It is Sunday, and one other spherical 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 20 to give you this week’s order of all 14 groups within the league. Let’s dive in.
Earlier rating: 1
Subsequent match: Saturday Sept. 20 vs. Seattle Reign, 7.30 p.m. ET
The primary group to hit the 50-point mark in 2025, the Kansas Metropolis Present climbed to that whole on the again of a scoreless draw with the Washington Spirit on Saturday. After a quiet first half from either side, the extra harmful and extra frequent attacking play got here from Vlatko Andonovski’s group. Nonetheless, Kansas Metropolis missed the presence of Temwa Chawinga, who wasn’t feeling 100%. With loads of cushion on high of the desk and a protracted unbeaten streak, Chawinga can take on a regular basis on the earth earlier than returning to motion.
Earlier rating: 2
Subsequent match: Thursday Sept. 18 vs. Angel Metropolis FC, 10.30 p.m. ET
Although some extent on the street in Kansas Metropolis is an effective outcome on its face, the Washington Spirit will regard Saturday’s 0-0 draw with the Present as a missed alternative. Up in opposition to a Chawinga-less model of Kansas Metropolis, Washington held their hosts to next-to-nothing within the first half. The issue? The Spirit created treasured little of their very own earlier than Hal Hershfelt was despatched off partway by the second half following her second yellow card. After happening to 10, Washington managed only one shot and headed residence with a draw.
1:19
Kansas Metropolis Present vs. Washington Spirit – Sport Highlights
Watch the Sport Highlights from Kansas Metropolis Present vs. Washington Spirit, 09/14/2025
Earlier rating: 6
Subsequent match: Sunday Sept. 21 vs. Bay FC, 8.30 p.m. ET (Stream LIVE on ESPN+)
The early returns on Gotham’s acquisition of Jaedyn Shaw could not be higher: the United States star made her debut for her new group on Friday, coming off the bench for the second half and scoring en path to a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Wave. Gotham needed to shell out to accumulate Shaw from the North Carolina Braveness, paying a file intra-league price of $1.25 million based on ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf. However at simply age 20, Shaw is likely one of the most proficient attackers on the planet — and confirmed her value as NJ/NY climbed above San Diego within the standings and in these rankings.
Earlier rating: 3
Subsequent match: Saturday Sept. 20 vs. Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET
When San Diego noticed Gotham on their schedule, they did not count on to be confronted with a key piece of their previous. However with Shaw, as soon as an up-and-coming celebrity with the Wave, traded from North Carolina to NJ/NY Gotham FC late final week, the Wave’s process of taking down Gotham grew taller. Regardless of controlling the ball and outshooting the guests, San Diego didn’t create high-quality appears to be like on objective and fell 2-0 within the course of. That incapacity to generate harmful photographs has plagued the Wave for many of this season: based on FBref, they sit third-to-last within the league common shot high quality.
Earlier rating: 4
Subsequent match: Friday Sept. 19 vs. NC Braveness, 7.30 p.m. ET
The Delight’s tough run of type continued on Saturday in opposition to Bay FC, the place a 1-1 draw wasn’t sufficient to do something apart from lengthen Orlando’s winless run to eight video games. A sloppy ball out of the again from goalkeeper McKinley Crone in her first begin in an NWSL common season match created the runway for Bay’s Racheal Kundananji to open the scoring for the guests simply earlier than half-time. Ally Watt‘s strike partway by an improved second-half efficiency noticed Orlando equalize. Unable to interrupt the impasse, although, the Delight’s 2025 hopes proceed to sit down on shaky floor.
1:18
Chicago Stars vs. Portland Thorns FC – Sport Highlights
Watch the Sport Highlights from Chicago Stars vs. Portland Thorns FC, 09/14/2025
Earlier rating: 5
Subsequent match: Friday Sept. 19 vs. Utah Royals, 10 p.m. ET
Way more essential than these rankings, Savannah DeMelo collapsed on the sector throughout Racing Louisville’s journey to Seattle on Sunday evening. The sport was deserted. Louisville launched the next assertion following the incident: “Savannah, who obtained instant on-field care from medical personnel, is secure and alert. She was transported to an area hospital for additional analysis.” Get properly quickly, Savannah.
