It is Monday, and one other week of NWSL motion is within the books, which suggests it is time for ESPN’s Energy Rankings.
Who’s climbing the desk? Who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the motion from throughout Matchday 14 to provide you with this week’s order of all 14 groups within the league. Let’s dive in.
Earlier rating: 1
Subsequent match: Friday, Aug. 8 vs. Utah Royals, 10 p.m. ET
It took some time for Kansas Metropolis to interrupt by towards Racing Louisville in Kentucky, however Michelle Cooper offered a pointy go within the sixty fifth minute that Temwa Chawinga guided into aim, marking her ninth of the season (one aim wanting Gotham’s Esther González within the NWSL Golden Boot race). Seven minutes later, the Present collected a second, sealing a easy victory within the second half. They’ve now received their final seven common season video games, have not misplaced since Might 2, and completed the weekend 10 factors clear on the prime of the desk. Catching up with the Present will likely be no straightforward feat.
Earlier rating: 3
Subsequent match: Saturday, Aug. 9 vs. Gotham FC, 12 p.m. ET (Stream LIVE on ESPN+)
Trinity Rodman subbed into Sunday’s match with the rating locked at 1-1 within the 76th minute, marking her first NWSL look since April 12, and went on to attain the stoppage-time match-winner in a 2-1 win towards Portland. Rodman’s tears of pleasure confirmed simply how a lot it means for the 23-year-old expertise that is been battling a continual again harm. It was a giant win for Washington and a giant win for followers aching to see Rodman again within the sport.
Earlier rating: 2
Subsequent match: Saturday, Aug. 9 vs. Angel Metropolis, 10 p.m. ET
The Wave fired off 18 pictures however solely received two on course in a 0-0 draw with North Carolina. 9 nook kicks with nothing to indicate for it is going to give them one thing to work on this week. However in a weekend that noticed 4 of NWSL’s seven matches finish in a draw, it isn’t their worst results of the season. Subsequent up, they head again house to face their SoCal rivals Angel Metropolis.
Earlier rating: 5
Subsequent match: Saturday, Aug. 9 vs. Racing Louisville, 7.30 p.m. ET
After Mina Tanaka‘s fourth-minute aim, Orlando had been en path to a loss towards the last-place Utah Royals. However Prisca Chilufya offered the 1-1 equalizer from the bench, which helped the Pleasure salvage some extent and end the weekend in second place. With a number of Brazilians lacking this weekend (39-year-old veteran Marta scored a seismic brace to assist seal Brazil‘s ninth Copa America Femenina trophy on Saturday night time in Ecuador) they have time to get again on observe, and play Racing Louisville at house subsequent weekend.
Earlier rating: 7
Subsequent match: Sunday, Aug. 10 vs. Portland Thorns, 4 p.m. ET
Contemporary off scoring a aim for Wales of their first main worldwide match, Jess Fishlock scored first for Seattle in a 2-0 win towards Angel Metropolis, with an personal aim settling issues within the last minutes. Fishlock, 38, is in type, however 25-year-old U.S. goalkeeper Claudia Dickey (who began two of three video games for the USWNT of their most up-to-date window) was the star of the night time. Dickey’s six saves had been wanted to maintain out Angel Metropolis whereas getting outshout six to 2 on course.
Earlier rating: 8
Subsequent match: Sunday, Aug. 10 vs. Seattle Reign, 4 p.m. ET
One minute you are scoring candy objectives in Washington D.C. due to Jessie Fleming‘s fleet-footed midfield work and Olivia Moultrie‘s robust end. Subsequent factor you realize, you are watching in dismay as Rodman scores an emotional stoppage-time match winner in her first look since April 12. The Thorns performed effectively on the street in a 2-1 defeat, however they head again to Oregon nursing the loss whereas getting ready for the Battle of Cascadia subsequent weekend.
