Saturday action arrives in Week 8 in the 2022 NWSL season with two matches for us to enjoy. As bettors weigh their options, it’s important to note that clubs playing today come into these matches with some streaks intact.
The questions, then, for bettors to ask themselves is whether they believe those clubs will maintain those streaks or whether these are the matches that will see the end. The health of some key players could affect those outcomes.
How to watch, the odds, and schedule for Saturday
All times below are Eastern Daylight Savings and the odds are from PointsBet, valid as of 1 p.m. EDT on Saturday.
- Chicago Red Stars (+125) at Kansas City Current (+205), 8:30 p.m., Paramount+ (Draw +250)
- Angel City FC (+420) at OL Reign (-150), 10 p.m., Twitch (Draw +275)
The first match of the day pits two clubs with strong recent form against each other.
Which club will cool off in Kansas City Saturday?
The Kansas City Current have lost all three regular-season meetings with the Chicago Red Stars but are unbeaten against them in Challenge Cup matches. The two games Kansas City has played against Chicago this year were both 2-1 victories on both clubs’ pitches.
The Current are unbeaten in three straight regular-season matches for the first time in the club’s brief history. The only other time Kansas City has made three consecutive appearances without losing was their first three matches of this year’s Challenge Cup.
Chicago is unbeaten in six straight themselves, however. The last time the Red Stars went at least six-straight regular-season matches without losing was a seven-match run from July to September 2018.
Chicago’s injury list continues to grow, however. This week, Kayla Sharples‘ torn ACL put her on the list for the remainder of the season. Thus, the Red Stars’ backline is even thinner.
Can Angel City find new source of offense?
This will be OL Reign and Angel City’s first meeting in the regular season but the two played twice in the Challenge Cup. OL Reign won both meetings by a combined score of 5-2.
OL Reign have gone six straight matches without scoring more than one goal, the team’s longest run of consecutive regular-season appearances with no more than one goal since a string of eight games from July to August in 2019.
The only other side this season with a streak of six such games is Angel City. They ended that run just last week. They’ll need to keep that offensive success going now without Christen Press, who is out for the rest of the season.
That’s crucial because Angel City has won every game in which it has scored this season, too. On the other hand, their record when they are shutout is 0-3-1.
