NWSL Power Rankings: The Portland Thorns move up to No. 1

It’s Monday and 2026 NWSL The regular season is underway, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Who set a table to climb up? Who is in danger of free fall? Our writers have studied the action across Match 6 to come up with this week’s order for all 16 teams in the league. Dive into it.

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Previous Rankings: 2
Next Match: Racing at Louisville, May 8, 6:30 PM ET

The Portland Thorns’ hot start to the 2026 season continues to burn. Their 2-0 win over the Chicago Stars on Sunday wasn’t easy, but last year’s postseason semifinalists are now unbeaten in five games. 20-year-old Olivia Moultrie became the youngest player to appear in 100 NWSL matches and celebrated the occasion with a goal and an assist. Portland emerged from a tough stretch of games — three in eight days — with nine points, five goals scored and one conceded. Pretty good! They are the only team to beat fellow top three teams San Diego and Washington.

Previous Rankings: 3
Next Match: at Seattle Reign FC, May 10, 7:00 pm ET

The Washington Spirit clicked into gear: See all. On Saturday they picked up their fourth straight win with a 4-2 win over the Orlando Pride. The first brace in NWSL history was included in the win as Sofia Cantore scored a pair of goals in the first six minutes. Trinity Rodman also collected a goal — her third in as many games — and two assists. She joins NWSL icons Jess Fishlock and Megan Rapinoe as the only players with 30 goals and 20 assists for a single club.

Previous Rankings: 1
Next Match: at Angel City FC, May 9, 8:45 PM EST

San Diego has now lost two games on the bounce, as they failed to beat Portland on Wednesday and Bay FC on Sunday. The Bay’s intense press plugged the free-flowing attack east of San Diego, and the wave appeared disjointed and out of sync. They launched the 2026 campaign clicking on all cylinders, but the international break slowed them down. Head coach Jonas Ideval was issued a red card in the second half and will not be on the sidelines for the Southern California match against Angel City next Friday.

Previous Rankings: 6
Next Match: vs. Boston Legacy, May 9, 8:45 PM ET

It may have taken several weeks, but Gotham FC is here, with their third win in a row — this time a 1-0 win at home against Racing Louisville. Gotham have been known to be slow starters and have started their season with just one win in five. True to form, they grew over the season, largely thanks to newfound offensive connections. Rookie Jordin Dudley has a goal or assist in all three of Gotham FC’s recent wins.

Previous Rankings: 10
Next Match: vs. Houston Dash, May 6, 10:00 PM ET

The Utah Royals continue to be one of the most in-form teams in the league, with their 1-0 win at Angel City the first three-game winning streak in club history. Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn returned to the starting line-up for the first time this year, and guided the Royals to their third straight clean sheet since 2019. The Royals have found the net in every game this season and are tied for second-fewest goals allowed (behind Portland, Washington and Houston).

Previous Rankings: 8
Next Match: at Utah Royals, May 6, 10:00 PM ET

The Dash continued plugging away and drew 0-0 with the Seattle Reign. Houston’s backline (notably rookie Leah Klenke) has proven to be solid defensively. Through six games, the Dash have already kept three clean sheets; It was a massive improvement on their two totals last season. Meanwhile, the Dash’s offense has cooled off after a blistering hot start featuring goals in their first four games.

Previous Rankings: 7
Next Match: vs. Washington Spirit, May 10, 7:00 PM ET

The Reigns couldn’t find the edge in a scoreless draw with the Houston Dash on Friday night. It is now three consecutive scoreless games, their longest since October 2024. Seattle had great success in their temporary venue in Spokane, taking seven points out of a possible nine. They are yet to find a win since then, but have also avoided defeat in their last three matches. Optimistic, coach Laura Harvey shared that the April 26 injury to talisman Jess Fishlock may not be career-ending.

