Friday 13th, unlucky for some, but not for those who follow the top tier of US women’s football! The 2026 season opener between Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns kicked off at a sold-out Audi Field and you can find a full spotlight match report below.
In this article we’ve also featured a matchday round-up of all of the games from this opening weekend so make sure you keep scrolling to see those key moments!
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Season Opener Match Report:
Washington Spirit 0 – 1 Portland Thorns
As the teams stepped onto the pitch, it was not only the return of football for 2026 but the first time fans would get to see the squad in their new primary kits for the season.
Interestingly, the designs are both inspired by the nature in each state but present two vastly different takes. The hosts’ kit features iconic cherry blossoms on a dark green base that references the Potomac River while Portland’s ‘electric blossom’ kit goes for a more shocking and vibrant interpretation of the flowers that bloom in the “moody forests of the Pacific Northwest.”
In the starting lineup for the hosts, it was great to see Sandy Maciver get her first regular season start alongside Lucia Di Guglielmo making her debut for the club, after transferring from Serie A Women side Roma.
Despite the Spirit dominating the opening half and having more clear-cut chances, it remained goalless at the break.
However, within minutes of the restart, the Spirit had their best chance of the game so far as Gift Monday (who always looks dangerous on the ball) came so close to opening the scoring. Surrounded by defenders, Monday took a shot from distance but unfortunately for the home side, Thorns’ keeper Messner had plenty of time to collect and slow the game down.
Reacting to the Spirit’s chance on goal, the visitors did well to keep possession and find their rhythm again, pressing forward through a lovely long ball over the top from Isabella Obaze.
The ball was controlled out on the left wing before being crossed into the box for Olivia Moultrie. The forward took another touch which the defence didn’t anticipate and allowed her to take a shot which smoothly passed underneath Maciver’s outstretched body for 0-1.
Not content with conceding against the run of play, the Thorns’ goal was then hit by multiple chances for an equaliser. Hershfelt was first to try her luck but she hit the side netting after Carle’s cross into the box; closely followed by an attempt by Bernal from around 30 yards out which was just wide.
With just over 15 minutes to go, the game continued end-to-end with the Thorns almost doubling their lead through Moultrie once again and Spirit’s Hershfelt’s shot hitting the crossbar.
The final chance of the game came Portland’s way through none other than Sophia Wilson, the 2024 NWSL MVP who stepped onto the pitch for the first time after maternity leave and what an impact she had.
Applying pressure to the hosts’ backline, she won the ball back in midfield and drove forward on goal: letting her strike fly from just outside the box. Unfortunately for Wilson, the shot bounced right in front of Maciver who was able to comfortably collect and deny the forward a goal on her return to play.
After 6 additional minutes, the referee blew for full-time and although Adrián González might feel aggrieved his side couldn’t take anything from their performance, Robert Vilahamn’s tenure in charge of Portland Thorns however, has gotten off to the perfect start.
Remaining opening weekend results:
Saturday 14th March:
Boston Legacy 0 – 1 Gotham FC
An iconic NWSL debut match for Boston Legacy as the first of the expansion teams to take to the field against none other than the 2025 NWSL Champions.
The first 30 minutes saw one clear-cut opportunity for each side with Boston’s Traoré looking particularly dangerous in front of goal, however, the half ended goalless.
Minutes after the restart, a defensive error lead to Esther González breaking the deadlock with a lovely right-footed finish past the Legacy keeper.
Even though the hosts went down to 10 players (after Bianca St-Georges received a second yellow) Boston Legacy did well to keep the scoreline at 0-1 and kept players like Jaedyn Shaw at bay, especially in their first outing in this league.
KC Current 2 – 1 Utah Royals
After a fairly even opening 30 minutes, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock after a well-worked set piece. The ball was played short to Lacasse who delivered a curling ball into the box for Milazzo who nodded down past the keeper for 0-1.
After the restart KC Current came out fighting and finally equalised through Croix Bethune. The visitors’ defence became shaky under the weight of the hosts’ press and it was soon 2-1 through Ally Sentnor who fought her way through a plethora of yellow shirts in the box to get the perfect angle for her shot.
As the game wore on, the Current could have extended their lead by another two goals at least but the Utah defence and keeper held firm.
Bay FC 2 – 1 Denver Summit
It didn’t take long for Bay FC’s new recruit, 18 year old Alex Pfeiffer, to get on the scoresheet and show her skill against the second expansion team of the season.
After a positive start to the game, Bay FC’s Pfeiffer had driven down the right wing and into the box, cut inside and let her left-footed shot fly into the bottom corner for 1-0.
10 minutes later and it was Denver Summit’s turn to get on the scoresheet, for their first ever NWSL goal through German international, Melissa Kössler. After a well-timed run by Janine Sonis, the Canadian international delivered a compact cross into the box for Kössler to hit on the volley for the equaliser.
However, Denver’s luck was about to run out when Sonis’ yellow card was upgraded to a red after a VAR check for ‘serious foul play’ in the 25th minute.
Moments after Sonis left the pitch, Bay FC used their advantage and took the lead with Pfeiffer involved once more.
Unable to find the perfect angle for her own shot, Pfeiffer played in Joelle Anderson whose strike found its way through the crowded box and past the keeper for 2-1.
The hosts’ domination continued into the second half and goalkeeper Abby Smith was crucial to keeping the scoreline at 2-1, particularly denying Rachel Kundananji on multiple occasions.
NC Courage 2 – 1 Racing Louisville
The final game on Saturday evening saw a dominant host side sail to victory through a brace from Ashley Sanchez.
