# Why Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit and San Diego Wave are NWSL Top Dogs

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-women-s-soccer-podcast-6589593/why-portland-thorns-washington-spirit-and-san-diego-wave-are-nwsl-top-dogs
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-women-s-soccer-podcast-6589593/why-portland-thorns-washington-spirit-and-san-diego-wave-are-nwsl-top-dogs.md
Podcast: [The Women's Soccer Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-women-s-soccer-podcast-6589593)
Published: 2026-05-12T01:52:56+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-womens-soccer-podcast/2786751
Audio file: https://pdcn.co/e/content.rss.com/episodes/225745/2786751/the-womens-soccer-podcast/2026_05_12_01_47_40_e36f833b-6095-4b83-9ca7-a3bdf7bb1991.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-women-s-soccer-podcast-6589593/episodes/why-portland-thorns-washington-spirit-and-san-diego-wave-are-nwsl-top-dogs
Duration seconds: 2169

## Resource

In today's episode, LDG breaks down the trio of teams, that among the early leaders in the NWSL season, have proven themselves to be above the rest: the Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit, and San Diego Wave. On the surface, these teams are delivering good performances through victories and points, but what makes their approach unique is the method by which they are achieving such success. In this episode, LDG examines the various identities that are emerging among the league leaders, including the new balance found in Portland, the offensive fireworks provided by Washington, and the defensive organization of San Diego. LDG explores the tactics behind these clubs, including the key players and statistics contributing to their current successes, and examine the reason for their emergence as potential standard-bearers of the NWSL. However, the overarching question here remains: is this the dawn of a new era, or just the form of the early season period? LDG digs deep into what has been motivating each team beyond mere results. In the case of Portland, it is the development of their midfield players as well as a tactical approach to attack that is more fluid and adaptable than ever before. As for Washington, it is the pairing of world-class athletes with an extremely fast-paced game that utilizes its vertical strength to generate high-quality scoring opportunities. Lastly, it is the tactical cohesion of San Diego’s defense and ball control that makes them a nightmare for any opponent looking to find a way past them. Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@ thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social) . In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

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## Transcript

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