NWSL power rankings: Week 6 forecasted with heavy Reign

Seattle take the top spot in the standings on points this week, but how have the power rankings changed based on this weekend’s performances? 

Week six action has finally wrapped up as the NWSL continues to impress in terms of action and upsets. The Thorns are finally toppled off the top of the standings by their rivals to the north as OL Reign snatch the top spot after their victory against Houston. Angel City got their first win at home as well, and the Courage forced Portland to accept a tie. Here are this week’s power rankings based on every team’s performance from this season so far.

Who is on top of our latest NWSL power rankings?

1. OL Reign

The Reign are looking more like themselves after every week that passes this season, as they held a decisive victory against the Houston Dash at home this week. The Reign shut out the Dash by the end of the game, with two goals in the second half by Latsko and Huitema. They earned their 100th regular season win, and goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce earned her twelfth career shutout, the most in club history. The Reign continue to raise the bar in terms of success as a pillar of NWSL history.

2. Washington Spirit

In an unexpected upset, the Washington Spirit took down the San Diego Wave in a 3-1 victory at Audi Field. The Spirit remain unbeaten in all their matches so far this season and look well on their way to a playoff spot. While they’ve still got a lot of youth in their squad, there’s no denying the brilliance of Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez, who both scored in the match on Saturday.

3. Portland Thorns

The Thorns are undeniable, and remain unbeaten, just barely though which is why they’ve slipped down the power rankings this week. Don’t be mistaken, the Thorns are still a force to be reckoned with, with a bench full of talent that is already in playoff form. They matched the Courage 3 for 3 in goals, with two of those coming from phenomenal midfielder Crystal Dunn who played her first full ninety minutes since her return from pregnancy. Their persistence served them well this match, and it’s likely it will continue to do so for the rest of the season.

4. NJ/NY Gotham FC

Lynn Williams is breaking records and pushing boundaries like she never left and her success is breathing life into Gotham. There’s a clear difference in this team from last season, not just in their results but also in their demeanor. They believe in themselves, and it shows. They already have the same amount of wins so far this season as they had the entirety of last season. Their next challenge will be earning consistent results and scoring more goals in the first half.

5. San Diego Wave

Taken down by the Washington Spirit this week, the Wave didn’t look in it during their road match. They appeared lost on the field, letting the Spirit run straight through their midfield and the Wave found themselves lacking the possession to successfully counterattack. Alex Morgan still found a way to score though, denying the Spirit a shutout. The Wave have the talent and the grace to get results and with a little more heart in it, they’ll be back to their usual winning selves.

6. North Carolina Courage

The Courage are rising in the ranks, with a game that kept Portland on their toes. Even though the final result was only a draw, pulling off three goals against the Portland defense is no easy feat and the Courage deserve credit for the fight they put up. They matched Portland’s pacing and found answers for every goal, with newcomer Victoria Pickett scoring her first goal for her new club, with many more likely to follow.

7. Angel City FC

The Angels finally found their first win at home this season with a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Current. Angel City took off the in first half, scoring all three of their goals before the first forty-five were over. Young talent Alyssa Thompson got on the scoreboard again, outpacing defenses all over the league during her time on the field. If Angel City can produce consistent halves, they have a great chance at making the playoffs.

8.  Kansas City Current

The Current are…in progress. They appear to be improving every week, having successes in the form of their impressive attacking line. Kizer, LaBonta, and Debinha were particularly impressive in their match against Angel City. Not to mention the young talents of Cooper and Spaanstra. But KC’s backline struggles to keep shots out and shut down a strong attacking line. If their defense can match their offense, KC will be in much better shape.

9. Orlando Pride

Messiah Bright strikes again! The rookie got her second goal of the season as she helped the Pride to victory over Racing Louisville. Orlando also got their first shutout of the season, a huge accomplishment for a side that has been struggling with defensive organization and getting positive results. The win comes at a perfect time for the Pride, who are looking for confidence as they head towards the rest of their season.

10. Houston Dash

Something in the Dash isn’t clicking right, and their results show it. The good thing about Houston is that the talent is there, they just need to work out how they work best together. Sam Laity has only good options, but he needs to figure out where they all fit together. They were shut out by the Reign this week, seeing few chances on the ball and struggling to break through the Reign’s defense. The Dash need to slow down the pace and make smarter runs so their epic frontline can start working together to produce goals.

11. Racing Louisville

Racing have shown that their talented squad can produce impressive results against very successful teams (tied the Reign 2-2, tied the Spirit 2-2). But their success comes intermittently as they struggle to hold onto a lead. Racing’s ability to adapt to each team they play is impressive, and on occasion, they shock crowds with their diverse playing styles. They’re also one of the fastest teams in the league, often outpacing opponents with exceptional runs, they just need to be a little more cohesive.

12. Chicago Red Stars

The Red Stars let themselves down this week, unable to keep up with the attacking pace of Gotham. They gave away the ball way too often in the midfield, giving Gotham too much space in the box. Once Chicago gets the ball out of their own half, they have to potential to be dangerous but for the moment they’re too all over the place. They’ve also suffered a lot of unfortunate front-office changes this season and while that’s not an all-encompassing excuse for results on the field, it bears keeping in mind as the Red Stars struggle to pull themselves together.

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