Schools Out! NWSL Summer Power Rankings
The KC Current are cruising, Orlando are chasing, and nothing is a given in 2025's NWSL. So, who has the better outlook heading into the break?
The NWSL is officially on summer break after match day 13.
Players have ascended, teams have figured some things out, and Esther stands tall atop the Golden Boot race.
Outside of the Kansas City Current at the top and Utah, Chicago, and Houston at the bottom, the picture of the rest of the league is a murky, chaotic mess.
NWSL fans wouldn’t have it any other way, and it’s been a successful season for a league that seemed to be teetering on a presumed big four after last season. Instead, San Diego defied the odds and have become dangerous under Jonas Eidevall, Rob Gale has the Portland Thorns rolling, and Bev Yanez’s Racing Louisville are finally putting it all together.
The Power Rankings deviate from the actual table this week, I’m buying what a few teams are selling—even if the results haven’t caught up yet.
Before discussing the play on the pitch, let’s focus on Angel City FC and their response to the nationwide protests of the last few weeks.
ACFC have taken a strong stance in light of ICE operations that have indiscriminately targeted the Los Angeles Hispanic and Immigrant communities. Whereas some clubs have stayed silent or – in the case of the LA Dodgers – have taken their time to respond to the damage in their community, both ACFC and LAFC have stayed true to their club values, and have been front and center.
The NWSL is for everyone, soccer is for everyone, but as stories of ICE and CBP operations targeting match going fans continue to sit large in the zeitgeist, as soccer playing dreamers are deported, that ethos is under attack.
“The fabric of this city is made of immigrants. Football does not exist without immigrants. This club does not exist without immigrants.” A club statement read.
“Football, the game that we all love, we have it here because of immigrants,” added Ali Riley. “It's played the way it is because of immigrants. This club that is such a huge part of me wouldn't be here without immigrants.”
Immigrant City Football Club shirts are still for sale with proceeds going towards Camino Immigration Services.
We have to highlight clubs that have taken a stand during a moment such as this, too many ownership groups would rather stay silent.
Alright, let’s talk some soccer.
1. KC Current (W - 1-0 Angel City FC)
The Kansas City Current were far from the height of their powers during Friday’s 1-0 win over Angel City but Vlatko Andonovski persevered in the continued absence of Debinha and Lo’eau LaBonta. Despite the modest 1-0 scoreline, the Current dominated the run of play allowing just 0.86 xG with most of that number generated during Lorena’s PK save on Alyssa Thompson.
To ACFC’s credit, the Current didn’t have many opportunities to counter quickly against the run of play. However, they have proven time and time again that all it takes is one mistake to flip the match on its head.
Bia’s game winning goal highlights what many have hoped to see from her partnership with Temwa Chawinga. The move started when Claire Hutton looped a ball into Izzy Rodriguez from the backline. The newly minted USWNT fullback won her battle and sprung the ball forward, going to ground to make the play.
Andonovski praised Rodriguez after the match.
“She’s actually a true student of the game, very focused and concentrated on everything that is happening during trainings, meetings. She's a good learner. She’s an important part of our culture, and I’m just so happy that she is finally getting the recognition.”
Entering the summer break, the Current have an eight point lead over the Orlando Pride after just 13 matches. They’ve been on a tear, and don’t have the weaknesses evident through the start of last season. They are deep, have backups at every position to the point where they haven’t lost without one of the best players in the league. Without Lo’eau Labonta, Rocky Rodriguez hasn’t skipped a beat in the midfield next to Claire Hutton and Vanessa DiBernado. Still, Vlatko Andonovski won’t be happy with the start until it results in a Championship.
KC supporters of the week:
2. Orlando Pride (L - 0-2 Racing Louisville)
This was a tough result for the Pride and it’s indicative of some of Orlando’s bigger problems this season. The attack doesn’t have the same edge, only converting on 33% of their great xG shots compared to 50% last season.
The break comes at a good time for Orlando in that context, they need to iron out a few of the wrinkles that have developed in their game plan this season. Despite that, they still sit second in the league, Barbra Banda is still second in the NWSL goals added table, and Marta is tied for the league lead in key passes.
Marta’s numbers are a good microcosm for this phenomenon. Only Olivia Moultrie has helped set up as many dangerous opportunities in 2025 but Marta’s g+ number is -0.95 meaning that, in general, she hasn’t been goal dangerous when receiving the ball and her shot selection has let her down. Of course, with the tempo of their attacks largely unchanged, it points to a larger issue with the spacing inside the formation.
Still… the Pride are second in the table despite not being at their best.
Seb Hines has more than earned the benefit of the doubt.
3. Portland Thorns (W 1-0 Chicago Stars)
This was not the Thorns’s best performance this season but there is something to be said for simply taking care of business. The Thorns have started to rocket up the table with an attacking display that only trails the Kansas City Current in expected goals. An attacking identity that, uncharacteristically, struggled against the hapless Chicago Stars, only creating two big scoring chances.
