Sedona Sweginnis | Sports Editor
March 27, 2025
The opening matches of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) were exciting and mostly very close and competitive. With the level of play and depth of rosters increasing significantly with each successive year in this fast-growing league, the NWSL is gaining fans and increasingly becoming a staple inspiration for young girl soccer players.
With each team having played two games this season, last year’s NWSL champions, the Orlando Pride, have started strong with two decisive wins to place them once again at the top of the standings. The Pride made a statement in their home opener, hammering the Chicago Red Stars 6 to 0. Orlando’s win was in stark contrast to the majority of the opening matches, which featured an overwhelming abundance of low-scoring ties. Although the somewhat uneventful score lines proved disappointing to some, to many, the close matches were thrilling and a testament to just how close and competitive this league has become.
One of the four opening draws, Gotham City’s opener against Seattle Reign was remarkably similar to their semi-final match last year against Washington Spirit, both of which featured a 1 to 1 draw and a red card against Gotham. This unfortunate outcome in addition to their 2-0 loss to Orlando puts last season’s semi-finalists near the bottom of the table. However, the future is still bright for this versatile squad, with their initial matches being against some of the tougher opponents that this league has to offer. Additionally, the depth and versatility of Gotham’s lineup, which includes the 14-year-old Mak Whitham, the youngest player in the NWSL, indicates that a bright future is in store for this club.
Additionally, the 14th-place finisher in the 2024 season, the Houston Dash, is working towards a new trajectory this season, securing themselves three points on the road against the Chicago Red Stars after a difficult 2-1 loss in their home-opener against the powerhouse of the Washington Spirit.
Although it is only the beginning, these early close matches and competitive clashes make it clear that there is much excitement in store for the 2025 season. This weekend, local San Diego Wave FC, regular season shield winners of 2023, are set to battle 2024 shield winners, Orlando Pride. Despite internal issues regarding the Wave’s coaching and administrative staff last season, the team has started off the season strong, undefeated, and with four points to their name.
The Wave’s first point came in their opening match against local rival, Angel City FC. These two clubs have held exciting and unpredictable rivalry matches since their addition to the NWSL in 2022. The NWSL, especially the southern California clubs, are an incredible inspiration to young girls. SCHS freshman and long-time soccer player Emma Harvey expressed that watching the San Diego Wave’s matches and seeing “their teamwork and determination to win inspired [her] to become a better soccer player” and develop her skills.
Being able to see high-level women’s soccer so close to home is an incredible opportunity for soccer-playing girls, allowing them to learn from skillful players, cheer for a team, and work towards a dream of playing professionally. Sophomore and two-year player for the Varsity girls’ soccer team at SCHS, Emma Nelson voiced that “seeing the environment where everyone is cheering for their team and experiencing the excitement of the players and the game” has been a huge inspiration for her. Soccer means a lot to Nelson and “having that feeling of playing in front of a crowd,” like what she has witnessed when attending San Diego Wave and Angel City matches, “encourages [her] to work harder and make it to that level.”
Overall, the exciting opening matches and promising future for the 2025 NWSL season are a testament to why this league is such an inspiration to young girls. The hard-working, encouraging, and skilled players in this league put their best foot forward and kicked off the season with a reminder of their position as role models in this sport.
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