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The 2025 NWSL regular season has rolled on and my power rankings are back. We are officially three weeks into the season and the league is taking a short break due to the international window, so this week’s ratings are coming close until the NWSL returns.
There may be early answers to the biggest questions of the season, so there are already some changes from my second week. Who will rival Orlando’s top spot this year? Early signs are heading towards the flow of Kansas City.
I didn’t expect this to shift early to the top four of my rankings, but it’s great to see even the elite league teams making things interesting. The Washington Spirit remains in the top tier, but Orlando and Kansas City will make things difficult to jump. And after removing Tiana Davidson from USWNT’s April roster with a knee injury, things may really start to shift.
The middle of the pack is still staunched at clubs that have established an ideal starter and ironing tactics, but the lower half of the rankings has some new additions between some familiar faces.
There’s a little break for the team to try and reset themselves over the long term. Fans can watch NWSL regular season matches of choice across CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network so don’t miss the action.
Now, the ranking time for the third week:
2025 NWSL Power Ranking
1.
Kansas City Current
+1
I’ve seen it well. Current enters the game and is dominant at every stage. They crush it against playoff candidates and remind them of the gifts they think they have something to do if they want to reach the level Kansas City set for the league.
2.
Orlando Pride
-1
There is no Barbrabanda goal within two weeks, and the defensive midfielder as a scoring threat is merely a silver lining if the MVP candidate is also on the score sheet. Still as elite as ever, he remains a league juggernaut, even after his rankings fell.
3.
Washington Spirit
–
Trinity Rodman is back in a limited number of minutes and Ashley Hatch is the best, but this week it’s the backline that’s the DC superstar. Many excellent chemical brews between Rebecal Bernal, Tara McKeown, Esme Morgan, and Casey Krueger.
4.
NJ/NY Gotham FC
– –
Grityness will keep this team in the top four rankings for a long time. If you want to win anytime early in the season, you should use breaks to manage your injury issues further.
5.
Houston Dash
+1
This dash has made things difficult for playoff contenders earlier this season and continues to rise in the rankings. Are they dark horses or sleeping giants?
6.
Seattle Reign FC
-1
I struggled to create meaningful possessions and create opportunities to play. With major veterans injured, I want to see the coaching staff trusting more with speedy bench players.
7.
North Carolina’s courage
-1
It was a game for filming and they simply couldn’t. Courage continues to struggle to find that decisive victory despite their efforts, and will likely help them get things started, leaving Jedin Shaw’s national team for a while.
8.
Angel City FC
+3
Welcome to the top half of Ranking Angel City. We hope interim manager Sam Wrighty will continue to play “children” as a massive effort from Alyssa and Gisele Thompson, Sabbi King, Kennedy Fuller and Riley Tiannan helped bring them here.
9.
San Diego Wave FC
+1
You can take the game to Orlando and see the build-up of cohesion between the new acquisitions and the club’s veterans despite the losses. The middle part is combined, and the waves may have finally found the answers of Kenza Dali and Zia Koaly.
10.
Utah Royals
-2
Utah looks like a team that benefited from last year’s midseason coaching bump. They need a quick reset and breaks come at a good time for the coaching staff to adjust as quickly as possible.
11.
Bay FC
-2
They have used the opportunities they have created to fail to issue a statement to the top four clubs. The ideas are there, but no executions and ultimately, if no adjustments are made, the rising team will get better of them.
12.
Racing Evil FC
–
Just like taking advantage of opportunities in front of you, Lousiville just did it. Against the worst team in the league. You need to see more to climb the rankings.
13.
Portland Thorns FC
–
A massive performance by goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold to ensure the results. Penalty halts and questionable shot choices to keep things out of reach will keep the thorns hunted for all sorts of momentum changes.
14.
Chicago Star FC
–
When you face another struggling team, you may have the opportunity to change the tempo, but if you are clearly a star, it is not. Cloudy with a chance to reach the final spot in the rankings.