Louisville crossover thrash troublemakers Belushi Speed Ball have announced their fourth studio album, Toxic Waste Was Everywhere In The ’80s, arriving June 5. The band plans to celebrate the release the following day with a chaotic performance at Milwaukee Metal Fest.
The album features artwork from renowned metal illustrator Andrei Bouzikov, known for his work with Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust, and High on Fire. Packed with 12 high-speed tracks, the record promises the band’s signature blend of frantic riffs, punk energy, and tongue-in-cheek humor.
Frontman Vinny Castellano says the band believes the new record is their strongest yet: “We are so excited to drop our strongest album to date! Toxic Waste Was Everywhere in the ’80s is guaranteed to melt faces into a plutonium level pizza pit.”
Castellano also joked that the group might need to release a “blank greatest hits album” before the new record arrives. “We ain’t had a hit yet, and this entire album will be nothing but banger hits after banger hits.”
The album also marks the recording debut of two new members: bassist Justin McClure and drummer Ben Cotton, the latter known for his work with Rose Funeral and SIDS.
Alongside the announcement, the band has released the first single, “I Ought Not Know.” The track playfully imagines how Dave Coulier – rumored inspiration behind Alanis Morissette‘s iconic breakup anthem “You Oughta Know” – might respond if he were a pizza-loving thrash musician.
Castellano explained the tongue-in-cheek premise: “Allegedly, this is the song Dave Coulier would have wrote (if he liked pizza, thrash, and had musical talent). At least pretty sure this is the response to Alanis writing ‘You Oughta Know’.”
The track’s accompanying music video features stop-motion clay animation created by artist Adam Laughlin – and the band proudly notes that no AI was used in its creation.
Castellano also took a moment to acknowledge Coulier‘s recent health news, adding: “We also want to congratulate Dave Coulier on his recent cancer remission.”
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In the second period, not long after Matthews scored a power play goal to cut the Ducks’ lead to 3-2, the Toronto captain put a move on Gudas in front of the Anaheim net. Unable to lay a good hit on Matthews, Gudas extended his leg into Matthews’ left knee.
Matthews immediately went down in agony, holding his injured knee. He eventually had to be helped off the ice and down the tunnel.
Gudas received a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct. The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Gudas will have a hearing on Friday to determine supplemental discipline.
Toronto came back to win the game, 6-4, but the loss of Matthews is a devastating final blow that will likely end a frustrating season for the Maple Leafs. Matthews leads the team in goals with 27, and he’s fourth on the team in points with 53. The top heavy nature of the team’s lineup means all the stars have to be healthy and firing on all cylinders for everything to click, and that won’t be the case the rest of the way.
If the Leafs’ playoff hopes haven’t already been extinguished, losing Matthews for the rest of the season will likely do the trick.
Maple Leafs’ address lack of response to “dirty” hit
When the hit first occurred, and Matthews was laying on the ice, none of his Maple Leafs teammates confronted Gudas in any way. Toronto has been flat for most of the 2025-26 season, but it was still shocking not to see anyone rush to Matthews’ defense.
In their postgame press conferences, assistant captains John Tavares and Morgan Rielly described the hit as “dirty” and said the team should have done more to defend Matthews initially. Rielly shouldered the blame for the lack of a response.
“I didn’t have a good view of it just because the puck was going the other way, but it’s on me for not responding earlier to Gudas,” Rielly said. “It’s a dirty hit. I didn’t understand how bad he got him in the moment. I take full responsibility for not being the first one in there or the first one to respond. … Ultimately, when your captain goes down like that on a dirty play, you have to respond as a group. I also take responsibility for not being the first one in there on the hit.”
There was a more physical response in the third period, when Easton Cowan fought Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, and the teams racked up a combined 48 penalty minutes. Toronto coach Craig Berube appreciated that effort, but he admitted the other four players on the ice at the time of Matthews’ injury should have taken action.
“We should’ve had four guys in there doing something about it,” Berube said. “It didn’t happen then, but I thought we responded in the third. It was a good response there, but we’d like to see everybody get in right away.”
Generally, it would be unfair to judge a team based on a 15-second stint following an ugly hit on its captain. However, Toronto has failed to meet the moment on numerous occasions this season, which is why it’s eight points out of a playoff spot with 19 games remaining. The lack of an immediate response wasn’t exactly out of character for the 2025-26 Maple Leafs.
MOSCOW — Many foreign websites were blocked Friday on mobile phones in central Moscow under restrictions that have gripped the Russian capital for more than a week, derailing the routine of millions of residents and slamming businesses that rely on cellphone internet.
Russian authorities have said the restrictions are part of security measures to fend off Ukrainian drone attacks, but many industry experts suspect they are part of preparations by the authorities to block Russians’ access to the global web if the Kremlin decides to do so.
The intermittent shutdowns, which had previously been recorded in dozens of Russia’s regions for months, have prompted some Moscow residents to turn to long-forgotten gadgets like walkie talkies, pagers and media players.
The shutdowns are part of multipronged efforts by the authorities to rein in the internet. They have adopted restrictive laws and banned websites and platforms that don’t comply. Technology also has been perfected to monitor and manipulate online traffic.
