NWSL Power Rankings: KC Current's 'sack the coach' bounce

25 days into the 2023 NWSL season and we have our first head coaching change. Last week KC Current general manager Camille Ashton made a somewhat surprising call to axe Matt Potter after just three matches. In his first season at the club, Potter had taken Kansas City from the very bottom of the standings in 2021 to the Championship Final in 2022, which was a miraculous turnaround. 

The Current had started the 2023 season a dismal 0-3 under Potter, and conceded four goals in consecutive weeks after losing their season opener 1-0. Of course, the Current are dealing with an extensive injury list. A total of 11 players remained on the Current's injury report heading into Matchweek Four. 

While still very early in the season, there was slight cause to dismiss Potter for the performance on the pitch. But after the past couple of troubling seasons in the NWSL, the sudden change on Wednesday afternoon, hours before a Challenge Cup match, felt rather dubious. It felt like a premature decision. 

Ashton, who held a press conference on Friday, explained that Potter was let go because of “issues about leadership and employment responsibilities.” Rookie Mykiaa Minniss had alleged mistreatment from Potter and Ashton during the 2023 preseason, but during Ashton's press conference, she refuted that Minniss' claims had anything to do with Potter leaving the club. She also reiterated that no one on the Current roster had called for the head coaching change. 

Nonetheless, without Potter in charge, the Current bounced back this weekend. And could be set to revive their season after a poor start. Without further ado, let's get to the Power Rankings!

Key: #Ranking - Team Name (Change in ranking)
Matchweek result

1. OL Reign (-)

Win (5-2 over Chicago Red Stars)

For the third time in four weeks, Laura Harvey’s team holds on to the top spot. No one is having more fun in the NWSL right now than the OL Reign. When Bethan Balcer, who scored a brace, transformed assistant manager Scott Parkinson into a turntable to celebrate the opening goal, we knew we were in for quite the day. Pure Vibes FC at the moment. 

Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Reign only had five shots on goal and had an xG of just 1.1. As good as they were, it was an outing when the Red Stars’ errors were punished by a team in their element. A special mention for the gorgeous front-to-back 10-pass move for the Reign’s fifth goal, scored by Jess Fishlock and ignited by Sofia Huerta, which was the best team goal of the weekend. 

It’s very, very tight at the top. It’s hard to nitpick the Pacific Northwest supremacy. Even though the Reign don’t have the same statistical advantage as the Thorns right now, they feel like the more complete team. 

2. Portland Thorns (-)

Win (2-0 over Racing Louisville)

The Rose City got back to winning ways by going up early. Christine Sinclair’s pinpoint side-footed shot from outside the box after just 108 seconds was her 60th career NWSL goal, the joint second-most in the league's history. The strike was made all the more satisfying thanks to the Crystal Dunn dummy that came before it. Morgan Weaver got her second goal of the season to make it 2-0 at the break, and that’s how it ended. 

Twelve of the Thorns' 20 total shots, and five of their six shots on target, came in the first half. If we’re being picky, there’s certainly a trend that Mike Norris’ team is taking their foot off the gas in the second halves of matches. That tracks with last week's hot start and cooling off against the Dash.

However, when you lead the league in almost every statistical offensive and defensive metric, it’s hard to find holes to pick at. Especially when Sophia Smith, who assisted both goals, has picked up exactly where she left off in 2022. She's the best player in the NWSL at the moment, bar none. 

3. SD Wave (-)

Win (2-0 over Angel City) 

For the second time in consecutive seasons, the Wave have started the year with three wins from their first four matches — an impressive feat for the club in only its second-ever season.

Winning a derby match is always huge for a club and its fans. Even if, like in this case, the SoCal clasico itself was not a classic by any means. At the end of the day, the Wave did the simple things right on Sunday night to win. Crucially they defended their box stoutly. They then waited for one of their few chances to fly into the net. Which, with a bit of help from some sloppy and unlucky Angel City defending, eventually did happen. 

Head coach Casey Stoney said after the match that “we used our luck for the season.” Having been so efficient in front of goal to start the season, are we going to see that “luck” run out at some point? San Diego had the joint lowest matchweek xG (0.4) of any team this season this past weekend. 

