The 2025 NWSL regular season has officially reached its quarter point after six weeks of play. This milestone calls for an update to the power rankings, as there`s been significant movement. While discussions often focus on regional club rivalries and their importance, week six served as a reminder that sometimes intense competition can emerge unexpectedly.
Leading teams vying for the Shield faced off against each other again, resulting in multi-goal games with surprising outcomes. Meanwhile, lower-ranked teams managed to snatch points from their direct competitors without revealing clear long-term strategies. The performances across the league were notable. At this stage of the season, simply winning doesn`t always guarantee an automatic rise in my rankings, though the overall feeling was similar to the trends observed in the week five rankings.
Gotham FC and Portland Thorns each played two matches in week six, including a midweek game against one another and another across the weekend. Both teams experienced mixed results but performed well enough to make positive moves among the other clubs. For the first time this season, 13 out of 14 teams saw their position shift in the power rankings, highlighting just how unpredictable the league is on a weekly basis.
2025 NWSL Power Rankings
| Rank | Team | Change | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Orlando Pride |
+2 |
After noting last week they needed to be more clinical in front of goal, Barbra Banda and Marta responded decisively by getting on the scoresheet. This is excellent news for the Pride and concerning news for every other team in the league. |
|
2. |
Kansas City Current |
-1 |
Suffered an unexpected loss on the road against the league`s only winless team. They remain an elite side, but the Midwest club must now manage a lingering injury concern for Temwa Chawinga, in addition to Michelle Cooper, going forward. |
|
3. |
Gotham FC |
+1 |
Sometimes success isn`t about how you start, but how you finish. Other times, simply having Esther Gonzalez on your roster makes the circumstances less important because she is currently a relentless goal-producing machine. |
|
4. |
Washington Spirit |
-2 |
The Spirit were quickly humbled when they conceded in the third minute. While things continued to go awry, a positive is Croix Bethune`s return from a meniscus injury in 2025. |
|
5. |
San Diego Wave FC |
+2 |
San Diego has positioned itself for a strong extended run this season, largely thanks to its international signings. Each week, Cascarino, Dali, and Corely consistently challenge the opposition, enabling the Wave to keep climbing in the rankings. |
|
6. |
Seattle Reign FC |
-1 |
This group is doing enough to secure results but isn`t quite delivering performances that truly impress the league. This will likely keep them in playoff contention, but it doesn`t translate to significant power in the rankings. |
|
7. |
Bay FC |
+1 |
Rachael Kundinanji finally scored this season, a crucial moment at home. The Bay Area side has done well in making PayPal Park a difficult venue for opponents, now they need to sustain being a challenging opponent to face overall. |
|
8. |
Portland Thorns FC |
+3 |
A significant week for the Thorns, making different kinds of statements in their two games from week six. They will continue to rely on first-year Thorns players, with Caiya Hanks entering the conversation for big rookie performances. |
|
9. |
Angel City FC |
-3 |
The team`s momentum has taken a dramatic swing in the opposite direction. The young squad has appeared lost during major momentum shifts in games against heavyweight contenders, and the coaching staff needs to help solve this issue. |
|
10. |
North Carolina Courage |
— |
Can it truly be called `smash and grab` if it happens on home turf? In my opinion, no. North Carolina won a tactical substitution battle, securing a significant upset that prevented them from dropping in my rankings. More consistency is needed to move up. |
|
11. |
Houston Dash |
-3 |
Delanie Sheehan was arguably the biggest positive for the Dash this week. At this point in the season, is a narrow, hard-fought win against another struggling club truly indicative of power? |
|
12. |
Racing Louisville FC |
+2 |
Showing signs of life, but will it be enough? Getting Savannah DeMelo back scoring could potentially be the catalyst they needed. |
|
13. |
Utah Royals |
-1 |
Struggling and may remain near the bottom. They had significant momentum to potentially steal an away game in Houston but simply couldn`t score when it mattered most. |
|
14. |
Chicago Red Stars |
-1 |
Jameese Joseph remains a bright spot, but Chicago was convincingly beaten at home by the Wave this week, firmly placing them back among the teams facing difficulties. |
Dominic Ashworth