NWSL regular season begins on Friday and the league is gearing up for an exciting year. Orlando Pride are regning title holders and the Washington Spirit recetly clinched the 2025 Challenge Cup. Offseason moves have already seperated some teams from others,

With a dramatic turnaround last season, the National Women’s Soccer League champion Orlando Pride are now among the teams to beat as the 2025 season opens.

The Washington Spirit got their revenge Friday night against the Orlando Pride at Inter&Co Stadium in Florida, winning the 2025 Challenge Cup in penalty kicks. While it won’t erase the loss in the 2024 NWSL championship, Friday’s win was a solid start with a trophy to boot ahead of the start of the regular season.

In a rematch of the 2024 NWSL championship final, the Washington Spirit defeated the Pride 4-2 in penalties after the game ended 1-1 to claim this year's Challenge Cup at Inter&Co Stadium. Tara McKeown scored the game-winning penalty to secure Washington's first Challenge Cup trophy.

With the NWSL regular season around the corner, it’s time to check which teams are trending in the right and wrong directions.

Haley McCutcheon scored in the opening seven minutes, and the Pride went full throttle from there. Barbra Banda finished with two goals, Ally Watt and Julie Doyle were also on the scoresheet as Orlando stamped a 6-0 victory against the Chicago Stars at Inter&Co Stadium.