NWSL Outliers: Matchday 10
Banda breaks Utah, Fischer on fire, and Kundananji shines
Welcome to Outliers, the newsletter where we analyze the NWSL’s statistical anomalies.
This edition of Outliers is a little special;
is here to tell you all about who stood out on the stat sheet in this week’s slate of games. Be sure to check out her Substack, , for more of her writing. In addition, you can read my rendition of her excellent 3-2-1 series — a weekly recap of women’s soccer (or football) across the globe — right now!Data from American Soccer Analysis unless otherwise noted.
Note: Percentiles were calculated after normalizing all stats per 45 minutes. Those who played less than 45 minutes were excluded from consideration.
Barbra Banda (vs. Utah Royals)
It would be criminal to score the first hat-trick in Orlando Pride history and not make it to Outliers. Barbra Banda’s dribbling goals added (g+) against the Utah Royals landed in the 99th percentile - it doesn’t get much better than that.
Banda’s second goal was vintage Banda: she latched onto an under-hit back pass, drove at the two centre backs, skipped past them both, rounded the keeper, and slotted the ball into an empty net. She carried the ball for 28.9 metres - almost a quarter of the pitch.
Banda also recorded a 98th percentile shooting g+ ranking and a 98th percentile xG ranking. She took six shots in the game and recorded a cumulative 1.55 xG. Only three matches this season have seen a player record a higher xG total, two of which also came against the Royals - Reilyn Turner (2.13 xG) and Temwa Chawinga (1.57 xG), the offending parties. The Utah Royals may need to take a closer look at their defensive efforts.
Kayla Fischer (vs. Angel City)
Kayla Fischer had quite the game on Saturday.
Her off-ball game has landed her in Outliers before, and it's a similar story here. If you watched Louisville’s game against Angel City, the first thing that will come to mind when I mention Fischer’s 95th percentile interrupting g+ performance is her nicking the ball off Angelina Anderson’s toe and leaving the keeper hanging off the back of her shirt while Fischer tried to turn the ball into the goal. The subsequent clearance was won back again by Racing, and a penalty was conceded for handball - although one probably should have already been given for the shirt pull. Regardless, Fischer stepped up and scored.
Louisville’s striker also unselfishly set up the team’s third goal. Collecting a great through ball from Flint, she drove at Angel City’s backline, drawing in two defenders, then played a brilliant reverse pass to DeMelo in acres of space to fire home. This passage of play helps explain her 96.5th percentile dribbling g+ performance on the night as well.
It was all going so well, and then Fischer suffered a moment of madness in the box, pulling Maddison Hammond’s hair to give away a penalty and get sent off. Fischer’s performance radar suggests that giving away and winning dangerous fouls is not a strength of hers, so maybe this was par for the course. Still, the manner in which it was conceded was alarming.
Racheal Kundananji (vs. Houston Dash)
Racheal Kundananji hit a trifecta of high-90th percentile performances against the Houston Dash. Given room to run at the Dash’s backline, she made the most of it. She posted excellent dribbling g+ numbers (0.18), second in raw values to Banda, resulting in a 97th percentile performance. Her number of penalty box touches (16) was in the 96th percentile - joint highest with Banda. Kundananji’s receiving g+ (0.2) was also strong, ranking in the 96th percentile. She continued to do what she does best - progressing the ball and receiving it in dangerous areas.
The graphic above showcases this well. In 2025, Kundananji ranks in the 96th percentile for final third and in-box receiving performance, and in the 92nd percentile for receiving g+.
Unfortunately for Bay, she’s not playing with a striker who can profit off her good work, since Montoya often deploys Kundananji as the central forward. She frequently works the ball well after receiving it, too - she led the team in key passes and passes into the penalty area last season. Bay could do with someone for Kundananji to play off because I imagine it is difficult to get on the end of your own good chances.
Speaking of key passes, Rudie recorded the most this weekend (4), including the assist for Rachel Hill’s goal. Some may argue that was a heavy touch rather than an intentional assist - I’m sure Kundananji would say differently! This helped her to a 90th percentile performance for key passes.
Honorable Mentions
Bia Zaneratto
76 minutes, 0.35 xG (90th percentile), 0.13 shooting g+ (95th percentile)
Ally Watt
90 minutes, 1.16 xG (97th percentile), 0.19 shooting g+ (96th percentile)
Manaka Matsukubo
84 minutes, xG 1.38 (98th percentile), 0.14 shooting g+ (95th percentile)
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