NWSL 2025: Week 22’s Playoff Drama and Unforgettable Individual Brilliance

As the 2025 NWSL regular season hurtles towards its electrifying conclusion, the playoff picture intensifies with every pass, tackle, and goal. Week 22 proved to be a crucible, forging heroes and highlighting the sheer, unadulterated talent that defines women`s professional soccer. With precious few matches remaining, individual performances are not merely highlights; they are the very threads weaving the fabric of postseason dreams. This past week saw a captivating blend of veteran resilience, emerging stardom, and even a poignant farewell, all underscored by tactical acumen.

The Guardians of the Goal and the Unyielding Backline

In a league where margins are razor-thin, a robust defense often provides the foundation for victory. Week 22 presented several masterclasses in defensive solidity, spearheaded by figures who stood firm against the tide.

• Mia Justus (Goalkeeper, Utah Royals): The Utah Royals, displaying a defiant refusal to yield, found their bulwark in Mia Justus. Her crucial saves weren`t just about stopping shots; they were about preserving a clean sheet and keeping her team`s unlikely surge alive. It`s the kind of performance that suggests a team, perhaps unexpectedly, might still have a few upsets up its sleeve.
• Janni Thomsen (Defender, Utah Royals): Speaking of the Royals, Janni Thomsen continues to defy expectations for a defender. Not only did she make a second consecutive appearance on the Team of the Week, but she also netted back-to-back goals. There’s a particular artistry to her strikes from distance, making one wonder if she moonlights as a forward in secret.
• Emily Sonnett (Defender, Gotham FC): While Gotham’s fullbacks pushed high, Emily Sonnett was the unshakeable anchor at center-back. Her role as pressing triggers increased was handled with a composure that belies the chaos of a late-season scramble. Leading defenders in recoveries, Sonnett`s stable presence is less about flash and more about the quiet, consistent execution that wins championships.
• Phoebe McClernon (Defender, Seattle Reign FC): Seattle`s tactical flexibility, often their trump card, relies heavily on dependable personnel. Phoebe McClernon embodies this reliability. Her leadership and unwavering consistency on the backline, coupled with her prowess in recoveries and duels, provide Head Coach Laura Harvey with the luxury of strategic rotation.
• Janine Sonis (Defender, Racing Louisville FC): For Racing Louisville, Janine Sonis’s Week 22 performance was a welcome convergence of effort and outcome. Her burgeoning chemistry with Emma Sears on the flank generated promising attacks, and her disciplined recovery play consistently frustrated opposing offenses.

Midfield Maestros and Offensive Firepower

The NWSL`s heart beats loudest in its midfield, where creativity clashes with grit, and upfront, where goals become the ultimate currency. This week, several players showcased their ability to dictate terms and change games with singular moments of brilliance.

• Croix Bethune (Midfielder, Washington Spirit): The Washington Spirit, already playoff-bound, witnessed Croix Bethune make impact creation look effortlessly simple. Her uncanny ability to “thread the needle” through congested defenses, regardless of who`s in the box, is a testament to her burgeoning influence. She’s the kind of player who makes you lean forward in your seat.
• Rose Lavelle (Midfielder, Gotham FC): Rose Lavelle has a storied history of delivering in the postseason. Her Week 22 performance—a goal and an assist—served as a potent reminder that she is not merely participating; she is redefining “elite” as the playoffs loom. Expect more fireworks.
• Lo`eau LaBonta (Midfielder, Kansas City Current): The Kansas City Current continue their relentless march, and veteran midfielder Lo`eau LaBonta continues her penalty kick clinic. Her 14th career penalty tied Megan Rapinoe’s record—a statistic that quietly underscores her consistent pressure-moment delivery.
• Midge Purce (Forward, Gotham FC): A healthy Gotham roster is a terrifying prospect for the rest of the league, and Midge Purce`s return to form is a prime example. Three consecutive 90-minute performances culminated in a crucial Week 22 goal, signaling her dangerous resurgence precisely when it matters most.
• Jacqueline Ovalle (Forward, Orlando Pride): Mexican international Jacqueline Ovalle wasted no time establishing her impact for the Pride. Following an assist last week, she delivered a goal this week, showcasing an immediate and decisive presence in the attacking third.
• Gift Monday (Forward, Washington Spirit): While not quite the lightning-fast hat-trick Ludmila delivered earlier in the season, Gift Monday`s three goals in the 18th, 21st, and 36th minutes represented the fastest first-half hat-trick. This kind of explosive performance, with weeks still left before the postseason, suggests the Spirit are not just punching tickets; they`re making a statement.

A Valiant Bow: Honoring the Chicago Stars FC

In the relentless pursuit of silverware, not every journey ends in triumph. Week 22 marked the formal elimination of the Chicago Stars FC from 2025 postseason contention. Yet, even in bowing out, the Stars provided a poignant reminder that impact isn`t solely measured by playoff berths.

Their season, though ending prematurely in the standings, was far from forgettable. A six-game unbeaten streak showcased their potential, Ludmila’s league-record hat-trick earned her Player of the Month honors in August, and Alyssa Naeher established a new league saves record. Furthermore, this “last-place” team managed to snap first-place Kansas City`s formidable shutout streak, a testament to their fighting spirit. Sometimes, even bowing out can be done with a certain panache, leaving a trail of memorable moments that refuse to be overshadowed by the final standings. We eagerly await their next chapter, Chicago.

As the NWSL plunges into its final weeks, the stakes couldn`t be higher. The individual brilliance showcased in Week 22, coupled with astute coaching and the enduring spirit of every team, paints a vivid picture of a league at the peak of its powers. The playoff chase is no longer a distant ambition; it`s a tangible, breathless reality, promising an exhilarating finish to the 2025 season.