The NWSL table is moving, the contenders are getting tested, and apparently no lead is safe.
This week on Laces Out Loud, we break down a wild weekend across the league: Seattle finishes the job with a huge 2–0 win over San Diego, Sam Kerr reminds everyone exactly why she’s Sam Kerr, and the Washington Spirit survive a seriously impressive Denver Summit side to take over the top spot in the standings.
We dig into what Seattle’s resurgence says about the second half of their season, why Denver looks every bit like a legitimate contender, Sofia Cantore’s latest big moment at Audi Field, and whether Kansas City’s continued struggles without Temwa Chawinga have officially become a thing. We also celebrate Racing Louisville finally getting back in the win column and rookie Maya Lardner making her mark.
There’s also difficult news out of Gotham, as we talk through Emily Sonnett’s injury and what her absence could mean for both club and country, while sending our best to Esther González following her departure from the club for family reasons.
And before we take a brief break from our usual week-to-week match reactions, we preview what’s coming next on the pod: a deeper look at the fascinating—and sometimes infuriating—history of women’s soccer, plus our upcoming discussion of Copa 71 and the forgotten women’s World Cup.
The table may have a new leader, but if this weekend taught us anything, nobody should get comfortable.