NOTES TO KNOW

UNSTOPPABLE PRIDE

The Orlando Pride remain unbeaten through five games after earning their first back-to-back regular season clean sheets since last July off the heels of forward Summer Yates’ second goal of the season. This streak marks the second-longest unbeaten streak since 2021 when it went unbeaten through seven games.

SPIRIT’S STREAK CONTINUES

The Washington Spirit won five games in a row between October 9, 2021, and May 1, 2022, and are currently on track to match the feat this season, sitting with four back-to-back wins. Rookie midfielder Croix Bethune’s third goal in the past four games and forward Ashley Hatch’s converted penalty were the difference in the club’s 2-0 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC last weekend. Hatch is the fifth player in league history to score 40 goals for a single club in the regular season.

CHICAGO-ING STRONG

The Chicago Red Stars are one of four teams who are undefeated on the road this season after taking down Seattle Reign FC, 2-1, in a close match-up. Forward Ally Schlegel scored her first professional goal at Seattle a year ago this past weekend and scored again this year to put the Red Stars up early in the first half. Forward Mallory Swanson assisted Schlegel’s goal and recorded a goal herself, tallying a goal and an assist for the first time since October 2022.

MILESTONES AND RECORDS

CURRENTLY MAKING HISTORY

The Kansas City Current are the third and final team to leave Week 5 unbeaten. The Current got off to an early start against Bay FC on Saturday, scoring their fastest goal of this season off forward Bia Zaneratto’s second-minute strike. Midfielder Bayley Feist recorded her first goal for the Current and first goal in regular season play since 2019. The other three Current goals came off a brace from Chawinga and Bia’s second goal of the night. The Current are the first team in NWSL history to score 17 goals in their first five matches of a regular season.

RECORDS BREAKING

This past weekend marked the first time in NWSL history that there have been four crowds with over 10,000 fans in attendance on the same day and five total crowds over the whole weekend. On Saturday, Kansas City saw its third-straight sellout crowd at CPKC Stadium while Racing Louisville saw the largest crowd for a women’s game in Lynn Family Stadium with 11,365 fans in attendance. The Washington Spirit welcomed 15,004 fans, marking their fourth-highest attended match and the Portland Thorns sealed history with 17,580 fans at Providence Park. Joining Kansas City in the feat, Angel City FC rounded out the weekend of NWSL matches with the club’s third-straight sellout at BMO Stadium.

SMITH’S STORY

At 23 years and 254 days, Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith is the youngest player to record 50 goal contributions across all competitions in NWSL history, surpassing former NWSL star Sam Kerr at 23 years, 308 days in 2017.

LOUISVILLE BRING THE THUNDER

Racing Louisville brought its own thunder as they scored a whopping five goals during the city’s ‘Thunder Over Louisville’ celebration, a record total in a single match for the 2021 expansion side. Head Coach Bev Yanez secured her first win of her head coaching career after a slew of ties. Midfielder Savannah DeMelo notched her first and second goals of the season in the win, recording the first brace of her career and passing former teammate Nadia Nadim as the club’s all-time scoring leader with 11 regular season goals.

CITY OF ANGELS

Angel City FC defender Sarah Gordon is the 89th player to reach 100 NWSL regular season appearances while defender Jasmyne Spencer is the 64th player to reach 100 NWSL regular season starts since entering the league in 2013. Claire Emslie recorded her first brace of this regular season, with her second tally marking the 100th goal of 2024 in the league.

NAEHER MINUTES
Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher surpassed 15,000 minutes recorded on the pitch during the club’s win against the Seattle Reign. Naeher is the only goalkeeper to reach this milestone.

WEEK 5 MATCH RESULTS

Friday, April 19

Orlando Pride vs. San Diego Wave | 1-0 | Match Recap

Saturday, April 20

Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC | 2-0 | Match Recap

Racing Louisville vs. Utah Royals| 5-1 | Match Recap

Kansas City Current vs. Bay FC | 5-2 | Match Recap

Portland Thorns vs. Houston Dash | 4-1 | Match Recap

Sunday, April 21

Seattle Reign vs. Chicago Red Stars| 1-2 | Match Recap

Angel City FC vs. North Carolina Courage | 2-1 | Match Recap