Boston Legacy FC is in the homestretch and will end its inaugural run with a pair of games in Southern California.
The Legacy (9-14-5) will face the San Diego Wave (17-8-3) on Sunday. The teams’ first matchup was in April and resulted in the Swans' fourth consecutive loss with a 1-0 defeat.
Though the Wave has since remained among the top teams, San Diego will confront a very different version of the Boston Legacy.
Here’s what to expect:
The Massholes Are Coming
BLFC’s year is coming to a close, and Sammy Smith said last week that Boston will be looking to take more risks than usual.
“All we can do is just make the other teams' playoffs appearances harder,” she said.
The remaining opponents (SD Wave and Angel City FC) already clinched playoffs, but there are still ways the Legacy can ruin at least some of the fun.
San Diego is one of three teams in contention for the NWSL Shield, which is awarded to the club with the best regular season record. A mere three points separates the teams:
- Gotham FC - 55 points
- San Diego Wave - 54 points
- Washington Spirit - 52 points
There are several scenarios that could skew the results, but San Diego winning its last two games will give the team the best chances at winning the Shield and getting an additional home playoff game.
Boston put up a decent fight against the Wave in the first go-around, considering it was the club's fourth-ever game. The Legacy still had a three-player defensive line, Amanda Gutierres was somewhere in the midfield, and the playing style was not cohesive.
San Diego Wave goal from April 3, 2026
Surely, it will not be that easy to run through the midfield, and the chances of leaving a player that wide open are at least a lot slimmer than they were six months ago.
Back then it seemed like Boston's identity was reduced to pure aggression. The Swans still have that same bark in them but have morphed into a team that has the skills to overcome some of the top clubs in the league.
