History in Denver, KC Current are a house in a hurricane | NWSL Power Rankings

Through three weeks of the 2026 NWSL season, last year’s Shield Winner and both Playoff finalists are outside of the final playoff spot with just 7 goals scored between them.

Some of that is luck: the Spirit sit 3rd in the expected points table, underperforming their expected goals tally by roughly 4 goals through 4 matches. 

Some of that is design: Gotham’s low event pragmatism has meant their opponents are searching for scoring moments as much as they are – even if that’s come with a major misstep vs expansion side Denver. 

Some of that is actually disastrous: Kansas City Current are attempting to play the same brand of soccer that’s made them one of the league’s most exciting watches over the past two seasons, but have seemingly forgotten (read mismanaged) how to win balls high or progress balls forward.

So, the league sits at a fun moment. Angel City are top of the table with a game in hand, while San Diego, Seattle, and Portland all have 9 points through 4 matches.

Meanwhile, the expansion Summit look like a real NWSL team and outplayed the Spirit in front of 63,004 fans in their home opener. Now, those fans were treated to a goalless draw, but they were also treated to a look at a squad that seems ahead of schedule despite its obvious flaws.

Alright, let’s dive into the weeds.

1. Angel City (Last Ranking 1)

ACFC looked out of sorts early, making the top spot in these rankings seem like a poisoned chalice. The Dash’s press pinned them back, and instead of attempting to play over the top or send their speedy fullbacks into space, the backline struggled to find a rhythm. They rushed their buildup, playing into Houston’s game plan, and managed just 8 touches in the box. ACFC entered the half with just 2 shot attempts worth 0.06 expected goals.

That criticism was echoed by Alexander Straus at halftime, and his squad came out the other side, looked to play long, and immediately exploited the space behind Avery Patterson and Leah Klanke, pushing high in the press. 

Svendis Jónsdóttir’s golazo leveled the match in the 47th minute, and by the 49th minute, ACFC had taken the lead behind Riley Tiernan’s first of the season. 

At that point, ACFC could concede possession and force the Dash to build possession out of deeper positions. What followed was just one attempt on target from an attack that generated 1.35 expected goals through the first half. 

Jónsdóttir will receive the praise for ACFC’s start as 3 goals in 4 matches sees her in a 4-way tie for the Golden Boot, but the FB play was paramount to this result. Gisele Thompson continues to be a bright spot through the first 3 matches, only trailing Jónsdóttir in g+ among ACFC players. 

The adjustment to bypass Houston’s front phalanx was massively successful, and it helps when the attack is led by a player like Jónsdóttir who can bring down a ball played long into space and hold up play for Kennedy Fuller and Gisele Thompson to overload, the go ahead is a key example of how ACFC found flexibility after initially trying to build through short goal kicks. 

It wasn’t a complete performance, but good teams find ways to adjust a grab 3 points. ACFC had a great winter, but if they can follow that up by finding an elite 6 in the summer, then this should be a team that can compete come fall. 

2. San Diego Wave (Last Ranking 3)

The Wave unveiled Cat Macario to the San Diego faithful ahead of a dominant 2-0 win over the Chicago Stars. San Diego now sit 2nd in the table, actually underperforming their expected stats thanks to the opening night loss to Jane Campbell (I promise I’ll stop bringing that up). 

So, how have they done it?

An aggressive front 4 in the attack, supported by Kenza Dali and Kimmie Ascencio in the double pivot, has created over 9 expected goals through 4 matches. Defensively, an aggressive midblock has baited opponents into attempting to play through their midfield numbers, and the numerical superiority allows defenders to play aggressively to win the ball and regain possession. 

The Wave want the ball, and they want to use it to disorganize and disorient their opponents. The 4-2-3-1 almost turns into a 3-1-4-2 at times when Mimi Van Zanten pushes level with Dali, Frazer, and Godfrey. They stay patient, building through the backline until they can find a moment to move forward with speed, usually when Dali sees the space opening up. Then, when they lose the ball, the counterpress has been relentless. 

It also helps when young players like Melanie Barcenas are breaking out.

3. Portland Thorns (Last Ranking 5)

The Thorns bounced back from Wednesday’s loss with a dominant 2-0 win over the Kansas City Current. Sophia Smith returned to the starting lineup and, even with Reyna Reyes serving her supplemental suspension, Portland pinned back KC’s Full Backs. 

Defensively, this was more like what the Thorns were able to do against Washington and Seattle, while Moultrie and Turner continue to find the back of the net. 

Most importantly, the Thorns had to grind out this result despite looking like the better squad for most of the day. 

