NWSL Round 12 Match of the Week

Welcome to Round 12 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).

Angel City FC vs OL Reign:

With a combined FP/GP of 192.27, the match between Angel City FC and OL Reign is the highest ranked Round 12 fixture when considering teams’ average earning performance. 

Overview:

With both Angel City and Reign sitting on 17 points, this clash promises to be an enticing matchup. Angel City enters the match sitting in seventh place in the league table while Reign sits one spot above them. This will be the second and final regular season meeting between the squads in 2022. 

Angel City FC are coming off perhaps their most impressive win of the season. The squad was able to emerge victorious against the first-place San Diego Wave in a back-and-forth duel. LA continues to rely on a solid defense to anchor their play. They are allowing only one goal per game on average, which ranks fourth-best in the league. And while their offense has not always been the most potent part of their game, Angel City will be encouraged by the fact they produced a multi-goal performance in their last match against one of the league’s best defenses.

OL Reign enters the match looking to bounce back from a loss to the Kansas City Current two weeks ago. In that game, Reign’s persistent trouble with scoring goals left them on the wrong side of a tight battle. The squad is producing less than one goal per game on average, which ranks near the bottom of the league. Reign will hope that some of their star players returning from international duty can provide an offensive spark. And like they have done all season, the team will need to lean on its stingy defense. Reign is allowing just 0.75 goals per game on average, a league-best statistic. 

Players to Watch: 

Angel City FC

• Vanessa Gilles (DF): Gilles has been featured as a player to watch in past “Match of the Week” previews, and for good reason. When available, she anchors the center of the Angel City defense. Injury and international duty has kept her from suiting up for LA since early June, but she looks poised to return based on her strong play for her national team. Despite only playing in seven games in the regular season, Gilles still ranks second for the squad in fantasy points earned. 
• Jun Endo (FW): Like Gilles, Endo is another repeat on the Match of the Week’s players to watch list. Endo has been one of Angel City’s most consistent performers. She has started all eleven of the squad’s matches, propelling her to first place in the team’s fantasy points earned. Endo is a threat as a playmaker and scorer, having recorded a goal and two assists on the season. In LA’s last match, she provided the assist for the team’s opening goal.

OL Reign 

• Sofia Huerta (DF): Huerta is one of the most dynamic fullbacks in the league. Her ability to get forward and deliver crosses down the right wing is a pattern of play the team returns to time and time again. Her return from international duty should be a boon to Reign on both sides of the ball. Despite missing some games to represent the USWNT, Huerta still ranks second on her team in fantasy points earned. 
• Tobin Heath (FW): Heath made her much-anticipated debut for the Reign in the team’s last match. She subbed into the midfield (note that Heath is categorized as a forward in the Fantasy NWSL system) for a handful of minutes at the end of the match. Heath’s skills on the ball are famous, and for a team that has struggled to produce goals, she could be the offensive piece needed to find the back of the net more frequently. 

Prediction:

This season’s history between Angel City and Reign points decidedly in one direction. In each of the teams’ meetings, including two Challenge Cup matches and the first regular-season clash, Reign has walked away with a victory. While history favors Reign, recent momentum swings in the favor of Angel City. LA is coming off the back of an impressive victory while Reign saw their four-match unbeaten streak snapped. 

Given how close these teams are in the standings and the fact that they can both struggle to produce goals, this match is likely to be a close, low-scoring battle. Each team will benefit from players returning from international duty, although Angel City may opt to field a lineup more similar to the group who has played during the international break. LA’s ability to leverage the home-field crowd could be the deciding factor. Look for Angel City to ride the energy at the Banc to a low-margin victory.