Week 11 of the 2026 NWSL season saw the league return after a four-week summer break. Ashley Sanchez and Temwa Chawinga kept scoring at will, San Diego tightened its grip atop the table, and Boston showed real fight against Bay FC.
The break did little to slow the league’s biggest storylines. Washington needed late Trinity Rodman magic, Kansas City kept climbing behind Chawinga, and Chicago delivered one of the weekend’s loudest surprises against Utah.
This one saved the best for last. The streaking Spirit hosted the reeling Dash in the first NWSL match since the break. The hosts started off hot. Continued pressure at the Houston end led to several scoring chances, followed by a big break in the 32nd minute. While trying to defend against Trinity Rodman, Dash defender Avery Patterson took down the Spirit striker. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Rosemonde Kouassi stepped up. The Ivory Coast international went to Jane Campbell’s right, and Campbell read her perfectly. Following Campbell’s big save, neither side could find the net for the rest of the half.
The second half started out perfectly for the home side. Just five minutes in, Leicy Santos sent a terrific long ball to a wide-open Rodman. She closed on Campbell, then sent her shot to the far post for a 1-0 Spirit lead. Just moments later, the visitors nearly equalized. Second-half sub Kate Faasse got in deep against Sandy MacIver, but the Scotland international’s aggressive goaltending stopped the threat. Campbell kept the match in reach for the Dash with a brilliant late save against a perfect header from Tara McKeown.
And then, in the last gasps of the match, Houston equalized. In the 90th minute, Linda Ullmark sent a perfect through ball to Faasse. She would not be denied by MacIver a second time, and the match was tied. Just when it looked like the Dash had salvaged a point, however, Rodman broke the hearts of Houston. Four minutes into five added minutes of extra time, she made her way to the top of the box, then sent a soaring shot through the box and past Campbell’s outstretched hand. Washington moves into a tie for third (GD) in the table, while Houston now has but one win in their last nine matches.
The break did little to slow the league’s biggest storylines. Washington needed late Trinity Rodman magic, Kansas City kept climbing behind Chawinga, and Chicago delivered one of the weekend’s loudest surprises against Utah.
This one saved the best for last. The streaking Spirit hosted the reeling Dash in the first NWSL match since the break. The hosts started off hot. Continued pressure at the Houston end led to several scoring chances, followed by a big break in the 32nd minute. While trying to defend against Trinity Rodman, Dash defender Avery Patterson took down the Spirit striker. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Rosemonde Kouassi stepped up. The Ivory Coast international went to Jane Campbell’s right, and Campbell read her perfectly. Following Campbell’s big save, neither side could find the net for the rest of the half.
The second half started out perfectly for the home side. Just five minutes in, Leicy Santos sent a terrific long ball to a wide-open Rodman. She closed on Campbell, then sent her shot to the far post for a 1-0 Spirit lead. Just moments later, the visitors nearly equalized. Second-half sub Kate Faasse got in deep against Sandy MacIver, but the Scotland international’s aggressive goaltending stopped the threat. Campbell kept the match in reach for the Dash with a brilliant late save against a perfect header from Tara McKeown.
And then, in the last gasps of the match, Houston equalized. In the 90th minute, Linda Ullmark sent a perfect through ball to Faasse. She would not be denied by MacIver a second time, and the match was tied. Just when it looked like the Dash had salvaged a point, however, Rodman broke the hearts of Houston. Four minutes into five added minutes of extra time, she made her way to the top of the box, then sent a soaring shot through the box and past Campbell’s outstretched hand. Washington moves into a tie for third (GD) in the table, while Houston now has but one win in their last nine matches.
3 months ago
