The 2024 NWSL Season: Previewing the Greatest Season Yet
The 2024 NWSL season is set to be the biggest in the league’s history. With some of the world’s biggest stars, like Asisat Oshoala, coming to the league, the level of play will only go up. The best of the best are coming to America to help take the NWSL to new heights. Factor in a busy free agency and solid draft class, and you have a recipe for an incredible NWSL season. Get ready because this is going to be the best season yet.
Gotham FC
- Head Coach – Juan Carlos Amoros
- Key Additions – Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett
The defending champions did not rest on their laurels in the offseason. Gotham FC is starting to look like the USWNT, as many have pointed out already. While the star power they’ve added will certainly keep them in contention to go back-to-back, this team will also have to trust their depth during the international break. Missing six players every single time the USWNT is playing a game will hurt this team in the standings.
Plus, outside of Jenna Nighswonger, this team is aging and won’t be able to use and develop young players in those games. This team reminds me of the Seattle Reign teams from the last few years. They’re loaded and have a ton of star power, but it’s up to the manager to make it all come together. If an incredible manager like Laura Harvey wasn’t able to bring Seattle to the promised land, can Juan Carlos Amoros do the same with this group? It will be a much tougher challenge than people think trying to get everyone to play together, but they certainly have the makeup of a top three team in the league this season.
The idea of Rose Lavelle playing with Midge Purce and Lynn Williams is an exciting prospect for the NWSL, they’re going to make magic, it’s just a matter of how consistently they can do it.
Seattle Reign
- Head Coach – Laura Harvey
- Key Additions – Ji So-Yun
Megan Rapinoe’s departure left a huge void for Seattle to fill. Well, adding South Korean superstar Ji So-Yun in her place could not be a better replacement. So-Yun is one of the more technically sound midfielders in the world and will be able to match what Rapinoe was able to do with her passing and strong set pieces. Add her in the midfield with a healthy Jessica Fishlock, who continues to play at a high-level year after year.
Most of this roster remains unchanged, and with the loss in last year’s final fresh in their mind, this team is poised to compete for a top-three place in the league without question.
San Diego Wave
- Head Coach – Casey Stoney
- Key Additions – Savannah McCaskill
San Diego has been able to maintain a great balance of veterans and young players while winning games. Naomi Girma is the best defender in the league, Jaedyn Shaw looked scary in the Gold Cup and could be an MVP candidate, and Alex Morgan is still playing at a high level.
The Wave added another key offensive piece in Savannah McCaskill, who is a great fit as a potential creator in this offense. At the end of last season, there were times when they didn’t score enough to win it all, and adding McCaskill will help with that. The Wave is also a top-three team alongside Seattle and Gotham with a chance to win it all.
Angel City
- Head Coach – Becki Tweed
- Key Additions – Rocky Rodriguez, Messiah Bright, Meggie Dougherty-Howard
Angel City took a huge step up by making the postseason. Beating Portland 5-1 on the last day of the season is a historic NWSL moment and something to build off of.
With Christen Press’s status up in the air, this team needed to add a striker, and they did really well to get a player like Messiah Bright. Bright led all rookies in scoring last year and has a ruthless mentality in front of goal, which should really help this team out because they lacked goal scoring.
Plus, they add Rocky Rodriguez who is one of the best midfielders in the league for years with the Portland Thorns. If Alyssa Thompson takes another step up in her development then this attack has a chance to be feared this season. The signing of Meggie Dougherty-Howard is going under the radar. She’s critical in her defensive work and might be able to provide an even higher work rate than Dani Weatherholt was able to give in a similar position. Angel City has the making of a top eight team and the playoffs, with a ceiling of a top five team if the new additions work out.
Houston Dash
- Head Coach – Fran Alonso
- Key Additions – CeCe Kizer, Yuki Nagasato
Houston boasted the best defense in the league last year, leading to Jane Campbell winning NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year. This was a step in the right direction for Houston as their identity previously was an offensive team who couldn’t stop anyone. Last year they had the oppossite problem, they were defensively stout but could not score, scoring just 16 goals in a 22 game season with Maria Sanchez and Diana Ordonez isn’t going to cut it.
Their two veteran additions could really unlock something special in their attack. Cece Kizer has proven to be reliable when called upon and Yuki Nagasato was known for unlocking defenses from her time with Chicago. If Yuki and Cece step up and give this team some offense, they’re for sure a playoff team in the top eight.