The Thorns had to play with the ball and didn’t have as many counterattacking moments as they would like, but still found the better of the chances while grinding KC’s attack to a halt. 

Olivia Moultrie’s deciding penalty made her the youngest player to reach 20 goals in NWSL history. 

The Thorns head to Cary this weekend, where a win will go a long way towards solidifying their “one piece away from becoming a contender” status. 

4. Gotham FC (Last Ranking 2)

Juan Carlos Amorós hates soccer, and he wants everyone else to experience his misery. 

At least that’s my impression from watching the last two weeks of Gotham FC. The bats have failed to race out of the blocks this season despite the wealth of talent at their disposal. It’s now 3 straight matches without a goal, and outside of a gift from Casey Murphy on opening day, they’ve failed to create dangerous opportunities going forward. Now, barring a howler vs the Summit, they’ve also kept their opponents off the board. 3 clean sheets in 4 matches as well, but if the goal is low event soccer then there needs to be more cohesion in the final 3rd… or at least more of a willingness to take on risk. 

Gotham will be fine; this will work itself out, especially when the talent is shining along the backside of the formation, but it’s going to take some tweaks going forward. 

Against Orlando, Gotham created just 0.63 expected goals, the 3rd time in 4 matches they’ve failed to create over an expected goal, and only created 1.16 against Denver after conceding for the first time this season. 

Maybe more concerning is that the bats have failed to create from set pieces. This brand of anti-soccer isn’t so dreadful when the perpetrators are using dead balls as opportunities to create with less risk. So it’s a bad sign that Gotham won 11 corners and still created just one shot from dead ball opportunities — worth 0.03 xG.

Just 0.05 expected goals on target while only allowing 0.36 against. This was a slog. 

5. Washington Spirit (Last Ranking 4)

The first trip to altitude did not go well for the Spirit, who have yet to win a match this season. 3 points from 4 matches might seem like the Spirit should be falling down the rankings like the Price Is Right cliffhanger, but the results have betrayed the performances… until this trip to Denver.

The Spirit will welcome the scoreless draw after Denver led the way with 3 big chances, while Adrían González’s side failed to register a shot on target from inside the box. 

If Denver are more clinical than the Spirit are walking away wounded after conceding 4 shot attempts from the 6 yard box – 3 from dead balls.

The Spirit even had opportunities late in the match but a mixture of fatigue and young players like Claudia Martínez rushing their potential scoring chances over the last 10 minutes of the match added to the frustration. 

This group will be fine. Defensively, this team is right, especially when they aren’t conceding from poor chances, but the attacking group needs to find form before the dropped points start to add up. 

Matching up with Bay this Sunday will be illuminating as Bay will concede space for the Spirit to grab on the counter, but another slip up and it will be time to have a more serious conversation. It’s all in how they manage the frustration. They need more out of Santos and Cantore (or whoever lines up at the 9 and 10) this time around. 

6. Orlando Pride (Last Ranking 7)

The Pride grab a point from their trip to New Jersey, ending this road trip with 4 points after slipping up at home to start the season. The Pride will grow into the season, they’ve outshot and outcreated their opponents in all 4 matches, and even out Gothamed Gotham in this one. 

The Pride have more willingness to take on risk than Gotham, or at least have more of a dynamic attack through Barbra Banda’s ability to create out of nothing. 

A scoreless draw to round out the week, but a result they’ll be happy to share after squashing the Stars midweek. 

7. Spokane Reign (Last Ranking 9)

The Reign are unbeaten in Spokane through two matches. I suspect that is more due to a rotated — and in terrible form — Kansas City Current and a rough start for Louisville but if they can knock off Denver this weekend, then that’s a trend, baby! 

Outside of the disaster in Portland, Seattle have found ways to win games, found ways to grab clutch performances from Sophia Huerta and Nérilla Mondésir, and — most importantly — found saves. Claudia Dickey is 3rd in goals saved, already preventing 2 goals against.

There are reasons to be concerned with a group that’s 10th in xG allowed and 8th in xG created. They’ve only led in expected goals once despite having a 2 player advantage in their loss in Portland but the bottom hasn’t dropped out just yet. In fact, they’ve been rewarded as they sit in 3rd place after 4 matches.

8. Bay FC (Last Ranking 12)

Bay are another side that has overperformed their underlying numbers through 3 matches following a win on opening day vs Denver and last week’s 1-3 showing vs North Carolina. 

However underlying numbers can be outplayed when a team has created dangerous chances and their 18 year old winger made plays like this:

Chat, is it good that the teenager you traded for peanuts has one less goal than your entire team?

