As summer enters full swing, the 2024 NWSL regular season has reached the midway mark with the majority of clubs having now played 13 of 26 games on the regular season slate.
At the midway mark, the Kansas City Current sit atop the standings with 29 points (8W-0L-5D; +14 goal differentials) and extended their unbeaten start to the season to 13 games with a 2-2 draw against the Chicago Red Stars on Friday night. The visitors from Chicago seemed poised to end that run in the early goings, taking a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute off a goal from Mallory Swanson. The 26-year-old forward tallied her fourth goal of the season, running onto a pass in the left side of the penalty area and beating her defender before finishing with her left foot from a difficult angle.
WATCH: SWANSON OPENS SCORING FOR RED STARS
The Red Stars (17 points; 5W-6L-2D) took a 1-0 lead into the locker room but the advantage was short-lived as the Current scored in the 51st and 58th minutes with goals from Brazilian international Bia Zaneratto and Zambian international Temwa Chawinga, respectively. Kansas City seemed primed to take all three points until Swanson served in a pin-point corner kick in the 90th minute and defender Sam Stabb, who made her international debut for the U.S. Women’s National on June 1 against Korea Republic, elevated above the Current backline and headed in the late equalizer. The goals was Stabb’s first of the season and first for her new club after joining Chicago over the offseason. Swanson tallied her third assist of the year, all of which have come in games in which she has also scored.
WATCH: STABB SCORES LATE EQUALIZER FOR CHICAGO
Tied for most points in the league, but trailing the Current on goal differential, the Orlando Pride (29 points; 8W-0L-5D) also continued their unbeaten start to the season, playing the North Carolina Courage (16 points, 5W-7L-1D) to a scoreless draw on Saturday evening in Cary, North Carolina. The Pride outshot the Courage 21-14 on the evening, but Courage and USWNT goalkeeper Casey Murphy made five saves to record her fifth clean sheet of the season. Murphy’s five shutouts are tied for the most in the league in 2024.
The Washington Spirit sit third in the league standings (28 points; 9W-1L-3D) and extended their unbeaten streak to five in a row with a 1-1 draw against San Diego Wave FC on Saturday in front of a club-record crowd of 19,897 fans at Audi Field. The visitors from San Diego (14 points; 3W-4L-5D) struck first with a goal from Jaedyn Shaw in the 20th minute. The 19-year-old finished from close range of cross into the six-yard box for her third goal of the 2024 campaign. It also marked Shaw’s 13th career goal across all NWSL competitions, passing Trinity Rodman for the most goals by a teenager in NWSL history.
WATCH: SHAW PUTS SAN DIEGO AHEAD
Trailing at home, the Spirit worked tirelessly for an equalizer, outshooting the Wave 17-7 on the night, including a 12-5 advantage in shots on goal. The breakthrough finally came in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time as rookie Croix Bethune, who earned her first call-up as a training player for the USWNT’s recent training camp in Colorado, scored her fifth goal of the season to level the match at 1-1.
Reigning champions NJ/NY Gotham FC (24 points; 7W-2L-3D) tallied its fourth consecutive win to move into fourth in the league standings, beating Racing Louisville (15 points; 3W-3L-6D) 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Lynn Family Stadium. Crystal Dunn tallied her first assist of the season, setting up Gotham’s opening goal in the 21st minute. Gotham scored again the 53rd minute to double its advantage and extend its unbeaten streak to eight consecutive matches.
Portland Thorns FC (23 points; 7W-4L-2D) sit fifth in the standings following a scoreless draw on Sunday evening against Cascadia rivals Seattle Reign FC (2W-9L-2D). Portland recorded its second consecutive clean sheet while Seattle became the first team to hold the Thorns scoreless since early April.
The Houston Dash (13 points; 3W-6L-4D) and Angel City FC (12 points; 3W-6L-3D) also played to a scoreless draw on Saturday, though the match was certainly not lacking for drama. Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell made five saves on the night, including saving a penalty kick in the 53rd minute to preserve the clean sheet. Campbell, who was named the 2023 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, leads the league in saves and is also tied for the lead in shutouts with five on the year.
WATCH: CAMPBELL SAVES PENALTY FOR HOUSTON
Closing out the weekend action, the Utah Royals (7 points; 2W-10L-1D) earned their first victory of the season away from home – and second of the season -- with a 1-0 win over Bay FC (12 points; 4W-9L-0D) Sunday evening on a game-winning goal in the 89th minute.
Broadcast information on upcoming matches featuring U.S. Women’s National Team players can be found below. All times listed are ET.
| Wednesday, June 19 |
| NWSL: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. San Diego Wave FC |
7:00 p.m. |
NWSL+ |
| NWSL: Angel City FC vs. Racing Louisville FC |
10:00 p.m. |
CBS Sports Network |
| Friday, June 21
|
| NWSL: Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals FC |
8:00 p.m. |
Prime Video |
| Saturday, June 22
|
| NWSL: Houston Dash vs. San Diego Wave FC |
7:30 p.m. |
ION |
| NWSL: Bay FC vs. Angel City FC |
10:00 p.m. |
ION |
| Sunday, June 23
|
| NWSL: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit |
1:30 p.m. |
ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes |
| NWSL: Portland Thorns FC vs. Kansas City Current |
4:00 p.m. |
NWSL+ |
| NWSL: North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars |
6:00 p.m. |
NWSL+ |
| NWSL: Seattle Reign FC vs. Racing Louisville FC |
6:00 p.m. |
NWSL+ |
