It is Monday, and one other week of NWSL motion is within the books, which implies it is time for ESPN’s Energy Rankings.
Our rankings are derived from a mix of key season statistics (factors per recreation, objective differential, anticipated objective differential), latest efficiency, the Opta pc scores and the observations of our writers.
Who’s climbing the desk? Who’s in free fall? Our writers and statistical fashions have ranked all 14 golf equipment within the league after Matchday 25. Let’s dive in.
Earlier rating: 2
Subsequent match: Sunday at Chicago Purple Stars, 3 p.m. ET (watch stay on ESPN+)
San Diego, when you thought you have been going to flee the wrath of Temwa Chawinga, you have been lifeless flawed. Along with her objective in opposition to the Wave, Chawinga has now scored in opposition to each staff within the league this yr — and she or he turned the primary participant in NWSL historical past to bag 20 objectives in a single season. San Diego’s protection was no match for the league’s most dynamic assault in a 4-1 win for KC.
Earlier rating: 1
Subsequent match: Saturday vs. Seattle Reign FC, 5 p.m. ET
Going 23-straight video games unbeaten to start out the season is sufficient to purchase anybody a bunch of goodwill. In that sense, dropping the Delight out of the highest spot after simply their second lack of the yr is harsh; they nonetheless have a four-point cushion on prime of the desk.
Shedding back-to-back video games, although, together with a 3-1 defeat to Gotham? Not nice. It is not time to panic, but when anybody in Orlando wanted a reminder of how fragile the throne is within the NWSL, the final two video games have been that.
Earlier rating: 3
Subsequent match: Saturday at North Carolina Braveness, 7:30 p.m. ET
At Audi Area on Sunday, there have been fireworks by way of two purple playing cards, one to the Spirit’s Rosemonde Kouassi and one to the Purple Stars’ Ludmila. There have been objectives. And there was the reminder that the Spirit are going to be a extremely robust out come playoff time. They outshot, outscored, and outplayed Chicago in a 2-0 win.
Earlier rating: 4
Subsequent match: Friday at Utah Royals FC, 9:30 p.m. ET
With a 3-1 win over Orlando, Gotham’s unbeaten run has now stretched to seven video games within the common season. On a Sunday the place USWNT stalwart Kelley O’Hara was honored forward of her retirement, it was solely becoming that Gotham earned all three factors. With two objectives from set items — one from the primary section and one from the second — it was a stunning outing.
Earlier rating: 5
Subsequent match: Saturday vs. Washington Spirit, 7:30 p.m. ET
Regardless of their 58% possession on the highway in opposition to Bay, North Carolina solely managed 99 touches within the closing third — that is their fourth-lowest tally in 2024, in accordance with FBref, with their joint third-lowest shot tally of the yr as well. The flat attacking efficiency and 1-0 loss helped present that the Braveness are clearly outdoors the top-tier of the Delight, Present, Spirit, and Gotham.
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Abby Dahlkemper scores late winner for Bay FC
Abby Dahlkemper scores late winner for Bay FC
Earlier rating: 6
Subsequent match: Friday vs. Angel Metropolis FC, 10 p.m. ET
Bear in mind final weekend, when the Thorns ended their seven-game winless run by snapping the Delight’s season-long unbeaten streak? Okay, good, me neither. In contrast to the final three years the place Portland completed first within the NWSL in xG, in accordance with FBref, the offense is much extra pedestrian in 2024. They completed Saturday fourth within the league’s xG desk and didn’t create sufficient in opposition to Louisville in a 1-0 loss. Playoffs aren’t a assure.
Earlier rating: 8
Subsequent match: Saturday at Houston Sprint, 9:30 p.m. ET
With a massively essential 1-0 win over the Braveness on Saturday, Bay stored themselves in rivalry to make the playoffs throughout this enlargement marketing campaign. A late objective from Abby Dahlkemper was the game-winner, placing Bay within the pole place to say the eighth and closing playoff spot within the common season finale in opposition to Houston.
Earlier rating: 11
Subsequent match: Friday vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 9:30 p.m. ET
A birthday objective? Nice. A birthday objective that is additionally a banger of a free kick? Simply ask Claudia Zornoza the way it feels. The 34-year-old received Utah on the board on her birthday on Sunday. She’s been a revelation since becoming a member of in July, with two objectives and three assists in her 9 matches for the Royals.
It is no coincidence Utah have picked up extra factors since Zornoza debuted than they did within the 16 video games previous to her arrival. They’re out of playoff rivalry, however there is a twinkle of optimism in Utah proper now.
Earlier rating: 10
Subsequent match: Sunday at San Diego Wave, 5:30 p.m. ET (watch stay on ESPN+)
“Hey Siri, present me a basic Racing Louisville win.”
A low-scoring affair the place Louisville left a lot of the possession to their opponents and capitalized on a late set piece objective? Yeah, that sounds just like the Louisville staff I do know. By beating Portland 1-0 on Saturday, Racing stored themselves within the playoff hunt. Their battle with San Diego on Sunday will likely be huge within the seek for the membership’s first postseason berth.
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Taylor Flint wins it late for Louisville
Taylor Flint wins it late for Louisville
Earlier rating: 7
Subsequent match: Sunday vs. Kansas Metropolis Present, 3 p.m. ET (watch stay on ESPN+)
The final two video games have given us a actuality verify relating to Chicago. Final Saturday, they fell to Gotham, taking simply two photographs in a 2-0 loss. This Sunday, they fell to the Spirit, dropping 2-0 and looking out just like the clear second-best staff on the sphere. Although the Purple Stars are nonetheless sitting in sixth, it is unimaginable to view this staff as a real contender.
Earlier rating: 9
Subsequent match: Friday at Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET
Eradicated from playoff rivalry earlier than their recreation in opposition to Utah kicked off on Sunday, Sydney Leroux pulled out a stunning objective within the second half to salvage some extent for her staff. Nonetheless, this Angel Metropolis squad made little or no actual progress in 2024. Their factors per recreation tally is the bottom of their three-year existence they usually have the second oldest staff within the league, weighted by FBref primarily based on minutes performed. There are extra questions than solutions.
Earlier rating: 13
Subsequent match: Saturday at Orlando Delight, 5 p.m. ET
With their playoff desires crushed, not less than Seattle managed to interrupt their five-game dropping streak by topping Houston 2-1. Seeing Nerilia Mondesir open her NWSL account in her first begin is one optimistic as focus shifts to subsequent season.
Earlier rating: 12
Subsequent match: Sunday vs. Racing Louisville, 5:30 p.m. ET (watch stay on ESPN+)
When the ultimate whistle blew on San Diego’s 4-1 loss to Kansas Metropolis on Friday, the Wave’s season got here to an unceremonious finish, albeit with one recreation remaining on their schedule. They went from successful final yr’s NWSL Protect as one of the best staff within the common season to turning into of the league’s bottom-feeders within the span of a calendar yr. Issues change rapidly round right here.
Earlier rating: 14
Subsequent match: Saturday vs. Bay FC, 9:30 p.m. ET
Up in opposition to the Seattle Reign, the Sprint put up lower than a single non-penalty anticipated objective for the sixteenth time this season, in accordance with FBref. The assault continues to look misplaced. No less than Zoe Matthews‘ debut gives some hope for the long run, with the 17-year-old turning into the youngest participant to ever see NWSL motion for Houston.