The 2026 regular season is back, expanding with additional teams and games alongside a brand-new 30-match schedule, marking a pivotal moment in league history. This provides a prime opportunity for predictions as the season kicks off.
Just as previous seasons have shown, making forecasts can be both delightful and humbling, considering the unpredictability of a lengthy league campaign. Kansas City Current maintains its status as the reigning NWSL Shield champion, while Gotham FC holds the latest NWSL Championship title. The Washington Spirit seeks to capture another title after finishing as runners-up last year.
With the advent of a new season comes a mixture of optimism and potentially unrealistic expectations, which could be subjective. Let’s dive into the predictions outlined by the CBS Sports team for the upcoming NWSL season.
Notable Picks for the NWSL Season
| Award | Sandra Herrera | Lisa Carlin | McCall Zerboni | Darian Jenkins | Jen Beattie | Pardeep Cattry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champions | Washington Spirit | Kansas City Current | Kansas City Current | Kansas City Current | Kansas City Current | Washington Spirit |
| Shield Winner | Gotham FC | Washington Spirit | Gotham FC | Orlando Pride | Kansas City Current | Washington Spirit |
| MVP | Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) | Croix Bethune (K.C. Current) | Croix Bethune (K.C. Current) | Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) | Croix Bethune (K.C. Current) | Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC) |
| Golden Boot | Mia Fishel (Seattle Reign) | Ludmila (San Diego Wave) | Temwa Chawinga (K.C. Current) | Temwa Chawinga (K.C. Current) | Temwa Chawinga (K.C. Current) | Mia Fishel (Seattle Reign) |
| Best Newcomer | Ayo Oke (Denver Summit) | Cristiana Girelli (Bay FC) | Lucia Di Gugliemo (Washington Spirit) | Ayo Oke (Denver Summit) | Cristiana Girelli (Bay FC) | Ayo Oke (Denver Summit) |
| Rookie of the Year | Tessa Dellarose (Chicago Stars) | Kat Rader (Houston Dash) | Shae Harvey (Portland Thorns) | Jordyn Dudley (Gotham FC) | Jordyn Dudley (Gotham FC) | Olivia Thomas (Denver Summit) |
| Bold Prediction | Chicago makes playoffs | Denver, Boston playoff contenders | Angel City in top 4 | Houston sold | Nick Cushing coach of the season | Current disappoint |
| Best Expansion Team | Denver Summit | Denver Summit | Denver Summit | Denver Summit | Denver Summit | Denver Summit |
| Next Expansion Team | Columbus | Philadelphia | Phoenix | Las Vegas | Austin | Columbus |
Championship Outlook
The Washington Spirit faces a crucial moment as they attempt to overcome their past failures in the championship with their robust lineup, featuring talents such as Colombian midfielder Leicy Santos and Italian forward Sofia Cantore.
Shield Aspirations
In pursuit of the NWSL Shield, the Spirit hopes to overcome previous injury setbacks to finally claim this coveted prize.
MVP Contender
Jaedyn Shaw, a crucial player for Gotham FC, could be pivotal once again in their quest to repeat as champions, leveraging her offseason training to maximize team success.
Golden Boot Hope
Mia Fishel looks to put her injury woes behind her and become a top goal-scorer for Seattle thanks to her full recovery and prior experiences with the team.
Best Newcomer
Expect Ayo Oke to make an explosive impact with Denver Summit, bringing her impressive skills from her previous league experience.
Rookie of the Year Watch
Tessa Dellarose is set to shine among a host of dynamic newbies in this year’s rookie class.
With a new season well underway, expectations run high for an exciting year of NWSL soccer.
