By OkayGoal
Here’s a look at some stats and minutiae following Week 27, a.k.a. the final week, of the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season. We’ll keep evolving this space every week to try and keep you informed. Have an idea or an addition? Hit me @thedanlauletta on Bsky or X.
Before we get into it, here is a look at the final table. The eight teams highlighted in green qualified for the playoffs. The other eight did not.
All statistics reference regular season games only except where noted.
PLAYER STATS
-Ashley Sanchez was held scoreless again for the Courage — the first time this season she has played four straight games without a goal — and settled for a share of the single-season record with Temwa Chawinga (2024 Current). Sanchez did clinch her first Golden Boot, made easier when runner-up Barbra Banda and her 17 goals were unavailable for the final three matches due to travel restrictions related to disease outbreak. Sanchez is the first North Carolina Courage player to win the Boot. Lynn Williams (now Biyendolo) won in 2016 when the club was located in Western New York.
-Kaleigh Kurtz completed her fifth consecutive ironwoman season on Sunday. This one was the longest, 30 matches and 2,700 minutes. She has now played 144 consecutive regular season matches and 12,922 consecutive minutes. Both are league records. The streaks began June 26, 2021 while playing for the Courage. (The unrounded number is due to a rain-shortened match in 2023.)
-No players made NWSL debuts last weekend.
-The 10/10 club will remain elusive at least one more season. Despite midseason momentum, no players finished the season with double-digit goals and assists. Trinity Rodman (12G/8A), Cloe Lacasse (8G/10A) and Janine Sonis (12G/8A) came the closest. Lauren Holiday remains the closest with 12G/9A in the inaugural 2013 season.
-Eight players, including six field players, wound up with ironwoman seasons. The field players were Kurts, Kate Del Fava (third straight), Jessie Fleming, Kaleigh Kurtz, Tara Rudd and Kennedy Wesley. The keepers were Sandy MacIver and Kailen Sheridan.
-Angelina Anderson was one minute from being an ironwoman when she was subbed off in the 90th minute in favor of Hannah Seabert. Seabert announced her retirement earlier in the week. The previous closest call was Emily Sams (then Madril) in 2023 when she played all but the final 3 minutes for the Pride.
-Ally Sentnor made some quirky history by appearing in and starting 31 games in a 30-game season. The excess game was a result of being traded from the Current to Angel City at a time her new club had played one less match.
-Vanessa DiBernardo assisted on both Current goals on Sunday to move within one of Sofia Huerta for the all-time lead. Huerta, of the Reign, has 36 to DiBernardo’s 35.
-Other league leaders for the season: Assists — Croix Bethune, 11 (league record, second time); Goals Against Average — Ann-Katrin Berger, 0.85 (second time); Wins — Sandy MacIver, 17; Saves — Jane Campbell, 127 (league record, third time); Clean Sheets — Sandy MacIver, 12
Bethune is the first player to lead NWSL in assists twice. Campbell is the first player to lead NWSL in saves three times.
TEAM STATS
-Kate Del Fava remains minute-perfect for the Royals having played all 7,380 over 82 games since the team launched in 2024. Those are the longest streaks from the start of any expansion team.
-Gotham won the Shield for the first time in club history. They became the seventh different club to win it in the last seven seasons. Gotham’s Shield as a regular-season champions leaves the Spirit and Stars as the only NWSL originals without having accomplished the feat.
-The Courage and Summit were eliminated from playoff contention. The Courage missed for the second year in a row and third overall since moving to North Carolina in 2017. Including their Flash years, this is the fifth time they have missed the playoffs and two years in a row matches their 2014-2015 streak. The Summit just completed their first season.
-Angel City extended their club-record unbeaten run to 10 games. The only team to enter the playoffs on a longer streak was the 2018 Courage who went unbeaten in their final 11 before winning the NWSL Championship. Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson’s 10th straight without defeat set a new team record. DiDi Haracic also went 9 in a row between 2023 and 2024.
-In other Angel City news, the club’s 3rd straight win matches a record established 3 previous times, all in 2026. Angelina Anderson was in goal for all of those streaks. Also, Anderson’s last-minute exit ended her club-record minutes streak at 3,329. The streak began September 13, 2025.
-Sunday’The’s win was Angel City’s 50th across all competitions. That includes the regular season (45), Challenge Cup (3), and Summer Cup (2).
-The Current have won five games in a row, matching the 2019 Red Stars for the longest winning streak entering the playoffs. The 2019 Red Stars won a semifinal to reach the NWSL Championship where they lost to the Courage.
-The Royals will be the first team to enter the playoffs having not scored in three straight matches. Three straight off the scoresheet also tied the club record.
-The Wave are now unbeaten in seven, establishing a new club record. Sandra Panos has been in goal for all seven, breaking an individual tie with Kailen Sheridan.
-Ally Lemos’ start for Orlando marked her 57th straight appearance for the club, knocking Kerry Nadaner (2023-2025) out of a share of the club record. Lemos began her streak November 2, 2024, the final game of the Pride’s championship double season.
-Karlie Lema has tied Bay FC’s record for consecutive appearances with 45. The streak began June 13, 2025 and tied Caprice Dydasco whose streak ended when she missed this season on maternity leave.
-Alyssa Naeher tied her own dubious Stars club record with her 11th straight decision without a win. She first endured a streak of 11 winless in 2025.
-Racing Louisville did not keep a clean sheet this season and have conceded a goal in a league record 30 consecutive regular season matches.