After all the week two action, there were significant changes to the NWSL standings, but points only tell half the story. Here are the power rankings for the NWSL teams after week two.
The second week of NWSL action provided a lot of answers and insight into who might come out on top this season. With lots of talent floating around the league, and an impressive number of penalties awarded, this second weekend was just as intense as the first.
As the standings shake themselves out in terms of numbers, these are your power rankings based on team performances and potential, with several teams making leaps up and down from their standings in week one.
NWSL Power Rankings after week 2:
1. Portland Thorns
Unstoppable, undeniable, unreachable. The Portland Thorns continue their conquest of the league, shutting down the Kansas City Current, in a game where even the debut of Debinha couldn’t save them. Sophia Smith led the Thorns to victory, netting her first career hat trick, and it’s safe to say it won’t be her last. The Thorns look unstoppable, geared up for a repeat of last year before any other teams have a chance.
2. San Diego Wave
Whether it’s the crowd at the Snap, the guidance of Casey Stoney, or the brilliance of Alex Morgan and Jayden Shaw, the San Diego Wave have got it figured out. There is no indication that this is only their sophomore season, with their abundant and consistent success they appear like a club that has always been a part of the league. Their energy is electric, and they seem to be riding the wave to the top.
3. OL Reign
The Reign reminded everyone this weekend why they’re the defending shield winners. They took down Gotham on the road Saturday night, winning the game by two and shutting out the opposition. A stunning strike from Fishlock and a persistent flick from Balcer earned the Reign their first three points of the season. The Reign are always championship contenders, and if they can make their success consistent, they’ll become even more dangerous.
4. Houston Dash
The Dash finally got to release their dangerous attack this weekend, with María Sánchez, Diana Ordóñez, and Ebony Salmon causing all kinds of problems for the Chicago defense. Creativity paired with persistence paid off in the form of three points for Houston. The Dash are making excellent runs, and as this front line gets more comfortable and familiar with each other, we’ll likely see Houston scorelines become much higher.
5. Washington Spirit
Even though they came away with just a tie on Saturday after facing off against Racing Louisville, the Spirit were all over the ball. They had an incredible pace, and their high press paid off in the form of two Ashley Hatch goals in the first half. They attacked the ball with intensity, and their aggression earned them several fouls over 90 minutes. They have a few rookies showing incredible promise, and their key to success lies in sustaining their attack for the whole game, not just the first half.
6. Angel City FC
The Los Angeles club pulled off their first win of the season in Orlando, successfully breaking the record for the latest NWSL game-winner in history as Claire Emslie scored in the last play of the game. They’re also currently leading the league in yellow cards, which could become concerning as the season goes on. Angel City has boundless potential, and they suffer from a lack of consistency. Ironing out the connection between their midfield and attacking presence will benefit their season.
7. Racing Louisville
Even though their home opener ended in a tie, Racing showed incredible perseverance and flexibility in their two-two tie against the Washington Spirit. They came back from a rocky first half with a fresh perspective and an uptick in energy, with more determination on the ball and a more aggressive press. They caused the Spirit’s defense to fold, giving them opportunities to score and equalize. Racing has nowhere to go but up as they look to build themselves into championship material.
8. Gotham FC
After a long rain delay to their home opener, Gotham fell to the Reign in a crushing loss for the home side. They were shut out by Seattle, unable to find the back of the net with zero shots on target. They had a few good looks though, specifically, Kristie Mewis had a great game, and it looked as though she might score any moment. But their attack felt too rushed, and their defense gave the Reign too much space to work their magic which ultimately caused Gotham to pay for their mistakes in the form of a loss.
9. Chicago Red Stars
The Red Stars were victims of the most dangerous front line in the NWSL this week as they fell to the Dash in a two-to-one loss. This marks their second loss of the season, and although there were some bright spots in their attack, they seem to be struggling to find space in the final third. If the Red Stars can open up their midfield some more to release Mal Swanson, they might see more success in the future.
10. KC Current
Unfortunately for Kansas City, history ended up repeating itself as the Thorns walked away with a decisive win after taking on the Current at home. Even the brilliance of AD Franch couldn’t stop the Thorns from outrunning and outplaying the Current defense. The Current didn’t see much possession, which caused them to struggle to make up for the lack of goals. There’s lots of time for KC to grow into themselves, but they’re off to a rocky start.
11. North Carolina Courage
The Courage were successfully stifled by one of the best defenses in the league when they lost to the Wave on Saturday. They only managed to score one goal in response to the Wave’s three. Their sole goal came from a Kerolin penalty kick which is impressive in itself when it’s against Sheridan. But their attack was snuffed out by the Wave, who contained Kerolin to prevent her from finding space and breakaway chances. The Courage didn’t look themselves but have time to fix and improve.
12. Orlando Pride
The Pride looked better at home than they did in their away opener facing the Thorns in Providence Park last weekend. But they still seem to be missing something and ended up falling to Angel City after a last-minute game-winner. The first career goal of Messiah Bright created a bit of buzz as well as spectacular saves from Anna Moorhouse. If they can continue to build their energy it wouldn’t be surprising to watch their points start to accumulate.
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