Ashley Sanchez sets NWSL scoring record after hat-trick
The North Carolina Courage forward has reached 18 goals in the 2026 regular season and leads the Golden Boot race.
Ashley Sanchez has been selected for Attacking Third’s NWSL Team of the Week after scoring a hat-trick against Chicago for North Carolina Courage.
The performance took Sanchez’s 2026 regular-season tally to 18 goals, putting her at the top of the NWSL Golden Boot race with seven matches remaining.
CBS Sports reported that the total is a record for an American player in a single NWSL regular season. The record claim follows a season in which Sanchez has become the central figure in North Carolina’s attack.
Attacking Third’s weekly team recognises performances from the previous week’s NWSL matches. Sanchez’s selection came as part of a wider XI featuring players from several clubs.
The 2026 regular season is approaching its conclusion, with teams competing for playoff positions. Sanchez’s final seven matches will determine whether she can extend her record and retain the lead in the scoring race.
