It’s Tuesday, 2026 nwsl The regular season is well underway, which means it’s time for ESPN’s power rankings.
Who’s ready to step up to the table? Who is at risk of free fall? Our writers studied the action from Match Day 2 to determine this week’s standings for all 16 teams in the league. Let’s dive in.
Previous ranking: 1
Next match: Wednesday at San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET
If doing this with 10 players isn’t hard enough, why not try it with nine? That seems to be the Thorns’ philosophy, and it worked well in the 2-0 win over Seattle. Cassandra Bogere He received his go-ahead order in the ninth minute after a pair of yellows, but Portland was still able to go into the halftime break up two goals, thanks to pietra tordin And rylin turner. When? Reyna Reyes Was sent off in the 57th minute, meaning half an hour of defending in front of a crowd of 21,321. What will this team be able to do at full strength?
Previous ranking: 5
Next match: Friday vs. Houston Dash, 10 p.m. ET
sveindis jonsdottir Scored a one-on-one in the fourth minute, then scored in the second half to help Angel City earn a 3-1 win over Bay FC. Gisele Thompson Jónsdóttir also assisted on the goals, helping the Southern California team defeat Northern California and top the standings at this early stage of the season. This is the first time in team history that ACFC has started the season with two wins.
Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Wednesday vs. Denver Summit, 7 p.m. ET
There were big stars on and off the field in Harrison, New Jersey, as the 2025 champions made their home debut, but Gotham’s players were unable to give the crowd a chance to cheer in a 0-0 draw with North Carolina. Rose LavelleA back-post header shortly after the second-half kickoff was the only shot Gotham had on target with courage, limiting the hosts’ ability to create dangerous chances. procurement tierna davidsonShe will be a nice boost going forward, playing her first minutes since suffering an ACL injury last March.
Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Friday at Angel City, 10pm ET
Jamaica international Kiki Van Zanten with a double notched cat radar The Dash added a third by defeating Boston 3–0 at Shell Energy Stadium. That offensive flurry came after the Legacy goalkeeper saved an early penalty casey murphyBut Houston was able to stay calm and continue their perfect start to the campaign. Next, it’s an early-season top-of-the-table clash with Angel City.
1:13
Houston Dash vs. Boston Legacy FC – Game Highlights
Watch game highlights from Houston Dash vs. Boston Legacy FC, 03/22/2026
Previous ranking: 7
Next match: Saturday at Gotham FC, 6:30 pm ET
It was only his second match in North Carolina colors, but the goalkeeper calen sheridan Logged over 15,000 NWSL minutes and kept a clean sheet in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Gotham. Sheridan will rightly give credit to the team in front of him, however, as Courage has limited the chances for the defending champions. Now, it’s about delivering on the promise of a more productive attack this season – something that will be easier said than done Manaka Matsukubo Withdrawal from the Women’s Asian Cup.
Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Wednesday at Seattle Reign, 9 p.m. ET
Can they do it on a cold, blustery afternoon in Evanston, Illinois? Current couldn’t find an answer and lost 2-1 to Chicago on Sunday. Haley Hopkins Came into the game as a halftime substitute and halved the deficit in the 57th minute after a brilliant pass. Izzy RodriguezBut the team lacked the cohesiveness shown throughout 2025 and could not overcome its first-half deficit.
Previous ranking: 2
Next match: Wednesday vs. Kansas City Current, 9 p.m. ET
Although this trip from Seattle to Portland was mercifully short compared to the first week in Orlando, the regime still caused quite a headache. Things should have unraveled when Portland went down ten players in the first ten minutes and nine in the second half. Yet, with a two-man lead, Seattle managed only three shots on goal and lost 2–0 to the rival Thorns. portland goalkeeper Morgan Messner Made four saves to deny Raines, who will be doing some home cooking and preparing for Wednesday’s home opener against Kansas City.
