The Playing and Coaching Styles of the NWSL

May 9, 2024
By Rohtas Wadera

Within a year, the NWSL has evolved tremendously. All foreign players that have entered the NWSL have changed the dynamic, with plenty of goals and defenses stepping up to stop them. Ultimately, every team needs to decide what their identity will be and the style that they want to play to win games. Specific coaches have a distinctive offensive or defensive style they want to play, while other managers want their teams to play multiple styles to win games based on game situations. Most teams want to play with balance and be well-rounded in all areas, but sometimes, personnel doesn’t allow you to play that way. There are offensive-minded and defensive-minded teams as well. Here’s a breakdown of the playing styles of the NWSL.

San Diego Wave – Balanced

The Wave have scored four goals and conceded four goals this season. They usually play out of a 4-2-3-1 formation, giving them the desired balance. Based on the Wave’s last game, you can see their capabilities when they combine.

It's Jaedyn Shaw's world, and we're just living in it 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EeaS0wtv3D

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 28, 2024

Alex Morgan is a superstar who spearheaded the attack, but Jaedyn Shaw is the heir apparent who will take over the mantle once Morgan calls it quits. Maria Sanchez, Sofia Jakobsson, and Savannah McCaskill’s attack is one of the best in the league. On top of that, they’ve got the two-time NWSL Defender of the Year, Naomi Girma, who has anchored the backline. Last year, the team was tied for second-best in goals allowed, and this year, they are leading the league with the best defense until this point. The Wave’s balance has made them successful, with more to come this season.

Kansas City Current – Attacking

The Kansas City Current already has 20 goals scored through the season’s first six games, including two five-goal games as a team and a four-goal performance. They’ve still allowed 11 goals through the season, tied for second-worst in the league, yet they are unbeaten and in first place in the NWSL. Vlatko Andonovski wants to attack, and this can be said about his teams from the FC Kansas City days when they won two NWSL titles. Those two title-winning years saw his teams finish in the top three in scoring both times, and now they’re on pace to lead the league in scoring goals. What’s been the difference? The additions of Temwa Chawinga and Bea Zaneratto are taking the league by storm. Vanessa DiBernardo, an NWSL veteran, has also been outstanding.

7 – @thekccurrent's Bia Zaneratto, Vanessa DiBernardo and @ThornsFC's Sophia Smith each have 7 goal contributions this season. Only two players had done so in their team's first 6 games of an #NWSL season before (including Smith last year). Starring. pic.twitter.com/cJLELoBo5K

— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) April 30, 2024

If teams don’t find a way to figure out what Kansas City is doing offensively, it will be a long season because this is a historic start that his team is off to.

Gotham FC – Balanced

For the past few seasons, Gotham has been a balanced team that carried that style to the NWSL Championship last season. As a team last season, they scored 25 goals and allowed 24; this year, they scored three goals and allowed 5. They’re right in the same realm of scoring goals just as much as they concede them. Juan Carlos Amoros wants to attack in a 4-4-3, but their defense has sometimes disappointed them. The squad is loaded with USWNT players. Rose Lavelle just made her Gotham debut, meaning more moments like this will surely come.

ROSE LAVELLE IS BUILT DIFFERENT 😤@lynnraenie tells @sammymewy what it was like to watch Rose not only make her Gotham debut on Sunday, but to score the stoppage time equalizer (because duh, it’s Rose Lavelle😂)

🎧: Listen to the all new GVFC now, wherever you get your pods! pic.twitter.com/pDHUnovaCq

— The Women's Game (@WomensGameMIB) April 30, 2024

Plus, Gotham upgraded at goalkeeper and signed Ann-Katrin Berger from Chelsea, an incredibly experienced goalkeeper who will help bolster this defense.

Angel City – Attacking

It might not seem like Angel City is meant to be an attacking team, but as a season ticket holder and having watched them in person many times, that’s the style they want to play. They’re top five in the league in shots on target, but they haven’t found the back of the net as much as they should have. Missed opportunities and excellent goalkeeping have prevented Angel City from putting up better numbers, but they’re creating great chances. Claire Emslie has emerged as a star and one of their critical chance creators and goal scorers.

Claire Emslie is on fire! 🔥️ She opens the scoring for @weareangelcity. pic.twitter.com/aEtJaFEbZU

— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) April 27, 2024

Jun Endo has been hurt, and Alyssa Thompson and Kennedy Fuller represent the club’s future. Becki Tweed has ensured that this team continues what they did last season, and the goals will come. If Christen Press can also come back, this team will be a fun attacking team to watch.

Bay FC – Attacking

From its inception, Bay FC prioritized attacking football by splashing the cash and signing these three players: Asisat Oshoala, Rachael Kundananji, and Deyna Castellanos. The trio has the team tied for fourth in the league in goals scored, with Oshoala leading the way.

Asisat Oshoala with her second NWSL goal 💪

🎥: @IONNWSL

pic.twitter.com/wqOhaenzXK

— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) April 28, 2024

Albertin Montoya has not been shy about putting his three stars together in a 4-3-3 formation. All three players were signed for hefty transfer fees and have tremendous experience playing European football. Their direct play to go with the high press and finishing has been on full display for Bay FC. This team wants to score goals. Their defense was built through the expansion draft, and they don’t have as much playing time together as other teams. They’ve had some tough matchups and bad luck in close games in the last few weeks. This team is looking to become more balanced, but they’re an attack-first team looking to make their mark in their first season as a franchise.

Houston Dash – Attacking

I’m sure the Dash wish they’d be considered more of an offensive-minded team, but Maria Sanchez’s departure doesn’t help their cause. The Dash are returning to their attacking ways from the days of Rachel Daly, Kristie Mewis, and Shea Groom.

Their current 3-5-2 formation shows they want their wingbacks to get involved and push forward, which can expose their back three defenders. The Dash have made the right moves to play their style by adding defender Paige Nielsen and midfielder Ramona Bachmann.

Lots of positives coming out of @bachmannr10's debut 🙌#HoustonDash pic.twitter.com/jBJ0TsUM5R

— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) April 29, 2024

The problem for them is that it’s a lot of moving pieces that haven’t had much time to play together. It will take time under Fran Alonso to play a lovely brand of attacking football, but the goals will start to flow once this team figures it out.

Orlando Pride – Balanced

Seb Hines has been building something great in Orlando after Mark Skinner departed for Manchester United. Last season, he made sure his side was strong defensively, and they’ve made significant upgrades on the offensive side this season. Marta is Marta, but Ally Watt and Julie Doyle are stepping up, and the addition of Barbara Banda makes this team a scary proposition. This season, they look like a playoff team, with Banda leading the way.

🇿🇲 Barbara Banda played a crucial role in Orlando Pride's dominant 4-1 victory over North Carolina Courage, contributing to all of the team's goals.

Barbara Banda
🎯⚽⚽

Queen 👸🏿

🎥 Orlando Pride & NWSL pic.twitter.com/S4TRxBBC2g

— 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝘆🌟 (@Kel_Chilindile) May 2, 2024

After scoring 27 goals as a team last year, they already have 13, which indicates they’re on pace to outdo that by a wide margin.

North Carolina Courage – Balanced

North Carolina has been steady over the last few seasons under Sean Nahas. They’re a well-rounded team with great players at all three levels. Denise O’Sullivan had served the club incredibly well for years, and the additions of Ashley Sanchez and Dani Weatherholt make this midfield one of the best in the league.

Plus, Tyler Lussi has been on fire to start this season, giving the Courage the goalscoring they needed.

Lussi explodes for a goal in her third straight game! 🧨 pic.twitter.com/O1UtH9Fc4J

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 27, 2024

They’ve faced some tough results in the last few games, but Sean Nahas will never be too high or too low. They’ve got one of the best keepers in the league in, Casey Murphy. The Courage is as balanced as it gets.

Washington Spirit – Balanced

The Washington Spirit’s squad has a revamped look, with Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt making a major impact as rookies.

3 – @WashSpirit's Croix Bethune is the seventh player in #NWSL history to record three assists in a match and, at 23 years, 48 days old, the youngest to do so by over two years. Visionary. pic.twitter.com/NgIeMGxIC2

— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) May 2, 2024

Trinity Rodman is off to a great start, both scoring and distributing. Adrian Gonzalez has done an incredible job as the interim manager and should set up former Barcelona manager Jonatan Giraldez for even more success. Their defense is even more underrated with the additions of Casey Krueger and Gabby Carle, plus the conversion of Tara McKeown from an attacker to a defender. Of course, Aubrey Kingsbury is one of the best goalkeepers in the league, rounding out one of the best rosters in the league. As of right now, they’re balanced, but under Jonatan Giraldez, they might become more attacking based on his coaching style and the team’s personnel.

Racing Louisville – Balanced

Racing Louisville was more of a defensive side that lacked main attacking options last season under Kim Bjorkegren, as they were tied for third-best in the league in goals allowed. In the offseason, one of the team’s first moves was making former player Bev Yanez the new head coach. Yanez and her staff had a great draft and free agency, adding offensive pieces. Reilyn Turner is a star in the making.

