Trinity Paula Byars delivered the complete attacking performance on Sunday, driving San Diego Wave FC to a 4-2 victory over Utah Royals FC with a hand in all four goals.
The forward's two strikes and two assists earned her a flawless 10.0 match rating, a figure reserved for the rarest of individual displays. It wasn't just the output, it was the manner. Byars was involved in every Wave attack that mattered, turning what might have been a scrappy affair into a showcase.
Four contributions, one architect
Utah threatened enough to find the net twice, but San Diego's response was emphatic each time. Byars either finished the move or created it, and the Royals had no answer. The brace takes her tally higher; the assists underline her growing influence in the final third.
A 10.0 is not handed out lightly. It reflects dominance across every measurable: chances created, defensive actions won, positional discipline. Byars ticked every box, and San Diego reaped the reward in front of their home crowd.
The Wave move on with three points and a performance to build from. Byars, meanwhile, has set a new benchmark for herself, and given the rest of the league something to worry about.