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NWSL Power Rankings: Chawinga’s brilliance assists in keeping Current No. 1

NWSL Power Rankings: Chawinga’s brilliance assists in keeping Current No. 1

It’s Monday, and some other week of NWSL motion is within the books, because of this it is time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Who’s mountain climbing the desk? Who’s in unfastened fall? Our writers studied the motion from throughout Matchday 9 to get a hold of this week’s order of all 14 groups within the league. Let’s dive in.


Previous rating: 1
Next fit: Saturday, May 24 vs. Chicago Stars, 7:30 p.m. ET

In a combat between a couple of heavy hitters, the Kansas City Current traveled to Orlando and earned a 1-0 win over the Pride on Friday. It was once a target from — you guessed it — Temwa Chawinga that tilted the fit in Kansas City’s choose, and person who showcased what makes the attacker so wildly unhealthy: her blistering pace. After an extended ball into Orlando’s half of and a misplay from center-back Kylie Nadaner, Chawinga swooped in and completed to position the guests forward. If you are making a unmarried mistake in opposition to Chawinga and the Current, you might be prone to get punished.

Previous rating: 2
Next fit: Friday, May 23 vs. Utah Royals, 9:30 p.m. ET

The Pride did not play a nasty recreation in opposition to the Kansas City Current on Friday. From the outlet whistle, they attacked in hopes of capitalizing on Barbra Banda‘s penalty field presence. However, a defensive miscue passed a golden alternative to Kansas City in the second one half of, striking the Pride at a 1-0 deficit that they by no means reversed. Though they’ve only one win of their final 5 fits and there are some issues about Orlando’s skill to wreck down deeper defensive blocks, it is not time to sound the alarm bells for the Pride. Even now not at their best possible, they nonetheless hung with the Current.

Previous rating: 4
Next fit: Sunday, May 25 vs. NC Courage, 10 p.m. ET

After topping NJ/NY Gotham FC 1-0 on Friday, the San Diego Wave are actually undefeated in five-straight video games — with 4 wins in the ones 5 fits. Despite enjoying clear of house at Sports Illustrated Stadium, San Diego used regulate of the ball to their benefit. Even taking into account teen Kimmi Ascanio‘s target within the 30th minute that would’ve triggered a extra reserved defensive posture for the general 60 mins, the Wave hoovered up 62% ownership at the day. Gotham may rarely in finding any appears within the assault consequently. Life is just right for the Wave.

Previous rating: 3
Next fit: Saturday, June 7 vs. KC Current, 1 p.m. ET

Gotham’s attacking problems persevered of their 1-0 loss to the San Diego Wave on Friday. It’s now been three-straight video games and not using a target for Juan Carlos Amorós’ workforce, who finished a season-low 255 passes whilst web hosting San Diego. Playing out of a 4-3-3 setup, NJ/NY Gotham did not pose any form of constant danger to San Diego, taking simply 13 touches within the Wave’s field, in line with FBref, which is their second-lowest general of any recreation within the common season. There’s a number of paintings to be carried out within the assault.

Previous rating: 5
Next fit: Saturday, June 7 vs. Bay FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

Pietra Tordin did not waste her alternative in her first-ever get started for the Portland Thorns. The 21-year-old attacker began up best and opened the scoring within the Thorns’ 4-1 highway win over the Houston Dash on Friday. After Tordin’s skilled end put her facet forward within the first half of, Portland did not decelerate: they bagged two extra objectives earlier than the destroy and yet one more not up to 10 mins after half-time. With Portland striking up the third-highest non-penalty xG tally according to 90 mins within the NWSL, in line with FBref, they are a workforce to be feared. Rob Gale’s facet now have a Concacaf W Champions Cup recreation to play in opposition to Tigres UANL midweek, which means their subsequent league recreation isn’t till June 7.

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Pietra Tordin’s target places the Thorns in entrance

Pietra Tordin’s target places the Thorns in entrance.

Previous rating: 6
Next fit: Friday, May 23 vs. Seattle Reign, 10 p.m. ET

The Spirit’s attacking high quality was once on complete show on Saturday. Up in opposition to the Utah Royals, Washington took a staggering 29 pictures en path to a 3-3 draw. Despite giving Utah such a lot hassle with artful right-sided interaction between Croix Bethune, Ashley Hatch, and Rosemonde Kouassi, the Spirit wanted a 102nd-minute equalizer from Casey Krueger to rescue some extent in entrance in their house crowd. Sloppy field protecting was once Washington’s undoing, and they’re going to rue the overlooked alternative to gather a win.

