Sophia
Hollywood drama isn’t just for the silver screen; it’s unfolding on the pitch for Angel City FC. After a tumultuous start to the season, Head Coach Alexander Straus has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, guiding his squad to back-to-back victories and reigniting their playoff hopes. This resurgence comes amidst swirling rumors surrounding star player Alyssa Thompson, adding another layer of intrigue to an already captivating narrative.
Just weeks ago, Angel City found themselves languishing in 11th place, a far cry from their promising opening. Straus, who failed to secure a win in his first six matches, has now steered the Los Angeles club to consecutive triumphs, including a crucial 2-1 victory over Bay FC on Monday. This impressive run has propelled them to ninth in the standings, just one point shy of a playoff berth, shifting the gaze of their loyal fanbase from despair to renewed optimism.
The plot thickened with reports that Los Angeles native and team icon, Alyssa Thompson, is exploring a potential world-record transfer to Chelsea FC in the English Women’s Super League. Thompson’s conspicuous absence from the recent victory only amplified the sweetness and impressiveness of Angel City’s performance. The burning question remains: will Thompson remain in Hollywood long enough to see this promising turnaround blossom into a full-fledged playoff push? Here are your NWSL power rankings after Matchday 18:
NWSL Power Rankings: Matchday 19
14. Bay FC (4-8-6) [Previous: 12]
The bottom of the power rankings has finally seen a change, but it’s not good news for Bay FC. They are currently in a hard dip, suffering three consecutive defeats. While their 2-1 loss to Angel City was arguably one of their better performances, mounting personnel issues and a precarious coaching situation suggest a tough road ahead. The clock is ticking for the head coach.
13. Utah Royals (2-11-5) [Previous: 14]
It’s a small step, but a significant one for the Utah Royals, who have climbed out of the basement for the first time since April. The highlight of their week came from 16-year-old KK Ream, who became the youngest goalscorer in NWSL regular-season history, netting the winner in the 85th minute of a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Portland Thorns. This win snapped a 12-match winless streak, injecting much-needed life and positive energy into the squad.
16-year-old KK Ream scores her first-ever NWSL goal to double Utah’s lead! pic.twitter.com/tSG3RbWvyL
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 30, 2025
12. Chicago Stars (1-9-8) [Previous: 13]
Onwards and upwards for the Chicago Stars, who earn a slight jump in the rankings thanks to a truly bizarre streak of five consecutive draws. Their continued reliance on the exceptional Ludmila is evident, but with five goals in her last three games, she is in a rich vein of career form that undeniably deserves this boost.
11. North Carolina Courage (5-7-6) [Previous: 11]
The North Carolina Courage are facing clear directional issues, currently operating without a head coach. While a 2-0 away loss to the formidable KC Current is hardly surprising – most teams will struggle at CPKC Stadium this season – it highlights the stunted progress of the Courage. For now, it’s business as usual for a team in transition.
10. NJ/NY Gotham FC (6-6-6) [Previous: 10]
Gotham secured a massive, confidence-boosting win this past weekend, alleviating mounting concerns and pressure. Even with the Orlando Pride missing several key stars, securing three points on the road is a considerable feat. This victory undoubtedly arrests their recent slump, but the team will need to find more attacking creativity beyond Esther González, who has impressively tallied 12 goals on the year.
HAD TO BE HER. 👑 Esther González opens the scoring for @GothamFC! pic.twitter.com/zkRjTl3N55
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) August 30, 2025
9. Angel City (6-7-5) [Previous: 9]
Winning without your top star and the face of the team is an impressive feat. While questions about consistency and the final roster for the season remain, there are clear signs of improved organization and communication within the Angel City squad. Riley Tiernan, after ending a five-game goalless streak, is now up to eight goals, showcasing her crucial role in this resurgence.
8. Houston Dash (5-8-5) [Previous: 8]
The Houston Dash are currently on their longest unbeaten streak since 2023, now five games strong. Another come-from-behind performance, culminating in a 1-1 draw on the road against Racing Louisville, highlights their resilience. The Dash have secured a league-best 12 points from losing positions this season, with Evelina Duljan providing late-game heroics for her first goal in a Dash kit.
