Melanie Barcenas for the San Diego Wave is absolutely *that* player, and NWSL defenders know it. There is nothing more terrifying than facing her one-on-one. This 18 year old, who signed with San Diego at just 15, has five goals on the season already and her talent is off the charts. She’s got this fierce energy and pure youth exuberance that makes her a nightmare to guard. Her control of the ball at her feet is just ridiculous, I mean, her goal against Denver earlier this season was straight up unfair.
Barcenas, Tordin, and Dudley Are Straight Up Ballers
Barcenas has that pure goal-scorer’s mentality, and you can tell she’s right at home around the opposition’s box. She loves operating at the top of the box, just dribbling defenders into a pretzel until she finds her shot. We’re already seeing her minutes per match going up, and trust me, she’s gonna be powering that San Diego attack as they push for the playoffs as one of the top seeds. You just love to see that kind of raw talent lighting up the league.
Down in Portland, Pietra Tordin is a certified striker, piling up the points for the Thorns this season. This 22 year old is a massive factor in their standing in the table and is leading the team in goal involvements. She’s actually third in the entire league for goal involvements, only behind Ashley Sanchez from North Carolina, who’s the Golden Boot leader, and MVP candidate Cloé Lacasse from the Utah Royals. The Thorns’ offense leans heavily on Tordin, and she and teammate Sophia Wilson have been absolutely terrorizing NWSL defenses lately. Tordin is just as dangerous setting up her teammates, with nine assists on the year, placing her second in the league. She’s even bagged one of the two hat-tricks recorded this season, the other belonging to Evelyn Ijeh of North Carolina. She’s been a force on the US U20 and U23 squads too, with six goals in 16 matches. Her continued scoring is going to have a huge impact on how Portland finishes the regular season and how far they go in the playoffs.
Over at Gotham FC, Jordynn Dudley has carved out a starting spot on a team packed with established stars who are absolutely firing on all cylinders. Playing alongside legends like Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten, Dudley has proven she’s an excellent complement to those established players. What makes Dudley such a huge asset is her ability to hold the ball. Gotham’s whole game is about possession and ball control, and that’s a perfect role for her. She’s super comfortable with the ball in both the attacking and defending ends of the field, and she’s rarely dispossessed and plays with an intensity that’s undeniable.
These young players are making their mark all over the NWSL. We’re talking about pure talent, incredible work rates, and finishing abilities that embody what every footballer strives for. As teams battle to make their way up the table and secure those crucial playoff spots, these players will be absolutely instrumental. We can’t wait to see what they do next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply