Crystal Ball Alert: Bold 2026 NWSL Championship and MVP Predictions That Will Shock You

The 2026 National Women's Soccer League campaign kicks off on Friday, March 13. Larger than before, the competition returns for its 13th regular season featuring 16 clubs, with two fresh expansion franchises joining this year - Boston Legacy and Denver Summit.

The previous three campaigns have witnessed NJ/NY Gotham FC claim the NWSL championship silverware twice (2023 and 2025), while Orlando Pride secured victory in 2024. The NWSL Shield, awarded to the club finishing atop the regular season table, has been captured by San Diego Wave, Orlando Pride and Kansas City Current across the past three years.

So, can the Current dominate once more, shatter additional records and establish themselves as the squad to defeat? Have Gotham, who overcame the Current in postseason play, assumed the mantle of frontrunners and favorites to lead the table?

Let's dive into Sports Illustrated's preseason forecasts for some of the most significant trophies and individual honors available in the NWSL in 2026, provided by soccer journalists Jenna Tonelli and Theo Lloyd-Hughes.

NWSL Shield

NWSL Shield 

Jenna Tonelli: With Gotham's latest acquisition of Guro Reiten, I think they possess all the components to claim the shield this season. Following their second title, the club secured a collection of talented rookies including Jordynn Dudley to assist with the scoring burden alongside Esther. With Reiten delivering crosses from the left wing combined with Tierna Davidson's return, I believe this Gotham roster will be a genuine powerhouse this campaign.

Theo Lloyd-Hughes: It's difficult not to consider Gotham seriously as a Shield victor this season, but, to provide an alternative regular season champion, I would like to suggest the Orlando Pride. The 2024 NWSL Shield and championship victors possess one of the finest coaching teams in the competition, a distinct philosophy and the powerful trio of Marta, Jacquie Ovalle and Barbra Banda (who remains sidelined with injury). Across 30 matches, I believe they will be among the most reliable teams.

NWSL Championship

NWSL Championship

JT: The Washington Spirit have suffered defeat in two consecutive championship finals, and I don't expect it to occur a third time. The roster is among the most well-constructed in the league, and with Trinity Rodman's new HIP deal, I believe there will be additional motivation from the D.C. team to go all the way this season. Sofia Cantore will finally enjoy a proper offseason break and I think will become a crucial asset in attack for the Spirit as well. 

TLH: I also favor the Spirit to finally perform the magic that transforms their runner-up finish into championship gold. However, similarly, I could envision Kansas City Current embarking on a redemption campaign following their unexpected elimination by Gotham in last year's playoffs. Temwa Chawinga and Michelle Cooper face injury concerns at season's start. Come October, that shouldn't be an issue. 

Golden Boot

Golden Boot

JT: If Chawinga returns to full fitness, it's her award to forfeit! She is simply the most well-rounded striker in the competition, absolutely unstoppable when at peak condition. 

TLH: With Chawinga managing an abductor problem, and potentially missing matches due to Women's African Cup of Nations, I somewhat want to think creatively here and suggest the new signing from Brazilian club Palmeiras in Amanda Gutierres, who will spearhead the attack for 2026 expansion team Boston Legacy. The striker, who celebrates her 25th birthday next week, is strong yet skillful and enjoys striking powerful shots from distance. I believe Boston and NWSL supporters will appreciate her aggressive playing style. 

Rookie of the Year

Rookie of the Year

JT: I have heard from numerous people who follow collegiate soccer much more closely than I do that Jordynn Dudley would have been the top selection if the NWSL still conducted a draft. The college forward could have chosen any NWSL club, but decided to join the reigning champions, Gotham. If she receives sufficient playing opportunities and meets expectations, I think she could definitely be a rookie of the year candidate. 

TLH: I'm going to select Leah Klenke at Houston Dash. Being a Houston native, I think she'll have a smoother adjustment than some rookies to professional life. The 21-year-old possesses exceptional passing skills with her left foot and should be a dual threat as a defender. 

Coach of the Year

Coach of the Year

JT: Last season, Bev Yanez emerged and claimed the prestigious honor, defeating heavy favorite Vlatko Andonovski. This demonstrates that this award can extend beyond statistics and represents a comprehensive view of coaching. With two expansion clubs arriving this year, my pick is Denver's Nick Cushing. If Denver can achieve a playoff berth this season, it's Cushing's to claim. 

She is simply 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘽𝙀𝙎𝙏!!! 😤

In just her 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 as a head coach, #RacingLou's Bev Yanez has been named the 2025 @NWSL Coach of the Year!

This makes Bev the 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙎𝙏 American and 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙎𝙏 former NWSL player to win this award! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/JvyWv3gEOf

TLH: This is such a challenging category to analyze as there is considerable context and factors to evaluate. If Alexander Straus can finally transform Angel City into an NWSL contender, after four seasons of fluctuating between lower and middle table positions, then he would be my coach of the year.

Juan Carlos Amorós has not yet led his Gotham squads beyond fourth place in the standings, so a Shield victory (even with arguably the most talented roster in the league) would still be remarkably impressive. 

Another name to monitor would be Emma Coates at Bay FC. She is returning to senior club football after five years in the England women's youth national team structure. How Coates approaches revitalizing a team that concluded 2025 on a 15-game winless run will be intriguing. 

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Theo Lloyd-Hughes is a journalist for Sports Illustrated Soccer based in the Southern United States. Originally from England, he can frequently be found in a press box covering the NWSL or at international fixtures featuring the USWNT and other Concacaf nations.

Jenna Tonelli is a journalist for Sports Illustrated Soccer. She is enthusiastic about women's soccer, especially the NWSL, USWNT, and the Italian women's national team. When not contemplating soccer, Jenna can be found enjoying iced coffee and supporting the Buffalo Bills.