Hold onto your scarves, NWSL fans, because the 2026 regular season is heading into its final stretch and it’s absolutely scorching! With only five games left and the NWSL Shield still up for grabs, it’s a tight race, and only one team is officially out of playoff contention. You know what that means: every single match is pure fire.
Denver Summit Is Making Waves, Thanks to Janine Sonis
While a lot of teams are battling it out for the Shield, there’s one squad absolutely exploding right now, making everyone rethink their predictions: the Denver Summit. Yeah, I know, they’re sitting just outside the playoff picture in the standings, but seriously, anyone who has watched them in the last month would be crazy to count them out. This Colorado expansion side just rocketed up the power rankings into the upper half. They’ve turned Centennial Stadium into a fortress, riding an insane five-game unbeaten streak right into these final weeks. It’s wild to see an “inaugural campaign” not just be a building year, but a serious threat. They’re within striking distance of that playoff line, no joke.
A massive part of their surge is defender Janine Sonis. Seriously, what a player! The Canadian international just snagged a call-up for the October window, and she’s been putting together one of her best club seasons ever. Sonis has an unbelievable 15 goal contributions, with 11 goals and four assists. An outside back putting up those kinds of attacking numbers? That’s not just good, it’s making scouts take notice and pushing her into the top five for the Golden Boot race. She is absolutely thriving in manager Nick Cushing’s system, and it’s something special to watch.
Angel City on the Rise, Gotham Pushing for Glory
But Denver isn’t the only club getting hot at just the right time. Angel City FC is also punching above its weight, climbing both the power rankings and the league table. Shoutout to Taylor Suarez, whose huge efforts off the bench in back-to-back appearances during a quick turnaround week have been crucial. Their current run of form is exactly what they need to push for a playoff spot and keep climbing, which is making things really tough for everyone else around them on the bubble. These are the teams that keep you on your toes, capable of making things difficult for their opponents, and sometimes, for themselves too!
Looking at the top, NJ/NY Gotham FC is showing why they’re ranked number one right now. They’re looking like they’re stepping closer and closer to NWSL Shield glory. But with just five games left and so much at stake, literally anything can happen. We’re on the edge of our seats, folks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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