NWSL Midseason Check-in: Award Frontrunners and Playoff Scramble

The 2025 NWSL regular season is set to resume this weekend, kicking off the second half with an intense playoff race following a mid-season international break. This hiatus accommodated major tournaments like the 2025 UEFA Women`s Euro, Women`s Afcon, and Copa America Femenina. Many NWSL stars participated in these global events, returning to their clubs with additional honors.

During the recent month-long break, Esther Gonzalez of Gotham FC, currently the NWSL`s Golden Boot leader, notably secured the top scorer title at the Euros with four goals. Her national team, Spain, finished as runners-up to England, a squad featuring NWSL players like Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Anna Moorehouse (Orlando Pride), and Jess Carter (Gotham FC). Additionally, Nigerian internationals Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC) and Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash) returned as triumphant Afcon champions. These players are now rejoining their clubs for the domestic league grind.

All fourteen NWSL clubs will return to regular season play this Friday. The Kansas City Current currently lead the NWSL Shield race, boasting an impressive 11 wins and a six-game winning streak, making them formidable contenders. Last year`s winners, Orlando Pride, are eight points adrift but remain within striking distance.

Fans can follow select NWSL regular season matches across various CBS platforms, including CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

With the second half of the season commencing, it`s time to re-evaluate our initial predictions. We`ll examine which teams have significantly improved from last season, highlight standout clubs and individual performers, as the anticipation for end-of-year awards grows.

Below are updated predictions for various individual honors, though the final decisions are still some time away:

NWSL Golden Boot

The Golden Boot race is tight at the season`s midpoint. Esther Gonzalez (Gotham FC) leads with 10 goals, closely followed by Orlando Pride`s Barbra Banda and Kansas City Current`s Temwa Chawinga, both with eight goals. While various factors like injuries or schedule congestion could impact the outcome, consistency in scoring seems more indicative than sheer volume at this stage. Gonzalez achieved her 10 goals in six games, Banda`s eight came in five matches, and Chawinga`s eight were spread across eight games.

NWSL MVP

Historically, the NWSL Golden Boot winner often goes on to claim the MVP award, a trend reflected in some early expert predictions for Banda and Chawinga. However, this season`s MVP race is wide open, featuring both top attackers and other exceptional league performers. Initially, Kansas City Current`s Brazilian international, Debinha, was a strong MVP candidate, but an MCL and ankle injury after nine games created an opportunity for other players to shine in the first half. Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson has been crucial to her club`s performance, while Portland Thorns FC midfielder Sam Coffey is a pivotal player for her team. San Diego Wave FC attacker Delphine Cascarino, the France international, has also elevated her game in her second year with the club. The outcome of this award will likely be influenced by late-season performances, playoff implications, and team records. It remains to be seen if Debinha`s return in the second half will reignite her MVP bid, or if another Kansas City teammate will step up. Despite these possibilities, I`m sticking with my original pick for Chawinga.

NWSL Defender of the Year

The Defender of the Year category presents numerous strong candidates. Experts initially favored Orlando Pride`s Emily Sams, while others considered Gotham FC`s Emily Sonnett or Washington Spirit center-back Tara McKeown. All three remain strong contenders, having made significant impacts. McKeown might also face competition from her teammate Rebeca Bernal, who could also be an option for Midfielder of the Year if new coach Adrian Gonzalez positions her centrally. Across the league, other defenders are also performing exceptionally. The Kansas City Current, who struggled defensively last season, have vastly improved, largely due to Kayla Sharples` pivotal contributions, especially after Alana Cook`s season-ending injury. Sharples` outstanding play has even sparked whispers of a dark-horse MVP candidacy, though no defender has ever won the league`s top individual honor.

NWSL Midfielder of the Year

Expert predictions for Midfielder of the Year varied widely, including Washington Spirit`s Hal Hershfelt, who recently regained form, and North Carolina Courage`s Jaedyn Shaw, who transitioned from a starter to an impactful substitute. However, these initial choices appear to be off the mark. Jess McDonald, an analyst and former NWSL striker, believes San Diego`s Kenza Dali has emerged as a top contender. McDonald praised Dali`s consistency and brilliant play: “Her `chef`s kiss` of a free kick going into the back of the net, I could just watch on repeat,” she stated. “I can watch the way that she plays and how intelligent she is on and off the ball. I watch her movement sometimes when I watch their games, and I`m like, `look at her` with her soccer knowledge, and I love her experience that she brings to the game and her full-on understanding of it… she`s just one of a kind this season.”

NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year

Goalkeeper of the Year was a highly contested category among experts, with six different players receiving nominations, including two for Jane Campbell. However, Campbell now splits time with Houston Dash teammate Abby Smith, and another candidate, Alyssa Naeher, was placed on a 45-day injury list. Mandy McGlynn of Utah Royals has endured a difficult season, leading the league in goals conceded (29). Despite the initial diversity of picks, the award remains wide open for goalkeepers who have played at least 10 games. San Diego`s Kailen Sheridan, a former winner, could be a finalist if the Wave`s performance continues to improve. Veteran Aubrey Kingsbury of Washington Spirit leads the league in total saves (45) and crosses faced (234). Claudia Dickey of Seattle Reign has been a consistent performer, ranking second in goals prevented (5.76). Kansas City`s Lorena boasts a league-leading six clean sheets, while Orlando Pride`s Anna Moorehouse leads in save percentage (79.2%) among keepers with 13 appearances. This award is likely to be decided by a very slim margin.

NWSL Coach of the Year

At the start of the 2025 season, the consensus frontrunner for Coach of the Year was Jonatan Giraldez, then with Washington Spirit, but he has since departed to manage OL Lyon. Upon the league`s resumption, Kansas City Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski has emerged as the leading candidate. However, some analysts suggest San Diego Wave FC`s Jonas Eidevall and Racing Louisville FC`s Bev Yanez could be dark-horse contenders. Lisa Carlin of Attacking Third expressed her admiration for Andonovski: “A coach I`ve been really impressed with is Vlatko Andonovski, and it`s easy to say that when you`re halfway through a season and Kansas City is at the top of the table and separating themselves.” She added, “I think Jonas Eidevall at San Diego could be a contender, but to me Andonovski has done such a good job of getting his team on the same page, tightening up on defensively, and going through adversity, and it`s hard to go back-to-back years where you`re at the top of the table and you are the team everyone is chasing and Andonovski has done that with Kansas City.”

Who wins it all?

Regarding the ultimate champions this year, my predictions remain consistent. Four out of seven experts have consistently tipped the Kansas City Current as top contenders for either the NWSL Shield or the NWSL Championship in 2025. The Washington Spirit are also considered a strong rival for major league honors. While the postseason can bring surprises, Kansas City seems to be cruising towards the NWSL Shield, awarded to the team with the most points at season`s end. The Current hold an eight-point lead over their closest competitor, Orlando Pride. The Spirit, winners of the 2025 Challenge Cup, currently sit in fourth place with 23 points, facing a 10-point gap. With 13 matchweeks remaining, changes are possible, but for now, Kansas City remains the team to beat.

What`s Next

The NWSL season resumes this Friday with Seattle Reign FC facing Angel City FC at Lumen Field in Seattle, airing on Paramount+ at 10:30 p.m. ET.