The 2024 NWSL regular season is coming to an end and there is still time for clubs to build their playoff hopes. Only four teams have secured their place in the NWSL postseason – Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, Kansas City Current, and NJ/NY Gotham FC. The NWSL Shield is still up for grabs, and no team in the league has been eliminated from postseason contention. Only the best of margins separate some teams in the hunt, while the top four continue to separate themselves.
Make sure you don’t miss any of the games as fans can watch select NWSL regular season matches trans CBS, CBS Sports Network, Most important+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network.
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How did clubs do in our NWSL Power Rankings? Let’s take a look at where teams stand after week 22:
2024 NWSL Power Rankings
| Rank | team | to change | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
1. | Orlando Pride | — | This team has put together something beyond special this season. They handle business whether it’s against other contenders or lower half teams. There aren’t enough superlatives to go around for them, especially in a week where Carson Pickett, Marta and Angelina delivered. |
2. | NJ/NY Gotham FC | — | Tierna Davidson and Emily Sonnett put in contained defensive performances as the centre-back duo. Gotham has conceded just one goal in their last three games as the coaching staff continues to turn things around offensively. |
3. | Washington Spirit | +1 | The squad dealt with a road game with a massive injury report that kept Trinity Rodman and Casey Krueger against a team during the playoff hunt. But the Spirit was not afraid with Ashely Hatch there to right the ship. Spirit rookies remain impressive this year as Makenna Morris grabbed the game-winner to keep the team in contention for the NWSL Shield. |
4. | Kansas City Stream | -1 | Temwa Chawinga scored her 17th goal this season and is on course to match, or break, the single season scoring record (18) with four games left to do so. They conceded after a lack of awareness on the pitch involving the referee but leveled things up in reply. They rebuilt their defense midseason, providing another layer for the group down the stretch. |
5. | North Carolina Courage | — | The Courage got another definitive win on the road, but at what cost? Brianna Pinto has been a crucial component in the attack as Carolin returns to regular minutes, but Pinto left the pitch this week in tears after a leg injury. However, Denise O’Sullivan keeps the midfield regulated with Narumi Miura, and Ashley Sanchez continues his underrated MVP season. |
6. | Chicago Red Stars | +1 | Mallory Swanson hasn’t scored for the team since before the Olympics, and it will be difficult for her to do so when she doesn’t get the ball. However, Brazil international Ludmila continues to find form with Chicago with goals in two consecutive matches now. |
7. | Racing Louisville FC | -1 | Last week we said that Louisville could compete for the streakiest team in the league and this week they confirmed that they are. They’re safely in the playoff picture for now, but a loss to a near-last-place team in the league with title contenders on the schedule is a missed opportunity. |
8. | Portland Thorns FC | — | Major concerns remain for Portland as their regular season slide continues. Forward Sophia Smith is managing an ankle injury and there appear to be no new ideas in sight. They haven’t won a regular season game since July and are winless in six games with five losses. If it looks bad, and feels bad, it’s bad. |
9. | Bay FC | +1 | A team on the playoff bubble that does exactly what it needs to do to other teams in the hunt has beaten them. The Bay Area side have yet to be more clinical in front of goal as they face title contenders over the coming weeks. |
10. | San Diego Wave FC | +1 | The Southern California side may have bought themselves some time in the playoff race with a win this week. They will have 16-year-old Melanie Barcenas to thank for the motivational boost and her clinical goal. |
11. | Angel City FC | -2 | The group is still mathematically in contention to reach the playoff line, but their recent performance against the Spirit seemed to, well, break theirs. The “second-half team” mentality seems to be diminishing with time winding down in the season and teams ahead of them in the table. |
12. | Seattle Reign FC | — | The math isn’t entirely on Seattle’s side in either the playoff hunt or our power rankings. A three-game losing streak with time running out to make any meaningful impact. A frustratingly mediocre season for a team that is often in the mix. |
13. | Utah Royals FC | +1 | The Royals avoided play-off elimination this week with a gutsy performance against Racing at home. Ana Tejada has been a focal point of the momentum swing for the squad this year, and it was fitting that she scored the game-winner this week. |
14. | Houston Dash | -1 | Another week, another Houston loss but it’s also another week where Yuki Nagasato delivered a world class goal. It’s the little things sometimes. |
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