NWSL Team of the Week: Week 16 Honorees Feature Chicago Stars’ Alyssa Naeher’s Double Accolade

The 2025 NWSL regular season is heating up in its second half, delivering a thrilling Week 15 full of unexpected results. High-scoring draws and even goals from goalkeepers highlighted the chaotic nature of the league. With only ten weeks left, competition is intensifying, making every match critical. This intensity calls for a new NWSL Team of the Week from Attacking Third.

Our Week 16 Team of the Week features players from nine NWSL clubs, spanning from the top-ranked Kansas City Current to the 13th-place Chicago Stars FC. Following each weekend`s games throughout the 2025 NWSL season, Attacking Third analysts meticulously select a top XI, a head coach, and an honorary captain based on their outstanding performances.

Week 17 is fast approaching, and fans can catch select NWSL regular season matches across various CBS platforms, including CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Let`s delve into the standout performers who shaped this exciting week in the NWSL. Here`s our best XI:

Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Stars FC)

Selecting a single standout goalkeeper in the NWSL is always challenging, but this week, Chicago Stars FC`s Alyssa Naeher was unequivocally the top choice. She not only netted a crucial late-game equalizer but also made history by earning a spot on our Best XI in two different capacities. Her exceptional performance truly set her apart.

Defender: Natalie Jacobs (Houston Dash)

The Houston Dash faced significant challenges and “growing pains” during the first half of the NWSL season, marked by underperformance, defensive struggles, and a lack of goals. However, the second half has seen a dramatic turnaround. Houston`s improved form has led to crucial wins, and defender Natalie Jacobs earns her first Best XI honor, having anchored the defense with three tackles and ten duels.

Defender: Ellie Jean (Racing Louisville FC)

Racing Louisville FC is navigating this season with renewed vigor. They were close to playoff contention before the summer break and, three weeks into the second half, remain in the upper half of the table, just two points shy of the playoff threshold. Their success is attributed to hard-fought games with unpredictable outcomes, and crucially, to defender Ellie Jean. Attacking Third analyst Lori Lindsey lauded Jean, stating, “She has been dynamite all season long. If you consider one player who has truly elevated their game and acted as a catalyst for their team`s cohesion and playing style, it`s undoubtedly Ellie Jean. Her contribution was vital in securing their road tie against Washington.”

Defender: Kayla Sharples (Kansas City Current)

Despite challenging heat warnings at home, Kayla Sharples was instrumental in anchoring the Kansas City Current`s defense against their second-place rivals, Orlando Pride. The center-back has become a foundational figure in Kansas City`s famously stingy defense, leading the league in clean sheets. Defying the difficult summer conditions, Sharples and her defensive unit have now amassed nine clean sheets, more than any other team in the league.

Defender: Emily Sams (Orlando Pride)

Orlando Pride`s matches this season often feature narrow scorelines, and defender Emily Sams is a consistent key contributor to this trend. Her aggressive tackling and defensive prowess are crucial in breaking down opposition attacks, a quality prominently displayed in Week 15. Lori Lindsey of Attacking Third described Sams`s performance as “insane,” marveling at her relentless energy. Lindsey noted Orlando`s tactical shift to a tight back four, a departure from their usual strategy of pushing Carson Pickett forward on the left. Instead, Sams was tasked with confronting Kansas City`s Izzy Rodriguez, who operates more as an attacker. Lindsey praised Sams`s perfectly timed aggression against Rodriguez while also effectively limiting the impact of Chawinga. Sams`s tremendous effort was particularly vital after Banda`s departure, as the team knew they would need to prioritize defense without a primary attacking outlet.

Midfielder: Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns)

At just 19 years old, Olivia Moultrie is already a revered figure for the Portland Thorns, having joined their youth academy at 13. Four years after her 2021 regular season debut, her Week 16 goal for the Thorns has tied her with Jaedyn Shaw (now 20) for the most NWSL goals scored by a teenager—a record Moultrie is poised to potentially break this season.

Midfielder: Kenza Dali (San Diego Wave FC)

France international Kenza Dali delivered a midfield masterclass. A consistent feature in our weekly lineups, her inclusion this week is well-deserved thanks to her decisive, long-range finish that secured San Diego`s game-winning goal. Former player McCall Zerboni, speaking on Attacking Third, expressed admiration: “I love watching her since she joined the NWSL, and that goal… She initiated the buildup, continued her run into the box, received the ball, and finished it herself.” Zerboni emphasized the rarity and brilliance of a midfielder creating and scoring their own goals. While not a prolific scorer, Dali`s ability to seize scoring opportunities, combined with her constant setup play and “dirty work” for others, earned Zerboni`s highest praise.

Midfielder: Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current)

Despite a three-hour delay caused by extreme heat, 19-year-old central midfielder Claire Hutton displayed remarkable endurance and skill in Week 15 for Kansas City. Though her best goal-scoring opportunity was ruled offside, her off-ball efforts were equally impactful. McCall Zerboni highlighted Hutton`s exceptional performance against Orlando Pride, a top team featuring world-class midfielders like Marta. Zerboni noted, “She was shining. She truly stood out to me. She was precise, sharp, defensively solid, making her tackles, and seamlessly linking passes. She`s a standout player, and she genuinely shone the other night against Orlando for me.”

Forward: Jordan Huitema (Seattle Reign FC)

While Seattle Reign scored multiple goals in Week 16, forward Jordan Huitema`s spectacular bicycle kick truly stole the spotlight. The Canadian international, known for her aerial prowess, showcased incredible athleticism with this stunning finish.

Forward: Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit)

Sofia Cantore has quickly made her mark with the Washington Spirit. The Italian international, already a historic signing as the NWSL`s first Italian player, has now scored her inaugural league goal—a phenomenal long-range strike. This stunning effort from the 2025 UEFA Women`s Euro semifinalist served as an emphatic introduction to NWSL fans.

Forward: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Stars FC)

Alyssa Naeher is renowned for her ability to both convert and save penalties. However, in a late-game situation on the road in Seattle, with her team trailing, the Chicago Stars FC goalkeeper demonstrated incredible composure. She courageously stepped into the six-yard box on a set piece and netted a dramatic equalizer.

Coach: Ella Masar (Chicago Stars FC)

Interim head coach Ella Masar earns her place on the Best XI for the second consecutive week. Under her leadership, the Chicago Stars are now on a three-game unbeaten streak, marked by three captivating draws. Masar has instilled a fearless, “nothing to lose” mentality that has become contagious within the squad. This newfound self-belief has transformed the 13th-place team into a formidable and frustrating opponent for any side vying for playoff contention against Chicago`s tenacious grit.

Honorary Captain: Kansas City Current fans

A three-hour heat-related delay meant many fans had to decide whether to stay for the match. Despite a reduced crowd at kickoff, the Kansas City Current faithful once again demonstrated why they are among the league`s most dedicated supporters. Their commitment to their team and each other is a testament to the special season Kansas City is building.