KAnsas City Current Wins NWSL Shield
Volume 02 | Issue 07 | September 2025
NWSL News
Kansas City Current Wins NWSL Shield
The Kansas City Current clinched the NWSL Shield in Week 21 of NWSL with its win against Seattle Reign FC and the Washington Spirit’s draw against Angel City FC.
The Current became the fastest NWSL team to win the shield, with five regular-season games remaining. According to the NWSL, the previous quickest teams to earn the shield did so with four games remaining (Seattle Reign in 2014, North Carolina Courage in 2018, and the Portland Thorns in 2021).
NWSL Playoff Standings
The Washington Spirit earned its spot in the NWSL playoffs after defeating the Houston Dash 4-0 in Week 22, making the Spirit the second time to secure its playoff spot after the Current.
The top eight NWSL teams will advance to the playoffs at the end of regular season play on November 2, with the single-elimination playoffs beginning on November 7.
Throughout September, the remaining 12 NWSL teams battled to hold on to a place in the sacred top eight. Four teams stayed at the top of the rankings throughout the month: NJ/NY Gotham FC, the Orlando Pride, Seattle Reign FC, and the Portland Thorns FC. Racing Louisville FC lasted all but one week in September in the top eight positions.
The Utah Royals FC fought its way out of last place and into 12th over the course of the month, knocking the Chicago Stars FC down to 14th and Bay FC to 13th.
For most of the month, Angel City FC, the Houston Dash, and the North Carolina Courage traded places between ninth and 11th place in the standings.
Photo credit: Kansas City Current
Photo credit: Washington Spirit
Photo credit: Kansas City Current
Chawinga Leads NWSL Golden Boot Race
Temwa Chawinga held the lead in the race for the NWSL Golden Boot for three of the five weeks of NWSL play that ended in the month of September.
Chawinga ended the month with fourteen goals and three assists to her name.
Esther González applied pressure and held the lead for the other two weeks. González ended the month nipping at Chawinga’s heels with 13 goals and one assist.
Photo credit: Racing Louisville FC
NWSL Player Updates
Sophia and Michael Wilson announced the birth of their first baby girl, named Gianna “Gigi” Capri Wilson, early in the month.
Claire Hutton won the Lauren Holiday Impact Award “Fan Impact Challenge,” which provides $10,000 to Hutton’s community partner, MINDDRIVE.
Savannah DeMelo experienced a medical emergency in Racing’s game against Seattle on September 14. According to Racing Louisville FC, DeMelo was stable and alert after receiving on-field care from the team’s medical staff. The NWSL abandoned the remainder of the match and rescheduled it for later in the week.
Olivia Moultrie made NWSL history by scoring the most regular-season goals by a teenager with 14 points to her name throughout her NWSL career.
NWSL Contracts and Transfers
Alyssa Thompson transferred to Chelsea FC Women from Angel City FC for a record outgoing NWSL transfer fee reported at nearly $1.3 million. Thompson signed with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League (WSL) through the 2030 season. She joins her fellow USWNT teammates, Naomi Girma and Catarina Macario, on the roster and will be playing alongside prominent international names, including Lucy Bronze, Ellie Carpenter, Millie Bright, Lauren James, and Sam Kerr.
Giselle Thompson signed a new contract with her current team, Angel City, through the 2029 NWSL season. Thompson initially signed with Angel City in 2024, a few days shy of her 18th birthday.
Nigerian international Asisat Oshoala transferred from Bay FC to Al Hilal in the Saudi Women’s Premier League. Oshoala joined the NWSL in 2024 for Bay FC’s inaugural season.
Colombian international Valerin Loboa transferred to the Portland Thorns from Colombia’s Deportivo Cali for an undisclosed transfer fee. Loboa signed with the Thorns through the 2028 NWSL season with a club extension option for 2029.
Carissa Boeckmann transferred from the Thorns to Benfica in Portugal for an undisclosed transfer fee. Boeckmann joined the NWSL earlier this year.
Ji So-Yun was loaned from Seattle Reign FC to Birmingham City in the WSL 2 through the end of the 2025 season for an undisclosed fee. Ji is contracted with the Reign through the 2025 season.
Abby Boyan extended her contract with Utah Royals FC through the end of the 2025 NWSL season.
Lara Prašnikar signed with the Royals through the 2027 season, becoming the first Slovenian player to join the league. Prašnikar last played for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.
Heather MacNab signed a guaranteed contract with the North Carolina Courage through the end of the 2025 season after joining the team this year as a non-roster invitee, followed by a short-term injury replacement contract, and then as a training player.
Princess Ademiluyi transferred to NJ/NY Gotham FC from West Ham United in the WSL for an undisclosed fee. Ademiluyi has previously appeared with England’s youth national team.
Jaedyn Shaw transferred to Gotham FC from North Carolina Courage for a record intraleague transfer of $1.25 million. Shaw scored a goal in her debut game with Gotham on September 12.
Photo credit: NJ/NY Gotham FC
NWSL League Updates
Chicago Stars FC announced its relocation for the 2026 season to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on Lake Michigan. The new stadium will seat up to 12,000 fans while providing a skyline view of the city.
The NWSL announced the formation of Combines, slated to launch during the 2025 pre-season in December. The Combines will be a three-day showcase of prospective players aged 13-23, providing a platform for NWSL clubs to evaluate new talent.
2026 NWSL Expansion Teams
Denver Summit FC continues to build its roster with the signing of Spanish international Nahikari García. García signed with the Summit through the 2027 NWSL season and is on loan with Nottingham Forest Women FC in the WSL 2 until the 2026 NWSL preseason.
The Summit reached an NWSL milestone by surpassing 15,000 season ticket holder deposits by mid-month. Denver also launched Club 5280 in September, a membership program offering perks to its supporters that includes early access tickets, exclusive merchandise, and more.
Boston Legacy FC appointed Jennifer van Dijk as Team President. Van Dijk’s previous experience includes serving as CEO of Superplastic, as well as working on partnerships and digital innovations for IMG, Wasserman, and the NBA.
USWNT NEws
USWNT Announces Matches with Italy
The USWNT announced two friendly matches with Italy on November 28 and December 1 in Florida.
Inter & Co Stadium, home of the Orlando Pride, will host the first match, and the second competition will be played at Chase Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale.
The USWNT plays again in October with three friendlies scheduled in the US:
October 23 vs Portugal at Subaru Park in Chester, PA
October 26 vs Portugal at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, CT
October 29 vs New Zealand at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, MO
Visitwww.ussoccer.com for the full USWNT schedule.
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