2026 NWSL Kickoff Power Rankings.

Happy NWSL Opening Day to all who celebrate. 

I hate predictions. There are so many unknowns, so many players ready to jump onto the scene, roster mechanisms we don’t know how they’ll impact the summer transfer window, and too many injuries that can throw a squad’s balance into disarray. Oh, and a few expansion clubs to feel out over the opening weeks.

I’m a coward. 

So, this year, I want to kick things off with where I feel each team is on opening day, the offseason moves that shaped them, and highlight some of the X-Factors that could change the trajectory. 

1. Gotham FC

2025: 8th place. NWSL Champions.

There was some chatter after Gotham knocked KC off their perch, which was one of the league’s all-time upsets. Sure, an eight seed knocking off the shield winners was remarkable, but Gotham had no business finishing 8th. Key injuries to Rose Lavelle and Tierna Davidson threatened to derail their season, but the return of Lavelle and the acquisition of Jaedyn Shaw helped right the ship just in time to win their 2nd NWSL title in 3 seasons. 

Gotham strengthened this offseason through college signings of Jordynn Dudley, Talia Sommer, and Andrea Kitahata, re-signing Midge Purce, acquiring Savannah McCaskill from the Wave and Guro Reiten from Chelsea, and the return of Tierna Davidson from the Season Ending Injury list. 

At the height of their powers, Gotham are elite at nearly every position with good depth, and will benefit from an entire season of Jaedyn Shaw. I don’t think Gotham will push the points record of KC and Orlando from the past two seasons, but the continued growth of Lilly Reale and Sarah Schupansky could push this group over the edge. They just need to find a consistency that they really haven’t under Amoros, despite the high-end performances. 

However – as evidenced in the loss to Corinthians last month – they have been overreliant on Esthér at times and have suffered some untimely injuries over the past two seasons. 

X-Factor: Can Jordynn Dudley give Gotham their Esthér depth replacement? 25 goal contributions in 22 matches last season at FSU, how will that translate to the NWSL?

2. Washington Spirit

2025: 2nd place. NWSL Final. 

Trinity Rodman’s contract dispute was the biggest story of the offseason, but with the HIP mechanism secured — for now — Washington was able to navigate a tough situation. The big changes: Croix Bethune was sold to KC, 18-year-old attacker Claudia Martínez arrived from Paraguayan club Olimpia for $950,000, and Andi Sullivan was activated off of SEI.

That should all point to a Spirit that is, once again, one of the league’s best. Injury concerns and Aubrey Kingsbury’s maternal leave aside, this is a club that returns an elite attack in Rose Kouassi, Gift Monday, and Trinity Rodaman. Sophia Cantore and Martínez can be game changers from the bench, and Leicy Santos should be able to slot into Bethune’s spot in the midfield. 

The Spirit had most of their success progressing the ball down Rodman's side of the pitch in 2025. Will that change with Santos moving centrally? What wrinkles did Adrían González bring into 2025?

X-Factor: How quickly can Martínez adjust to the NWSL? She was the co-Golden Boot with six goals in six games at last summer's Copa América. The Spirit frontline is stacked to the point where a player like that will have to really take a step forward to beat Gift Monday or Rose Kouassi for the role, but as a key bench option? Yeah, that'll do.

3. Kansas City Current 

2025: NWSL Shield winners. 1st round loss.

The Kansas City Current dominated the 2025 NWSL regular season in just about every category. A staunch and structured defensive system, combined with an explosive attack and back-to-back MVP performances from Temwa Chawinga. However, a shock first-round upset became the epicenter for a series of changes up and down the organization. 

Valtko Andonovski resigned as manager to focus on his Sporting Director duties, and Ryan Dell replaced Caitlin Carducci as the club’s General Manager. The new manager – former Colorado Rapids man Chris Armas – will have his work cut out for him to start the season after an offseason of change. 

Croix Bethune was acquired from the Washington Spirit for $1 Million, and simultaneously dealt Claire Hutton to Bay FC for $1.1 Million. 

Dell brought in some late help, acquiring striker Penelope Hocking from Bay FC. Hocking can come on and offer a different profile while not being a locked-in starter for when the Current are at full strength, essentially upgrading what they lost in Nichelle Prince.

