Each week of the 2026 NWSL regular season seems to be a healthy mix of competition and chaos, and as midweek games approach, the room for error is about to become invisible.
Each team will have an even number of games after Wednesday’s games, meaning only six games in the NWSL Shield will separate teams competing for a playoff spot and others watching from the sidelines.
That means it’s time to get back to my weekly NWSL power rankings. So if you want to track where your favorite team stands, here’s what you need to know My previous ranking. Power doesn’t just belong to the team at the top; Clubs lingering at the bottom of the list are making a lot of statements.
weekend, chicago stars Had the honor of being the first team to be eliminated from NWSL playoff contention, but did so in epic fashion. Stars grab a point on the road Portland Thorns He earned some respect late in injury time while adding to the Thorns’ recent winless woes.
boston heritage Questions have also been raised about teams in the NWSL Shield competition. Washington spirit It creates an incredible home environment at the Audi Arena, but that just means opponents want to spoil the game and Amanda Gutierrez She did just that when she added two insurance targets Aissata Traore Contest winner.
Boston and Chicago’s tenacity against playoff teams has made the NWSL the most competitive league in the world. As a result, they moved up a bit, while Portland and Washington fell down.
Now, let’s take a look at the latest rankings:
biggest promoter
2
utah royals
1
Washington spirit
Rick | team | Change | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |  New Jersey/New York Gotham Football Club | Even with limited playing time, Rose Lavelle’s return is welcome. But thankfully, this team’s roster is too talented to not come out of this jam. Jaedyn Shaw remains a clinical attacker and Guro Reiten scored her first NWSL goal since joining the team in April. | — | 14-4 |
2 |  utah royals | Normally, I’m wary of inconsistent teams, but Utah has somehow made it into an art form. Since August, the Royals have either won or lost, mixed in with some heavy scores, and we’re even happier about it. | 2 | 13-8 |
3 |  Washington spirit | Of course, there will be some growing pains as players come in and out. Andy Sullivan’s return from red card suspension will be a huge boost, but there is a huge hole in the starting lineup missing Lacey Santos that must be addressed quickly. | 1 | 13-7 |
4 |  Portland Thorns | Good teams will find a way, and great teams do find a way to beat the historically worst goal differential team in the league. However, the Thorns failed to find a way out at the weekend and fell down the rankings as a result. Good teams will find a way, and great teams do find a way to beat the historically worst goal differential team in the league. However, the Thorns failed to find a way out at the weekend and fell down the rankings as a result. | 1 | 11-7 |
5 |  San Diego Waves FC | Whenever Wave FC looks for answers, Melanie Barcenas provides them. Unpredictable teams are often the most dangerous, and San Diego is not a team to play with right now. | 1 | 13-8 |
6 |  North Carolina Courage | Sometimes a reality check is healthy. It feels like every game from here on out is a playoff check for North Carolina, and despite Ashley Sanchez having a career year, they’re falling behind the other contenders ahead of them. | 1 | 12-9 |
7 |  Seattle Reign | The Seattle Reign are quietly climbing the rankings and they are another sneakily good team that may reach the top in due time. It seems like every week a different star player makes the cut, and it’s this versatility that can improve a team’s ranking. | 1 | 11-9 |
8 |  kansas city trends | If Bethune is out for a long time, the coaching staff will need to solve the problem as soon as possible. Sure, Temwa Chawinga is back and is always a threat, but Bethune has been the MVP on the roster this season. | 1 | 11-8 |
9 |  angel city football club | Oddly enough, Angel City was right where they wanted to be, within striking distance, but low on fuel. Just entangled enough to be that annoying little sibling, but not enough to really sink in. | 1 | 10-8 |
10 |  denver summit football club | Perhaps the most welcoming moment for Denver to join the league is right now. This is the part of the schedule that truly determines whether a season is won or lost, and losing a two-goal lead to another team in a similar position doesn’t bode well in the long run. | 1 | 8-8 |
11 |  orlando pride | If there’s one player who can truly convince the Orlando Pride they have more to offer, it’s Barbara Banda. Interim head coach Yolanda Thomas has brought the team back to results and good vibes. | — | 9-12 |
12 |  boston heritage football club | It was a big statement for Boston beating a title contender on the road. Expect to see the coaching staff use Amanda Gutierrez more often. Two goals in ten minutes was impressive, but Isaac Traore ultimately won the game. | 2 | 7-12 |
13 |  houston dash | Not sure what it means to a team when its best player misses international duty at the U20 World Cup, but I guess that’s Dash right now. Time will tell whether the club will be boosted by the recent departure of Fabrice Gautraat as head coach. | 1 | 7-12 |
14 |  gulf football club | One has to wonder at this point if players like Claire Hutton, Onyeka Gameiro or Alex Pfeiffer will develop more at the U20 World Cup than Bay FC. | 1 | 6-13 |
15 |  chicago stars | It’s the little things that make it feel like a huge win, and for Chicago this week, it meant Taylor Wood’s scrappy, never-say-die equalizer. | 1 | 5-17 |
16 |  Louisville Athletics | If you’re not first, you’re last; if you’re Louisville Racing, you’re just last and potentially subject to relocation rumors. | 1 | 7-15 days |