After two dominant victories to start the 2026 campaign, Minnesota Aurora keeps their fifth season rolling with a trip to USLW expansion side Rockford Raptors. The Raptors are new to USL W League, but are not a new a club in the slightest. Rockford's women's team has played the last two seasons in United Women's Soccer and the club itself was founded as a professional side in the mid-1990's before ending their men's first team in the early 2000's.
Rockford has had a rough start to their first season in the W League losing two of their first three matches and giving up six goals in those three contests. The Raptors lost their season opener to Edgewater Castle before defeating RKC Third Coast 2–1 in their second match. Last time out the Raptors fell 3–1 at home to Sioux Falls City after scoring just eight minutes into the match. Gracey Lepage (Michigan State), Sydney Arendarczyk (Kentucky), Ines Simas are the only three Rockford players have scored this season, all with one goal through the first quarter of the Raptors schedule. Goalkeeper Eme McClenahan (Utah) has started two of Rockford's three matches and has the Raptors only win.
Aurora on the other hand have continued their massive historical success with a 6–0 win to start the season that they followed up with a 2–0 win away at Rally Madison. Ai Kitagawa has been Aurora's standout offensive player to start the season with four goals in two games, including a hat trick in the season opener. Kitagawa is one of five Aurora players to score this season, but the only one with multiple goals on the season. Hannah Boughton, Jeanette Fieldsend, Talia Coury, and Thalia Morisi have all scored one goal each in the first two matches of the season.
Defensively Aurora are just as strong this season with a very small amount of returning players. The club gave up only four goals in the 2025 regular season before tacking on two additional clean sheets in their first two playoff matches. Taylor Fox (South Carolina) has started and played the full 90 minutes in goal during each of Aurora's first two matches, earning a pair of clean sheets to start her Aurora career. While Madison did heavily pressure the Aurora defence during the second half on Saturday night, Aurora's back line was able to clear out ever attempt Rally through at them.
News & Notes
Thursday morning Aurora dropped their first ever Pride kit ahead of Pride month starting on 1 June. They also announced player meet and greet on 07 June at Mall of America.
Skye Leach has been called up to the Philippines Women's National Team camp.
Following this match Aurora will face River Light FC on Saturday afternoon in Aurora, IL.
Tonight's match is set for a 7:00pm kickoff at Wedgbury Stadium (part of the Mercyhealth Sportscore Two facility) in Loves Park, IL. You can watch the match live on SportsEngine Play.