Utah Royals
- Head Coach – Amy Rodriguez
- Key Additions – Paige Monaghan, Imani Dorsey, Mikayla Cluff, Ally Sentnor
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The Utah Royals are back in the NWSL and will be led by the best player in franchise history, Amy Rodriguez. The former USWNT star enters the NWSL as a coach, and if her coaching style is like her playing style, she’s going to be intense. Rodriguez will run a tight ship, and the more disciplined this young team is, the more competitive they’re going to be.
It is mostly a roster of draft picks and players from the expansion draft, but they managed to get a few pieces to build around. Paige Monaghan has been a proven goal scorer at Gotham and Racing Louisville. Imani Dorsey will finally be a starter after sitting on Gotham’s bench for so long. Mikalya Cluff went to BYU, and coming back to the state of Utah will be the best possible fit for her. Those three players will be key to building something in the Royals’ future, along with No. 1 pick Ally Sentnor, but this team is still a year or two away from competing for a playoff spot.
Bay FC
- Head Coach – Albertin Montoya
- Key Additions – Asisat Oshoala, Racheal Kundananji, Deyna Castellanos Caprice Dydasco
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Of all 14 teams, Bay FC easily made the biggest splash with the moves they’ve made. The vision is clear, based on the signings of Asisat Oshoala, Racheal Kundananji, Deyna Castellanos, and others, this team wants to compete right away. Oshoala, Kundananji, and Castellanos have the chance to be the best front three in the league, and Oshoala is a top ten player in the world.
Bay FC is going to pose a ton of problems for opposing defenses, and if that wasn’t enough, they added some experienced high-level defenders in Caprice Dydasco, Emily Menges, Kayla Sharples, and Jen Beattie. That’s a solid backline off the bat for Bay FC. If this team is able to develop chemistry early, then the rest of the league needs to look out. It might take some time initially as it’s tough to say what their midfield is going to look like, but this team, based on the players they have in the team, should be competing for a playoff spot, without a doubt.
Kansas City Current
- Head Coach – Vlatko Andonovski
- Key Additions – Hanna Glas, Nichelle Prince, Temwa Chawing, Bia Zaneratto
After a rough year in 2021, Kansas City bounced back in 2022 with a playoff run to the NWSL Final. In 2023, the team fought all year but still finished second to last. Could another huge turnaround be on the cards for Kansas City? All signs point to yes because of the return of one of the best coaches in NWSL history. Vlatko Andonovski is back in Kansas City, where he led Kansas City to two NWSL titles.
Coming off a situation where he was shredded by the media and fans for his time with the USWNT, Andonovski will likely come back with a vengeance. He might not show it or let anyone know how he’s feeling in the public eye but there has to be a part of him that wants to remind everyone why he got the USA job in the first place.
The team traded for Nichelle Prince, who will help in attack, but it’s the other international signings that will give this team a huge boost. Hanna Glas is as experienced as it gets in European football, which will make the backline stronger. Plus, Bia Zaneratto and Temwa Chawinga will be new to American audiences but should make an impact right away. Kansas City should be among the top eight by the time the postseason comes around.
Racing Louisville
- Head Coach – Bev Yanez
- Key Additions – Arin Wright, Linda Motlhalo, Reilyn Turner
Racing Louisville will be led by a former NWSL vet, Beverly Yanez, who is getting her first head coaching opportunity with Louisville. Yanez was a former assistant getting the promotion to head coach, which means she knows this team well. Arin Wright will solidify the backline, and Linda Motlhalo will be back in the NWSL after her time with Houston. Motlhalo, paired with their first-round pick, Reilyn Turner, will be worth keeping an eye on this season.
Louisville has great pieces continuing to build around Savannah DeMelo and Jaelin Howell, but goal-scoring could be an issue unless Turner is a star right away. If Louisville has a consistent source of goal-scoring they can definitely be a playoff team, if not they’re likely headed for the bottom six.
North Carolina Courage
- Head Coach – Sean Nahas
- Key Additions – Ashley Sanchez, Dani Weatherholt, Bianca St. Georges
The Courage flew under the radar last year after a slow start but got red hot in June last year and finished third in the table. With new teams coming into the fold, it seems like even the Courage’s free-agent moves went under the radar. North Carolina traded for Ashley Sanchez on draft night, which was a big splash, but Dani Weatherholt and Bianca St. Georges are two solid pros who can help in different areas. Weatherholt is more of a defensive midfielder who can cover a ton of ground, and Bianca St. Georges is a serious problem for opposing teams down the wing. Ashley Sanchez, combined with Kerolin, will be fun to watch. Something tells me this team is happy to be overlooked and underappreciated, but their pedigree under Sean Nahas suggests this will be a playoff team when it’s all said and done this season.
