Which teams are separating themselves from the pack with just a month before the playoffs?
We are a month away from the NWSL playoffs kicking off and the contenders have started to separate themselves from the pretenders.
Seven of the top eight teams picked up results this week. Each team is pushing for a top four seed and a home playoff match.
Who has taken care of business and who continues to fall?
NWSL Power Rankings Matchweek 24
1. Gotham FC | 1-1 draw vs Angel City FC
Jaedyn Shaw keeps building on with her career season, reaching double-digit goals for the first time in her career.
Unfortunately for the Bats, they were unable to hold onto the lead against Angel City in a likely playoff preview. With a win they would have assuredly shut the door on the NWSL Shield, but instead allowed an equalizer in second half stoppage time.
Another potential concern to look at? Gotham FC have now allowed one or more goals in six straight matches and have not recorded a clean sheet since August 23.
2. San Diego Wave | 2-1 win at Orlando Pride
The San Diego Wave are now red-hot, peaking at the right time and on a four-match winning streak.
In the 2-1 road win over Orlando Pride, the visitors saw Lia Godfrey and Gia Corley step up with first-half goals.
This is the most dangerous team in the league in with the No. 2 attack and No. 1 defense.
The scary part? They can be even better. They lead the NWSL in big chances missed with 50 and fewest xG conceded by a whopping 5.8. If they start to capitalize even further in front of goal, the Wave might be the team to beat in the playoffs.
3. Washington Spirit | 3-2 win at Houston Dash
Clara Luvanga scored her first NWSL goal and it could not have come at a better time for Washington Spirit. In the 84th minute of a match tied at 2-2, she clinically finished for the game-winner. The forward also made history by becoming the first Tanzanian to score a goal in the league.
The visitors earned three much-needed points with more xG generated (2.25-1.19), shots (25-13), and touches in opposition box (43-20).
The only question that remains is where’s the consistency? They’ve alternated wins and losses over the last five.
4. Angel City FC | 1-1 draw at Gotham FC
Angel City FC have reached seven games unbeaten. Taylor Suarez was this week’s hero scoring the equalizer in second-half stoppage time.
On their incredible run, they’ve outscored the opposition 20-7 and have only allowed two goals in their last four.
ACFC will be a team that every team fears in the playoffs as they possess the third ranked defense and fourth ranked attack.
Could interim head coach Leif Smerud lead the club to just their second playoff berth?
5. Kansas City Current (+1) | 5-1 win vs Bay FC
Brazilian legend, Debinha scored a second-half hat trick as the home side rolled to a 5-1 win over Bay FC.
KC Current have now outscored their last two opponents 9-2.
They are peaking at the right time and lead the NWSL in xG generated at 58.7, xG differential at 21.8 and big chances created with 85.
Can they figure it out away from CPKC Stadium? Kansas City heads on the road to take on Utah Royals after the break.
6. Utah Royals (-1) | 1-1 draw at Racing Louisville
It took 97 minutes for Utah Royals to salvage a point at Racing Louisville with Brecken Mozingo scoring on long-range blast.
Although they are about to book their first ever trip to the postseason, URFC have struggled to find consistency down the stretch. They alternated wins and losses the past 11 games, and this draw was their first since May 30.
7. North Carolina Courage (+2) | 1-0 win at Seattle Reign
In the match with the biggest playoff implications of matchweek 24, it was newly acquired Gianna Paul who scored the game-winner.
After dropping three consecutive 1-2 results, North Carolina picked up the 1-0 road win at Seattle Reign and overtook them in the NWSL table.
The road doesn’t get much easier as NC Courage ends the season with San Diego, Portland, and Denver. Although they have scored the most goals in the NWSL, can a defense that has conceded the sixth most hold on these final three games?
8. Portland Thorns (-1) | 2-4 loss vs Boston Legacy
Did Sophia Wilson play her last game at Providence Park as a Thorn? The USWNT forward is set to be suspended for a minimum of one game for the early red card, but it’s likely bumped up to two games.
The home struggles continue as PTFC have only picked up two points against Washington Spirit, Chicago Stars, Houston Dash, and the latest 2-4 loss to Boston Legacy.
Head coach Robert Vilahamn and Portland Thorns had the easiest schedule after the international break and failed to capitalize.
Can they hold onto a playoff spot or could it get even worse for the Rose City?
9. Seattle Reign (-1) | 0-1 lost to NC Courage
In arguably their biggest match of the year, the attack fell flat once again, this time to NC Courage. The Seattle Reign have generated less than 1.0 xG in four consecutive games.
To make matters even worse, they have only generated the 12th most xG, and have the third fewest goals.
Will the attack wake up or take them out of the playoffs entirely?
10. Denver Summit | 3-0 win at Chicago Stars
The NWSL expansion side has been dominant with Lindsey Heaps back in the fold. She just had her best game for her hometown club, scoring a brace in a dominant 3-0 road win at Chicago Stars.
They are 5W-2L-3D with her on the pitch.
If the team has any chance of making the postseason, they’ll need to pick up maximum points and need some help from the teams above them.
The future is bright for the club and they’ll likely be one of the favorites in 2027.
11. Boston Legacy (+3) | 4-2 win at Portland Thorns
The Boston Legacy went up a player early in the game and made Portland Thorns pay with a 4-2 win.
Filipa Patão has found an incredible role for forward Amanda Gutierres who has now scored six of her nine goals off the bench.
Can the former Ballon d’Or Féminin nominee effectively play alongside Aïssata Traoré in 2027?
12. Orlando Pride (-1) | 1-2 loss vs San Diego Wave
In 2026, the club will be the next team eliminated from the playoffs, and they are nowhere near the top teams anymore.
With Barbra Banda back on a lucrative contract extension, Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Caitlin Carducci will need to retool and build the team around their superstar.
Is the Orlando Pride’s magic and aura from the 2024 is officially over? Yes.
13. Houston Dash (-1) | 2-3 loss vs Washington Spirit
Forward Miljana Ivanović scored her first two NWSL goals and it still wasn’t enough to even pick up a result against Washington Spirit.
Even with one of the best young cores in the NWSL, too many questions remain for Angela Hucles Mangano and Houston Dash.
Where do they go from here?
14. Bay FC (-1) | 1-5 loss at KC Current
Forward Karlie Lema scored the opening goal and then it turned into a nightmare as Bay FC surrendered five unanswered goals. All three of their most recent losses have come by two or more goals.
Chief Football Officer Paul Green will now look for reinforcements with a young team that is bottom four in both attack and defense.
15. Racing Louisville | 1-1 draw vs Utah Royals
For the first time since her medical emergency on Sept. 14, 2025, Savannah DeMelo returned to NWSL play as a substitute in stoppage time. She recently revealed that she collapsed because of undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia.
“It’s probably the greatest accomplishment I’ll ever have in my soccer career,” DeMelo said after the game.
Racing Louisville put in one of their best performances of the season, but could not hold against Utah Royals.
16. Chicago Stars | 0-3 loss vs Denver Summit
The Vlatko Andonovski era has officially started.
Leila Ouahabi joined Chicago Stars after four seasons with Manchester City and is now headed to Gotham FC.
This is just the start of the barrage of moves expected from the club’s new Chief Soccer Officer as they look to improve from the 16th attack and defense.