The 2025 NWSL regular season starts on Friday, marking another thrilling chapter in women’s soccer. All 14 clubs will be in action over the weekend, showcasing their offseason preparations, while up-and-coming stars begin to shape the league’s competitive landscape in year 13. Fans can watch select NWSL matches across CBS platforms, including CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, and CBS Sports Golazo Network.
New talents and strategic roster moves have already spotlighted some teams as leading candidates for success this season.
Contenders
These are the top teams heading into the 2025 season, having created distances from ten other clubs. Not only will they compete for supremacy in the league, but they will also strive against each other for titles on the line.
Orlando Pride: Reigning Shield winners and NWSL Champions. They return with most of their title-winning roster intact and key players back from injury.
Washington Spirit: They have been awarded the first title of the year with the 2025 Challenge Cup, looking poised for more. The international players bring high potential into the play.
Kansas City Current: With the 2024 MVP Temwa Chawinga, the Current seem set for another deep run this year.
NJ/NY Gotham FC: Missing out on 2024 Championships, they have USWNT players returning to bring motivation and potential changes.
Dark Horses
These teams are likely playoff contenders and could surprise everyone.
North Carolina Courage: To transition past quarterfinal rounds, they have made new acquisitions potentially bringing unpredictability.
Seattle Reign FC: The Reign missed the playoffs last year and made substantial moves for 2025, setting them again in the playoffs.
Bay FC: They are currently under investigation and need to navigate matters outside their control, making their playoff aspirations uncertain.
Utah Royals FC: With hope to carry momentum from past seasons, the players demonstrate potential for an improved playoff picture.
Long Shots
These are the clubs aiming for the eighth best team in the league. It’s a tough ask but they hold on to that slim hope for a postseason.
Angel City FC: A lot depends on how interim coach Sam Laity develops the young players. Key players returning from injury are crucial for them.
Houston Dash: The club has made several offseason adjustments but balance must be achieved considering the surrounding environment.
Racing Louisville FC: Historically a middle table team, they acknowledge it’s still a tough climb into playoffs.
Portland Thorns FC: They face unknown changes for 2025 with a pivotal player announcing pregnancy, putting a strain on team dynamics as they aim for playoffs.
Chicago Stars FC: After making the playoffs last year, they face a challenging year with key player uncertainties.