Previous Rankings: 12
Next Match: vs. Utah Royals FC, May 10, 4:00 PM ET

Bay FC headlines the middle of the pack teams after beating table-toppers San Diego FC 1-0 last week. Their tight and organized press effectively stifled San Diego’s attacks and after Rachel Kunananji gave her side an early lead with her first goal of the season, Bay FC defended resolutely to see the game out. Midfielder Claire Hutton was particularly influential in directing and maintaining control of matters.

Previous Rankings: 4
Next Match: vs. San Diego Wave, May 9, 8:45 PM EST

Angel City’s fast start to the 2026 season was put on hold, as they made it three straight with a home loss against the Utah Royals this weekend. Angel City has proven abysmal in front of goal recently, with last season’s Rookie of the Year candidate, Riley Tiernan, less of a goal threat on the wing. To make matters worse for Angel City, Maiara Niehaus earned the first straight red card in club history for violent conduct in first-half stoppage time.

Previous Rankings: 5
Next Match: vs. North Carolina Courage, May 8, 8:00 PM EST

Barbra Banda netted her second brace in two weeks and topped the Golden Boot race with seven goals in seven games. However, his offensive prowess was not enough to win over Orlando. Pride was undone by a sloppy defense in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Spirit. Five of the 11 goals they have scored this season have come in the last two games. Despite Banda’s excellent goalscoring rate, the lack of defensive stability is a concern for Seb Hinds.

Previous Rankings: 9
Next Match: Orlando Pride, May 8, 8:00 PM ET

The Courage are still searching for consistent form and are yet to claim back-to-back wins or draws. The Courage couldn’t capitalize on a sold-out home crowd and were second best in a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Current. Ashley Sanchez has been one of the NWSL’s most effective attackers this year, but failed to bring herself into the game, while rookie Lauryn Thompson provided bright moments in her second appearance off the bench — just not enough to swing the result in the Braves’ favor.

Previous Rankings: 13
Next Match: vs. Chicago Stars FC, May 10, 12:30 PM ET

Did Current finally get his mojo back this weekend? Alarm bells rang last week after a 4-0 loss at Washington, Current has already conceded 13 goals through six matches — matching his total in 2025. However, they bounced back on Saturday with a convincing 2-1 win over the North Carolina Courage Croix Bethune shined, tallying a goal and an assist.

Previous Rankings: 11
Next Match: at Houston Dash, May 9, 8:00 PM ET

There are some clear growing pains for the expansion side, as they failed to hold on to a lead for the second game in a row. Summit looked to have pulled ahead of fellow road newcomer Boston Legacy on Sunday, with forwards Yazmin Ryan and Tash Flint each scoring nice go-ahead goals for Denver, but Denver couldn’t get over the finish line. Summitt finally conceded two goals after the 89th minute, giving Boston its first win in franchise history.

Previous Rankings: 16
Next Match: at Gotham FC, May 9, 8:45 PM ET

Legacy has finally made good on the back of some improved – if still flawed – recent performances The expansion side secured its first franchise win courtesy of a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over the Denver Summit debutants, after showing promise in midweek against the Braves before settling for a draw. There was no surrender this time, though, as the Heirs rallied to score two unanswered late goals. They own the highest xG rate both this past weekend as well as midweek matches and have done well in the end.

Previous Rankings: 14
Next Match: vs. Portland Thorns, May 8, 6:30 PM ET

Things are going from bad to worse for Racing Louisville. Bev Yanez’s club lost to both Gotham FC and Washington Spirit on Sunday by 1-0 scorelines. They struggled to create chances and managed just one shot on target in both games. Racing Louisville was one of the surprises of the 2025 season, punching above their weight in the playoffs for the first time in club history. They no longer seem greater than the sum of their parts.

Previous Rankings: 15
Next Match: At Kansas City Current, May 10, 12:30 PM ET

The Chicago Stars put together several promising spells of possession at home to Portland, but the 2-0 loss represented their sixth loss in eight games, and they haven’t scored a single goal in their six losses. The Stars had a season-high 11 corners and had good momentum in the game, but had nothing to show for it as they created zero big chances. Good news from the week? Mallory Swanson is back with the squad in full training after parental leave.