Sophia Wilson and Tierna Davidson are back with the #USWNT for three friendlies against Japan. Full roster from Emma Hayes 👇

We spent about seven minutes on Kansas City's struggles last night. Five months removed from the most dominant #NWSL Shield run in history, the Current lost as many games in a week as they did all last year. Full episode of Futbol W on demand: www.espn.com/watch/catalo...

Even after a loss, we are liking what we see from the Houston Dash in the early days of this #NWSL season. 🎶 These times they are a-[maybe-]changin' (?)

Here's the @espn.com SC Featured video on Savy King's return, from Charlotte Gibson:

Go time!

🚨🕣 Programming alert: Futbol W is on TONIGHT (w/ #USMNT in action tomorrow) on ESPN+. Ali Krieger, Alexis Nunes and I recap and analyze the looooong #NWSL Week 3. Drop your questions and takes, and tune in here 👇 www.espn.com/watch/catalo...

Did we ever get the proper angle for this? (I assume not since it wasn't on broadcast.) Jessica Berman said earlier this month that the #NWSL has added more cameras this year (I asked the question in reference to VAR decisions). We still don't seem to have it for goal lines.

Another good Monday in March to say: UUUUUUCCCOOOONNNNN

DENVER — A record crowd of 63,004, an "intoxicating" environment, and a big-event feel. This won't be an everyday thing in the #NWSL, but it is another example of the bar getting raised. It's a day even the most optimistic—players included—couldn't have imagined even a few years ago.

Goodnight from Denver after a historic day in the #NWSL and for women's sports at large. Angel City is the only team left without a loss. Boston is the only team left without a point. Spirit are still winless, KC has lost three straight. Gotham-Orlando tomorrow. 🎢

So, I need you to watch Oakland Roots goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel (blue) here. He's up for a late free kick, but when it goes awry he heads behind the goal and get a second ball to punt onto the field. Eventually, after Tommy McCabe's goal line clearance, he gets sent off. #USL-C

San Diego 2, Chicago 0 Rough stuff for Chicago. First and only shot on goal came at 90+3'. Total xG of 0.06. The Wave join Angel City, Portland and Seattle on 9 pts. (Only three games played for Angel City.)

GO OFF MELANIE BARCENAS 🚀🤯

San Diego Wave rookie Lia Godfrey has now scored in three straight games -- all in a week. The first two were game-winners and tonight's still could be. #NWSL

Injury news from today out of Denver: Nick Cushing mentioned postgame that defender Eva Gaetino sustained an injury yesterday. Gaetino had a walking boot and crutches postgame. Doesn't sound *very* long-term—maybe measured in weeks—but tough timing for her to miss today. #NWSL

Woah now

DENVER — A record crowd of 63,004, an "intoxicating" environment, and a big-event feel. This won't be an everyday thing in the #NWSL, but it is another example of the bar getting raised. It's a day even the most optimistic—players included—couldn't have imagined even a few years ago.

Chris Armas on KC's 3-game skid: Mentioned preseason, returns to play, road stretch + said it takes time. Healthy/fit players is goal #1. "We’re trying to build this house in a hurricane." "We expect urgency every single time out... We want teams looking up at us in the standings."

Portland 2, Kansas City 0 Three straight defeats for the Current (two by shutout), all in a week and all on the road. It's a wretched start for the reigning #NWSL Shield winners. Next up is a rematch vs. Gotham on April 4. That game will carry as much weight as an early April fixture can.

Denver sets new #NWSL attendance record in its inaugural home game with 63,004 fans. Thoughts from Denver Summit FC control owner Rob Cohen, Summit players, and Trinity Rodman as the Spirit play the role of away team again on another record day. 👇

Official attendance in Denver is 63,004, a new #NWSL record -- smashing last year's mark by over 20,000.

Pretty incredible scenes here in Denver for an inaugural game. Team jerseys are already everywhere, and the merchandise line in the stadium has been literally hundreds deep for an hour-plus. The place is filled up to the upper deck. #NWSL

Rare air here in Denver for the #NWSL to be in a venue of this scale. It's sunny and gorgeous today, too. Spirit just walked the field, and it looks like a Rodman-Rudd TikTok is incoming from field level.

Good morning from Denver, where an #NWSL record crowd is expected for the Summit's inaugural home game. It's one of six games on tap today in the increasingly busy 16-team league. I dare say the biggest game on the field might be right after in Portland, where Kansas City needs to right the ship.

Angel City coach Alex Straus talks a lot about process. A long version of that answer after the win over Houston: "There is no ceiling for this team. The ceiling is just an illusion. We can be as good as we can be and we can be the best team in the world, but we will not be that tomorrow." #NWSL

Dash coach Fabrice Gautrat said postgame that he was proud of the result and wanted to see the field tilt. There it is. Avery Patterson said it was five minutes of "a series of unfortunate events" that cost them in a strong performance, unlike other games she's experienced. Data supports the Dash.

