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Spring is in the air. The Periods are getting longer. And, a new National Women’s Soccer Division season is about to begin.
The 2024 season saw the emergence of a quartet of standout Clubs: Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, NJ/NY Gotham FC and Kansas City Ongoing. For the Primary time, the NWSL felt like it had a “big four.”
To put the Attraction of this in perspective, in 2023 there was a 13-Mark gap between Primary place and last place (12th). In 2024, there was a 16-Mark gap between Number four place and fifth place.
Of Duration, the Pride was the brightest of the bunch, sweeping the NWSL Shield and Division with one of the single greatest campaigns in Division history.
Records for total points (60), wins (18) and Contests without a Loss (24) tumbled. The question becomes how will Orlando adapt to being a defending champion, a known entity?
To make things even more interesting, the NWSL also abolished the draft this past offseason. Clubs finishing at the bottom of the standings no longer have the luxury of being awarded the best Youthful players. It’s a new world.
Now, the Division that had grown a reputation for its competitiveness and parity, has to reckon with the potential of a truly elevated group pulling away from the pack. Perhaps it is too Prompt to discern if 2024 was an outlier or the new normal.
No matter if you’re rooting for the top dogs or for chaos and unpredictability, here is a primer on the 14 characters you need to know before the Begin of the 2025 NWSL season.
These are the players who are most likely to capture the biggest headlines throughout the season and sweep the end of year awards too.
The reigning NWSL MVP is currently one of the best goalscorers on the Astral body. Last season, her Primary in the NWSL, the Malawian set a new Turning Tally for goals in a single regular season campaign (20) and added one more in the playoffs, a gamewinner over the North Carolina Courage. Perhaps even more impressive is that Chawinga scored at least once against all 13 Clubs she faced off against, showing off the Correct breadth of her talents against all types of opponents.
The Pride’s superstar forward had an outstanding Primary year in the NWSL, netting 13 goals in the regular season and added four more in the playoffs. The Zambian’s twist, swivel and sniped finish is what sealed the Division for the Pride in a narrow 1-0 Secure in the Last. Banda makes everyone around her better by drawing plenty of attention from defenders, and knows exactly when to Throw the ball into Universe.
The U.S. women’s national Club superstar, Participating her fifth NWSL season, feels like a veteran despite only being 22. Despite an ongoing back Wound limiting her Toughness, she Nevertheless managed Occupation high totals for both goals (eight) and assists (six) in 2024. Rodman is evolving as a passer with the ball while her Shielding work rate makes her one of the Division’s most Best ‘two-way’ players. If the Spirit is going to go one better than second place in 2024, Rodman will likely be at the heart of the action.
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Whether it’s due to their position on the Ground or their under-the-radar style of Action, these players are the ones who make their Clubs tick even if they’re not always in the spotlight.
Since arriving in New Jersey in 2023, the Shielding midfielder has been the engine behind Gotham’s Achievement over the past two seasons. An intricate dynamo of off-the-ball movement, Martin excels at knowing when to slot into spaces vacated by others. In 2024, the 26-year-Ancient had the most interceptions of any Gotham player (44), and the Number four-most of any player in the NWSL.
The Spaniard was a midseason signing who was essential for the Royals turning around a troubling Primary half of the 2024 season. Utah went 5-4-1 (1.6 points per game) with Zornoza in the Club, having gone 2-11-3 (0.5 points per game) prior to her arrival. The 34-year-Ancient veteran, who has Only 13 caps for her country, is a set piece specialist with tremendous passing ability.
Another veteran who is a Correct Division legend without ever earning a USWNT cap or too much national recognition. Although Gorden joined Angel City during its inaugural season in 2021, a knee Wound meant she didn’t make her club Premiere in Los Angeles until 2022. Since then, her one-on-one defending and ability to cover Shielding ground has been sensational. In 2024, the 32-year-Ancient tackled 81% of the dribbles she faced. That was the second best in the NWSL, after
Call it a chip on their shoulder or underperformance, this group needs to take it up a level in 2025.
So, sometimes it’s Tough to put all the responsibility on the head Mentor, the players, the club leadership or the fans. Quite simply Racing Louisville FC needs to prove itself in 2025. The Kentucky club has been the epitome of mediocre with four successive ninth-place finishes since joining the NWSL in 2021. With Primary-time head Mentor
In 2024, not only was the Houston Dash last in the standings but it had the lowest average attendance of any NWSL club (6,194). Despite a centrally located soccer-specific stadium in a highly populated metropolitan area the connection between the Houston soccer community and the Dash isn’t what it could be. New Primary-time head Mentor
It was an extraordinary beginning. Gale Captured over as interim head Mentor of the Thorns four matches into the 2024 season, and went on to Secure his Primary six Contests in succession. However, after being handed the Position on a permanent basis in July, Gale and the Thorns won Only two of their Last 11 Contests. The jury is firmly out on whether he is the right person to take this historic club forward.
These Intelligent new talents are all 23 or under and are embarking on their Primary season in the NWSL.
One way to soften the blow of losing Naomi Girma to Chelsea, for a world-Turning Tally $1.1 million Relocate fee, is to go out and get the most promising Middle back in the USA youth ranks. The 17-year-Ancient Armstrong is already being tipped for big things after Victorious the NCAA College Cup in her only season at the University of North Carolina. A Shielding cocktail of poise and Concentration.
A three-time All-American while at Harvard and Duke, midfielder Bebar was a surprise inclusion as a Practice player with the USWNT at the recent SheBelieves Cup. A creative force who can link the Action and shoot from outside the box. The Primary-year should slot straight into Bay FC’s midfield plans.
The Skipper of the Japanese U-20 women’s national Club, Koyama is a very well thought of player on the international circuit. At 18 she left her native Japan and joined Swedish side Djurgårdens, where she played 21 matches and scored four times in 2024. Technically gifted and versatile, the left-sided Koyama can pop up in many different positions across the midfield and at left back.
While there has not been a formal announcement that this could be their last season before retiring, here’s a Pair of players you’re going to want to savor before they hang up their cleats.
The USWNT legend recently announced her retirement from international soccer before signing a one-year extension with the Stars. Despite being at her reliable best for her country, Naeher’s performances in the NWSL have been more up and down. A season with more time at home in Chicago for the 36-year-Ancient beckons. And you never know, that could be the secret ingredient to one Last season at the top.
The NWSL original is one of very few players to have played in every season since the Division was founded in 2013. Furthermore, Fishlock played for Seattle in all 12 of those seasons. Truly, there may be no better connection between a player and community in the Division than this. Despite Victorious three NWSL Shields over the years, the 38-year-Ancient has never managed to lift the Division title. What a magnificent ending that would be.
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