Now that Olympics fever has ended, back to the business at hand.
The NWSL is rounding the final turn into the home stretch, with 10 more regular season games to go for teams to solidify their playoff spots or potentially make their shambolic campaigns slightly more respectable. The transfer window remains open until August 30th, so there’s still time for squads to improve.
But before we think about how each team can make themselves better, let’s reflect on what has made them successful so far. Some are more obvious than others (see: Banda, Barbra), but each has been crucial to whatever positives all 14 rosters can point to.
Let’s approach this team by team, from best to worst via their non-penalty xG differential. That’s right. We’re stats-y around these parts.
Kansas City Current
What’s been working: Best-in-class counter pressure
The overwhelming attack that Temwa Chawinga et al. has produced most certainly gets the headlines, but that attack can be so overwhelming thanks to how hard the Current hit the gas when they lose the ball. Their 243 turnovers generated in the attacking third similarly top the NWSL.
Germane to their attack is the fact that the Current have taken 54 shots from those turnovers. Not only is that best in the league, but it is better than second-place Portland by a considerable distance. Kansas City takes a shot once every 4.5 times they win the ball in the attacking third, a ratio that is – once again – No. 1. If you want to give your attackers opportunities to get in the box quickly while the opposition has no cover, it helps to be vicious counter pressers.
Orlando Pride
What’s been working: Take-on artistry
The Current have edged out Orlando on successful take-ons (think attackers running at defenders and blowing by them with the ball) by seven, but the Pride’s take-on success percentage of nearly 47% has Kansas City beat by two-and-a-half points.
Banda’s 3.1 successful take-ons per 90 minutes is second among midfielders and forwards who have logged at least 500 normal-time minutes, bested by compatriot Racheal Kundananji by an entire tenth of a point. The team is being tackled on their take-on attempts 50% of the time, third-lowest in the league. This group loves moving up the field with the ball at their feet.
