{"id":264847,"date":"2026-09-28T13:17:56","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T13:17:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/footypop-ashley-sanchez-scores-her-20th-goal-of-the-season\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T13:17:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T13:17:56","slug":"footypop-ashley-sanchez-scores-her-20th-goal-of-the-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/footypop-ashley-sanchez-scores-her-20th-goal-of-the-season\/","title":{"rendered":"FootyPop: Ashley Sanchez Scores Her 20th Goal Of The Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In this week\u2019s women\u2019s soccer news, Ashley Sanchez tied the single season scoring record; Racing Louisville was eliminated from playoff contention; Jess Fishlock broke a Seattle Reign record; and more!<\/p>\n

High of the Week<\/h2>\n

Ashley Sanchez tied the single season scoring record with her 20th goal coming in the North Carolina Courage\u2019s 2-1 loss to the Utah Royals. It\u2019s been the year of Sanchez, and she continues to show up for the Courage. Sanchez has been in the league since 2020, and up until this season she had 22 career goals. In this season alone, she\u2019s almost hit that mark and is one goal away from scoring the most goals ever in an NWSL season. She\u2019s already become the highest-scoring American in a single season.<\/p>\n

Sanchez has been the best player by far this season, and she\u2019s well on her way to the MVP award. She has also played herself back into the USWNT roster discussion, with a call-up likely coming in the next week or so with the USWNT set to take on Spain twice on October 10th and 13th. Her last appearance on the senior team was in 2024.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an incredible statistic for a player that has been written off \u00a0a lot in her career. She\u2019s playing freely and looks like she\u2019s truly having a great time while breaking records. She\u2019s got this North Carolina team fighting for a playoff spot with four games left, and with Sanchez playing the way she is, this is a Courage team that can really beat anyone if they get into the playoffs.<\/p>\n

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Ashley Sanchez stays making moves \ud83d\udc83<\/p>\n

With her converted PK tonight, Sanchez scores her 20th goal of the season, tying Temwa Chawinga\u2019s NWSL single-season record \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/mqXn8x0xIj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 National Women\u2019s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Low of the Week<\/h2>\n

The playoff picture is starting to take a little shape for the NWSL with two teams officially out of the hunt. This week we know for sure that Racing Louisville has unfortunately joined the Chicago Stars as being eliminated. Racing came into the season with high hopes but have had a disappointing 2026. Last season Racing made it to the playoffs for the first time, and there was thoughts that they would repeat that success but they never found their footing. Racing has lost six straight, with their last win coming August 19.<\/p>\n

Chicago has been in turmoil for quite some time, and they\u2019re trying to turn this organization around with new owners, and now they\u2019re looking for a new head coach. The club did get some good news last week, though, by bringing in experienced Vlatko Andonovski to their front office. The Stars have only won five games all season and have a -45 goal differential.<\/p>\n

Boston Legacy and Bay FC are likely out of the hunt as well, with both teams essentially needing to win out and then losing this weekend. Boston though for their inaugural season have shown that you shouldn\u2019t write out first year clubs. Both Boston and Bay have won seven games this season.<\/p>\n

News of the Week<\/h2>\n

Jess Fishlock scored a brace this week in the Seattle Reign\u2019s 2-0 win over the Boston Legacy. She set the all-time scoring record for Seattle, with the goals bringing her total to 52 goals in her long career. Early on this season, the midfielder announced that this would be her last season playing professionally. Fishlock joined the Seattle Reign in 2013 for the inaugural season and has been with the club since, only ever playing for Seattle in the NWSL. She broke Megan Rapinoe\u2019s previous record this weekend. It was a fitting moment to watch a player who has been so loyal to her club break the record.<\/p>\n

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Your new all-time Reign leading goal scorer \u2014 @JessFishlock<\/a> \ud83d\udc51<\/p>\n

With her goals tonight, Jess now has 52 regular season goals with the Reign, surpassing Megan Rapinoe\u2019s previous record of 51 goals. Congrats, Jess! \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/FsIFlKL7Og<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Seattle Reign FC (@reignfc) September 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Player of the Week<\/h2>\n

Haley Hopkins scored a hat trick in the Kansas City Current\u2019s 4-1 win over the Denver Summit. It was an important three points for the Current, who are fighting for a playoff position. The win brings them up to 41 points on the season and seventh place. Denver scored the first goal before Hopkins scored three unanswered goals in the 39th, 47th, and 57th minutes of the match. It brings Hopkins goal tally up to eight on the season.<\/p>\n

Win of the Week<\/h2>\n

Spain is dominating the soccer scene at all levels, and that continued at the U-20 Women\u2019s World Cup. Spain defeated North Korea in a penalty shootout to win the trophy for the second time. At the tournament, Spain only conceded one goal through seven games, and they scored 21 goals. The final was evenly matched with regulation ending scoreless. They then played 30 minutes of extra time but still couldn\u2019t find the breakthrough, sending it to a shootout. Spain ended up outlasting North Korea 4-3, with goalkeeper Laia L\u00f3pez coming up with two saves. It\u2019s incredible to watch Spain come out and dominate at all levels of the game, and it looks like they\u2019re just getting started.<\/p>\n

Goal of the Week<\/h2>\n

Maiara Niehues scored a beautiful goal that ended up being the game winner for Angel City to move up into 6th place in the standings. It was individual brilliance with Niehues teeing it up on her right foot just outside the penalty box and sending it curling into the side of the net. The goal was also her ninth of the season, which is a single-season record for Angel City.<\/p>\n

Assist of the Week<\/h2>\n

Claire Hutton sent in one heck of a ball for Racheal Kundananji to head into the net with authority. Just outside the far right side of the penalty box, Hutton sent a curling cross to the far left side of the net for a waiting Kundananji, who launched into it with nothing for the goalkeeper to do to stop it.<\/p>\n

Save of the Week<\/h2>\n

Mandy McGlynn came up with a massive save to deny Ashley Sanchez and secure the three points for the Utah Royals. Sanchez cut in and fired a long range shot, but McGlynn was able to elevate and get her hand on the ball to push it over the crossbar.<\/p>\n

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