This is one outlet's own report from CBS Sports — the article as it was filed.
AIPROPX ReportCBS Sports · 2h ago
NWSL Team of the Week: Sam Kerr stays on fire; Denver Summit's Ayo Oke making things look easy
As the 2026 NWSL regular season takes twists and turns in the second half of the schedule, players are taking up space on the highlight reels. Across the league, it feels like there are more and more stellar performances, so it's the perfect time for Attacking Third's NWSL Team of the Week honors.
Back for a second year is everyone's favorite content trend. 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 .
Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger is well on her way to shaking up the Goalkeeper of the Year race. Leads the league in clean sheets (nine) and came up with big saves against Kansas City Current to help Gotham hang onto a narrow win.
Vote now for Sparkling Play of the Match, pres. by @lacroixwater ✨👆 pic.twitter.com/dRsib0V4Sm
Utah Royals right back Miyabi Moriya might be overshadowed at times by other defensive stalwarts along Utah's backline, but this week she stole the show with a game-changing equalizer.
Miyabi Moriya with the immediate answer for Utah 😱 pic.twitter.com/I6FFS9gTTb
Sometimes your veteran centerback is so good you don't realize it until you roll back the numbers, and that's always the case with defender Arin Wright . Returning to the team once again and led them in clearances (seven) with reliable, consistent play.
Midge Purce keeps things together across multiple lines for Gotham FC. The right back returns to our team after she came up with a quick equalizer off a set piece. Gotham's NWSL Shield watch continues.
MIDGE PURCE EQUALIZER 🤯 We've got ourselves a game in NY 👀 🎥 @NWSL pic.twitter.com/VUO9mzcJtR
Denver's backline has been impressive overall this season, but this week the honors go to outside back Ayo Oke . As the season gets longer, games can feel more and more like a grind, and Oke somehow makes covering those tough moments look easy. Second on the team in clearances (three) over the weekend, but No. 1 in our book when it comes to emptying the tank.
Utah's entire midfield is competing for the unofficial title of best in the league, and when you've got bangers from distance from Narumi Miura , it's not hard to see why.
Absolute rocket from Narumi Miura 🚀😮💨 📽️ @NWSL pic.twitter.com/yWLqJKc6ez
Gotham FC midfielder Jaedyn Shaw is making a dark horse case for club MVP at the moment. This week, her long set-piece service and her slice-and-dice assist to Sam Kerr inside the box get her Best XI honors.
The FIRST player in @NWSL history to reach 80 regular season goals! SAM HERR 🤝 @SamKerr1 's 31st Gotham FC regular season goal ALSO makes her the all-time leader in regular season goals for Gotham FC! #LFGGFC pic.twitter.com/tzaCfysdgU
Penalties are already a high-stress situation, so being asked to take one twice is outright pressure cooker. No problem for Mina Tanaka this week; her penalty conversion keeps Utah in the NWSL Shield race.
Second times a charm 👌 After Bay GK Jordan Silkowitz is called for encroachment on the first PK attempt, Mina Tanaka steps up and buries the retake for Utah! pic.twitter.com/Xu09N8gzQf
Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears is right back on the team after another standout performance. She delivered the assist to Katie O'Kane's goal and scored her own for her 20th career goal.
Emma Sears with her 20th career goal on an insane delivery from Katie O'Kane 😱 pic.twitter.com/STfclzDxEr
Three goals in seven appearances for Kerr, and the veteran is looking like she never left NWSL. Her off-the-ball movement and timing on runs in tight spaces make her a lethal threat.
Who else but Sam Kerr 👏 @gothamfc take the lead with with ease 😮💨 🎥 @NWSL pic.twitter.com/VofRaiqY4g
Sometimes it really is about making the most of the time you're given, and that's exactly what Houston Dash forward Clarissa Larisey did this week. Two goals scored, one a game-winner, all off the bench in a quick 13 minutes against North Carolina.
CLARISSA LARISEY IN STOPPAGE TIME 😱 Her late brace secures all three points for @HoustonDash 🤘 🎥 » @NWSL pic.twitter.com/lvw0gXGyii
While the team haven't made it easy on themselves this season, Racing Louisville are finally fighting back. Winners of three consecutive games, head coach Bev Yanez and her squad might not be in the upper half of the standings, but they're the most dangerous team to face right now if you're hungry for points.
Matchweek 17 had plenty of goals and big scorelines, but there were also some great comeback stories to celebrate. So many, in fact, that we could not fit all of them into the team of the week. But we salute Caiya Hanks ( Portland Thorns ), Ashley Hatch ( Washington Spirit ), and Sydney Leroux (Angel City) on their returns to the pitch following extended absences, and Jenna Nighswonger's return to NWSL with Bay FC .
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.
