NWSL Power Rankings: Washington Spirit and NJ/NY Gotham FC move up even as Portland Thorns and Chicago Red Stars fall behind

1.

Orlando Pride

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Being the best team in the league this year means a bit of history if you’re Orlando. The team set a new league record with an 18-game undefeated streak and they’re looking as strong as ever before the summer break. Barbara Banda has no problem sharing the goal-scoring and Summer Yates played well for the Pride again this week.

2.

NJ/NY Gotham FC

+2

Perhaps no other team created as much anticipation in the summer as Gotham FC with victories in the Summer Cup and the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. Depth players got extra minutes and helped the team get back into regular season action. Ella Stevens remains the answer for goal scoring and Yazmin Ryan is in good form at the right time.

3.

Washington Spirit

+1

A lot went well for the Spirit in the postseason. Croix Bethune made history by tying Tobin Heath’s all-time single season assist record (10) and Colombian international LeeCee Santos made her debut by scoring a goal in her first start. Jonathan Giraldez’s first regular season game as Spirit head coach was a decisive win.

4.

Kansas City Current

-2

Orlando snapped the Current’s 17-game undefeated streak before the Olympic break, and now they’re on a new trend with a two-game losing streak, each of which have come against major postseason players. Four goals were conceded on the road against the Spirit and it’s a day goalkeeper Adriana Franch would like to put behind her as quickly as possible.

5.

North Carolina Courage

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Despite winning three games in a row before the break and reaching the semifinals in the Summer Cup, the Courage looked a bit shaky in their regular season return to Seattle. Despite good play from Narumi Miura and Denise O’Sullivan in midfield, their struggles on the road are not something they can fully recover from, and they will be happy to be back at home next week.

6.

Portland Thorns FC

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The Thorns struggle whenever Sophia Smith isn’t on the field. Add in the absence of Sam Coffey to help control the midfield this week, and it was a lackluster match on the road against Gotham FC. Portland has paraded as a postseason team, but what seed they’ll end up as is another matter entirely.

7.

Racing Louisville FC

+1

While the franchise opted to sell a portion of their future to get a chance at the present, it’s a gamble that’s already paying off. Newly acquired Bethany Balcer assisted on the team’s opening goal and they’ve moved closer to the playoff line.

8.

Chicago Red Stars

-1

The Red Stars managed to put a halt to their mixed form over the summer break, but now must manage the second half of the season without defensive star Sam Staab. They also missed Mallory Swanson against Racing Louisville and looked completely unprepared as the coaching staff tinkered with positional rotations.

9.

Angel City F.C.

+2

Will West Coast prove once again that they are a great second-half team? Perhaps the summer holidays have come at a good time for Angel City, as forward Christen Press is increasing her minutes again and 19-year-old Alyssa Thompson has scored two goals to help the team reach the playoffs.

10.

San Diego Wave FC

-1

The Wave’s latest replacement coach, Landon Donovan, already has mixed marks. A win in the Concacaf W Champions Cup wasn’t enough to help the team get into good form for the return of the regular season, and despite all the talk about how he’ll help give the team an identity, he still looks too familiar with undefined tactics and last-minute goals that don’t change the outcome of games.

11.

Bay FC

-1

They weren’t very active during the summer transfer window, had a poor showing in the Summer Cup and now they’ve lost to last-place Utah. They’re still close to the playoff line, but for how long?

12.

Seattle Reign FC

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The club, led by Megan Rapinoe, finally got the win, their first since May and head coach Laura Harvey’s 100th league win. A forced goal by 18-year-old Amari Adams was the brightest moment of the game, which also had many lulls.

13.

Utah Royals FC

+1

The acquisition of Mina Tanaka already looks like a significant move for the franchise. She performed quite well in her debut, while Ana Tejada looks more comfortable with the team after being in the team for a few months. She assisted on the opening goal and helped set the tone.

14.

Houston Dash

-1

The Dash are still playing 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. The defense put up a stellar performance this week keeping Banda off the scoresheet, but the team is now on a losing streak, losing three in a row.