Hocking helps round off the attacking group – as well as the loan of Kyra Carusa from sister club HB Køge – but the squad is still unbalanced. Without Hutton as the elite possession force, KC will have less room for error, and while that back line is still elite, and Lorena is one of the best Keepers in the league, the performance won’t be at the same level it was in 2026. That is, unless one of the collegiate signings can replace Hailie Mace’s impact, and Ally Sentnor turns into an elite striker.

Armas will have to manage all of that without Temwa Chawinga and Alana Cook to start the season, along with the anticipation of Vanessa DiBernado’s return from Maternity Leave. Those absences are why they drop down the rankings to kick off the season, but Michelle Cooper’s return will help. 

The Current will be fine; they will still compete for the shield, it’s just not as automatic as it was last season, and starting the year without Chawinga will be noticeable. 

X-Factor: Has Chris Armas learned from his past stints in MLS? Or is this project doomed to fail?

4. Orlando Pride

2025: 4th place. Semifinals loss. 

The Pride went through a retool this offseason, losing Emily Sams to Angel City and Ally Brazier (nèe Watt) to expansion club Denver Summit. Those are big holes to fill for a group that struggled last season to follow up on the heights of 2024, but… that comes with a big caveat.

Barbra Banda’s injury was devastating to a group that had defined its playstyle by staunch defensive play and clinical finishing from on the world’s bests. In 2026, the Pride will kick off with Banda back up top, along with the addition of Hailie Mace from Kansas City, and should be better than last season’s 4th place finish. It might take time, but Seb Hines figured out how to succeed without Banda last season, and could have finished higher up the table with more clinical finishing. 

Caitlin Carducci has also joined the club following her exit from KC and should have some opportunities to strengthen this group in the summer, and she should look for opportunities to add depth. The Pride’s collegiate signings could help plug some of those gaps, I really liked what I saw from Solai Washington at Florida State, and Seven Castain scored 17 goals in college soccer last season. 

X-Factor: The return of Barbra Banda should have the Pride ready to roll as they enter the post-Haley Carter era. Will Banda run away with the Golden Boot again?

5. Angel City FC

2025: 11th place. Missed playoffs. 

I’m once again falling for Angel City FC’s offseason acquisitions…

This time it seems real, though. Emily Sams and Ary Borges joined from elsewhere in the league, Riley Tiernan was extended, FSU’s Taylor Suarez looks like the real deal, and Savy King was activated off the SEI list. 

A full preseason under Alexander Straus, a Giselle Thompson ready to take a step forward, the return of Jun Endo, and a full season of Nealy Martin and Hina Sugita should… I think… have Angel City finally ready to match the marketed ambition. 

This might seem like a big jump, but Emily Sams and the return of Savy King should dramatically change the backline, especially when the 3-4-3 didn't work with the personnel last season. Jun Endo – when she returns – is a game changer, and Borges should work better in ACFC's scheme than she did in Louisville.

X-Factor: ACFC’s success does somewhat ride on Riley Tiernan taking a step forward in her sophomore season, or in Giselle Thompson becoming a top-16 player in goals added; she was 30th last season. 

6. San Diego Wave 

2025: 6th place. 1st round loss.

After the top four, I have so many questions for the rest of the league, Wave included. 

Over the offseason, the Wave lost Delphine Cascarino, but added Gabi Portillo, Ludmilla, and Kiki Pickett. 

In theory, that should be an upgrade on last season and the young contributors – Trinity Armstrong, Trinity Byars, Mel Barceňas, Kimmi Ascanio, and Gia Corley – should take a step forward in 2026. 

However, there is a glaring issue with this squad: DiDi Haračić is not playing at NWSL starting Goalkeeper quality in 2026. 

The loss of Kailen Sheridan might be the downfall of a squad that has a lot of good pieces during a season where the playoff spots are far from locked down. 

X-Factor: The Goalkeeping! There’s a non-zero chance 18-year-old Luisa Agudelo is starting in goal before the end of the season. 

7. North Carolina Courage

2025: 9th place. Missed playoffs.

