The season of the National Women’s Soccer League of 2025 roared life this weekend with a list of matches that delivered victories, raffles and a clear message: the fun is just beginning. Four games during the first weekend ended in 1-1 draw, showing a combination of the league parity and perhaps some preseason oxide, but there were some teams that separated from the stagnations throughout the weekend.
The defense of the NWSL Orlando Pride champions established the tone with a six-goal victory over the Chicago FC stars thanks to an orthopedic device from Barbra Banda, while the winners of the 2025 Washington Spirit Nwsl Challenge Cup won a 2-1 victory on the road against Houston Dash. The Kansas City Current picked up the three points with a 3-1 victory over Portland Thorns FC and Golden Boot 2024 winner, Temwa Chawinga, scored his first goal of the New Year.
It is only the game one of the season, but fans can see select regular NWSL season games on CBS platforms, including CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+and CBS Sports Golazo Network.
Among the lines, individual performances helped teams obtain their first points of the season. So who stood out during week one? Take a look at our best XI:
Forwards
Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride): Zambia’s international scored two goals and recorded an assistance during his opening day victory over Chicago and was a constant factor in the ball. Band was effective in control and maneuvers of the ball even when it was marked or double equipment. He led the team in total shots (six), target attempts (four) and successful dribbles (two).
Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current): Golden Boot winner 2024 had a burning beginning on the opening day. She scored a goal in the game and was a connective force in the attack throughout the game or every time she was not winning the ball. Chawinga led the team in complete passes to the final third (13) and recoveries (11).
Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit): The spiritual striker of a long time reached the score sheet when he provided the winner of the game against the board. He led the team in total shots (four), but they were his ball efforts that helped her differentiate her from other strikers in the league on the opening weekend. Hatch was active at pressing times, efficient to win the ball and led the list in recovering (seven).
Midfielders
Debinha (Kansas City Current): She operated higher in the upper line, and was relentless on the opening day, functioning as a collaborative creator, controlling the ball in space pockets. He led the current in created opportunities (7) and the tacle won (3). His efforts were worth an assistance in Chawinga’s opening goal and scored Kansas City’s third goal.
Angelina (Orlando Pride): The Brazilian international collected just where she left it in 2024. It was dominant when directing the tempo, constantly in the search for the ball and directed the group in recovering (7).
Taylor Flint (Racing Louisville FC): The central midfielder brought the crunch on the day of the inauguration and hindered things often interrupting the possession of the opposition. Every time he won the ball, he often tried to progress the ball. She led Louisville in Tacleadas won (three) and was second with the complete passes to the final third (five).
Defenders
Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit): The spirit was able to handle a promising board attack thanks to some unconditional in the background. Krueger helped avoid promising transitions of the opposition while integrated in moments of attack for the spirit. He led the alignment in successful dribbles (three) and was second in passes completed to the third attacker (three).
Tender Davidson (nj/ny gotham fc): A healthy Davidson will mean that Gotham’s background has another season. He led the group in tacle won (three) and the return center was effective to manage the defensive line when the attacks extinguish. He was often able to connect the long pass for offensive sequences and even recorded an attempt to shoot.
Rebeca Bernal (Washington Spirit): Just out of his debut in Challenge Cup, the Mexican international obtained an initial role for the spirit in the background for the opening day. She was among the five best in the game in tacle won (two), and immediately adjusted to the central position when a great space for the spirit occurred to the beginning of the game.
Jess Carter (NJ/NY GOTHAM FC): Fullback covered a lot of land for Gotham and was constantly involved in defense and attack counters. Carter was among the five best artists of the team in the full passes to the final third (nine), shots (one), recoveries (four) and more.
Goalie
Anna Moorehouse (Orlando Pride): The English international is the only guardian who records a clean leaf of the opening weekend. He faced eight shots, seven inside the box, with two on the goal. Sometimes, the greatest challenge in a game ensures that the mentality turns on at all times.
