NWSL Power Rankings: Washington Spirit and NJ/NY Gotham FC Rise While Portland Thorns and Chicago Red Stars Stumble

1.

Orlando proud

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Being the best team in the league comes with a bit of history this year if you’re Orlando. The team set a new league record with their 18-match unbeaten streak and they look as strong as they were before the summer break. Barbra Banda has no problem sharing the goals and Summer Yates has delivered again for the Pride this week.

2.

NJ/NY Gotham FC

+2

Perhaps no other team had as predictive a summer as Gotham FC with victories in the Summer Cup and the Concacaf W Champions Cup. Depth players received extended minutes and helped the team get right back into regular season action. Ella Stevens remains the answer to goals and Yazmeen Ryan is in good form at the right time.

3.

Washington spirit

+1

Enough to feel good about the Spirit in their postseason push. Croix Bethune continues to make history as she equaled Tobin Heath’s all-time assist record (10) and Colombian international Leicy Santos made her debut with a goal in her first start. Jonatan Giraldez’s first regular-season game as Spirit’s head coach was a definitive victory.

4.

Kansas City Stream

-2

The Current had their seventeen-game unbeaten streak snapped by Orlando prior to the Olympic break, and now they are on a new trend with a two-game losing streak, each against major postseason players. Four goals were conceded against the Spirit on the road and it is a day at the office that goalkeeper Adrianna Franch will want to put behind her quickly.

5.

North Carolina Courage

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Despite a three-game winning streak heading into the break and an appearance in the Summer Cup semifinals, the Courage looked a little rusty in their regular season return on the road in Seattle. They cannot quite shake their struggles on the road, despite good play in midfield from Narumi Miura and Denise O’Sullivan, and they will be happy to be back home next week.

6.

Portland Thorns FC

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The Thorns continue to struggle when Sophia Smith is not on the field. Add the extra layer without Sam Coffey this week to help regulate the midfield and it was a mediocre game on the road against Gotham FC. Portland has paraded as a postseason team, but which seed they will finish is another matter entirely.

7.

Racing Louisville FC

+1

While the franchise chose to trade a piece of its future for a shot at the present, it’s a gamble that’s already paying off. Newly acquired Bethany Balcer provided an assist on the team’s opening goal as they inch closer to the playoff line.

8.

Chicago red stars

-1

The Red Stars were able to put a plaster on their mixed form during the summer break, but now they have to do the second half of the season without defensive star Sam Staab. They also missed Mallory Swanson against Racing Louisville and looked wildly unprepared as the coaching staff tinkered with positional rotations.

9.

Angel City FC

+2

Will the West Coast prove they are a second-half team again? Perhaps the summer break came at a good time for Angel City, as forward Christen Press is building up her minutes again and 19-year-old Alyssa Thompson delivered a brace to kick off the side’s play-offs.

10.

San Diego Wave FC

-1

The Wave’s newest substitute teacher Landon Donovan already has mixed grades. A win in the Concacaf W Champions Cup wasn’t enough to get the team in good shape for the return of the regular season, and despite all the talk about how he will help give the team an identity, they still look still very familiar. with undefined tactics and last-ditch goals that don’t change the outcome of games.

11.

Bay F.C

-1

Were not super active during the summer transfer window, had a poor performance in the Summer Cup and now suffered a loss to near last place Utah. They’re still hovering near the playoff line, but for how long?

12.

Seattle Reign FC

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Under the watchful eye of Megan Rapinoe, the club finally got a win, its first since May, and head coach Laura Harvey’s 100th in the league. A late match winner, a forced own goal from 18-year-old Emeri Adames, was the bright spot in the match with many breaks.

13.

Utah Royals FC

+1

The acquisition of Mina Tanaka already appears to be an important step forward for the franchise. She provided a lot of pop in her debut, while Ana Tejada seems more accustomed to the team after a few months on the roster. She provided an assist for the opening goal and helped set the tone.

14.

Houston Dash

-1

The Dash are still navigating their regular season without head coach Fran Alonso, who has been away from the team since June. The franchise fired general manager Alex Singer over the summer period. The defense was a bright spot this week, keeping Banda off the scoresheet, but the team is now on a steady losing streak, losing three straight.