Previous ranking: 6
Next match: Saturday at North Carolina Courage, 7 p.m. ET
Bay FC found themselves behind Angel City early on, conceded two more goals and could not rally, losing 3-1 at PayPal Park on Saturday. taylor huff Scored a goal but will not be available for the Bays against North Carolina after seeing two yellow cards in the second half due to heavy tackles. This game will be important for morale as the Bay went into a summer drought last season.
Previous ranking: 8
Next match: Friday Racing at Louisville, 8 p.m. ET
After trailing 2–0, the Spirit battled back to earn a 2–2 tie with Louisville, their first point this season after an opening weekend loss against Portland. Sophia Kantor Scored a long range goal to halve the deficit Lizzie Santos The equalizing goal was scored in the 74th minute. trinity rodman He was out of the match due to a head injury but is set to return on Wednesday. The effort he and the Spirit made to rally in the second half is good news for fans in the nation’s capital; His problems with infection prevention are less in the first half.
Previous ranking: 13
Next match: Saturday at Seattle Reign, 6:30 pm ET
emma sears to install kayla fisher For a goal from outside the area. Then, Fisher lofted Sears for a beautiful goal on an individual breakaway as Racing took a 2–0 lead in the first half against Washington. But it was all excitement after that, and Racing had to settle for a 2–2 draw in their home opener at Lynn Family Stadium rather than avenge last year’s playoff defeat.
Previous ranking: 14
Next match: Wednesday at Gotham FC, 7 PM ET
Is Melissa Kosler The first great Denver scorer? The Hoffenheim veteran opened the scoring for Summitt with a right-footed finish in the 24th minute of the 1-1 draw with Orlando. That goal, plus 10 saves by the goalkeeper abby smithHelped the expansion side reach their first point. The building blocks appear to be there with a strong opening 25 minutes, for a team this is much more than just an expansion team delivering first-round performances.
Previous ranking: 15
Next match: Wednesday vs. Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET
The Wave went to Utah and got a 2-1 win over the Royals on Sunday night. DudinhaThe opener would go on to lose without any assists, but the pass came from a Royals defender, and he pounced on it and scored with his first touch. San Diego conceded but then got a winner from the rookie Lia GodfreyImmediately after the Royals defender Tatuman Milazo She received her second yellow card and one of several red cards in the NWSL this weekend.
1:12
Utah Royals vs. San Diego Wave FC – Game Highlights
Watch highlights of Utah Royals vs. San Diego Wave FC game, 03/23/2026
Previous ranking: 16
Next match: Wednesday vs. Orlando Pride, 8 p.m. ET
After a brutal opener in which the Stars suffered a 4–0 loss, Martin Sjögren’s team bounced back with a 2–1 win over Kansas City in its home opener on Northwestern’s campus. Tessa Delarose Gave the Stars a reasonable lead just before the half following a corner kick, and Jordan Huitema He doubled the lead with a near-post header five minutes into the second half.
Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Wednesday at Chicago Stars, 8 PM ET
Another week, another goal barbara bandaBut after starting the match with several chances for the visiting team, it ended in a 1–1 draw with Denver. Orlando did well to stem the tide and see Banda score a cross Lizbeth Ovalle Manager Seb Hynes would have a smile on his face, but the damage was done and it is a point from the first two games of the season.
Previous ranking: 12
Next match: Wednesday at Washington Spirit, 7pm ET
lara prasnikar Scored his first goal for the Royals, but it was not enough in a 2–1 loss to San Diego. Tatuman Milazo Scored last week, but were sent off late in the competition this week, and the Wave were able to reduce the Royals team to 10 players with a late winner Lia Godfrey. Utah now has a quick turnaround with a long trip to meet Washington in DC on Wednesday.
Previous ranking: 11
Next match: Saturday at the Houston Dash, 4 p.m. ET
legacy goalkeeper casey murphy Saved a penalty in the first half, but could not maintain momentum and conceded three goals in a 3–0 loss to Houston. The club’s first road trip proved to be a challenge, with Boston making only two shots jane campbelland finishing the game with an xG of 0.52.
