The NWSL is back from the international break and nearly halfway through the season. Which means, just like the key change in a power ballad, the intensity is about to skyrocket as the playoffs come into view. There's plenty of time for dramatic changes, more absolute bangers, and captivating storylines. Before the action begins, here's a look at the NWSL power rankings, with a little help from everyone's favorite power ballads.
🎶 Orlando Pride — I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me), Whitney Houston
The Pride are top of the table dancing, and although the Current only sit two points back, it certainly feels like Orlando is dancing on their own. Barbra Banda has been an immediate game changer. Seb Hines is certainly a coach who will "take the chance” with rotated lineups that have navigated injuries and prevented fatigue. Marta, of course, is a legend. Recently, the team added to their glut of talent by signing Zambian international Grace Chanda. But all that individual talent only functions because the team has bought into being dangerous as a unit, not as individual names. Orlando is lethal in the transition, knowing how to weather pressure before anticipating the next move and striking forward. And 11 games into the season, it’s becoming abundantly clear that someone can convert even a half chance into a goal.
As the Pride continue to field an array of attacking threats, they’ll likely continue to find that the answer to “don’tcha wanna dance with me baby ?” is no. It’s lonely at the top, but that’s how Orlando likes it. And if any team gets too comfortable dancing with the Pride, they’ll be sure to rotate to a different style.
🎶 KC Current —Nothing Compares 2 U, Sinéad O’Connor
“Nothing can take away these blues." But that’s exactly how the Current likes it since they want the opposition to be blue by the time the game is over. Also undefeated, the Current have 25 points in 11 games, which is one less point than their entire season total last year. Despite grinding out some 1-1 ties or 1-0 wins, the offense is there as the 3-3 tie to Louisville and 5-4 win over Portland demonstrate. And, with a record-setting 15 different goal scorers in 11 games, it’s clear that “nothing compares to you” and the attacking effort that Kansas City puts into each match.
The addition of Temwa Chawinga, as well as Debinha, have given the Current a more dynamic offensive structure that also pulls the defense out of position as they try to stop the group's attack. Completely in control of the pace of the game, the Current “try to have fun no matter what [they] do.” It's a pretty easy task when Lo’eau LaBonta is back to cook up goal celebrations. Kansas City might not be on top of the standings but “nothing compares” to the team or their new stadium.
🎶 Washington Spirit — The Lucky One, Laura Branigan
Trinity Rodman, Croix Bethune, and Hal Hershfelt? The Sprit is the lucky one, with talent all across the roster. There were questions when Ashley Sanchez was traded at the NWSL draft, but the current midfield has an A+ in chemistry and “the world’s in [their] hands.” Casey Krueger has added to the defense in front of Aubrey Kingsbury, making the Spirit a well-balanced, attackin-minded team. In fact, the only time the Spirit have been shutout this season was in the opener against Seattle Reign FC. There is no one-woman attack—the perfect through ball could be coming from anyone on the field.
Should you find yourself asking “but what about her heart?" Washington has plenty. The Spirit tend to score early and then hold onto the lead, which is not easy to do when seemingly every match comes with an additional 10 minutes of stoppage time. Beyond just scoring, part of the reason the Spirit are so successful is their defensive pressure, especially from attacking players. Washington is the lucky one to not have to play themselves.
🎶 Portland Thorns —Time After Time, Cyndi Lauper
Despite the rocky start, the Portland Thorns have clawed their way into fourth and went on a six-game undefeated streak that only ended after a 2-1 loss to the Pride. Scoring hasn’t been the problem. Consistency isn’t really the question either, as one of those losses was a 5-4 loss to the Current. Perhaps erratic is the best way to describe to Thorns so far. Scoring two goals in a match is the best bet to securing a win, but that’s no guarantee in the NWSL. Especially for a team that doesn’t necessarily want to be known as just an offensive firepower.
If “the drum beats out of time” for the Thorns, one of their saving graces is that Sophia Smith can still score goals, no matter what defense is put in front of her. For NWSL fans, “you can look and you will find me [the Thorns], time after time” in a playoff position, despite the uncharacteristic start. And only time will tell which version of the Thorns will finish the season.
