NWSL Week 6 winners and losers: Washington Spirit keeps on rolling

1. Houston Dash – Loser

On the back of a UKG Challenge Cup win during the mid-week against the Chicago Red Stars,  Houston Dash had its eyes on building off that performance. Instead, Laity’s side continued down the same path since their loss to the Current back on April 19 in the Challenge Cup. While the Reign are arguably the best team in the league right now, there should not be an excuse for the lack of chances that were created away from home.

Equipped with three ultra-talented frontline players, Houston should not be running into the problem of scoring goals. Still, the Dash have scored just three goals in the regular season, two fewer than any other club. Laity’s team has now been shut out four match weeks in a row, and five straight games in all competitions.

Houston only managed to collect a 0.4 xG on Saturday at Lumen Field, challenging Phallon Tullis-Joyce just three times throughout an entire 90-minute match. It is inexcusable that a player that tallied 11 goals in the regular season in 2022 does not record a single shot. For a team that came into the campaign possessing one of the most talented attacking lines, that is now becoming their largest issue. Defensively, being able to hold Laura Harvey’s OL Reign to just two goals is impressive given their talent. The offense has to do its job. Eventually, it will click, but for now, there are so many questions surrounding Houston’s inability to find the back of the net.

2. Racing Louisville – Loser

This club was supposed to be the dark horse of the NWSL in 2023. It is becoming a recurring theme that Racing Louisville finds itself in the “loser” section of this weekly feature. Currently, there have to be questions asked if Kim Bjorkegren is the right person to be in charge of Racing Louisville. The Kentucky side squandered a two-goal lead at home to a depleted Reign side in week 5, and in week 6, they fell short against a team right next to them in the standings.

Katie Lund, who has been so solid between the posts for Racing this season failed to keep an extremely savable Messiah Bright header out of the back of the net in the 21′. That would ultimately end up costing the away side the match because offensively, Racing simply could not beat Anna Moorhouse. Lund would make up for her mistake twice in the first half, but the club’s failure to create any sort of consistent challenge to the Pride backline was the clear decider.

Louisville would adapt, and press high in the second 45 minutes, creating numerous chances at Moorhouse. While seven shots found the target for Bjorkegren’s side, there were only a few that gave the former Arsenal goalkeeper any trouble. With a meeting against the only team below them in the standings, week 7 is a massive opportunity for Racing to secure those first three points of the campaign. If Bjorkegren is unable to guide his side to a victory on Friday night at home, it could be time to push the panic button.

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