It was a gold medal weekend for the NWSL, fitting since matchday 16 wrapped up NWSL action until late August. To make up for that gap, the matchups delivered all the excitement with contributions from rookies to star players alike. From a top-of-the-table clash that involved a first-half red card to a night-and-day North Carolina Courage performance, the NWSL was full of must-watch moments meant to be talked about until league play resumes.
Top of the Table Fireworks
With a first-half soft red, a Marta penalty kick, and the Golden Boot leaders trading goals, the marquee Saturday matchup between the KC Current and Orlando Pride delivered fireworks for the holiday weekend. Ultimately, despite playing down a woman for the entire second half, Orlando would come away with all three points thanks to a converted Marta penalty kick.
Current Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski noted, "We have ten games to go, playoffs ahead of us and hopefully we meet them in the finals."
Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said that despite the early red card the game plan "didn't change. Whether we are 10 players or 11 players, it doesn’t matter, we always feel like there are opportunities for us to win. We showed enough just after the red card that we had enough to go get that second goal."
It's safe to say that the KC Current did not enjoy watching Orlando celebrate on KC's home turf after becoming the only remaining undefeated team in the league. Social media posts from both the players and the club hint at the birth of a rivalry, with the team account reposting Hallie Mace's thoughts on the game promising to get better and grow.
Bangers by Mallory Swanson, Ally Sentnor, and Makenna Morris
In her last game before Paris, Mallory Swanson reminded everyone of just how good of form she's in, scoring her seventh goal of the season. In true Swanson fashion, the goal was an absolute banger, perfectly placed into the far post top corner. It's her fourth goal in as many games and was the difference in Chicago securing all three points over the Houston Dash. The Red Stars are five points above the final playoff spot with ten games left.
The rookies were not to be outdone though. In the Utah Royals first game after the surprise firing of Amy Rodriguez, the team managed to draw Seattle Reign FC 1-1. Having routinely looked like the Royals most dangerous threat, this game was no exception with Sentnor netting a banger in the 65th minute to give the Royals the lead.
The right-footed screamer just tucked into the near post was Sentnor's team-leading third goal of the season, speaking to how desperate the Royals have been to generate offense. OL Reign currently sits in 13th place, just above the Royals. The draw helped to put the Royals within three points of OL Reign, with a path out of last place tantalizing close until the return of action in August.
Sentnor wasn't the only rookie to score a banger in league action. Washington Spirit's own Makenna Morris made her first start even more memorable by scoring her very first pro goal in the 4th minute. She crashed the net at the perfect time to drive home a rebound, putting the Spirit up a goal early.
The Spirit are only one point behind the second-place KC Current heading into the break and have plenty of momentum. In addition to having superstars like Trinity Rodman and Casey Krueger, the Spirit's rookies seem to make headlines every week. Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt are Olympic alternates and Bethune has been NWSL Rookie of the Month twice nice. To have all that firepower and then debut a rookie who immediately scores showcases the abundance of talent the Spirit has, allowing for rotation without sacrificing quality.
While there is no NWSL action until August, there is the inaugural NWSL X Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup that kicks off on July 19th and sees NWSL teams face off against each other and Liga MX Femenil teams in group stages. The four teams with the most points at the conclusion of the group stage games will advance to the semifinals.
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