Lots more this week too including the budding connection between Croix Bethune and Temwa Chawinga. And why can't the Wave win when they generate so many chances?

Not. Too. Early. And listen to the end for a Lori Chalupny mention!

The Wave have dropped too many points while being the "better" team for it not to be considered a problem. Should have had 3 points tonight, got 0. Great result for Pride though who get Nicole Payne's first NWSL goal after she lost '25 to an ACL injury

Never too late to listen to last week's pod...

If you ever need to know where to find an NWSL match...

Clearly agree!

This week on @thedanlauletta.bsky.social's XI, we've got analysis of shaky signs from Seattle and Orlando, cautious optimism for Kansas City, Utah, and Denver, and a very dedicated cousin: 🔐 equalizersoccer.com/2026/05/18/l...

Give us a listen as we talk all things NWSL...

Legacy with some tough defending late to hold Gotham to 1-1 draw at SI Stadium, 3rd straight without defeat for Boston, 1st goal and point away from home. Gotham have taken 1 point of 6 at home from expansion sides; will we be discussing that in November?

Humongous win for Louisville who went with Sears out of the XI; took the lead on one of the best NWSL goals I have ever seen from Katie O'Kane and instead of conceding in stoppage, got insurance from Sears off the press

Maiara Niehues got an extra game suspension after her red card the other day. Saw it and figured I underplayed her conduct. Just went back and watched it again. Still baffled. Not even sure I agree it was a red card. Extra suspension is bonkers

Recorded before Wednesday night's match ,but...like how smart are we?? (especially since this is not my quote)

The Kansas City Current have taken their lumps this year, but earned a 2-1 win over North Carolina on Saturday. Michelle Cooper and Croix Bethune worked their magic, especially on the game-winner. @thedanlauletta.bsky.social highlights it in Anatomy of a Goal! equalizersoccer.com/2026/05/06/a...

Legacy win! Thorns hit the top of the table. Fascinating Week 6 around NWSL

Yup I said it!

We'll be discussing this on the pod. Recording shortly. Send us some thoughts...

Not to late to get your opinions in...

For this to work, I need your help. There are three subscription tiers -- I'd like to think they are affordable and worth the work. This will ensure 1. I can bring you coverage from the road 2. I can keep doing this full-time along with my other coverage. www.valkyriesbeat.com/subscribe

Our @thedanlauletta.bsky.social's NWSL week 4 hot takes are out! 🌊 San Diego keeps riding the wave 🦢Boston still searching for that first point ⚽Penalty kicks galore! Check it out at the link: equalizersoccer.com/2026/04/06/l...

Traore and Gutierres starting together for the first time. Can they help the Legacy earn their first point or even win against the Wave?

If you haven't listened to this week's podcast, still plenty of time...

Ella Stevens suspended tomorrow for foul on Kate Del Fava last weekend. She was booked but not sent off. Lots of ref discussion off this one and looking at the replay, it seems kind of obvious. I missed it too, but that seems like a VAR fail

🏟️ Record-smashing attendance for Denver 😶 Struggles continue for Kansas City 🪽 Jónsdóttir continues to impress for Angel City @thedanlauletta.bsky.social breaks down XI takeaways from Week 3 in #NWSL action! 🔐 Subscribe to EQZ Extra to read every Monday! equalizersoccer.com/2026/03/30/l...

Gotham have played 4 games and have 1 goal -- off a keeper giveaway/defensive breakdown against an expansion side in its first NWSL match. Been shutout in 3 straight since and only their own solid D has them on 2 points from those three shutouts

There are good scoreless draws and their are snoozefest scoreless draws. Summit/Spirit was a good scoreless draw. Gotham/Pride -- not so much, final 5 minutes or so notwithstanding

Give us your worst...

