NWSL Week 11 round-up: Chicago stuns Utah late, Portland thumps Racing
· Yahoo Sports
Week 11 of the 2026 NWSL season saw the league return after a four-week summer break. Ashley Sanchez and Temwa Chawinga kept scoring at will, San Diego tightened its grip atop the table, and Boston showed real fight against Bay FC.
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The break did little to slow the league’s biggest storylines. Washington needed late Trinity Rodman magic, Kansas City kept climbing behind Chawinga, and Chicago delivered one of the weekend’s loudest surprises against Utah.
Late winner from Rodman gives Washington three points against Houston
This one saved the best for last. The streaking Spirit hosted the reeling Dash in the first NWSL match since the break. The hosts started off hot. Continued pressure at the Houston end led to several scoring chances, followed by a big break in the 32nd minute. While trying to defend against Trinity Rodman, Dash defender Avery Patterson took down the Spirit striker. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Rosemonde Kouassi stepped up. The Ivory Coast international went to Jane Campbell’s right, and Campbell read her perfectly. Following Campbell’s big save, neither side could find the net for the rest of the half.
The second half started out perfectly for the home side. Just five minutes in, Leicy Santos sent a terrific long ball to a wide-open Rodman. She closed on Campbell, then sent her shot to the far post for a 1-0 Spirit lead. Just moments later, the visitors nearly equalized. Second-half sub Kate Faasse got in deep against Sandy MacIver, but the Scotland international’s aggressive goaltending stopped the threat. Campbell kept the match in reach for the Dash with a brilliant late save against a perfect header from Tara McKeown.
And then, in the last gasps of the match, Houston equalized. In the 90th minute, Linda Ullmark sent a perfect through ball to Faasse. She would not be denied by MacIver a second time, and the match was tied. Just when it looked like the Dash had salvaged a point, however, Rodman broke the hearts of Houston. Four minutes into five added minutes of extra time, she made her way to the top of the box, then sent a soaring shot through the box and past Campbell’s outstretched hand. Washington moves into a tie for third (GD) in the table, while Houston now has but one win in their last nine matches.
Chawinga scores again, Kansas City moves further up the table at Denver
It is becoming a common refrain in these weekly recaps: Temwa Chawinga can’t stop scoring, and Kansas City can’t stop winning. In just her ninth start of the season, the Malawian international tallied her eighth goal for the Current as they handled the expansion Denver Summit. The match started off evenly, with both sides having chances. The breakthrough came on a quick switch from Kansas City in the 35th minute. Following a turnover at midfield, Croix Bethune quickly fed a streaking Michelle Cooper. She fired a low shot past Abby Smith to give the visitors the lead. Less than a minute later, Chawinga was pulled down in the box for an obvious penalty. Lo’eau LaBonta stepped up, but her attempt sailed over the bar. Kansas City dominated on the offensive side, but could not find another goal.
The second half saw the Current continue to control the match, and their efforts came to fruition late. The always energetic Cooper kept running at the Denver defense all night, and she teamed up with Bethune again. 81 minutes in, Bethune spotted her winger making a run across the box. Cooper took the pass, made a great first touch to get past Smith, then slid the ball in. Chawinga finished the scoring for the Current six minutes later. The mercurial scorer took a pass from Rocky Rodriguez on the left side, ran at Smith, then buried her shot near post. Kansas City has won six of seven matches to move to third (GD) in the table, while the loss puts Denver in tenth, two slots outside of playoff position.
Angel City’s up-and-down season trends up against Orlando
Angel City is still trying to find their identity and took a big step toward improving their playoff position with a win over Orlando. The Pride sit in the eighth and final spot, with Angel City right behind them. This match was going to be a test for the visiting Pride, as they were without the services of the league’s current Golden Boot leader, Barbra Banda. The Zambian international has scored 11 goals this season, while Orlando as a team has scored a total of 18. Her presence was missed, as the Pride managed just one shot on target all night, a late offering that Angelina Anderson was equal to.
Angel City, meanwhile, was missing nothing in their attack. After some sustained pressure in the 36th minute, the ball came out to City’s Ary Borges. Orlando’s Cori Dyke blocked the original shot, but the ball fell directly to Maiara Niehaus. The Brazilian international fired directly into the goal’s interior side netting past Anna Moorhouse, and the hosts had the lead. Angel City continued the pressure, but had to wait until the second half for their second goal.