Reilyn Turner with the cheeky little backheel goal 😈

🎥 @NWSL pic.twitter.com/RIguTNHIMI

— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) April 28, 2024

Add in Colombian international Elexa Bahr and Nigerian Uchenna Kanu, and this offense is up to the level of their midfield and defense. Louisville has scored two or more goals in half of its games, indicating a far greater offensive output than what we’ve seen in the past. This team can win multiple ways under Bev Yanez, which makes it a tough team to beat.

Portland Thorns – Attacking

After a slow start to the season, the Thorns have won four games in a row and scored a ton of goals. They’ve scored two goals or more in five games this season, and Sophia Smith is a major reason for that.

Sophia Smith doing what Sophia Smith does best: Score ⚽️😤

Catch all the action NOW on CBS Sports Network 📺 pic.twitter.com/2LCHULGWi3

— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) May 2, 2024

Their midfield has four solid stars: Hina Sugita, Jesse Flemming, Sam Coffey, and Janine Beckie. However, their defense could haunt them later in the year. As a team, the Thorns have 16 goals but have allowed 13, which means they’re simply outscoring teams as they sit fifth in the table.

Mike Norris was relegated to a technical role for the poor start, and Rob Gale has come in and done well in the interim role. Gale has played to the team’s strengths, which is clearly their attack, and they seem happy to outscore teams after just beating Bay FC 3-2.

Seattle Reign – Balanced

Shockingly, the Seattle Reign is near the bottom of the table right now. It’s early in the season, and we know that the team can dig themselves out of this rut. Their goal difference isn’t even the worst in the league at -3. Their problem has been a lack of goalscoring. Yet, Seattlegoalscoring the most balanced rosters from top to bottom. Laura Harvey is one of the best coaches in the game. This start to the season is uncharacteristic of any team she’s managed. Harvey has tried different formations between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1, and nothing has worked so far, but when they’re clicking, players like Tziarra King can showcase what Seattle is capable of in the attack.

The Super Sub with the SUPER Goal 🤩

It only took Tziarra King 3 minutes for this top corner perfection!

Drop a congratulations to her for winning the WK 5 Goal of the Week! 🤌

*votes are calculated via polls on X & IG pic.twitter.com/sExZukXo98

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 23, 2024

This team has some things to work out, but when they’re at their best, the Reign take their chances and suffocate teams defensively, it’s a long season with plenty of time to turn it around.

Utah Royals – Attacking

It might not seem like the Utah Royals are an attacking team, but head coach Amy Rodriguez–one of the best strikers in U.S. soccer history–has always been that way. A-Rod never backed down from a challenge, and her team will do the same. In every game, they tried to attack teams in a 4-3-3 formation. The thing is, this is such a young and inexperienced team that is still learning how to play together.

When you’re in an attacking formation like the 4-3-3, you have more room to attack, which also gives opposing teams more chances to attack. The Royals have completed more passes than their last three opponents, and their possession has been close to 50/50 in all three games. Their younger players are getting sloppy in possession at times, and those mistakes can cost a team dearly. Utah will take time to figure things out, but there’s no doubt they want to attack with players like Ally Sentnor.

ALLY SENTNOR. What a statement for your first NWSL goal!! pic.twitter.com/d6kLVdsE55

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 23, 2024

Chicago Red Stars – Balanced

Lorne Donaldson has done an incredible job through the Red Stars’ seven games this season. The former Jamaica manager is showing he can lead his team to win in a variety of ways. Donaldson got Jamaica to the knockout stages of the World Cup with solid defensive play and deadly counter-attacks. We’ve seen the exact same thing from the Red Stars through Mallory Swanson. Look at how quickly they broke against Seattle; this is almost impossible to stop.

😎We're going box to box #WithTheStars

Mal with the run and assist, Ally takes one touch and then BURIES IT🤌 https://t.co/d3o6VLgcRB pic.twitter.com/tIKixu8qWW

— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) April 21, 2024

The 4-2-3-1 formation they use features a group of young stars with the potential to make it big, like Ally Schlegel and Penelope Hocking. With Mallory Swanson mentoring them and balling out at the same time, this attack has the chance to be really good. Their defense has let them down a couple of times, but the additions of Sam Staab and Natalia Kuikka will help this team in the long run. Once this defense gets back to their early season form in front of Alyssa Naeher, they’re a team to be feared under Lorne Donaldson.