NWSL Week 3: 6 standout players from the six thrilling matches
4. Savannah McCaskill, Angel City
In front of their home fans in Los Angeles, Angel City FC was not going to go down without a fight. Heading into the dressing room down by two goals, Freya Coombe’s side had to bring a different kind of energy compared to what it brought to begin the match. The 26-year-old South Carolina native Savannah McCaskill was at the center of Angel City’s second-half resurgence. McCaskill covered nearly every blade of grass on the pitch, progressing the ball with either a precise pass or a confident run at the defense.
The former Racing Louisville and Chicago Red Stars midfielder is the heartbeat of this team, and Saturday night in Orlando was the perfect example of that. She led the team in nearly every important statistical category. She collected an astounding 16 progressive passes, double what any of her teammates were able to produce while completing all three of her take-on attempts. It was only fitting that McCaskill was the player that would rescue a point for her side late in the match.
After seeing the ball fall in her direction, McCaskill intelligently used her body to create space away from the defender. While off balance, Angel City’s No. 9 struck the ball with her right boot with the hope that it had enough power on it to beat Katie Lund between the sticks. Her shot snuck into the bottom left corner, completing a stellar day out for the midfielder and a stunning comeback for the home side.
5. Maria Sanchez, Houston Dash
Over the past two campaigns, Houston Dash has walked into Providence Park without any fear in their eyes. Portland Thorns had been running ramped on every opponent it had faced prior to Houston, allowing just one goal in two matches while netting eight. Equipped with an incredibly dynamic frontline, the Dash tested Mike Norris’ side more than ever before in 2023.
The left-footed Mexican international Maria Sanchez was vital in propelling Houston to the franchise’s best start in history. With Portland netting a goal in the first 10 minutes of the match, the Dash needed a response offensively, especially given how potent Norris’ squad has been out of the gate in the regular season. Going up against one of her younger international teammates in Reyna Reyes, Sanchez took advantage, demonstrating to her what it is going to take to play defense in a league like the NWSL.
Not only did she lead her team in shot-creating actions and crosses into the box, but Sanchez was the one who found the only breakthrough for the away side on the road. She made use of the mistake by Reyes, driving at the backline with purpose. Kelli Hubly tried her best to get her body between the ball and the goal, but the left foot of the Mexican international was able to slot it home to shock the home crowd. Oftentimes, Sanchez is the one distributing, and while she did a sensational job of that on Friday, it was her directness going forward that lifted Houston to a draw.
6. Trinity Rodman, Washington Spirit
Mark Parsons’ Washington Spirit are supposed to be building for the future. Coming off one of the most disappointing campaigns in the club’s history, the Spirit had been picked by many to remain in the bottom three of the NWSL. Trinity Rodman must have heard all of that noise. Since the opening match of the season, Rodman has been electric in attack for Washington. It may be too early to start talking about MVP, but the Spirit attacker has to be at the top of the list.
The youngster did not wait for the Paramount+ broadcast to get back up and running before she found the back of the net. Only the people that were there at WakeMed Soccer Park know the breath of Rodman’s display given the issues the league was having getting the game on streaming platforms.
It was her third goal involvement for the Spirit in as many matches as the D.C side are sitting just behind the Thorns in the table heading into the fourth week of the regular season. North Carolina Courage should know better than to gift the ball to Rodman in the final third. The USWNT is in need of someone to make themselves known as one of the top three forwards ahead of the World Cup. Right out of the international break, the 20-year-old is clearly on a mission to inform Vlatko Andonovski she is up for the task.