The 2025 NWSL regular season is officially here. All 14 clubs will be in action on opening weekend, kicking off with reigning champions Orlando Pride hosting the Chicago Red Stars. The Pride will be the team to beat after capturing the shield and championship last season, but there are plenty of formidable challengers, including the Washington Spirit, who downed Seb Hines’s team in the league’s preseason Challenge Cup.
Which clubs are favorites to take home some hardware? What players should you keep an eye on? Who are the potential spoilers to watch?
Here’s ’s predictions for the 2025 NWSL season:
NWSL Shield
Kansas City Current: Even though the Current’s goals conceded in 2024 ranked fifth (31) the club ranked first for expected goals conceded (24.2). All that is to say, whether it was bad luck or a data variance, Kansas City is primed to improve their defensive statistics while already having the most powerhouse offense in the league. Temwa Chawinga and a returning Bia Zaneratto being able to collaborate with rising star Michelle Cooper is the stuff of a head coach’s dream and an opposition’s nightmare. When it comes to overall play in the regular season, the teal-clad team from the Midwest is going to top the standings. One potential hurdle for winning the shield could be how quickly new Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena adapts to the NWSL.
Orlando Pride: This Pride team knows each other . And they know they can win. Orlando has a target on its back after capturing the shield and the championship last season—and much of its victorious core is back for 2025. Legend of the game Marta returns after signing a two-year deal this offseason, as does Barbra Banda, one of the most skillful strikers in the world. Not only is this squad’s attack lethal, but they’ve proven to be stout defensively. Emily Sams anchored a Pride back line that tied with NJ/NY Gotham FC for the least amount of goals allowed in the league last regular season (20 in 26 games). Plenty of expectations will be heaped upon Orlando, but this group may just be able to withstand the pressure.
NJ/NY Gotham FC: Last place, sixth place, third place. This is the current trajectory of Gotham’s table placement since 2022, and I believe ’25 will be the year the team secures the top of the table for the first time. Although it may seem like the superteam has disbanded due to the departures of Lynn Biyendolo, Crystal Dunn, Yazmeen Ryan and more, the squad retained much of its core and added great players like Gabi Portilho and Jaelin Howell. This, along with a recently-recovered Midge Purce could be the recipe for a now well-balanced team that can go long into the regular season without any out-of-season competitions or international tournaments taking away their attention. If Esther can remain healthy and Ella Stevens can continue on her upward trajectory, I think Gotham makes the case as a contender for the 2025 shield.
