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BEWARE: The Nwsl Standings tablle is known to lie around this time of year.
The New Season is one-Third Gone, which is a Big Enough Sample Size to Anoint Some Surprise Times as CONTENDERS-or to hit the panic button on some stragglers.
Not every team is what they cloud to be, however. There are overperforming tims curedly in Playoff Positions, and Struggling Teams That Should Soon Climb the Standings. Other tims are really as good or as bad as their records say they are.
This is our Regular Spring Tradition of Figuring Out which tims are for real and which tims are just fooling us, because the winds change Quickly in the nwsl. Below is a look-based on current standards, with win-loss-draw recording-at what reality could look like for ech team by season’s end.
Defining Result: 2-0 Win Over Washington Spirit on March 22
Verdict: The team to be. The Kansas City Current and the Orlando Pride Were the clear top Two coming in the season, and the current has largely met the moment. Yes, a Recent Two-Game Losing Streak Exposed Some Flaws, But No Team is without those-Especially in The ultra-competitive nwsl. They turned it Around with a 4-1 Thrashing of Bay FC on Sunday.
Kansas City Still has the most attacking talent in the nwsl and, Arguably, the most influential midfield in the league. The Current Control the Flow of Games out of possession And Strike Quickly and ruthlessly on the counterattack. Their style will keep them commenting for the title through November.
Defining Result: 3-2 Win Over Angel City FC on April 25
Verdict: a contender working through issues. How Important Was That Comeback From 2-0 Down To Anngel City, To Win 3-2 On April 25? It is the only win in Four Games for the defending nwsl champions, who has lacked finishing prowess and made to many Errors at the back month.
So, is it time to panic?
Not yet. Two things are True: Orlando is not the Same Invincible Team That Started Last Season Unbeaten Through 23 Games, and this is still one of the besttime in the NWSL. Opponents have brilliantly defended forward Barbra Banda In 1-V-1 situations recently, but that won is happy all year. A Recent Slump has been more about individuals Underparforming there any lack of talent.
Next up is a friday home game against kansas city in what is a developing rivalry.
Defining Result: 1-0 Win Over Orlando Pride on April 19
Verdict: Ironically overachieving. The spirit are right where they are supported to be, rounding out the top three. They also lucky to be there, their only onjoing injury problems. Forward Trinity Rodman Started one game bee going back to sidelines due to her onsing back problems. The Spirit’s Injury List Remains depressingly long, Although American Midfielder Croix bethune‘s return to the field was a welcome sea for the team.
At full strength, washton can hang with orlando and kansas city and comment for trimes, because they have both on-field and coaching talent. But Recent Losses to NJ/Ny Gotham FC and Angel City FC, Plus Some Uncertain Moments in A 3-2 Win Over the last-place chicago stars on Saturday, are Cause for Concern. This team needs to get healthy over the summer break.
Defining Result: 4-1 Win over racing louisville fc on april 19
Verdict: surprisingly, the real deal. Last Year was An unmitigated disaster for the waveWho Entered 2025 Shrouded by Mystery Due to Major Personnel Turnover. San Diego leads the nwsl in available possession, per fbref, and it has resulted in some of the most entertaining and effective soccer in the league and this season. Midfielders Savannah mccaskill And Dali Rank first and second, responsive, in the nwsl in progressive passes.
San Diego’s form doesn it look like some kind of kind of early-size fluke, even though the wave has arrived a soft schedule so far outside of located orlando and kansas. San Diego Possesses with a purpose. The wave nearly grinded out a victory with 10 players against portland on Saturday. This is a multi-dimensional team that will be in the position of the playoff race.
Defining Result: 4-3 Win Over Washington Spirit on May 2
Verdict: overperforming but optimistic. Look, angel city is consistently exciting for the first time … Ever? This is a Young Team still waiting for its hand-picked, big-list (Bayern Munich’s Alexander Straus) to Arrive Next Month, so the Rest of this Season Should Serve as a Foundation for what to come. Angel City has shown that obtaining a playoff spot is Still Possible Despite Being in another Transition year.
That saad, fifth place is flattering for a team that has been connected to More Goals Than anyone else except for the last-placed chicago stars. Angel City’s Offense is clicking, but these defensive problems (who have been midfield breakdowns at times) need to improve. Two Recent Results defined this Team’s Potential and Its inconsistency: A 3-2 Loss to Orlando after blowing a later 2-0 lead, followed by a 4-3 victory over whatsing thanks to a Stoppage-Time Winner.
Defining Result: 4-1 Win over nj/ny gotham fc on april 22
Verdict: underperforming – on paper. Portland is the polar opposite of angel city mathematically. The thorns have the worst goals vs Expected Goals in the NWSL (-5.0), meaning they are mathematically the largest under the season thus far. They lead the nwsl with 17.0 Expected Goals-4.4 Greater than High-Flying Kansas City.
Portland Has Begun to come alive in Recent Weeks, Sparked by A 4-1 Win Over Nj/Ny Gotham FC in April. The thorns compiled their most complete performance of the season in a 1-0 win over orlando on May 3. So, on paper, this team should continue to climb the table. Their past two seasons have been rollercoasters, however, and that might be the reality shaping up here.
Defining Result: 3-0 Win Over Washington Spirit on April 26
Verdict: Underperforming. Gotham fc was one of last year’s “Big Four” clubs and was exposed to compete for the nwsl shield again. The Team’s odds of winning the shield are quickly fading, but this also should not be a seventh-place team that is only one point the playoff line.