Previous rating: 8
Next fit: Friday, May 23 vs. Washington Spirit, 10 p.m. ET

Name a greater duo than “the Seattle Reign” and “games decided by a single goal.” Seven of Seattle’s 9 NWSL fits this 12 months had been determined via only one target — the opposite two have been attracts — and most effective two in their video games have featured both sides attaining the two-goal mark. It was once no marvel, then, to peer the Reign earn a slim 1-0 highway win over Racing Louisville on Saturday. Laura Harvey’s workforce took simply 4 pictures to Louisville’s 20, however nonetheless controlled to flee Kentucky with all 3 issues. These forms of wins are previous hat for Seattle at this level.

Previous rating: 10
Next fit: Sunday, May 25 vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET

The North Carolina Courage are in the course of a major turnaround. After going winless till past due April, North Carolina in finding themselves on an undefeated tear. This week, they took down the lowly Chicago Stars via a 2-0 scoreline. Between Denise O’Sullivan riding the ball out of central midfield and Jaedyn Shaw, Ashley Sanchez, and Manaka Matsukubo, who scored a brace, within the assault, North Carolina merely threw extra at Chicago than their fighters may maintain.

Previous rating: 7
Next fit: Saturday, May 24 vs. Racing Louisville, 10 p.m. ET

With Christen Press again within the beginning lineup for the primary time in 2025, Angel City was hoping to position in a pointy attacking trip in opposition to Bay FC on Saturday. Instead, they struggled to generate constant probabilities and suffered a 2-0 defeat at the highway. Still, it is in all probability now not a marvel to peer Angel City combat to search out their footing simply days after Savy King‘s scientific emergency final day trip in opposition to Utah.

Previous rating: 9
Next fit: Saturday, May 24 vs. Angel City, 10 p.m. ET

It will likely be inconceivable for Racing Louisville to seem again on their 1-0 loss to the Seattle Reign on Saturday as the rest rather than a overlooked alternative. Despite registering 5 instances as many pictures because the guests (20 to 4), Louisville put only one effort on the right track and not controlled to search out the again of Claudia Dickey‘s internet. Up in opposition to some other squad combating to land simply above the playoff line come season’s finish, disappointing house defeats like the only Louisville suffered this weekend are the kind that come again to chunk.

Previous rating: 12
Next fit: Saturday, May 24 vs. Houston Dash, 5 p.m. ET

Back within the win column for the primary time in just about a month, Bay FC bested Angel City 2-0 on Saturday. Two first-half objectives, one by the use of a well-executed transition assault and one from the penalty spot, put the guests within the motive force’s seat early on and allowed Bay to regulate the rest waft of the sport. Crucially, after failing to stay issues tight within the again in opposition to Kansas City and San Diego during the last two weeks, Bay controlled certainly one of their best possible defensive showings of 2025.

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Penelope Hocking’s candy strike places Bay FC on best

Penelope Hocking reveals the highest nook to open the scoring for Bay FC vs. Angel City FC.

Previous rating: 11
Next fit: Saturday, May 24 vs. Bay FC, 5 p.m. ET

Poor goalkeeping has plagued the Houston Dash in 2025. They’ve allowed two extra objectives than anticipated this season, in line with FBref, which places them second-to-last within the NWSL in that metric. In a 4-1 loss to the Portland Thorns on Friday, Abby Smith struggled between the posts. Between her gradual reactions and a back-three setup that ceded an excessive amount of house to Portland, the Dash could not stay alongside of the guests.

Previous rating: 14
Next fit: Friday, May 23 vs. Orlando Pride, 9:30 p.m. ET

Mandy McGlynn, take a bow. The shot-stopper persevered her sturdy 2025 marketing campaign for the Utah Royals with 9 saves in a 3-3 draw with the Washington Spirit. With her outfield teammates conceding just about 30 pictures, McGlynn had to arise giant in internet — and he or she did. Her penalty save on Hatch seemed primed to lend a hand Utah earn a highway win, however inattentive protecting deep in stoppage time became 3 issues into one for the guests.

Previous rating: 13
Next fit: Saturday, May 24 vs. KC Current, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Chicago Stars’ brutal season persevered on Saturday in a 2-0 loss to the North Carolina Courage. Despite Ludmila‘s plethora of unhealthy runs in in the back of North Carolina’s backline, the Stars did not paintings their method onto the scoresheet. Even with an excessively slim setup from period in-between head trainer Masaki Hemmi, Chicago could not include the Courage’s central overloads and nonetheless in finding themselves with just one win at the season.

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