Mental strength 💪
Evelina Duljan shares her inspiration for her goal celebration against Louisville pic.twitter.com/ELrTu5aaWr
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) September 2, 2025
7. Seattle Reign (7-5-6) [Previous: 7]
While a 0-0 draw with the San Diego Wave might not seem remarkable on the surface, it was precisely the strong defensive performance the Seattle Reign desperately needed. The backline trio of Lauren Barnes, Phoebe McClernon, and Jordyn Bugg should feel significantly more confident after this outing. Head Coach Laura Harvey may now be less inclined to tinker with her defensive setup.
6. Portland Thorns (7-6-5) [Previous: 5]
After an impressive 10-game undefeated streak at Providence Park, the Portland Thorns have now suffered two consecutive home losses. This latest defeat, a 2-1 shocker against the Utah Royals, feels far more embarrassing than their 2-0 loss to the KC Current. The Royals exposed the Thorns with some surprisingly simple plays, and alarm bells may now be ringing loudly for Portland’s defense.
5. Orlando Pride (8-6-4) [Previous: 4]
How far will the Pride fall? The injury to star forward Barbra Banda is clearly hurting Orlando. Their latest defeat, a 2-0 loss to Gotham, starkly highlighted the current struggles of an attack desperately searching for new ideas. The arrivals of Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle and Elyse Bennett cannot come soon enough. Realistically, 18 points behind the Current, Orlando’s primary goal now is to identify their optimal starting XI for the playoffs in October.
4. Racing Louisville (7-6-5) [Previous: 5]
2025 Coach of the Year candidate Bev Yanez and Racing Louisville are surging up the rankings. A 1-1 tie with the Houston Dash is a minor speed bump, but a concerning trend is their tendency to drop points from winning positions after the 86th minute, having now lost eight such points. Racing is one of the most intense teams in the league, but they still need to convert more chances and secure consistent results. Goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer continues to be a real unsung hero for the squad.
Just a 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 why we love @jblooms14 🫶
Jordyn Bloomer’s top saves from Friday night are a 𝙈𝙐𝙎𝙏-𝙎𝙀𝙀 👀 pic.twitter.com/dGD1BIXvrZ
— Racing Louisville FC (@RacingLouFC) August 31, 2025
3. San Diego Wave (8-4-6) [Previous: 3]
Another middling week for the San Diego Wave. A 0-0 draw with the Seattle Reign did little to dispel the argument that the Wave is the NWSL’s flat-track bully. However, it was positive to see Trinity Armstrong back in the starting XI after a period of rotation. It’s hard to be overly negative about a solid road performance, even if it lacked fireworks.
2. Washington Spirit (9-4-5) [Previous: 2]
The Washington Spirit will be kicking themselves after throwing away a narrow 1-0 lead to draw 1-1 with the Chicago Stars. When fully healthy, there’s little doubt the Spirit are the second-best team in the NWSL, just behind the Current. The key question is whether they can maintain that health. On a positive note, new arrival Sofia Cantore continues to impress, gracefully adapting to the NWSL with another goal to her name.
1. Kansas City Current (15-2-1) [Previous: 1]
The Kansas City Current remain utterly untouchable. A routine 2-0 victory over the Courage did nothing to diminish the confidence or aptitude of the likely soon-to-be NWSL Shield trophy winners. Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski also made some final lineup tweaks, starting Ally Sentnor and Debinha together. The defensive unit, led by Lorena, appears unbeatable, having secured five consecutive clean sheets. Kansas City has now tied the record for the fastest NWSL team to clinch a playoff spot, a testament to their dominant season.
CHEERS TO ROCKET RODRIGUEZ’S FIRST OF THE YEAR 🚀
PSA: @izzyrodriguezzz’s long-range shot is lethal 🔥
Moment of the Match | @Palmer_Square pic.twitter.com/ounhSIE0Iz
— KC Current – x (@thekccurrent) August 31, 2025
For more insights and analysis on the National Women’s Soccer League, visit NWSL Official Website.
