Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PT
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California (San Diego Wave FC’s home venue; capacity ~35,000; artificial turf field)

Weather Update

Mild early-spring evening in San Diego: temperatures around 60–66°F (16–19°C) at kickoff, dropping slightly overnight. Mostly clear to partly cloudy skies with light winds (5–10 mph). No rain or significant weather concerns; ideal playing conditions expected on the Snapdragon pitch.

Injury Report

Portland Thorns FC

OUT: Bella Bixby (GK, knee – SEI), Julie Dufour (knee – SEI), Caiya Hanks (knee – SEI), Morgan Weaver (knee – SEI), Cassandra Bogere (suspension), Reyna Reyes (suspension).

No international absences reported. Coach Robert Vilahamn relied on depth and rotation early in the season.

San Diego Wave FC

OUT: Trinity Byars (knee), Didi Haracic (knee), Adriana Leon (back), Trinity Armstrong (knee – SEI).

Key veterans like Kenza Dali, Gia Corley, and Ludmila available and expected to start.

Team Recent Form

Portland Thorns FC (W-W):

Strong start under new coach Robert Vilahamn with two clean-sheet wins (details vs. Houston Dash and another early opponent). Pietra Tordin heavily involved in all goals scored so far (goals + assists). Solid defensively but facing first true road test.

San Diego Wave FC (W-L or mixed):

Bounced back with a 2-1 road win vs. Utah Royals (goals from Dudinha and Lia Godfrey) after an opening setback. Showing improved attacking transition at home; depth tested by injuries.

Series History (Head-to-Head)

All-time: Competitive and low-scoring (Portland leads ~6-5-4 across ~15 meetings; roughly even goal totals).

2025 season: Both regular-season matches ended in draws; Portland advanced in playoffs.

Trend: Portland historically strong overall but winless in recent visits to San Diego. Games often decided by single goals or set pieces.

Key Player Matchups

Portland Attack vs. San Diego Defense: Rising star Pietra Tordin (second-year forward, already with multiple goal contributions) and Olivia Moultrie (creative midfielder) test the Wave backline led by Kristen McNabb and Kennedy Wesley. Reilyn Turner and Sophia Wilson provide speed and hold-up play up top.

San Diego Attack vs. Portland Defense: Dudinha (dynamic winger/forward) and Lia Godfrey (midfield energy) exploit early transition opportunities. Kenza Dali pulls strings in midfield against Portland’s Jessie Fleming and Shae Harvey. Goalkeeper Morgan Messner (Portland) faces high shot volume from San Diego’s home pressure.

Tactical Note: Portland’s high press vs. San Diego’s quick counter-attacks on the wide Snapdragon pitch.

Betting Trends

Portland’s first two 2026 games stayed Under 2.5; San Diego’s recent matches mixed but trending lower at home.

Wave 2-1 ATS in limited 2026 action; Thorns undefeated but untested on West Coast road trips.

Series history leans low-scoring (under in 60%+ of recent H2H).

Home advantage strong for San Diego in early season; Portland yet to concede but missing key defensive depth.

MATCH ODDS

Portland Thorns               + 250

San Diego Wave               – 115    

Draw                                     + 240

Over 2.5 – 105                   Under 2.5 – 115

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Venue Location: ONE Spokane Stadium, Spokane, Washington (natural grass surface). This marked the Seattle Reign FC’s first-ever match at the venue, part of a three-game homestand in Spokane while Lumen Field underwent preparations for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Kickoff at 6:00 PM PT (8:00 PM CT / 9:00 PM ET).
Broadcast: NWSL+ (national streaming); FOX 13+ in the Seattle area; local radio options for both clubs. Referee: Thomas Snyder.

Weather Updates

Typical early-spring Pacific Northwest conditions in Spokane: cool temperatures in the mid-40s to low-50s°F (around 7–11°C) at kickoff, with light winds and a chance of showers or overcast skies. The cool, potentially damp evening favored a gritty, physical style of play with emphasis on set pieces, direct balls, and defensive organization rather than intricate possession in the open field. No major disruptions were reported, but the conditions added to the challenge of the temporary venue.

