NWSL Team of the Week: NJ/NY Gotham FC’s Esther Gonzalez, Washington Spirit’s Rebeca Bernal shine

The NWSL -Regulitive season 2025 will continue action after week five, and that means it is time to attack the Team of the Week of Third. After weekly luminaires during the NWSL campaign of 2025, attacking third analysts select a best XI and a coach based on striking versions at the weekend.

With the season that raises to the quarter, everyone can end up with the honors of Team of the Week, including players and coaches of teams with remarkable efforts in competitions that do not end in victories. Pretend CBS Sports’ Weekly NWSL Power RankingsThere are some well -known trends that come up in this team of the week.

There is still enough season ahead, but some defenders appear repeatedly, namely Emily Sonnett and Rebeca Bernal, while others miss this year for the first time. While the Brazilian international Deinha did not crack the Week Five team, one of her current teammates from Kansas City returned. If you keep track of, view our Best XI for week four.

Five games are over, Week six are underway and fans can watch selected NWSL regular season races on CBS platforms, including CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

View our best XI:

Goalkeeper: Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit)

Another clean slate for Aubrey Kingsbury, and this time against an Orlando team that is very creative in attack. Released enormously in a game where she had 20 attempts and made six Saves.

Defender: Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)

Emily Sonnett records even more defensive responsibilities, while Gotham manages their back line and experiments with new players in new positions. She comes big with important blocks and her experience keeps the defense organized.

Defender: Kayla Sharples (Kansas City Current)

Kayla Sharples has found a home on the Backline of Kansas City. The centerback offers low security next to Alana Cook and is a threat on set pieces. She made a header look easy, towering over so much in the box during week five.

Defender: Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit)

Looks stronger and more confidently with other talent around her. Fifth in the team in the approvals (five) and has done a good job in following the attackers of Orlando, while making contact with teammates.

Defender: Rebeca Bernal (Washington Spirit)

For some reason, this is only the second time that Bernal has cracked our team of the week, but after five starts she is back and better than her week one statistics. Bernal led the team in total touches (7 0), passing attempts (53) and total permission (9) while Barbra Banda loved the scoreboard.

Midfielder: Kiki Pickett (Bay FC)

Kiki Pickett is no stranger to score far away, but she was also not in our team of the week earlier. But this week she can exceed both items from her checklist from 2025. She often flies under the radar as a reliable center in the middle, but after a screamer of a game-winning goal on the road against North Carolina, she gets the honor.

Midfielder: Kenza Dali (San Diego Wave FC)

The player of the national team of France was part of several international steps made out of season made by Wave FC and continues to deliver third in the middle for a San Diego side that has been desperate to a bona fide binding midfielder.

Midfielder: Lo’eau Labonta (Stroom from Kansas City)

The smart veteran has now converted 12 of the 13 attempts on the penalty spot, and her week five chance was just as cool as clinical. Of course the midfielder delivered the goal celebration together with the criminal conversion.

Forward: Esther Gonzalez (Gotham FC)

The Spain International kept its goals with another brace in week five. Her efforts of the ball in defensive presses are just as impressive as she makes runs to get effective score positions. She has launched herself in the NWSL Golden Boot Race conversation and her club back in the Playoff -Competent Status.

Forward: Delphie Cascarino (San Diego Wave FC)

The French International joined the Golf Final Season in 2024 and showed small glimpse of what she could offer on the field if she got a full season for her, and she shoots all the cylinders to start the 2025 season. Her two goals and an assist against Louisville this week deserve her a place on the best XI this week.

Forward: Gift Monday (Washington Spirit)

A literal gift from Monday when she scored her first NWSL goal. It ended as a decisive game winner for a big three points against reigning champions Orlando Pride.

“It was an opportunity where she was just granular. She came out of sight of Anna Morehouse on the right, blocked her and it resulted in a goal. I thought it was brilliant, made something out of the blue, and what a explanation to eliminate the big dogs and give them their first loss,” said Darian Jenkins on attacking third.

Coach: Jonatan Giraldez (Washington Spirit)

With recent news about Starteugel Trinity Rodman without a timeline for a return because she manages a back injury, it could be a big blow to a team that currently manages several injuries in the schedule prior to a big opponent in the Orlando -pride. Nevertheless, the bank has depth, and if the key games keeps in the area to pick up the results when the season rises, Giraldez has built a team for that.