At the same time, authorities have actively promoted a “national” messenger app called MAX, which critics see as a surveillance tool.
The mobile internet shutdowns in Moscow, which were first reported on March 5 on some of the capital’s outskirts, swept through the downtown area earlier this week. Many other regions have been hit with connectivity blackouts since May.
During the outages, a number of government-approved Russian websites and online services have been designated as being on “white lists” and have been available. But during this week’s cellphone internet disruptions in Moscow, even white-listed government services, top banks and taxi apps stopped functioning.
Businesses with broadband access, and residents with broadband at home, have not been affected.
However, owners of Moscow cafes, restaurants and shops that rely on mobile internet have suffered massive losses as customers have been unable to pay for the services. The ATMs and parking meters that rely on cellphone internet stopped working.
Taxi apps have offered clients the option of calling a taxi by phone and paying cash.
During some moments, not only cellphone internet but cellphone coverage for making calls was halted completely.
Earlier this week, members of the Kremlin-controlled parliament reported that mobile internet was almost entirely missing in the lower house building located just a few hundred meters (yards) from Red Square.
On Friday, Russian websites and some mobile apps were available in central Moscow, but foreign websites were blocked in what some observers saw as part of dress rehearsals for cutting off access to the Web.
The business daily Kommersant published an estimate earlier in the week that Moscow businesses lost between 3 and 5 billion of rubles (about $38 million to $63 million) in five days of shutdowns. Other estimates ran significantly higher.
Media reports said that as shutdowns gripped Moscow, retailers recorded a quick surge in demands for pagers, portable radios, stationary phones and media players.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that latest cellphone internet shutdown in Moscow was in “strict conformity with the law” and would last “as long as additional measures to ensure security of our citizens are necessary.”
Recently approved legislation has obliged Russian internet providers to shut down mobile internet when the authorities declare it necessary for security reasons.
Asked why the shutdowns in Moscow were taking place now, Peskov responded that as Ukraine launches “increasingly sophisticated methods of attack, the more technologically advanced measures are needed to ensure public security.”
He said that the government will look at ways to compensate businesses for the losses resulting from the shutdowns, but offered no specifics.
St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and that means plenty of green, plenty of drinking, and plenty of drinking green drinks. The most popular green drink is the simplest of them all: green beer. For many pub-crawling partygoers, a shining emerald green pint is the perfect way to celebrate one of the most rambunctious holidays of the year, but after a few—or after seeing a few come back up—you may find yourself wondering, Is it safe to drink green beer? I asked the experts, and this is what they had to say.What’s In Green Beer?Rather than some grand concoction, green beer is a simple combination of green food coloring and beer—usually, but not always, a light lager. All it takes is a few drops of food coloring to give a whole pitcher a green hue, and it has no discernible taste, so many bars see it as a quick, simple way to bring extra festive flair to St. Paddy’s. Where things get interesting is in the green food coloring itself.According to Emma Zheng, co-founder, nutritionist & HR expert at Summit Breeze Tea, “Green food coloring is created by combining two artificial dyes: Brilliant Blue (Blue No. 1) and Tartrazine (Yellow No. 5),” which are “synthetic and created in a laboratory.” While approved for commercial use, these two dyes, along with six others—including Green No. 3, the other green dye sometimes used in green beer—have been at the center of the push by the current leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to eliminate the use of synthetic food dyes, due to concerns over the presence of petroleum-based chemicals.While generally speaking, these food dyes approved by the FDA aren’t harmful in small quantities, some people are especially sensitive to them, and Tartrazine has one of the worst reputations. For those sensitive to Tartrazine, Zheng says consuming green beer that contains the dye could cause headaches, stomach irritation, and even histamine reactions like itching and hives.Really, though, the issue comes down to the amount of green beer that you’re drinking. Emmy Clinton, founder, chef, and recipe developer at Entirely Emmy, says, “If consumed in small amounts (the amount of food dye in 1 drink), it’s unlikely to cause any serious harm in most adults,” but for many, the fun doesn’t stop after one drink. “Realistically, the larger concern is over the consumption of alcohol, but the artificial dyes can add more stress to the body,” she says.Are There Any Alternatives?If you’re looking to avoid synthetic food dyes but still want to enjoy a festive green beer, there are plenty of options for you. Both Zheng and Clinton offered matcha, spirulina, and wheatgrass as healthy alternatives, with Clinton also suggesting “fresh mint or juice from parsley to get vibrant greens.” Each of these alternatives is a great option for providing green coloring, though they will bring with them additional flavoring that green food coloring will not; however, in a darker beer, they can still provide green coloring with matcha, spirulina, and wheatgrass, having mild enough flavors that they shouldn’t be noticeable.So Should You Drink Green Beer?While there are some risks associated with over-consumption of green food dyes, they are approved for human consumption, and generally speaking you shouldn’t notice any adverse affects—though you may find yourself with a green mouth. Where you’ll start to notice any adverse effects (especially if you’re tartrazine-sensitive) comes within the territory of over-drinking, so try to stick to only a few green beers, and be sure to drink plenty of water as well.
