The 2026 National Women’s Soccer League regular season ended after 240 matches, and Sports Illustrated assessed which U.S. women’s national team hopefuls raised or lowered their stock. Gotham FC finished top of the standings and won the Shield for the first time in club history, while San Diego Wave were second, three points back.
Defenders and goalkeepers
Wave had the third-best defensive record in the league, conceding 31 goals. Wesley played every minute of the season and scored two goals, a career high. Since making her debut in October 2025, she has nine caps and one goal for the USWNT.
Emily Sonnett went down with an ACL injury. Utah Royals reached the playoffs for the first time in club history, while Mandy McGlynn’s goals prevented numbers fell from 2.6 to 0.8 and her save percentage dropped from 68% to 64%.
Forwards in focus
Ashley Sanchez won the 2026 Golden Boot and became the first American to score 20 goals in a single season, matching Temwa Chawinga’s league record. North Carolina Courage missed the playoffs and finished four points outside a playoff place. Sanchez also scored in the 2-2 against Spain, and Hayes brought her back into the squad in October for the first time in two years.
Trinity Byars scored 11 goals from 15 starts in her first full NWSL season, making 23 appearances and playing 1,339 minutes. She missed most of 2025 while recovering from an ACL injury, then received her first USWNT call-up in October for the Spain friendlies but did not play.
Midfield production
Croix Bethune made 26 appearances and played 1,992 minutes for the KC Current in 2026, scoring four goals and recording 11 assists. She has just 107 minutes for the USWNT in the calendar year and scored her first international goal against Chile in January. The Current finished fourth.
Other players mentioned
Jameese Joseph moved to Utah in September after playing for the Chicago Stars. She scored one goal in 19 matches for Chicago and then played seven times for Utah without scoring. Joseph made her USWNT debut at the end of 2025, then scored a goal for the national team and featured prominently through the beginning of 2026 and the SheBelieves Cup before losing her place in the summer.
Avery Patterson started in the first of the two recent friendlies against Spain. She has made six appearances for the USWNT across 2026. Houston Dash finished 10th in 2025 and 12th in 2026.
