Week 9 of NWSL Season Highlights Key Player Achievements and Milestones
Following Week 9 of the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season, here are some notable statistics and achievements. This section will evolve each week to provide updated insights. For suggestions or contributions, reach out @thedanlauletta on Bsky or X.
All statistics mentioned pertain only to regular season games unless stated otherwise.
PLAYER STATS
- Mallory Swanson’s goal marked her first since July 6, 2024, ending a four-game scoring streak. She missed the entire 2025 season on maternity leave.
- Nicole Payne scored her first goal in the NWSL, having missed all of 2025 due to ACL surgery.
- Caroline DeLisle achieved her first NWSL victory during her inaugural start for the Dash over the weekend. She made her debut on Wednesday after Jane Campbell’s injury, conceding a stoppage-time equalizer. On Saturday against Angel City, she allowed only a penalty kick, which she nearly saved, and enjoyed a victory with a late goal.
- Last week, we highlighted Marta’s record-extending 15th consecutive penalty conversion. Meanwhile, one of her closest challengers, Lo’eau LaBonta, saw her streak end at 10 when Angelina Anderson saved her penalty attempt on Wednesday night.
- Seb Hines secured a victory for the Pride, surpassing Juan Carlos Amorós in their competition for sixth all-time in wins. This win was Hines’ 46th, while Amorós’ Gotham team was engaged in Concacaf play, leaving him stuck at 45.
- Kenza Dali has now become the Wave’s record-holder for consecutive minutes played, surpassing Kristen McNabb. She extended her streak to 2,963 minutes before being substituted in the 83rd minute on Sunday. Her 38 consecutive starts also set a club record, just seven short of Christen Westphal’s Wave record of 45 games played.
- Katie Atkinson has logged 270 minutes for the Stars, allowing just one goal — a penalty — while securing two wins and two shutouts. In contrast, goalies Alyssa Naeher and Halle Mackewicz have combined for 720 minutes, conceding 21 goals, with one win and no shutouts.
- Claudia Dickey has started 50 consecutive regular season games for the Reign, the most ever for a goalkeeper. Lauren Barnes maintains the overall Reign records for games played (60) and started (59).
- Kate Del Fava continues her perfect minute streak for the Royals, having played all 5,670 minutes over 63 games since the team’s inception in 2024. These represent the longest streaks from the start of any expansion team.
- DeLisle was among four players making their NWSL debuts last week. Jennie Immethun debuted for the Thorns on Wednesday following her signing from UCLA; Maddie Prohaska replaced an injured Jordyn Bloomer in goal for Racing Louisville on Saturday; and Cameron Brooks made her debut in the same game for the Courage. Brooks has played at Texas and has previous experience in the Super League and in Italy before joining North Carolina.
- Kaleigh Kurtz has now played 124 consecutive regular season matches and has logged 11,122 consecutive minutes, both of which are league records. This streak began on June 26, 2021, while she was with the Courage. (The unrounded number results from a rain-shortened match in 2023.)