St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and that means plenty of green, plenty of drinking, and plenty of drinking green drinks. The most popular green drink is the simplest of them all: green beer. For many pub-crawling partygoers, a shining emerald green pint is the perfect way to celebrate one of the most rambunctious holidays of the year, but after a few—or after seeing a few come back up—you may find yourself wondering, Is it safe to drink green beer? I asked the experts, and this is what they had to say.
What’s In Green Beer?
Rather than some grand concoction, green beer is a simple combination of green food coloring and beer—usually, but not always, a light lager. All it takes is a few drops of food coloring to give a whole pitcher a green hue, and it has no discernible taste, so many bars see it as a quick, simple way to bring extra festive flair to St. Paddy’s. Where things get interesting is in the green food coloring itself.
According to Emma Zheng, co-founder, nutritionist & HR expert at Summit Breeze Tea, “Green food coloring is created by combining two artificial dyes: Brilliant Blue (Blue No. 1) and Tartrazine (Yellow No. 5),” which are “synthetic and created in a laboratory.” While approved for commercial use, these two dyes, along with six others—including Green No. 3, the other green dye sometimes used in green beer—have been at the center of the push by the current leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to eliminate the use of synthetic food dyes, due to concerns over the presence of petroleum-based chemicals.
While generally speaking, these food dyes approved by the FDA aren’t harmful in small quantities, some people are especially sensitive to them, and Tartrazine has one of the worst reputations. For those sensitive to Tartrazine, Zheng says consuming green beer that contains the dye could cause headaches, stomach irritation, and even histamine reactions like itching and hives.
Really, though, the issue comes down to the amount of green beer that you’re drinking. Emmy Clinton, founder, chef, and recipe developer at Entirely Emmy, says, “If consumed in small amounts (the amount of food dye in 1 drink), it’s unlikely to cause any serious harm in most adults,” but for many, the fun doesn’t stop after one drink. “Realistically, the larger concern is over the consumption of alcohol, but the artificial dyes can add more stress to the body,” she says.
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you’re looking to avoid synthetic food dyes but still want to enjoy a festive green beer, there are plenty of options for you. Both Zheng and Clinton offered matcha, spirulina, and wheatgrass as healthy alternatives, with Clinton also suggesting “fresh mint or juice from parsley to get vibrant greens.”
Each of these alternatives is a great option for providing green coloring, though they will bring with them additional flavoring that green food coloring will not; however, in a darker beer, they can still provide green coloring with matcha, spirulina, and wheatgrass, having mild enough flavors that they shouldn’t be noticeable.
So Should You Drink Green Beer?
While there are some risks associated with over-consumption of green food dyes, they are approved for human consumption, and generally speaking you shouldn’t notice any adverse affects—though you may find yourself with a green mouth. Where you’ll start to notice any adverse effects (especially if you’re tartrazine-sensitive) comes within the territory of over-drinking, so try to stick to only a few green beers, and be sure to drink plenty of water as well.
The country icon made her first major public appearance since revealing late last year that she had been dealing with health issues that forced her to postpone several shows and step back from public events.
Parton appeared Friday (March 13) at Dollywood in Tennessee to help kick off the theme park’s 41st season, offering fans a heartfelt update on how she’s been doing in recent months.
“I’ve not been touring, as you know,” Parton said from the stage. “I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them.”
The singer said she had become worn down after a difficult stretch that included grieving the 2025 death of her husband, Carl Dean.
“I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on,” she said. “I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically.”
Despite the challenges, Parton reassured the crowd that she’s feeling better now, adding, “But all is good. It didn’t slow me down.”
A Return to the Spotlight
Parton greeted guests during Dollywood’s opening day celebration alongside Eugene Naughton, president of the Dollywood Company.
At one point, she joked that fans might mistake him for her “new husband,” quickly clarifying that she’s not dating anyone.
Parton added that she believes her late husband is still watching over her. “I think Carl Dean’s waiting for me,” she said. “If I should show up at the pearly gates with somebody else, he would not like that.”
Why Dolly Stepped Back
Parton’s appearance comes months after she postponed her Dolly: Live in Las Vegas residency.
“As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges,” she wrote in a statement at the time. “My doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures. As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up.”
We’ll cover all that and more — don’t worry. Megan Swanick, Joseph Lowery and Cesar Hernandez will be your guides with our annual all-team mega-preview. They’ve each predicted the end-of-the season standings from top to bottom, averaging their predictions together to produce one final, collective prediction. We’ve presented the league’s 16 teams below in the order of their predictions.
Here’s how they see the season playing out, with a rundown on what has changed for every team since Gotham FC lifted the championship trophy in November.
Last season’s finish: First place (21W, 3L, 2D), 65 points
Biggest offseason moves: The record-setting 2025 NWSL Shield winners have a new coach. After two successful years as head coach and sporting director, former USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski is focused on being global sporting director. The Current named former USMNT player Chris Armas as his replacement.
Armas has plenty of managerial experience, but this will be his first managerial role in professional women’s soccer. That’s big news, but the Current made bigger moves in the midfield: 20-year-old defensive midfielder Claire Hutton joined Bay FC. And 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year, Croix Bethune, is moving to the Midwest after a couple of successful years in Washington.
