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NWSL Week 4 winners and losers: NJ/NY Gotham FC and OL Reign stay hot

By Caden Charpentier

HARRISON, NJ - APRIL 22: Juan Carlos Amoros head coach of Gotham FC hugs Lynn Williams #10 of Gotham FC after Williams' goal caused them to win the National Women's Soccer League match against North Carolina Courage at Red Bull Arena on April 22, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Ira L. Black - Corbis/Getty Images)
HARRISON, NJ - APRIL 22: Juan Carlos Amoros head coach of Gotham FC hugs Lynn Williams #10 of Gotham FC after Williams' goal caused them to win the National Women's Soccer League match against North Carolina Courage at Red Bull Arena on April 22, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Ira L. Black - Corbis/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 15: Carson Pickett #16 of Racing Louisville FC looks on during the first half against Angel City FC at BMO Stadium on April 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 15: Carson Pickett #16 of Racing Louisville FC looks on during the first half against Angel City FC at BMO Stadium on April 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /

1. Orlando Pride — Loser

Despite nearly stealing all three points in the UKG Challenge Cup during the mid-week over North Carolina, Seb Hines’ and the Orlando Pride’s struggles in the regular season continue. Hines’ team is in a clear rebuild, scoring just one goal through the first four contests in the league. In the battle of the winless clubs, the Pride left Kansas City in the same position they were in before they arrived.

Even though the away side was able to win the possession battle over the Current, Orlando lacked any sort of finishing touch in the final third. Only one of the 14 shots that the Pride took on Sunday evening caused Cassie Miller’s attention between the sticks. Hines’ team has the lowest xG in the NWSL and the fewest shots on target one month into the campaign at just 10.

Portland Thorns have more than triple that in the same amount of matches. Even though it is a clear rebuild year for the Pride, it would be nice to see the club build off a successful run of form to finish off the 2022 campaign. It does not get any easier for the team sitting in the basement of the NWSL as they now travel to Snapdragon Stadium to take on a San Diego Wave side that is coming off an impressive win over its California rivals. The youth of this squad and inexperience to the league itself are massive reasons for this sluggish start. Results may not be the No. 1 priority for a club in this position, but few expected a team with Marta returning to be winless heading into the final match week of April.

2. Racing Louisville — Loser

Kim Bjorkegren’s squad headed into week 4 as one of the four unbeaten teams left in the league. The only problem was they were also one of three teams without a win. Racing Louisville’s streak of draws came to a close at the hands of the red-hot Thorns at Providence Park on Saturday. Sometimes it feels as if Savannah DeMelo is trying to make up for all the problems that the club is experiencing at the moment.

Racing conceded within the first two minutes of the match on the road in Oregon, putting themselves in a hole from the jump against the defending champions. The away side did not record a shot on target until the 35′ of the match when Ary Borges fired her strike toward the bottom right corner of the net.

Portland posed a much bigger threat going forward with less of the possession than Racing was able to muster with more of it. At some point, one of the most intriguing clubs heading into the new season needs to find ways to come away with three points. Racing had one of the week’s lowest xG’s, and are desperately seeking a way to break into the playoff picture. Missing the dynamic Nigeran striker Uchenna Kanu doesn’t help. Even with a much more stable defense compared to 2022, this club has been unable to piece together a complete performance on both ends of the pitch so far.

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