Power Rankings: KC Current shows championship credentials – Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results
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It’s Monday, and another week of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.
Our rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal differential, expected goal differential), recent performance, the Opta computer ratings and the observations of our writers.
Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in a free fall? Our writers and statistical models have ranked all 14 clubs in the league after Matchday 20. Let’s dive in.
1. Orlando Pride
Previous ranking: 1
Next match: Friday at Bay FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
The Pride walked away with a scoreless draw against the Current in one of their toughest remaining matches this season. While they may rue a missed chance or two, they played well in a match that should serve as good preparation for the playoffs and took a giant step towards finishing the season undefeated.
2. Washington Spirit
Previous ranking: 2
Next match: Friday at Kansas City Current, 8 p.m. ET
Ashley Hatch took center stage early on with a brace in the first 26 minutes, but Trinity Rodman stole the spotlight with her absolutely obscene goal as the Spirit cruised to a 3-0 win over the Dash. It’s remarkable how quickly Rodman, who is already one of the best in the world at just 22 years old, keeps adding to her game and you can bet she’ll be back in the center of things in Friday’s highly-anticipated visit to Kansas City.
3. Kansas City Current
Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Friday vs. Washington Spirit, 8 p.m. ET
Going to Orlando and walking away with a point is always a job well done, but this was an exceptionally good draw for KC. They showed the ability to play the type of tight, grinding game that they’ll need come playoff time. We already know they can be a dynamic attacking team and the addition of Almuth Schult, who was sensational in goal, is helping them develop the defensive ability to round into a true championship contender.
4. NJ/NY Gotham FC
Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Sunday vs. Utah Royals, 1 p.m. ET (live on ESPN+)
Gotham have already shown they can handle an NWSL/Concacaf W Champions Cup back-to-back when they ran off a pair of wins a week ago. Now they’ll have to do it again, with a Monday night contest against Seattle before meeting Monterrey on Thursday. A win over the Reign will take the Bats into third place.
5. North Carolina Courage
Previous ranking: 5
Next match: Saturday at Racing Louisville, 7:30 p.m. ET
Ashley Sanchez became the first player in NWSL history to score against every active club and her goal ensured the Courage would take a point against Bay FC. North Carolina extended their home unbeaten streak to 19 games, but they probably needed a win if they wanted to climb into the top four by season’s end and earn a home playoff game.
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2 Related 6. Bay FC
Previous ranking: 6
Next match: Friday vs. Orlando Pride, 10:30 p.m. ET
Bay scored early in a textbook play that began with a press to force a turnover, quick progression in transition and, finally, a good pass from Tess Boade for Asisat Oshoala to tap in. Unfortunately, they followed that up with a bad giveaway that allowed the Courage to tie things up. It was the type of up-and-down game that typically marks an expansion team and resulted in the first draw in club history. All in all, a point on the other side of the country is a good result and Bay are still holding onto eighth place.
7. Seattle Reign FC
Previous ranking: 8
Next match: Saturday at Houston Dash, 8:30 p.m.
The Reign’s rough start to the season is now squarely in the rearview mirror thanks to a seven-match unbeaten streak. If they can keep it going on Monday against Gotham and win their fourth in a row, they’ll move within two points of a playoff spot. That would put them on the verge of a turnaround for the ages, but the departure of Sofia Huerta is going to make things tough.
8. Racing Louisville FC
Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Saturday vs. North Carolina Courage, 7:30 p.m. ET
Racing made two big moves last month when they signed Bethany Balcer and Janine Beckie with the hope that the duo could take their attack to another level. Those moves paid off on Saturday as the two new faces scored phenomenal goals to deliver a 2-1 win over Angel City. If Balcer and Beckie can keep it rolling, Louisville just might erase the three-point gap to eighth place and secure the first playoff berth in club history.
9. Portland Thorns
Previous ranking: 7
Next match: Monday at Angel City FC, 10 p.m. ET
It was a big week for Morgan Weaver, who signed a new contract in Portland and then made her long-awaited return from injury after four months out. Mackenzie Arnold also had a nice moment with a penalty save, but things didn’t go so well for the rest of the team as the Thorns fell to Chicago. They’ve now lost four in a row and have only scored four goals in their last eight matches.
10. Chicago Red Stars
Previous ranking: 11
Next match: Saturday vs. San Diego Wave, 9:30 p.m. ET
The Red Stars snapped a three-game losing streak with an impressive win in Portland. They were especially good when playing with pace, using their press to create Ally Schlegel’s goal and then going quickly over the top to draw a penalty, but things took a turn late when Mallory Swanson went down with a shoulder injury. Fingers crossed she’s okay and can help Chicago hold onto their playoff spot.
11. Angel City FC
Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Monday vs. Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET
ACFC have a tough schedule to close out their season, so a win over non-playoff team Racing on Saturday would have been massive. Unfortunately, it was not to be. They were mostly impotent after scoring early and suffered a 2-1 loss to put their playoff hopes in real danger. Angel City are four points out of eighth place and have four of their last six matches against top six teams.
12. San Diego Wave FC
Previous ranking: 13
Next match: Saturday at Chicago Red Stars, 9:30 p.m. ET
Scoring 26 seconds after kickoff goes a long way to ending a 12-match winless streak and Amirah Ali’s early tally did just that. Add another goal five minutes later and the Wave were on their way to their first win since May 8. Somehow, San Diego is only six points out of a playoff spot and they still have the Concacaf W Champions Cup so there’s plenty for the Wave to play for. It’s time to find out if Landon Donovan is orchestrating a turnaround or if this was a one-off.
13. Utah Royals
Previous ranking: 12
Next match: Sunday at NJ/NY Gotham FC, 1 p.m. ET (live on ESPN+)
It’s one thing to have your four-match unbeaten streak snapped by a good Kansas City team away from home, but following that up by losing at home to San Diego, who hadn’t won since May, is a real kick in the teeth. Utah gave up two goals in the first six minutes and, while they deserve credit for trying to fight back, any good vibes from their late summer surge are certainly gone now.
14. Houston Dash
Previous ranking: 14
Next match: Saturday vs. Seattle Reign FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Dash were soundly beaten yet again as they conceded the ball, territory and chances in a 3-0 loss to the Spirit, extending their winless streak to nine matches. As if that wasn’t bad enough, seven of those have been losses and they have a grand total of two goals over that stretch. Houston could be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention before we even get to October.
Source: espn.co.uk