Why they will finish first this season: The Current will miss players such as Zaneratto and Hutton. And yes, Chris Armas is new to the NWSL — not to mention women’s professional soccer, while questions over lingering injuries could impact their attacking line.
But the most consistently dominant team in the league has maintained enough of its core to continue its success. Bethune’s creativity as an attacking midfielder could take the league’s most dangerous attack to a terrifying new level.
Biggest question heading into the season: Will all their players be fit and ready to play?
Temwa Chawinga, the team and league’s top scorer, ended last season with an injury. Is she back ready to go? Bethune and Michelle Cooper were both left off the USWNT SheBelieves Cup roster because of return-from-injury fitness. When will they be fully fit? The overall health of key players — and Chawinga in particular — is the biggest question ahead of 2026. — Swanick
Last season’s finish: Second place (12W, 6L, 8D), 44 points
Biggest offseason moves: Haven’t you heard? Trinity Rodman is back. After a monthslong contract saga, Rodman became the highest-paid player in NWSL history.
Of course, Rodman’s return wasn’t the only headline for Washington this winter. With former Orlando Pride architect Haley Carter now in the door as the Spirit’s president of soccer operations, the Spirit splashed a nearly seven-figure fee to sign 18-year-old Paraguayan forward Claudia Martínez and traded attacking midfielder Croix Bethune to the Kansas City Current in exchange for cash. Washington fans certainly aren’t bored!
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Can Trinity Rodman overcome her previous injury problems in 2026?
The “Futbol Women’s” crew debate what needs to change in 2026 for Trinity Rodman.
Why they will finish second this season: Because there’s a boatload of talent in this team.
With Rodman back in the fold and likely to be healthier than last year, it’s extremely easy to believe that the Washington Spirit will have a sky-high ceiling in 2026. Even with Bethune gone, there’s no shortage of quality surrounding the U.S. star upfield between Gift Monday, Rosemonde Kouassi, Leicy Santos, Martinez and others still.
Add in an impressive spine featuring Hal Hershfelt, Tara Rudd and a group expected back from maternity leave, and you have a team that will be downright terrifying in every phase of play.
Biggest question heading into the season: How will Aubrey Kingsbury‘s absence in goal impact things?
With Kingsbury expecting a baby in July, the Spirit will be without their longtime starter between the posts. How Sandy MacIver, a former No. 1 for Everton in the WSL who served as Kingsbury’s backup last year, performs as Washington’s new go-to goalkeeper is a major storyline to watch in 2026. — Lowery
Last season’s finish: Third place (11W, 8L, 7D), 40 points
Biggest offseason moves: Last week, Portland announced the hiring of Robert Vilahamn as their new coach. Recently with Women’s Super League side Tottenham Hotspur, Vilahamn guided the English club to their first-ever Women’s FA Cup final in 2024.
Also, although technically not an offseason move, the return of forward Sophia Wilson from maternity leave is worth highlighting. The Olympic gold medal winner and USWNT star returned to the field for Portland in a friendly on March 6.
Why they will finish third this season: The 20-year-old U.S. international Olivia Moultrie has yet to reach her lofty potential, Wilson could take some time to be 100% match fit, though is now at least back with the squad, and there’s also a handful of young promising players that should be able to maintain the club’s place in a playoff position.
We need to take any friendlies with a grain of salt — notably one at home against a non-NWSL opponent — but they did also brush aside Liga MX Femenil giants Monterrey 5-1 in Wilson’s return.
Biggest question heading into the season: Can Vilahamn find success from the start?
As opposed to a full preseason or let alone a full fortnight to prepare, the Swedish coach that has never managed in the NWSL will have an incredibly short window of time to get ready for the season. We also can’t ignore the fact that Vilahamn was dropped by Tottenham last June after narrowly avoiding relegation.
Vilahamn will also have to manage the absence of reliable midfielder Sam Coffey, who left for Manchester City in the offseason. Will Portland hit the ground running or stumble into 2026? — Hernandez
Last season’s finish: Eighth place (9W, 8L, 9D), 36 points
Biggest offseason moves: The reigning champions peaked at the right time late last season, with players such as Rose Lavelle healthy and Jaedyn Shaw moving seamlessly into the team.
While maintaining most of their trophy-winning roster, Gotham have made just a few tweaks in the offseason: Brazilian midfielder Gabi Portilho (who had six goal contributions in 17 games last season) signed for San Diego. In the other direction, they brought in veteran NWSL midfielder/forward Savannah McCaskill from San Diego.
Why they will finish fourth this season: Gotham took time to hit their stride in 2025. Injuries limited playing time to key players, and pivotal additions such as Shaw had yet to arrive.
This season, center back Tierna Davidson is back and ready to play. Lavelle is healthy and matching career records for chances created at SheBelieves Cup. With a mostly-healthy squad ready to go, Gotham can achieve the consistency of results they achieved in 2024 and secure a top four finish.
Biggest question heading into the season: Will the team stay fit, and can Esther maintain her form? Players such as Davidson and Lavelle are healthy to start the season but have dealt with multiple injuries over the years. Their availability will have a huge impact on the season.