Pfeiffer’s 4 goals and assists sit tied for 3rd in the entire league behind Dudinha and Jónsdóttir. That’s probably not sustainable, but as long as teams give her the space in out on the wing, in transition or otherwise, she’s going to have her chances. It seemed like the absence of Kundananji would allow defenses to freeze her out of the match, but Dorian Bailey proved that Bay can find production down either wing. The link up play with Cristiana Girelli has been real nice too, 2 assists in 2 matches for the former Juventus star.

9. Houston Dash (Last Ranking 13)

Houston made their intention known from the first kick in Los Angeles when Malia Berkely kicked off by launching the ball into the far corner. The Dash pushed up and immediately picked off Angel City’s throw-in, putting the home side on the back foot. 

It was heavy metal soccer. The Dash won almost every second ball, and made ACFC pay when Avery Patterson and Kat Radar built the attack down the right flank. 

The Dash kept the home side without a shot through the first 45 minutes, shocking ACFC into halftime. 

Unfortunately, Fabrice Gautrat’s side weren’t perfect, and ACFC were able to find the vulnerabilities in the press. Houston quickly conceded twice on the other side of halftime, and lost their advantage with ACFC able to force Houston to possess the ball. 55% possession was their highest possession stat through 6 halves, and while the Dash created some dangerous moments, the visitors weren’t able to create opportunities close to goal. 

When Houston were able to trigger the counterpress, the Dash once again looked dangerous, but the opportunities were fewer and farther between.

The Dash host a struggling Racing Louisville next weekend. A good litmus test to prove they are more the team that beat the brakes off of Boston and less the team that lost concentration in Los Angeles. 

10. Denver Summit (Last Ranking 11)

A big day for the Summit as 63,004 Denver faithful packed Mile High to watch the first year club shut out the Washington Spirit.  

Denver deserve praise for drawing the biggest crowd in domestic woso history – everything outside of Champions League and International competitions. That crowd, along with the altitude, went a long way towards helping the Summit grab another point that many (myself included) didn’t think they’d have a chance at before the season. 

It’s now three straight results vs last season’s final 4, including the win in New Jersey the week prior. 

This is truly a good stretch of results for Nick Cushing’s side. The squad is starting to gel and there is decent NWSL veteran presence that has resulted in the chemistry with Yazmeen Ryan attacking down the wing.

No goals to show for it this week, but they’ll come… especially if reports of Sam Kerr landing in Denver come to fruition. 

Oh, and this helps too:

Abby Smith has a -4.47 G-xG ratio through 4 matches. That’s 7.47 expected goals against on 23 shots faced, and Smith has allowed just 3 goals against while still being a positive on the ball.

It’s an all time heater, if Smith can even be close to this form all season, that’s worth a few spots in the table.

11. North Carolina Courage (Last Ranking 6)

North Carolina have been on the unlucky end of their last 2 results. Probably should have came away with the win vs Gotham, and paid for their lack of finishing against a ruthless attack against Bay.

I believe NCC will be better than this but it’s going to take Manaka’s return to full strength and much better work defending in transition.

Well and 0.24 expected goals on target from 13 shot attempts doesn’t help.

12. KC Current (Last Ranking 10). 

The defending NWSL Shield winners are a bad soccer team. Through 4 matches, the Current have earned just 3 points, and have been outscored 3-8 with back to back scoreless outings. 

So, what’s changed?

This conversation is pointless without acknowledging the different hand Chris Armas has been dealt compared to the past 2 seasons under Vlatko Andonovski. Claire Hutton is gone, replaced by the more attacking Croix Bethune, while Temwa Chawinga’s injury has kept the reigning MVP out of the lineup. Injuries to Rocky Rodriguez and Bailey Feist have left the midfield in flux, with Lo’eau LaBonta’s influence needed despite working her way back from injury. All of a sudden, Katie Scott – who couldn’t get onto the pitch during a short-term loan stint in Louisville last season – has been crucial to the double pivot. 

So, that’s less than ideal. However, the Current’s issues are more in the structure than the talent. 

Under Vlatko, the Current swarmed in their 4-2-4 against the ball, and often attacked with just Claire Hutton at the base of the midfield. It was aggressive and fluid, meaning all 4 attackers could eb and flow depending on the game state and what side of the pitch was the focus in any given match. Chris Armas was supposed to build on that system while adjusting for the change in personnel, but that largely hasn’t happened. 

This is a goal that does not happen in 2025.

