Not only does the NWSL return from international break, but so do the Beyond Women’s Sports NWSL Power Rankings. As the biggest names in the league rejoin their clubs, the top team doesn’t change in the standings and a new name in the NWSL made their presence known quickly. With another midweek slate of games, let’s see how the weekend impacted the team’s places in the power rankings.
The Orlando Pride hold onto their top spot in both the standings and power rankings, but only slightly. Sunday evening, they scored a 90th minute goal to go level with Gotham FC, on a cross turned shot by midfielder Courtney Peterson. Orlando had their chances, on offense, and still looked dangerous.
This week gives Orlando a two-match away trip, against teams in the bottom half of the standings. Wednesday, they face Kansas City NWSL, who’s looked better week-by-week, and the Houston Dash on Saturday. They have to stay on their toes if they want to keep their top spot in the standings because the Portland Thorns are hot on their trail.
Last Result: 1-1 v. Gotham FC | Next Match: Wednesday, June 23 v. Kansas City NWSL – 2:00 p.m. ET
There’s no change at number two this week either. Portland is level with Orlando in the standings, with 12 points, but their early-season loss to Orlando is the tiebreaker putting them in second.
On Sunday, the Thorns looked as dangerous as ever against Kansas City, but only scored one goal that came from a goalkeeping mistake. Portland is the team that’s most impacted by the Olympics, due to the slew of international stars on their roster. For Mark Parsons, he’ll have to decide between getting all he can out of his internationals or ramping up his depth for when most of his starting XI is out for more than a month.
Last Result: 1-0 v. Kansas City NWSL | Next Match: Saturday, June 26 v. NC Courage – 7:00 p.m. ET
Choosing between NC Courage and Gotham FC is the most difficult part of the power rankings this week. The Courage get the slight edge for beating OL Reign 2-1. They got the three points, but it wasn’t against a full-strength OL Reign. None of that is the Courage’s fault; they had to play the team in front of them.
Jess McDonald and Sam Mewis put the Courage up 2-0 on chances where the defense gave them open attempts. This week gives the Courage a short trip to Louisville on Wednesday, followed by a marquee matchup when the Portland Thorns come to Cary, NC.
Last Result: 2-1 v. OL Reign | Next Match: Saturday, June 26 v. Portland Thorns – 7:00 p.m. ET
Putting Gotham FC at fourth feels unfair. After all, they’ve given up only two goals in five matches and took the number one team in the league, Orlando, to the brink of their first loss of the season. Gotham is here because offensively they’re struggling. Even their goal on Sunday came from a cross that turned into a surprise goal for fullback Caprice Dydasco. Their 38 shots is second-fewest in the league, and shots on goal is tied for worst, with 10.
The saying in sports is that defense wins championships, which Gotham has a strong chance of doing. A counter saying is that you just need to score more than the other team. If that starts happening, Gotham’s ceiling is high.
Last Result: 1-1 v. Orlando Pride | Next Match: Saturday, June 26 v. OL Reign – 4:00 p.m. ET
Washington Spirit maintain their spot in the middle of the power rankings. Saturday night, Washington had a tough away match against the Chicago Red Stars. Goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe kept the team level off chances by Kealia Watt and Mallory Pugh, until the final minutes of the match.
An offense that’s known for having chances shot seven times and four on goal. The Spirit had some troubles getting through the Chicago midfield, until captain Andi Sullivan connected with Trinity Rodman, on Rodman’s first professional goal. The 85th minute goal looked like all they needed to get the three points, but a handball in the box gave Chicago the stoppage time draw.
Last Result: 1-1 v. Chicago Red Stars | Next Match: Saturday, June 26 v. Kansas City NWSL – 8:30 p.m. ET
The Chicago Red Stars jump two spots this week. If not for Bledsoe, Chicago would have had a comfortable victory. Now, supporters can say that about every match, but lately, there’s finally a feeling that Chicago can finish off chances with Pugh leading the offense. Sarah Woldmoe, Moe Gautrat, and Vanessa DiBernardo make a strong midfield trio. Saturday, the midfield was strong even with midfielder Danny Colaprico unavailable.