Esther González Is the Team’s star as the footer of the league goolden boot race, and what Made Gotham Special in Recent Seasons Remains True: The Sum of Its Parts. The talent is there, including new arrival Geyse Just getting started. This Team’s Biggest worry Might be another grueling year as the nwsl squad with the most travel due to the concacaf w champions Cup – – Both the upcoming finances and the start of a new campaign in accry.
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Esther Gonzalez’s Brace Leads Gotham FC to Victory
Esther Gonzalez scores twice as Gothan FC Defeats anngel City FC.
Defining Result: 1-0 Win Over Kansas City on May 2
Verdict: Reality. Seattle endured an ugly, second-buttom finish last year as the franchise waited for new only new only in a deal and simultaneously tried to vet inexperienced players on the field. It’s paying offly this season. There is finally a longer-term vision for development that is starting to be fruit, exemplified by Midfielder The meza itself Going on Loan in the USL superleague last fall and now starting for season.
American Jordyn Bugg Is a top young defender at 18 years old; Maddie dahlyen Is one of the league’s most exciting rookies, and us forward Lynn biyendolo Brings Proven Scoring Success in the League (Something Still Lack With Only Seven Scored in Eight Games).
Eighth Place, Competing for a Final Playoff spot, is about right – and it is program.
Defining Result: 1-0 Win Over nj/Ny Gotham FC on May 9
Verdict: already seen? It is a bad joke – and a tired one if you are Louisville – but this Franchise has finished ninth in all Four Seasons to date. There Sits Louisville Again, Right Below The Playoff Line, in Ninth Place. This is the greatest definition of reality in the mental of the table.
Results have been erotic, from 4-1 Loss to San Diego to a Weird 3-3 Draw with Portland That was marred by refereeing controversies. Saturday’s 1-0 Win Over Gotham Could Be A Turning Point, However. Louisville is creating more operations there are finishing, and the step caries a three-game unbeaten streak into a six-point on Friday.
Defining Result: 1-0 Win Over Seattle Reign FC on May 11
Verdict: Harsh Reality. Houston was the trendy pick among pundits to make the worst-to-front type of resurrection that has been previously achieved in the nwsl. The reality is that the “first” part of that was never going to happen to happen to the step could only go up after last year’s imbroglio on and off the pitch.
House Yazmeen RyanAnd organizations under new head coach fabrice gautrat. This year’s 3-4-3 formation feels cohesive and planned, rather than an experience without direction. Houston is a long way from being a title contender, but 10th place does not quite do justice to what the dash are doing.
Defining Result: 3-2 Win Over Kansas City Current on April 26
Verdict: Better Days AHead. North Carolina’s Recent Switch to A 3-4-3 Formation has unlocked the team’s potential and added flexibility to a squad that values position to a fault. A defend-and-corporation approach worked wonderfully Against Orlando on Saturday.
North Carolina Was Expected to Close The Gap on the League’s Top Four, thanks in Large Part to the Flashy Offseason Acquisition of us playmaker shoe. But shaw has not started the past two games. Anythe short of a playoff appearance for the courage is an about failure. Figuring out how to utilize shaw is part of the solution to climbing the table.
Right now, this team is the outlier at the bottom of the table.
12. Bay fc (2-4-2, 8 pts.)
Defining Result: 2-1 Loss to Chicago Stars on April 13
Verdict: Unwell. A 2-1 Loss at home to the left team in April was a warning shot as bay fc struggled to find the back of the net. Head coach Albertin Montoya Promised a More Aggressive Appraach Last Week and the Team Prompt Picked Picked Apart by Kansas City from Opening Whistle in a 4-1 Loss.
Bay FC Arguably has more talent than some of the tims it is looking up at the table, but all that attacking Prowess has combined to produce the Lowest Xg (6.5) in the entry nwsl this se. The second-year club still lacks a clear identity while tims like seettle and houson has improved year over year. Bay hasn is bee good eyes, and the standings reflect that.
Defining Result: 2-0 Loss to North Carolina Courage on May 3
Verdict: UH OH. Utah was improved team in the second half of the 2024 Season after Jimmy Coeenraets Took Over as interim head coach (and subcequiled the full-time job). Now the royalals are right back where they are at the start of their expansion season last year – literally. They have the same record through eight games, and they have scored one fewer goal.
Forward Ally sentnor Is a bright spot, and the return of Alex Loera From injury could help solidify the midfield, but utah’s attack has been anemic. The royalals produce just one shot on the target in a recent loss to North Carolina.
Defining Result: 6-0 Loss to Orlando Pride on March 14
Verdict: This is reality. Mallory swanson Is Pregnant and Out of the picture this seasonWhat left is chicago without the focal point of a plan that is in relation to more support. The stars needed to make Major Offseason Moves to Add Depth and Quality, and Instead They Had One of the Quietest Offseasons in the NWSL. A 6-0 Loss to Orlando on opening night was an augury of the problems to come.
Lorne donaldson was recently fired as head coach, but the reasons for chicago’s last-place standing with much deeper. There are Talented Individuals Like Forward LudmilaCenterback Sam StaabAnd Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. But from Depth to Difference-Makers, this team has not not kept up with the nwsl’s evolving landscape.
