Shaw, Heaps Highlight NWSL Team of the Week Prior to USWNT Camps

The clock is ticking on the 2026 NWSL regular season. It's a new month for the league, the final one ahead of the postseason, and players are making the most of the limited opportunities in front of them to stand out. That means it's time to roll out the Attacking Third team of the week.

It's harder than ever to whittle hundreds of players down to a list of eleven, but someone has to try. After weekly matches across the 2026 NWSL season, Attacking Third analysts will select players, a head coach, and an honorary captain based on weekend performances.

Here you can find a mix of stats and data, analysis from our pundits, and highlights you may have missed over the weekend. If you're keeping track of who earned past honors, check out our  previous team of the week .

Here's who made the latest edition:

Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan (North Carolina Courage)

Every game is a playoff game when you're dancing around near the playoff line. Thankfully for the Courage, they have a reliable goalkeeper in Kailen Sheridan who can help keep close games from turning into dropped points.

> Kailen Sheridan denies Ryanne Brown from distance ❌ pic.twitter.com/aXSOWmwm5z — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 3, 2026

Defender: Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave FC)

You know a defender has a huge impact on a game when the story is whether or not they were the victim of a "soft" penalty call. San Diego Wave FC centerback Kennedy Wesley was a huge thorn in the side of Orlando Pride attackers with her positioning and was a constant outlet for teammates when building play -- and now she's on another team of the week because of it.

Defender: Janine Sonis (Denver Summit)

Fullback Janine Sonis is just making it look easy now. The defender is back on another team of the week after scoring her 12th goal from an outrageous angle.

> JANINE SONIS WHAT A GOAL ‼️ She scores her 12th goal of the season to give @denversummitfc the lead against The Chicago Stars 💥🏔️ pic.twitter.com/tliInRKd5k — W Golazo (@WGolazo) October 4, 2026

Defender: Natalie Jacobs (North Carolina Courage)

North Carolina's backline just got another boost with Natalie Jacobs' return. The defender had to navigate a head injury earlier this season, and while she returned to pitch in July, she made her first start in over a month during a big win with playoff implications. The backline looked more comfortable with the veteran, and she helped carry the Courage's first clean sheet since September 6.

Defender: Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit)

If goalscoring is tough to come by nowadays, just have your striker turn center back in the box on a set piece. That's exactly what Washington Spirit have with defender Tara Rudd.

> Centerback to centerback connection 🤝 Tara Rudd heads in Esme Morgan's cross to put Washington ahead! pic.twitter.com/D2c9OtRQFk — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 4, 2026

Midfielder: Lindsey Heaps (Denver Summit)

Every game from here on out is a must-win for Denver Summit if they want to make the playoff leap. Denver Summit midfielder Lindsey Heaps scored a brace, her first since 2018, to make sure the team picked up a huge three points.

> HEAPS DOES NOT MISS 😤 The Captain secures a brace for @denversummitfc 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IChwbjKYpX — W Golazo (@WGolazo) October 4, 2026

Midfielder: Debinha (Kansas City Current)

Kansas City Current seem to be hitting a good run of form at the right time. They can thank Brazilian international Debinha for the surge, who scored three goals, keeping up the trend of hat-tricks for the squad for a second consecutive week.

> COUNT 'EM ⚽️⚽️⚽️ Debinha's triple secures the W for @thekccurrent 🔥 pic.twitter.com/fiXdLMJW7r — W Golazo (@WGolazo) October 4, 2026

Midfielder: Lia Godfrey (San Diego Wave FC)

Rookie midfielder Lia Godfrey has become a crucial cog in San Diego's midfield this season. She scored her sixth goal for the club in a playoff-clinching scenario over the weekend.

> there's plenty of room to hop on this party wave 🏄‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/D286Lm7ucK — San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) October 3, 2026

Forward: Clara Luvanga (Washington Spirit)

There are plenty of new faces on the Washington Spirit, and they're all stepping up in their own ways. This week it's Clara Luvanga scoring a game-winner and making history as the first Tanzanian player to score in the league.

> Clara Luvanga with a late goal to grab the lead for Washington! She becomes the first Tanzanian to score in NWSL history 🇹🇿 pic.twitter.com/Sw1vPxDMRi — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 5, 2026

Forward: Gianna Paul (North Carolina Courage)

We love a statement game, and just weeks after getting traded from Kansas City Current to North Carolina, foward Gianna Paul stepped up in a big way by scoring the lone goal and game-winner for the Courage.

> Gianna Paul's first career goal puts North Carolina ahead in a game with HUGE playoff implications 👀 pic.twitter.com/jGrZyi3dYa — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 3, 2026

Forward: Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC)

Sometimes a goal is so good that we tinker around with the positions on our team of the week to make sure they nab the weekly honors. Jaedyn Shaw's movement up the pitch is so good that she's often confused for a floating forward instead of an attacking midfielder, and her finishing gets her back on the team of the week.

> Shaw-stopping finish ‼️ 10th goal of the season for Jaedyn Shaw! pic.twitter.com/g0vybNZtWt — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 4, 2026

Coach: Mak Lind (North Carolina Courage)

For teams that are still in the playoff hunt, every game is an important one, especially against clubs who are in similar positions. The matches that function as six-point swings are too big an opportunity, and this week, North Carolina Courage coach Mak Lind had his team prepared for the moment against Seattle Reign.

Honorary captain: Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville)

Over a year ago, Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo experienced a medical emergency related to cardiac arrest on the pitch. After a lengthy time away from the field, she made her official return to the team over the weekend.

> 384 days later, Savannah DeMelo is BACK 🥹 pic.twitter.com/hHSihJILnE — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 3, 2026

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_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/nwsl-team-of-the-week-jaedyn-shaw-lindsey-heaps-uswnt/)._