When it comes to scoring goals, Spanish striker Esther is a game changer. But she ended 2026 in a dry spell, scoring just one goal in their final eight games including the playoffs. With nine goals in 21 games last season, consistency from Esther could propel Gotham further up the table. — Swanick
Last season’s finish: Fourth place (11W, 8L, 7D), 40 points
Biggest offseason moves: In Emily Sams, Carson Pickett and Ally Brazier, three of Orlando’s 11 most used players from last season have departed the club. Sams, who played more than 2,000 minutes at center back in 2025, leaves the biggest hole.
Still, with rising talents such as central defender Zara Chavoshi and veterans such as new outside back signing Hailie Mace, the Pride still have plenty of talent even after seeing a trio of key players leave.
Why they will finish fifth this season: Coach Seb Hines has an awfully impressive squad at his disposal, doesn’t he?
We barely got a taste of what record-breaking signing Lizbeth Ovalle could do for Orlando after she signed last August, and there’s reason to expect the Mexican international attacker to shine after a full preseason.
There are questions about how a new-look backline will gel, of course, but the presence of a rock-solid midfield headlined by Haley McCutcheon and Angelina answers at least some of them. There’s talent aplenty in Orlando, and that’s before we even get to the headliner…
Biggest question heading into the season: Will Barbra Banda be back to her best?
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the entire finish of the NWSL’s 2025 season could’ve been very, very different if not for Banda’s abductor injury suffered in August. A virtually unstoppable force when healthy, the 25-year-old striker is one of the league’s best and most influential players.
If Banda is fully healthy and ready to go atop Orlando’s formation, the Pride will be in every trophy conversation this season. She’s just that impactful. — Lowery
Last season’s finish: Sixth place (10W, 9L, 7D), 37 points
Biggest offseason moves: San Diego acquired Brazilian international Ludmila in January from the Chicago Stars in exchange for $800,000 in transfer fee funds. After finding the back of the net 10 times in her previous NWSL season, the Wave are hoping to see a similar tally for 2026.
As for exits, eyebrows were raised after the club mutually agreed to part ways and terminate contracts with key names such as Delphine Cascarino and Kailen Sheridan.
Why they will finish sixth this season:Kenza Dali (an NWSL Best XI second team inclusion from 2025) is still in the midfield picture, there’s plenty of upside from the roster’s young group of players (keep an eye on Kimmi Ascanio and Melanie Barcenas), and Ludmila should help cover some of the more noteworthy attacking issues seen last season.
Biggest question heading into the season: How much will San Diego miss Sheridan?
As not only a shot-stopper that would regularly put on a show with her saves but also a vocal captain, San Diego are now without one of the most significant figures in their short history as a club. Backup DiDi Haracic is now slated to be the starter but also had fairly average performances in her limited minutes in 2025.
If Haracic doesn’t work out, coach Jonas Eidevall might have to look toward one of the goalkeeping alternates that have zero NWSL appearances… — Hernandez
Last season’s finish: Ninth place (9W, 9L, 8D), 35 points
Biggest offseason moves: North Carolina’s most notable movement is the departure of longtime veteran midfielder Denise O’Sullivan, who played nine seasons with the club.
In the other direction, the addition of Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan could be a massive boost, providing a strong veteran voice in a changing squad. Swedish striker Evelyn Ijeh, who finished third in Serie A’s 2024-25 golden boot race, is another exciting addition from AC Milan. Notably, the Courage also have a new coach in Lebanese manager Mak Lind, and apparently, he’s “obsessed with scoring goals.”
Why they will finish seventh this season: With a new coach and veteran departures, there are significant unknowns for the Courage. But they’ve maintained a good portion of the roster. And after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2025 (they trailed eighth-place Gotham by one point), they’ve made tweaks at either of the field that can help secure a top-eight finish.
Biggest question heading into the season: Can they generate more in the final third? With 39 goals in 2025, the Courage were fairly clinical with the chances they had, but they didn’t create as many chances as they have in the past. A new striker could add a boost, Sheridan’s style playing out of the back, a shakeup in the midfield and a coach intent on scoring will need to pay dividends in the final third. — Swanick
Last season’s finish: Seventh place (10W, 9L, 7D), 37 points
Biggest offseason moves: Louisville made history with their first playoff appearance in 2025 but had a quiet offseason as it prepares to build on that success. Louisville signed former SEC Midfielder of the Year and First-Team All American Macey Hodge from Angel City, bringing her to Kentucky for her second NWSL season.
Louisville signed former Seattle backup goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska, also ready to spend her second NWSL season in Kentucky. In the other direction, Ary Borges left for Angel City and Janine Sonis signed for Denver Summit.
Why they will finish eight this season: After multiple years of falling just short of the playoffs, Racing earned a deserved playoff berth in 2025 and gave Washington Spirit a tough test in the postseason. With their crew intact and coach returning, their chemistry and confidence seems poised to deliver another postseason-worthy season.
Biggest question heading into the season: Will Racing level up defensively? Louisville is tough to play and knows how to grind out results. But Racing conceded more goals than any other playoff team in 2025. Only three teams across the league allowed more shots on target. Even a marginal improvement in those numbers could have a huge impact on their season. — Swanick
Last season’s finish: Fifth place (10W, 7L, 9D), 39 points
Biggest offseason moves: It has been a quiet winter for the Reign without much in the way of high-profile roster turnover. Club legend Lauren Barnes retired, while another icon in Jess Fishlock opted to return for her 14th year in Seattle. One of the only new arrivals is 19-year-old midfielder Sofia Cedeño, who has been called up by the U.S. U-20s while drawing interest from Panama‘s senior team.