Injury Report / Player Availability

Seattle Reign FC:

OUT: Lynn Biyendolo (maternity leave), Jordyn Bugg (leg), Mia Fishel (leg – injured early in the season), Shae Holmes (lower leg), Cassie Miller (leg – SEI).

The Reign relied on depth in attack and midfield, with players like Emeri Adames, Brittany Ratcliffe, and Madison Mercado stepping up in forward roles.

Kansas City Current (2025 NWSL Shield winners):

OUT: Temwa Chawinga (hip – SEI; two-time reigning MVP and Golden Boot winner, still recovering from late-2025 adductor injury), Alana Cook (knee – SEI), Clare Gagne (head – SEI), Meila Brewer (knee), Bayley Feist (thigh), Vanessa DiBernardo (maternity leave), Mary Long (D-45).

QUESTIONABLE: Ellie Bravo-Young (knee).

Significant absences in attack and defense forced heavy rotation, with players like Ally Sentnor, Haley Hopkins, Penelope Hocking, and Michelle Cooper (recently off SEI) carrying the load.

Projected / Actual Starting Lineups

Seattle Reign FC (4-2-3-1) – Head Coach: Laura Harvey
GK: Claudia Dickey
DEF: Sofia Huerta, Emily Mason, Phoebe McClernon, Madison Curry
MF: Angharad James-Turner, Samantha Meza
AM: Brittany Ratcliffe, Jess Fishlock (c), Madison Mercado
FW: Emeri Adames (or similar rotation)

Kansas City Current (4-2-3-1)
GK: Lorena Leite
DEF: Laney Rouse, Elizabeth Ball, Kayla Sharples, Izzy Rodriguez
MF: Kelsey Branson, Katie Scott
AM: Haley Hopkins, Ally Sentnor, Penelope Hocking
FW: Gianna Paul (or rotation with Michelle Cooper / others) Seattle built a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime through clinical finishing and exploited KC’s depleted roster.

Key Player Matchups to Watch

Brittany Ratcliffe & Madison Mercado (SEA) vs. KC back line (Sharples/Ball/Rouse): Ratcliffe and Mercado were central to Seattle’s first-half dominance, with goals from set pieces or crosses (including assists involving Sofia Huerta).

Ally Sentnor & Haley Hopkins (KC) vs. Seattle defense (McClernon/Mason): KC’s young attacking talents tried to create counters but were largely contained by a well-organized Reign back line.

Jess Fishlock (SEA) vs. KC midfield: The veteran captain dictated tempo and created opportunities in transition.

Sofia Huerta’s overlapping runs: Provided key width and assists on the right flank.

Depth vs. depth: Both sides missing star power (Chawinga for KC; Biyendolo/Fishel for SEA) turned the game into a battle of role players and tactical execution.

Team Recent Form

Both teams entered with identical 1-1-0 records and 3 points.

Seattle Reign FC form: Mixed start with a road win over Orlando Pride followed by a 2-0 home loss to Portland Thorns in the Cascadia rivalry. They showed attacking potential but needed consistency on the road-turned-temporary-home. This dominant 3-0 victory improved them to 2-1-0.

Kansas City Current form: Strong Shield pedigree but hampered by injuries. They won their opener before suffering a 2-1 road loss to Chicago Stars FC. The Current entered this contest on a tough three-game road swing and dropped to 1-2-0 after being shut out in the first half.

Series History

This marked the 14th meeting between the sides across all NWSL competitions. The series was historically tied at 6-6-1 entering the match. Recent encounters were competitive, though neither side had drawn in their last three H2H games. Seattle’s 3-0 win here shifted the balance in their favor for the young season. The return fixture is scheduled for later in 2026.

Betting Trends

Early-season matches involving injury-depleted Shield contenders (like KC without Chawinga) often saw lopsided first halves or home blowouts.

Seattle performed well in temporary or alternative venues when leveraging set pieces and width.