The Courage started the game on the front foot and finally broke the deadlock around the thirty minute mark. It came from a lovely cross into the box for Sanchez, who was able to get on the right side of her defender and flick the ball into the back of the net for 1-0.
In first-half stoppage time, Louisville’s high press paid off as a defensive error allowed Sears to intercept and pick out Weber in the box. The forward fired towards goal and after taking a deflection from a Courage defender the ball bounced down into the bottom corner for 1-1.
After the restart, Louisville dominated possession with Sears and Hase coming close to taking the lead for the visitors.
However, the final portion of the match was all about the keepers as the Courage started to push back and were denied the lead after a triple save from Bloomer. Then, with just over 10 minutes to go it was Sheridan in the opposite goal who then made two more vital saves to deny Louisville the lead.
As the clock ran down, both teams pushed for the winner but it was Ashley Sanchez once more who pulled off a skilful looping cross that dropped behind the keeper and into the goal for a final scoreline of 2-1.
Sunday 15th March:
San Diego Wave 0 – 1 Houston Dash
Despite registering three times as many shots as their opponents, the Wave were defeated by just a single goal on opening weekend.
Kenza Dali was instrumental in the host’s dominance in the opening thirty minutes but it was keeper Haračić who kept the scoreline level after an impressive double save to deny Dash’s Faasse against the run of play.
Into first half stoppage time, Dudinha came close to scoring once again for the Wave with a lovely ball that curled around two defenders but unfortunately went straight into the hands of keeper Campbell.
As the clock continued to tick down, the Dash managed to win the ball back in their own half and finally put an end to their winless streak. Graham sent a long ball over the top for Robbe to pick up on the edge of the 18 yard box. She connected with the pass and despite Wesley’s attempt to muscle her off the ball, the low shot flew past Haračić and nestled in the bottom corner for 0-1.
In the second half, the Wave came out fighting for the equaliser but failed to find the back of the net.
Ludmila had the closest chance of the second half as her curling shot had to be tipped over the bar by a lunging Jane Campbell. With just over ten minutes to go, Campbell was there again and again to deny each of the relentless waves on her goal including a Dudinha/Ludmila link up that she blocked with her whole body.
The hosts kept fighting until the final whistle but after playing eight minutes of additional time, Houston Dash ended their winning drought and took home all three points completely against the run of play.
Orlando Pride 1 – 2 Seattle Reign
A clash that even Mother Nature herself wanted to get involved with, as play was delayed by almost three hours due to thunderstorms in the area.
The hosts started strong with Castain and Dyke coming the closest to breaking the deadlock but it was none other than Reign’s Jess Fishlock who found the opener after a lovely through-ball from Mondésir just after the 20th minute. The rest of the half then continued end-to-end, forcing both keepers to stay on high alert.
After the restart, it wasn’t long before the Pride finally got what they’d been searching for courtesy of Barbra Banda. The striker, who had only recently been removed from the season ending injury list (SEI), had been threatening to score all game and after running onto a through-ball at the edge of the box (and beating three defenders) her name was on the scoresheet for the equaliser.
In the final 15 minutes, both sides were searching for the winner with Dahlien and Castain both wide of the mark before Ratcliffe found the back of the net to make it 1-2.
The chance initially came from Anna Moorhouse’s strong clearance but the ball came straight back into the box and the Pride’s defence couldn’t clear the danger. The substitute was able to flick on Mondésir’s looped cross and sent the ball bouncing past Moorhouse for the winner.
Orlando Pride, similar to a lot of teams this weekend, will be disappointed they weren’t more clinical in front of goal despite their numerous chances but there’s still a lot of potential from that first performance to develop as the season progresses.
Angel City 4 – 0 Chicago Stars
The final match of the weekend saw Angel City record the biggest scoreline of the pack with a dominant display over last season’s lowest placed side, Chicago Stars.
Defender Savy King also made her return to play after collapsing on the pitch 10 months ago due to a heart condition; welcome back Savy!
The game was mostly one way traffic with Stars goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher, pulling off vital saves throughout the match as the scoreline could have been much higher. Her first big save denying new Angel City signing, Ary Borges, around the thirty minute mark.
Moments later, after immense pressure from the host side, Kennedy Fuller broke the deadlock and opened the club’s account for 2026. The 19 year old wasn’t put under any pressure from Chicago’s defence allowing her too much time and space on the ball as she got her strike just right for 1-0.
As the game wore on, Angel City were first to every ball and continued the barrage of attack on the visiting goal and were rewarded with the second after the restart.
Kennedy Fuller turned provider this time as she whipped in a curling ball from a corner which Evelyn Shores flicked past Naeher for 2-0.
Around the hour mark, Chicago Stars had a rare chance in front of goal but Hayashi’s strike lacked power and Anderson was able to collect comfortably.
The third goal came from a defensive mix-up and one Naeher will want to forget. Even though Angel City were sitting incredibly high, Naeher passed short to her defender who was quickly dispossessed by Ary Borges and the ball was in the back of the net in less than 30 seconds after the goal kick was taken.
The fourth and final goal of the afternoon came with 20 minutes still to go on the clock with new Angel City recruit Sveindís Jónsdóttir at the heart of the attack. The Icelandic international picked up the ball in midfield and quickly powered forward before cutting back to Maiara Niehues in the box who slotted home for 4-0.
In the final moments, Chicago almost pulled one back through defender Michelle Alozie whose powerful strike forced a diving save from keeper Anderson, her first vital save of the game.
A fantastic start to the season for Angel City who will look to replicate this dominant performance away to Bay FC on Sunday 22nd March.
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