Aug 23, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Kansas City Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski watches from the sidelines before a game against Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Lauletta’s Heat Check: 100 wins for Vlatko; big weekend in Chicago

Originally posted on The Equalizer | Last updated Sep 8, 2025 4:34 PM ET

The Chicago Stars were the team of the week. They shocked their fan base back to life with a new venue and a goal explosion to boot. Meanwhile, Vlatko Andonovski won his 100th game and his current may well clinch the National Women’s Soccer League Shield before anyone else gets in the playoffs.

Here’s how they shape up after most of Week 19:

Cream of the Crop

x-Kansas City Current (16-2-1, 49 pts; @ Bay, 2-0): Vlatko Andonovski held Laurel Ivory, Claire Hutton and Ellie Wheeler out of the lineup — only Hutton appeared — and still collected his 100th regular season win when the Current rolled Bay FC. Andonovski joined his old rival Laura Harvey (110) as the only members of the coaching century club. The team has now kept clean sheets in a league-record seven consecutive games and lead the Shield race by 14 points with seven games to play. They will head to the playoffs under as much pressure as any team ever has been to take home the title.

https://equalizersoccer.com/2025/09/05/the-vlatko-andonovski-conundrum/

Best of the Rest

Washington Spirit (10-4-5, 35 pts; vs Reign, 2-0): For this week at least, the Spirit have separated themselves from the rest of the chasing pack. A week after new concerns about her back were raised, Trinity Rodman took just her second 90-minute spin since the Olympics, and looked pretty good doing it, netting both goals in the one-sided victory. Adrián González is still searching for his best — and healthiest — lineup, which makes it all the more impressive that they keep grinding out results.

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This article first appeared on The Equalizer and was syndicated with permission.

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