Unders or low first-half scoring appeared in some KC road games, but this contest opened up due to defensive vulnerabilities.

H2H trends showed goal involvement; no recent draws suggested a decisive result.

MATCH ODDS

Kansas City Current        + 130

Seattle Reign                     – 110

Draw     `              `              + 250

Over 2.5 + 115                  Under 2.5 – 125

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Venue Location: Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, Evanston, Illinois (capacity ~12,000; natural grass surface). This served as Chicago Stars FC’s home match in their relatively new venue.
Kickoff at 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT).
Broadcast: Victory+ (national streaming); local Chicago options available. Referee: Matthew Thompson.

Weather Updates

Mild early-spring conditions in the Chicago area favored standard play with minimal disruptions. Temperatures at kickoff were in the mid-50s°F (around 12–14°C), cooling slightly into the low 50s by full time, with light winds and low precipitation risk. Partly cloudy skies transitioned to stadium lighting, creating comfortable conditions for fans and players without significant impact on passing or ball movement.

Injury Report / Player Availability

Orlando Pride:

OUT: Kerry Abello (hip), Zara Chavoshi (lower leg), Cosette Morche (ankle – D45), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), Nicole Payne (knee), Viviana Villacorta (knee).

QUESTIONABLE: Rafaelle (thigh).

Available: Forward Barbra Banda, recently cleared from the season-ending injury list, was available and featured prominently. The Pride traveled with a largely experienced group despite the absences.

Chicago Stars FC:

OUT: Kathy Hendrich (lower leg), Jordyn Huitema (hip), Natalia Kuikka (knee – SEI/ACL), Halle Mackiewicz (hand – D45), Mallory Swanson (maternity leave), Taylor Wood (knee).

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher faced minor injury concerns or rotation in recent weeks, with depth tested in net. The Stars were significantly shorthanded defensively and in attack, relying on rookies and backups like Tessa Dellarose and Jameese Joseph.

Projected / Actual Starting Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1) – Head Coach: Seb Hines
GK: Anna Moorhouse
DEF: Cori Dyke, Hannah Anderson, Hailie Mace, Oihane
MF: Haley McCutcheon, Ally Lemos
AM: Summer Yates, Marta (or rotation), others
FW: Barbra Banda

Chicago Stars FC (4-2-3-1)
GK: Alyssa Naeher (or backup)
DEF: Michelle Alozie, Bea Franklin, Samantha Staab, Tessa Dellarose
MF: Manaka Hayashi, Maitane López
AM: Brianna Pinto, Julia Grosso, Ryan Gareis
FW: Jameese Joseph Orlando dominated early and built a commanding lead.

Key Player Matchups to Watch

Barbra Banda (ORL) vs. Chicago back line (Staab/Franklin/Dellarose): Banda’s pace, power, and finishing proved decisive as she contributed to the attacking output that led to the three first-half goals.

Marta & Summer Yates (ORL) vs. Chicago midfield (Grosso/López): Orlando’s experienced creators controlled transitions and set pieces, exploiting Chicago’s depleted roster.

Tessa Dellarose (CHI rookie) vs. Orlando attack: The young defender faced heavy pressure after her strong home opener performance but struggled against Orlando’s clinical finishing.

Anna Moorhouse (ORL) vs. Chicago counters: The Pride keeper maintained a clean sheet with solid shot-stopping in a low-event second half.

Midfield battle: McCutcheon/Lemos anchored Orlando’s control against Chicago’s makeshift unit.

Team Recent Form

Orlando Pride form: Entered 0-1-1 (1 point) after a 2-1 home loss to Seattle Reign and a 1-1 draw with Denver Summit. They had shown fight and quality chances but needed clinical finishing on the road. This result delivered their first win of 2026, improving them to 1-1-1 (4 points) and snapping an early winless streak.

Chicago Stars FC form: Entered 1-1-0 (3 points) after a heavy Week 1 loss followed by a gritty 2-1 home win over Kansas City Current (ending a long home unbeaten run in prior contexts). They dropped to 1-2-0 after this shutout loss, with defensive vulnerabilities exposed against a motivated Orlando side.

