NWSL: Orlando Pride climb as Portland Thorns dip

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 11. Let’s dive in.

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Previous ranking: 3

Next match: June 7 at San Diego Wave FC, 10 p.m. ET

Though the Portland Thorns didn’t have Sophia Smith at their disposal on Friday, Orlando’s 2-1 win should still go down as a statement result. Barbra Banda continues to look like a legitimate MVP candidate, the kind who doesn’t need much more than a solid structure and a twist of creative talent around her to take a team to a trophy. The scary thing for the rest of the league? The Pride have given Banda that and more.

Previous ranking: 2

Next match: June 9 vs. Seattle Reign FC, 6 p.m. ET

They only prevailed by a single goal, but Kansas City took Utah to task on Saturday. Vlatko Andonovski’s team outshot their hosts 24-to-4 and consistently blitzed them in transition, to the point where it looked an awful lot like a Shield contender taking on the worst team in the league. *glances at the standings* I wonder why that is.

Previous ranking: 4

Next match: June 8 at Utah Royals FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Washington Spirit are must-see TV right now – and not just because of their elite celebrations. They’re dropping buckets of goals on every team that crosses their path. Croix Bethune is the fastest player in NWSL history to reach the eight-assist mark. Oh, and their soon-to-be head coach just won the UEFA Champions League. Life is good for the Spirit.

11 – Croix Bethune needed only 11 matches to record 8 career assists, three games faster than any other player in #NWSL history. Unprecedented. pic.twitter.com/GoHCYkySYR

— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) May 25, 2024

Previous ranking: 1

Next match: June 8 vs. North Carolina Courage, 10 p.m. ET

It’s hard to ding Portland all that much for losing a cross-country road game to a fellow trophy contender. Still, the teams above them in these rankings look every bit the threat that the Thorns do right now. Their ultra-narrow attacking look caused problems for the Pride, just as it has for most of the rest of the league this season.

Previous ranking: 6

Next match: June 8 vs. Angel City FC, 12:30 p.m. ET

Did anyone have Ella Stevens down as Gotham’s leading scorer through their first 10 games of the season? No? That’s what I thought. With four goals in less than 350 minutes, Stevens has been a force of nature in her spot starts for Juan Carlos Amorós. Her tireless movement and efficient brace pushed Gotham past Bay FC on Friday.

Previous ranking: 5

Next match: June 8 at Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET

Revenge is sweet. That is, unless you’re watching as the team you destroyed to start the year returns the favor. North Carolina’s big loss to Houston serves as their fourth defeat in their last five. They lead the league in possession, as expected, but failed to turn that ball dominance into regular chances against Houston.

Previous ranking: 8

Next match: June 7 vs. Orlando Pride, 10 p.m. ET

It’s been a season of attempted tactical evolution from Casey Stoney. With playmakers Savannah McCaskill and Jaedyn Shaw both in the squad, San Diego’s manager has been searching for the right way to get the most out of her No. 10s. The basic blueprint against Angel City — using McCaskill and Shaw in the half spaces — made sense, but goals still aren’t flowing.

Previous ranking: 7

Next match: June 7 vs. Houston Dash, 8 p.m. ET

Outside of Emma Sears’ wonderstrike, not much separated Racing Louisville in their tight win over the Chicago Red Stars. Still, getting legitimate attacking production out of rookies Sears and Reilyn Turner is a great sign for Bev Yanez.

Previous ranking: 9

Next match: June 8 vs. Bay FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

Their 1-0 loss to Racing Louisville on Saturday isn’t a game to remember for the Red Stars. Still, it serves as a reminder of this team’s limitations as Ally Schlegel and Penelope Hocking push to give Mallory Swanson some attacking help in their sophomore seasons.

Previous ranking: 13

Next match: June 7 at Racing Louisville, 8 p.m. ET

After losing 5-1 to North Carolina on opening weekend, the Houston Dash pushed their way to a 3-0 win against the very same Courage in their most recent match. You won’t get a better picture of the NWSL’s parity than that. Quietly, the Dash have gone a respectable 2W-2D-2L in their last six.

Previous ranking: 10

Next match: June 9 at Kansas City Current, 6 p.m. ET

The 3-2 scoreline flattered Seattle in their loss to Washington on Friday. A 96th-minute goal from Emeri Adames brought the Reign back within one, but their clash with the Spirit felt decided before the halftime whistle blew. Laura Harvey is yet to unlock another dimension for her squad.

Previous ranking: 12

Next match: June 8 at NJ/NY Gotham FC, 12:30 p.m. ET

WIth Angel City winless in their last three games after a scoreless draw with the San Diego Wave, Becki Tweed might hope to blame the poor campaign on a cohort of raw, young players. And yet? The Angels have the third-oldest squad in the league based on average age weighted by minutes played.

Previous ranking: 13

Next match: June 8 at Chicago Red Stars, 7:30 p.m. ET

Bay’s attacking talent doesn’t matter — or, at least, doesn’t matter as much as Albertin Montoya would like — when they’re shipping goals on turnovers inside their own box. An already rough season got even rougher in that 2-0 loss to Gotham.

Previous ranking: 14

Next match: June 8 vs. Washington Spirit, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Royals have now gone five straight games without picking up a single point and more than two months without a win. Things are really, really bleak. But, uh, at least they’re consistent? Utah have now lost their last two games by 0-1 scorelines and 0.2-3.1 xG battles, according to FBref. Gulp.