The 2025 NWSL common season is gearing up for the ultimate 5 weeks of the schedule, and groups within the playoff hunt are operating out of time to gather restricted factors left on the league desk, Gamers throughout all golf equipment are placing performances on the road for a style of the postseason and even to construct towards subsequent 12 months. With so many standout performances, it is time for Attacking Third’s staff of the week.
After weekly fixtures throughout the 2025 NWSL marketing campaign, Attacking Third analysts choose a staff of the week, head coach, and honorary captain based mostly on performances throughout the weekend. In the event you’re protecting monitor of who has been on our previous lineups, be certain to look again at our staff alternatives from week 20.
Kansas Metropolis Present clinched the 2025 NWSL Protect and earned the bragging rights that include the distinction of being league winners. So it is no secret that the membership might be represented on our staff picks, however there’s loads of different surprises alongside the way in which.
Week 22 might be right here earlier than you understand it, and followers can watch choose NWSL common season matches throughout CBS platforms, together with CBS, CBS Sports activities Community, Paramount+, and CBS Sports activities Golazo Community.
Check out our greatest XI:
Goalkeeper: Lorena (Kansas Metropolis Present)
Aiding your membership in successful the NWSL Protect and doing it whereas breaking the document for consecutive shutout minutes? The Brazilian worldwide set a brand new shutout minutes document (632) in her first NWSL season and picked up her twelfth clear sheet of the 12 months.
“She has 12 out of 14 shutouts for her membership. She’s one off of the NWL document all-time of shutouts in a single season, and I feel she’s most likely gonna get it with the speed Kansas Metropolis goes, however she has simply been so unbelievable coming to the league,” stated Attacking Third analyst Darian Jenkins.
Defender: Janni Thomsen (Utah Royals)
The Utah Royals’ protection has been a tricky backline to go up towards down the stretch of the common season. Now their gamers are getting concerned within the goalscoring. Janni Thomsen will get her first staff of the week honors along with her rocket from distance.
Defender: Maycee Bell (North Carolina Braveness)
The North Carolina Braveness are quietly making their march towards the postseason because of the defensive efforts of Maycee Bell. The second-year participant got here up big in week 21 with a goal-line clearance.
Defender: Reyna Reyes (Portland Thorns)
Recent off a brand new contract by means of 2030, fullback Reyna Reyes is displaying off her skillset each out of possession and in possession. She delivered the late-game heroics on a set piece on a Thorns equalizer.
Defender: Janine Sonis (Racing Louisville FC)
As soon as a ahead and now a defender, Janine Sonis has been making an influence for Racing Louisville FC on the backline. Her goalscoring expertise was on full show throughout week 21.
“As a ahead, they very steadily obtained made right into a makeshift outdoors back-wing again,” stated Jenkins. “It is a tough adjustment, and I feel she’s dealt with it with a lot grace, and she or he seems to be so good and nonetheless having the boldness to go ahead and assault, create probabilities.”
Midfielder: Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Braveness)
It is the ultimate few weeks of the season and there are groups within the playoff push who must dig slightly deeper for performances throughout the roster. Midfielder Manaka Matsukubo is a participant who has been extra distinguished in Braveness highlights as of late, whether or not it is by means of goalscoring or playmaking.
“Although she did not rating the aim … she’s lights out,” stated Attacking Third analyst Lori Lindsey. “She sprung the assault for them to go on that little counterattack, after which Shinomi [Koyama] is the one which completed. However I feel … with out Jaedyn Shaw now for North Carolina, [Ashley] Sanchez is out, Denise O’Sullivan, like Manaka, should you’re asking gamers to step up in these moments, she’s doing that.”
Midfielder: Mina Tanaka (Utah Royals)
There needs to be a reasonably particular efficiency should you crack the staff of the week with two honors. Alyssa Naeher earned the honors weeks in the past, and this time it’s Mina Tanaka. She was the ultimate move by means of to teammate Janni Thomsen, and Tanaka’s efforts throughout traces was a key think about Utah’s week 21 victory.
Midfielder: Evelyn Shores (Angel Metropolis)
After becoming a member of Angel Metropolis late mid-season, former College of North Carolina midfielder formally opened up her NWSL scoring account in week 22.
“I’ll give like to Evelyn Shores. She’s been enjoying left again, performed within the midfield, and obtained her first profession aim. So, and it is a participant that simply joined Angel Metropolis, sort of on the spur of the second in July when it was like, ‘OK, I am not going again to school, I am becoming a member of Angel Metropolis,” Lindsey quipped on Attacking Third. “Hear, all of us bear in mind our first targets and, to get a tie towards Washington, big.”
Ahead: Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Sprint)
The Houston Sprint are hanging robust within the playoff hunt, and though time is operating out to make a playoff line leap, there is not any doubt the group has hit a stride late within the season. Ahead Yazmeen Ryan delivered the game-winner after a gnarly interception and scientific end.
Ahead: Mina Tanaka (Utah Royals)
With a double look on our staff of the week, Tanaka’s week 21 aim was a residing instance of lovely craftsmanship. A masterful first contact, dizzying approach, and scientific accuracy.
Ahead: Temwa Chawinga (Kansas Metropolis Present)
The golden boot race is burning at each ends because of fixed goalscoring efforts by Temwa Chawinga. Her thirteenth aim of the season ties her with Gotham FC’s Esther Gonzalez, with Chawinga’s two assists because the tiebreaker. She scored the aim on her birthday, a repeat second from final season, and this time scored a header, her first header aim in NWSL.
Coach: Vlatko Andonovski (Kansas Metropolis Present)
There isn’t any extra debate about who one of the best staff within the league is that this 12 months. It is the Kansas Metropolis Present, full cease. Who will turn into NWSL Championship winners in 2025 continues to be unknown with the postseason nonetheless weeks away, however in 2025, the Present are the staff who received the league. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski picks up one other trophy with the membership after successful the inaugural NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer season Cup final season in his first 12 months again on NWSL sidelines. A trophy per season sounds good on paper, however perhaps there’s extra for Andonovski and his crew.
Honorary captains: Kansas Metropolis Present Supporters
As soon as upon a time, there was division one ladies’s soccer in Kansas Metropolis untill there wasn’t, however regardless of earlier poor management and neglect from former FC Kansas Metropolis possession teams, ladies’s soccer assist by no means light within the heartland. Kansas Metropolis Present’s year-to-year evolution from 2021 has had loads of examples of how one can enhance general, however the one constant has been unwavering assist from its official supporter group KC Blue Crew. The protect win belongs to them as nicely.