Series History

Historically competitive: Chicago Stars (formerly Red Stars) held a slight all-time edge entering the match (roughly 13 wins to Orlando’s 8, with 2 draws across 23 meetings; goal differential close). Recent encounters favored Orlando in some high-scoring affairs (e.g., playoff wins or dominant results). Orlando’s 3-0 victory here extended their strong form against Chicago in recent seasons. The return fixture is scheduled for later in 2026 in Orlando.

Betting Trends

Road teams with star forwards (like Banda) often bounce back strongly after draws; Orlando delivered a multi-goal performance.

Chicago’s home games showed goal involvement but vulnerabilities when facing experienced attacks.

Early NWSL matches with injury-depleted home sides frequently result in lopsided outcomes or high first-half scoring.

Orlando historically performed well in decisive road spots against Chicago, with clean sheets or dominant wins appearing in recent H2H.

MATCH ODDS

Orlando Pride                   + 120

Chicago Stars                     – 120

Draw                                     + 240

Over 2.5 + 150                  Under 2.5 – 135

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Venue Location: Sports Illustrated Stadium (Red Bull Arena), Harrison, New Jersey (capacity ~25,000; natural grass surface). This was part of Gotham’s early-season homestand following their championship banner-raising in Week 2. Attendance was approximately 5,000.
Kickoff at 7:00 PM ET.
Broadcast: Victory+ (free national streaming). Referee: Muhammad Hassan.

Weather Updates

Cool early-spring conditions in the New York/New Jersey area. Temperatures stayed in the high-40s°F (around 8–9°C) throughout the match, with winds around 10 mph and gusts up to 18 mph. Humidity hovered near 45%, with a less than 5% chance of rain and sunset occurring around 7:14 PM ET (shortly after kickoff). The breezy, cool weather contributed to a gritty, physical contest with some impact on long balls and crossing accuracy, though it did not prevent an open and error-filled affair.

Injury Report / Player Availability

NJ/NY Gotham FC (defending 2025 NWSL champions):

OUT: Bruninha (hamstring), Mandy Freeman (lower leg), Jaedyn Shaw (hamstring), Taryn Torres (knee – SEI), Midge Purce (thigh – ongoing from prior weeks).

Available: Club captain Tierna Davidson was activated off the season-ending injury list earlier in March and featured in recent matches (including a substitute or rotational role). Rose Lavelle’s status was managed following earlier concussion concerns from preseason/Champions Cup play. The squad dealt with several defensive and midfield absences, forcing rotation in a congested early schedule.

Denver Summit FC (2026 expansion side):

OUT: Jasmine Aikey (knee – ACL tear, placed on Season-Ending Injury list), Jordan Baggett (maternity leave), Camryn Biegalski (knee).

No major additional questionables reported. The Summit relied on depth and key contributors like Melissa Kössler (who had already scored in the first two matches) and Natasha Flint.

Projected / Actual Starting Lineups & Key Performers

NJ/NY Gotham FC – Struggled with defensive errors in the match.
Key players included Ann-Katrin Berger in goal, with defenders like Lilly Reale and Jess Carter involved. The attack featured pieces like Esther González and Rose Lavelle (when available), but the side was undone by mistakes leading to both Denver goals.

Denver Summit FC (4-3-3 or similar under Nick Cushing)
GK: Abby Smith (or rotation)
DEF: Carson Pickett, Kaleigh Kurtz, Eva Gaetino, others
MF: Emma Regan, Devon Lynch, Yazmeen Ryan (acquired in offseason)
AM/FW: Melissa Kössler, Natasha Flint, others In the actual match, Denver capitalized on two major Gotham defensive lapses: Melissa Kössler opened the scoring in the 58th minute, and Natasha Flint added the second in the 73rd minute (exploiting a turnover involving goalkeeper Berger attempting to clear). Denver kept a clean sheet for their first-ever NWSL victory.

