It is Sunday, and one other spherical of NWSL motion is within the books, which implies it is time for ESPN’s Energy Rankings.
Who’s climbing the desk? Who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the motion from throughout Matchday 25 to give you this week’s order of all 14 groups within the league. Let’s dive in.
Earlier rating: 1
The Present fell 1-0 to the Houston Sprint on Saturday, however it’s star Temwa Chawinga which will go down because the way more impactful loss. After struggling a non-contact damage within the first half, the ahead was carried off the sphere. Whereas the severity of the damage is not identified, Kansas Metropolis head coach Vlatko Andonovski mentioned after the sport that Chawinga’s damage was within the “higher leg” reasonably than the knee. Even so, loads of people in Kansas Metropolis will likely be holding their breath.
Earlier rating: 2
It has been a no good, very unhealthy previous few days for the Washington Spirit. First, Trinity Rodman went down with a knee damage throughout a midweek Concacaf Champions Cup conflict with Monterrey. Then they misplaced to the Orlando Pleasure on Saturday. An unlucky deflection and a penalty concession turned a 2-1 lead at half-time right into a 3-2 loss at full-time for the Spirit. Nonetheless, the primary defeat in additional than 4 months will not sting practically as a lot because the uncertainty surrounding Rodman’s return to play.
Earlier rating: 4
If there was any doubt about Marta’s capability to take over a soccer recreation at age 39, that doubt must be put to relaxation after Orlando’s 3-2 win over the Washington Spirit on Saturday. The Brazil icon pressured an personal aim and scored the game-winning penalty to assist the Pleasure acquire all three factors in opposition to a Washington facet that hadn’t misplaced a recreation since June. Marta’s introduction on the break modified Orlando’s destiny. Is anybody shocked?
Earlier rating: 3
Few matchups this weekend had been simpler to foretell than NJ/NY Gotham vs. Racing Louisville, no less than in a tactical sense. Enjoying at residence and as one of many league’s extra possession-heavy outfits, Gotham held the lion’s share of the ball. Louisville, for its half, continued a theme of deeper, resolute defending. The outcome was a recreation the place the hosts hit practically twice as many passes because the guests, although the scoreline completed deadlocked at 2-2. The excellent news for Gotham, although, is that the draw clinched them a playoff spot.
1:12
NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville FC – Sport Highlights
Watch the Sport Highlights from NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville FC, 10/19/2025
Earlier rating: 5
Make that 4 objectives in three video games for Olivia Moultrie. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder bagged a brace in Portland’s 2-0 win over Angel Metropolis on Sunday, discovering the primary end by way of a long-range banger from open play and the second from the penalty spot. With the younger United States worldwide pulling the strings and sufficient defensive solidity to see out the outcome, the Portland Thorns nailed down playoff qualification this weekend.
Earlier rating: 7
For the primary time in membership historical past, the Wave bagged six objectives in a single recreation. They bested the Chicago Stars 6-1 at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, dominating play within the attacking third in a recreation that was as one-sided because the scoreline signifies. Whether or not in open play or on set items, San Diego discovered seems to be early and infrequently in Chicago’s hazard space. Because of their dazzling attacking show, the Wave are formally certain for the postseason.
1:16
San Diego Wave FC vs. Chicago Stars – Sport Highlights
Watch the Sport Highlights from San Diego Wave FC vs. Chicago Stars, 10/19/2025
Earlier rating: 6
Because of a 2-1 win over the Utah Royals on Friday evening, the Reign booked a spot within the postseason. Whereas Seattle did not create a bevy of possibilities, a primary profession NWSL aim for Ainsley McCammon simply earlier than half-time gave the hosts a lead and a penalty from Sofia Huerta reclaimed it within the second half to complete the scoring. The Reign have been one of many league’s leakier defensive groups in 2025, however a victory in opposition to Utah may function a confidence increase with only one extra match earlier than the playoffs.
Earlier rating: 9
As soon as once more, Manaka Matsukubo got here up massive for the Braveness, this time in a 4-1 win over Bay FC. The younger Japanese attacker’s praises aren’t sung close to sufficient: her hat trick, which may’ve been a four-goal recreation if not for a missed penalty, made the distinction on Friday simply as her attacking play has made the distinction for her squad in a lot of 2025. Matsukubo ranks second within the league in aim contributions this yr and was a terror up the center in opposition to Bay. She’s a bona fide star.
Earlier rating: 8
A win on the highway in opposition to Gotham would’ve seen Louisville formally qualify for the playoffs, however Sunday’s 2-2 draw will see Racing go all the way down to the wire looking for the postseason when it comes time for his or her common season finale subsequent month. Louisville sitting fairly late in opposition to NJ/NY, however an eighty fifth minute equalizer from Rose Lavelle turned a playoff social gathering right into a run-of-the-mill draw for Bev Yanez’s group.
Earlier rating: 11
The Houston Sprint did not impress in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Present on Saturday — they had been out-shot 20 to 6. Nonetheless, they managed to claw to a 1-0 victory because of a strike from Ryan Gareis simply minutes into her look off the bench. With the win, Houston did all the pieces of their energy to remain alive within the playoff race however outcomes elsewhere across the league did not go the Sprint’s means. Consequently, they will not make this yr’s postseason.
1:19
Houston Sprint vs. Kansas Metropolis Present – Sport Highlights
Watch the Sport Highlights from Houston Sprint vs. Kansas Metropolis Present, 10/19/2025
Earlier rating: 10
With their hopes of qualifying for the postseason dashed earlier than their matchup with the Portland Thorns even kicked off, it is exhausting guilty Angel Metropolis for wanting flat in a 2-0 loss on Sunday. Because of Racing Louisville’s draw earlier on Sunday, Angel Metropolis’s season successfully ended earlier than they touched the ball at BMO Stadium. Permitting a brace to Moultrie merely positioned the exclamation level on what has been a disappointing marketing campaign.
Earlier rating: 12
Utah’s three-game profitable streak seems like ages in the past, would not it? The identical may very well be mentioned of their eight-game unbeaten run within the common season, a run that got here to an finish in final weekend’s loss to San Diego. Following a 2-1 defeat in Seattle on Friday, the Royals have now kicked off a shedding streak. Already eradicated from playoff rivalry, they had been second-best in a sloppy affair in opposition to the Reign.
Earlier rating: 13
Bay FC seemed an terrible lot like a group with nothing to play for on Friday evening. With no hope of qualifying for the playoffs, the house facet put collectively one of many sloppiest performances of any group this season. They fell 4-1 to the North Carolina Braveness in a recreation which may have been much more lopsided if not for a missed North Carolina penalty. Between devastating turnovers in their very own half and a mistake-filled efficiency in aim from Jordan Silkowitz, Bay fell behind early and by no means discovered their means again.
Earlier rating: 14
With out hope of postseason qualification fueling their play, this time of yr for Chicago is about figuring out constructing blocks for the long run. Saturday’s brutal 6-1 loss on the highway in San Diego gave the Stars very, only a few constructive indicators for 2026 and past. Overrun in their very own third and largely toothless once they did dare to enterprise ahead into the Wave’s half, the earlier the reminiscence of this recreation fades for Chicago, the higher.