shot in each half, but Gareis and Gomes missed both.

Soon as Chicago figures out where the other side of the pitch is it’s over for y’all*.

(*it will not be over for y’all)

Giving Gotham an early two goal lead is a quick way to set yourself up for a very frustrating time. Gotham managed the game perfectly, packed midfield, and kept Chicago under 1.0 xG.

Lmao. Soccer!

Portland are in a weird space where they’re getting results, and the points from those results are real, but the data behind these results don’t exactly scream that they’ve figured something out or are as good as their results.

Problem is, it might not matter. The points are there and can’t be taken away (well, unless), and Sophia Wilson scored in her second consecutive game. If she’s returning back to her absurd pre-pregnancy form, then these points will only be added to the ones she’s able to secure later.

Also, it looks like Caiya Hanks will be back after the summer break, which might be a terrifying proposition if she picks up where she left off.

San Diego achieved Peak Eidevall. Lol. ◼︎

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