The 2025 NWSL regular season has officially passed the quarter mark, and the competition between clubs is intensifying. This is the perfect moment to assess the league and update the power rankings. While only four points separate the top teams in the standings, there are constant shifts among the contenders. San Diego Wave FC has completely turned things around, emerging as a serious threat for titles, playoff spots, and overall power. Despite significant injury challenges, the Washington Spirit and NJ/NY Gotham FC continue to pose a formidable challenge to opposing teams.
Eight weeks into the season means that some rosters have been more successful in executing their tactics and establishing their team identities, while others are simply managing game by game. A quick reminder to readers: wins don`t automatically guarantee a rise in these rankings, but if you follow the trends, this update builds upon the NWSL Week 7 rankings.
Now, it`s time for our rankings:
2025 NWSL Power Rankings
| Rank | Team | Change | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kansas City Current | +2 | Temwa Chawinga is back on the scoresheet, and no other player in the league is as threatening as Debinha through eight weeks. Add in standout performances from Claire Hutton and Bia Zaneratto, and Kansas City Current remains the most powerful team in the league. |
| 2. | Washington Spirit | +3 | Nothing excites more than supreme chaos, and the Spirit deliver it week after week. It seems like a different star emerges in each match, and this time it was Rosemonde Kouassi with a goal, assist, and a chaotic forced own goal. |
| 3. | Orlando Pride | -2 | It`s tough to repeat success, and the reigning champions are keeping their chances strong by maintaining suffocating, competitive chaos despite being less lethal in front of goal than last season. It gives them an aura of slightly less power, but they are still an elite team. |
| 4. | San Diego Wave FC | -2 | What if the Three Musketeers, but a better version? That`s San Diego this year with their France internationals performing in each match. In week eight, it was fullback Perle Morroni who helped set the tone and delivered with extensive ground covered and an assist on the scoresheet. |
| 5. | Gotham FC | -2 | They are holding on while they figure out the right roster balance amidst injuries. Managing a long season is half the battle, but there aren`t many answers in front of goal without consistent goals like those from Esther Gonzalez in two consecutive weeks. |
| 6. | Angel City FC | +2 | There`s not much more to say after the roster performed as they did in light of Savy King`s medical emergency. Veteran leadership from Christen Press and a young squad rallying through emotions secured a win. Don`t be surprised if they surge in power towards the halfway point. |
| 7. | Portland Thorns FC | -1 | Needed a stoppage time penalty to get anything from a player advantage on the road. This team might just draw their way to the halfway point of the season. |
| 8. | Seattle Reign FC | -1 | The coaching staff took a gamble and shifted tactics this week, but it unfortunately didn`t pay off. The three-player backline presented some ideas but couldn`t quite execute the somewhat stale plan. |
| 9. | North Carolina Courage | — | The Courage might finally be turning a corner now that a quarter of the season is behind them. Ashley Sanchez has been a massive help as she`s regained form, but Denise O`Sullivan`s efforts in the midfield, regardless of formation, have been superior. |
| 10. | Racing Louisville FC | — | Head coach Bev Yanez finally has the team hitting their stride, and now it`s about consistency. It will also depend on whether or not they can keep defeating playoff teams in front of them, but it`s one step at a time. |
| 11. | Houston Dash | +1 | Rookie Maggie Graham keeps scoring and leads the team with three goals this season, and goalkeeper Abby Smith kept Houston`s hopes alive with her efforts in net. Overall, it felt more smash and grab than completely dominating, but the Dash need all the help they can get right now. |
| 12. | Bay FC | -1 | It feels like week after week this team is showing how they are less of a threat across the league, and that`s painful to write with exciting talents like Rachael Kundenanji and Kiki Pickett on the roster. |
| 13. | Chicago Stars FC | — | The club fired coach Lorne Donaldson and has now entered a new mode. That vibe is still not getting wins but being a chaos demon instead. |
| 14. | Utah Royals FC | — | Utah is slowly getting players back into form, and for now, that only means there`s still time to avoid being last. |
