The 2025 National Women’s Soccer League season will kick off tonight with the defending season champions, Orlando Pride, taking on the Chicago Stars at 8 p.m. Fans can watch this game on ABC or NWSL+ for free, but it will also be available on ESPN+ with a subscription.
With Orlando coming off of a championship win, fans expected them to be dominant when they faced Washington Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup last weekend. Washington came out with the win, though, shocking many fans.
Orlando’s biggest standout player, and a player to watch this season, is Marta. Other players to watch are Jaedyn Shaw of North Carolina Courage, Lynn Biyendolo of Seattle Reign, and Croix Bethune of Washington.
All three of these players have issues to overcome this season. A torn meniscus ended Bethune’s 2024 rookie season. Biyendolo was recently traded from NJ/NY Gotham to Seattle, and Shaw was recently traded from the San Diego Wave to North Carolina.
This will be the first NWSL season without legendary players Alex Morgan and Christine Sinclair. Of the league’s current stars, Chicago’s Mallory Swanson will not be playing in the season opener for an undisclosed reason.
The Portland Thorns will be taking two big hits this season, as their leading scorer, Sophia Wilson (formerly Sophia Smith), has recently announced her pregnancy. They will also be losing a standout forward, Morgan Weaver, who announced that she will miss the season with a knee injury.
Fans will get to see their teams’ brand-new secondary kits in action, following the unveilings last week. More points of interest this season will be the many rookies – including Trinity Armstrong of San Diego and Maddie Dahlien of Seattle – who are ready to show off their skills.
The regular season lasts through Nov. 2, with playoffs following.
Orlando and Kansas City Current will be two teams to watch this season, as they both dominated last season. Washington, finalists last season, will also be a team to look out for.
The 2025 NWSL season should be one for the books, and fans are thrilled to see what will happen over the next few months.
