Keeper Notes

Little movement in the table as KC, LA, Utah, and Portland clinched playoff spots. Seattle, NC, and Denver will all fight for the final playoff spot during decision day next weekend

Me, realizing that Tobin Heath set the previous record for single-season assists (10) back when the NWSL season was only 20 games ... and she only played in 14 of those anyway because of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

For the 5th time in league history, the NWSL Shield will be decided on the final matchday of the regular season. It'll be either San Diego Wave (their 2nd Shield in 5 years) or Gotham FC (st Shield, 7th different club to win since 2019). All Decision Day matches kick off at 4 pm CT next Sunday!

10,000 minutes of Trinity Rodman 🔥 Congrats to Trin on reaching a MAJOR milestone in the NWSL!

It's "Shield Watch Sunday" for NWSL! Gotham could clinch its first NWSL Shield with: win vs ORL + KC win/draw + BOS win at SD If Gotham don't clinch today, the Shield will be decided on Decision Day next Sunday — it would be 5th time in NWSL history that the Shield wasn't decided til final wknd

SIX SUMMIT GOALS! What a night in Colorado 🤩

DENvLOU has just kicked off on ION — Denver must win to remain in contention for a playoff spot! This is the Summit's final home game — they finish the season at North Carolina on Decision Day.

2014 draft pick by @houstondash.com!

Where things stand after Friday matches of Week 26: POR clinch with win vs NC, which also means that KC, UTA, LA all clinch. First time for Royals in the playoffs! UTA-SEA draw = NC still in contention, DEN stay alive with a win/draw vs LOU tomorrow. So DEN, NC & SEA will fight for last spot!

Just how they drew it up 😉 Maggie Graham and the Houston Dash move quickly and double their lead in Chicago!

Big night for NWSL on the next-to-last weekend of the regular season! 3 games & the outcome 2 of them could finalize the 8 teams for the postseason! If BOTH Portland & Seattle win tonight, then playoff field is set — just not final seeding. If that happens, DEN & NC would be the "odd teams out."

BREAKING: The NWSL and NWSLPA have settled several grievances, including the High Impact Player rule. The criteria is wiped (still 12% cap charge). ANY player can be HIP. Also settled: Other Rodman grievance, footwear grievance. Greater $ transparency reporting now required. More on @espn.com:

uswnt infants are two games into the group stage at the u17 world cup and maddie dimaria has 16 shots and 10 goals

In a year that saw two expansion sides, @secondball.bsky.social takes a look at the Boston Legacy and Denver Summit, breaking down their season (so far) based on results, entertainment value and potential heading in 2027. 🔐 Subscribe to EQZ Extra to read! equalizersoccer.com/2026/10/21/b...

Gonna be a fun weekend! If both SEA & POR win Friday night, the 8-team playoff field will be set (with POR, SEA, LA, UTA & KC clinching, DEN & NC eliminated), but the fight for final seeding with continue through Decision Day regardless.

#FIFA has officially awarded the 2028 Women's Club World Cup to the United States. The tournament will run January 5-30, 2028. #NWSL #USLSL

Caught up with Thorns technical advisor Becky Sauerbrunn after practice today

Wacky Wednesday WoSo fact … Maddie Mercado of @reignfc.com is the first NWSL player to score 10+ goals in one season without a single one of those goals coming from her right foot! She's got 5 header goals, 5 lefties … plus 3 game-winners.

👀

In week 25, Washington clinched a playoff spot and Orlando is eliminated. Seattle moved back into the top 8 with a win to close out the weekend

Whole team celebrating 🫶

Simple scenarios for the last two NWSL matches of the weekend: BAY win = KC clinches CHI win = KC clinches (if BAY didn't win) and ORL still in contention SEA win = ORL eliminated

Today's "Word of the Match," brought to you by Jill Loyden: REVELATION "Cece Kizer has been a revelation" … an individual who unexpectedly reveals immense skill, charm, or character, completely shifting how others perceive them or the role they fill.

