NWSL Power Rankings: KC stays unbeaten as Marta helps Pride soar

It’s Monday, one other week of NWSL motion is within the books, which suggests it is time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Our Power Rankings are derived from a mixture of key season statistics (factors per sport, purpose differential, anticipated purpose differential), current efficiency, the Opta pc rankings and the observations of our writers.

Who’s climbing the desk? Who’s in free fall? Our writers and trusty statistical fashions have ranked all 14 golf equipment within the league after Matchday 4. Let’s dive in.

– Stream on ESPN+: NWSL, FA Cup & extra (U.S.)

Previous rating: 1

Next match: April 20 vs. Bay FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

After selecting up three wins from their first three video games, the Current could not keep good on Sunday vs. Gotham — however some extent on the highway is some extent on the highway. In the assault, Bia Zaneratto and Temwa Chawinga proceed to look unplayable in transition. The two mixed for a purpose within the first half, with Chawinga capitalizing on her unbelievable velocity to interrupt behind. There is not a protection within the NWSL that may really feel assured about locking down Kansas City for a full 90 minutes.

play

Is Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga one of the best signing of the NWSL offseason?

Sebastian Salazar and Ali Krieger focus on how necessary Temwa Chawinga has been for Kansas City Current.

Previous rating: 2

Next match: April 21 at Angel City, 7:30 p.m. ET

When you are lacking an MVP within the assault, you are going to wrestle to create clear appears in open play at occasions, simply as the Courage did on Saturday of their win over Portland. But an early set piece purpose exhibits that North Carolina produce other methods to bother opposing defenses. Thanks to Tyler Lussi’s purpose within the fifth minute, the Courage managed the ball and the gamestate towards Portland.

Previous rating: 6

Next match: April 20 vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 1 p.m. ET

Am I nonetheless puzzled by the truth that Ashley Hatch is now a left winger for the Washington Spirit? Yes. Does that appear to be slowing them down? Nope. There’s an entire lot of dynamism within the Spirit’s 4-2-3-1 form, as the Houston Dash realized on Friday. Their press gave Houston hassle, as did the elite Trinity Rodman-Croix Bethune pairing. A bunch extra dominoes nonetheless have to fall for the Spirit, however early indicators are encouraging.

Previous rating: 3

Next match: April 19 at Orlando Pride, 8 p.m. ET

Keeping a clear sheet for the second sport in a row, San Diego defensive method appears each bit as tight as it was in 2023. Manager Casey Stoney remains to be looking for the perfect option to combine Savannah McCaskill into the group whereas maximizing Jaedyn Shaw’s expertise within the attacking midfield line. That’s a piece in progress, as we noticed towards Louisville.

Previous rating: 4

Next match: April 20 at Washington Spirit, 1 p.m. ET

To nobody’s shock, issues took a flip for the higher in a 1-1 draw with KC when Juan Carlos Amoros added Crystal Dunn, Jenna Nighswonger, and Lynn Williams into the equation within the second half. Managing round worldwide breaks might be a relentless wrestle for Gotham in 2024, however it’s changing into clear simply how harmful this group will be once they’re even near full power.

Previous rating: 5

Next match: April 21 vs. Chicago Red Stars, 6 p.m. ET

Despite their poor type and a heartbreaking loss towards Bay on Sunday, the underlying numbers just like the Reign excess of the desk. Seattle have a constructive anticipated purpose differential by 4 video games this 12 months and have been an Alex Loera banger away from incomes some extent on the highway.

Previous rating: 7

Next match: April 20 vs. Houston Dash, 10 p.m. ET

Speaking of groups the information has a factor for, the Portland Thorns are dead-last within the standings, however get upheld right here by a pleasant set of behind-the-scenes metrics. The assault remains to be such an asset that if the protection and goalkeeper can type itself out even just a little, Portland will soar up. The early indicators once they play towards the ball, although, are horrific.

Previous rating: 13

Next match: April 19 vs. San Diego Wave, 8 p.m. ET

Still undefeated, the Pride notched their first win towards a struggling Utah Royals group. Marta excelled as a super-sub, scoring her first of the season simply minutes after coming onto the sphere. With Barbra Banda now in Orlando, anticipate an much more harmful model of the Pride coming quickly.

The 2 hundredth purpose in membership historical past belongs to Marta

The @ORLPride take the lead! pic.twitter.com/u0A3TMj7Kn

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 13, 2024

Previous rating: 9

Next match: April 20 vs. Utah Royals, 5 p.m. ET

Four video games, 4 attracts for Racing Louisville in 2024. They proceed to default to extra of a transition-heavy type even after Bev Yanez was appointed to the managerial function, holding 44% of the ball in a 0-0 draw with San Diego. There’s midfield solidity on this group, little doubt about it. But can the assault discover its groove?

Previous rating: 10

Next match: April 20 at Kansas City Current, 7:30 p.m. ET

Sunday’s victory over the Seattle Reign was a step in the proper route for Bay FC — and never simply due to the consequence. The growth facet outshot Seattle 23 to eight and put themselves within the driver’s seat for the overwhelming majority of the match. The firepower is beginning to present, even whereas the defensive management lags.

Previous rating: 11

Next match: April 21 vs. North Carolina Courage, 7:30 p.m. ET

It wasn’t a sport to recollect, however Angel City notched their first win of 2024 by a 1-0 scoreline in Chicago. A stable efficiency within the first half, the place Becki Tweed’s group managed the ball and created the higher possibilities, gave them simply sufficient momentum to gather all three factors.

Previous rating: 8

Next match: April 21 at Seattle Reign FC, 6 p.m. ET

An personal purpose simply minutes earlier than halftime put the Red Stars in a everlasting gap towards the Angels. Playing with out Mallory Swanson as a result of a hip problem, we have been by no means going to get one of the best model of Chicago. Let’s hope the USWNT star comes again rapidly after a wonderful SheBelieves Cup.

Previous rating: 14

Next match: April 20 at Racing Louisville, 5 p.m. ET

It’s solely been 4 video games, so we have to take the underlying numbers with an entire spoonful of salt, however the Utah Royals have the worst anticipated purpose differential within the NWSL. They took only one shot from contained in the field of their loss to Orlando and wish to search out one other gear to keep away from hanging out in direction of the underside of those rankings all 12 months.

Previous rating: 12

Next match: April 20 at Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET

Maybe much more troubling than their 3-1 loss to Washington was the information reported by ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf that Maria Sanchez has requested a commerce. The Dash signed Sanchez to one of many richest offers in league historical past over the offseason, hoping to search out some stability. Things could not be going a lot worse for Houston.