NWSL Power Rankings: Houston Dash will miss playoffs despite shock upset of Kansas City Current, teams jockey for position

Prior Ranking: 14

Result: Lost to San Diego 6-1

Ramifications: Chicago is playing for no stakes, but losing by a five-goal margin is never fun. Unfortunately, Alyssa Naeher’s two saves weren’t enough to stymie a San Diego side determined to make their third postseason. 

Prior Ranking: 13

Result: Lost to North Carolina 4-1

Ramifications: It took three minutes for Manaka Matsukubo to score on Bay FC. And by the time the match finished, she scored twice more. Unfortunately for the Californians, Courage keeper Casey Murphy was as hot as Matsukubo. Bay got six shots on target, but Murphy’s five saves limited them to just one goal.

Prior Ranking: 11

Result: Lost 2-1 to Seattle 

Ramifications: The Royals were eliminated from the playoffs last week, but they put in another respectable end-of-year performance against fourth-place Seattle. They clocked just as many shots on target as the Reign (four) but Claudia Dickey’s three saves limited them to a one goal from Paige Monaghan.

Prior Ranking: 10

Result: Lost to Portland 2-0

Ramifications: On a night in which Angel City celebrated the retirements of multiple NWSL legends -  including Christen Press and Ali Riley - they lost 2-0 to Portland. And that came after already being eliminated from the playoffs thanks to Louisville’s draw with Gotham.  

Prior Ranking: 12

Result: Beat Kansas City 1-0

Ramifications: Also thanks to Louisville’s draw with Gotham, the Dash were eliminated from the playoffs. That had to sting after managing their biggest result of the year - upsetting first-place Kansas City Current. But after three defeats and a draw from their previous five games, the Dash left it too late.

Prior Ranking: 9

Result: Beat Bay FC 4-1

Ramifications: North Carolina are the only team sitting below the playoff line that can still break into the playoffs. Currently in ninth, the Courage were on fire against Bay FC to keep them in the running against Racing Louisville for the final spot. They host Gotham at home to compete for it.

Prior Ranking: 7

Result: Drew Gotham 2-2

Ramifications: With a win, Louisville could have secured their first playoff berth. For 20 minutes it looked like they would pull it off. But thanks to Rose Lavelle’s late goal they settled for a draw. They’re still in eighth-place ahead of the final weekend, and it’s down to them or North Carolina for the final playoff spot. They host Bay FC at home in the history-making match.

Prior Ranking: 8

Result: Beat Chicago Stars 6-1

Ramifications: San Diego is finally building steam. One week after snapping a seven-game winless rut, the Wave trounced Chicago to secure their third playoff berth in four seasons. They’ll be glad they didn’t leave it until the final matchday - they play Kansas City next.

Prior Ranking: 6

Result: Beat Utah Royals 2-1

Ramifications: Seattle was one of four teams to secure their playoff spot on the weekend, and they were the first to do so after beating the Royals 2-1 at home. They are in fourth and can finish in the top four - earning home field advantage in the playoffs - but they play an ascendant Orlando in on the road. 

Prior Ranking: 5

Result: Beat Angel City 2-0

Ramifications: Portland got back in the win column against Angel City, officially securing their playoff spot with Olivia Moultrie’s seventh and eighth goals of the season. The three-time champions will appear in their ninth straight postseason, and can still finish in the top four pending results in the final weekend. 

Prior Ranking: 4

Result: Drew Racing Louisville 2-2

Ramifications: Gotham are still without 2024 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year Ann-Katrin Berger, who is sidelined with a knee injury. But they secured their playoff berth with the draw. Lavelle scored her third goal in five games to salvage the point. They finished the weekend in seventh and can still finish in the top four, but it won’t be easy: they play a North Carolina side that’s battling to break into the playoffs in their final match.

Prior Ranking: 2

Result: Lost to Orlando 3-2

Ramifications: Trinity Rodman sprained her MCL in midweek CONCACAF action, and was sidelined for this 2024 NWSL Championship rematch. The Spirit lost for the first time in three meetings between the teams this season. With home-field advantage already secured through the semifinals, this loss won’t hurt Washington’s postseason hopes as much as Rodman’s injury, whose timeline for return is TBD. 

Prior Ranking: 3

Result: Beat Washington Spirit 3-2

Ramifications: One week after clinching their playoff spot, the Pride beat the Spirit in Washington D.C. Those three points could be pivotal in their quest for home-field advantage; they finished the weekend in third place, but five teams are still in contention for the two remaining spots in the top four.

Prior Ranking: 1

Result: Lost to Houston Dash 1-0

Ramifications: At the end of a season in which the Current seemed infallible, it looks like they won’t be breaking every record possible, after all. The Current lost to 10th-place Houston on Saturday, ending a 17-match unbeaten run, which falls one shy of the club record. Significantly more concerning for Kansas City was the fact NWSL golden boot leader Temwa Chawinga left the match with an adductor injury. Chawinga posted to her social media that she is working to get back and taking it one day at a time.