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, Could 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 purpose 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 velocity. 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. In the event you make a single mistake in opposition to Chawinga and the Present, you are more likely to get punished.
Earlier rating: 2
Subsequent match: Friday, Could 23 vs. Utah Royals, 9:30 p.m. ET
The Delight did not play a nasty sport 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 means to interrupt down deeper defensive blocks, it isn’t time to sound the alarm bells for the Delight. Even not at their greatest, they nonetheless hung with the Present.
Earlier rating: 4
Subsequent match: Sunday, Could 25 vs. NC Braveness, 10 p.m. ET
After topping NJ/NY Gotham FC 1-0 on Friday, the San Diego Wave are actually undefeated in five-straight video games — with 4 wins in these 5 matches. Regardless of enjoying away from house at Sports activities Illustrated Stadium, San Diego used management of the ball to their benefit. Even contemplating teenager Kimmi Ascanio‘s purpose 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 might hardly discover any appears within the assault in consequence. Life is nice 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 no purpose for Juan Carlos Amorós’ staff, who accomplished a season-low 255 passes whereas internet hosting San Diego. Enjoying out of a 4-3-3 setup, NJ/NY Gotham did not pose any type of constant risk to San Diego, taking simply 13 touches within the Wave’s field, in response to FBref, which is their second-lowest complete of any sport within the common season. There’s loads of work to be performed 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 prime and opened the scoring within the Thorns’ 4-1 street win over the Houston Sprint on Friday. After Tordin’s skilled end put her aspect forward within the first half, Portland did not decelerate: they bagged two extra objectives earlier than the break and yet 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 response to FBref, they seem to be a staff to be feared. Rob Gale’s aspect now have a Concacaf W Champions Cup sport to play in opposition to Tigres UANL midweek, which means their subsequent league sport is just not till June 7.
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Pietra Tordin’s purpose places the Thorns in entrance
Pietra Tordin’s purpose places the Thorns in entrance.
Earlier rating: 6
Subsequent match: Friday, Could 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 pictures en path to a 3-3 draw. Regardless of giving Utah a lot hassle 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 a degree in entrance of their house crowd. Sloppy field defending was Washington’s undoing, and so they’ll rue the missed alternative to gather a win.
Earlier rating: 8
Subsequent match: Friday, Could 23 vs. Washington Spirit, 10 p.m. ET
Title a greater duo than “the Seattle Reign” and “video games determined by a single purpose.” Seven of Seattle’s 9 NWSL matches this yr have been determined by only one purpose — the opposite two have been attracts — and solely two of their video games have featured both aspect reaching the two-goal mark. It was no shock, then, to see the Reign earn a slender 1-0 street win over Racing Louisville on Saturday. Laura Harvey’s staff took simply 4 pictures to Louisville’s 20, however nonetheless managed to flee Kentucky with all three factors. These sorts of wins are previous hat for Seattle at this level.
Earlier rating: 10
Subsequent match: Sunday, Could 25 vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET
The North Carolina Braveness are within the midst of a severe 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 might deal with.
Earlier rating: 7
Subsequent match: Saturday, Could 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 search out their footing simply days after Savy King‘s medical emergency final outing in opposition to Utah.
Earlier rating: 9
Subsequent match: Saturday, Could 24 vs. Angel Metropolis, 10 p.m. ET
It will likely be unattainable 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 pictures because the guests (20 to 4), Louisville put only one effort on the right track and by no means managed to search 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 house defeats just like the one Louisville suffered this weekend are the type that come again to chunk.
Earlier rating: 12
Subsequent match: Saturday, Could 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 objectives, one through 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 regulate the remaining circulate of the sport. Crucially, after failing to maintain issues tight within the again in opposition to Kansas Metropolis and San Diego over the past two weeks, Bay managed certainly one of their greatest defensive showings of 2025.
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Penelope Hocking’s candy strike places Bay FC on prime
Penelope Hocking finds the highest nook to open the scoring for Bay FC vs. Angel Metropolis FC.
Earlier rating: 11
Subsequent match: Saturday, Could 24 vs. Bay FC, 5 p.m. ET
Poor goalkeeping has plagued the Houston Sprint in 2025. They’ve allowed two extra objectives than anticipated this season, in response to 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 house to Portland, the Sprint could not sustain with the guests.
Earlier rating: 14
Subsequent match: Friday, Could 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 pictures, McGlynn wanted to come back up huge in web — and he or she 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, Could 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 did not work their manner onto the scoresheet. Even with a really slender setup from interim head coach Masaki Hemmi, Chicago could not comprise the Braveness’s central overloads and nonetheless discover themselves with just one win on the season.