🎶 Gotham FC — Eternal Flame, The Bangles
The reigning NWSL champions were loaded up in the offseason with USWNT players and looking to field a super-team. Then, Midge Purce tore her ACL and Lynn Williams took a little longer to find her absolutely lethal gear. So far, a good game for Gotham is scoring twice. Ella Stevens has been the sun shining "through the rain” for the team. But that’s the scary part of Gotham FC—big names like Crystal Dunn or Esther González have the freedom to do what they do best because players like Nealy Martin and Delanie Sheehan have the work rate and talent to cover any potential gaps. The squad depth leaves you asking “am I only dreaming?” after each lineup is posted.
Content to grit out a win on a solid defensive performance and quick transition goal, Gotham can still ask if “this burning is an enteral flame?” With a roster drenched in talent and players committed to the game plan, Gotham is one of the few transition-based teams that can say “give me your hand” and you don’t question that they’re taking you to the top of the NWSL table, or perhaps the championship.
🎶 Chicago Red Stars — I Wonder (Departure), ABBA
It’s a brand-new season for the Red Stars under new ownership and a new coach in Lorne Donaldson. Mal Swanson is back and the Red Stars are looking to put the past to rest permanently—and started off their season doing so. With players like Sam Stabb, Leilanni Nesbeth, and Jenna Bike, Chicago assuredly is “not a coward” and makes it tough for opposing teams to get chances. The Red Stars will hang with any team in the NWSL in a tight, one-goal game, and are comfortable defending that lead or searching for an equalizer.
Even with the alternating wins and losses, the Red Stars aren’t waiting for their “one chance in a lifetime” and instead are taking all their opportunities because “it can’t go wrong.” The challenge for the Red Stars will be navigating the unexpected surprises of the season, not necessarily their opponents. The severity of Alyssa Naeher’s injury and how quickly Mackenzie Wood can adapt to the starter’s role is the club’s biggest question coming out of the international break.
🎶 North Carolina Courage — Strong Enough, Cher
The Courage opened the season with a 5-1 win and then have been battling against an anemic offense. The lack of goals isn’t a huge surprise given that they lost Kerolin at the end of last season to an ACL injury. There is no one for one replacement for the skillset Kerolin brought, and her absence has been apparent in the different ways that the Courage have tried to generate offense. Although the Courage “don’t need your sympathy,” the team is certainly isn’t satisfied with their performances so far.
The team is “strong enough” to currently sit in seventh, despite their up-and-down season that has defied both win and loss streaks. Casey Murphy provides stability in net and if Ashley Sanchez can find herself more involved in the attack, the Courage would likely see themselves stealing some points out of games. There’s too much quality on the Courage for any NWSL side to feel comfortable with them sitting in seventh—and staying there long term.
🎶 Racing Louisville — Listen to Your Heart, Roxanne
Currently occupying the last playoff berth on goal differential, so far Racing Louisville is the product of listening to their heart and naming Bev Yanez head coach. With most of their points coming from draws, there’s something to be said for Louisville still waiting for a breakthrough winning streak, but the team can certainly score, putting up three in a draw with the Current. Savannah DeMelo, Taylor Flint, and Marisa DiGrande as the midfield triangle is Louisville’s x factor, allowing them fluidity in moving the ball or to shut down the opposition.
Sitting in eighth makes their position precarious in the back half of the season, but having missed the playoffs last year the team surely has “the feeling of belonging to your dreams.” With six draws, Racing knows how to play opponents and take a point, all while not letting a game slip away. That’s a valuable lesson, even if it’s not as important as knowing how to win. There’s “the scent of magic” around this team if Louisville can manage to start stringing together wins after the international break.
🎶 San Diego Wave — If I Ain’t Got You, Alicia Keys
San Diego sits out of a playoff position on goal differential, something that will surely change in the back half of the season. After winning the opening match, the new version of the NWSL Challenge Cup, the Wave has, well, been navigating a wave. While “some people live just to play the game,” the Wave certainly want to be winning and by wider margins than they currently are.
Having won the Shield last year, San Diego knows that consistency is key. It’s true that “nothing in this while wide world don’t mean a thing” until the last match of the season. But San Diego will want to be finding the back of the net twice as much. As much as their defense can frustrate the opposition, oftentimes it’s the Wave left frustrated, an oddity given Alex Morgan, Jaedyn Shaw, and now Maria Sánchez are on the roster. Offense isn’t everything, but with a center back pairing of Naomi Girmi and Abby Dahlkepmper, two goals might be enough to turn one point into three every time.
