With four teams tied for second position in the NWSL, week 10 presents another opportunity to shake up at the top of the table.
The NWSL enters the month of June with just three points separating the sixth-place North Carolina Courage and NJ/NY Gotham FC at the top of the table. Week 9 produced two draws, and two games decided by just one goal, setting up for another week of thrilling matches in week 10. This weekend of fixtures is unique compared to the ones of the past. The contests will be spread out between three days, but the final game of the match week will not be played until 10:00 pm EST on Monday. Chicago Red Stars visit Angel City FC at BMO Stadium in that match to close out the weekend while two Saturday 8:00 p.m. EST contests kick things off.
Saturday night features four games with the first Cascadia rivalry of the league campaign being the highlight. A matchup between two-top four teams in New Jersey is the only contest on Sunday. Each week in this league presents new surprises and standout performers. Week 10 is going to be no different. With teams attempting to break away from the cluster, here are three matches that fans must make sure they tune in to for this upcoming weekend slate:
3 crucial matches on tap for week 10 in the NWSL.
3. Portland Thorns at OL Reign
Date: Saturday, June 3, 8:00 p.m. EST
How to watch: Paramount+
When you think of top NWSL rivalries, this is the one that is continuously at the top of the list. Both sides are coming off of thrilling wins in the UKG Challenge Cup during the mid-week with OL Reign laying the hammer on San Diego Wave on the road. The two have matched up 31 times in the past. Laura Harvey's Reign have the advantage in the win column, proving victorious 14 times to the Thorns' eight against their fellow Pacific Northwest rival. Along with the San Diego Wave and the Washington Spirit, these two teams are knotted at 16 points, just one behind the leaders NJ/NY Gotham FC at the moment.
Since their shocking back-to-back defeats including one three-goal loss to Gotham, Harvey's side has begun to find its form again. Last week in the league, Megan Rapinoe led the Reign to a convincing 4-1 triumph over Angel City, putting 11 shots on target with just 42 percent possession. On the other side, Mike Norris' Thorns have collected points in their last two fixtures via a goal in the 90′ or later. Gotham laid out the blueprint to taking out the Reign at Lumen Field, but Harvey's team has to be licking their chops just wanting to get back there to rebound from such an embarrassing display.
While Portland has been prolific at home, this team only has one win away from Providence Park. To make matters worse, Harvey's side has the most wins of any club this campaign on their home turf. Four out of the last five matches between these two have resulted in draws, making that the most likely result. A Bethany Balcer late equalizer at Lumen back in July of 2022 propelled the home team to a point in the club's last meeting.
It is the two clubs with the most goals scored through nine weeks of play fighting for some breathing room in a tight postseason picture. This is a rivalry for a reason. The people in Seattle are going to be geared up for a match that has everything and more to be the headliner among these week-10 contests.
Prediction: Portland Thorns 1-1 OL Reign
2. San Diego Wave at NJ/NY Gotham FC
Date: Sunday, June 4, 6:00 p.m. EST
How to watch: CBS Sports Network (national broadcast)
Like Lynn Williams says on almost every episode of "Snacks", "don't sleep on the Bats".
She is right, and while some are still picturing last season's version of Gotham, the New York side has been arguably the most in-form team since its loss to the Kansas City Current in late April. Juan Carlos Amoros' team are unbeaten in their last five games across all competitions, beating both the Chicago Red Stars and the Reign away from Red Bull Arena in the league.
Led by one of the most clinical goal scorers in the NWSL, Williams who has five goals on a 3.6 xG in nine starts, Gotham seeks to punish a side that most recently conceded three goals in the Challenge Cup. Casey Stoney's Wave travel east on short rest coming off of a demoralizing defeat to the Reign where the away team was as efficient as one can get in front of goal. In the league, the southern California side has won two out of their last three, giving up a late equalizer to Portland at home in week 9. San Diego has lost two matches away from Snapdragon Stadium including one on the east coast to the Spirit a few weeks back.
This will be the second of the two matches between the NWSL's top-four sides this upcoming weekend. Having to travel across the country on short rest to play one of the league's elite is a tall task for Stoney's team. Whether it is from wing back or in the midfield and attacking line, Gotham possesses talent that has the ability to push the ball forward in dangerous areas at each level of the pitch.
Defending is going to be vital, and with Kailen Sheridan back between the sticks, it may be up to her to keep her side in the game at times. This match deserves to be the only one on Sunday with World Cup players being featured on both ends of the pitch.
Prediction: San Diego Wave 1-2 NJ/NY Gotham FC
1. North Carolina Courage at Kansas City Current
Date: Saturday, June 3, 8:30 p.m. EST
How to watch: Paramount+
It is the encounter of two sides that were projected for two completely different finishes in 2023. One was a championship contender while the other had its eyes set on growth. The reality is, both clubs have surprised, one for the right reason, and the other for the wrong one. Interim head coach Caroline Sjoblom and her talented KC side are in near desperation mode, sitting in dead last having lost their last four games in the league. The Current have been shutout in their last three contests, excluding the Challenge Cup match at Racing Louisville FC.
In front of its home fans, KC will have to attempt to break through its goal-scoring struggles against a team that has pitched the most clean sheets through nine weeks. Sean Nahas' side are unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions, allowing one goal or fewer in five of those games. It is not the most ideal matchup for the Current at this point in time. Despite the club's differences in form, KC is still in the confines of their own stadium and will have the most talented player on the pitch, Debinha.
For the first time since her arrival in the mid-west, the Brazilian international will match up against her former side, the North Carolina Courage. Kansas City Current's No. 99 missed out on the opening weekend game in North Carolina due to injury. The midfielder is going to need the support of players like Cece Kizer, and Mimmi Larsson in the attacking line to knife through the stable Courage resistance. Finding a breakthrough against Casey Murphy is going to take more than just one player. KC should make this one tight, but their most recent displays do not give any indication that they can take all three points against a North Carolina side on the rise.
Prediction: North Carolina Courage 1-0 Kansas City Current
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