Earlier rating: 8
Subsequent match: Saturday Sept. 20 vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET
Beginning with the great for the Thorns: Olivia Moultrie scored one of many targets of the season on Sunday in opposition to the Chicago Stars. Her long-range effort from a free kick nestled simply inside Alyssa Naeher‘s close to submit and gave Portland an early 1-0 lead on the street. Now for the dangerous: the Thorns blew that lead, conceding on the second section of a throw-in routine earlier than the half-time whistle and left the Windy Metropolis with a 1-1 draw in opposition to one of many league’s weakest groups.
Earlier rating: 7
Subsequent match: Friday Sept. 19 vs. Chicago Stars, 8 p.m. ET
The Sprint had been working their means up these rankings and up the NWSL desk on the again of a six-game unbeaten run relationship again to the beginning of August. Towards the Utah Royals on Sunday, although, Houston laid an egg. Even with a whole half to work their means again into the sport after happening within the first half, the Sprint by no means regarded particularly threatening all through the 2-0 loss in Utah. Was their sizzling streak simply idiot’s gold?
1:15
Utah Royals vs. Houston Sprint – Sport Highlights
Watch the Sport Highlights from Utah Royals vs. Houston Sprint, 09/15/2025
Earlier rating: 9
Subsequent match: Saturday Sept. 20 vs. KC Present, 7.30 p.m. ET
As talked about, the Reign’s assembly with Racing Louisville was deserted on Sunday evening after Louisville midfielder DeMelo collapsed on the sector. What’s left of the match might be performed at a later date.
Earlier rating: 11
Subsequent match: Friday Sept. 19 vs. Orlando Delight, 7.30 p.m. ET
As much as 10 non-penalty objective contributions this 12 months following her objective in a 2-1 win over Angel Metropolis on Saturday, Manaka Matsukubo has been one of the harmful attackers within the NWSL. Whereas the Braveness has been anchored nearer to the underside of the standings than the highest in 2025, Matsukubo’s incision all throughout North Carolina’s attacking line has been on show. It actually was in opposition to the visiting Angel Metropolis, the place her pleasant strike earned a lead that her aspect by no means gave away to gather their first win since June. After buying and selling Shaw to Gotham, Matsukubo has solely grown in significance in North Carolina.
Earlier rating: 10
Subsequent match: Thursday Sept. 18 vs. Washington Spirit, 10.30 p.m. ET
Although they managed a late objective to chop the deficit in half through Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir, Angel Metropolis fell 2-1 to the North Carolina Braveness on Saturday, marking their second-straight loss. Alexander Straus’ group recorded simply 4 photographs from contained in the opposing 18-yard field, not often threading North Carolina goalkeeper Marisa Jordan. Regardless of having ample time to throw numbers ahead searching for a comeback — the guests trailed for greater than 70 minutes — Angel Metropolis regarded very similar to a group whose most harmful attacker simply departed for Chelsea.
Earlier rating: 14
Subsequent match: Friday Sept. 19 vs. Racing Louisville, 10 p.m. ET
The Royals received out to an early lead over the Houston Sprint through a strike from Kaleigh Riehl within the fourth minute and by no means regarded again on Sunday. Paige Monaghan added a second objective simply earlier than half-time and the 2-0 scoreline caught. Greater than just a little credit score is because of the Royals’ attentiveness on the defensive finish — they did not enable a single shot from contained in the field within the second half. With two wins of their final three, issues are trying up a bit in Utah.
1:12
Orlando Delight vs. Bay FC – Sport Highlights
Watch the Sport Highlights from Orlando Delight vs. Bay FC, 09/14/2025
Earlier rating: 12
Subsequent match: Sunday Sept. 21 vs. Gotham FC, 8.30 p.m. ET (Stream LIVE on ESPN+)
It has been a busy week for Bay FC, who went from asserting the upcoming departure of head coach Albertin Montoya to taking part in out a 1-1 draw on the street in opposition to the Orlando Delight on Saturday. Although they took the lead moments earlier than half-time, Bay could not maintain robust within the second half. They’ve now gone nine-straight with out choosing up a victory and the playoffs are trying more and more untouchable.
Earlier rating: 14
Subsequent match: Friday Sept. 19 vs. Houston Sprint, 8 p.m. ET
After successful simply their second recreation of the season final weekend in opposition to the Orlando Delight, the Chicago Stars got here again all the way down to earth following a 1-1 residence draw in opposition to the Portland Thorns on Sunday. Bea Franklin‘s equalizer within the forty fifth minute was a optimistic. Nonetheless, Ludmila was far too remoted on the high of her group’s construction to have a notable affect on the sport and the assault, as a complete, was disjointed. There’s nonetheless a ton of labor to be achieved in Chicago.
