NWSL Power Rankings: 'Big gay' goals and no change at the top

"On the eve of pride month, a big gay goal, I just love it."

That was Megan Rapinoe's answer to a question about her thoughts on teammate Quinn's exquisite worldie from 25 yards for the OL Reign's fourth goal on Saturday. The magnificent strike, which spun with a physics-defying swerve, was the first NWSL goal of the Canadian's career. And what a way for them to do it.  

After being beaten by the same scoreline of 4-1 in Matchweek Eight, the big win for Seattle over the weekend felt like a course correction. Nature was healing. Lumen Field was once again an intimidating venue. A theatre, that featured five of the most eye-catching goals you will see anywhere in the world over 90 minutes. 

After lots of shifting and tinkering with the Power Rankings last time, this week has a much more stable feel. None of the top six teams heading into the weekend lost in Matchweek Nine. We're nearly at the halfway point of the season, and there might be a group of five clubs just about breaking away at the top. Let's get to the Power Rankings! 

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

1. Washington Spirit (-)

Draw (1-1 vs. Gotham FC)

Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash between Gotham and Spirit was meant to illuminate who was in the driving seat as the best team in the NWSL right now. Even in a tight stalemate, we may have discovered the answer. And that is: It’s nobody. 

Yes, it’s simply too close to call right now. Just one point separates first and fifth in the standings. One could argue for any of the top five to be considered the best in the league at this very moment. 

Despite being fifth in the standings, Washington holds on to the top spot in the Power Rankings based on consistency. Week in, week out, you know what sort of performance levels you’re going to get from Mark Parsons’ team. Even after an uncharacteristically flat first half on Sunday, the Spirit could still turn the tide and show their true selves in the second half. 

2. Gotham FC (-)

Draw (1-1 vs. Wash Spirit)

Juan Carlos Amoros’ team came as close as any club has this year to beating the Spirit at Audi Field. They became just the second away team to score against Washington all season, and the first away team to take a lead. If it weren’t for a VAR check that picked up a handball in the build-up to a Yazmeen Ryan header, this match could easily have ended in a Gotham win. 

Do you applaud Gotham for going on the road to D.C. and dominating the match flow and the open-play chances? Or is this a sign that “The Bats” could leave points on the board by not scoring more goals when they are in the ascendancy? Either way, this was another impressive showing on the road for the team top of the NWSL standings. 

Also shot out Bruninha. The fullback scored her second-ever NWSL goal, in consecutive weeks no less, and it was an absolutely gorgeous hit from the edge of the box. Goosebumps. 

3. OL Reign (-)

Win (4-1 vs. ACFC)

Undoubtedly the team performance of the weekend, the Reign’s dismantling of Angel City was a joy to watch. All four goals were sensational strikes. And with 25 shots, 11 on target, and 2.57 xG, the Reign had the most offensive production of any NWSL club this weekend.

The defensive performance was just as important too. If it weren’t for Claire Emslie’s audacious Olimpico, then this would’ve been a clean sheet. ACFC barely had a sniff at goal. “Doing the little dirty things in the game allows us to play higher up and have that joy up there ... it starts on the other side of the ball for us,” said Rapinoe. "On the eve of pride month, a big gay goal, I just love it."

The two biggest takeaways for the Reign are the response after last week’s big home defeat to Gotham and the fact they turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 win in this one. It was the first time this year that the Seattle club came back to win a match — a sign that perhaps the past two weeks were a blip and not a true showing of the team’s character. 

4. Portland Thorns (-)

Draw (1-1 vs. SD Wave)

A first professional goal for Reyna Reyes, in the dying moments at Snapdragon Stadium, salvaged a huge point on the road for the 2022 NWSL Champions. The young Texan, known for her versatility, only started at left back because of an injury to starter Megan Klingenburg. Having struggled through the early phases of her rookie season, this was a much more assured performance by the defender. The powerful header from Sam Coffey’s corner was just the icing on the cake. 

It’s not been easy for the Thorns in recent weeks. Sophia Smith has now gone seven matches without finding the back of the net, and with Becky Sauerbrunn out injured, the backline hasn’t been as organized. But a draw away to San Diego is no mean feat. This was a step in the right direction for Mike Norris’ group. 

5. San Diego Wave (-)

Draw (1-1 vs. Portland Thorns)

On the subject of being satisfied with a draw, Wave head coach Casey Stoney felt the same way. “I think a point is something that we have to be really pleased with. Every point matters in this league against the top side with the attack that they've got,” she said after Saturday’s draw with Portland. 

In 2022, the Wave averaged 1.73 points per game at home (record 5-2-4), ranking third in the NWSL. This season they have an almost identical points average of 1.75. But, with that being said, the teams they’ve faced in San Diego are the Red Stars, the Courage, the Pride, and the Thorns. A draw with Portland isn’t bad in isolation, but more daunting visitors are on the horizon heading to Snapdragon Stadium. 

6. NC Courage (-)

Win (2-1 vs. Racing Louisville) 

A stunning goal from Kerolin on the hour mark punctuated another dominant but narrow win for the Courage. It’s hard to find another team in the NWSL right now with as much confidence in possessing the ball as North Carolina. Combine that ability to dictate the flow of matches with ball carrying ability of Kerolin, and there’s plenty of belief in this team. 