In the 56th minute, Sveindís Jónsdóttir stole the ball on the right side and took off. Jónsdóttir is scary fast, one of the fastest people in all of football. And when she has a lane to goal, you are at her mercy. She showed none to Moorhouse, firing past the England international for the nail in the coffin. Angel City is now just one point behind Orlando for that last playoff spot, and they have a game in hand on the Pride.
Sanchez brace leads North Carolina over Seattle
While we are parroting ourselves, here is another one: Ashley Sanchez is a menace. North Carolina’s star attacking midfielder chose to terrorize the visiting Seattle Reign on this night. In a match that featured a whole lot of offense and not so much defense, the Courage had more firepower than the Reign. The Reign did manage to strike first, however. After two very good chances at either end, Seattle progressed with a great passing attack up the right side. Sofia Huerta took the ball into the box, then passed back to Sally Menti dead-center at the top of the box. Menti took one touch, looked up to pick her spot, then fired past Kailen Sheridan for the lead just 19 minutes in. It would be a very short-lived lead.
Sanchez’s reign (pun firmly intended) of terror began three minutes later. She forced a turnover just outside of the box, then took a pass from Evelyn Ijeh on the attack. Sanchez tried to curl her shot into the right post, but the ball hit Reign defender Jordyn Bugg on the way in. The deflection sent the ball to the left, leaving Seattle keeper Cassie Miller with no chance. The Reign pressed hard, but several big saves from Sheridan kept the match knotted at one.
The second half saw more attacking football, especially from the Reign’s Maddie Dahlien. Neither side could break through until a Courage attack in the 61st minute drew a VAR check and eventual penalty call on Maddy Curry. Carolina’s Riley Jackson stepped up and buried her shot past Miller to give the home side the lead. Sanchez then put the game out of reach in the 71st minute. Shinomi Koyama sent a long pass towards Ijeh, who ran a perfect dummy and let the ball go through directly to the streaking Sanchez. All alone against Miller, she went far side for her brace. Sanchez now has nine goals on the season, trailing only Orlando’s Barbra Banda (11). The Courage are currently on a four-match win streak, while the Reign have won just once in their last eight.
San Diego overcomes vaunted Gotham defense, stays top of table
Coming into this match, San Diego had reached the top of the table, while Gotham had allowed only five goals in 11 matches. Something would have to give, and on this day, it was Gotham’s defense. The match started off as one would think — marvelous attacks by the Wave were thwarted by even more marvelous saves from Ann-Katrin Berger. In the 23rd minute, it looked as though the football gods were on Gotham’s side. Ludmila got in the box alone against Berger, went around the Gotham keeper, and unleashed her shot at the fully unguarded net.
And missed. Her shot found the post and ricocheted harmlessly away. This match seemed determined to end with yet another Gotham clean sheet — they already have eight on the season. But then, in the last minute of the half, San Diego’s Mel Barcenas decided otherwise. She took a pass from Kennedy Wesley well outside the box, looked up and unleashed a 25-yard screamer. The blistering shot just kept rising and curling away from Berger, who could only watch the first goal in four NWSL matches her side had allowed.
The second half saw both sides play excellent defense, limiting each other to long-range shots that both Berger and the Wave’s Luisa Agudelo easily handled. It would not be until late in extra time that the match would be fully decided. With Gotham pressing for the equalizer, Berger came out to the midfield to sustain the attack. Her pass was blocked by Lia Godfrey, who was then able to drop the ball into an onrushing Trinity Byars. With no one guarding the net, she calmly tucked home, and San Diego remains atop the table. Gotham slips to seventh.
Boston fights back for gutsy draw with Bay
Both expansion sides, Boston and Denver, have been a treat to watch, and the Legacy’s latest performance was amongst the best of the season. The match against Bay FC started off dreadfully for the home Legacy. Just three minutes in, a miscommunication between keeper Casey Murphy and defender Emerson Elgin allowed Alex Pfeiffer to chase after a free ball in the box. Murphy took down the Bay striker, and the referee immediately called for the PK. Bay’s Claire Hutton stepped up to the spot, and after a curiously long wait before being given the signal, fired past Murphy. The visitors struck again not long after, in the 18th minute. Karlie Lima timed her run to perfection, and Hutton’s drop pass found her all alone against Murphy. The Bay midfielder went near post to double the visitors’ lead.
