Week 13 NWSL Recap: Records, Golden Boot Battle and Historic Milestones
The 13th week of the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season delivered a cascade of storylines, from individual milestones to team firsts, as the league’s narrative intensified heading into the summer stretch.
Kaleigh Kurtz continued her iron‑man run, extending her streak to 128 consecutive regular‑season appearances and 11,592 minutes, marking the longest unbroken spell ever recorded in NWSL history.
For the Royals, Kate Del Fava has been ever present, logging all 6,030 minutes across 67 games since the franchise’s debut in 2024, a testament to both durability and consistency.
Coach Leif Gunnar Smerud became the fourth manager to win his first two matches in the league, underscoring the impact of fresh tactical leadership early in the campaign.
The Golden Boot race is shaping up as a duel between Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga, who sit atop the scoring chart with 12 and 9 goals respectively, with Chawinga eyeing a third straight award that would tie Sam Kerr’s record.
Milestones at Iconic Venues
Gotham’s victory at Citi Field marked the club’s 50th regular‑season home win, a milestone that reflects the team’s growth since its inception.
Conversely, the Stars endured their 50th home loss across all competitions, spread across five different venues, highlighting the challenges of building a winning culture on the road.
Racing Louisville snapped a club‑record five‑game winless streak with a 1‑1 draw against the Dash, a result that keeps their playoff hopes alive.
Maiara Niehues scored in her fifth straight appearance and became only the seventh player to register a game‑winner in three consecutive matches, while Esther Gonzalez now leads Sam Kerr 30‑28 on Gotham’s all‑time scoring list.
Angel City posted shutouts in three straight games, a first for the franchise, while Karlie Lema’s three‑game goal streak matched the Bay FC record.
The Reign made history by becoming the first NWSL team to lead by two goals, win a penalty and still lose, a result that left coaches and analysts puzzling over the final minutes.