NOTES TO KNOW

1.5 MILLION

During the Chicago Red Stars and Orlando Pride match on Sunday, the NWSL officially surpassed 1.5 million in regular season attendance for the first time in NWSL history. Total attendance for 2024 is at 1,528,062 after Week 18 matches. Last year, the NWSL became the first women’s pro league in the world to average more than 10,000 fans per season.

WORLDWIDE WINNERS

The seven game-winning goals in Week 18 were scored by players from seven different countries — Seattle Reign forward Tziarra King (United States), Washington Spirit midfielder Leicy Santos (Colombia), Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga (Malawi), Bay FC forward Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria), NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Esther (Spain), Orlando Pride forward Marta (Brazil) and North Carolina Courage defender Feli Rauch (Germany). All the players hail from four continents (Africa, Europe, South America, North America).

THE LAST WAVE

San Diego Wave FC forward Alex Morgan capped her illustrious career in the 13th minute of play against the North Carolina Courage during the club’s 4-1 loss, ending her 12-year NWSL career with one last appearance for the Wave in front of a crowd on 26,516 fans. Defender Kennedy Wesley recorded her first career NWSL goal in the regular season, and for the Courage, Malia Berkely became the first player to record three assists in the first half of any NWSL game in all competitions.

CHA-WIN-GA

The Kansas City Current are back in the win column after forward Temwa Chawinga recorded a goal in her eighth straight match against the Utah Royals, further extending her Golden Boot lead to 15. The Current sits in third place with 38 points, three points behind the Washington Spirit in the standings.

SPIRIT OVERTIME

The Washington Spirit defeated the Portland Thorns 2-1 with a late stoppage time goal from midfielder Leicy Santos in the 96th minute of action. Portland’s midfielder Hina Sugita opened the scoring in the 49th minute with Spirit forward Trinity Rodman fighting back in the 60th minute to bring the scoreline level. Rodman also recorded the assist on Santos’s game-winning tally. The victory marked the club’s 13th win of the season, setting a new single-season club record. The Spirit also set a new club record for points in a season.

During the match, Thorns midfielder Hina Sugita netted Portland’s 400th all-time regular-season goal in the loss, becoming the first club to reach the milestone.

BAY FC SWEEP

Bay FC recorded their second sweep of the season defeating Racing Louisville 1-0 in a match that featured defender Abby Dahlkemper and forward Penelope Hocking’s PayPal Park debuts. Hocking connected with fellow forward Asisat Oshoala in the 75th minute who scored the lone goal of the match. Oshoala leads the club in goals with four tallies this season with the win marking the second time since late June that the club has recorded back-to-back regular season wins.

P-RIDING TO THE PLAYOFFS

The Orlando Pride became the first team to clinch a playoff berth due to Angel City FC losing to the Seattle Reign on Friday marking the first playoff berth for the Pride since 2017. The Orlando Pride defeated the Chicago Red Stars after midfielder Marta recorded her second career goal against them and 11th game winning goal, which leads the club all-time. Orlando has scored first in 16 of 19 regular season games this year. Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse became one of six goalkeepers in NWSL history to reach double digit shutouts in a season.

WEEK 18 MATCH RECAP

Friday, September 6

Angel City FC vs. Seattle Reign | 2-3 | Match Recap

Saturday, September 7

Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns FC | 2-1 | Match Recap

Kansas City Current vs. Utah Royals FC | 1-0 | Match Recap

Bay FC vs. Racing Louisville FC | 1-0 | Match Recap

Sunday, September 8

NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Houston Dash | 2-1 | Match Recap

Chicago Red Stars vs. Orlando Pride | 0-1 | Match Recap

San Diego Wave FC vs. North Carolina Courage | 1-4 | Match Recap