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NWSL schedule: Spirit visit Portland, Courage host Racing, week 13 preview

By Caden Charpentier

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 03: Sophia Smith #9 and Crystal Dunn #19 of Portland Thorns FC look on against the OL Reign during the first half at Lumen Field on June 03, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 03: Sophia Smith #9 and Crystal Dunn #19 of Portland Thorns FC look on against the OL Reign during the first half at Lumen Field on June 03, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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HARRISON, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 4: Alex Morgan #13 of San Diego Wave gives instruction to her teammates during the National Womens Soccer League match against NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena on June 4, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 4: Alex Morgan #13 of San Diego Wave gives instruction to her teammates during the National Womens Soccer League match against NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena on June 4, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images) /

Each week in the NWSL schedule is critically important, and the final match week in June is no different with two matchups of top-five sides. 

NWSL schedule: Two top-five showdowns on the west coast

Washington Spirit at Portland Thorns

Date: Friday, June 23, 10:30 p.m. EST

How to watch: Paramount+

It cannot get much better than No. 1 vs. No. 2 under the lights in one of the most passionate women’s soccer markets in the United States.

Mark Parsons’ Washington Spirit continue their road trip coming off of an extraordinary comeback down two goals against the struggling Kansas City Current. A tap-finish by Washington’s No. 9 Tara McKeown 87′ winner extended the Spirit’s unbeaten streak in the league to four. McKeown was the rock defensively for the Spirit last time out, collecting 10 clearances. This match will be just days after Ashley Hatch missed out on the World Cup roster. The Washington striker who has six goals and two assists this season should be the player to look out for. She will without question come out with a chip on her shoulder.

The home team for the match, Mike Norris’ Portland Thorns rebounded from a surprise defeat to the Orlando Pride with a 3-2 win on the road in the Windy City. Sophia Smith, who was just announced to the USWNT 2023 World Cup team has found the back of the net in three straight regular-season fixtures.

Portland and Washington were two of three teams to score three or more goals in week 12. No team has a better goal differential than the Thorns. The Spirit has been susceptible to goals, not having pitched a clean sheet since May 13. Breaking that streak is going to be a difficult task, but Audrey Kingsbury who has over an 82 percent save percentage will no question be up for the job on the road.

Prediction: Washington Spirit 2-2 Portland Thorns 

OL Reign at San Diego Wave

Date: Saturday, June 24, 10:00 p.m. EST

How to watch: Paramount+

One top-of-the-table clash after another. The day after the top two teams in the league meet up, Laura Harvey’s OL Reign travel to Snapdragon Stadium for the second “NWSL After Dark” clash of the weekend.

After being on the road for two weeks, the San Diego Wave returned home only to blow a one-goal lead in the second half to their fellow Southern California rivals. Angel City FC, without Freya Coombe, battled back into the match after conceding the first goal, becoming the first team since Washington on May 6 to score more than two against the Wave. Even with its sensational fan base behind them, San Diego has not won a match on their home turf since April 1 against the North Carolina Courage.

The Reign continue their road trip, heading to California from Texas with a scoreless draw that was effected by the Houston heat. Despite San Diego’s poor recent home form, Harvey’s side has scored the second fewest goals of any team away from their home turf. The Seattle side has just one victory away from Lumen Field this season, and it came all the way back in match week two against Gotham. With five players heading off to represent the United States in the World Cup soon, these are the kinds of matches that Harvey should feel the need to win.

Score Prediction: OL Reign 0-2 San Diego Wave

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