NWSL: Shield-clinching Orlando looks unstoppable

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 23. Let’s dive in.

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Previous ranking: 1

Next match: Friday at Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET

They’ll beat you with their passing, they’ll beat you with their pressing, they’ll beat you with their brains and they’ll beat you with their legs. The Pride can beat you every which way, as they did the Spirit, laying waste to the second-place team in the NWSL and continuing to reaffirm their dominance over the league. It was a fitting way to clinch the Shield, and you weren’t alone if you teared up watching Marta lift the first trophy in club history.

Previous ranking: 3

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

The Current extended their unbeaten streak to five games with a 2-0 win in Louisville. They’ve conceded just one goal in that stretch as the defense, backed by Almuth Schult in goal, has transformed into one of the league’s best. To have that kind of rearguard behind Temwa Chawinga, who scored her NWSL record-tying 18th goal of the season, and Vanessa DiBernardo, whose free-kick rocket put the match away, you have a team that can absolutely win the championship.

Previous ranking: 2

Next match: Sunday vs. Racing Louisville, 5 p.m. ET

There’s no shame in losing in Orlando, and that’s doubly true when you’re missing six starters to injury or suspension. It’s triply true when you only lose because of a penalty and unlucky deflection. The problem for the Spirit is that Andi Sullivan went down with an injury. Washington will hope it can get healthy before the playoffs, because its injury list is a depressing sight.

Previous ranking: 4

Next match: Saturday at Chicago Red Stars, 4 p.m. ET

Gotham were in a tight 1-1 match with 20 minutes to go against Bay FC, then four minutes later they had themselves a 4-1 lead. It was a stupefying stretch that earned the Bats a crucial victory in their bid to finish second and earn home-field advantage in the semifinals. That would be massive for a team that has only lost once at home all season.

Previous ranking: 5

Next match: Saturday vs. Angel City, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Courage clinched a playoff spot with their 2-1 win over the Wave, and now the last three weeks of the season are all about making sure they are at their best for the postseason. Kerolin‘s return to the starting lineup was a big step in that direction, as was the clever movement in the midfield. Next on the to-do list should probably be set-piece defending, as they almost gave away the win from corner kicks.

Previous ranking: 8

Next match: Saturday vs. NJ/NY Gotham, 4 p.m. ET

Ludmila took center stage for Chicago, scoring its first goal and drawing the penalty for its second as the Red Stars defeated Houston 2-0. Things got mighty shaky in the second half and they probably should have conceded at least one, if not two or three goals, but the four teams below them in the table all lost and they now have a seven-point cushion in their battle for a playoff spot, so they don’t care how fortunate they got in the final 45 minutes. Three points are three points.

Previous ranking: 6

Next match: Saturday vs. Kansas City Current, 10 p.m. ET

You could see the growth and quality of Bay in the way they managed the first 70 minutes against Gotham, but their immaturity showed up in a four-minute stretch that saw them concede three goals on their way to a 5-1 loss. Winning in New Jersey was always a long shot, but it’s not going to get much easier. They have a hellacious run-in, so being 20 minutes from a point and walking away with a big loss is a blow.

Previous ranking: 7

Next match: Sunday at Washington Spirit, 5 p.m. ET

Racing did a pretty good job keeping the vaunted Current attack in check, but the visitors’ top-end talent was simply too much in a 2-0 loss for Louisville. The Racing attack has run hot and cold this season, and it was pretty frigid Saturday, so it has to hope that some heat is coming in the final three matches as it tries to make up the three-point deficit that separates the franchise from its first playoff berth.

Previous ranking: 11

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

The midweek points deduction for exceeding the salary cap put ACFC’s season on the line against Reign, and they responded with the urgency you’d expect from a team that absolutely needed a win. They won the match on the wings, where Alyssa Thompson and M.A. Vignola combined for a goal and Claire Emslie shone bright yet again.

Previous ranking: 9

Next match: Sunday vs. Houston Dash, 8 p.m. ET

San Diego desperately needed three points in North Carolina and instead it went home with none. The Wave nearly snagged a late point thanks to some dangerous corner kicks, but their inability to create anything from open play doomed them, and they are now on the verge of being eliminated from postseason contention.

Previous ranking: 10

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

There’s not much new to say about the Thorns after their 2-1 defeat to the Royals. They were second best the whole way and looked every bit as bad as they have for months now. They’ve taken just one point from their past seven matches and have one win since June 8.

Previous ranking: 13

Next match: Sunday vs. Seattle Reign, 5 p.m. ET (watch live on ESPN2 and ESPN+)

It’s too little, too late for the Royals this season, but their win over Portland was their second in a row and they are showing signs of meaningful growth. Ally Sentnor‘s excellent rookie season continued with the assist on Hannah Betfort‘s pretty chip, and summer signings Claudia Zornoza and Mina Tanaka were at the heart of the Royals’ second goal. Things are trending in the right direction for Utah.

Previous ranking: 12

Next match: Sunday at Utah Royals, 5 p.m. ET (watch live on ESPN2 and ESPN+)

When the season hit the home stretch and the Reign needed to be at their best, they were at their worst. Seattle managed next to nothing with the ball in a loss to Angel City, marking its fourth consecutive defeat. Laura Harvey and the new ownership group will have to chart a new path in the offseason because this, whatever this is, is definitely is not it.

Previous ranking: 14

Next match: Sunday at San Diego Wave, 8 p.m. ET

The Dash put forward probably their best attacking performance of the season Friday, and what do they have to show for it? A 2-0 loss to Chicago. It’s been that kind of year for Houston, but at least it got another good showing from Bárbara Olivieri, who should be part of whatever rebuilding plans the Dash cook up this winter.