4. Houston Dash (-)

Draw (0-0 vs. Washington Spirit) 

First-time head coach Sam Laity is yet to lose an NWSL regular season match as the undefeated Dash picked up their third draw of the season. It is also the first time ever that Houston has started an NWSL season with zero losses after four regular season matches. Considering that three of those games have come on the road, you have to give some extra credit to this team even if their total of six points doesn’t jump off the page. 

The Dash continues to be a fascinating prospect. In D.C., more adjustments to the lineup saw Houston attack in a new 3-4-3 formation in the first half. Then in the second half, Laity opted to twist again back into a 4-3-3. Neither look was quite able to create much for the Dash’s high-powered frontline, who were all kept quiet on the night. 

Ultimately it was a weekend to celebrate Houston’s backline, especially the industrious Allysha Chapman who limited Trinity Rodman. There have only been two 0-0s so far in the NWSL and they have both involved the Dash. For all the talk about their attacking players, maybe this team is underrated at the back? 

5. Gotham FC (+1)

Win (1-0 over NC Courage)

The biggest NWSL rivalry showed up again this weekend: Gotham vs. severe weather.

For the second time in four weeks, a New Jersey lightning storm above Red Bull Arena paused play for over an hour. Having originally kicked off at 8:30 p.m., it wasn’t until 11:14 p.m. that Lynn Williams scored her winning goal in the 81st minute. The landmark strike was Williams’ 60th in the league, which tied Sinclair for second place. 

Behind only the weather, Juan Carlos Amoros’ team was the most dominant force on the night. And that was without Midge Purce, who missed the match with an injury. Amazingly, Amoros is just one win away from already equaling NJ/NY’s 2022 season total of four. 

With McCall Zerboni and Allie Long in midfield, this was a more soundly anchored Gotham XI. Having two more combative types in the middle of the pitch helped Kristie Mewis focus on spraying long passes early into the wide areas. Yazmeen Ryan’s first assist of the year showed her tricky dribbling ability. 

6. Washington Spirit (-1)

Draw (0-0 vs. Houston Dash) 

It is quite an accomplishment to limit Diana Ordonez, Maria Sanchez, and Ebony Salmon to a combined four total shots, two on target, and an xG of 0.25. The Spirit is now one of just two teams, the other being the Dash, who are yet to concede a goal at home this year. 

Even after starting right back Dorian Bailey left this match early in the 16th minute due to injury, Washington rarely looked overwhelmed by Houston’s attack. Washington knew what unthreatening spaces they could give up, when to engage in pressure, and when to drop off. 

The only heart-in-mouth moment for the Spirit was when Aubredy Kingsbury had to make a tremendously athletic save from a Sophie Schmidt header in the second half. Dropping two points at home still means this was probably a better point for the Texan visitors though. 

7. Angel City (+1)

Loss (0-2 vs. San Diego Wave)

The good news for Los Angeles is very good. Julie Ertz couldn’t look more like her old self than if Doc Brown appeared on the Sixth Street Viaduct in the Delorean and said, “Great Scot, we’re going back to France 2019.” Making her first NWSL appearance in two years, Ertz led her team in interceptions with three, and provided much vim and vigor in the core of the Angel City midfield.  

The bad news for Los Angeles is pretty bad. Once again, Angel City just about controlled a match and couldn’t really dig their teeth into the opponent. Time and time again, creating significant goal-scoring opportunities is more difficult than it should be for this team. Alyssa Thompson, who was a threat all afternoon, snatched at five shots, from an average distance of 19.8 yards out, and failed to hit the target on any of them. 

The other fallout from this match was Angel City defender Paige Nielsen taking to Twitter and Instagram to air out her grievance at being clattered by Alex Morgan in the build-up to the Wave’s opening goal. The referee did go to VAR to check the goal and no foul was given. Did the USWNT forward know what she was doing?

8. Racing Louisville (-1) 

Loss (0-2 to Portland Thorns)

A first loss of the season coming on the road to Portland isn’t a doomsday scenario for Racing, who also lost starting center back Elli Pikkujamsa to injury after just five minutes of play. 