It's almost time for kickoff! ⏳ Check out the NWSL week 25 playoff clinching scenarios.

Every. Matchup. Counts. A win this weekend could result in a path to clinching The Shield or a spot in the playoffs. Tune into NWSL matches beginning today at 8 PM ET on Prime.

NWSL is back tomorrow and the playoff picture should become clearer this weekend

Can anyone name the others?!

NEWS: The NWSL + USL Super League cup competition that ESPN first reported in May is now official. The Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup Winner gets a berth in the Concacaf W Champions Cup. $1.7M prize pool. Single elimination Still likely 2028 start www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Had a great chat with @johnshrader.bsky.social about the 2026 @NWSL season so far and the players who've really stood out. Just 3 weeks left in the regular season and there are still 6 playoff spots up for grabs! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

NWSL week 25 is finally here 🥳 Send this to your first @ to remind them!

Correction — she's the 12th USWNT mom to score for the team! Dunlap-Seivold 1986 ** Fawcett 1995 Fotopoulos 2002 Ellertson 2008 ** Markgraf 2008 Lilly 2010 Rodriguez 2014 Morgan 2021 McDonald 2018 ** Dunn 2024 Wilson 2026 Swanson 2026 ** Did not play with USWNT before they were moms!

exceptional ref cam in mexico/jamaica, from the long range assist to the exploding goal

Kate Del Fava had the long ball to put Cooper in behind on the Swanson goal. Against Spain. How about that for a memorable debut?

Excellent work by Michelle Cooper to get that ball to Mallory Swanson, who scores the equalizer in the 86th minute. Swanson is the 10th USWNT player to score a goal after becoming a MOM!

It's a flat 4-4-2 defending, with Rodman wide right and Lavelle still on the forward line for now.

Meant to say FOUR! So excited to see Hutton in midfield.

3 changes to starting XI: • Tullis-Joyce in goal • Sanchez makes 1st USWNT start since Oct 2024 • Gisele Thompson on defense 6 pm CT kickoff

It's the nicest day/night you could possibly ask for in Chester in mid-October. (I've certainly been freezing here before around this time.) Idyllic. #USWNT v Spain, Round 2 on tap.

Catch the "rematch" tonight at 6 pm CT on TNT/HBO Max (English) and Universo/Peacock (Spanish). For USWNT fans in Houston, head to the Phoenix Brewpub on Westheimer. All ages welcome!

Tamara making her senior national team debut for Brazil!🤩🇧🇷 @selecaofemininadefutebol Congratulations, Tamara!! 🫶🥳

Insane service from Alice Soto for a Rebeca Bernal header

sanchez has been fun already. when she’s at peak confidence there aren’t many players like her.

After 710 days, Mal Swanson is back on the field in the red, white and blue! 🫶

As things stand in 82nd minute, USWNT is looking at first-ever loss in regulation to a team ranked #1 at the time of the game. If Spain's 2-0 lead stands, this would also be first loss by more than 1 goal in the Hayes era. Tuesday rematch will be a fascinating watch! 6 pm CT on TNT at the Phoenix

… but Nanclares makes the save! Still 2-0 in the 70th minute.

First-ever USWNT pk attempt for Lily Yohannes …

It's SANCHEZ SEASON! Ashley Sanchez subs on for Lindsey Heaps — her first USWNT appearance since October 2024.

WACKY FACT The last time USWNT trailed by 2 goals at halftime was March 2017 … in Washington, DC … playing a 3-back! www.ussoccer.com/uswnt-lineup... www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezay...

WACKY FACT! This is first time in the Emma Hayes era that the USWNT has trailed by 2 goals.

On the bench today: 4-Del Fava, 5-Rudd, 7-Sanchez, 8-Reale, 9-Swanson, 13-Tordin, 15-Hutton, 17-Howell, 19-Sears, 20-Cooper, 22-G Thompson, 24-Tullis-Joyce If Del Fava and/or Tordin make their USWNT debut in this match, they'll be first USWNT player(s) to earn a first cap vs Spain