NWSL Power Rankings: Week 19
In a season with so many twists and turns, we are back with a new power rankings #1!
Week 19
Portland Thorns (+1) - The Thorns played dominant footy to beat OL Reign in the best rivalry in NWSL. In front of a sold out crowd and in Megan Rapinoe’s sendoff at Providence Park, there was little doubt who would win this game. Portland has swept Seattle in the regular season for the first time since the inaugural 2013 season and first home league win since 2018.
Bonus: Portland Thorns will have Becky Sauerbrunn for the final stretch.NJ/NY Gotham FC (+1) - World Cup Champion, Esther González, is indeed her. Her brace led Gotham to a huge 2-0 win over Washington Spirit. This team is going to make a late season run and noise in the playoffs.
San Diego Wave (-2) - After winning three straight games, they lost a headscratcher 1-2 at home to Kansas City Current. Their inconsistency this season stems from the inability to control the game in midfield. It’s going to be hard to win it all bypassing their midfield the rest of the way. Can Stoney and the San Diego Wave play on the front foot when needed?
OL Reign - Where are the goals going to come from? There is absolutely no consistency in front of goal. Losing 0-2 in the derby against Portland Thorns showed how much the finishing has let them down most of the season. This team is making it a lot harder on themselves. Luckily, two of their final three games are at home (against NCC & WS).
North Carolina Courage (-1) - A loss to Orlando puts their postseason aspirations in jeopardy. NCC has their final three games with OL Reign on the road, San Diego Wave at home, and Washington Spirit away. Can they hold on?
Angel City FC - Head coach Becki Tweed is still unbeaten in her 11 games as interim head coach (6 wins, 5 draws), but failing to secure three points against Chicago after being up a goal twice is tough to accept. Fortunately, they’ll play two of their final three games in front of their supporters.
Orlando Pride (+2) - Coach of the year candidate, Seb Hines, has Orlando Pride one point out of the sixth and final spot. Their 2-1 win over NCC could not have come at a better time. Will the Pride be able to get results on the road or is it on to 2024?
Racing Louisville (-1) - The NWSL Challenge Cup scheduling has caught up to this team. They will need to regroup and recharge for the final stretch of games. Losing at home to Houston Dash when you need points for your first ever playoff berth, just can’t happen. After a good run of play, will they have enough left in the tank to make one final push?
Washington Spirit (-1) - The Washington Spirit are now winless in their last seven matches. For a team with offensive firepower and elite talent, it has disappeared when they need it the most. Could Mark Parsons really be out of the NWSL playoffs?
Houston Dash - Interim head coach Sarah Lowdon once again stepped up and delivering another huge result with a 1-0 win over Racing Louisville. If she wants the head coaching job, it’ll be hers. Why have we not seen María Sánchez to Diana Ordóñez way more often this season?
Chicago Red Stars - The playoff spoilers are performing their role to absolute brilliance. They are unbeaten in their last three against NCC, WS, AC.
Kansas City Current - Too bad this is not the team everyone has got to see more often in 2-1 win over San Diego Wave on the road. The inconsistency in 2023 was a bit of a shocker. Could Vlatko Andonovski be up next and bring them back into 2024 as contenders?
*Key: Teams with (+ or -) moved up or down from last week’s rankings
Tier 1 - The Favorites: Portland, Gotham
Tier 2 - Dark Horses: San Diego, OL, North Carolina
Tier 3 - Playoff Chase: Angel City, Orlando, Louisville, Washington
Tier 4 - Nope: Houston, Chicago, Kansas City
Where will the Portland Thorns finish in the table? Place your predictions below!
Anyone also notice the general increase in social media put out by the Thorns? For years, it was generally the bare minimum...game day stuff of course, but then maybe one post a week between games. Lately, there's been a noted increase in content (which, finally!) Wondering if new folks have already started to be hired internally...
Players out on International duty
2 games Dunn 110 minutes and Coffey 0 minutes, done Sunday
Rocky 2 games about 165 minutes done Monday
Sinclair 2 games done yesterday played 30 minutes.
Kuikka finished yesterday 2 games 180 minutes
Sevecke 2 games finished yesterday. Made a second half injury time appearance in one game.
Hina 2 games 45 minutes in the 1st game. 2nd yet to play will kickoff 1 AM Thursday Portland local time.
It will be interesting to see which players get the start on Saturday and which will be on the bench.
Coffey and Sinc likely starts unless coach thinks Sinc is a liability against the Wave.
Hina unlikely to get any minutes.
Everyone else I don't know if they start or sub on but unless we are throwing Sevecke into the deep end that any of them will play the full 90, except maybe Dunn.