🎶 Houston Dash — When the Heartache is Over, Tina Turner
Dash fans have to be wondering when the Dash will finally figure out their field and coaching chemistry. With Maria Sánchez requesting and being granted a trade, the Dash seemed poised for more instability, though went into the international break with a 3-0 win over North Carolina. The Dash can score, but have found themselves shut out four times this season. And despite solid performances from goalkeeper Jane Campbell, the Dash defense has been disorganized in several matches, giving up 3, 4, or 5 goals on occasion. For Houston, the team seems to be waiting for “when the heartache is over.”
The Dash “won’t look over [their] shoulder” about the first half of the season, with all the missteps, defensive lapses, and trade drama. With Diana Ordóñez finding her stride, the Dash will need to continue to improve their defense spacing, giving the offense time to set up. The three back the Dash prefer can allow for a more dynamic attack, but has yet to be a consistent benefit—something the team will look to change after the break.
🎶 Angel City FC — Like a Prayer, Madonna
Angel City has all the pieces to be cracking the top half of the rankings, but just hasn’t found the consistency to collect wins. Seeking out one-goal wins, the flip side for Angel City has been conceding multiple goals that force the team to chase the game. So far, the season has felt like there’s “no end and no beginning” with a the team not having a rhythm no matter what the lineup looks like. “I can feel a power” with the Thompson sisters, Sydney Leroux, and Rocky Rodríguez on the roster, it just hasn’t come together yet.
So it might take “a little prayer” to get the engine running smoothly instead of sputtering like it has been so far. But the quality on the roster means that at any given moment Angel City could find themselves on a winning streak—if they can figure out how to progress the attack in a way that involves their most dangerous pieces.
🎶 Bay FC — Edge of Seventeen, Stevie Nicks
In their first season, Bay FC has moments of brilliance but is languishing in 12th place, three points out of a playoff berth. Having been shut out only once, Bay Fc “went searchin’ for an answer” but hasn’t quite found one yet, as most of the NWSL is seeing success in the goal-scoring department. Although able to control possession, Bay FC hasn’t managed the level of lethality needed to ice opponents. The team often has a fair number of shots, but only a small percentage on frame.
Of the bottom four teams, Bay FC has the most potential to put their pieces together and go on a run post international break. Racheal Kundananji and Asisat Oshoala can certainly hit another gear. The defense, including second overall draft pick Savy King can continue to build chemistry. If “the sea changes colours, but the sea does not change” then how Bay FC moved the ball in their home opener bodes well for their potential. Time will tell, but Bay FC seems like a team on the edge of a run.
🎶 Seattle Reign FC — Only One Road, Céline Dion
In many ways, the Reign do only have the one road ahead of them: playing out this funk and recovering the form that saw them in the NWSL championship last season. The Reign have “many dreams lost along the way” and are in a period of transition, even with stalwarts like Lu Barnes and Jess Fishlock still suiting up. Seattle can find the back of the net; the problem is that other team’s find the back of the net more frequently. Even with “only one lifetime, one heart to guide me” the Reign can’t figure out how to win…or least how not to lose.
The consistency in style of play, ability to find the back of the net, and the looking back while looking forward, makes the Reign frustrating because they should be better than they are right now. The team clearly wants to “run back” to last year, but there’s no clear path sitting on only seven points. Ultimately, the success of last year “haunts me still” and makes the lack of results doubly frustrating.
🎶 Utah Royals FC — Holding Out for a Hero, Bonnie Tyler
Make no mistake, the only hero that can turn Utah’s season around is a sudden burst of offense to back up the stellar play of goalkeeper Mandy Haught. There’s the tantalizing potential of the summer transfer window to offer the Royals some relief. But, with four points in 11 matches, it’s clear the team needs a “streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds.” Rookie and first overall draft pick Ally Sentnor has driven most of the offense, with two goals and two assists, but the team has been shut out six times so far this season.
Perhaps the biggest cry for help is that the Royals have given up five penalty kicks and conceded 20 goals so far this season. The defense is “fresh from the fight” but hasn’t managed to convert the lessons into tangible differences while defending. Utah doesn’t need a “super[woman],” but they do need to consistently start putting the pieces together. There are a lot of ways to lose in the NWSL and it might feel like the Royals have found all of them—that’s good because all that’s left to do is figure out how win.
NWSL action resumes with a double header on Friday, June 7. Racing Louisville takes on the Houston Dash at 8:00 pm, followed by San Diego v. Orlando Pride at 10:00pm. Eight points separate the bottom of the table from a playoff position, which means just like a true power ballad inevitably shifts into a different gear, in the course of a match day anything and everything can change.
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