The month of August saw the NWSL back in full swing, and the goals from the league did not disappoint one bit. From a solo spectacular to a long-range screamer, we’ve got you covered with an incredible month of highlights from the NWSL. Let’s get into the best of the best. Here’s the Top 10 Goals in the NWSL from August.
10. Croix Bethune – Washington Spirit
Croix Bethune 🗣️
🎥 @NWSL pic.twitter.com/VgK2x7VZ7V
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) August 23, 2025
Croix Bethune has always been an impact player, and if you give her any space in and around the box, she’s going to make you pay. Hal Hershfelt did well to win the ball back and get it to Bethune, who did the rest. All it took was one quick dip of the shoulder to get around one Bay FC defender before firing the ball past the keeper. It was a swift, efficient, and strong move from Bethune to double Washington’s lead, highlighting why she’s among the best in the league.
9. Kenza Dali – San Diego Wave
Kenza Dali ➡️ Adriana Leon ➡️ Kenza Dali ➡️ Back of the net pic.twitter.com/TL4i2xoqNv
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 17, 2025
This was a great bit of teamwork in tight spaces by San Diego between two long-time veterans in the game. Kenza Dali was able to bring the long ball down and get it to Adriana Leon, who managed to buy Dali just enough time to run into the space behind her. Once Leon gave her a perfect return pass, Dali tucked the ball in the top corner beautifully. Dali is showing that she has more than enough left to give the Wave and is one of the team’s most important players moving forward.
8. Rosemonde Kouassi- Washington Spirit
The last touch of the game is the equalizer for the Spirit shock😱
Rosemonde Kouassi scores in the final seconds of the game! pic.twitter.com/ur3blcU3Cs
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 16, 2025
Rosemonde Kouassi was an acquisition that flew under the radar when Mark Krikorian added her to the Washington Spirit. All she’s done is show why the transfer was justified. This is as dramatic as it gets. It’s almost the last minute of stoppage time, the Spirit are down a goal at home, and Kouassi knew she had a chance to tie the game as soon as she picked up the ball in midfield. The Louisville defender tried her best to stay in front, but Kouassi’s strength, pace, and decisiveness were too much. Once she cut inside, she knew she wanted to bend it into the far corner, but to be doing it while still running at the speed she’s at and to be able to open up her hips to execute is special. It’s a beautiful goal, and it could not have come at a better time for the Spirit.
7. Esther – Gotham FC
The build up was just as pretty as the finish 👏 pic.twitter.com/Mu2zZiAycR
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 30, 2025
When Gotham gets going, they are a tough team to stop. In their last match against Orlando, they took control of the game early thanks to this wonderful team goal. Rose Lavelle and Gabi Portilho combined well with two quick passes, and Lavelle saw the space that Esther was going to run into. Lavelle’s toe poke did just enough to get the ball to Esther, who worked her magic. The Spanish international executed a nice hesitation move to get Emily Sams to bite on it, and then took it around her just enough to create space for the shot. Her finish with her weaker foot highlights just how deadly a striker she is. You can tell from the goalkeeper’s reaction that she was surprised by the power that Esther generated, along with the accuracy. This is what Gotham does at its best. Can they turn it into clinching a playoff spot? We’ll find out soon.
6. Ludmila – Chicago Stars
Couldn’t draw up a more perfect goal. ✍️
Ludmila’s first of three goals wins the Week 17 Goal of the Week. pic.twitter.com/76DxOP4uIY
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 26, 2025
Ludmila has been the saving grace of the Chicago Stars on their way to five straight draws. If the Brazilian gets any kind of space, you’re in trouble, as seen on this play here against North Carolina. The power, the pace, and the desire are on full display as Ludmila doesn’t mess around. There’s no extra dribbling or stepovers, just brilliant direct play with purpose as she sliced and diced these defenders. Four defenders are in the frame when she shot from about 20 yards away. Maycee Bell almost did enough to put her off by getting a foot to the ball, but alas, Ludmila was just too good. Casey Murphy didn’t have a prayer when trying to stop this shot; it was destined for the top corner. Plus, she did her trademark backflip celebration. You have to put some respect on her name for how she’s been playing.