Key

Player Matchups to Watch

Melissa Kössler (DEN) vs. Gotham back line: Kössler continued her hot start (scoring in each of Denver’s first three games) and opened the scoring, becoming only the second player in NWSL history to score in a club’s first three regular-season matches.

Natasha Flint (DEN) vs. Ann-Katrin Berger/Gotham defense: Flint pounced on a defensive error for the second goal, highlighting Denver’s clinical counter-attacking.

Rose Lavelle & Esther González (GOTHAM) vs. Denver midfield/back line: Gotham’s creative duo tried to break down a compact Summit shape but were frustrated by turnovers and solid Denver organization.

Tierna Davidson’s presence: Her return added defensive leadership, though the unit still committed costly errors.

Midfield battle: Gotham’s Jaelin Howell and Savannah McCaskill (or rotations) against Denver’s Regan/Lynch/Yazmeen Ryan combo for control of transitions.

Team Recent Form

Both teams entered with 1 point from two matches (Gotham 1-0-1; Denver 0-1-1).

NJ/NY Gotham FC form: Opened with a road win over Boston Legacy, followed by a 0-0 home draw against North Carolina Courage in their banner-raising game. As defending champions, they were unbeaten but had shown defensive solidity mixed with attacking inefficiency. This loss dropped them to 1-1-1.

Denver Summit FC form: Started with losses/draws (including a 2-1 loss to Bay FC and 1-1 draw at Orlando Pride). As an expansion side playing three straight road games to open the season, they showed resilience and attacking promise through Kössler before earning their historic first win on the road. They improved to 1-1-1.

Series History

This was the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs. No prior head-to-head history existed in NWSL or other competitions. Denver Summit FC claimed the inaugural victory 2-0, marking a landmark result for the expansion franchise. The return fixture is scheduled for later in the 2026 season in Denver.

Betting Trends

Defending champions hosting expansion sides early in the season often start as heavy favorites, but road underdogs with attacking threats (like Kössler) can capitalize on defensive lapses.

Gotham’s Week 2 draw was goalless; Denver’s games showed goal involvement but also defensive grit on the road.

Early NWSL matches involving expansion teams frequently feature errors and opportunistic scoring, leading to results that defy pre-game expectations.

Unders hit in several low-event home games for Gotham early on, though this contest opened up due to mistakes.

MATCH ODDS

Denver Summit                 + 325

NJ/NY Gotham FC            – 140

Draw                                     + 250

Over 2.5 + 105                  Under 2.5 – 130

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Venue Location: Audi Field, Washington, D.C. (capacity ~20,000; natural grass surface). This was the Spirit’s home match following a banner-raising or early-season home return, with additional fan activations like Crashed Chords on the concourse.
Kickoff at 7:00 PM ET (5:00 PM MT).
Broadcast: Victory+ (national streaming); local radio and team-specific coverage available. Referee: JC Griggs.

Weather Updates

Mild early-spring evening conditions in the D.C. area supported standard open play. Temperatures at kickoff were in the mid-50s°F (around 12–14°C), with light winds and low precipitation risk. Skies were partly cloudy, transitioning to stadium lighting as sunset occurred around 7:10–7:20 PM ET. These comfortable conditions had minimal impact on passing accuracy or fan attendance, favoring a technical, possession-oriented contest typical of Audi Field.

Injury Report / Player Availability

Washington Spirit:

OUT: Ashley Hatch (maternity leave), Aubrey Kingsbury (maternity leave), Casey Krueger (maternity leave).

Available/Returning: Trinity Rodman was cleared after a recent concussion scare and started. Midfielder Andi Sullivan returned from maternity leave and was available (potentially as a substitute or in rotation). The squad was described as mostly healthy overall, providing depth in attack and midfield.

Utah Royals FC:

OUT: Mandy McGlynn (hand injury – expected 6–8 weeks), Tatumn Milazzo (suspended – red card from prior match), Alex Loera (knee – SEI/ACL), Paige Cronin (rib), Madison Hammond (upper leg), Narumi Miura (ankle), Nuria Rábano (ankle), KK Ream (knee).