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Trinity Rodman leads Spirit previous Thorns FC with late winner
The Washington Spirit defeat the Portland Thorns due to a stoppage-time aim from Trinity Rodman.
Earlier rating: 9
Subsequent match: Friday, Aug. 8 vs. Houston Sprint, 8 p.m. ET
The Braveness are powerful to play at house, and efficiently fended off a robust San Diego squad in a 0-0 attract North Carolina. However with the second half of the season formally underway, they’re nonetheless sitting beneath the playoff spots with time ticking to kick-start momentum.
Earlier rating: 6
Subsequent match: Saturday, Aug. 9 vs. Orlando Pleasure, 7.30 p.m. ET
They did effectively to restrict a formidable Kansas Metropolis squad till the sixty fifth minute. However after Chawinga scored the primary of two objectives in seven minutes for Kansas Metropolis, Louisville did not have the juice to struggle again in a match the place the house aspect managed only one shot on course.
Earlier rating: 4
Subsequent match: Saturday, Aug. 9 vs. Washington Spirit, 12 p.m. ET (Stream LIVE on ESPN+)
Gotham had been lacking some gamers in a 1-1 draw towards Chicago Stars. That features NWSL’s top-scorer, Spanish striker Gonzalez, who completed this summer time’s Euros because the match’s top-scorer. That additionally contains Brazilian midfielder Gabi Portilho, who competed within the Copa America Femenina last on Saturday night time. They did have German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger again, although, and her 4 saves had been wanted in a match the place Gotham had been outshot 13 to 6 (5 to 2 on course). They head house to play the Spirit subsequent, hopefully with extra of their squad and momentum intact.
Earlier rating: 11
Subsequent match: Saturday, Aug. 9 vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET
They outshot Seattle six to 2 on course however sadly, Dickey proved impenetrable in her fourth clear sheet of the season. Silver lining regardless of the loss: Japanese expertise Jun Endo made her first NWSL look since 2023, ending a protracted journey again to the sport after an ACL harm. With the season midway over, Angel Metropolis are in want of outcomes after amassing their fifth loss from their final six common season contests.
Earlier rating: 10
Subsequent match: Sunday, Aug. 10 vs. Chicago Stars, 2 p.m. ET
Enjoying at house towards Twelfth-place Houston, Bay FC followers might need they received extra from a 2-2 draw towards the Sprint. The house aspect took the lead twice and created strong alternatives, however they allowed the guests to equalize after every aim, whereas Jane Campbell‘s 5 saves saved them at … bay.
Earlier rating: 13
Subsequent match: Sunday, Aug. 10 vs. Bay FC, 2 p.m. ET
Chicago had been a bit fortunate to play Gotham with out the league’s top-scorer, Gonzalez, within the lineup. However a still-struggling Chicago squad outshot Gotham at house and earned a 1-1 draw due to Ally Schlegel‘s second-half equalizer. That is a laudable end result for this group to ship them into the rest of the season.
Earlier rating: 12
Subsequent match: Friday, Aug. 8 vs. NC Braveness, 8 p.m. ET
Houston battled valiantly in California to return from behind twice and gather some extent in a 2-2 draw with Bay FC; Campbell’s five-save efficiency deserves all of the flowers. And 23-year-old Kiki Van Zanten scored her first aim for the Sprint. However they nonetheless want a bit extra to scrap their manner into the playoff positions. Subsequent up: North Carolina.
Earlier rating: 14
Subsequent match: Friday, Aug. 8 vs. KC Present, 10 p.m. ET
For a second, it appeared just like the Royals had been about to topple final 12 months’s Champions whereas taking part in on the street in Florida. Japanese expertise Tanaka scored a fourth-minute golazo that noticed Utah successful for many of this match. However Chilufya broke by within the 72nd minute, forcing 14th-place Utah to accept some extent. Not dangerous for his or her first match since their 2024 No. 1 draft decide, Ally Sentnor, departed for first-place Kansas Metropolis.