5. Riley Tiernan – Angel City
This angle of Riley Tiernan’s goal is epic 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/8y2Q7PgAv1
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 2, 2025
This is technically a goal in September because it was Labor Day, but Riley Tiernan’s goal was too good to wait till next month. Somehow, she managed to take one half of the Bay FC defense, and she has the strength and speed with the ball to where no one can dispossess her. Tiernan also loves to use that cutback move to her advantage every time you think she’s going to shoot. Here she cut back onto her left foot, but the finish with her weaker foot is what’s so impressive. I think it’s safe to say that Riley Tiernan is going to be Rookie of the Year, and if not, then we’re going to have a problem with the NWSL.
4. Kiki Van Zanten – Houston Dash
No hesitation on that one 🚀
Kiki Van Zanten’s rocket from outside the box locks in the Week 15 Goal of the Week. pic.twitter.com/R2kqzgRW3m
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 12, 2025
Kiki Van Zanten has been giving the Houston Dash significant contributions since coming back from a foot injury that cost her most of her rookie season. Now fully recovered, she’s showing exactly why she was a star at Notre Dame and one of the best collegiate midfielders in the country. The technique on this strike is special. Knee over the ball, puts her foot through it with great follow-through, and the ball dips and swerves into the side netting. No goalkeeper is saving that; it’s a stunning strike from Kiki Van Zanten, who is sure to be a big part of Houston’s plans moving forward.
3. Alyssa Thompson – Angel City
THE GOAL. THE CELLY. THAT’S ALYSSA THOMPSON 😤 pic.twitter.com/JLjAcf9hOq
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 22, 2025
It’s fitting but also sad for Angel City fans that this was Alyssa Thompson’s final contribution to Angel City before her transfer to Chelsea. At least she left the fans with a classic Alyssa Thompson goal. The quickness is cat-like to get inside onto her right foot when everyone knows that’s what she wants to do. The game with Orlando was deadlocked at 0-0 and was begging for someone to take control and win it, and Thompson obliged. The shot into the far corner with that amount of power shows her finishing has improved tremendously; she’s ready for the big time in the WSL with Chelsea.
2. Jaelin Howell – Gotham FC
Howell bout that strike 😉
(see what we did there) pic.twitter.com/csOH0gYmAT
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 30, 2025
Jaelin Howell is a defensive midfielder who requires more work to be done in the middle of the pitch and in defense rather than attack. Howell doesn’t get many opportunities to score with the amount of attacking talent that Gotham has. Make no mistake, Jaelin Howell is the real deal and can score, too; it’s just not her role to do it. The concentration to watch this ball in the air and strike it one-time as a left-footed volley is as high a level as it gets. The degree of difficulty on this is a 12/10, and she smashed it into the bottom corner. Gotham got a great player, and she’s repaying them with incredible skill like this.
1. Sofia Cantore – Washington Spirit
BENVENUTA SOFIA CANTORE 🇮🇹
Her first NWSL goal is going to be one for the books. pic.twitter.com/6SFgeg1yk0
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2025
Sofia Cantore is by far the best signing of the summer transfer window, and she may go down as one of the best signings in NWSL history. No player has had a greater impact on their team since joining than Cantore has. Following up from her tremendous performance at the Euros for Italy, she hasn’t lost her stride in the NWSL. Most European players have to make some adjustments, but not Cantore. She is one of the biggest reasons the team has climbed to 2nd in the standings. This goal is just a glimpse into what she can do. Cantore had the ball in space in the middle of the field and browsed her options. Once she saw her teammates weren’t open, she knew she had the green light to go for goal. The result is a beautiful strike that clipped off the crossbar and went in. Out of all the stunning goals we had this month, Cantore’s long-range effort leads the pack. Stay tuned with us for next month’s list in September!
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS

