It's Monday, and there's another week of NWSL action in the book, which means it's time for ESPN's power rankings.
Who is climbing the table? Who is free in autumn? Our writers looked at the action in Game 7 to present orders from all 14 teams in the league this week. Let's dive.
Previous rankings: 1
Next game: Saturday, May 10, 7.30 pm NC Courage
Orlando scored his second defeat in three games after defeating Portland 1-0 on Saturday. While Pride does generate offensive opportunities, Thorns (which ended Orlando's 24-game winning streak last season) and set them apart with a tense defense and a four-shot performance from Mackenzie Arnold. They hope to recover another tough challenge on the road as they head to North Carolina next weekend.
Previous rankings: 2
Next game: Friday, May 9, 8 pm ET with Racing Louisville
Gotham beat Chicago 14-4 and 5-1 on target, but no star guardian Alyssa Naeher on Sunday. Naeher's five saves gave Chicago a 0-0 record in New Jersey, the first time Gotham has failed to score since March 28.
Previous rankings: 3
Next game: Sunday, May 11, 1:00 PM ET vs. Bay Football Club (ESPN+)
Kansas City failed for the second straight time in Seattle after collecting its first loss of the year. Key attackers were hurt by some, affecting their offensive threat: Temwa Chawinga, the team's record-breaking best winner, was listed as "suspicious" in the 61st minute in the report. And Michelle Cooper is still absent, and her calf is injured. They fired 13 shots but had only three shots, all of which were saved by ruler Claudia Dickey.
Previous rankings: 5
Next game: Saturday, May 10, 10 PM ET with Portland Thorns
San Diego's rookie defender Trinity Armstrong won the 95th minute game 2-1 against Bay FC on Sunday night. The 17-year-old centre-back has performed well in her first seven games for the Socal roster, a key member of the impressive rookie class.
Previous rankings: 7
Next game: Saturday, May 10, 10 PM ET, with the San Diego Wave
Portland once again hampered Orlando with a 1-0 victory at Providence Park on Saturday, eight months since the end of Orlando's record 24 unbeaten matches in 2024. Mexico International Reyna Reyes hit a strike at the top of the 16th minute free throw box to win, her second professional goal and her first of the season. Matildas goalkeeper Arnold made some key savings, including 4 sums, while Portland's hard defender helped keep the sheets clean.
Previous rankings: 6
Next game: Sunday, May 11, 8 pm ET with Houston Dash
Seattle became the second consecutive team to beat Kansas City this season. Goalkeeper Dicky (the highest goal against the league after XG XG) made three key saves to seal her second clean sheet of the season. Lynn Biyendolo provided a decisive goal in the 37th minute (her first game in Seattle) to win a 1-0 victory in Washington. Seattle's scoring line remains low (they scored seven goals in seven games but allowed only six goals on the other end), and is now unbeaten in the last three games.
Previous rankings: 4
Next game: Saturday, May 10, Chicago Star at 12.50 pm ET
Washington's mental injury list is the longest in the league. Lacking multiple key appetizers (and 2024 rookie Croix Bethune is still restoring a full fitness path), this spirit is working toward grumpy performances that don't speak for their full potential. British defender Esme Morgan scored underscoring at home against Angel City on Friday, but that wasn't enough to bring the spirits to a 4-3 loss. This spirit admitted seven goals (10 goals this season) in two defeats. They played the 14th Chicago star and the 13th Utah Royals in the next two games, providing a solid opportunity to turn things around.
Previous rankings: 9
Next game: Friday, May 9, 10.30 PM ET vs. Utah Royals
In a year unbeaten in four games, Angel City lost two defeats against Gotham and Orlando in Weeks 5 and 6. But after they scored a 4-3 victory on the road to Washington, D.C., they returned to the victory bar (they admitted a lot (no team allowed more goals in the top 8), but they could certainly score. NWSL's rookie Riley Tiernan was good again and led Angel City (and the NWSL rookie class) into goals as she put a backlash on the spirit, including a game stopping the game, improving her season-to-season overall by five goals in seven games.
Previous rankings: 10
Next game: Saturday, May 10, 7.30 pm ET
North Carolina trembled at the start of the season, but they are in the momentum. Last weekend, the formerly unbeaten Kansas City was dramatic, and currently, North Carolina won the second straight win on Saturday, beating the Utah Royals 2-0. Utah isn't the toughest test in the league, but after a year of wins in five games, it's another positive step for a solid team. Ashley Sanchez opened their account in Utah, and he scored goals on the matcher at the moment.
Previous rankings: 8
Next game: Sunday, May 11, 1:00 PM ET to Kansas City Current (ESPN+)
The Bay appears to be on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against San Diego (another goal from 21-year-old rookie Karlie Lema) until the 95th minute winner of Armstrong won the tide. They were eliminated, won, but the result was a little unfortunate. As they hope to gain momentum this season, they face some tough challenges: the next one in Kansas City, waiting for Angels City after that.
Previous rankings: 12
Next game: Friday, May 9, 8 pm ET, Gotham Football Club
Emma Sears and Kayla Fischer returned to the scoring film for the second straight week in Louisville's 2-1 win over Houston Dash. Five of Louisville's eight season goals have been in their last two games (Sears' total of 50%) as the club ended Week 7 with more offensive momentum.
Previous rankings: 11
Next game: Sunday, May 11, domination with Seattle at 8 pm ET
It seems Houston has obtained their under-attack memo. In their first six games, the dash earned the least total shots in the league (54). Their 12 hits against Louisville, accounting for 18% of the total this season. Avery Patterson admitted twice at home with a 2-1 defeat.
Previous rankings: 14
Next game: Friday, May 9, 10.30 PM ET vs Angel City FC
Mandy McGlynn lost five times on Saturday to 2-0 with the courage to beat North Carolina 2-0, marking one of her best performances this year, though that's not enough to get a little out of courage. Ally Sentnor, 21, continues to shine for the Royals in the second year of the league, although she may need more support as the royals are still looking for a second victory after seven games.
Previous rankings: 13
Next game: Saturday, May 10, 12.50 pm ET Washington Spirit
The Chicago star defeated New Jersey fourth-place Gotham a 0-0 few days after firing its head coach Lorne Donaldson. Naeher was huge in the draw, making five saves to keep a clean sheet with a team that scored 11 goals in the last four games before the weekend. So the American legend has won 50 clean sheets in the NWSL regular season, which is just the second goalkeeper in league history to reach this milestone.