NWSL Energy Rankings: KC Present undefeated, Bay FC drop

It is Monday, and one other week of NWSL motion is within the books, which suggests it is time for ESPN’s Energy Rankings.

Our rankings are derived from a mixture of key season statistics (factors per sport, objective differential, anticipated objective differential), current efficiency, the Opta pc scores and the observations of our writers.

Who’s climbing the desk? Who’s in free fall? Our writers and statistical fashions have ranked all 14 golf equipment within the league after matchday 9. Let’s dive in.

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Earlier rating: 1

Subsequent match: Saturday vs. Racing Louisville, 9:30 p.m. ET

The still-undefeated Kansas Metropolis Present took a nil-nil draw from Seattle Reign within the midweek (hammering out 19 pictures in a sport they managed, although Lauren Ivory’s six saves stymied them), earlier than overcoming North Carolina 1-0 at residence Sunday evening. With a depraved assault that ought to scare all opposition this 12 months, Brazil’s Debinha made her first begin since getting back from damage and clocked the difference-making objective to change into the twelfth goalscorer for the Present this season.

Earlier rating: 3

Subsequent match: Friday at Houston Sprint, 8 p.m. ET

Portland’s exceptional season turnaround continues to catch hearth because the Thorns beat regional rivals Seattle Reign 4-0 at residence Saturday evening. Portland’s type is a club-wide accomplishment, however Sophia Smith has been immense of their five-match successful run. After notching one objective and three assists in opposition to Seattle, Smith leads each the NWSL objectives and assists tallies with eight objectives and 6 assists this season. And throughout Portland’s five-game unbeaten streak, Smith has accrued a record-setting 11 objective contributions, probably the most objective contributions in a 5 sport span in NWSL historical past, per Opta.

So clean. @sophsssmith doubles the @ThornsFC lead from the spot within the eightieth minute! pic.twitter.com/fh2N16oxKz

— Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League (@NWSL) Might 12, 2024

Earlier rating: 2

Subsequent match: Sunday at Seattle Reign FC, 6 p.m. ET

Alongside Kansas Metropolis, the Pleasure are considered one of simply two groups nonetheless undefeated in 2024. Now sitting second within the standings, Kansas Metropolis reclaimed the highest spot solely on objective differential this weekend. With a midweek 1-0 victory over Racing Louisville, the Pleasure handed Louisville their first lack of the 12 months earlier than taking one other 1-0 victory from Bay FC Saturday night. They got here into the season humble however with a 3rd of the 12 months wrapped up and newly accrued Barbra Banda clocking her fourth objective in 5 video games (the best objectives per 90 in NWSL) within the midweek, I believe it is secure to say the Pleasure are the true deal this season.

Earlier rating: 4

Subsequent match: Saturday vs. Angel Metropolis FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Spirit recovered from a loss to ascendant Portland by handing Racing Louisville their second lack of the season. Friday’s 2-1 victory on the highway began robust because of rookie sensation Croix Bethune’s fourth objective of the 12 months, which she despatched to the again of the web with a cool strike within the fourth minute to capitalize on a nook, bringing her contribution tally to 4 objectives and 4 assists in 9 video games for her debut season.

Earlier rating: 5

Subsequent match: Friday vs. Utah Royals FC, 8 p.m. ET

North Carolina picked up a worrying third loss in a row in opposition to league-leaders Kansas Metropolis Present this Sunday. The streak is regarding, although falling 1-0 to Kansas Metropolis is not the tip of the world, particularly contemplating they held among the many league’s most formidable assaults to only one objective (although they’ve Casey Murphy’s seven saves to thank for this). Nonetheless, they’ve struggled to provide ample high quality possibilities of their current type, scoring just one objective of their previous three video games and unfurling simply seven pictures and two on the right track in opposition to the Present.

