the 'you should be paying attention to' XI

One of the things I love the most about the NWSL is that star players spring up every season. Some were premier college talents who’ve taken to the league immediately, some are lesser-known international names suddenly making a mark, and some are a mix of the two who fall under the ‘I was unfamiliar with your game’ umbrella (Emma Sears is the current President & CEO of this prestigious group).

Small sample sizes mean we can’t yet know for sure if someone is on that path, as small sample sizes can make the data fool’s gold. But that’s the fun of watching the games, we’ll see who drops off and who keeps cooking.

So I’ve compiled a full XI of players to pay attention to as the NWSL gets back underway. I’ll be using the greatest formation God ever created, the 4-3-3, so whether you’re into filthy wingers or stalwart defenders, you’ll have someone to be excited about, and keep watching throughout the rest of the season.

This is legit Claudia Dickey territory. Dickey ended 2025 with a +.24 g+ score (+.25 shot stopping), so Freeman’s current +.21 g+ with +.21 shot stopping is absurd. San Diego’s defense has only allowed 3.16, but three of those have been high xG value shots, and only one became a goal.

Klenke’s interrupting g+ (+.30)—which, for fullbacks, heavily weights defensive actions in the defensive zone, reactive actions and stopping breaks—is the highest in the league among all fullbacks, regardless of minutes played. Heavens.

Bell is second only to Tara Rudd in interrupting g+ (+.44)—which heavily weights defensive actions in the defensive zone and stopping breaks—and is winning an absurd percentage of her aerial duels (70%) and tackles (88.9%!).

Perry’s interrupting g+ isn’t miles away from Bell’s, and her aerial duel and tackle win percentages are unlikely to remain at 100%. She’s played 150 fewer minutes than Bell, but Perry is here because in addition to all that she’s also dimed two assists from different area codes.

Mimi Van Zanten has solid in defensive actions won per 96, interrupting g+, progressive carries per 96, passing g+, and aerial duels. Erm, that’s just looking like an extremely solid and well-rounded fullback right there.

Well damn. Rahsing have had a tough start to the season, especially having to drop Taylor Flint in at center back. But if they can get her back to anchoring the midfield, it looks like Katie O’Kane might be able to inject some of the passing creativity they’re missing without Ary Borges.

Niehues isn’t functioning in this role as a typical languid, saucy attacking midfielder. Instead her interpretation of the role is more like that of a bouncer. She’s there to let the ball into the club for her attacking teammates to party with, and yeeting defenders who try to sneak in too.

Not literally, but also maybe not not literally too. Niehues is winning an unusual amount of duels, plus winning and recovering possession, for an attacking midfielder.

Part of the reason Thorns fans have been breathing easier since Sam Coffey’s departure to Manchester City is Cassandra Bogere. Jessie Fleming’s versatility and ‘do a bit of everything in midfield’ thing is helping too, but Bogere has been a solid defensive presence. She’s not doing a ton on the ball, but maybe the simplification of the role is helping to refine the rest of the midfield duties.

Lol, I mean, I had to have at least one obvious one in here. Like, what the hell. Just, comma, wut.

I love Tordin’s take on the number 9 role. She can play and score as a target striker, and in possession has the comfort and awareness of an attacking midfielder. Her tornado spin into space was absurd, but she’s also slid dimes ahead of her for other teammates to get shots off. It’s a difficult way to play the role, but with Sophia Wilson back—and hopefully Caiya Hanks at some point, too—she could be the perfect complement top both.

Yung Ankle Taker has been a delight now that she’s back healthy. Pfeiffer loves going 1v1 and her dribbling g+ of +.39 total tells that story well. To get a good score there you have to execute carries toward goal and complete final third take-ons, which is a perfect description of Pfeiffer’s style of play. She also busts out a minimum of three different celebrations when she scores, making her precisely the kind of player I cannot root against. ■