5.) Chicago Surely Can’t Do It Again, Right?

Chicago won its first game in awhile (exactly a month, to be exact) on Wednesday night. The shock 2-0 upset of Phiindy was ultimately in vain, as the team has already been eliminated from playoff contention. Marian Dalmy was the latest entrant into the “Fullbacks Who Have Scored Crazy Good Goals” club. (Stephanie Cox and Holfmridur Magnusdottir are founding members.) The Washington Freedom will be Chicago’s last opponent this weekend but will they manage to get away with another win?

4.) Washington Surely Won’t Let Them, Will They?

If there’s an in-form team in WPS not called either FC Gold Pride or the Breakers, it’s gotta be the Freedom. Washington is undefeated in five matches and Ashlyn Harris has collected shut-outs in three of those outings. The Freedom might be the 2010’s Sky Blue FC with the team’s improbable comeback at the end. They are also the queens of second half comebacks (example: the 2-1 win over SBFC last weekend) so it’s fitting. They haven’t officially tied up fourth yet but a win against the Beat would help.

3.) Will Hope Solo Continue To Be, Well, Hopeless?

Kia McNeill and Tina Ellertson are in some terrible form. The league’s worst defense has seemingly hit rock bottom, conceding nine goals in just two games. Many of the goals came as a result of opponents running directly at the center-back pairing. Or maybe it’s head coach Jim Galanis’ “attack, attack, attack” philosophy that has left his defense high and dry. Or perhaps it’s all Hope Solo’s fault. Boston fans would agree that it’s the latter. The Beat host Sky Blue FC this weekend. Two things are certain: Eniola Aluko will score and an own goal will be involved.

2.) Can Sky Blue FC Maintain the Heat on the Freedom?

Sky Blue FC have won two of the team’s three meetings with the Beat. Tasha Kai seems to be in form (she’s scored both of SBFC’s goals in their most recent two games) and back-up/reserve/#4 goalkeeper Meghann Burke has looked quite decent in goal. SBFC will need maximum points to keep on the Freedom’s trail. Even if the Freedom wins one of its final two matches and draws the other, Washington will still win fourth place, despite what SBFC does.

1.) Will the FCGP/Breakers Be a Proxy for the 2010 WPS Championship?

Since July 4, the Breakers have taken 25 points out of a possible 33. The team has only lost twice during that span and was not been shut out in either loss. And perhaps most impressive, the Breakers have scored multiple goals in every single match save for one (a 2-1 loss to FCGP on July 21). This coming from a team who just two months ago, looked as if it would never score or win a game again. The Breakers travel to meet equally-in form FCGP. Boston is in second place and has one game in hand over the Independence, but Philadelphia can re-claim the spot if Boston fails to earn more than one point from its remaining two games (thanks Star City Fan). FCGP has emerged victorious in each of the three meetings between these two. But expect Boston to take this game extra seriously. It may not be the last time these two meet this season.

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