NWSL: KC Current show championship credentials

It’s Monday, and another week of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Our rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal differential, expected goal differential), recent performance, the Opta computer ratings and the observations of our writers.

Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? Our writers and statistical models have ranked all 14 clubs in the league after Matchday 20. Let’s dive in.

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Previous ranking: 1

Next match: Friday at Bay FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

The Pride walked away with a scoreless draw against the Current in one of their toughest remaining matches this season. While they might rue a missed chance or two, they played well in a match that should serve as good preparation for the playoffs and took a giant step toward finishing the season undefeated.

Previous ranking: 2

Next match: Friday at Kansas City Current, 8 p.m. ET

Ashley Hatch took center stage early on with a brace in the first 26 minutes, but Trinity Rodman stole the spotlight with her absolutely obscene goal as the Spirit cruised to a 3-0 win over the Dash. It’s remarkable how quickly Rodman, who is already one of the best in the world at just 22 years old, keeps adding to her game and you can bet she’ll be back in the center of things in Friday’s highly anticipated visit to Kansas City.

Previous ranking: 3

Next match: Friday vs. Washington Spirit, 8 p.m. ET

Going to Orlando and walking away with a point is always a job well done, but this was an exceptionally good draw for KC. It showed the ability to play the type of tight, grinding game it’ll need come playoff time. We already know the Current can be a dynamic attacking team and the addition of Almuth Schult, who was sensational in goal, is helping them develop the defensive ability to round into a true championship contender.

Previous ranking: 4

Next match: Sunday vs. Utah Royals, 1 p.m. ET (live on ESPN+)

Gotham has already shown it can handle an NWSL/Concacaf W Champions Cup back-to-back when it ran off a pair of wins a week ago. Now it’ll have to do it again, with a Monday night contest against Seattle before meeting Monterrey on Thursday. A win over the Reign would take the Bats into third place.

Previous ranking: 5

Next match: Saturday at Racing Louisville, 7:30 p.m. ET

Ashley Sanchez became the first player in NWSL history to score against every active club and her goal ensured the Courage would take a point against Bay FC. North Carolina extended its home unbeaten streak to 19 games, but it probably needed a win if it wanted to climb into the top four by season’s end and earn a home playoff game.

Previous ranking: 6

Next match: Friday vs. Orlando Pride, 10:30 p.m. ET

Bay scored early on a textbook play that began with a press to force a turnover, quick progression in transition and, finally, a good pass from Tess Boade for Asisat Oshoala to tap in. Unfortunately, it followed that up with a bad giveaway that allowed the Courage to tie things up. It was the type of up-and-down game that typically marks an expansion team and resulted in the first draw in club history. All in all, a point on the other side of the country is a good result and Bay is still holding on to eighth place.

Previous ranking: 8

Next match: Saturday at Houston Dash, 8:30 p.m.

The Reign’s rough start to the season is now squarely in the rearview mirror thanks to a seven-match unbeaten streak. If they can keep it going Monday against Gotham and win their fourth in a row, they’ll move within two points of a playoff spot. That would put them on the verge of a turnaround for the ages, but the departure of Sofia Huerta is going to make things tough.

Previous ranking: 9

Next match: Saturday vs. North Carolina Courage, 7:30 p.m. ET

Racing made two big moves last month when it signed Bethany Balcer and Janine Beckie with the hope that the duo could take their attack to another level. Those moves paid off Saturday as the two new faces scored phenomenal goals to deliver a 2-1 win over Angel City. If Balcer and Beckie can keep it rolling, Louisville just might erase the three-point gap to eighth place and secure the first playoff berth in club history.

Previous ranking: 7

Next match: Monday at Angel City FC, 10 p.m. ET

It was a big week for Morgan Weaver, who signed a new contract in Portland and then made her long-awaited return from injury after four months out. Mackenzie Arnold also had a nice moment with a penalty save, but things didn’t go so well for the rest of the team as the Thorns fell to Chicago. They’ve now lost four in a row and have scored only four goals in their past eight matches.

Previous ranking: 11

Next match: Saturday vs. San Diego Wave, 9:30 p.m. ET

The Red Stars snapped a three-game losing streak with an impressive win in Portland. They were especially good when playing with pace, using their press to create Ally Schlegel’s goal and then going quickly over the top to draw a penalty, but things took a turn late when Mallory Swanson went down with a shoulder injury. Fingers crossed she’s OK and can help Chicago hold on to its playoff spot.

Previous ranking: 10

Next match: Monday vs. Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET

ACFC has a tough schedule to close out its season, so a win over nonplayoff team Racing on Saturday would have been massive. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Angel City was mostly impotent after scoring early and suffered a 2-1 loss to put its playoff hopes in real danger. Angel City is four points out of eighth place and has four of its last six matches against top-six teams.

Previous ranking: 13

Next match: Saturday at Chicago Red Stars, 9:30 p.m. ET

Scoring 26 seconds after kickoff goes a long way to ending a 12-match winless streak, and Amirah Ali’s early tally did just that. Add another goal five minutes later and the Wave were on their way to their first win since May 8. Somehow, San Diego is only six points out of a playoff spot, and it still has the Concacaf W Champions Cup, so there’s plenty for the Wave to play for. It’s time to find out if Landon Donovan is orchestrating a turnaround or if this was a one-off.

Previous ranking: 12

Next match: Sunday at NJ/NY Gotham FC, 1 p.m. ET (live on ESPN+)

It’s one thing to have your four-match unbeaten streak snapped by a good Kansas City team away from home, but following that up by losing at home to San Diego, which hadn’t won since May, is a real kick in the teeth. Utah gave up two goals in the first six minutes and, while it deserves credit for trying to fight back, any good vibes from its late summer surge are certainly gone now.

Previous ranking: 14

Next match: Saturday vs. Seattle Reign FC, 8:30 p.m. ET

The Dash were soundly beaten yet again as they conceded the ball, territory and chances in a 3-0 loss to the Spirit, extending their winless streak to nine matches. As if that weren’t bad enough, seven of those have been losses and they have a grand total of two goals over that stretch. Houston could be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention before we even get to October.