Time is winding down quickly in the 2026 NWSL regular season. Teams are battling for playoff position, and the NWSL Shield race is the most competitive it's been in years, with multiple teams in contention. In between it all, players are stepping up with huge club performances, and that means it's time for Attacking Third's NWSL Team of the Week honors.
After weekly matches across the 2026 NWSL season, Attacking Third analysts will select a team of the week, head coach, and honorary captain based on performances across the weekend. Here you can find a mix of stats and data, analysis from our pundits, and highlights you may have missed over the weekend. If you're keeping track of who earned past honors, check out our previous team of the week.
Impressive goals, celebrations, and lockdown defense made player selections tough this week. Even with just a couple of months left in the regular season, there's still history being made in player debuts, which we honor as well this week. The former goalkeeper of the year came up with some crucial saves in a shootout against North Carolina this week.
You can't always get a clean sheet, but you can still save the game. GIGANTE FULL LAYOUT SAVE 😮💨Lorena doing what she does best 🧱Save of the Match | @HyVee pic.twitter.com/qGA3FGsJuh If consistency had a profile, it would be of Tierna Davidson. Gotham FC isn't exactly racking up the goals right now, but that's ok because they've got some great defense led by the centerback.
Davidson led the team in shot blocks (two) and recoveries (seven) against Portland Thorns FC over the weekend. Seattle Reign defender Phoebe McClernon is quietly putting together another impressive season on the backline. The type of centerback that understands her assignments and completes them, and goes under the radar for her reliable play.
Led the backline in recoveries (15) against Houston. I would not be surprised if Mimi Van Zanten's post-game GPS is off the charts because she is constantly everywhere on the pitch. The fullback gets involved in offense up the pitch and shuts down opposing attacks, and threaded the needle on this goal.
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