NWSL Energy Rankings: Portland Thorns surge to No. 1

It is Monday and the 2026 NWSL common season is properly underway, which suggests it is time for ESPN’s Energy Rankings.

Who’s set for a climb up the desk? Who’s in peril of a free fall? Our writers studied the motion from throughout Matchday 6 to provide you with this week’s order of all 16 groups within the league. Let’s dive in.

– Rating one of the best 20 managers in ladies’s soccer proper now
– Kassouf: First month grades, from A to F, for all 16 NWSL groups
– A story of two growth groups: Denver, Boston displaying the nice, unhealthy of group constructing

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Earlier rating: 2
Subsequent match: at Racing Louisville, Might 8, 6:30 PM ET

The Portland Thorns’ scorching begin to the 2026 season retains simmering. Their 2-0 win over the Chicago Stars on Sunday didn’t come simple, however final yr’s postseason semifinalists are actually unbeaten in 5 video games. 20-year-old Olivia Moultrie turned the youngest participant to look in 100 NWSL matches and celebrated the event with a objective and an help. Portland emerged from a grueling stretch of video games — three in eight days — with 9 factors, 5 objectives scored, and one conceded. Fairly good! They’re additionally the one aspect to have overwhelmed fellow prime three sides San Diego and Washington.

Earlier rating: 3
Subsequent match: at Seattle Reign FC, Might 10, 7:00 PM ET

The Washington Spirit has clicked into gear: look out, everybody. They held off the Orlando Satisfaction in a frenetic 4-2 win on Saturday to earn their fourth straight win. The victory included the earliest brace in NWSL historical past as Sofia Cantore notched a duo of objectives within the opening six minutes. Trinity Rodman additionally collected a objective — her third in as many video games — and two assists. She joins NWSL icons Jess Fishlock and Megan Rapinoe as the one gamers with 30 objectives and 20 assists for a single membership.

Earlier rating: 1
Subsequent match: at Angel Metropolis FC, Might 9, 8:45 PM EST

San Diego have now misplaced two matches on the bounce, as they failed to beat Portland on Wednesday and Bay FC on Sunday. Bay’s intense press plugged San Diego’s beforehand free flowing assault, and the Wave appeared disjointed and out of sync because of this. They opened the 2026 marketing campaign clicking on all cylinders, however the worldwide break has appeared to sluggish their momentum. Head coach Jonas Eidevall was issued a crimson card within the second half and won’t be on the sidelines for the Southern California match-up towards Angel Metropolis subsequent Friday.

Earlier rating: 6
Subsequent match: vs. Boston Legacy, Might 9, 8:45 PM ET

It could have taken a number of weeks, however Gotham FC have arrived, with a 3rd straight win — this time 1-0 win at house towards Racing Louisville. Gotham are identified to be sluggish starters and so they opened their season with only one win in 5. True to type, they’ve grown into the season, thanks largely to the newfound offensive connectivity. Rookie Jordynn Dudley has notched a objective or help in all three of Gotham FC’s latest wins.

Earlier rating: 10
Subsequent match: vs. Houston Sprint, Might 6, 10:00 PM ET

The Utah Royals proceed to be one of the vital in-form groups within the league, with their 1-0 triumph away at Angel Metropolis ensuing within the first three-game profitable streak in membership historical past. Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn returned to the beginning line-up for the primary time this yr, and guided the Royals to its third straight clear sheet since 2019. The Royals have discovered the again of the online each recreation this season and are joint second (alongside Portland, Washington and Houston) for the fewest objectives allowed.

Earlier rating: 8
Subsequent match: at Utah Royals, Might 6, 10:00 PM ET

The Sprint hold plugging alongside, and drew 0-0 at house with the Seattle Reign. Houston’s backline (notably rookie Leah Klenke) has confirmed to be defensively strong. Via six video games, the Sprint have already saved three clear sheets; a mass enchancment on the 2 whole that they had all final season. The Sprint’s assault, in the meantime, has cooled following a blistering scorching begin that featured objectives of their first 4 video games.

Earlier rating: 7
Subsequent match: vs. Washington Spirit, Might 10, 7:00 PM ET

The Reign couldn’t discover the sting in an scoreless draw with the Houston Sprint on Friday evening. That is now three scoreless video games in a row, their longest stretch since October 2024. Seattle discovered nice success taking seven factors from a potential 9 at their short-term venue in Spokane. They’ve but to discover a win since, however they’ve additionally prevented defeat of their final three matches. Optimistically, coach Laura Harvey shared that the harm to talisman Jess Fishlock on April 26 will not be career-ending.