GK Situation: Mia Justus started in net due to McGlynn’s absence. The Royals were significantly shorthanded defensively and in goal, forcing heavy reliance on depth and young/backup players on the road. No additional questionables reported.

Projected / Actual Starting Lineups

Washington Spirit (4-2-3-1) – Head Coach: Adrián González
GK: Sandy MacIver
DEF: Lucia Di Guglielmo, Esme Morgan, Tara McKeown (c), Kate Wiesner (or similar)
MF: Hal Hershfelt, Rebeca Bernal
AM: Rosemonde Kouassi, Deborah Abiodun, Trinity Rodman
FW: Sofia Cantore

Utah Royals FC (4-2-3-1 or similar) –
GK: Mia Justus
DEF: Kameron Simmonds, Kaleigh Riehl, Kate Del Fava (c), Janni Thomsen
MF: Dayana Pierre-Louis, Ana Tejada
AM/FW: Brecken Mozingo, Cecelia Delzer, Cloé Lacasse, Kiana Palacios (Substitutions were utilized in the second half as both teams pushed for a winner in a tight affair.)

Key Player Matchups to Watch

Trinity Rodman & Sofia Cantore (WAS) vs. Utah back line (Riehl/Del Fava/Simmonds): Rodman’s pace and creativity, combined with Cantore’s finishing threat, targeted a depleted Royals defense missing Milazzo and dealing with goalkeeper rotation.

Rebeca Bernal & Hal Hershfelt (WAS) vs. Utah midfield (Pierre-Louis/Tejada): Control of central transitions was key; Bernal’s duels and distribution helped the Spirit dominate possession (reported around 65%+ in similar setups).

Cloé Lacasse & Kiana Palacios (UTA) vs. Spirit defense (Morgan/McKeown): Lacasse showed flashes of pre-injury form with dangerous crosses and movement; Palacios provided a focal point up top despite Utah’s road challenges.

Mia Justus (UTA GK) vs. Spirit attack: The backup keeper faced heavy pressure and made multiple saves to help earn a point.

Andi Sullivan’s potential impact: Her return added midfield stability and set-piece threat for the Spirit.

Team Recent Form

Washington Spirit form: Entered 0-1-1 (1 point) after a narrow home loss and a draw. As 2025 NWSL finalists, they sought their first win of 2026 in front of the home crowd. They controlled large portions but struggled with clinical finishing early in the season.

Utah Royals FC form: Entered 0-2-0 (0 points) following 2-1 losses to Kansas City Current and San Diego Wave FC. The Royals showed resilience (including a goal in the San Diego match) but entered this road fixture winless and dealing with significant absences. They earned their first point of the season here. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Rebeca Bernal scoring for the Spirit in the first half and Utah responding later. Both teams remained in the lower half of the early standings post-match (Spirit around 12th–13th with 2 points; Royals 14th–15th with 1 point).

Series History

Historically competitive: Utah Royals held a slight all-time edge entering the match (roughly 5 wins to Spirit’s 3, with 2 draws across ~10 meetings; goal differential close at 10–8 favoring Utah in older records). Recent encounters were tight, with mixed results. Washington had wins in some 2024–2025 meetings, but Utah took points in others. This 1-1 result added another draw to the ledger. The return fixture is scheduled for later in the 2026 season in Utah.

Betting Trends

Home favorites in midweek NWSL fixtures against depleted road sides often cover the moneyline, but unders or draws appear when one team sits compact defensively.

Spirit games trended toward goal involvement when Rodman and Cantore were healthy; Utah’s recent matches featured 2-1 scorelines.

BTTS hit in several Spirit-Royals meetings; road underdogs with goalkeeper/depth issues occasionally grind out draws via set pieces or counters.

Early-season winless teams hosting or traveling in Week 3 showed motivation for points, leading to cagey but occasionally open results.

MATCH ODDS

Utah Royals                        + 450

Washington Spirit            – 185

Draw                                     + 320

Over 2.5  – 120                  Under 2.5 + 100

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, March 24, 2026