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Aug 25, 2026 04:39 +08:00
NWSL Power Rankings: Orlando Pride Stun Spirit, Gotham Wobble but Stay Top as Ashley Sanchez Takes Golden Boot Lead
NWSL Gotham FC | Orlando Pride | Chicago finally get a win, the Courage power on thanks to Ashley Sanchez, and the Spirit fall surprisingly to the Orlando Pride at home.
The NWSL rarely allows for a quiet weekend, and Matchweek 18 was no exception. The Chicago Stars finally secured the result they had been waiting for, North Carolina Courage star Ashley Sanchez moved into the Golden Boot lead, and league-leading Gotham FC suddenly found themselves facing some uncomfortable questions.
Gotham closed the weekend with a lackluster performance against Angel City, but the greater concern came when U.S. women's national team midfielder Rose Lavelle suffered a head injury. The incident sparked immediate concern over her health and availability for the remainder of the season. Even so, Gotham remain atop the standings with 44 points and a 13-3-5 record.
The teams behind them, however, are beginning to close the gap. The Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns are level on 37 points, although their weekends unfolded very differently. Portland edged Denver Summit 1-0, while the Spirit suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to the Orlando Pride.
Elsewhere, the Kansas City Current and Seattle Reign settled for a 1-1 draw, while the Courage defeated Boston Legacy 2-1 behind Sanchez's league-leading 13th goal of the season. With eight teams still separated by a relatively narrow margin in the playoff race, one result can dramatically reshape the picture. Here's where all 16 teams stand following another chaotic weekend of NWSL action...
16. Boston Legacy
Prior ranking: 15
Result: Lost 2-1 vs North Carolina Courage
Ramifications: Boston Legacy is tied with Chicago for the fewest wins this season at five, and this weekend unfortunately wasn't a three-point outing. The Legacy fell 2-1 to the North Carolina Courage and have just 20 points, which positions them second to last in the league standings and gives them a very small chance of qualifying for the postseason.
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15. Chicago Stars
Prior ranking: 16
Result: Won 3-2 vs Racing Louisville
Ramifications: Just when about everyone was writing off Chicago, they pulled together a respectable result against a solid Racing Louisville side. Granted, the win doesn't do a whole lot for their position in the league standings, but it does still get them to 16 points.
Scoreplay
14. Bay FC
Prior ranking: 14
Result: Won 1-0 vs Houston Dash
Ramifications: Bay's win over Houston offered a glimpse of what this team can be. It was a solid all-around performance, with new addition Jenna Nighswonger already making an impact. Bay FC remain in the bottom half of the standings, but those three points move them closer to the playoff conversation.
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13. Racing Louisville
Prior ranking: 12
Result: Lost 3-2 vs Chicago Stars
Ramifications: After a run of encouraging performances, Racing Louisville stumbled in a match they would have expected to win. Taylor Flint and substitute Makenna Morris twice pulled Racing level, only for Julia Grosso to score Chicago's winner in the 83rd minute. For a Louisville side trying to climb into the playoff picture, dropping points against one of the league's bottom teams represents a significant setback.
Scoreplay
12. Kansas City Current
Prior ranking: 11
Result: 1-1 Draw vs Seattle Reign
Ramifications: The Current picked up a point over the weekend, but between an own-goal and a penalty goal, it just wasn't the kind of match a championship-caliber team would write home about. The Current's Debinha converted from the penalty spot in the 51st minute, after the Current went down a goal early off a Kayla Sharples own-goal.
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11. Houston Dash
Prior ranking: 10
Result: Lost 1-0 vs Bay FC
Ramifications: Houston remain stuck in the crowded middle of the table after failing to turn their possession advantage into anything tangible against Bay FC. The defeat leaves the Dash in 10th place on 26 points, level with the Orlando Pride and with little margin for error in the playoff race.
Scoreplay
10. Denver Summit
Prior ranking: 9
Result: Lost 1-0 vs Portland Thorns
Ramifications: The Denver Summit will find their stride, it just may not be in their first season. The Summit fell 1-0 to the Thorns at Providence Park, in an emotional match between Lindsey Heaps playing against her old NWSL team and the honoring of Thorns legend Tobin Heath. That being said, the Summit couldn't weather the situation nor contain Sophia Wilson, who blasted one in the 44th minute.
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9. Orlando Pride
Prior ranking: 13
Result: Won 1-0 vs Washington Spirit
Ramifications: An Orlando win at Audi Field was not on many bingo cards this weekend, but the Pride delivered one of the matchweek's biggest surprises. Debutant Cosette Morché kept a clean sheet, while Haley McCutcheon supplied the winner, giving Orlando a much-needed lift from two unexpected contributors.
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8. Seattle Reign
Prior ranking: 8
Result: 1-1 Draw vs Kansas City Current
Ramifications: The Reign currently sit right at the playoff cutoff line in eighth place. They didn't have a particularly strong match against the Current, but they still hung on and forced the Current to cough up the ball in their defensive third.
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7. Angel City
Prior ranking: 7
Result: 0-0 Draw vs Gotham FC
Ramifications: Angel City played reigning NWSL champs Gotham to a 0-0 draw, which is a win of sorts. However, the real performance of the match was Angel City's defense, which did not make it easy or even possible for Gotham forwards like Sam Kerr or Jaedyn Shaw to get their chances. The play of the game had to be City defender Sarah Gorden, who made a top-tier recovery run, turned on a dime, and then made a slide tackle to stifle Kerr, who was blazing toward goal.
Scoreplay
6. Portland Thorns
Prior ranking: 5
Result: Won 1-0 vs Denver Summit
Ramifications: Sophia Wilson isn't taking her first NWSL season back for granted and hasn't missed a beat. The USWNT forward has 10 goals to lead her team in scoring and is in the Golden Boot race. The Thorns sit in third place with 37 points in the league standings after this narrow 1-0 result, which just shows how close the top of the table race is. They are tied with the Spirit on points.
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5. San Diego Wave
Prior ranking: 6
Result: Won 4-2 vs Utah Royals
Ramifications: If any team was going to come in and disrupt the Utah Royals, it was San Diego. The Wave put four past the Royals, including a brace from Trinity Byars.
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4. Washington Spirit
Prior ranking: 3
Result: Lost 1-0 vs Orlando Pride
Ramifications: The Spirit missed a valuable opportunity to gain ground in the Shield race and create some separation from the chasing pack. Washington remain second, but with Portland level on points, there is little room for performances like this.
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3. Utah Royals
Prior ranking: 2
Result: Lost 4-2 vs San Diego Wave
Ramifications: The Utah Royals faced a tough result against the Wave, but even with the dropped points, they are still near the top of the league standings. The Royals sit in fourth place with 36 points, just one point behind the Spirit and Thorns. If the Royals defeat the Pride this upcoming weekend, they could potentially move into the No. 2 spot if things go their way.
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2. North Carolina Courage
Prior ranking: 4
Result: Won 2-1 vs Boston Legacy
Ramifications: North Carolina can no longer be viewed as merely a dark horse. Ashley Sanchez's brace took her to a league-leading 13 goals in 20 appearances, giving the Courage one of the NWSL's most reliable match-winners. If she maintains this form, North Carolina have a legitimate chance to go all the way.
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1. Gotham FC
Prior ranking: 1
Result: Drew 0-0 vs Angel City
Ramifications: Gotham extended their unbeaten run to nine matches, even if the scoreless draw fell below the standard the league leaders have established. The Bats still hold a seven-point cushion over Washington and Portland, but Friday's showdown with the Thorns could either strengthen their grip on first place or reopen the Shield race.
Scoreplay