The 2025 NWSL regular season has entered its final quarter. Time is running out for clubs still hunting for playoff spots, and 10th-placed Angel City FC is just three points shy of playoff eligibility, preparing for a crucial match against 11th-placed North Carolina Courage soon.
Recent weeks have brought some unexpected twists in match outcomes, highlighting how the finishing stretch of the regular season can be particularly taxing for many teams vying for playoff advancement. This is a critical moment for these teams to display their strength, regardless of their current standing. Thus, the NWSL power rankings are back in focus.
Last year’s champions, Orlando Pride, are experiencing a decline in the rankings, while teams like Houston Dash, Chicago Stars, and Utah Royals are making strides upward. For the latest trends in team power, visit previous power rankings.
Power Rankings for Week 20:
- Kansas City Current (–) I wish I could simply write two words here, Temwa Chawinga, but my editors would request more. I’ll also mention Michelle Cooper, Kayla Sharples, and Vlatko Andonovski. They have already secured a playoff spot, and now they are guaranteed a home quarterfinal game.
- Washington Spirit (–) The Spirit maintains consistency, gaining key players back at a pivotal time. If Trinity Rodman remains effective in her return from injury, they could become formidable contenders.
- Portland Thorns FC (+1) Resilient teams find ways to win, just as Portland did after week 19. They improved their performance, scoring eight goals in their last five matches.
- Orlando Pride (-1) Orlando needs to revitalize their performance; the absence of Barbra Banda is a significant blow. It requires concerted effort to offset the impact of her absence.
- Seattle Reign (–) The scoring challenges persist, keeping the team in a mid-table position. One goal in three matches signals an urgent need to ignite their attacking prowess.
- San Diego Wave (–) After a promising start, the Wave is struggling with goal-scoring. A dip in performance post midseason has them concerned.
- Gotham FC (+2) Rose Lavelle made significant impact last week, demonstrating her ability to change the game’s flow drastically. If she maintains form along with new acquisition Jaedyn Shaw, they could soar higher in the rankings.
- Racing Louisville (-1) Racing will welcome back midfielder Taylor Flint after a tough match that witnessed a painful own goal against them.
- Houston Dash (+1) Dash is in top form right now under coach Fabrice Gautrat. Other teams will not want to face them during this period.
- Chicago Stars FC (+1) Stars are showing a strong performance recently, and they have reliable scorers beyond Ludmila in their roster.
- Angel City FC (-3) After the loss of Alyssa Thompson to Chelsea FC during the transfer window, playoff hopes are dimming. The pressure on their younger players is considerable.
- Utah Royals FC (–) The Royals are using their home advantage effectively; if they can convert draws into wins, they will remain competitive.
- Bay FC (–) Bay FC has struggled for consistency this season; they also recently said goodbye to their head coach, Albertin Montoya.
- North Carolina Courage (–) They recently traded Jaedyn Shaw to Gotham FC for $1.25 million, leaving them with financial flexibility but a lingering sense of disappointment.
