U.S. Women’s National Team players were in action all over the globe this past weekend as the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) kicked off its 2026 season while English and French clubs competed for tournament titles.
Here’s a look at the biggest USWNT moments from March 13-15:
The NWSL began its 14th season on Friday, March 13 with the Washington Spirit hosting the Portland Thorns in a matchup featuring USWNT stars on both sides. After a scoreless first half, midfielder Olivia Moultrie broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute. She made a run down the middle of the field and received the ball at the top of the box, taking a nice first touch to slip past her defender before slotting her shot into the bottom right corner for the game-winner in the 1-0 victory.
The first goal of the 2026 NWSL season goes to Olivia Moultrie and the Portland Thorns! pic.twitter.com/JU58MHQen0
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 14, 2026
With just under 15 minutes remaining in the match, forward Sophia Wilson substituted on to make her first NWSL appearance in over a year and first since the birth of her daughter. Wilson’s fellow ‘Triple Espresso’ member Trinity Rodman was on the other end for the Spirit, alongside midfielder Hal Hershfelt and defender Tara Rudd.
USWNT forwards Croix Bethune and Ally Sentnor lifted 2025 NWSL Players’ Shield winners Kansas City Current to a 2-1 comeback win against the Utah Royals on Saturday. In the 57th minute, the Current’s Gabrielle Robinson lofted a ball into the final third to Kayla Sharples, who split two defenders with a flick on for Bethune. She took a touch before sliding it past the goalkeeper for the equalizer and her first goal with her new club in her debut. Similar to when Bethune netted her first international goal earlier this year, she hit a celebration, this time “blowing out candles” after scoring on her 25th birthday.
Sentnor carried the energy into the 69th minute when she scored the go-ahead goal against her former club. She received the ball on the left side of the box and cut back toward the penalty spot to evade two defenders. She re-angled herself toward goal and split two more defenders with a right-footed shot across her body and into the back of the net. It was also her first goal with the Current after joining the club in August of last year.
CROIX CELLYS HAVE ARRIVED ‼️@CroixBethune you do not miss 🙂↕️ pic.twitter.com/ohXJf46Psg
— KC Current (@thekccurrent) March 14, 2026
Reigning NWSL champion Gotham FC began its 2026 season with a win on Saturday to spoil expansion club Boston Legacy’s debut. The 1-0 win was a result of Jaedyn Shaw and 2025 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year Lilly Reale connecting down the left flank. Reale played Shaw before making an overlapping run and receiving the ball back in the left corner. She sent a square pass across the face of goal that was cleared by Boston’s backline, but forward Esther González followed up the rebound, lacing the ball into the right corner of the net for the game-winner.
The largest win of the weekend was on Sunday when Angel City FC routed Chicago Stars, 4-0, at BMO Stadium. Defender Emily Sams made her club debut with ACFC alongside Gisele Thompson as the pair contributed to the backline’s first clean sheet of the season.
Repping the Angel City crest for the first time!
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) March 15, 2026
Emily Sams makes her debut for the club! pic.twitter.com/gSR423CjSa
Alyssa Thompson, Naomi Girma, Catarina Macario and Chelsea FC won 2-0 against Manchester United on Sunday to earn the club’s second consecutive Women’s League Cup Final. Girma was sidelined with a calf injury and Macario remains out with an injury as well, leaving Thompson in the starting lineup as the London Football Awards Women’s Young Player of the Year continued her impressive first season with Chelsea.
Two more USWNT players picked up a trophy this weekend as midfielders Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes helped OL Lyonnes to a 1-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the French Coupe de la Ligue Final.Heaps’ dummy run led to Melchie Dumornay’s go-ahead goal in the 59th minute, and Yohannes subbed into the match in the 65th minute to help hold on to the lead.
Congratulations to Lily, Lindsey, and @ol__lyonnes on winning the Coupe LFFP 🏆
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) March 15, 2026
📸 @ol__lyonnes pic.twitter.com/CVxnFs7JBm