For National Women’s Soccer League fans now feeling symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, the resurgent San Diego Wave may be of some service. Fans wishing to see the self-proclaimed “Triple Espresso” U.S. Women’s National Team frontline of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson (nee Smith) and Mallory Swanson in this NWSL season are mostly out of luck. Swanson and Wilson are pregnant, nixing their 2025 seasons with the Chicago Stars and Portland Thorns. Rodman of the Washington Spirit has a back injury that will keep her out of Sunday night’s match against the Wave at Snapdragon Stadium. Last summer, those same NWSL forwards perked up the Paris Olympics, scoring 10 of the USA’s 12 goals to help the club seize its first gold medal since 2012. The NWSL isn’t as entertaining without them. Very fast and skilled, each player brightens a match. The Wave’s remarkable turnaround is that much more timely — not only for the franchise but also the NWSL. Though no Wave player has explosiveness like that of the “Triple Espresso” crew, the group’s wide breadth of skill allows it to play fast-paced, interesting soccer. San Diego (7-2-3) ranks second in the 14-team NWSL with 25 goals. The club’s 21 assists stand four better than runner-up Kansas City. By creating a wider variety of scoring opportunities than any other NWSL club, the Wave keep both opponents and fans guessing as to what their tactics will be. French players Delphine Cascarino, Kenza Dali and Perle Morroni are bringing flair and savvy to the attack. Proving that blazing speed isn’t needed, all three stand among the NWSL’s leaders in successful one-on-one attacks and goal-creating actions. Already having eclipsed their season total of goals last year across 26 matches, the Wave are getting timely strikes from Canada’s Adriana Leon, who has a team-high four goals, and Kimmi Ascanio, a 17-year-old whose three scores match the totals of wings Cascarino and Maria Sanchez. For NWSL fans seeking more star power from many of the league’s teams, patience is advised. In addition to the “Triple Espresso” stars’ absence, fans won’t see other USWNT standouts in Naomi Girma and Crystal Dunn. Girma, 25, left the Wave in the offseason to join England’s Chelsea for a record-breaking transfer fee of $1.1 million. Dunn, 31, moved on from NY/NJ Gotham to France’s Paris Saint-Germain, a former team of Morroni’s. And Kerolin, the 25-year-old Brazilian striker and 2023 NWSL MVP, joined Girma in England by enlisting with Manchester City. The fallout of a star player’s departure or absence has been felt in NWSL markets — particularly Chicago. Minus Swanson, the Stars’ attendance challenges, already sizable, have grown. The team’s average announced turnout in six matches is just 3,123. A league-worst goal differential of minus-16 isn’t helping those efforts. The Wave, who’ve averaged 13,311 in announced crowds, placing fourth in the league, have enjoyed excellent availability throughout their roster. But even with Rodman not on the field, coach Jonas Eidevall’s third-place club will expect a stern test from the fourth-place Spirit. Washington is led by striker Ashley Hatch (six goals) and goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, a USWNT backup.