San Diego Wave FC secured a 2-0 win at Chicago to close out the first half of the 2026 NWSL season, earning the first-place spot and a third clean sheet of the year. The Wave opened the scoring in the opening four minutes of the match when rookie midfielder Lia Godfrey dribbled through traffic in the midfield and dished it off to Brazilian forward Dudinha on the left wing. Dudinha finished the chance to record her fifth goal of the year, the most of any Wave FC player this season. The Wave doubled the lead in the dying moments of the match when Dudinha intercepted a pass in the attacking third and played the ball to Gia Corley at the top of the box. Corley flicked a first-time pass to Trinity Byars on the right side, where the second-half substitute settled the ball with her chest before striking a half volley into the back of the net. The win marks the Wave's third shutout of the season and their 13th second-half goal, the most of any team in the NWSL. San Diego has been the best road team in the NWSL over the last year, collecting 25 points (W7 D4 L3) in 14 away matches since the start of June 2025, four more than any other team.