Rob Gale’s job was always going to be harder in the absence of Sophia Wilson this season but in winning back to back matches for the first time in his Portland tenure, the Thorns are in a favorable spot heading into the summer break. Following their slow start, they have bloomed into a 6-2-2 record over their last ten matches.
Gale hopes they can build off this with reinforcements in the summer.
“I'm hoping that there's opportunities for us to make my job harder.” Gale said. “To improve the talent level in the building and give us some tools to work with in the second half of the season to make sure performances are as good, if not better than the first half”
One thing is for sure, Gale has found something in the midfield of Sam Coffey, Hina Sugita, Jessie Fleming, and Olivia Moultrie.
The Thorns also have two top five shot stoppers in Mackenzie Arnold and Bella Bixby this season… that certainly helps.
Anyways, shoutout to Portland fans:
4. Washington Spirit (D - 0-0 San Diego Wave)
The Spirit went west on Sunday night but were largely neutralized by the Wave. It was a fascinating look at two opposing styles, as the Spirit sat back, the Wave pushed high but ultimately, the Spirit came closest to breaking the deadlock.
Adrián González stepped in early to take over for the departing Jona Giráldez and he’ll have an entire break to reevaluate this particular Spirit squad. Luckily, González will see reinforcements with Trinity Rodman returning. Any reprieve from the Spirit’s lengthy injury list will be welcome but it really speaks to the depth of the squad that they have been able to stay the course — up to fourth in the table — despite missing so much quality in the lineup.
Gift Monday continues to have very strong showings completing three dribbles, creating two chances, and making five recoveries despite missing the biggest chance of the night.
The break should also benefit the likes of Rose Kouassi and Croix Bethune as they continue to return to full strength. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and they’ve managed this period of intense flexibility better than most.
5. Racing Louisville (W - 2-0 Orlando Pride)
A momentous win for Louisville against the defending champions and finally a signature result after last week’s loss to Kansas City took some of the wind out of their sails. Arin Wright’s set piece goal was the winner, and Taylor Flint’s PK goal rewarded another fantastic performance from the defensive midfielder.
This was a complete performance from Bev Yanez’s squad and their two dead ball goals took them to a NWSL leading five on the season.
Then, there’s the goalkeeping.
Before circumstance gave Jordyn Bloomer a chance in goal, Louisville were struggling to find saves when it felt like league average keeping could have had them in a playoff spot over the past two seasons. Bloomer has proven that goalkeeping was at least part of the answer. She picked up her second clean sheet in seven matches, and boasted a 0.50 post-shot expected goals saved number heading into the weekend.
This felt like a momentous win, they’ll have to hope that the summer break doesn’t take away from that.
6. San Diego Wave (D - 0-0 Washington Spirit)
The Wave have yet to register a signature win but have done well in taking care of business against the clubs a third placed team should be beating. That’s not a knock, but their lack of true offensive firepower has them falling behind the clubs that are eying their spot further up the table.
Can the Wave rely on 17 year old Trinity Armstrong over the stretch? Will their lack of experienced depth hold up? Can Delphine Cascarino continue to overplay her underlying numbers?
There are many questions but the turnaround under Jonas Eidevall deserves praise.
Everyone expected the Wave to be a disaster on the pitch this season after the organizations public embarrassments last season caused a mass exodus of players like Naomi Girma and Jaedyn Shaw. Instead, they’ve found veteran internationals like Kanza Dali to slot in as a top ten player in the NWSL.
All of this while Kailen Sheridan is experiencing a down year… they just need wins over top opponents (and for the underlying stats to catch up) before they can move up up in the power rankings.
7. Seattle Reign (W 1-4 Utah Royals)
The Reign will continue to be an enigma but Saturday’s 1-4 win in Utah was progress for an attack that is starting to find real success. Laura Harvey has been masterful in a few shutdown wins this season but with a more attack minded lineup in Utah, the goals poured in.
Over the last five matches, Seattle are 3-1-1 and have scored ten goals, a stark contrast to scoring just seven goals in their first eight matches this season when they only scored seven. They’ve had eight different goal scorers over that time, So-Yun Ji starred in this one with three goal contributions but Emeri Adames’s brace and Maddie Dahlien’s goal and assist should give Harvey confidence in her young contributors..
It still feels like the Reign are a creative midfielder away from being a contender – Utah created ten scoring chances compared to Seattle’s eight – but they’ll settle for fighting through the muck in a playoff spot for now.
Read this great profile of Sam Mesa by Theo Lloyd-Hughes
8. North Carolina Courage (W 1-2 Houston Dash)
Jaedyn Shaw finally scores for the Courage on another victorious night in Cary, NC.
