As the 2025 NWSL regular season inches towards its dramatic conclusion, the air thickens with anticipation. With only four weeks remaining, the margin for error has all but vanished. Teams jostle for crucial points, desperately aiming to secure a coveted playoff berth, while individual performances emerge not just as highlights, but as the very differentiators between triumph and heartbreak. Week 22 was a masterclass in this high-stakes environment, showcasing both strategic brilliance and raw, undeniable talent across the league.
Goalkeeping Guardians and Defensive Foundations
While goals often steal the headlines, the bedrock of any successful campaign lies in its defense. Week 22 saw custodians and backlines delivering performances worthy of profound recognition.
- Mia Justus (Utah Royals): The Utah Royals, despite their precarious position, refuse to simply fade away. Goalkeeper Mia Justus exemplified this defiance, delivering a crucial clean sheet through a series of commanding saves, ensuring her team remains a formidable obstacle for any opponent.
- Janni Thomsen (Utah Royals): For the second consecutive week, defender Janni Thomsen secured her spot in the elite. Her knack for finding the back of the net from distance is becoming legendary, adding an unexpected offensive punch to Utah`s defensive resilience.
- Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC): As Gotham`s fullbacks surge forward, the unwavering presence of centerback Emily Sonnett anchors the defense. Her stability is paramount, especially as the team`s pressing triggers intensify. Sonnett`s leadership in recoveries (six) underscores her indispensable role in Gotham`s tactical success.
- Phoebe McClernon (Seattle Reign FC): Seattle`s strategic flexibility, marked by quick adjustments and rotational formations, hinges on reliable personnel. Centerback Phoebe McClernon`s consistent leadership and disciplined play have been a cornerstone of the Reign`s backline all season, leading her team`s defenders in recoveries (five) and duels (nine).
- Janine Sonis (Racing Louisville FC): For Racing Louisville, Week 22 marked a performance where individual brilliance perfectly aligned with team outcome. Janine Sonis`s chemistry with Emma Sears along the flank has sparked promising attacking sequences, while her ability to swiftly recover when Sears pushes forward creates a persistent tactical dilemma for opposing teams.
Midfield Maestros: Orchestrating Play and Seizing Moments
The midfield is the engine room, the strategic heart where games are won and lost. This past week, several players demonstrated their mastery in this crucial zone.
- Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit): The Washington Spirit`s preferred starting lineup gains strength with each passing week, and midfielder Croix Bethune is making impactful play look effortlessly simple. She possesses an uncanny ability to thread the needle, creating opportunities regardless of the crowded box.
- Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC): A veteran of impressive postseason runs, Rose Lavelle is once again charting a course for glory. Her Week 22 contribution of a goal and an assist for Gotham served as a potent reminder of her elite status and her capacity to elevate any game.
- Lo`eau LaBonta (Kansas City Current): The Kansas City Current continue their relentless charge through the season, with veteran midfielder Lo`eau LaBonta adding her signature touch. Her 14th career penalty conversion tied a record with the legendary Megan Rapinoe, highlighting her unparalleled composure under pressure.
Attacking Firepower: The Goal-Scorers Who Defined the Week
When the stakes are highest, these forwards step up, turning chances into decisive moments.
- Midge Purce (Gotham FC): A fully healthy Gotham roster is a terrifying prospect for the rest of the league. Attacker Midge Purce`s return to consistent 90-minute performances culminated in a crucial Week 22 goal, signaling her potent threat.
- Jacqueline Ovalle (Orlando Pride): Mexican international Jacqueline Ovalle has wasted no time making her mark for the Orlando Pride. Following an assist last week, she delivered a decisive goal, demonstrating her immediate impact on the attack.
- Gift Monday (Washington Spirit): While Ludmila`s August hat-trick for Chicago Stars FC remains a recent memory, Washington Spirit`s Gift Monday delivered a hat-trick of her own in Week 22, achieving the fastest first-half hat-trick with goals in the 18th, 21st, and 36th minutes. An astonishing display, with the postseason still on the horizon.
Tactical Acumen: The Coach Who Turned the Tide
Behind every successful team, there`s a strategist pulling the strings, making the critical adjustments.
- Coach Bev Yanez (Racing Louisville FC): Head Coach Bev Yanez orchestrated a pivotal turnaround for Racing Louisville, snapping a three-game losing streak with a vital three points. Her tactical shifts, including positioning Janine Sonis at left back after Lauren Milliet`s injury and giving rookie Sarah Webber a start, exemplify the kind of astute management that keeps a maiden playoff appearance firmly within reach.
Honorary Captains: The Unforgettable Journey of Chicago Stars FC
In a curious, yet fitting, nod to the league`s relentless competitiveness, this week also saw the Chicago Stars FC formally eliminated from 2025 postseason contention. Yet, their story is far from one of quiet departure. The Stars, despite their ultimate fate, carved out a memorable campaign, leaving an indelible mark on the season.
Their journey included a remarkable six-game unbeaten streak, a testament to their resilience. Ludmila`s league-record hat-trick in August earned her Player of the Month honors, a flash of individual brilliance that captivated fans. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher set a new league saves record, showcasing her enduring class. And, perhaps most tellingly, this last-place team managed to snap first-place Kansas City`s impressive shutout streak, a clear indication that on any given day, any team in the NWSL is capable of an upset.
The Chicago Stars FC may not be heading to the playoffs, but their 2025 midseason run proved that even when the destination is clear, the journey can still be legendary. We await with keen interest to see what fresh chapters they will write next season.
Week 22 underscored the exhilarating, unpredictable nature of the NWSL. From the unyielding spirit of teams battling for survival to the dazzling individual displays that light up the pitch, the final four weeks promise a spectacle of top-tier women`s soccer. As the dust settles and the playoff picture sharpens, these performances will be remembered as the moments that truly defined the 2025 season.