NWSL Power Rankings: Will Barbra Banda’s injury sink Orlando Pride’s playoff hopes?

Time ends in the regular season 2025 NWSL. Week 17 was another example of how narrow the margins are between teams while the play -off Push warms up. Top table teams that drop points to lower-placed teams will be a trend, and a lot of attention will be second Washington Spirit While they take 13th place Chicago Stars FC on Saturday (4 p.m. on Paramount+ and CBS). Both parties are unbeaten in four consecutive games, but where did they land in this week’s ranking?

While the time runs out to stimulate the hope of play -offs, there is still plenty of opportunity for teams to bend their muscle in my ranking. Kansas City still rules the rankings and these rankings, but every club can climb or tumble.

The fact that Chicago is in the rankings in the rankings does not mean that they are sewerage residents in my ranking. Whether the top three of San Diego is in the competition does not fully reflect their recent form, but don’t worry, it is on this list. If your Team Power Trends keeps track of, view my previous power rankings.

So, which teams will rise and who will fall? Week 18 will be here soon, so don’t miss an action. Fans can view Selected NWSL regular season races CBS” CBS Sports Network” Paramount+and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

2025 NWSL Power Rankings

This is how the competition steps as week 18 approaches:

1. Kansas City Current (-)

At the moment we no longer have superlatives about this team. Several things can be true, such as the stream of Kansas City with a sharp defense and deadly attack. It is not surprising if you have centerback Kayla Sharples from the back and forward A collision At the top.

2. Washington Spirit (-)

Played spoiler as the visiting side For a record audience of 40,091 And have emerged as the nearest rival of Kansas City for all league titles. They will have to tighten things on the defensive side if they want to be the most powerful team in NWSL, and they have the pieces to do with the Nigerian international midfielder Deborah Abiodun back from a loan with Dallas Trinity.

3. Orlando Proud (-)

Of Barbra Banda The rest of the season this is perhaps the last time I have Orlando in the top three of my power rankings. Banda led the team and the competition in total shots (71) and was the most important scorer on the Roster with eight goals. Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle is an exciting signature, but Banda’s shoes were not the one she had to fill.

4. Portland thorns (-)

De Doornen stood against the best team in the competition last weekend and were just as good and every other club; They lost. Perhaps a moral victory is that they did not play super bad and were threatening in the last third part, and it felt like a version that will eventually propel them higher in the ranking.

5. Seattle Reign (-)

This team does just enough not to stumble, and that is not exactly a compliment. Sofia Huerta, who finally breaks a long-term NWSL-Assist record, can be a sign of better things that are still coming, because they are better than most teams in the competition, but not more powerful than the clubs for them.

6. San Diego Wave (-2)

The Golf has difficulty generating a lot of momentum in the second half of the season after he was the biggest surprise team before the break in the middle season. One victory in five games, and there is no easy schedule for teams on this point in the season. If San Diego wants to be a powerful competition, they must go back to consistency.

7. Racing Louisville FC (-)

Racing quickly became the team that others hate, and they just got better. The club took a step in the deadline to bring some more offensive options with an exchange for Makenna Morris. She is a young player in her second year in the competition, but already has postseason and championship experience after a second place with Spirit in 2024.

8. Angel City FC (+1)

Angel City can almost touch the play -off line on the league table, and that is about as powerful as in my ranking. A big goal by emerging star Alyssa Thompson can shake things up against a competition, but the group also loses players during the transfer window. Hard to gauge that the club wants to go with with the rest of the season.

9. Gotham FC (-1)

Somehow Gotham succeeded in staying in the mix in the upper half of my ranking, but she finally emits a lack of creativity and target score. Esther Gonzalez Is still in the race for NWSL Golden Boot, and there have been many opportunities, but the finish is not there.

10. Houston Dash (+1)

Rankings are just a song for the Houston Dash. They quietly climb on the list of consistent versions from the break in the middle season. Solid defensive versions of Natalie Jacobs” Avery PattersonAnd Paige Nielsen have changed things for the dashboard, and if Yazmeen Ryan Keep scoring, they remain a threat.

11. Chicago Stars FC (+2)

Perhaps it is the bottom of the rankings that are nicer than the top during this part of the season, or maybe that is just a line of thinking for the nerds and Sickos that Wten for weekly chaos. There has been no better example of producing shameful late game finishes in the competition than Chicago, and their exciting comebacks bump them on the power ranking.

12. Utah Royals FC (+2)

It is almost as if the royals have discovered that their home field can be used to their advantage. It is no secret that visiting teams have had trouble scoring in height, but the defense of the royals has also made it difficult. If the group can be in victories, they remain a nasty side along the piece.

13. Bay FC (-2)

This group is astonishing all season. One week they look like they’ve picked it out, and the next week they can’t manage a game. A bit sad to see that the Nigerian international goal scorer Oshola Asisat was reduced to a bank player and the club that looks less powerful and more confusing.

14. North Carolina courage (-2)

You cannot admit three goals in 10 minutes and climb the ranking. You cannot admit Hattrick to a single player who has been immersed in the game. But North Carolina did that, and they fell to power.