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It’s Monday, and another week of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.
Our rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal differential, expected goal differential), recent performance, the Opta computer ratings and the observations of our writers.
Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in a free fall? Our writers and statistical models have ranked all 14 clubs in the league after Matchday 18. Let’s dive in.
Previous ranking: 1
Next match: Friday vs. Kansas City Current, 8 p.m. ET
Orlando maintained its six-point lead in the Shield race thanks to Marta‘s strike from outside the box in the 37th minute (the Brazilian’s sixth goal of the year), which was enough to beat Chicago 1-0 in Illinois. Earlier in the weekend, the Pride became the first team to officially qualify for the playoffs when Angel City lost to Seattle on Friday night.
Take a bow Marta! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ODExGz2iu5
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 8, 2024
Previous ranking: 2
Next match: Sunday vs. Houston Dash, 1 p.m. ET (live on ESPN+)
Trinity Rodman brought the home team level with Portland in Washington this weekend with an incredible 60th-minute goal, then did a slam dunk celebration in front of NBA legend Magic Johnson, who recently joined the Spirit’s investor group. That’s three goals in the past four regular-season games for Rodman. Newly signed Colombian midfielder Leicy Santos clinched the win in stoppage time, keeping the Spirit’s end-of-season form looking formidable.
Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Friday at Orlando Pride, 8 p.m. ET
The Current are back on track with their first win since their regular season resumed Aug. 25. Home-field advantage and Temwa Chawinga did the trick, as a 1-0 win over the Utah Royals breaks their run of two tough losses on the road against the Washington Spirit and the North Carolina Courage. That’s Chawinga’s eighth consecutive regular-season match with a goal for Kansas City.
Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Monday at Seattle Reign, 10 p.m. ET
After playing in Costa Rica in the midweek for Concacaf W Champions Cup, Gotham picked up a fitting 2-1 win at home against Houston in a Women’s Empowerment Night that featured a farewell ceremony for Sinead Farrelly‘s retirement. Yazmeen Ryan opened the scoring just 10 minutes in, and Esther González sealed the win with a goal in stoppage time with an assist from Lynn Williams. You might know about Williams’ goal-scoring record, but with Sunday’s assist marking her 35th in all comps, did you know Williams also has the second-most assists across all competitions in NWSL?
Previous ranking: 5
Next match: Friday vs. Bay FC, 7 p.m. ET
The North Carolina Courage had the honor of playing San Diego in Alex Morgan‘s farewell match Sunday, holding nothing back in a resounding 4-1 win in California. Casey Murphy — who continues to remind us what an elite keeper she is each weekend — stopped the storybook ending and provided the internet with a multitude of memes. This happened after saving Morgan’s penalty attempt just minutes before the U.S. star subbed off for the final time in her career. Ah well. Twenty-six-year-old center back Malia Berkely made NWSL history after assisting all three of North Carolina’s first-half goals.
Previous ranking: 11
Next match: Friday at North Carolina Courage, 7 p.m. ET
A goal from Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala in the 75th minute was enough to beat Louisville 1-0 on Sunday in California, marking a second straight win for Bay FC. While the goal marks Oshoala’s fourth of the year, the assist came in from newly acquired talent Penelope Hocking, who took just 15 minutes after subbing in to make her impact felt in her debut. With playoffs looming and Bay’s defensive line enlivened by Abby Dahlkemper, fans can hope the team’s new additions could be enough to push them over the line into the postseason.
Previous ranking: 7
Next match: Friday vs. Chicago Red Stars, 10 p.m. ET
Portland’s form has ridden various waves throughout this season and at the minute, they’re riding a bit of a low one. Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Spirit is the team’s third straight loss since the season resumed. And the Thorns have collected just one win from their past seven games in the regular season. That said, they did beat Mexican powerhouse Club America in Concacaf W Champions Cup in the midweek.
Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Monday vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 10 p.m. ET
Per Opta, Seattle made history this weekend as the first team to concede a goal in the first 10 minutes of two straight games, before going on to win both of them. This time the comeback came against Angel City FC in a 3-2 goal-fest in Los Angeles that marked the team’s third straight win since the season resumed. The tenacity to pull off another comeback on the road is a positive sign for a team fighting for a playoff position, as it now sits just one spot and one point below Angel City in tenth place.
Previous ranking: 8
Next match: Saturday vs. Angel City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Katie Lund did her best to keep Louisville in contention this weekend in California, making five saves, but Hocking’s setup for Oshoala in the 75th minute saw all three points go home with the hosts.
Previous ranking: 6
Next match: Saturday at Angel City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Alyssa Thompson can’t stop scoring. Sydney Leroux is following suit. However, that wasn’t enough to beat Seattle in a 3-2 defeat at home. Thompson’s opening goal in the eighth minute is her fourth in three games, and Leroux’s stoppage time goal in her 47th regular-season goal, bringing her level with Angel City teammate Christen Press for eighth all time.
Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Friday at Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET
So much talent in this team. But the window to make a convincing playoff run will dwindle quickly if they don’t start picking up points. Sunday’s 1-0 loss at home to a record-setting Orlando Pride side is a respectable defeat, but it’s also their third in a row.
Previous ranking: 13
Next match: Sunday vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET
Utah broke its two-game win streak with a 1-0 loss to Kansas City on the road. The good news is the Royals play San Diego next week, so the opportunity to get back to winning is certainly before them.
Previous ranking: 12
Next match: Sunday at Utah Royals, 10 p.m. ET
The San Diego Wave said an emotional farewell to international legend Alex Morgan this weekend. Morgan, who is pregnant with her second child, subbed off in the 13th minute in honor of the number she wore. Unfortunately, the weight of the moment didn’t translate into victory, as a slipping San Diego fell 4-1 to the North Carolina Courage. The Wave still haven’t won a game since May 9.
Previous ranking: 14
Next match: Sunday at Washington Spirit, 1 p.m. ET (live on ESPN+)
Houston is winless since the season resumed and unfortunately, it plays a formidable second-place Washington Spirit next. After that, it greets a Seattle Reign that’s undefeated in its past seven regular-season matches and then, Orlando Pride. The Dash will need to hit fine form to claw their way into the playoffs this year, and their next run of games doesn’t look too encouraging.