It’s Monday, and following a pause to observe the men’s World Cup, the 2026 NWSL regular season is back underway, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.
Who’s set for a climb up the table? Who’s in danger of a free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 11 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, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET
Two words: Trinity. Rodman. She led the way in a weekend that saw four players bag braces. The 24-year-old’s fifth career regular-season brace included a stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 victory over Houston. There is no place like home for Rodman, as she has now had five goal contributions in the Spirit’s past four home games. The comeback victory is the Spirit’s seventh win in eight games. The Spirit also have two games in hand over first-place San Diego and second-place Portland.
Previous ranking: 4
Next match: vs. Angel City, Saturday, 8:45 p.m. ET
It’s early, but San Diego quieted concerns about the absence of Dudinha with a 2-0 win over Gotham. The Brazil forward and team-leading goal scorer ruptured her ACL in a friendly against the U.S. women’s national team a month ago. Teenager Melanie Barcenas opened the scoring with a stunning long-range finish. Her goal celebration paid tribute to Alex Morgan, who was in attendance. Substitute Trinity Byars then nabbed the insurance goal when Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was caught off her line. The Wave ended the weekend back in first place in the table.
Previous ranking: 7
Next match: at Seattle Reign, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET (stream live on ESPN)
Portland’s attack picked up where it left off in its first game back from the summer break. The Thorns now lead the NWSL in goals (24) and added a bundle more to their tally with a 4-0 mauling of Louisville. Portland has now scored in a league-best 13 of 14 games. The Thorns hit the ground running with three first-half goals and never looked back. Sophia Wilson iced the game with her 50th career goal and became the youngest player in NWSL history to reach the half-century mark behind only newly minted Gotham striker Sam Kerr.
Previous ranking: 1
Next match: vs. Gotham FC, Friday, 10 p.m. ET
Utah topped these rankings for two weeks running, but heavy is the head that wears the crown. The Royals sustained their first loss since the second weekend of the season. An eyebrow-raising 3-2 defeat at Chicago ends a club-best run of 11 games without a loss. Utah conceded the first goal of the game to Jordyn Huitema. They have yet to win a game when giving up a goal first. The Royals retook the lead, but conceded two goals in the final 31 minutes.
Previous ranking: 5
Next match: at Orlando Pride, Friday, 8 p.m. ET
Are last year’s Shield winners officially back? The Current’s dominant 3-0 performance over Denver was reminiscent of their historic 2025 regular season campaign. Michelle Cooper nabbed her first career NWSL brace. Temwa Chawinga proved yet again why she is inevitable as she scored her eighth goal in nine games. Croix Bethune pulled the strings and assisted two goals. Head coach and former Colorado Rapids manager Chris Armas enjoyed a glorious return to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Previous ranking: 6
Next match: vs. Washington Spirit, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET
North Carolina did not seem perturbed by the shock news of 2025 Midfielder of the Year Manaka Matsukobo’s summer transfer to Chelsea. The Courage continued the momentum from the first half of the season with a decisive 3-1 win over Seattle. They stormed back from a one-goal deficit to record their fourth straight win; their first four-win streak since 2023. The match occurred on July 4, and Ashley Sanchez provided the fireworks. She remains in rampaging form and added two more goals to her regular-season tally of nine.
Previous ranking: 3
Next match: at Utah Royals, Friday, 10 p.m. ET
Gotham suffered their first defeat since early April in a 2-0 loss in San Diego. The visitors simply could not find the back of the net and recorded their highest expected goals (xG) rate of the season (1.27) without finishing. Despite boasting attacking talent the likes of Esther González, Jaedyn Shaw, Rose Lavelle and emerging rookie Jordynn Dudley, goal-scoring profligacy has troubled Gotham this year. They have scored the fourth fewest goals (12) this season and are the only team in the top 10 of the table with fewer than 17. Gotham are known for their elite defense, but San Diego made their backline look ordinary on Saturday.
