​Week 11 of the 2026 NWSL season marked a return to action after a four-week summer break, with the league picking up where it left off and continuing to deliver the week’s biggest stories. Ashley Sanchez and Temwa Chawinga kept finding the back of the net with remarkable consistency, San Diego solidified its position at the top of the table, and Boston pressed hard in their challenge against Bay FC. The midseason pause did little to slow the league’s momentum, as Washington relied on late heroics from Trinity Rodman, Kansas City continued climbing thanks to Chawinga, and Chicago delivered one of the weekend’s loudest shocks by defeating Utah.
The most anticipated matchup turned out to be the weekend’s headline act. The Spirit hosted a faltering Dash in the first NWSL game after the break, and Washington started with immediate pressure. They created several chances early on, and in the 32nd minute, the breakthrough appeared to come when Rodman was fouled by Dash defender Avery Patterson in the box. Rosemonde Kouassi stepped up and fired to Jane Campbell’s right, but Campbell anticipated the shot perfectly and palmed it away. After that close call, the first half ended with neither side able to find a goal.
The second half began with the Spirit continuing their early dominance. Just five minutes in, Leicy Santos delivered a superb long ball to a wide-open Rodman, who closed on Campbell and tucked her finish into the far corner for a 1-0 lead. The Dash immediately pushed back, and substitute Kate Faasse tested Sandy MacIver with a dangerous run and shot, but MacIver’s aggressive positioning and reflexes kept Houston off the scoreboard. Campbell then produced another quality save, denying a dangerous header from Tara McKeown that could have swung the momentum back in Houston’s favor.
With time winding down, Houston finally found an equalizer. In the 90th minute, Linda Ullmark threaded a perfect through ball into Faasse’s path, and Faasse finished decisively past MacIver to bring the match level at 1-1. Just when it seemed the Dash had secured a draw, Rodman struck again in stoppage time. Four minutes into five added minutes, she advanced to the top of the box, unleashed a rising strike, and beat Campbell to cap a dramatic 2-1 Washington victory. The result nudged Washington into a tie for third place on goal difference, while Houston remained stuck with just one win in their previous nine matches.
As the weekend’s narrative continued to unfold, Temwa Chawinga again stood at the center of the action. In a match against the expansion Denver Summit, Chawinga’s prowess helped Kansas City seal a crucial win, furthering the team’s winning streak. It was a game that showcased a balanced scoreline and moments of clinical finishing from KC, underscoring Chawinga’s influence on the breakthrough campaign for the Current. The scoring began in the 35th minute after a turnover in midfield. Croix Bethune unleashed a quick, incisive pass to a sprinting Michelle Cooper, who fired a low shot past Abby Smith to put Kansas City ahead. Almost immediately, a foul in the box on Chawinga earned KC a penalty, with Lo’eau LaBonta stepping up to take the spot kick. The narrative around the match suggested there was more to come, and the game’s early momentum hinted at the relentless form that KC and Chawinga have been riding all season. The rest of the contest continued to tilt in Kansas City’s favor as they pressed to consolidate their advantage.