NWSL Week 7 round-up: Utah and Washington continue hot streaks, Temwa Chawinga shines

NWSL Week 7 saw several streaks, both good and bad, continue. While standout attackers recorded impressive multi-goal performances, resolute team defending also took center stage, resulting in a half-dozen clean sheets across the board.

We witnessed everything from Racing Louisville’s stunning comeback victory over the Portland Thorns and Barbara Banda’s relentless scoring pace to a mounting tactical crisis in Chicago. Here is a complete breakdown of Week 7 of the 2026 NWSL season.

Utah extends win streak to five, blanks Houston

Utah Royals is running toward the top of the table, having now won five straight matches. The latest victim was the Houston Dash, a side that has not scored in the last three matches. With confidence sky-high, the Royals came out firing. Jane Campbell had to sharp in the Houston net, making several quality saves to keep Utah at bay.

However, the breakthrough was inevitable. The home side got on the board in the 38th minute, with the in-form Cloe Lacasse netting her third of the season. Just seconds after Campbell had stopped a Mina Tanaka offering, Utah forced a turnover on the ensuing breakout for Houston. Tanaka sent Lacasse through, and the Canadian international slipped the ball past the Houston keeper.

Utah never let up and dominated Houston throughout. After striking the woodwork and forcing Campbell into several more saves, the Royals put the ball in the net again at 56 minutes. Ana Tejada found the back of the net, but the play was ruled offside. Houston had a glorious chance to equalize in the 86th minute. Utah keeper Mandy McGlynn came out to the top of the box to try to clear a loose ball, but Houston kept it in. Kat Rader had the net with no keeper and sent her shot in. Royal defender Kate del Fava showed why she is one of the best. When she saw her keeper trapped out high, del Fava tracked back to the goal line. She calmly cleared Rader’s attempt and preserved the lead.

Just after that, Utah put the game away. Following a turnover at the midline, Tanaka ran forward with Brecken Mozingo to her left and Courtney Brown to her right. With the defense spread, Tanaka passed to Brown, who fired into the top of the net. Houston wins their fifth straight, and trails only the Portland Thorns in the NWSL table.

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Louisville goes down early, comes back to stun Portland

On paper, this was a mismatch. Louisville was at the bottom of the table — Portland, the top. Louisville had one win all season, and Portland was on a five-match unbeaten streak. And indeed, it looked as though this match would play out as it should have on paper. Portland scored in the game’s sixth minute, with Sophia Wilson continuing her hot streak. Olivia Moultrie spotted her striker starting a run and dropped a perfect ball in. Wilson maneuvered around Jordyn Bloomer and tucked it in for the early lead.

That is when Louisville decided to flip the script. Just eight minutes later, the hosts used their press and had the ball in the Portland box with extended pressure. The ball fell to Lauren Milliet, who fed Katie O’Kane on the left side. Racing’s midfielder took a quick shot that went past Mackenzie Arnold to level the score. The two sides exchanged several chances, but neither could score before the halftime whistle.

Louisville took the lead at 77 minutes. After a foul was called just outside of the box on the Thorns, O’Kane stepped up to take the free kick. Her shot placement was perfect, high and fast into the top corner, leaving Arnold no chance. It was the first goal scored from a direct free kick in the NWSL this season. Portland pressed for the equalizer, but it was the home side that struck. Emma Sears made a determined charge in the 96th minute. She outmuscled the Portland defender, then turned her inside out with a deft move, and finished low past Arnold. Louisville earns a well-deserved victory in one of their best matches of the year.

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Banda continues torrid pace as Orlando defeats North Carolina

Another match, another goal for Orlando’s Barbra Banda. The Zambian international brought her league-leading total to eight goals in eight games, and the Pride vaulted past the Courage in the table. Banda nearly got the Pride on the board early on. She used her speed to get ahead of two Courage defenders, but was in too close, and keeper Kailen Sheridan was able to keep the ball out. Banda had several more chances throughout, and with Marta on her wing, kept the Carolina defense on their heels all night. And yet, neither side was able to break through until late, as is the history with these two sides.

With time running down, defender Rafaelle sent an over-the-top ball to Banda in the 86th minute. She settled the ball, cut to the middle, and let loose a low, curling shot. Sheridan was unable to reach the offering, and the home side took the late lead. The two sides played an extra twelve minutes, but the visitors were unable to mount an attack. The Pride move up the table at the Courage’s expense.

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Expansion Boston earn points in three straight, draw Gotham

Gotham dominated the stat sheet for this match, but Boston held firm and earned a tough draw. The expansion Legacy has now earned points in three straight matches following a 0-0-5 start to an inaugural season. The first half seemed to be a feeling-out period by the two sides, with a few long-distance offerings easily saved by the two keepers. Gotham got in close 37 minutes in and made the most of the chance. Jaelin Howell got to the box and passed to Esther in the middle. Casey Murphy stopped the shot, but the rebound came to Jaedyn Shaw. She quickly put the ball in the back of the net to give the home side the lead.

Boston leveled almost immediately. In the 40th minute, Barbara Olivieri worked herself free on the left side of the box. She cleared to the middle, and Alba Caño made a wonderful run for the ball. The Spanish international’s diving attempt tipped the ball into the far post for the equalizer. Gotham had two glorious chances in the 88th minute, but first Murphy, then defender Jorellyn Carabalí made amazing saves to preserve the draw. Boston continues to impress.