Sheridan joined North Carolina following her shock exit from San Diego, replacing the departing Casey Murphy who left for Boston. Another season of Manaka Matsukubo, a renewed focus on Ashley Sanchez following the hiring of BK Häcken manager Mak Lind. 

Lind arrives in North Carolina following two and a half successful seasons in Gothenburg including a 2025 Damallsvenskan and a run to the UWCL quarterfinal in 2024 – a huge accomplishment for a club outside of the big 5 leagues.

Lind’s Häcken squads played in a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3 that could both hold possession and strike against it while playing more ball dominant sides. While NCC didn’t completely overhaul the roster after breaking their consecutive playoff streak, they added American defender Cameron Brooks from Napoli and brought Canadian-American DM Carly Wickenheiser from Häcken. 

North Carolina underachieved for their talent level last season, and it’s hard to think they’ll miss the playoffs for a second straight season – especially with the clubs around them not covering themselves in glory this offseason. Still, Lind has some work to do, and how his scheme will work in the NWSL is a clear unknown. 

X-Factor: Can Lind get more out of Ashley Sanchez than either Nahas or Thackaray?

8. Seattle Reign

2025: 5th place. 1st round loss.

Claudia Dickey should have won last season’s MVP with how she saved the Reign’s 2025. Without Dickey, the Reign aren’t a playoff team… and they chose to follow that up by bringing in Brittany Ratcliffe and selling Jordyn Huitema to Chicago.

The Reign’s floor is relatively safe, Dickey has been great in preseason, and the young players, Bugg, Dahlien, Meza, and Adames, should take clear steps forward this season. The Reign will largely be fine, but how does that look over an entire season? They have a rematch with Orlando Saturday night.

X-Factor: Mia Fishel is healthy entering 2026 and is showing enough to convince the Reign to ship Huitema out as she steps into the starting role. It’s a big season for Fishel, and if she can step up to the level she showed at Tigres, then the Reign will fly up these rankings.

9. Racing Louisville

2025: 7th place. 1st round loss.

Louisville will need some time to gel after losing Janine Sonis to Denver, Borges to ACFC, and with Marissa DiGrande taking maternity leave but do earn some benefit of doubt with another round of promising collegiate signings. 

Maja Lardner is especially intriguing, and if she can adapt to NWSL defending than Emma Sears can become even more dangerous on the wing. 

I expect Racing to rise throughout the season but I need to see it first before I can jump all of the way in, still Bev Yanez will have to keep evolving.

X-Factor: Macy Blackburn is Texas Tech’s all-time assists leader, can she bring that delivery to a team that needs to replace its assist leader and FK taker (until Sav DeMello returns)?

10. Portland Thorns 

2025: 3rd place. Semifinals loss.

What is going on in Portland?

Sophia Wilson’s return will go a long way towards papering over the cracks but I just don’t buy the look Portland used in preseason that saw Jessie Fleming line up in the Sam Coffey role. Fleming has been great next to Coffey, and the midfield trio of Coffey, Fleming, Moultrie was very good because every player in the trio offered a different but complimentary skillset. Without Coffey, the balance is lost, and trying to plug that gap by moving Fleming ultimately makes the team worse in two areas. 

That might change since the hiring of former Tottenham manager Robert Vilahamn last week, but there has simply not been enough time to feel confident in what the Thorns are doing. 

Mackenzie Arnold is away on international duty, and I fear that back half of the formation will need time to adjust to the loss of Coffey. 

Maybe they’ll be able to outscore everyone but opening night against DC won’t be easy. 

X-Factor: The attacking trio, led by Wilson, with Moultrie pushing from either underneath or outside should put up numbers, and the two time NWSL MVP is probably undervalued in this power ranking. 

11. Bay FC

2025: 13th place. Missed playoffs.

Emma Coates has some work to do but Bay FC took big strides this offseason with the addition of Claire Hutton.

On paper, Bay improved over a group that underperformed their expected numbers last season, and a capable defensive team has a higher floor, but where will the goals come from? Ahead of opening day, Bay sold leading goalscorer Penelope Hocking to KC. Is there an expectation that Racheal Kundananji will finally become the game-braking player everyone expected he to be arriving in the league, or will this be a squad that continues to struggle finding goals? 