In possession, the Current have attacked in a shell of a 4-2-3-1 with the wingers hugging the touchline in the buildup before cutting into the channels as play builds up. The problem comes as the spacing has been too expansive, while Bethune and Sentnor have shown similar ideas in the space they want to occupy, as Debinha carries the ball forward. 

It’s been a disjointed mess, bizarre when they should be building on a system that was far and above the next best team last season. 

Armas has appeared out of his depth so far, none of the adjustments he has attempted to make have made any difference, and it feels like the Current don’t have the luxury of waiting until Chawinga and even Vanessa DiBernado are healthy to see if he can find a winning formula. 

“We're trying to build this house in a hurricane in some ways,” Armas said post-match. “We're trying to build, and the games came fast and furious."

The problem is that the house was historically dominant during the 2025 regular season, and the hurricane was entirely a self-inflicted overreaction after an overtime loss to the eventual champions, where the MVP was unavailable. The Current absolutely lost a lot of talent over the offseason, but a largely first-choice XI was run off the pitch in Portland. 

It’s a rematch with Gotham this weekend, and if they continue to struggle, is there patience for Armas to work this out? 

He promised a reaction after the loss in Spokane, and the squad looked equally ineffective outside of Debinha and Michelle Cooper. Well, and Katie Scott, who had some nice moments in Portland, especially for an 18 year old thrown into some tough minutes. Luckily, Gotham have also struggled to get up to speed, but expect the visitors to grind this match to a halt when the Current return to CPKC for the first time since the 2-1 win over Utah. 

13. Racing Louisville (Last Ranking 8)

Another Racing Louisville match, another Racing Louisville loss, where they probably deserved to walk away with at least a share of the points.

Yeah… Jordyn Bloomer is gonna want this one back.

And that’s essentially the difference in Louisville to start 2026. 

Last season, only Claudia Dickey had a better G-xG number in the league. This season, only Alyssa Naeher has been worse. 

That’s not to say Racing don’t have other issues. The injuries to Quincy McMahon and Mirann Gacioch’s injury – compounded by Makenna Morris’s injury who played LB at times last season – meant that Courtney Peterson had to move out wide and Taylor Flint had to fall back into the CB role. The struggles might continue until their defenders are healthy.

Even then, the key component has been the lack of saves when they need them. 

In this league, that’s the difference between playoff squads and those on the outside looking in come November.

14. Utah Royals (Last Ranking 15)

A big win for the Utah Royals in Boston to make it 4 points out of 6 on this road trip. Unfortunately, it probably says more about the home team than it does the Royals at this point. 

Utah only created one shot on target, just 0.13 xG from open play, were a little lucky to not concede a PK in the first half, and GK Mia Justus completed a team high 28 passes. 

It wasn’t a great performance against a fledgling Boston Legacy…

That all being said, what a set piece routine:

15. Chicago Stars (Last Ranking 15)

A 0-3 loss midweek was followed up with a 2-0 loss in San Diego. 

The 2-0 scoreline is flattering. The Stars actually had some nice moments playing the ball as San Diego attempted to lure them into their pressing triggers through the first half. 

Unfortunately, that was the high point.

The Wave decided to stop playing with their food after halftime. 

The Stars completed two passes into the box and created just 0.05 xGOT from their lone shot on target. 

Sam Staab and Bea Franklin were mostly fine in this one, but if the Stars are going to be hopeless this season, it’s worth wondering why Elise Evans has only made the matchday squad 1 time through 4 matches. Evans is the reigning ACC Defender of the Year from Stanford, and seems like the better project in a long season vs converting Franklin to CB. It wouldn’t impact matches right now, but if the Stars have the intention of ever coming out of this rebuild, it would make more sense than converting Franklin, who was a bright spot in the midfield at times last season.

Maybe I’m missing something, but the Stars are still lightyears away. 

16. Boston Legacy (Last week 16)

The Legacy scored their first goal in club history in the 72nd minute when Amanda Gutierrez assisted Aissata Traoré. 

In fairness, Boston controlled this match, but the killer instinct is still missing despite a 71% field tilt. Legacy haven’t moved the ball quickly enough to create those openings, haven’t been organized enough in their press to win the ball high up the pitch, and – outside of Barbara Olivieri – haven’t won enough balls to make the system effective. Filipa Patão found the team’s best look late in this one when Gutierrez finally entered the match.

Was this finally the moment that Patão commits to her best look?

Conclusion:

Alright folks. That’s it from the Wednesday slate, with how this season is going, I’m excited for this to be irrelevant in a few hours when Houston runs over Angel City or something.

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