It is Monday, and one other week of NWSL motion is within the books, which suggests it is time for ESPN’s Energy Rankings.
Who’s climbing the desk? Who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the motion from throughout Matchday 9 to give you this week’s order of all 14 groups within the league. Let’s dive in.
Earlier rating: 1
Subsequent match: Saturday, Might 24 vs. Chicago Stars, 7:30 p.m. ET
In a battle between a pair of heavy hitters, the Kansas Metropolis Present traveled to Orlando and earned a 1-0 win over the Delight on Friday. It was a objective from — you guessed it — Temwa Chawinga that tilted the match in Kansas Metropolis’s favor, and one which showcased what makes the attacker so wildly harmful: her blistering pace. After a protracted ball into Orlando’s half and a misplay from center-back Kylie Nadaner, Chawinga swooped in and completed to place the guests forward. For those who make a single mistake in opposition to Chawinga and the Present, you are prone to get punished.
Earlier rating: 2
Subsequent match: Friday, Might 23 vs. Utah Royals, 9:30 p.m. ET
The Delight did not play a foul recreation in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Present on Friday. From the opening whistle, they attacked in hopes of capitalizing on Barbra Banda‘s penalty field presence. Nonetheless, a defensive miscue handed a golden alternative to Kansas Metropolis within the second half, placing the Delight at a 1-0 deficit that they by no means reversed. Although they’ve only one win of their final 5 matches and there are some issues about Orlando’s capability to interrupt down deeper defensive blocks, it is not time to sound the alarm bells for the Delight. Even not at their finest, they nonetheless hung with the Present.
Earlier rating: 4
Subsequent match: Sunday, Might 25 vs. NC Braveness, 10 p.m. ET
After topping NJ/NY Gotham FC 1-0 on Friday, the San Diego Wave at the moment are undefeated in five-straight video games — with 4 wins in these 5 matches. Regardless of enjoying away from dwelling at Sports activities Illustrated Stadium, San Diego used management of the ball to their benefit. Even contemplating teenager Kimmi Ascanio‘s objective within the thirtieth minute that would’ve prompted a extra reserved defensive posture for the ultimate 60 minutes, the Wave hoovered up 62% possession on the day. Gotham may hardly discover any appears within the assault consequently. Life is sweet for the Wave.
Earlier rating: 3
Subsequent match: Saturday, June 7 vs. KC Present, 1 p.m. ET
Gotham’s attacking points continued of their 1-0 loss to the San Diego Wave on Friday. It is now been three-straight video games with out a objective for Juan Carlos Amorós’ crew, who accomplished a season-low 255 passes whereas internet hosting San Diego. Enjoying out of a 4-3-3 setup, NJ/NY Gotham didn’t pose any form of constant risk to San Diego, taking simply 13 touches within the Wave’s field, in accordance with FBref, which is their second-lowest whole of any recreation within the common season. There’s loads of work to be achieved within the assault.
Earlier rating: 5
Subsequent match: Saturday, June 7 vs. Bay FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Pietra Tordin did not waste her alternative in her first-ever begin for the Portland Thorns. The 21-year-old attacker began up high and opened the scoring within the Thorns’ 4-1 street win over the Houston Sprint on Friday. After Tordin’s knowledgeable end put her facet forward within the first half, Portland did not decelerate: they bagged two extra targets earlier than the break and another lower than 10 minutes after half-time. With Portland placing up the third-highest non-penalty xG tally per 90 minutes within the NWSL, in accordance with FBref, they are a crew 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 just isn’t till June 7.
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Pietra Tordin’s objective places the Thorns in entrance
Pietra Tordin’s objective places the Thorns in entrance.
Earlier rating: 6
Subsequent match: Friday, Might 23 vs. Seattle Reign, 10 p.m. ET
The Spirit’s attacking high quality was on full show on Saturday. Up in opposition to the Utah Royals, Washington took a staggering 29 photographs en path to a 3-3 draw. Regardless of giving Utah a lot bother with intelligent 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 of their dwelling crowd. Sloppy field defending was Washington’s undoing, they usually’ll rue the missed alternative to gather a win.