Previous ranking: 11
Next match: at San Diego Wave, Saturday, 8:45 p.m. ET
A new manager does a team good on the evidence of Angel City’s comprehensive 2-0 victory over Orlando. Former head coach Alexander Straus was relieved of his duties in mid-June after a dour streak that saw one win in eight games. Interim coach Leif Gunnar Smerud led his team to their first clean sheet victory since the first match of the season. New arrival Ally Sentnor was busy on attack, and Maiara Niehues and Sveindís Jónsdóttir scored the goals. The result was never in doubt. How long will the new manager bounce last?
Previous ranking: 8
Next match: vs. Houston Dash, Sunday, 7 p.m. RT
Friday night’s match vs. Kansas City marked the expansion side’s third sellout in four home games. That, however, is where the plaudits end. The Summit got thumped 3-0 by a relentless Current team. It is just the second time Denver conceded three goals in its young history. After the match, head coach and former Manchester City skipper Nick Cushing did not mince words: “I think this is possibly the second-worst defeat of my managerial career,” he declared.
Previous ranking: 9
Next match: vs. Kansas City Current, Friday, 8 p.m. ET
Orlando’s attack simply could never get going in a 2-0 defeat at Angel City. The Pride registered a season-low five shots with just one shot on goal. The team’s leading goal scorer Barbra Banda remains unavailable after suffering a thigh injury on May 29. It was the first time Orlando failed to score in eight consecutive games. The one piece of good news for Pride fans? Lizbeth Ovalle made her first start since early April.
Previous ranking: 10
Next match: vs. Portland Thorns, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET (stream live on ESPN)
Seattle could not extend its three-game winning streak against North Carolina dating back to August 2024. Despite an opening goal from Sally Menti, the Reign conceded three unanswered goals, including a penalty. Laura Harvey’s side outshot their opponents, but failed to register additional goals. The way in which Seattle capitulated will ring alarm bells. The Reign have managed just one win in their past eight games.
Previous ranking: 12
Next match: vs. Chicago Stars, Friday, 8 p.m. ET
The expansion team fought back to claim a 2-2 draw at home against Bay FC. The Legacy overcame an early deficit to score two unanswered goals, including the equalizing penalty kick by Aïssata Traoré, who now leads the team in goals. Boston has recovered a league-leading nine points from losing positions. However, wins have been hard to come by. The draw means it is now winless in four.
Previous ranking: 14
Next match: at Racing Louisville, Friday, 8 p.m. ET
Bay FC saw their first-half lead erased and settled for a draw vs. Boston. The 2-2 draw represents the first time Bay failed to win a game this year after leading at the half. Claire Hutton converted the visitors’ first penalty of the season. Karlie Lema then opened her 2026 goal-scoring account with a second. However, Bay could not hold onto the lead and conceded a 79th-minute penalty to squander the potential three points.
Previous ranking: 15
Next match: at Boston Legacy, Friday, 8 p.m. ET
Chicago returned to the drawing board during the month-long break, and the results are impressive. The Stars kept it late to claim just their fourth win of the season against Utah. After a seesaw game, Sam Staab hit a fantastic direct free kick — only the second direct free kick goal in Chicago’s long history. Jordyn Huitema netted her second career brace. The Canada international scored the match-winner with a striker’s touch. The occasion is Chicago’s first comeback win of the season. The win against a team of Utah’s caliber will doubtlessly provide a confidence boost.
Previous ranking: 13
Next match: at Denver Summit, Sunday, 7 p.m. ET
So close, and yet so far for the Dash. In spite of several tremendous saves by goalkeeper Jane Campbell, Houston seemed dead in the water in Washington. However, rookies Linda Ullmark and Kate Faasse combined to net a late equalizer — rookies have contributed to 11 of the Dash’s 15 goals this year — but the Dash could not escape Audi Field with a result. Houston went on to give up a stoppage-time go-ahead goal by Trinity Rodman and has won just once in its past nine games.
Previous ranking: 16
Next match: vs. Bay FC, Friday, 8 p.m. ET
Matters in Louisville go from bad to worse. Bev Yanez’s team were demolished 4-0 at the hands of Portland. It was the second-worst defeat in club history. As has become common for Racing, the team showed grit and determination, but failed to land a punch. They outshot the Thorns and had two shots thud off the crossbar early in the game. Louisville has now lost four games on the bounce, which is tied for the worst streak in club history. As if the future was not already bleak, per ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf, star player Emma Sears has asked for a trade from the club.
