By OkayGoal 
With one month until kickoff, the NWSL season countdown has officially begun. Fans across the country are debating which teams will rise and which predictions will age terribly. The league continues to grow alongside the popularity of girls’ soccer and women’s soccer in the United States. Each year brings new stars, unexpected contenders, and young soccer players hoping to reach the next level. Many of those players also dream of earning a call-up to the USWNT.
The 2026 season looks especially unpredictable. A few teams appear ready to contend for the title. However, several rookies could also make immediate impacts.
Title Favorites
The defending champions, NJ/NY Gotham FC, enter the season with a target on their backs. Gotham proved last year that experience and depth can win championships. If their core players stay healthy, they could make another deep run.
The Washington Spirit is another team knocking on the door. After finishing as runners-up two years in a row, the Spirit are desperate to take the final step. Their roster features some of the league’s most exciting young soccer players.
Many fans also believe the Kansas City Current are the team to beat. Kansas City has built one of the deepest squads in women’s soccer. Their attacking talent could overwhelm opponents throughout the season.
Rookie Breakout Players
Every NWSL season produces new stars. Young players entering the league often bring energy and fearlessness.
One rookie to watch is Mimi Van Zanten of San Diego Wave FC. At Florida State, Van Zanten helped win two national championships. She became known for her tactical intelligence and strong two-way play. Van Zanten also debuted for the Jamaica women’s national football team as a teenager, giving her valuable international experience.
Another breakout candidate is Jasmine Aikey a midfielder joining Denver Summit FC. The former Stanford star had one of the best seasons in college women’s soccer history. In 2025, she scored 21 goals and added 11 assists. That performance earned her the MAC Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s top individual award. Forward Kat Rader could also make an impact on the Houston Dash. Rader finished her career at Duke with 32 goals and 20 assists. She consistently delivered in big moments and ranked among the program’s leaders in game-winning goals. If these players adjust quickly, they could soon enter conversations about the future of the USWNT.
Sneaky Underdog
Every season features a surprise contender. One team flying slightly under the radar is Racing Louisville FC. Racing Louisville FC could also surprise people this season. The club captured The Women’s Cup titles in 2021 and 2025 and reached the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs for the first time in 2025. That breakthrough could give the team confidence to head into the new season. If their young roster continues to develop, Louisville could push for another playoff run. Parity is one of the most exciting parts of women’s soccer. Any team can get hot and make a run.
Bold NWSL Hot Takes
Every preseason preview needs a few predictions that might look brilliant in October, or completely ridiculous.
Hot Take #1: Kansas City wins the Shield but not the championship The Kansas City Current will finish with the best regular season record and win the NWSL Shield, but they will fall short in the playoffs. The National Women’s Soccer League postseason is unpredictable, and a hot team could knock them out.
Hot Take #2: The championship favorite doesn’t win the title. While teams like Kansas City Current, Washington Spirit, and NJ/NY Gotham FC are getting most of the preseason’s attention, the NWSL rarely follows the script. A lower-seeded playoff team could easily get hot at the right time and steal the championship.
Hot Take #3: A rookie scores 10+ goals A first-year player will reach double-digit goals this season. With talented young attackers entering the league, someone like Jasmine Aikey could quickly become a key scorer for the