Keeper Notes

The home for US woso stats & stories. Founded 2002 by “The Keeper” Jen Cooper. Way more posts at @keepernotes.bsky.social. More at

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Your Friday NWSL wacky fact!

Jess Fishlock SEA & Marta ORL are the two oldest players in the league right now and face off this weekend in Seattle — they are the ONLY players in league history to wear #10 for their club for a DECADE (or more).

Pix by Michelle Morrison/MJ Cox

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

For the 5th time in NWSL history, the Shield will be decided on the final matchday of the regular season.

It'll be either San Diego (2nd Shield in 5 years) or Gotham (1st Shield, 7th diff club to win since 2019).

All Decision Day matches kick off at 4 pm CT next Sunday!

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

It's "Shield Watch Sunday" for NWSL!

Gotham can clinch its 1st NWSL Shield with:
win vs ORL + KC win/draw + BOS win at SD

If Gotham don't clinch today, the Shield will be decided on Decision Day — it would be 5th time in NWSL history that Shield wasn't decided til final wknd

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Where things stand after Wk 26 Fri games:

POR clinch w/win vs NC, which also means KC, UTA, LA all clinch. First time for Royals in the playoffs!

UTA-SEA draw = NC still in contention, DEN alive with a win/draw vs LOU tomorrow.

So DEN, NC & SEA will fight for last spot!

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Big night for NWSL on next-to-last weekend of the regular season!

The outcome of 2 ogames could finalize the 8 teams for postseason!

If BOTH Portland & Seattle win tonight, then playoff field is set, just not final seeding. If that happens, DEN & NC would be "odd teams out."

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Had a great chat with John Shrader about the 2026 @NWSL season so far and the players who've really stood out.

Just 3 weeks left in the regular season and there are still 6 playoff spots up for grabs!

[John Shrader @Shrader_Media]

An @NWSL primer from Jen Cooper (@keepernotes) on The Soccer Media Podcast.

https://t.co/7ltweNcBLE

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Correction! She's the 12th USWNT mom to score for the team:

Dunlap-Seivold 1986 *
Fawcett 1995
Fotopoulos 2002
Ellertson 2008 *
Markgraf 2008
Lilly 2010
Rodriguez 2014
Morgan 2021
McDonald 2018 *
Dunn 2024
Wilson 2026
Swanson 2026

* Did not play w/USWNT before they were moms!

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Excellent work by Michelle Cooper to get that ball to Mallory Swanson, who scores the equalizer in the 86th minute.

Swanson is the 10th USWNT player to score a goal after becoming a MOM!

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Excellent work by Michelle Cooper to get that ball to Mallory Swanson, who scores the equalizer in the 86th minute.

Swanson is the 10th USWNT player to score a goal after becoming a MOM!

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Forgot to add that HUTTON also gets the start tonight.

And Alexia Putellas stars for Spain — she is the most-capped player in the team's history.

[Jeff Kassouf @JeffKassouf]

Lineups are in:

Ashley Sanchez STARTS for the #USWNT in a huge vote of confidence. Hayes said last week that new/returning players wouldn't start either game, so that's big. Hutton in for Yohannes. Gisele Thompson at LB. Phallon Tullis-Joyce in net.

Six changes for Spain.

[𝒁𝒊𝒛𝒐𝒖11💙❤️ @zizounum1]

According to @teledeporte our Queen Alexia will start tonight..

150 caps for Spain. The most-capped player in the history of the women’s national team and the third most-capped player in Spanish football history, behind only Ramos and Casillas.

Alexia Putellas, you are HISTORY.

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

3 changes to starting XI:

• Tullis-Joyce in goal
• Sanchez makes 1st USWNT start since Oct 2024
• Gisele Thompson on defense

[U.S. Women's National Soccer Team @USWNT]

The STARters in DC 👀

USWNT x The @HomeDepot

[U.S. Women's National Soccer Team @USWNT]

Our Starters vs Spain 👊

USWNT x The @HomeDepot

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Kickoff in 1 hour! Pregame coverage starts now on HBO Max & TNT.

Join USWNT fans at @PhoenixBrewpub to watch the game at 6 pm CT. All appetizers $8 until 7 pm. All ages welcome.

[U.S. Women's National Soccer Team @USWNT]

On the premises 🏟️

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Catch the "rematch" tonight at 6 pm CT on TNT/HBO Max (English) and Universo/Peacock (Spanish).

For USWNT fans in Houston, head to @PhoenixBrewpub on Westheimer to watch the game with the Keeper!

All ages welcome!

[U.S. Women's National Soccer Team @USWNT]

It's matchday in Philly 🦅

USWNT x @ATT

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

As things stand, USWNT is looking at first-ever loss in regulation to a team ranked #1 at the time of the game.

If Spain's 2-0 lead stands, this would also be first loss by more than 1 goal in the Hayes era.

Tuesrematch will be a fascinating watch!
6pm CT at @PhoenixBrewpub!

[Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol @SEFutbolFem]

✨ ¡Directa a los highlights!

¡𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘀!

🇺🇸 0-2 🇪🇸 | 70'

📺 @teledeporte.

#JugarLucharYGanar

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

WACKY FACT part 2

The last time USWNT trailed by 2 goals at halftime was March 2017 … in Washington, DC … playing a 3-back!

https://t.co/zyJpgrJY7t

https://t.co/5vCrz8zeGn

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

WACKY FACT!

This is first time in the Emma Hayes era that the USWNT has trailed by 2 goals.

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

On the bench today:
4-Del Fava, 5-Rudd, 7-Sanchez, 8-Reale, 9-Swanson, 13-Tordin, 15-Hutton, 17-Howell, 19-Sears, 20-Cooper, 22-G Thompson, 24-Tullis-Joyce

If Del Fava and/or Tordin make their USWNT debut in this match, they'll be first USWNT player(s) to earn first cap vs Spain

[U.S. Women's National Soccer Team @USWNT]

Some familiar faces in the Starting XI

🔗 https://t.co/pM9AW6HjM8

USWNT x @Purina

[Keeper Notes @keepernotes]

Today will be the 5th meeting between USA & Spain — 3 previous wins (incl. 2019 WWC round of 16) and 1 loss (Oct 2022 in Pamplona).

This is 2nd time the USWNT face Spain on home soil — the Americans beat La Roja 1-0 in the 2020 SheBelieves Cup in NJ.

https://t.co/8bNYKtyX3n

[U.S. Women's National Soccer Team @USWNT]

All eyes on USA vs. Spain 👀

📖 https://t.co/8VG9AMAwde

USWNT x @Purina