While everything looked bad for Boston, they clawed their way back late in the half. Following several promising attacks that Bay keeper Jordan Silkowitz stopped, the Legacy broke through in the dying seconds of extra time. A wonderful cross from Nichelle Prince was met by a perfect header from Amanda Gutierres, and Boston halved the lead.
The Legacy came out of the half and continued their strong play. Most of the half was played in the Bay end. Silkowitz had to make several saves, including the save of the match in the 69th minute against Sammy Smith that was destined for the corner. Boston would not be stopped, however, and got their break in the 79th minute. Aissata Traoré had the ball close to goal, but was tripped up by Bay defender Sydney Collins. The Legacy were awarded the penalty, and Traoré finished the job. Both sides had a few good chances for the remainder and into an extended injury time, but neither could grab the winner. The two sides both sit low in the table, but provide excellent and enjoyable football every time out. They just need to string some wins together.
Chicago stuns Utah with late winner from Huitema
The Utah Royals have been the talk of the NWSL this season. After finishing last season with just 25 points in 26 matches, they had already earned 24 points in just 12 matches this year. They have a legitimate MVP candidate in Canadian international Cloé Lacasse, and had not lost in their last 10 matches. Chicago, meanwhile, was dead last in the league in goals scored, goals allowed, and obviously, goal differential — all by wide margins. And as they say, games aren’t won on paper — they’re won on the pitch.
The match started off as expected, with Utah controlling early play and Katie Atkinson making big saves to keep Chicago even. However, the Stars quickly flipped the script. After a prolonged attack, Brianna Pinto sent a ball into the box. Jordyn Huitema made a perfect run and was able to poke it past Mandy McGlynn for the early lead. The Royals tied the match just before half on a miscommunication between Atkinson and defender Aaliyah Farmer. The ball came into the box, and Atkinson charged out to get it. At the same time, Farmer tried to clear, but the ball came to Lacasse. She easily put the ball in the net for the equalizer, and the sides went into the half all square.
The second half saw the visitors retake the lead early. Just five minutes into the half, Cece Delzer was tripped in the box by defender Taylor Wood. After a VAR review, Delzer was awarded the penalty and promptly buried her shot past Atkinson. Chicago wasted little time drawing level, however. In the 50th minute, the Stars earned a free kick outside the box. Defender Sam Staab stepped over the ball and unleashed a curler into the top bin. McGlynn got a hand to it, but could not keep it out.
The Stars would not be content with a draw, and kept pressing. In the 86th minute, Chicago earned a corner. Mal Swanson delivered into the box, and a scramble ensued. Huitema was again able to get her toe on the ball, much like her first-half goal. She put it past McGlynn, and Chicago earns their fourth win of the season. Utah falls to fourth in the table on GD, but has a game in hand on most of the league.
Portland trounces Racing Louisville at Providence Park
A few weeks back, Racing Louisville handed the Thorns a loss, which knocked the Portland side from the top of the table. The home team certainly gained revenge as the side dominated in an absolute shooting gallery. Portland started the scoring after Racing’s Katie O’Kane struck the crossbar early on. In the 13th minute, a perfect set piece touched four Thorns before Jayden Perry finished the play.
The sides traded chances with Louisville again hitting the bar before Pietra Tordin doubled the lead in the 36th minute. Olivia Moultrie fed her at the top of the box, and Tordin made her way central to fire home a rocket. Portland wasted little time, adding a third just four minutes later. Sophia Wilson spotted Reilynn Turner in acres of space in front of the Louisville goal. She fired past a helpless Jordyn Bloomer, and the home side went into the half cruising.
The second half featured many more shots from both sides, and an amazing stop from Bloomer on Moultrie early on. Both Bloomer and Portland’s Mackenzie Arnold were equal to everything thrown at them. That is, however, until the last 10 minutes of the match. In the 82nd minute, Tordin turned playmaker. She spotted Sophia Wilson in the box, and fed her a crisp, low pass. Wilson turned, then curved a perfect ball into the far corner for the Thorns’ fourth. Portland now sits second in the table, while Louisville is at the bottom.
NWSL Week 11 results in full
- Washington Spirit 2-1 Houston Dash
- Denver Summit 0-3 Kansas City Current
- Angel City FC 2-0 Orlando Pride
- North Carolina Courage 3-1 Seattle Reign
- San Diego 2-0 Gotham FC
- Boston Legacy 2-2 Bay FC
- Chicago Stars 3-2 Utah Royals
- Portland Thorns 4-0 Racing Louisville
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