The Courage have racked up 16 points from a possible 24 in their last eight matches and have really started to see growth in how their attacking midfield heavy rotation system is coming together.
Back to back 2-1 wins over Houston and ACFC aren’t going to move the needle too much, but winning the matches that you’re supposed to win in the NWSL is a crucial skill.
Manaka Matsukubo was incredible yet again, and now has seven goal contributions (four goals, three assists) in the last five matches.
The Courage still had some convincing to do, they needed two goals after the 70th minute with Houston down a player, but the levels in the attack are getting there.
9. Gotham FC (W 2-1 Bay FC)
After their four match winless skid last month, Gotham looked to right the ship in last week’s 0-3 win in Utah. However, after falling behind early, it looked like Juan Carlos Amoros’s side would be pushing uphill for another 90 minutes.
Enter Sarah Schupansky and Nealy Martin.
It’s slowly coming together for Gotham, Schupasky’s assist to Esther was her fourth of the season – each assist coming on a goal from the Golden Boot Leader – while Martin displayed what Gotham has been missing in key moments this season.
If the Bats can perform like this after the Summer break – with an actual training camp to further integrate Midge Purse back into the lineup – then they should be expected to charge up the power rankings. They have to find consistency along the backline in light of Tierna Davidson’s season ending injury, and have to hope that their three straight scoreless matches in May are truly in the rear view mirror.
The most telling stat for Gotham is that they’ve only generated four ‘Great xG’ shots through 13 matches this season and haven’t scored on any of those chances outside of PKs. Without Esther’s ability to convert lower xG chances they’d be in real trouble despite the success they’ve found in Lilly Realle, Schupansky, and their domestic scouting.
A healthy Rose Lavelle fixes many of Gotham’s problems, but they’re far too talented to continue struggling in this way over the back half of the season.
10. Bay FC (L 2-1 Gotham)
Bay’s place in the rankings might be a bit harsh coming off of losses at home to Orlando and on the road to Gotham, but despite pretty good goalkeeping from Jordan Silkowitz, they’ve been one of the more inconsistent teams in the league.
The club has yet to score over two goals in any match this season, largely due to a lack of chance creation but even in a match where they did control open play like Saturday’s match in New Jersey, they can’t take advantage.
Penelope Hocking has four goals and an assist in her five starts and their last two losses have come without Silkowitz in goal.
Maybe the league can finally shed some light on the investigation into manager Albertin Montoya over the break.
11. Angel City FC (L 1-0 KC Current)
Success on the pitch hasn’t yet come for Alexander Straus but there are some early signs of success. Losing 0-1 to Kansas City at CPKC isn’t that much of a black mark on their results but being winless in the last five is a big problem. There is clear progress in the squad’s defensive positioning and they frustrated KC at times on Friday night.
This is where the upcoming break can really work as a quasi-training camp. The defensive positioning may have stopped KC from exposing them on the counter, but it also nerfed some of the attack’s effectiveness. Everyone knows ACFC can score but it’s left them very susceptible on the backend – only Chicago and Utah have allowed more goals against.
Macey Hodge stood out in the middle of the 5-3-2 Friday night, and the defensive coverage of the back three should still allow for Giselle Thompson and M.A. Vignola to create in the wide spaces.
It means nothing until they show it on the pitch but everyone seems happy with Straus’s work so far, it’s not an easy project.
12. Houston Dash (L 1-2 NCC)
Houston we… nevermind.
Avery Patterson has emerged as a star.
She scored on the Dash’s first flurry forward on Saturday to give Houston a 1-0 lead that they would take late into the match. Then disaster struck, Sarah Puntingham did her squad no favors with her 69th minute red card.
North Carolina equalized moments later, and Houston successfully let the Courage off of the hook.
The Dash are still better than expected this season, and have proven that they aren’t just another easy win on the schedule and that means something for Fabrice Gautrat’s first year at the helm.
13. Chicago Stars (L 1-0 Portland Thorns)
The Stars do seem to have found better spacing in their formation over the past few weeks but this was a pretty dire night in Portland. They have improved aesthetically but the Stars are now winless in eight and have really missed Jameese Joseph and Ludmilla.
Sam Staab’s return to the lineup has helped, but it’s not nearly enough.
14. Utah Royals (L 1-4 Seattle Reign)
It’s all gone wrong for Jimmy Coentraets in Utah, his Royals have now allowed 21 goals against in their last eight winless matches.
Some of it can be explained by both Ally Sentnor, and Mandy McGlynn, marginally taking a step backwards but it’s far more likely that the backline’s struggles have had an impact everywhere on the pitch. Looking ahead, it’s clear that Utah needs to further shake up their roster – especially with Alex Loera out for the season.
The Summer break offers a chance to reset and evaluate but it’s hard to see a way forward without a major commitment to an overhaul. There’s a young core to build around… they just have to start making progress on that roster build.