NWSL Star Energy Index: Leicy Santos arrives with Washington Spirit; Summer season Yates steps up for Orlando Pleasure

Welcome to the NWSL Star Energy Index — a handpicked number of gamers who’re creating buzz across the league. The playoff push is in full impact because the league navigates the second half of the sesaon and a participant’s inclusion on this checklist is often factor nevertheless it would not all the time need to be. Buzz is available in all types of the way and easily means they’re capturing the NWSL world’s consideration for one purpose or one other. This assortment of gamers will not be a rating. It might include starters or depth gamers. They’re listed in no specific order, and so they’re all simply driving the dialog a method or one other.

1. Summer season Yates (MID) – Orlando Pleasure

Maybe nobody else has had a greater summer time than Yates and she or he’s getting off to a different good begin to ring within the second half of the season. She scored the sport winner for Orlando on the highway in opposition to Houston and the objective makes her tied with Marta for second most objectives (5) on the crew behind Barbra Banda.

If a Most Improved Award existed in NWSL Yates would be our winner. She’s former fourth spherical draft choose, solely in her sophomore season with Orlando, and this season Yates has pressured the teaching workers into robust selections on how the beginning lineup ought to look. The attacking midfielder is taking part in with a fearless demeanor on the pitch, unafraid to tackle goalkeepers one-on-one, and it is paid off for Orlando this yr.

2. Leicy Santos (FWD) – Washington Spirit

It was an ideal debut for Santos with the Spirit throughout their 4-1 win in opposition to Kansas Metropolis. The long-awaited arrival of Santos has been months within the making after the membership introduced her acquisition again in April. The plan was all the time for her to reach after finishing her season with Atletico Madrid and post-Olympics, and she or he made the wait worthwhile. A connective participant able to producing her personal shot, she’s already becoming in with the Spirit and head coach Jonatan Giraldez’s recreation plans. Santos earned the beginning in her debut, delivered an help on the opening objective, and delivered the fourth objective for the Spirit to shut out the weekend.  

3. Marissa DiGrande (MID) – Racing Louisville FC

For groups which might be just some factors shy of the playoff line, gamers throughout the roster shall be essential, and DiGrande’s arrival to Louisville this yr has supplied choices within the midfield for Racing. A league veteran, drafted in 2019, DiGrande has been a staple for Louisville’s midfield as Jaelin Howell and Savanah DeMelo navigated accidents to begin the season. Her elevated play maybe gave the franchise some confidence in making their most up-to-date commerce window transfer, in the end sending Howell to Seattle for just lately acquired Bethany Balcer. 

DiGrande has two assists this yr, is amongst high 5 on the crew in possibilities created (11), and delivered the sport winner (her first for Racing) in opposition to Chicago over the weekend. The essential three factors have pushed Racing over the playoff line for the second.

4. Alyssa Thompson (F) – Angel Metropolis FC

Angel Metropolis FC has simply 9 weeks left to try to repeat their 2023 second half season success. The membership is simply on the surface wanting in on the playoff image for the time being, some extent shy of the eighth seed, and it is due to a giant efficiency by Thompson in opposition to San Diego Wave FC. The 19-year-old attacker delivered a brace within the opening half-hour of the match to snap a 3 recreation common season shedding streak for Angel Metropolis and inch them nearer towards the postseason. The 2 objectives had been Thompson’s first of the season and she or he leads the crew in assists (5). 

5. Adrianna Franch (GK) – Kansas Metropolis Present

Kansas Metropolis has thrilled the league with objectives galore and leads all groups in objectives scored (41) this yr. Nevertheless, they’re additionally among the many high 4 groups in objectives conceded (26), and it is not fairly the stat the protection shall be glad about. Giving up 4 objectives is hardly on one crew member, and the squad is a bonafide contender this season, however the bleeding objectives have been part of the Present’s story this yr. The franchise is absolutely conscious and made a transfer over the switch window for worldwide goalkeeper Almuth Schult via the tip of the season. Franch is a former two-time NWSL goalkeeper of the yr winner, and hopefully, the most recent result’s just a few summer time break rust for Kansas Metropolis.