Why they will finish ninth this season: Because the roster has stagnated.
Outside of Barnes, every 2025 regular is back. Could that be viewed as useful continuity? Sure. But as the league’s top teams keep pushing forward, Seattle is at risk of being left behind.
With Laura Harvey (and ChatGPT?) at the helm, Maddie Dahlien will have the chance to strike in transition from the wing while Jordyn Bugg anchors the backline. But without elite talent upfield, especially in the absence of Lynn Biyendolo who will begin the season on maternity leave, the ceiling is low.
Biggest question heading into the season: Will an attacker step up?
Defensively, there’s a world where the Reign are close to elite this year. Claudia Dickey is a top-tier goalkeeper, while Bugg, Madison Curry and Sofia Huerta paint the picture of a tight backline. But who’s doing damage at the other end?
Dahlien is dangerous on the left wing, but the 21-year-old doesn’t profile like a Best XI attacker. Jordyn Huitema isn’t a high-end starter. Emeri Adames is just 19, while Fishlock is another year older. Biyendolo is a question mark. To really compete, this team needs a star attacker to emerge. Will one? — Lowery
Last season’s finish: 13th place (4W, 14L, 8D), 20 points
Biggest offseason moves: Selected at the No.1 spot in ESPN’s NWSL U19 ranking from 2025, Claire Hutton has certainly turned some heads with her move.
Brought in at an eye-catching $1.1 million from the Kansas City Current, Hutton arrived to much fanfare to soccer fans in the Bay Area. The young midfielder, who has already sported the captain’s armband for the USWNT, will also bring some level-headed assuredness to the heart of the XI.
Why they will finish 10th this season: Bay should take some steps forward in the new year, but just how far is a mystery. Although 2025’s goal contributions leader Racheal Kundananji will continue to be a threat going forward, and now has winter striker addition Cristiana Girelli playing alongside her in the attack, Girelli might need time to adjust to the NWSL — which could also be said for new coach Emma Coates after joining the club in December.
All that said, Hutton’s addition might be the difference between narrowly making it or not into the playoffs.
Biggest question heading into the season: Will Girelli have enough time to make an impact?
There should be some optimism in 2026 with the Italian veteran goal scorer in the front line, especially after Bay finished last in total goals scored last season, but Girelli’s contract is only a loan through August.
Keeping in mind that the forward didn’t join her new club teammates until after World Cup qualifiers for Italy in early March, her stint with Bay might prove to be brief. — Hernandez
Last season’s finish: 11th place (7W, 13L, 6D), 27 points
Biggest offseason moves: Emily Sams and Ary Borges. When you allow 41 goals across 26 games in 2025, it makes sense to bring in someone like Sams to help support the backline. Traded over the winter for $650,000, the U.S. international will be expected to be a key figure in defense. Borges, a Brazilian international that recently played for Racing Louisville, is also set to be a difference-maker above Sams in the midfield.
Why they will finish 11th this season: With plenty of roster changes since last year, this still feels like a rebuild year for Angel City. Granted, the ceiling should be higher with the additions they’ve made and a full preseason under coach Alexander Straus, who joined the team midseason, but the starting XI and formation itself remain as a puzzle that will need to be sorted. Let’s also not forget that locker room leaders such as Ali Riley and Christen Press are no longer with the roster after retiring last season.
Biggest question heading into the season: Can Riley Tiernan carry the front line?
The 2025 Rookie of the Year finalist was excellent last season, providing eight goals in her debut campaign. If Tiernan can build off this tally, or if a promising attacker like the 19-year-old Kennedy Fuller improves her goal contributions total of seven from 2025, Angel City might be able to push for a playoff position. — Hernandez
Last season’s finish: N/A
Biggest offseason moves: There are few bigger names in this sport than Lindsey Heaps, who will spearhead Denver’s expansion campaign (once she arrives from Lyon in June, that is). In the meantime, head coach Nick Cushing has a talented backline at his disposal — see: Ayo Oke and Eva Gaetino, both young players capped by the U.S. at international level, along with Janine Sonis, Carson Pickett and Kaleigh Kurtz. Toss in German striker Melissa Kössler and creative rookie and U.S. youth international Yuna McCormack and there are more than a handful of exciting pieces on offer in Denver.
Why they will finish 12th this season: The true, honest answer to this prompt is: I have no idea where Denver Summit will finish.
Sure, they’ll struggle to push for the top five based on roster quality alone. But would it shock me if Kössler, Heaps and some of the youngsters quickly form a dynamic, effective team from top to bottom? No, not really. Would it surprise me if Heaps looked a step slower than we remember upon her debut at age 32 and the unknown quantities around her in the midfield and forward lines struggle? No, not really.
Most outcomes are on the table for Denver.
Biggest question heading into the season: Does a non-Heaps star emerge?
