SportsDonna

As the group stage moves into Matchday 4/5, which starts on September 30, the CONCACAF Women’s Champions Cup has produced high-scoring games and distinct early storylines. After three matchdays, fans have already witnessed dominant performances, clear favorites, and a few standout players who could determine who advances to the knockout stages. Ten clubs were divided into two groups of five, and each team will play four group matches.

The schedule has remained unpredictable because both groups combine up-and-coming clubs from throughout the region with well-established NWSL and Liga MX teams. While Group A has seen close matches between Mexican and MLS representatives, Group B has seen the U.S. teams appear especially strong. Every game has been tactically varied and entertaining due to the combination of international styles, including technical Liga MX buildup, physical NWSL pressing, and academy teams’ speed.

With two of the tournament’s most decisive victories on the scoreboard—a 7–0 thumping of Alianza and a 4-0 victory over Vancouver Rise FC Academy—Washington Spirit increased their goal differential and confidence. Rosemonde Kouassi’s hat-trick in the decisive victory instantly placed her among the top scorers in the competition, and teams playing the Spirit will need to make particular arrangements to limit her running and finishing. The competition for the top spots is still open because other teams like Orlando Pride, Gotham FC, Monterrey, and Club América have also displayed strong attacking danger at times. In particular, players such as Charlyn Corral—nominated for the Concacaf Women’s Player of the Year award—highlight the offensive firepower of Liga MX and bring moments of high technical quality to the tournament.

So far, the group stage has demonstrated two practical truths that go beyond goals and headlines: goal difference can be decisive, and depth matters. Clubs with deeper benches have transformed minutes for substitutes into important points as teams juggling domestic league calendars and CONCACAF matches have rotated regularly. Managers are paying close attention to both attacking urgency and defensive solidity because of the already lopsided score lines, which mean that goal difference could be the tiebreaker that separates second from third or determines qualification.

The U.S. vs. Mexico matches and any encounter between the early group leaders and their closest rivals are the matches to watch as Matchday 4/5 approaches on September 30. These games will determine which clubs have control over their own fate. It is expected that coaches will use stronger tactical plans, that teams with healthy goal advantages will defend them with the same ferocity as points, and that opponents will attempt to neutralize players like Kouassi.

The CONCACAF Women’s Champions Cup is already showing why it matters so much for the region. It’s not just about the big wins or standout players, it’s about giving women’s clubs from across North and Central America a chance to compete on the same stage. Every game feels like a step forward for the sport, and you can sense the excitement building as fans see new talent and rivalries take shape.