Chicago Red Stars, KC Current, eye on NWSL Pardeep Cattry’s rebound

The highlight of the 2023 NWSL season was virtually unparalleled competitiveness, a lot in order that with three games remaining there have been 729 possible playoff scores, with the eventual champion having been in last place only a yr prior. This only increases the potential for exciting events in 2024, but in addition means the brand new campaign may not live as much as last season’s drama, especially with two recent teams and two more play-off spots up for grabs.

While we’re a good distance from knowing whether this season can deliver eye-popping statistics, the very early results of the 2024 NWSL campaign show that there stays a high level of competitiveness that might once more be the hallmark of the league on the pitch.

An example? The current top two teams – Kansas City Current and Chicago Red Stars – occupied the underside two spots within the standings at the tip of the 2023 season, a lot so that they’re the one teams in history to not take part in the playoffs. decision day, with eight teams competing for 4 spots. These aren’t the one teams that missed last yr’s playoffs to be optimistic at this early stage of the season, with familiar faces and NWSL newcomers contributing in equal measure.

Here are the discussions from the most recent round of NWSL motion, where the theme for several teams was changing the narrative.

Swanson’s return has the Red Stars ahead of schedule

Although the winning streak was interrupted on Friday after a 1-1 draw with Orlando Pride, the Red Stars have had one in every of their best starts of the season with seven points and second place within the table. Few would blame them in the event that they adopted a more patient strategy – the club is in the primary yr of rebuilding under recent ownership and recent head coach Lorne Donaldson. However, after three matches it is evident that the Red Stars should not just here to compete – also they are here to win Now.

Donaldson’s side have been completely happy to play off the ball up to now and like to play clinically when given the rare opportunities in front of goal. Thanks to this strategy, they’ve managed to attain five goals from five different scorers up to now. After this weekend, the outlook for the Red Stars’ long-term vision is much more optimistic as the point of interest of their attack is officially back. Mallory Swanson began each of the Red Stars’ three games, played her first minutes since rupturing her patellar tendon last April, and on Friday, she finally scored her first goal of the season.

At this early stage of the season, the Red Stars are officially expected to maintain an eye on her, especially as U.S. Women’s National Team observers and others monitor Swanson’s progress following injury.

The current cannot stop, it can not stop

Maybe the The story of the 2024 season up to now is Prąd, for whom the whole lot appears to be going well. The club made history on opening day of the regular season by opening the primary stadium built exclusively for an NWSL team, then went on to win three of three to start out the season while delivering must-watch television. They have scored 11 goals already this season and almost love conceding them in equal measure, opening CPKC Stadium with a 5-4 thriller against the Portland Thorns after which Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Angel City.

The Current has relied on nine different scorers in the method, with Bia Zaneratto and Vanessa DiBernardo being the one players to attain greater than once this season up to now. It marks a dramatic return to the NWSL for Vlatko Andonowski, who was one in every of the league’s most respected coaches before his stint as USWNT coach ended with a disappointing performance eventually yr’s Women’s World Cup. The early returns to the Andonvoski era, including a powerful start from rookie Zaneratto, are a vote of confidence in Current’s rebuild after ending second to last in 2023 – even when it hasn’t been the most popular restructuring of the NWSL offseason.

Current’s performance is a far cry from the USWNT, which went over 200 minutes with no goal on the World Cup, which seems appropriate after almost a yr away from the tournament. The national team is beginning to forget in regards to the World Cup and it looks like Andonowski is doing the identical.

Great start for Kanu in Louisville

Like the Red Stars and Current, Racing Louisville can be one in every of the NWSL’s undefeated teams initially of the season. The big difference is that their name has only had draws up to now, largely because they boast the league’s current top scorer – Uchenna Kanu.

The Nigeria international scored only once in 21 appearances in all competitions last season, but already has three of Louisville’s 4 goals this season. New head coach Bev Yanez returned the favor by handing the keys to Kanu, who averaged about half-hour per game last season but began each of Louisville’s three games in 2024. Her stats have also increased in several categories – her average shots on goal per game is 1.06 per game, up from 0.78 within the 2023 regular season, while expected goals per game is now 0.42, almost double than last yr – 0.2.

Not the whole lot is rosy for Louisville, which must work on its defense before it could possibly present itself as a very recent and improved team. However, Kanu provides them with an awfully strong foundation to construct on because the season progresses and is definitely one in every of the intense spots of the brand new season.