Busy day in NWSL concludes with the Wave authoring a professional, 2-0 win over the Stars. Kind of felt like they could have played that match 100 times and the Wave would win 98 of them

The Current are not a very good team right now. Too easy to break down in midfield, not great defending, attack is MIA. They haven't even been fun to watch. Has to be about more than just injuries and departures. Meanwhile, solid start to season continues for Thorns who have 9 points thru 4 matches

MacKenzie Arnold back in the XI for the Thorns as is Sophia Wilson. Current starting their solid lineup in a match that feels like kind of a big deal for them. Meanwhile, Summit looking solid in home opener but 0-0 with Spirit into the final 15

That may have been the Legacy's best half of the season, and they will feel (rightly?) hard done by the ref's whistle, but still they need a goal, and they trail the Royals 1-0

Wonderfully orchestrated set piece by the Royals puts them ahead 1-0 over the Legacy, who are still hunting their first goal as an NWSL club

Sveindis Jonsdottir, best player on the park, in particular ~3 minutes of brilliance early in 2nd half to help produce both Angel City goals in 2-1 victory over Dash to move to 3-0-0. Fifth-year club had never won first two matches in a season before this

There will be goals tonight, but don't forget about this beauty from the weekend. Lia Godfrey’s goal gave San Diego the edge over a 10-player Utah side, writes @thedanlauletta.bsky.social. Subscribe to EQZ Extra to read the latest Anatomy of a Goal! 🔐 equalizersoccer.com/2026/03/25/a...

I kind of expected the Current to struggle early this season, but I never imagined they would this much of a mess after only three games. The Hutton-Bethune swap has really put their midfield out of sorts and there are numerous other issues on top of that

The Wave are going to score a lot of goals this season!

It is a decidedly mid-week lineup but this is far and away the worst the Current have looked since 2023 (at least) Solid bounce back from the Reign too

Summit collect first NWSL win with fairly emphatic win away to Gotham. They were better side most of the way, capitalized on rare Berger foot blunder, and will take a 1-1-1 record into Saturday's home opener against...

However this match ends, the Spirit will be thrilled to see the real Trinity Rodman make an appearance this evening

Okay so I made two mistakes in the opening 45 seconds or so of speaking. But I promise the rest is worth your time...

Jordyn Huitema, who scored in the Stars home opener on the weekend, is out of tomorrow's match against the Pride with a hip injury. Bugg and Fishel out again for the Reign

About 15 minutes of soccer left in what has been a very newsworthy week of #NWSL action. Chime in with some thoughts and opinions and we may read them on the pod this week

5 red cards through 14 games this #NWSL season, lots of them for little more than really poor judgment. Taylor Huff with a totally meaningless foul for a 2nd yellow at the death and she gets to sit out next weekend

Could be 3-0 in Houston right now if not for... -Dash PK getting saved -Poor foul call (imo) on Murphy mistake coming out on free kick Also, uniform contrast is odd, especially in the sun. Not the best time of day for kick off in Houston

Very satisfying win for the Thorns, 2-0 over Reign side to move to 2-0-0 under Robert Vilahamn. They bagged both goals playing with 10, then mostly defended for 33+ playing with 9 and even then never looked troubled. Rough, rough performance from the Reign

Thorns now playing with 9 after a VAR generated red card on Reyna Reyes that I just can't get behind as a call.

Everyone talks about how the team down to 10 reacts, but so often the team with 11 is just as out of sorts. Reign doing nothing to make Thorns pay for being shorthanded and are now down 1-0 after going defending optional on a corner kick.

Very rare for a player to get double booked before the clock hits 10 minutes, but good and easy call on the 2nd to Cassandra Bogere, and the Thorns will go the rest of the way with 10

Neither held. Banda goal equalizes for Pride but Summit collect first ever point. And Spirit claw back for 2-2 draw in Louisville. Pride open with 2 at home, emerge with 1 point

Not at all where I thought we'd be right now with the Summit on top in Orlando and Racing up a pair on the Spirit. Tremendous goal by Emma Sears doubled the lead in Louisville

Solid start for Summit in Orlando and they pay it off with a goal from Kossler. Rough start to Hailie Mace's Pride career...