It’s safe to expect Denver to take some of the usual expansion lumps to start the year, especially without Heaps. But it will escape from the early season feeling out period with fewer bumps and bruises should a star emerge from the jump.
If one of the young players — I’ve got my eyes most closely on McCormack, rookie forward Olivia Thomas and even 24-year-old attacker Lourdes Bosch — starts to show out, Summit will become a team no one wants to face. — Lowery
Last season’s finish: N/A
Biggest offseason moves: The Legacy are making their NWSL debut with an exciting cadre of international players and a handful of NWSL veterans, including USWNT goalkeeper Casey Murphy, who signed for a reported $1.5 million. Led by former Benfica manager Filipa Patão, some notable international signings from abroad include Ugandan striker Fauzia Najjemba, Brazilian defender Andressa “Kaká” Ferreira, Danish midfielder Josefine Hasbo and El Tri Femenil defender Nicki Hernandez.
Adding more intraleague experience: Canadian internationals Nichelle Prince and Bianca St-Georges joined from Kansas City and Utah, respectively. Venezuelan international Bárbara Olivieri adds more NWSL experience, signing from Houston Dash.
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NWSL’s Boston Legacy signs GK Casey Murphy; deal worth $1.5M
NWSL’s Boston Legacy signs GK Casey Murphy; deal worth $1.5M
Why they will finish 13th this season: This team is full of talent. But many of them, including the manager, are brand new to NWSL. The Legacy’s long-term success seems likely. But it might take time to hit their potential, especially in their first season. Negotiating multiple home venues, both shared with other professional clubs, could further delay realizing their full potential.
Biggest question heading into the season: Will NWSL’s 15th team re-capture Boston’s preexisting fan base (pour one out for the Boston Breakers) and command substantial home crowds with their performances?
While the Legacy wait for Boston’s White Stadium to be ready in 2027, they’ll play their games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, with a handful of games in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Whether that has any effect on building a passionate fan base or season-long attendance is yet to be seen. But it could have a big impact on the success of their campaign. — Swanick
Last season’s finish: 10th place (8W, 12L, 6D), 30 points
Biggest offseason moves: When it comes to senior additions, it has been an incredibly quiet offseason for the Dash. On the rookie front, though, Houston has been busy. Perhaps most notably, it added 2024 Mac Hermann winner Kate Faasse from the University of North Carolina. Don’t be surprised if the 21-year-old forward immediately slots into manager Fabrice Gautrat’s starting lineup.
Why they will finish 14th this season: Because the cons outweigh the pros.
Improvement for the Dash isn’t outside the realm of possibility given the rookie additions and the presence of a couple of fringe national teamers. But it seems an awful weighty thing to expect a group of first-year professionals to rescue the team that posted the third-worst xG differential in the league last year, as per American Soccer Analysis.
The attack outside of Yazmeen Ryan is a concern. At the other end, Jane Campbell has allowed more goals than expected each of the past two years, as per ASA. There are reasons to worry.
Biggest question heading into the season: Can Avery Patterson go supernova in the attack?
According to American Soccer Analysis’ goals added metric, only 10 players were more valuable last season than Patterson. The 23-year-old was a legitimate game changer from her outside back spot, notching five goal contributions while providing best-in-class dribbling and chance creation.
If Patterson continues to improve at the rate she has across her first two seasons in the NWSL, the Dash might just put together a dangerous attack after all. — Lowery
Last season’s finish: 14th place (3W, 12L, 11D), 20 points
Biggest offseason moves: Brazilian forward Ludmila scored 10 of the Stars 32 regular-season goals in 2025 but departed in the offseason for San Diego Wave in exchange for $800,000 in transfer fees.
In the other direction, the Stars signed Nigeria international Michelle Alozie from Houston Dash in exchange for $40,000 in allocation money.
Why they will finish 15th this season: For a team that finished 2025 in last place, the offseason wasn’t busy enough to quell fears of a repeat struggle. Ludmila’s departure is a massive blow; the Brazilian scored nearly a third of their goals in 2025.
Even with the return of Mallory Swanson, that leaves lingering questions in attack. Defensively, the Stars conceded more goals than anyone else in the league by a 12-goal margin. Sufficient defensive reinforcements haven’t arrived to stem that flow.
Biggest question heading into the season: Mallory Swanson. The star USWNT forward was on maternity leave in 2025 but is poised to return in 2026. Swanson’s return-to-play status is not yet confirmed, though coach Martin Sjögren confirmed the Stars expect her back in 2026. Swanson’s fitness to start the year, and her form throughout this season, has fate-shifting potential for last year’s basement dwellers. — Swanick
Last season’s finish: 12th place (6W, 13L, 7D), 25 points
Biggest offseason moves: It has been a largely quiet offseason for Utah, who didn’t add obvious, proven NWSL star power. Still, the Royals have had some intriguing pickups in Kiana Palacios, Club América’s club-record goal scorer, Kameron Simmonds, a Jamaican international defender out of Florida State University, and Narumi Miura, a starting-level midfielder by way of the Washington Spirit.
Why they will finish 16th this season: Simply put, it doesn’t look as if the squad at coach Jimmy Coenraets’ disposal has improved enough for the Royals to anything but fall in the standings.