Earlier rating: 8
Subsequent match: Friday, Might 23 vs. Washington Spirit, 10 p.m. ET
Title a greater duo than “the Seattle Reign” and “video games determined by a single objective.” Seven of Seattle’s 9 NWSL matches this 12 months have been determined by only one objective — the opposite two have been attracts — and solely two of their video games have featured both facet reaching the two-goal mark. It was no shock, then, to see the Reign earn a slim 1-0 street win over Racing Louisville on Saturday. Laura Harvey’s crew took simply 4 photographs to Louisville’s 20, however nonetheless managed to flee Kentucky with all three factors. These sorts of wins are outdated hat for Seattle at this level.
Earlier rating: 10
Subsequent match: Sunday, Might 25 vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET
The North Carolina Braveness are within the midst of a critical turnaround. After going winless till late April, North Carolina discover themselves on an undefeated tear. This week, they took down the lowly Chicago Stars by a 2-0 scoreline. Between Denise O’Sullivan driving 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 opponents may deal with.
Earlier rating: 7
Subsequent match: Saturday, Might 24 vs. Racing Louisville, 10 p.m. ET
With Christen Press again within the beginning lineup for the primary time in 2025, Angel Metropolis hoped to place in a pointy attacking outing in opposition to Bay FC on Saturday. As a substitute, they struggled to generate constant possibilities and suffered a 2-0 defeat on the street. Nonetheless, it is maybe not a shock to see Angel Metropolis wrestle to seek out their footing simply days after Savy King‘s medical emergency final day trip in opposition to Utah.
Earlier rating: 9
Subsequent match: Saturday, Might 24 vs. Angel Metropolis, 10 p.m. ET
It is going to be unimaginable for Racing Louisville to look again on their 1-0 loss to the Seattle Reign on Saturday as something apart from a missed alternative. Regardless of registering 5 occasions as many photographs because the guests (20 to 4), Louisville put only one effort on course and by no means managed to seek out the again of Claudia Dickey‘s web. Up in opposition to one other squad combating to land simply above the playoff line come season’s finish, disappointing dwelling defeats just like the one Louisville suffered this weekend are the type that come again to chunk.
Earlier rating: 12
Subsequent match: Saturday, Might 24 vs. Houston Sprint, 5 p.m. ET
Again within the win column for the primary time in practically a month, Bay FC bested Angel Metropolis 2-0 on Saturday. Two first-half targets, one by way of a well-executed transition assault and one from the penalty spot, put the guests within the driver’s seat early on and allowed Bay to manage the remaining movement of the sport. Crucially, after failing to maintain issues tight within the again in opposition to Kansas Metropolis and San Diego during the last two weeks, Bay managed considered one of their finest defensive showings of 2025.
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Penelope Hocking’s candy strike places Bay FC on high
Penelope Hocking finds the highest nook to open the scoring for Bay FC vs. Angel Metropolis FC.
Earlier rating: 11
Subsequent match: Saturday, Might 24 vs. Bay FC, 5 p.m. ET
Poor goalkeeping has plagued the Houston Sprint in 2025. They’ve allowed two extra targets than anticipated this season, in accordance 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 sluggish reactions and a back-three setup that ceded an excessive amount of area to Portland, the Sprint could not sustain with the guests.
Earlier rating: 14
Subsequent match: Friday, Might 23 vs. Orlando Delight, 9:30 p.m. ET
Mandy McGlynn, take a bow. The shot-stopper continued her sturdy 2025 marketing campaign for the Utah Royals with 9 saves in a 3-3 draw with the Washington Spirit. Together with her outfield teammates conceding practically 30 photographs, McGlynn wanted to come back up massive in web — and she or he did. Her penalty save on Hatch regarded primed to assist Utah earn a street win, however inattentive defending deep in stoppage time turned three factors into one for the guests.
Earlier rating: 13
Subsequent match: Saturday, Might 24 vs. KC Present, 7:30 p.m. ET
The Chicago Stars’ brutal season continued on Saturday in a 2-0 loss to the North Carolina Braveness. Regardless of Ludmila‘s plethora of harmful runs in behind North Carolina’s backline, the Stars didn’t work their manner onto the scoresheet. Even with a really slim setup from interim head coach Masaki Hemmi, Chicago could not include the Braveness’s central overloads and nonetheless discover themselves with just one win on the season.