Earlier rating: 6

Subsequent match: Sunday vs. Chicago Pink Stars, 5 p.m. ET

Gotham picked up a 1-0 win over Houston Sprint within the midweek as Lynn Williams equalled Sam Kerr’s most objectives all time file in NWSL in her sixth match of the 12 months. Nonetheless recovering from early season accidents, Gotham then took a decent 1-1 draw on the highway in opposition to San Diego Wave Sunday night. As we head into matchday 10, the reigning champs have picked up respectable wins on slim margins whereas considerably underperforming their xG, nonetheless trying like they’ve rather a lot left to offer this season.

Earlier rating: 10

Subsequent match: Friday at Bay FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sitting mid-table with a sport in hand, San Diego are nursing a large variety of knocks from their beginning lineup. Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Gotham noticed Alex Morgan, Naomi Girma, Abby Dahlkemper, Sofia Jakobsson, and Melanie Barcenas all sidelined with damage. Concerningly, 19-year-old phenom Jaedyn Shaw left the draw with a stoppage time damage as properly. They appear like a crew nonetheless on the lookout for their type, however first precedence might be getting all people wholesome.

Earlier rating: 8

Subsequent match: Sunday at NJ/NY Gotham FC, 5 p.m. ET

When it rains it pours. Quickly to be US supervisor Emma Hayes could also be trying throughout the ocean with mounting concern, because the USWNT’s beginning keeper Alyssa Naeher additionally left the pitch injured in Chicago’s 3-1 victory over backside of the desk Utah Royals. On the brilliant aspect for Chicago, the Pink Stars continued their environment friendly objective scoring operation, as they accrued three objectives with simply 38% of possession, ending the weekend because the fourth-highest scoring crew within the league.

Earlier rating: 7

Subsequent match: Saturday at Kansas Metropolis Present, 9:30 p.m. ET

Savannah DeMelo’s freekick golazo to convey Louisville degree wasn’t sufficient to beat their guests, Washington Spirit, as Racing picked up their second straight loss after beginning the season unbeaten.

Earlier rating: 9

Subsequent match: Sunday vs. Orlando Pleasure, 6 p.m. ET

After holding the league-leaders (Kansas Metropolis) to a decent 0-0 draw within the midweek, Seattle took a beating in Portland as they fell 4-0 to their Cascadian rivals Saturday evening. Holding Sophia Smith and firm at bay is a tall order today, however Seattle will head residence to a tricky match with unbeaten Orlando Pleasure subsequent weekend whereas nursing their egos from this rivalry rout.

Earlier rating: 11

Subsequent match: Saturday at Washington Spirit, 7:30 p.m. ET

Regardless of Claire Emslie’s 5 objectives and severe expertise of their attacking ranks, Angel Metropolis underwhelmed offensively once more this weekend, as they produced simply three pictures on the right track with 58% of the ball in a 1-0 loss to Houston Sprint.

Earlier rating: 13

Subsequent match: Friday vs. Portland Thorns, 8 p.m. ET

Houston picked up simply their second win of the 12 months with a 1-0 victory over Angel Metropolis FC on Sunday because of Paige Nielsen’s objective within the eight minute of stoppage time. With that, the Sprint have picked up 5 factors from their previous 4 video games (one win, one loss, two attracts), although they face a formidable five-match unbeaten Portland Thorns in Houston this Friday.

Earlier rating: 12

Subsequent match: Friday vs. San Diego Wave FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

No one has allowed extra objectives than Bay FC this season, with 20 objectives put previous them on the shut of week 9. Their 1-0 loss to unbeaten Orlando Pleasure on Friday required 9 saves from Bay FC’s keeper Kateyln Rowland to maintain the margin of loss to 1 objective. It is laborious to seek out optimism for Bay FC’s dynamic assault till they get their defensive lapses in line.

Earlier rating: 14

Subsequent match: Friday at North Carolina Braveness, 8 p.m. ET

Enlargement aspect woes proceed for Utah Royals, who’ve struggled of their first season again in NWSL. Nonetheless, moments of particular person brilliance have damaged by means of, together with this weekend’s 81st minute strike from 24-year-old Utah-native Cameron Tucker to mark her first-ever NWSL objective. The lone objective got here in Utah’s 3-1 loss to Chicago, their seventh of the season (tied with Bay FC for many within the league).