Narumi Mura, who picked up her second season assist on that Kerolin goal, continued adding to her ‘very accomplished debut year in the NWSL résumé’ as the metronome in the Courage midfield. The Japanese player led her team for progressive passes (seven), shots (three), long passes completed (3/3), and key passes (three). 

7. Houston Dash (+2)

Win (2-0 vs. KC Current)  

Beating the KC Current is hardly an achievement any club should be overly proud of this season. However, the nature of the Dash’s casual victory at Children’s Mercy Park was stirring. A first shutout victory, a first open-play goal for Diana Ordonez, and a far more natural-looking formation for Houston were major positives. 

During the match, stalwart goalkeeper Jane Campbell surpassed 10,000 minutes for the Dash, just the fifth NWSL player ever to accomplish such a feat. At full time, she even quipped, “Here’s to 10,000 more.”

With Michelle Alozie emerging as the perfect foil on the opposite wing to Maria Sanchez, for now, the best Houston XI looks to be one with either Ordonez or Ebony Salmon, but not both. 

8. Orlando Pride (-)

Loss (1-0 vs. Chicago Red Stars) 

Sometimes soccer will get you. Orlando went behind early to Chicago and could not rescue any points from the match despite dominating the final 68 minutes. Perhaps a tad unlucky, the Floridians finished with 18 shots, 2.2 xG (1.94 on target), and hit the woodwork twice. So, you can’t quite blame the Pride for not trying. 

Of course, you do make your own luck. As the Red Stars dropped deeper and deeper and clung on for dear life, Orlando needed to alter its attacking strategy. With no room to run into behind the Red Stars' backline, passing, and movement had to go up a gear. 

A first defeat in four matches won’t be too disappointing for one of the most improved teams over the past month. 

9. Angel City (-2)

Loss (4-1 vs. OL Reign) 

For the second week in a row without Julie Ertz, the Angel City midfield struggled to get a hold of the match. While Los Angeles did get on the scoresheet in the first half, via a miraculous Olimpico, it failed to threaten the Seattle goal for the vast majority of the match. 

Emslie’s goal against the Reign is the only goal ACFC has scored in its past seven halves of soccer (315 minutes). For a team with this much attacking talent, Freya Coombe has to do more structurally to help get her players in better positions. Katie Johnson, who started as the center forward, failed to have much influence at all on the match (zero shots, 14 touches). The return of Sydney Leroux after 10 months out with an ankle injury could help solve that lack of purpose in the box. 

10 Racing Louisville (-)

Loss (2-1 vs. NC Courage) 

Back down to earth. I had been reluctant to praise Louisville too much after back-to-back wins against Chicago at home and Kansas City on the road. After this weekend, I feel vindicated. A daunting double-away matchweek lies ahead, with a cup match against the Red Stars on Wednesday before taking on the Spirit in D.C. on Saturday night. 

Racing’s best chances came in the first half. Kirsten Davis couldn’t steer a shot from inside the box on frame and the in-form Savannah DeMelo was unable to convert on a loose ball shot from 10 yards out. After those chances went missing, the momentum of the match shifted after halftime. 

DeMelo was honest when speaking to the media at full-time, describing Louisville’s outing as not “good enough” and she highlighted how her team’s press was “broken pretty easily” by North Carolina. 

11 Chicago Red Stars (+1)

Win (1-0 vs. Orlando Pride)

Alyssa Naeher. That’s the analysis. Arguably one of the most impressive NWSL goalkeeping performances in recent memory. The Red Stars had no right to win this match and came away with three points thanks to an acrobatic outing from the U.S. women’s national team shot-stopper. Her goals conceded minus post-shot xG at the final whistle was +1.94. 

Chicago took two shots all match, scoring one of them in the 22nd minute. After that Yuki Nagasoto goal, the Red Stars did not attempt another shot at the Pride goal. The struggling Windy City club sat back, invited pressure, and asked Naeher to do anything she could to defend her goal. 

This is not a sustainable way to play soccer. It worked on Saturday. But defending with 11 players behind the ball for over an hour without enough emphasis on counter-attacking won't secure many points this season. Enjoy the win, though. 

12 KC Current (-1)  

Loss (2-0 vs. Houston Dash) 

Leading up to the match against Houston, interim head coach Caroline Sjoblum spoke out about wanting to see an energized and focused defensive effort from her team. In an attempt to draw this out of her struggling players, she opted to start six defenders from her roster in a 5-3-2 formation. 

The idea was that the cautious-appearing Current would soak up the pressure and not allow any space for the Dash to operate in. Possession wasn’t important, just absorbing and breaking quickly. The resolve didn’t last. Spaces still opened up between the lines and the Current defense continues to unravel. The minute Houston went in front, it felt like the game was over. 

A couple of late chances for Hallie Mace and Kate Del Fava did show life in the final 20 minutes. But by that point, the Dash had relaxed and were merely seeing out the win. It’s now five defeats in a row for Kansas City in all competitions. In every defeat, the Current has conceded more than one goal.