NWSL Power Rankings: Record-breaking Temwa Chawinga electrifies Kansas City Current, San Diego Wave continue to surge up standings

Prior Ranking: 13

Result: Lost 2-0 to North Carolina Courage

Ramifications: The Chicago Stars suffered another loss, dropping their record to 1-7-1, and sitting in last place. The Stars have struggled all season to compete on both sides of the ball. Defensively, they've conceded a league-worst 19 goals and have only scored five goals all season.

Prior Ranking: 14

Result: Drew Washington Spirit 3-3

Ramifications: Earning a point on the road at Audi Field was a strong result for Utah, which sit just above the Stars in the league standings with a 1-6-2 record. The Royals managed to get three goals, scoring first against a strong Washington Spirit side. The game went back-and-fourth through the final minutes, and this was a different Royals side than we've seen all season.

Prior Ranking: 11

Result: Lost to Portland Thorns 4-1

Ramifications: The Houston Dash fall this week after conceding four goals against the Thorns. It was a defensive nightmare for the Dash, wich struggled to possess and stop the Thorns from breaking through each line. The Dash are in 12th place in the league standings and have a lot of work to do to get above the playoff line.

Prior Ranking: 10

Result: Lost to Seattle Reign 1-0

Ramifications: The scoring power that we saw from Racing Louisville was hardly present against Seattle this. Louisville managed to play the Reign to a fairly even game, dominating the possession and even taking 20 shots to the Reign's four - however only one shot was actually on frame.

Prior Ranking: 12

Result: Beat Angel City 2-0

Ramifications: This was a strong result for Bay FC, shutting out Angel City and chipping in two goals. Bay FC put in a great defensive effort against their fellow California rival, blocking three shots out of Angel City's four attempted. Bay FC are in 10th place in the league standings, and have to climb two spots to get above the playoff line.

Prior Ranking: 9

Result: Beat Racing Louisville 1-0

Ramifications: Seattle won on the road in a game that could have gone either way. The Reign are in sixth place in the league standings and have been scratching their way toward the top all season. They've managed to get some good results, and are relatively even in terms of goals scored (eight) and goals conceded (seven).

Prior Ranking: 7

Result: Beat Houston Dash 4-1

Ramifications: The Thorns turned up their scoring power, chipping four past the Houston Dash. Despite not having last year's super power frontline, such as Christine Sinclair and Sophia Wilson, they have been getting the job down. The Thorns are in fourth place, and have the second-most goals for across the NWSL (16).

Prior Ranking: 8

Result: Beat Chicago Stars 2-0

Ramifications: The Courage continue to roll after a rocky start to the season. North Carolina's Manaka Matsukubo scored a brace for her side, in the 51st minute and then in the 77th minute. The Courage are in ninth place overall in the league standings, just below the playoff line cutoff.

Prior Ranking: 6

Result: Lost to Bay FC 2-0

Ramifications: Angel City battled Bay FC over the weekend, however couldn't find an answer to their 23rd-minute goal - and then conceded a penalty just four minutes later. Angel City still sit in a good spot in the standings at seventh with a 4-3-2 record.

Prior Ranking: 5

Result: Lost to San Diego Wave 1-0

Ramifications: Gotham FC fell to the Wave at home, dropping their fourth of the season. Gotham FC had a lot of work to do to limit the Wave just to one goal, and managed to earn 24 clearances. Gotham are in eighth place in the standings with a 3-4-3 record.

Prior Ranking: 3

Result: Drew Utah Royals 3-3

Ramifications: Hal Hershfelt is back on the pitch, which is great news for the Spirit. Ashley Hatch chipped in another goal, extending her count to five. The Spirit took 29 shots against the Royals and dominated possession, despite the 3-3 split final score.

Prior Ranking: 2

Result: Lost to Kansas City Current 1-0

Ramifications: The Pride could not stop Kansas City's Temwa Chawinga, who not only scored, but broke another NWSL record with her finish. The Pride battled the Current through the final minutes, however could not find a way to breakdown Kansas City's four-women defense that was playing each Pride forward touch-tight through 90 minutes.

Prior Ranking: 4

Result: Beat Gotham 1-0

Ramifications: Each week we keep seeing more from the San Diego Wave, who now sit in second place in the league at 5-2-2. Their style of play is running circles around most teams, and Kimmi Ascariono has been on fire, scoring her second goal in two games. San Diego continue to surprise, especially after a lineup of superstars departed after last season, including Alex Morgan and Naomi Girma.

Prior Ranking: 1

Result: Beat Orlando Pride 1-0

Ramifications: The Current earn this week's top ranking after beating their rival, Orlando. The Current seem unstoppable on all sides of the ball. Up top, Chawinga continues to do Chawinga things, scoring goals and breaking records. And defensively, Lorena is a force and lets very little past her. The Current are 7-2-0 and have scored 19 goals, conceding only six.