Riley Tiernan says the Angel City halftime talk was "fix the mentality" + quick film. Alex Straus echoes that it was "not skill issues": "Soccer, it is a game of moments. Especially this league, everything can turn around in a moment... That cannot happen again, because it might not happen again."

This stunner from Sveindís Jónsdóttir is what blew the game open right after halftime. Angel City: Atop the #NWSL and the last perfect record remaining. A long way to go (27 more games!), but fans have been waiting nearly five years for this hope + flair.

Full Time: Angel City 2, Houston 1 Angel City is alone atop the #NWSL with a perfect 3-0-0 start. They stormed back out of halftime and broke Houston's press. Heck of a game. Still early season but there are signs that both teams will compete. Dash w/press, AC w/versatile attack.

Sveindís Jónsdóttir, have mercy! Angel City scores twice in two minutes almost immediately out of the halftime break, and Houston has conceded for the first time(s) this season in a wild sequence in LA. #NWSL

The Dash have been great not just in the press, but especially in the counterpress to keep Angel City pinned in. There's width in that press, too, and they've utilized it when they regain the ball high with the Van Zanten-Patterson combination on multiple occasions.

The Dash keep rolling up into California and scoring against the grain. A bright early start for Angel City, but Houston takes the lead after Avery Patterson cuts inside, Savy King gets turned around on the cross, and Maggie Graham eventually finishes. 1-0 Houston

It's only Week 3 in the #NWSL, and the only two teams left with a perfect record are Angel City and the Houston Dash. They meet now in LA. Angel City goes with a Savy King-Emily Sams pairing again -- second straight game without Sarah Gorden starting.

The American football [spring version] UFL has plenty of familiarities to soccer fans yet again. It's an announced sellout crowd in Louisville at the home of Racing/City (classic sunset view). The broadcast promo even just had a "Rowdy Audi" reference. 🤔

MD-1 for the inaugural Denver Summit FC home game. Over 60,000 tickets sold for this one-off at Mile High, which will break an #NWSL attendance record. Pitch looks good, slightly narrow. Weather forecast looks great.

USA's Cat Macario on San Diego Wave move: 'No place like home' www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Official now: #USWNT's Catarina Macario has joined the Wave via transfer from Chelsea. The Wave confirm they used the High Impact Player Rule, "marking one of the largest contracts in women’s soccer history."

Two days ahead of their #NWSL record crowd at Mile High, Denver Summit announces they finalized the acquisition of the land for their permanent stadium at Santa Fe Yards — which by some serendipity, I am currently across the street from as I open the email 😎 They plan to open the stadium in 2028.

We talked about Kansas City a little bit on Tuesday night on Futbol W -- the update is now conceding on defensive corner kicks in each of their first three games. And vis-à-vis today's Bay/Hutton news, as I said Tuesday: Other absences granted (+Bethune has been great), KC misses Hutton already.

Bay FC has formally announced a new five-year contract through the 2030 #NWSL season for midfielder Claire Hutton, who arrived from Kansas City in February in a $1.1 million transfer. The move is a long-term commitment for player and club.

Kansas City currently failing the test of, 'Can you do it on a Reign-y Wednesday in Spokane?' 3-0 down at the half to a Seattle team that couldn't score 11v9 last week; after losing to Chicago—now conceding on a defensive CK in all three games—is a major concern for KC regardless of how this ends.

Denver Summit is the first 2026 #NWSL expansion team to win a game, defeating defending champs Gotham 2-0 on the road. Meanwhile, the Spirit settle for a draw again, 1-1 v Utah...2 pts from 3 games ahead of a trip to Denver; Chicago yo-yoing results wildly.

Natasha Flint scores Denver's first non-Kössler goal, and the Summit lead 2-0 at Gotham late, in search of the franchise's first win.

Three #NWSL games for Denver Summit, three goals for Denver Summit, three goals for Melissa Kössler. The Franchise!

That is one gnarly (and perfect) deflection. #NWSL

Mauricio Culebro has been named president of soccer for both MLS' Atlanta United + the Atlanta 2028 #NWSL expansion team. Culbero was most recently president of Tigres, one of the most successful clubs combined for *both* men + women teams—which is important given this dual role.

Futbol W is ESPN's weekly #NWSL analysis show. Schedule + full show replays on ESPN+: www.espn.com/watch/catalo... If podcasts are your preference, find us within the Futbol Americas feed: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f... Last night: red cards, Thorns-Reign, KC struggles + Kiki Van Zanten

Futbol W is back LIVE at 8:30 pm ET on ESPN+! #NWSL + #UWCL, #USWNT. Ali Krieger, Cristina Alexander and I have you covered 👇 www.espn.com/watch/catalo...

Wolfsburg takes a 1-0 advantage over OL Lyonnes into Leg 2 of the #UWCL quarterfinals 👀

Two rounds of the 2026 #NWSL season are in the books, and the only remaining perfect records are: - Angel City - Houston Dash - Portland Thorns ...and Angel City hosts Houston on Friday night in a possible top-of-table clash (Thorns play Wednesday). All totally as expected.