Chicago is getting their players on the same page at the right time. This week, they have two chances to improve that chemistry against OL Reign, in Tacoma on Tuesday. They follow it up Saturday when they welcome Racing Louisville FC. Beyond Women’s Sports will be covering the match live from Bridgeview, Illinois.
Last Result: 1-1 v. Washington Spirit | Next Match: Tuesday, June 22 v. OL Reign – 10:00 p.m. ET
Even with a 1-0 loss to Racing Louisville, the Houston Dash stay in seventh this week. Houston led Louisville in most offensive statistics on Sunday. The Dash’s midfield was recovering from international duty and was not as sharp as usual. Rachel Daly’s absence also hurt opportunities that Houston had at goal. Plus, the one goal scored in the match was hard to beat.
In all competitions, Houston is the one team that’s shown the largest drop-off in play when their international names are away. If Houston wants to avoid the need for a late playoff push, they need to make sure their depth players provide a high level of play in the absence of their offensive attack.
Last Result: 0-1 v. Racing Louisville FC | Next Match: Saturday, June 26 v. Orlando Pride – 8:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, OL Reign lost 2-1 against a tough NC Courage. Their roster included Lyon-loaned newcomers in goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi and midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsán but missed big names. International forward Megan Rapinoe opted to sit out, due to international duty. Midfielder Rose Lavelle wasn’t on the roster because of an ankle injury sustained for the US Women’s National Team. Other names that didn’t start, but played, were midfielders Jess Fishlock (who scored OL Reign’s goal in the second half) and Quinn.
Looking back at the power rankings in 2021, all of them cite OL Reign’s growing roster as a reason why they stayed in the top half of teams. Potential is great for a team, but it’s tough to see when it will all fall in place for the Reign. They get two chances to end their current three-match losing streak this week against Chicago and Saturday against Gotham FC.
Last Result: 1-2 v. NC Courage | Next Match: Tuesday, June 22 v. Chicago Red Stars – 10:00 p.m. ET
Racing Louisville FC, like OL Reign, integrated new names into their roster over the weekend. Defender Gemma Bonner and forward Ebony Salmon both moved from the English Women’s Soccer League in recent weeks. Bonner played her first full match since December of 2020, due to injury. Salmon, well, had one of the best goals of the NWSL season. In her first minute on the field as a second-half substitute, she broke through the Dash backline and made number one on ESPN’s Top 10 plays of the day.
Louisville had moments of the second half where they controlled the match narrative, something they haven’t done much this season. Racing held possession, outshot Houston, and scored the lone goal in a spell of 25 minutes. Wednesday, they hope to continue that against a side that beat them 5-0 last month – the NC Courage. It won’t get easier for them when they travel to Chicago on Saturday.
Last Result: 1-0 v. Houston Dash | Next Match: Wednesday, June 23 v. NC Courage – 7:30 p.m. ET
Kansas City deserved a result on Sunday. Against a heavily-favored Portland Thorns, Kansas City goalkeeper Abby Smith stopped shot after shot; even a penalty kick against the top goal scorer in the history of international soccer in Christine Sinclair. One mistake by Smith, moments before halftime, gave Portland the eventual 1-0 victory.
The second half was Kansas City versus Portland depth. As international names came off the field, and Kansas City ramped up the pressure from minute 46 till the end of the match, they created chances and limited the Thorns. Kansas City is close to their first victory of the year, but it will have to come from mistake-free soccer.
Last Result: 0-1 v. Portland Thorns | Next Match: Wednesday, June 23 v. Orlando Pride – 2:00 p.m. ET
How did your team do? Let us know by commenting below or sharing your thoughts on our Twitter page. Power rankings take a week off, along with the NWSL regular season.
Watch Beyond Women’s Sports for more on the NWSL, WNBA, and more around the world of women’s sports. And follow me on Twitter @1ThomasCostello.