Still, after four matches Louisville should be concerned that it ranks 11th for shots on target against with 24 (six per 90 minutes). Unsurprisingly that also means, for the second season in a row, Katie Lund is leading the NWSL for saves with 18. The Racing goalkeeper broke the league record for saves in a single season with 112 in 2022. 

Racing's big summer signing from UANL Tigres Femenil, forward Uchenna Kanu, was an unused substitute for the second week in a row as she continues her recovery from a knee injury. Although Louisville hasn’t struggled for goals in her absence (four goals scored in 229 minutes), there could be more to see from Racing’s frontline with her in it. 

9. KC Current (+2)

Win (2-0 over Orlando Pride)

What a wild week in Kansas City. After starting the season 0-3, the Current picked up two wins in the space of five days without a head coach.

Under interim coach Caroline Sjoblom, the Current won its Challenge Cup tilt on Wednesday in Houston 2-0, a tidy smash-and-grab that showed off exactly the kind of grit they had been missing this year. On Sunday, back at home at Children’s Mercy Park, it was a much more one-sided and professional performance against the league’s worst team. 

Sjoblom made a big call by deciding to drop out-of-form goalkeeper AD Franch and deploy Cassie Miller in her place. This week, the Swede has been rewarded with back-to-back clean sheets in the cup and league. Hallie Mace, back at her usual left wing-back position in the Current’s 3-4-2-1 formation, also deserves a shout-out for assisting both goals. 

Suddenly, out of nowhere, it feels like KC could get on a roll. With three points from four matches, the Current are two points ahead of where they were at this point in the 2022 season.

10. Chicago Red Stars (-1)

Loss (2-5 to OL Reign) 

If you’re looking for goals you’ve come to the right place. So far this season matches involving Chicago are averaging a total of 5.25 goals. Despite having scored the second most goals (nine) in the NWSL, the Red Stars’ leaky defense (ranked 12th) means they only have three points to their name. 

Chicago relies a lot on its wing-backs to create pressure and get numbers forward. When it works, it works. Right wing-back Bianca St. Georges created the opening goal for left wing-back Arin Wright. But it means that the three center backs don’t get much help. When space opens up and the opposition can break the lines it’s pretty devastating. 

The Red Stars may be the most confusing team in the NWSL right now. Too many errors and lapses in concentration are costing them at the back right now, but with a strategy to be an aggressive attacking team, they have potential to hurt even the best teams in this league. 

11. NC Courage (-1) 

Loss (0-1 to NJ/NY Gotham FC)

It has now been 347 minutes since the Courage scored from open play. Sean Nahas’ side may lead the NWSL for average possession with 58.3%, but they lack purpose. 

NC’s usual focal point Kerolin was carefully marked out of Saturday’s night sopping wet affair in New Jersey. The Brazilian ended the night with zero shots, 33 touches, and just one successful dribble despite playing the full 90 minutes. It was the first time in her NWSL career that she did not attempt a single shot in a match. 

With so many new players bedding in, and the club in full rebuild mode, the early season struggles aren’t too surprising. The Courage has a short week coming up and will finish a three-game away stretch in Houston against the Dash on Friday night. Then the Portland Thorns come to Cary  in Matchweek Six. It’s brutal out there. 

12. Orlando Pride (-) 

Loss (0-2 to Orlando Pride) 

A new mantra just dropped courtesy of Emily Madril: “F*** it. I say who cares, we all make mistakes.”

The Orlando Pride rookie summed up her team’s 2-0 defeat to the Current this weekend and the Florida team’s entire 2023 season so far. Yes, things are not going terrific for Seb Hines’ team, but does anyone really care? 

Much like the Courage, this is one of the youngest teams in the league with a new-ish head coach and brand new general manager that are building the club up from the ground level. Making mistakes is fine as long as you learn from them. We’ll be looking for green shoots in Orlando, not necessarily a significant win tally. 

Hey, at least the Pride didn’t lose this match in the 10th minute of stoppage time again.