Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images
Here’s a look at some stats and highlights from Week 27, the final week of the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season. We will continue to update this space every week to keep you informed. Have an idea or addition? Hit me @thedanlauletta on Bsky or X.
Before we get to that, let’s take a look at the final table. The eight teams highlighted in green qualified for the playoffs. The other eight did not.
All statistics refer to regular season games except where noted.
PLAYER STATISTICS
-Ashley Sanchez went scoreless again for the Courage – the first time she’s gone four straight games this season – and tied Temwa Chawinga (2024 Current) for a share of the single-season record. Sanchez won his first Golden Boot, Barbra Banda’s second, and her 17 goals were made easier when she was unavailable for the last three matches due to travel restrictions due to the outbreak of the disease. Sanchez is the first North Carolina Brave player to win the Boot. Lynn Williams (now Biyendolo) won in 2016 when the club was based in Western New York.
-Kaleigh Kurtz completed her fifth consecutive ironwoman season on Sunday. It was the longest, 30 matches and 2700 minutes. He has now played 144 consecutive regular season games and 12,922 consecutive minutes. Both are league records. The streak began on June 26, 2021, playing for the Courage. (The unrounded figure is due to a rain-shortened match in 2023.)
-No players made their NWSL debut last weekend.
-10/10 the club will be in a difficult situation for at least one more season. Despite the midseason momentum, no player finished the season with double-digit goals and assists. Trinity Rodman (12G/8A), Cloe Lacasse (8G/10A) and Janine Sonis (12G/8A) were the closest. Lauren Holiday remains the city’s closest with 12G/9A in her first season in 2013.
-Eight players, including six outfielders, were injured during the Ironwomen’s seasons. The outfielders were Kurtz, Kate Del Fava (third), Jessie Fleming, Kaleigh Kurtz, Tara Rudd and Kennedy Wesley. Goalkeepers were Sandy MacIver and Kailen Sheridan.
-Angelina Anderson was a minute away from being an iron woman when she was subbed off in favor of Hannah Seabert in the 90th minute. Seabert announced his retirement earlier in the week. The previous closest call was Emily Sams (then Madril) in 2023, who played all but the last 3 minutes for the Pride.
-Ally Sentnor made a strange history by appearing and starting 31 games in a 30-game season. The overplay was a result of being traded from Current to Angel City at a time when his new club had little game.
-Vanessa DiBernardo assisted on both current goals on Sunday to move within one of Sofia Huerta for the all-time lead. Huerta has 36 and DiBernardo 35 in the reign.
-Other league leaders for the season: Assists — Croix Bethune, 11 (league record, second time); Goals against average — Ann-Katrin Berger, 0.85 (second time); Winners — Sandy MacIver, 17; Saves — Jane Campbell, 127 (league record, third time); Clean Sheets – Sandy MacIver, 12
Bethune is the first player to lead the NWSL in assists twice. Campbell is the first NWSL player to record three saves.
TEAM STATISTICS
-Kate Del Fava remains a perfect one-minute hitter for the Royals, who have played 7,380 in all 82 games since the team’s inception in 2024. Those are the longest streaks since the start of any expansion team.
-Gotham won the Shield for the first time in club history. They became the seventh different club to win it in the last seven seasons. As the regular season champion, Gotham’s Shield leaves the Spirit and Stars as the only NWSL originals without achieving that feat.
– Courage and Zirva were eliminated from the playoff competition. The Courage missed for the second year in a row and third overall since transferring to North Carolina in 2017. Including the Flash years, this is the fifth time they have missed the playoffs and two years in a row in 2014-2015. Summit just finished its first season.
– Angel City extended its club record unbeaten streak to 10 games. The only team to make the playoffs with a longer streak was the 2018 Courage, who went undefeated in the final 11 before winning the NWSL Championship. Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson’s 10th consecutive defeat has set a new record. DiDi Haracic also made it 9th in a row from 2023-2024.
-In other Angel City news, the club’s 3rd straight win in 2026 tied the previous record of 3 times. Angelina Anderson scored in all of these sequences. Also, Anderson’s last-minute exit ended his club-record hitting streak of 3,329 minutes. The series began on September 13, 2025.
-Sunday’s win was Angel City’s 50th in all competitions. This includes the regular season (45), Challenge Cup (3) and Summer Cup (2).
-The Current has won five straight games, matching the 2019 Red Stars for the longest winning streak entering the playoffs. The 2019 Red Stars won the semifinals to advance to the NWSL Championship where they lost to the Courage.
– Royal club will be the first team to enter the playoffs without scoring in three consecutive matches. Three from the scoresheet tied the club record.
-Dalga set a new club record, seven unbeaten. Sandra Panos scored in all seven games, tying Kailen Sheridan individually.
-Ally Lemos’ start for Orlando was his 57th consecutive start for the club, tying Kerry Nadaner (2023-2025) for the club record. Lemos began the streak on November 2, 2024, as the final game of the Pride’s championship doubleheader.
-Karlie Lema extended her Bay FC streak to 45 games. The streak began on June 13, 2025, tying Caprice Dydasco, whose streak ended when she missed that season on maternity leave.
-Alyssa Naeher tied her dubious All-Star record with her 11th consecutive decision without a win. He endured an 11-game unbeaten streak for the first time in 2025.
-Racing Louisville has not kept a clean sheet this season and has conceded one goal in 30 consecutive regular season matches in the league.