Sure, Mandy McGlynn will bring solid shot-stopping behind back-to-back iron woman Kate Del Fava. But even leaving the door open for Palacios to be a transformative forward threat, this team lacks the genuine attacking difference-makers to spark belief. Compared to the league’s best — and even some of the rest — Utah will be operating at a talent deficit.
Biggest question heading into the season: Can the new signings hit the ground running?
Few teams in the NWSL need their newcomers to nail their NWSL introductions quite like Utah. If Simmonds is a much-needed upgrade on the outside, Dayana Pierre-Louis, a Haitian international acquired from France‘s top flight this winter, and Miura boost the central midfield corps, and Palacios supercharges the attack, Utah will find themselves exceeding preseason expectations.
But that their biggest question relies on so many unknown quantities is a dangerous place to be. — Lowery
The ongoing war in Iran is driving up more than just the cost of oil. With essential crop fertilizers also caught in the crossfire, U.S. food prices could be next.
About one-third of the world’s fertilizer ingredients — key inputs farmers rely on to grow the crops that become everyday food items — transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping chokepoint along Iran’s southern coast.
Roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies also move through the narrow waterway. Since the U.S.- Israeli attacks on Iran began Feb. 28, the strait has been effectively shut.
At least three cargo ships have come under direct attack from Iranian military forces, and there are growing fears that Iran has planted sea mines in the strait.
Facing imminent danger, shipping companies and oil tanker owners have opted not to transit the strait, and marine tracking systems show hundreds of tankers sitting idle just outside the waterway, with seemingly nowhere to go.
Oil prices have surged as a result, with U.S. crude topping $99 a barrel on Friday evening, up around 50% since the start of the war. The longer the conflict drags on, the greater the risk the disruption spreads beyond energy markets.
“A less well-recognized risk is the threat the conflict poses to the global food supply chain, which depends on exports coming through the region,” Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, wrote in a recent client note.
The Middle East plays an outsized role in fertilizer production, largely because its natural gas reserves are the primary input used to produce ammonia, a key building block for nitrogen fertilizers like urea.
Countries exposed to disruptions in the region because of the war — including Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — account for about 49% of global urea exports, and roughly 30% of ammonia exports, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
That means any increases in cost or tightening of supplies overseas can quickly ripple through the global agricultural supply chain and drive up the cost of food.
For American farmers, the uncertainty is already hitting home.
John Boyd Jr., a fourth-generation farmer in Virginia who grows soybeans, corn and wheat, said his fertilizer supplier recently warned him that shipments may not arrive as expected.
“The dealers are telling me we can’t get the fertilizer,” Boyd told NBC News in an interview this week. “Due to the war and the bombing through that area, the fertilizer isn’t moving.”
Fertilizer is essential to food production, he said, and it must be applied before crops are planted.
“If I don’t apply fertilizer, that means I won’t have the yields to make my crop,” Boyd explained.
Going forward, he expects prices to rise as supplies tighten even more.
As of Mar. 10, ammonia prices in the Middle East were up 92% compared with a year earlier, while urea prices were up 70% over that same time period, Brusuelas pointed out in his note.
In the U.S., ammonia prices are currently 41% higher than they were last March, while urea prices have risen 21%.
Put simply: “Higher fertilizer costs will contribute to higher prices at U.S. supermarkets,” he wrote.
Already, food prices have been rising. According to the latest consumer inflation data released earlier this week, grocery prices rose 0.4% from January to February and are now up 2.4% compared with a year ago. The cost of dining out rose 0.3% over the same period, and is up 3.9% from a year earlier.
Now, with planting season underway, any disruption to fertilizer supplies could put additional pressure on food prices in the months ahead.
The timing is critical for U.S. agriculture. This is when farmers purchase fertilizer, prepare fields and apply nutrients needed to grow crops like corn and wheat.
“With spring planting beginning around the U.S., it is critical to secure transit, along with the necessary risk-coverage insurance, for vessels carrying fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz,” Parum wrote.
“If farmers are unable to obtain the remaining supplies in time, we could see reductions or shifts in planted acreage and lower yields, which affects our nation’s food security and the affordability of essential goods.”
On Friday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the Trump administration is “very close to having an announcement on some solutions” aimed at keeping fertilizer costs down for farmers. But she did not provide additional details.
Rollins said most farmers have already purchased fertilizer for the planting season, but conceded that roughly 25% have not, leaving them far more exposed to rising prices.
“Obviously, events around the world are impacting our farmers,” she said at a White House event.
But it’s not just fertilizer. Prices are also rising for diesel, which powers tractors, irrigation systems and fertilizer spreaders.
Boyd said those higher fuel costs are already starting to squeeze his operation, in addition to the fertilizer fears.
“I have a tractor that requires 100 gallons of diesel fuel to fill it up, and it costs me $469 just for a tank of diesel fuel,” he said. “That doesn’t last long.”
Windier weather will bring widespread record-breaking heat and a high fire danger across New Mexico Saturday. Even stronger winds arrive Sunday as a cold front moves through. After a brief cooldown, an unprecedented stretch of March heat is likely later next week. Temperatures are heating up across New Mexico Friday afternoon, with a few places […]
