By OkayGoal 
Phoyo copyright David Banks-Imagn Images
On Sunday, two National Women’s Soccer League matches were decided by one-goal margins, with efficiency and execution ruling the day.
A familiar connection pays off in Chicago
For the Chicago Stars, Sunday’s 2–1 win over the Kansas City Current wasn’t defined by sustained dominance, but by efficiency in key moments. At the center of that were Jordyn Huitema and Julia Grosso, two players whose connection has been years in the making at the international level.
Huitema and Grosso have long shared the field for Canada’s women’s national team, progressing together through youth setups into the senior squad and contributing during major tournaments such as the Tokyo Olympics. Over time, their roles within that environment have become increasingly complementary: Huitema operating as a forward who stretches defenses and provides a direct attacking outlet, while Grosso functions as a midfield connector, comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and linking play between lines.
Though Huitema’s move from Seattle to Chicago happened just ten days ago, that years-long chemistry was evident on Sunday. Grosso started the counterattack that lead to Huitema’s goal, showcasing her ability to progress the ball through the midfield with pace while under pressure. Huitema, meanwhile, turned a limited opportunity into a decisive contribution with her positioning and timing in the box.
In a broader sense, their performances highlighted how established partnerships can matter early in a season when many teams are still finding rhythm. While other attacking units across the league continue to develop cohesion, Huitema and Grosso already bring a level of mutual understanding that Stars fans hope will translate to more wins in the coming weeks.
Fine margins—and red cards—define the early NWSL season
Across both matches on March 22—Chicago’s 2–1 win over Kansas City, and San Diego Wave’s 2-1 win over Utah Royals on the road—the common thread wasn’t dominance or control, but outcomes decided by small differences in finishing and defensive concentration.
Taken together, the two games reflect an early-season pattern in the league: tight matches, limited scoring, and results shaped by a handful of critical plays. At the same time, discipline has already become a talking point. Across the full 2025 NWSL campaign, just 11 red cards were shown, but in the opening two weekends of the 2026 season, that tally has already reached six. It’s too early to tell whether that points to stricter officiating or more aggressive play, but it underscores how quickly games can turn on small moments—not just goals, but decisions that shift the balance entirely.
More from match week two:
