It’s Monday, and with another weekend of 2026 NWSL regular season in the books, it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.
Who’s set for a climb up the table? Who’s in danger of freefall? Our writers studied the action across Matchday 21 to come up with this week’s order of all 16 teams in the league. Let’s dive in.
Previous ranking: 2
Next match: At North Carolina Courage, Sept. 19, 6. 30 p.m. ET
NJ/NY Gotham FC bounced back from a surprise defeat to Denver last weekend with a 2-1 win over Racing Louisville. Guro Reiten opened the scoring early and became the first Norwegian to score in the NWSL. Gotham then conceded an equalizer nine minutes later. However, the defending NWSL champions reasserted themselves immediately after the second half whistle with the go-ahead strike. Jaedyn Shaw capped off a beautiful back-to-front team goal, and now leads the team in goals (7) and assists (5).
Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Kansas City Current, Sept. 18, 10 p.m. ET
The San Diego Wave recovered from a defeat away at Seattle last weekend with a convincing 2-1 win over North Carolina. Gia Corley opened her 2026 NWSL account with the game’s first goal. Melanie Barcenas then finished off a lovely attacking move for her sixth goal of the season. Despite missing full back Mimi Van Zanten due to yellow card accumulation, the Wave kept the Courage’s attack mostly quiet.
Previous ranking: 5
Next match: At Angel City, Sept. 16, 10 p.m. ET
The Seattle Reign are on a three-match win streak for the first time since 2024; the longest active win streak in the NWSL. They have not conceded a single goal during this winning run. The Reign’s tidy 2-0 win over Bay FC keeps their playoff hopes alive and well. They are now four points clear of the playoff line. Sofia Huerta opened the scoring from the penalty spot, her eighth successful PK of her nine career attempts. Veteran Brittany Ratcliffe then put the game on ice in stoppage time.
Previous ranking: 1
Next match: At Chicago Stars FC, Sept. 20, 5 p.m. ET
Last week’s Power Rankings leaders slip the furthest following a bruising 3-0 defeat at home to expansion side Boston Legacy. Washington failed to capitalize on the momentum from last week’s historic win away at Portland. It was not simply the loss itself, but the manner by which the Spirit unraveled. Washington could not generate any offense with a season-low 0.29 xG and two shots on goal. The Spirit’s defense folded down the stretch, conceding three goals in 17 minutes. Boston showed more fight, energy, and creativity. What long-term ramifications will this result have on the Shield race?
Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Angel City FC, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. ET
The Utah Royals bounced back from a shock defeat at home to Boston last weekend. They took care of business away at Houston with a 1-0 win. Mina Tanaka scored the lone goal off a lovely Nuria Rábano assist. Tanaka is now the club’s record holder for most career game-winning goals (6) and single-season goals (9). Mia Justus replaced Mandy McGlynn in goal but did not have a busy night. Kate Del Fava preserved her imperious iron woman streak (76 games and counting) despite suffering an injury which required a head bandage.
Previous ranking: 7
Next match: At San Diego Wave FC, Sept. 18, 10 p.m. ET
The Current extended their unbeaten run at home at CPKC Stadium to 29 games with a comeback 2-2 draw against rivals Orlando. The match between the two most recent Shield winners served up a titanic battle between NWSL greats Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga, and both stars shined with Banda scoring a quick-fire brace. The Current stormed back as Chawinga scored her 10th goal in 10 games in her first start since mid-July. Elizabeth Ball then scored the equalizing goal off a corner kick. The Current put up 3.02 xG and took 24 total shots but could not find the game-winner. It has been a turbulent week for Kansas City and they will rue not making more of their chances.
Previous ranking: 6
Next match: At Orlando Pride, Sept. 19, 4 p.m. ET
Despite recording more than twice as many shots and expected goals as the Chicago Stars, Portland failed to add to a 1-0 scoreline and squandered their lead in stoppage time. The 1-1 draw is now the second straight week during which Portland dropped points at home. The Thorns had a 13-game home unbeaten streak entering last week’s match against Washington. Portland has now dropped 21 points from a leading position this season; the most since Opta began tracking the statistic in 2016.
Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Seattle Reign FC, Sept. 16, 10 p.m. ET
Angel City FC fought back to claim a point at home to the Denver Summit in the first-ever meeting between the sides. Maiara Niehues opened the scoring with a wonderful half-volley. She has now scored a record eight goals in a single season. Angel City FC then shipped three goals across just 12 minutes. That would not be the last word, though, as Prisca Chilufya‘s goal was upheld by VAR after an initial offside call. Ally Sentnor converted her first penalty kick goal for the club to draw 3-3. Sveindís Jónsdóttir had another active game in attack and was blunt in her post-match comments. “It’s not good enough to be 3-1 down at home. It is unacceptable. But not giving up is something that we have to take with us.”
Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Bay FC, Sept. 16, 9.30 p.m. ET
The good news? The expansion side scored three goals in consecutive weeks. The bad news? They could not hold the lead and settled for a 3-3 draw away at Angel City FC. Yuzuki Yamamoto continues her fine goalscoring form to draw Denver level 1-1. Lindsey Heaps then scored the go-ahead goal with her first with the club. Victory seemed certain as Janine Sonis‘ looping effort from distance made it 3-1. However, Yamamoto was subbed off and Denver spent the rest of the game on defense. VAR intervened to uphold Angel City’s second goal before Summit defender Ayo Oke was adjudged to concede a foul in the box. Denver goalkeeper Abby Smith has yet to save a penalty kick in six attempts this season and failed to do so against Sentnor. The Summit’s potential three points evaporated into one.
Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Gotham FC, Sept. 19, 6.30 p.m. ET
The North Carolina Courage’s defensive frailties were on full display in a 2-1 defeat away at the San Diego Wave. This week Maycee Bell was ruled out for the rest of the season while her center back partner Natalie Jacobs remains sidelined with a head injury. The Courage failed to close down the Wave’s goal-scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, Ashley Sanchez continued her remarkable form with her 19th goal of the season with a gorgeous curling shot into the upper corner. It was the first time this season the Courage lost a game in which Sanchez scored. She is one goal shy of Chawinga’s all-time record set in 2024 with six games to play.
Previous ranking: 14
Next match: Houston Dash, Sept. 20, 2 p.m. ET
Have the Boston Legacy turned a corner? After losing four games in a row and conceding 15 goals in that span, they have now collected two straight away wins against top-four opponents. Boston tightened up their defense and conceded just once in that time. The Legacy were the better team by every metric against Washington. They already set a league record for most goals scored after the 85th minute (9 total) and added to their tally today with two more from Amanda Gutierres. She became the first Legacy player to record a brace.
Previous ranking: 11
Next match: Portland Thorns FC, Sept. 19, 4 p.m. ET
The Pride continue to benefit from a new manager bounce. Their 2-2 draw with Kansas City keeps their playoff hopes afloat. Banda made the difference for her team on the day with a brace. She has now had a goal contribution in 14 of her 20 NWSL games this season. The Pride, though, failed to hold the lead. Interim coach Yolanda Thomas sees the silver lining. “It feels disappointing when you’re up 2-0 and you don’t come out with three points,” she said. “But the fact that we are now feeling disappointed about not getting three points in a game like this is a testament to how far we’ve come in just a week and a half.”
Previous ranking: 12
Next match: Denver Summit FC, Sept. 16, 9.30 p.m. ET
It was more of the same from Bay FC, who showed promising moments against Seattle but could not convert them into goals. Claire Hutton hit a powerful shot at the hour mark, but Cristiana Girelli failed to keep her rebounded effort on frame. Recent arrival Jenna Nighswonger mistimed her tackle on Nérilia Mondésir which led to a converted penalty kick for Seattle’s first goal of the game. Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz kept the game at 2-0 with more outstanding saves.
Previous ranking: 13
Next match: at Bay FC, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. ET
It was the same old Racing Louisville as they met their 15th defeat of the year (second most in the NWSL). Racing put up a decent fight in the first half against NY/NJ Gotham FC as Kayla Fischer drew them level. However, she could not finish off a big chance later in the first half. Emma Sears did not start the game and offered little impact off the bench. Relocation talk continues to swirl around the franchise as they now seem certain to miss out on a return to the playoffs.
Previous ranking: 16
Next match: Washington Spirit, Sept. 20, 5 p.m. ET
The Stars picked up a result away at Providence Park for the first time in exactly two years. Their hard-fought 1-1 draw with the Portland Thorns was a bright spot in an otherwise dire season. The Stars conceded 12 total goals in their previous two outings. They were much more organized against Portland, and Michelle Alozie proved effective in a forward role. Chicago was a bit unlucky to give up an own goal in the 22nd minute. They kept pushing forward, however, and were duly rewarded. Taylor Wood netted her first career NWSL goal off a corner kick in the 92nd minute. The draw means they are the first team to be officially eliminated from the 2026 playoffs. Results like these suggest, however, they could play spoiler down the stretch.
Previous ranking: 15
Next match: at Boston Legacy FC, Sept. 20, 2 p.m. ET
The Dash’s 1-0 defeat at home to the Utah Royals was surely disappointing. They failed to register a shot on target for the first time all season. However, the loss had seismic reverberations as the club announced on Sunday it was parting ways with head coach Fabrice Gautraut and technical director Twila Kilgore effective immediately. Gautraut is the fourth head coach to be fired this season. The Dash have lost four games in a row, but are just a win away from matching their total win record from last season (8).