Chicago Red Stars
- Head Coach – Lorne Donaldson
- Key Additions – Sam Staab, Shea Groom, Natalia Kuikka
The Red Stars are in the midst of a rebrand as Chicago Cubs owner Laura Ricketts takes over at the helm of the club. Her first big move was the hiring of Lorne Donaldson, who just took Jamaica to the knockout stage of the World Cup. It’s a younger group that wants to develop Penelope Hocking and Allie Schlegel and has shed a lot of the veterans who have been with the team for a while.
Mallory Swanson will be the centerpiece, but Shea Groom is a great player to bring in to give the younger players someone to look up to. Plus, Sam Staab and Natalia Kuikka are bonafide starters who can play every game. Chicago has some great pieces and are set up to win in the future but this group will need some time, I think they’re just outside the top eight this season.
Orlando Pride
- Head Coach – Seb Hines
- Key Additions – Barbara Banda, Morgan Gautrat, Mariana Larroquette
Orlando has come a long way from the Mark Skinner era, and Seb Hines has taken this team to the next level. They’re solid defensively and had Messiah Bright to lead them in the goal-scoring department. Bright is with Angel City, and the signing of Barbara Banda cannot be understated. Banda almost defeated Germany all by herself in a friendly prior to the World Cup. If she can do that against Germany, can you imagine what she’s going to do to NWSL defenses?
Marta and Barbara Banda are the duo we didn’t know we needed, but the more Marta gets the ball in dangerous areas, the more Banda will score, and the better Orlando will be this season. Orlando has been building towards making the postseason. I think this is the year they make the leap and get to the playoffs.
Washington Spirit
- Head Coach – Adrian Gonzalez
- Key Additions – Annaig Butel, Ouleymata Sarr, Croix Bethune
The Washington Spirit feels like they’re stuck in waiting mode until their new coach, Jonatan Giraldez, joins the team in late June-July. That’s only half of the season which makes life very difficult for interim manager Adrian Gonzalez to step up and provide results for an ambitious club.
The Spirit drafted Croix Bethune, who is a star in the making, assuming she stays healthy. In addition to the draft picks, they added two French players: French defender Annaig Butel and French national team striker Ouleymata Sarr, who is much needed for this team.
Ashley Hatch has been this team’s lone goalscorer and needs some help. Oh yeah, they’ve got this really great player named Trinity Rodman, too. Rodman is adding more skills to the game year after year, and the Spirit needs her to dominate if they are to make the playoffs this year. With the head coach situation, unless Giraldez comes in and works a miracle from the beginning, I don’t see this team making the postseason.
Portland Thorns
- Head Coach – Mike Norris
- Key Additions – Jesse Fleming
The Portland Thorns have been the gold standard of the league for a long time. Now, as they enter a new era with a new ownership group, will this team maintain the standard they’ve always had?
Christine Sinclair and Becky Sauerbrunn are back for one more ride, but giving up Rocky Rodriguez really hurt this midfield. Yes, they added Jessie Fleming from Chelsea, a top-15 midfielder in the world who has been great for Canada too. Janine Beckie is a strong pro and is coming back from a major injury. Her health will be critical for this team.
Portland has always prioritized development and will likely continue to do so. Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver are high-level finishers, but when Smith is away from the team for USWNT duties, who is going to step up for this team? The Starting XI is very strong but it doesn’t seem like this team has the depth they used to have when all their stars would leave for international duty. The Thorns have to rely on Christine Sinclair once again in her final season. It will be an incredible farewell tour for her, and she deserves every bit of it, but I’m a little concerned about this team relying on her, Sophia Smith, and Morgan Weaver to get them to the playoffs.
It’s possible, but all three have to be healthy for the entire year. It sounds crazy to say this team is a fringe playoff team because they find a way to win year after year and finish in the top 3. However, it’s a long season, how much more will Sinclair, Sauerbrunn and Klingenberg be able to give? I’m still taking them to get in, knowing it’s Christine Sinclair’s last season. They’ll want the club legend to go out on top.
Standings Prediction:
I think it’ll be 11 teams, possibly 12 competing for the top eight spots. But it could be more, depending on how crazy things get with two new teams.
- Seattle Reign
- San Diego Wave
- Gotham FC
- North Carolina Courage
- Kansas City Current
- Orlando Pride
- Houston Dash
- Portland Thorns
- Angel City
- Bay FC
- Washington Spirit
- Chicago Red Stars
- Racing Louisville
- Utah Royals
Featured image via @sandiegowavefc on Instagram
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