Following an exciting international tournament break, the 2025 NWSL regular season roared back to life with an action-packed Week 14. As the second half of the season officially kicks off, some teams have accelerated, while others appear to be struggling. With 12 matchweeks remaining, it`s an opportune moment to reassess the league`s power dynamics.
However, some clubs are proving difficult to rank. The top three positions remain largely unchanged, with Kansas City Current maintaining their dominant form and widening the gap, forcing other teams to simply try and keep up. Similarly, the bottom three teams, despite showing some resilience in Week 14, saw minimal movement, leading to significant shifts among the mid-table contenders.
Which teams will ascend, and which will falter? Week 15 is fast approaching, promising more thrilling action.
2025 NWSL Power Rankings
Here’s how the league stands as the second half shifts into high gear:
1. Kansas City Current (–)
Kansas City continues to impress, seemingly without flaws, especially with additions like U.S. Women`s National Team forward Ally Sentnor. While Sentnor didn`t feature in Week 14, it highlights the Current`s depth. Forward Temwa Chawinga, with her ninth goal of the season, remains a strong contender for the NWSL Golden Boot.
2. Washington Spirit (–)
Trinity Rodman’s return couldn`t have been more impactful. The winger made a triumphant comeback to the pitch after a four-month absence, scoring in her first game back and helping Washington secure a crucial win. With more Spirit players like Croix Bethune and Hal Herfshfelt regaining form, new head coach Adrian Gonzalez now has a potentially deep roster for the remainder of the season.
3. Orlando Pride (–)
Orlando Pride created numerous opportunities for a comeback this week but ultimately couldn`t find the decisive goal. Nevertheless, late-game substitutions by manager Seb Hines made a noticeable difference, with Prisca Chilufya`s efforts resulting in an equalizer. While they might not be this season`s breakout super team, they consistently find ways to maintain their elite status.
4. Seattle Reign (+1)
Head coach Laura Harvey employed a clever tactical approach in Week 14. After acquiring exciting offensive talents like Mia Fishel and forward-turned-fullback Sofia Huerta, Harvey showcased the roster`s tactical flexibility by fielding a five-player defense. Dynamic player movement and intelligent substitutions, including veteran Jess Fishlock, helped turn the tide and secure a victory. This dark-horse team could soon pose a significant challenge to the league`s top contenders.
5. San Diego Wave (-1)
It appears this group faded before the break and still needs to shake off its summer sluggishness. They managed to penetrate dangerous areas in Week 14 but struggled to get shots on target. To become a more formidable force, they must rediscover the form they showed in the first half of the season.
6. Portland Thorns FC (+2)
Despite not earning points in their return to play, the Thorns demonstrated very strong stretches of play. The squad has been inconsistent in the first half of the year, but stellar individual performances from midfielders Sam Coffey and Hina Sugita have helped mitigate deficiencies. If Olivia Moultrie’s lone goal is an indication of what’s to come, the Thorns could upset other contenders.
7. Racing Louisville FC (+2)
Racing Louisville enjoyed a good run of form before the summer break, only to crash face-first into Kansas City upon their return. I want to believe this is the year they finally reach the playoffs, but they have historically struggled against higher-ranked opponents, and their upcoming schedule offers no favors. Still, I’m willing to be disappointed again and keep them in the upper half of the rankings for now.
8. Gotham FC (-1)
This is the point in the season where casual observers might look at rosters on paper and assume one team should easily beat another, but Gotham isn`t delivering on that expectation. While the team rightly celebrates rookie Khyah Harper’s performance and lone goal, they will be eager to get Golden Boot leader and Euro runner-up Esther Gonzalez back as soon as possible, especially after managing only two shots on target in Week 14.
9. Bay FC (+2)
For much of this year, Bay FC has been a consistent marker in both the power rankings and the league table. After their Week 14 performance, they are inching closer to breaking that trend. Rachael Kundinanji’s relentless play and Penelope Hocking’s status as the club’s leading goal scorer this season are notable. If this duo can develop more collaborative efforts, Bay FC could continue to climb.
10. Angel City FC (-4)
I can no longer afford to appear foolish in these rankings; keeping Angel City in the upper half even during the break was inexcusable. They haven`t secured a single win in six games, and despite all the “learning” under new manager Alex Strauss, victories remain elusive. The coaching staff must devise a strategy to rotate players into successful scenarios if they hope to return to the top half of the rankings.
11. North Carolina Courage (-1)
The Courage were on a promising run of form before the break, and their return seems to have disrupted some of that momentum. Nonetheless, there are exciting developments to watch for this group, particularly with the coaching staff positioning Tyler Lussi on the left, where she operated more as an attacking fullback.
12. Houston Dash (–)
It`s often the small details that make a difference, and sometimes that looks like your veteran midfielder stepping up when the going gets tough. Former Canadian international Sophie Schmidt delivered big for the Dash in the clutch. Having an enforcer who can score off the bench could be the X-factor the Dash need for the second half of the season.
13. Utah Royals (–)
Mina Tanaka had a standout game for Utah against a top opponent in Orlando. With Sentnor officially transferring to Kansas City, Tanaka could emerge as the next key playmaker to revitalize the Royals, especially if chemistry develops alongside Brecken Mozingo and Bianca St-Georges.
14. Chicago Stars FC (–)
One must celebrate victories wherever they can be found, or in this case, a solid performance resulting in a draw. Chicago has struggled this season, but interim head coach Ella Masar has the team competing and enjoying the game. With goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher back and Ally Schlegel scoring, perhaps it`s now their turn to make other teams suffer.
