Undoubtedly, NJ/NY Gotham FC would have preferred to resume the NWSL season with a win when they shared the points last week with Chicago Stars FC.  The Bats were often outplayed, which could be because many players had not played a match in over a month.

Two clubs right beside each other in the NWSL standings will hit the pitch on Sunday as the fifth-place Washington Spirit faces the sixth-place Portland Thorns.