# NWSL 2026 scoring race and records

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nwsl-2026-scoring-race-and-records
> Updated: 2026-09-06T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 3.

During the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season, Ashley Sanchez emerged as the league leader in scoring. Sanchez initially established herself in the golden boot race by recording 13 goals, significantly outperforming her expected goals total.

Following a 2-0 victory over Angel City, Sanchez extended her season total to 15 goals. This performance allowed her to break the North Carolina Courage club record for single-season goals, surpassing the previous record of 14 set by Lynn Biyendolo in 2019. Her 15th goal, which secured the new record, arrived in the 78th minute following an assist from goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.

Sanchez continued her record-breaking campaign during a 6-0 victory over the Chicago Stars, where she recorded her first career hat trick. With 18 goals recorded, she set a new NWSL record for the most goals scored by an American in a single season, surpassing the previous record of 17 goals held jointly by Alex Morgan and Crystal Dunn. This performance also marked her fifth multi-goal game of the season, establishing a new league record for such occurrences. 

As the season progresses, Sanchez is approaching the overall NWSL single-season record of 20 goals set by Temwa Chawinga in 2024. The recent victory helped the North Carolina Courage move from seventh to third in the NWSL standings.

## Claims

- Ashley Sanchez scored two goals in a 2-0 victory over Angel City. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Ashley Sanchez leads the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with 15 goals this season. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Sanchez's 14th goal tied the North Carolina Courage single-season record set by Lynn Biyendolo in 2019. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The North Carolina Courage have won five of their last six matches. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The loss ended a four-game streak of draws for Angel City. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Maycee Bell was stretchered off the field with an apparent arm injury during her 50th NWSL appearance. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-06: Ashley Sanchez sets NWSL American single-season scoring record

North Carolina Courage midfielder Ashley Sanchez set a new NWSL record for most goals by an American in a single season, reaching 18 goals following a hat trick against the Chicago Stars.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ashley-sanchez-sets-nwsl-american-single-season-scoring-record

### 2026-08-27: Ashley Sanchez breaks North Carolina Courage scoring record

Ashley Sanchez scored twice to break the North Carolina Courage single-season goals record during a 2-0 win against Angel City, bringing her NWSL total to 15 goals.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ashley-sanchez-breaks-north-carolina-courage-scoring-record

### 2026-08-26: NWSL 2026 season: Ashley Sanchez leads scoring as playoff race intensifies

With two-thirds of the 2026 NWSL season complete, Ashley Sanchez leads the golden boot race while Gotham FC tops the table in a competitive playoff hunt.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nwsl-2026-season-ashley-sanchez-leads-scoring-as-playoff-race-intensifies

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Cite as: NWSL 2026 scoring race and records. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nwsl-2026-scoring-race-and-records