{
  "id": 2456842,
  "title": "NWSL Availability Report (Matchweek 18 – Saturday): KC Current vs Seattle Reign, North Carolina Courage vs Boston Legacy, Portland Thorns vs Denver Summit FC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/nwsl-availability-report-matchweek-18-saturday-kc-current-vs-seattle",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-22T00:01:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nwsl-availability-report-matchweek-18-000116206.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In NWSL Matchweek 18, Kansas City Current will face Seattle Reign FC, North Carolina Courage will host Boston Legacy, and Portland Thorns FC will play Denver Summit FC. Several key players are unavailable due to injury and international duty.\n\nKansas City Current will be without Ellie Bravo-Young (thigh), Temwa Chawinga (excused absence), Alana Cook (knee), Clare Gagne (head), Mary Long (d-45), Laney Rouse (knee), and Kolo Suliafu (thigh). Seattle Reign FC is missing Lynn Biyendolo (maternity leave), Jess Fishlock (leg), and Sam Meza (thigh). North Carolina Courage will miss Payton Crawford (SEI - knee), Riley Jackson (foot), Natalie Jacobs (head), and Sydney Schmidt (SEI - knee).\n\nBoston Legacy has Laís Araújo (thigh), Kaká (ankle - d-45), Fauzia Najjemba (thigh - SEI), and Chloe Ricketts (ankle - d-45) out. Portland Thorns FC are without Bella Bixby (knee - SEI), Julie Dufour (knee - SEI), Olivia Moultrie (knee - SEI), Marie Müller (hip), Isabelle Obaze (thigh), Reilyn Turner (knee), and Morgan Weaver (excused absence). Valerin Loboa of Denver Summit FC is sidelined due to international duty.",
  "summary": "Key Absences (OUT): Temwa Chawinga (Excused Absence), Jess Fishlock (Leg), Sam Meza (Thigh), Riley Jackson (Foot), Natalie Jacobs (Head), Marie Müller (Hip), Isabelle Obaze (Thigh), Reilyn Turner (Knee), Morgan Weaver (Excused Absence) Lindsey Heaps (Knee), Abby Smith (Knee)",
  "key_points": [
    "Kansas City Current without Ellie Bravo-Young (thigh) and Alana Cook (knee)",
    "Seattle Reign FC missing Lynn Biyendolo (maternity leave) and Jess Fishlock (leg)",
    "Portland Thorns FC sidelined Bella Bixby (knee - SEI) and Julie Dufour (knee - SEI)"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}