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Denver bounces back, wallops Houston

The Summit traveled to Houston for this one, and the visitors came out firing instantly. Jane Campbell was called on early and often for the Dash, but Denver was inevitable. On the quarter of the hour, Yazmeen Ryan on the right side of the box spotted Janine Sonis wide open on the left side. The winger dropped a perfect pass to her captain, and the Canadian international fired home for her first of the year and the early lead. The Summit doubled their lead in the 34th minute through England international Tash Flint. She anticipated a breakout pass from Campbell to her defender, stole the ball, and quickly put it into the Houston net. Flint then found herself on the wrong side of the next scoring play. Tracking back, she took down Dani Colaprico inside the box. After review, Houston was awarded a PK, and Maggie Graham calmly converted past Abby Smith.

Denver wasted little time restoring the two-goal lead. Just four minutes into the second half, Ayo Oke used some fancy footwork to get herself free along the goal line. She sent a perfect pass to Delanie Sheehan in the middle, and the Summit midfielder had a tap-in header for the goal. Denver kept control of the match, and Sonis finished the scoring in the 72nd minute. In what looked like a mirror version of her first goal, Sonis got wide open on the wing and Ryan dropped a perfect ball to her. She put in the far corner just like the goal in the first. Denver picks up the win after dropping two in a row.

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San Diego hands Angel City fourth loss in a row

This match featured two teams on losing streaks, San Diego on a two-match slide, and Angel City on a three-match skid of their own. Unfortunately for the home side, the woes would continue in this match. The first half saw an evenly matched tilt, with neither side taking firm control of the match. The excitement level would turn up quickly after the restart.

Just four minutes into the second half, the visiting Wave opened up the scoring. Dudinha came down the left side, maneuvered past two defenders, and got herself into a shooting situation inside the box. Her shot was heading for the far post, but caromed off defender Sarah Gorden in the middle. The ball changed trajectory, leaving keeper Angelina Anderson no chance. Angel City answered straightaway. Following a corner that was not cleared, Gorden dropped a ball into the box that fell just right for Emily Sams. Gorden’s fellow centerback tapped home for the equalizer.

And then late in the contest, San Diego got the winner. Dudinha had the ball out high and sent a service to the far post. A streaking Mimi Van Zanten headed in for her first, and the visitors took home the three points. Angel City is now in freefall, having lost four straight.

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Chawinga stars for Kansas City in win over Chicago

She’s back.

After leading the Current to the NWSL shield in the regular season last year, Temwa Chawinga had to miss the playoffs due to a hip injury. She officially returned to the side on April 4 and returned to the scoresheet with a vengeance against the hapless Chicago Stars this weekend. From the start, the Malawian international was simply moving at a different speed from the rest of the players on the field. She should have had an assist early on, but Michele Cooper struck the post. However, she opened up her account shortly after. Croix Bethune came into the middle of the box and spotted Chawinga alone at the post. She tapped home for her first this season.

The second half saw Chawinga go to work in her office, the opponent’s box. Just two minutes in, Cooper sent a cross into the box. Chicago keeper Alyssa Naeher got a hand on it, but the ball came straight to the Current striker. She sent it home for her brace and a 2-0 lead for the home side. Then just seven minutes later, the Cooper-Chawinga team struck again. Cooper took a pass in the box, lobbed it over a defender to an unguarded Chawinga, and she put it in for her hat trick. The two-time MVP and Golden Boot winner is looking like she never left the pitch.

Meanwhile, Chicago is in deep trouble. It has been shut out seven times in nine matches so far this season. They are last in the league in goals scored, goals allowed, and corners allowed. The offense is disjointed, and opportunities in the box are seldom occurring. This side needs to seriously evaluate their schemes, both offensively and defensively, so that they can compete better on the pitch.

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Utah and Bay throttle each other’s offense, play to scoreless draw

A defensive struggle saw the week’s only goalless draw come about between Utah and Bay FC. Neither team could crack the other’s excellent defensive play and positioning. While not exciting for scoreboard watchers, fans of solid team defense loved this one. The first half saw only one attack sent goalward from either side. Utah’s Cece Delzer had a header attempt from close range, but put it wide. Just before the half, Bay’s Hannah Bebar took a try from outside the box that went high past the top corner.

The second half featured more excellent team defense, and shot opportunities came at a premium. The first shot on target from either side finally came in the 67th minute. The Royals’ Paige Cronin stole the ball from the last defender and went in on Jordan Silkowitz. Cronin’s shot was directly at the Bay netminder, and she easily made the save, then covered the rebound.

The best chance of the match for Utah came ten minutes later. Cronin fed Mina Tanaka just at the top of the box. The Japanese international turned and fired, but Silkowitz forced it over the bar with a diving save. Bay’s only shot on frame for the match came as the last action of the match, a long-range shot from Claire Hutton that Mandy McGlynn easily gobbled up.

While Utah sees their win streak snapped, they are still unbeaten in their last seven matches. Bay stays in the middle of the pack, with one fewer match played than the rest of the league.

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Washington get late winner from Martinez

The final match of the week looked as if it might also go in the books as a scoreless draw. Through the first half, neither side had a shot on frame. Seattle’s Maddy Mercado came ever so close, glancing a shot off the crossbar early on. Washington’s best chance came late when Trinity Rodman stole the ball and fired from long range, but her shot went over the net.

The second half featured more chances and the first shots on target. Ten minutes in, Mercado sent a ball in to Nérilia Mondésir in front of goal. Her header was straight at Sandy MacIver, who easily made the save. Washington got the first shot late in the half, when Paige Metayer tested Claudia Dickey from just inside the box.

And then, but a minute later at 84′, the Spirit got its payday. Gabby Carle came down the right side and sent a cross to Claudia Martinez. Her one-timer went right as Dickey was tracking left, and proved to be the game-winner. Washington has now won five straight matches and are unbeaten in their last eight. Seattle, meanwhile, have not scored in four straight matches and are sorely missing Jess Fishlock, out with injury.

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