Earlier rating: 12
Subsequent match: vs. Utah Royals FC, Might 10, 4:00 PM ET

Bay FC headlines the groups in the midst of the pack after besting final week’s desk toppers San Diego FC, 1-0. Their dogged and arranged press successfully stifled San Diego’s assault and after Rachael Kunananji gave her aspect an early lead along with her first objective of the season, Bay FC defended resolutely to see the sport out. Midfielder Claire Hutton was significantly influential in dictating issues and sustaining management.

Earlier rating: 4
Subsequent match: vs. San Diego Wave, Might 9, 8:45 PM EST

Angel Metropolis’s quick begin to the 2026 season has stalled out, as they misplaced at house towards the Utah Royals this weekend to make it three straight defeats. Angel Metropolis has lately confirmed wasteful in entrance of objective, with final season’s Rookie of the Yr candidate, Riley Tiernan, posing much less of a objective risk on the wing. To make issues worse for Angel Metropolis, Maiara Nieheus earned the membership’s first straight crimson card in membership historical past for violent conduct in stoppage time of the primary half.

Earlier rating: 5
Subsequent match: vs. North Carolina Braveness, Might 8, 8:00 PM EST

Barbra Banda netted her second brace in two weeks and surges to the highest of the Golden Boot race with seven objectives in seven matches. Nevertheless, her attacking brilliance was not sufficient to see Orlando to victory. The Satisfaction had been undone by lax defending in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Spirit. 5 of the 11 objectives they’ve shipped this season have come within the final two video games. Regardless of Banda’s prolific goalscoring price, the dearth of defensive stability is a priority for Seb Hinds’ aspect.

Earlier rating: 9
Subsequent match: at Orlando Satisfaction, Might 8, 8:00 PM ET

The Braveness are nonetheless looking for constant type and have but to assert a back-to-back win or draw. The Braveness couldn’t capitalize on a sold-out house crowd and had been second greatest in a 2-1 loss to the Kansas Metropolis Present. Ashley Sanchez has been one of many NWSL’s best attackers this yr, however did not play herself into the sport, whereas rookie Lauryn Thompson offered vibrant moments in her second look off the bench — simply not sufficient to show the consequence within the Braveness’s favor.

Earlier rating: 13
Subsequent match: vs. Chicago Stars FC, Might 10, 12:30 PM ET

Is that this the weekend the Present lastly obtained its mojo again? Alarm bells sounded final week following a 4-0 blowout away at Washington, with the Present already conceding 13 objectives via six matches — matching its whole via all of 2025. Nevertheless, they bounced again on Saturday with an assured 2-1 win over the North Carolina Braveness. Croix Bethune shone brightly, tallying a objective and an help.

Earlier rating: 11
Subsequent match: at Houston Sprint, Might 9, 8:00 PM ET

There are some clear rising pains for the growth aspect, as they failed to carry a lead for the second consecutive recreation. The Summit appeared to have the sting on fellow newcomers Boston Legacy on the street on Sunday, with forwards Yazmeen Ryan and Tash Flint every notched stunning go-ahead objectives for Denver, however Denver couldn’t attain the end line. The Summit in the end conceded two objectives after the 89th minute, handing Boston its first win in franchise historical past.

Earlier rating: 16
Subsequent match: at Gotham FC, Might 9, 8:45 PM ET

The Legacy lastly made good on the again of a number of improved — if nonetheless flawed — latest performances. The growth aspect secured its first franchise win courtesy of a dramatic 3-2 comeback towards fellow debutants Denver Summit, after displaying promise in midweek towards the Braveness earlier than settling for a draw. There was no surrendering this time, although, because the Legacy rallied to attain two unanswered late objectives. They owned the best xG price of each this previous weekend in addition to the midweek matches, and at last made good on it.

Earlier rating: 14
Subsequent match: vs. Portland Thorns, Might 8, 6:30 PM ET

Issues are going from unhealthy to worse for Racing Louisville. Bev Yanez’s membership misplaced to each Gotham FC on Sunday and Washington on Spirit by a 1-0 scoreline. They struggled to create probabilities and managed only one shot on course in each video games. Racing Louisville had been one of many surprises of the 2025 season, punching above their weight all the way in which to the playoffs for the primary time in membership historical past. They now not appear greater than the sum of their elements.

Earlier rating: 15
Subsequent match: at Kansas Metropolis Present, Might 10, 12:30 PM ET

The Chicago Stars strung collectively a number of promising spells of possession at house to Portland, however a 2-0 loss represents their sixth defeat in eight video games, and so they’ve not registered a objective in any of their six losses. The Stars had a season-high 11 corners and a great deal of momentum within the recreation, however nothing to indicate for it as they produced zero massive probabilities. The excellent news from the week? Mallory Swanson is again with the squad in full coaching following parental go away.