Welcome to Round 11 of Fantasy NWSL! We will preview the Match of the Week selected based on which fixture features the teams with the highest combined fantasy points per game played (FP/GP).
Portland Thorns vs NJ/NY Gotham FC:
With a combined FP/GP of 189.98, the match between Portland Thorns and NJ/NY Gotham FC is the highest ranked Round 11 fixture when considering teams’ average earning performance.
| Fixture | Combined FP/GP |
| Portland Thorns vs NJ/NY Gotham FC | 189.98 |
| Houston Dash vs Chicago Red Stars | 183.82 |
| North Carolina Courage vs Angel City FC | 175.40 |
| Kansas City Current vs OL Reign | 173.45 |
| San Diego Wave FC vs Racing Louisville FC | 166.02 |
| Washington Spirit vs Orlando Pride | 130.55 |
Overview:
The regular season has reached the halfway mark, creating plenty of meaningful storylines to follow as the Thorns take on Gotham. Portland enters this clash sitting in third place while Gotham is eighth in the league table. This will be the first meeting between the squads in 2022.
Portland Thorns are on a seven-match unbeaten streak. The team’s offensive prowess has been the standout feature through this stretch. They continue to lead the league with an average of 2.18 goals scored per game. But their defense has also impressed, conceding less than one goal per game on average. Strong play on both sides of the ball has seen Portland build a +14 goal differential, which is a league-best effort by a considerable margin.
NJ/NY gained a much-needed win last week, snapping a three-game losing streak. But with only four total wins on the year, Gotham’s season has gotten off to a slow start. Their main issue is the lack of offensive production. The team is averaging a league-low 0.78 goals per game. They also rank poorly in shots and shots on goal. NJ/NY has failed to find the back of the net in five of their nine matches. The combination of a struggling offense and an unremarkable defense has led Gotham to a -6 goal differential, which is second lowest in the league.
Players to Watch:
Portland Thorns
- Meghan Klingenberg (DF): The veteran defender has long been a crucial piece to Portland’s success. Klingenberg has missed some time this season, but her ability to closely guard attackers down the flank and then spring defense into offense is felt whenever she steps on the pitch. In the squad’s previous game, she provided the assist for Portland’s second goal.
- Hina Sugita (MF): With Portland still missing some of its well-known names in their offense due to international duty, Sugita will be one of the team’s top goal-scoring prospects. Her playmaking abilities have yielded three goals and an assist on the season. She provided Portland’s second goal in their match last week.
NJ/NY Gotham
- Imani Dorsey (DF): In a rocky start to Gotham’s season, Dorsey has been one of the constants. The left fullback has started all of Gotham’s matches this year. As a result, she is the top fantasy point earner on the squad. She will need to have a strong performance if Gotham hopes to keep the powerful Thorns offensive in check.
- Taylor Smith (DF): Smith provided the spark last week to lift Gotham to their first win in over a month. She was flying under the radar since it was only her second match with Gotham after being signed off waivers from NC Courage. But more eyes will be on her this time, and Gotham may rely on her to repeat her goal-scoring efforts with the likes of Midge Purce and Kristie Mewis away on international duty.
Prediction:
Portland and NJ/NY have no history between them this year. Without that matchup history, it’s logical to lean on the teams’ recent form and general patterns to determine an outcome. In this context, Portland has to be the favorite. The confidence from their ongoing unbeaten streak and ability to leverage their high-powered offense aligns favorably against the low-scoring Gotham side.
Portland will be returning home after two weeks on the road. While Providence Park can be a difficult place for visitors to play, Gotham has performed well on the road this season. Three of their four wins have been away games, including their victory last week. Additionally, there is the intangible factor that Gotham may simply have more at stake this game as the season rolls on and they find themselves below the playoff line. That being said, it’s hard to bet against the Thorns on this occasion. Look for the home side to collect three points in a low-margin victory.