X-Factor: 18 year old attacker Alex Pfeiffer will have the minutes she needs, if she can be the next one to break out, that will go a long way towards easing Bay’s scoring concerns… but that’s a big ask for a player with one NWSL start under her belt. 

12. Chicago Stars

2025: 14th place. Missed playoffs.

 It’s been a big offseason. 

Michelle Alozie arrived from Houston, made a very good collegiate signing in Elise Evans, brought in Jordyn Huitema and Aaliyah Farmer, and will benefit from the return of Mal Swanson in a few months.

Martin Sjögren – another manager who had success in Sweden – has some work to do with this group, and there should be room to grow but there are still pieces missing for this group to be in the playoff chase. The Stars definitely improved over 2025 but there’s still a lack of cohesive plan here that should worry Stars fans. 

X-Factor: Jameese Joseph should be given the keys to the attack in anticipation for the return of Mal Swanson. 

13. Houston Dash

2025: 10th place. Missed playoffs.

Another year of Avery Patterson, another year of Fabrice Gautrat’s system, another year of Maggie Graham, and another year of promising young signings in Kate Faasse, Linda Ullmark, Kat Rader, and Leah Klenke. I think there are reasons to be optimistic for the Dash and for what they appear to be building in Houston but it’s still a youth project at its core. 

The Dash had the worst expected goal differential in the league last season, and while I expect that to be better, it will require everyone to take a step forward, and we just don’t know enough about the 2026 Houston Dash yet.

X-Factor: Avery Patterson was one of the standout rookies last season, if one of Ullmark/Faasse/Rader can have a similar impact than Houston could repeat last season’s overperformance.

14. Utah Royals

2025: 12th place. Missed playoffs.

I am just not buying what Utah is selling. They have not done nearly enough to make up for one of the league’s worst expected goal differential, and as much as Naruma Miura is a good NWSL player, much more had to be done this offseason.

X-Factor: Jamaican international Kameron Simmonds can make a difference, and will have the minutes she needs to develop. 

15. Boston Legacy

I wanted to give the expansion sides a clean slate as we get to know what each will bring to the table. Legacy start life in the NWSL by hosting Gotham at Gilette Stadium. The Legacy will have first crack at Gillette’s new grass surface as they suit up for the first time under former Benfica manager Filipa Patão. 

A Keeper core of Casey Murphy and Laurel Ivory will be formidable, but there are some clear holes and unpredictability with this lineup that mostly honed their craft outside of the NWSL. Still, there are quite a few familiar faces, notably Bianca St. Georges, Nichelle Prince, Barbara Olivieri, and Chloe Ricketts. 

The Legacy are built to surprise some teams this season but with the odd home stadium situation and players that will need to adjust to the league, it might take time.

X-Factor: Amanda Gutierrez

This is such a can’t miss player. Gutierrez has great technique, has strength on the ball and in the air, and has excelled in international play since returning to Brazil in 2023. Past Palmieras strikers like KC’s Bia Zanaretto could give some of a preview, but Gutierrez is younger, faster, and had better goal scoring numbers than Bia during her time at Palmeiras. Of course, the service won’t be the same in Boston compared to Bia’s time in KC, but the parallels stick out for a player that should be in the Golden Boot conversation this season. For an expansion side, that will be important. 

16. Denver Summit

Much like Boston, I don’t quite know what to make of Denver. They were slower in their roster build, but over time, I though they put together a backline that will be NWSL ready on night one. Janine Sonis, Ayo Oke, Kaleigh Kurtz, and Eva Gaetino should be a solid base for former NYCFC and Man City women manager Nick Cushing. 

Ally Brazier, Carson Pickett, there are good players here but it will struggle to find goals until Lyndsey Heaps arrives in the summer. Denver just have to establish their identity and bring some momentum into the back half of the season. There are enough highly touted young pieces here to think they can make a run up the table in year two with enough supporting moves. 

X-Factor: Jasmine Aikey is versatile. She can play anywhere on the pitch, and has been dangerous on set pieces and as the late arriving runner. She left U23 camp with an injury, hopefully that isn’t long term, but if Aikey has the keys ahead of Heaps’s arrival, it could become a very interesting back half of the season.