It’s Monday, 2025 nwsl The regular season is now in the rearview mirror, which means it’s time for ESPN’s playoff power rankings.
Who is best positioned to make a deep run in the postseason? Our writers studied the weekend’s action to determine the rankings for all eight playoff teams. Let’s dive in.
Next match: Sunday vs. Gotham FC, 12:30 p.m. ET, ABC ,Live stream with ABC on ESPN,
Kansas City was the first team to book its playoff spot and the first team to gain home-field advantage through the semifinals, had it advanced that far. Current also set new NWSL records: most points (65), most wins (21), most road wins (10) and most clean sheets (16) in a single NWSL season. Playing in his final game in San Diego, he conceded a goal. Dudinha And fell behind on home soil for the first time in 2025, but rallied to a 2-1 win even with a Golden Boot winner temwa chawinga Injured. His absence in the postseason will be massive, but he has not been ruled out. Of concern for Gotham, who will play them next weekend, the Current have plenty of game-changing quality.
Next match: Saturday vs. Racing Louisville, noon ET
With a long list of injuries that included four of their top scorers (gift monday (There was one unexcused absence), the second-place Spirit lost their final match of the year to Utah, 1–0. Home advantage has already been secured in the next round, but fans will be eager to see players who trinity rodman Returning from his MCL sprain. Outside of the current, Washington has consistently been the most elite team in 2025, but as we reach the postseason, its injury list is worth watching.
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Utah Royals vs. Washington Spirit – Game Highlights
Watch highlights of Utah Royals vs Washington Spirit game, 11/03/2025
Next match: Friday vs. Seattle Reign, 8 p.m. ET
Furthering an unfortunate theme at the top of the table, the defending champions finished the season without their top scorer (and last year’s championship MVP). barbara bandaBanda’s season-ending hip injury coincided with a nine-game winning streak that the team snapped in late September. Since that upset win against San Diego, Orlando has gone undefeated in five regular season games (three wins, two draws), including wins against three teams in the top six: Washington, Portland and San Diego. It finished the year with a 1–1 draw at home to Seattle. Pride may not be in the same form as last year, but they still have the drive to make a deep run.
Next match: Sunday vs. San Diego Wave, 3 p.m. ET, ABC ,Live stream with ABC on ESPN,
Portland’s 2–0 win against Houston was enough to clinch home-field advantage in the postseason and finish the year with three wins in their last four games. On paper, this is solid form for the three-time champions. Yet, in the second half of 2025, the Thorns have only two wins, one draw, and four losses when playing playoff teams. This includes losses to Orlando and Gotham in their last five games.
Next match: Kansas City Current Sunday, 12:30 p.m. ET, ABC ,Live stream with ABC on ESPN,
Gotham entered their final match of the year still able to clinch home ground by finishing in the top four, but after losing 3–2 to ninth-place North Carolina (and thanks to results elsewhere in a tightly packed table), they finished the year in eighth place. It’s devastating news for the 2023 champions, who will begin their postseason on the road in Kansas City, where a record-setting Current has yet to lose this season. players like Rose Lavelle He has been in great form, returning from international duty (where he scored two goals in this window) to score his third goal in five games for Gotham, but remains the team’s top scorer. esther gonzalez Ended the season on the injured list. The Spanish striker’s 13 goals are well ahead of Lavelle’s five goals as the team’s next top scorer, and fans will be eager to see if he is healthy for a tough challenge in Kansas City.
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North Carolina Courage vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC – Game Highlights
Watch game highlights of North Carolina Courage vs NJ/NY Gotham FC, 11/03/2025
Next match: Sunday at Portland Thorns, 3 p.m. ET, ABC ,Live stream with ABC on ESPN,
On Sunday in Kansas City, the 20-year-old Dudinha shot between the legs of the partner brazil international Lorena To send Kansas City down by a goal at home for the first time this season. That’s five goals in five games for the Brazilian, whose form in the postseason has been very good. San Diego lost 2–1 to the league leaders, but after looking shaky during a seven-game winless run (five losses, two draws) that began in mid-August, the Wave’s form is heating up.
Next match: Friday at Orlando Pride, 8 p.m. ET
No team except Gotham earned that many draws in 2025, and fittingly, that’s how they ended the year. Seattle’s ninth draw of the 2025 regular season was a 1-1 stalemate against defending champions Orlando, securing a point thanks to the 19-year-old. jordan bugEqualizing goal in the 79th minute. A draw is better than a loss, but a win could ensure home-field advantage and a more favorable matchup in the postseason. Instead, they will get a second consecutive test with the Pride to begin their postseason campaign.
Next match: Saturday at Washington Spirit, noon ET
The curse was finally broken. Louisville made club history with a 1-0 win against Bay FC on Sunday, earning a postseason berth for the first time in five seasons, and avoiding a fifth consecutive ninth-place finish. With the rookie’s only goal ella laughed (Her first NWSL goal, and what a time to score it) Racing to DC for their first playoff game. The test of spirit won’t be easy and Audi Field will certainly take advantage, but the momentum of making history could propel this consistently scrappy and solid side to cause trouble in the district.
