Emma Hayes’ road-trip blitz. Plus: Fanflation coming to NWSL?

NWSL Notables

Utah’s main character energy

The Utah Royals extended their unbeaten streak to seven games over the weekend with a scoreless draw against Bay FC. Considering it was Utah’s third match in nine days (and the hottest; during a play stoppage in the second half, several players were seen sprinting to the touchline for cool towels and water), it’s a result they can live with, and certainly a spot in the league table (fourth, with 17 points) they can be more than satisfied with. This time last season, they had earned a total of five points from nine games.

One key? Look to the spinal cord of the team up the middle, from goalkeepers Mia Justus (who picked up an injury in late April) and the USWNT’s Mandy McGlynn to center back Kate Del Fava, Narumi Miura and Mina Tanaka in the center of the park, and Paige Cronin up top.

Utah is on a mission, and though it’s a few weeks away, that May 30 clash with the top-seeded Portland Thorns is circled on our calendars.

Can you call it a rivalry?

The atmosphere inside Sports Illustrated Stadium for Gotham’s rematch with Boston on Saturday was electric. The final 1-1 scoreline does little to show how entertaining the fixture was, with Boston securing a draw despite the NWSL champions having far more chances on goal.

The teams’ proximity to one another had many wondering if an organic rivalry would quickly blossom, especially considering the historic spats between New York and Boston teams in other sports. 

The match certainly offered some early signs of a budding feud: an intense battle on the pitch, controversial calls, a dynamic crowd acting as the home team’s 12th man. But what this feud noticeably lacks is history — the kind of history that sparked the original East Coast NWSL rivalry, Gotham versus the Washington Spirit.

While we won’t be calling this one a rivalry — yet — it’s a shame that the two sides won’t meet again until next year.

‘Fanflation’ could soon reach NWSL

Is the NWSL still the best deal in American sports? For now, yes.

While the WNBA is experiencing “fanflation” — or soaring demand driving ticket prices upward — NWSL clubs have largely resisted passing along rising costs, from higher player salaries to growing operational expenses, directly to supporters. Part of that is philosophical. Part of it is practical. Most clubs are still focused on filling seats and growing loyal fan bases.

To attract first-timers, several teams now offer “first match on us” promotions, while others keep supporter-section tickets under $10.

• To wit: The Gotham-Legacy match brought 1,000 fans into the stadium for $5 each through a partnership with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has repeatedly criticized skyrocketing ticket prices ahead of this year’s men’s World Cup.

But with NWSL expansion fees now topping $200 million and franchise valuations climbing fast, the real question is not if the prices will rise, but when.

Asli has more on soaring ticket prices in the video below.