NWSL Star Power Index: Leicy Santos arrives with Washington Spirit; Summer Yates steps up for Orlando Pride

Welcome to the NWSL Star Power Index — a handpicked selection of players who are creating buzz around the league. The playoff push is in full effect as the league navigates the second half of the sesaon and a player’s inclusion on this list is typically a good thing but it doesn’t always have to be. Buzz comes in all sorts of ways and simply means they’re capturing the NWSL world’s attention for one reason or another. This collection of players is not a ranking. It may contain starters or depth players. They are listed in no particular order, and they’re all just driving the conversation one way or another.

1. Summer Yates (MID) – Orlando Pride

Perhaps no one else has had a better summer than Yates and she’s getting off to another good start to ring in the second half of the season. She scored the game winner for Orlando on the road against Houston and the goal makes her tied with Marta for second most goals (5) on the team behind Barbra Banda.

If a Most Improved Award existed in NWSL Yates would be our winner. She’s former fourth round draft pick, only in her sophomore season with Orlando, and this season Yates has forced the coaching staff into tough decisions on how the starting lineup should look. The attacking midfielder is playing with a fearless demeanor on the pitch, unafraid to take on goalkeepers one-on-one, and it’s paid off for Orlando this year.

2. Leicy Santos (FWD) – Washington Spirit

It was a perfect debut for Santos with the Spirit during their 4-1 win against Kansas City. The long-awaited arrival of Santos has been months in the making after the club announced her acquisition back in April. The plan was always for her to arrive after completing her season with Atletico Madrid and post-Olympics, and she made the wait worthwhile. A connective player capable of generating her own shot, she’s already fitting in with the Spirit and head coach Jonatan Giraldez’s game plans. Santos earned the start in her debut, delivered an assist on the opening goal, and delivered the fourth goal for the Spirit to close out the weekend.  

3. Marisa DiGrande (MID) – Racing Louisville FC

For teams that are just a few points shy of the playoff line, players across the roster will be crucial, and DiGrande’s arrival to Louisville this year has provided options in 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 injuries to start the season. Her elevated play perhaps gave the franchise some confidence in making their most recent trade window move, ultimately sending Howell to Seattle for recently acquired Bethany Balcer. 

DiGrande has two assists this year, is among top five on the team in chances created (11), and delivered the game winner (her first for Racing) against Chicago over the weekend. The crucial three points have pushed Racing over the playoff line for the moment.

4. Alyssa Thompson (F) – Angel City FC

Angel City FC has just nine weeks left to try and repeat their 2023 second half season success. The club is just on the outside looking in at the playoff picture at the moment, a point shy of the eighth seed, and it’s thanks to a big performance by Thompson against San Diego Wave FC. The 19-year-old attacker delivered a brace in the opening 30 minutes of the match to snap a three game regular season losing streak for Angel City and inch them closer toward the postseason. The two goals were Thompson’s first of the season and she leads the team in assists (5). 

5. Adrianna Franch (GK) – Kansas City Current

Kansas City has thrilled the league with goals galore and leads all teams in goals scored (41) this year. However, they’re also among the top four teams in goals conceded (26), and it’s not quite the stat the defense will be happy about. Giving up four goals is hardly on one team member, and the squad is a bonafide contender this season, but the bleeding goals have been a part of the Current’s story this year. The franchise is fully aware and made a move over the transfer window for international goalkeeper Almuth Schult through the end of the season. Franch is a former two-time NWSL goalkeeper of the year winner, and hopefully, the latest result is just some summer break rust for Kansas City.