The 2024 NWSL Playoff field is set, with eight teams securing spots in the long awaited final tournament of the season. A lot has happened since the NWSL took an international break, Temwa Chawinga secured the 2024 Golden Boot, Bay FC secured the final playoff spot, and Orlando finished the season with the top spot, and of course the Shield. For our final power rankings of the year, let’s dive in.
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Getty ImagesCelia BalfAvery Guthrie6 Nov 2024
NWSL Power Rankings: Playoff field is set, Temwa claims Golden Boot, and our final power rankings of the 2024 season
Getty ImagesHOUSTON DASH ↔️
Another rough week for Houston, and there's no sugar-coating it—this was a season to forget. With just 20 total goals and struggles across the pitch, Houston’s future looks like full-on rebuild mode.
Getty ImagesSAN DIEGO WAVE ↔️
San Diego wrapped up the season with a 3-1 win over Racing, with Jaedyn Shaw's goal taking a bit of a lucky bounce and María Sánchez delivering a stunning free kick to seal it. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win—and after a season full of ups and downs, they’ll take it.
Getty ImagesSEATTLE REIGN ↔️
A loss to Orlando closed out Seattle’s season, but the real story is what happens next. With new ownership on the horizon, the Reign have a chance to rebuild after a year of defensive lapses and inconsistency. Change is coming, and it's about time.
UTAH ROYALS ↔️
The 1-4 beatdown from Gotham was the definition of “crash and burn” for Utah’s season finale—but they showed so much promise nearing the end. Utah’s got lots of pieces to build on, but consistency remains a major hurdle.
Getty ImagesCHICAGO RED STARS ⬇️
Chicago’s 3-0 loss to Kansas City was a brutal reminder of the gap between them and the league's elite. I mean, allowing three goals in just over half an hour? Despite some promising young talent, they’re nowhere near playoff-ready in the current state.
Getty ImagesANGEL CITY FC ↔️
Not to get repetitive here, but Angel City’s 3-0 loss to Portland was just a straight up flat offensive outing. They were already out of playoff contention—yes—and the lack of effort felt indicative of the work to be done in LA this offseason.
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Getty ImagesRACING LOUISVILLE ↔️
Racing’s playoff hopes were crushed before they even stepped on the pitch, thanks to Bay FC’s win earlier in the weekend that eliminated them from contention. You could feel it in the air during their 3-1 loss to San Diego—Louisville just wasn’t the same team.
Getty ImagesBAY FC ⬇️
What a way to close out their inaugural NWSL regular season. Bay FC’s 3-2, high-stakes victory over Houston secured the final playoff position—it doesn’t get more clutch than that. Time will tell if this squad belongs in the postseason.
Getty ImagesNC COURAGE ⬇️
With their playoff spot secured, North Carolina seemed to check out in their 1-0 loss to Washington. The lack of focus was glaring—five shots on goal and zero urgency in the attack. If they bring this kind of energy into the playoffs, it’s going to be a quick exit.
Getty ImagesPORTLAND THORNS ⬆️
Christine Sinclair deserved a storybook ending to her footy career, and she got it. The goal scoring legend netted one of the Thorns 3 goals to beat Angel City. The real question now—can Portland use this emotional moment to spark a deeper playoff run?
Getty ImagesWASHINGTON SPIRIT ↔️
The Spirit showed no signs of cracking under pressure, taking down the Courage 1-0 to lock in that coveted second seed. Not to mention, Ashley Hatch kept doing Ashley Hatch things and netted the game-winner. Cool under pressure, Washington proved they’re built for the postseason drama.
Getty ImagesGOTHAM FC ⬇️
Remember that beatdown we talked about? Yeah—Gotham FC delivered it. Plus, heading into the playoffs on a 4 game winning streak seems, well, ideal. The squad's depth makes Gotham a dangerous defending champion, but some legitimate threats certainly exist.
Getty ImagesKC CURRENT ⬆️
No Chawinga? No problem. KC showed they don’t need the goal-scoring machine to run the show, cruising to a 3-1 win over Chicago. But, come postseason, Chawinga’s dominance certainly can’t hurt. Other than that, a revamped defence and next-level attacking has the Current looking like one of the most well-rounded teams in the playoffs.
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ImagnORLANDO PRIDE ⬆️
Orlando stumbled at times but finished the season as Shield winners and top of the table with a 3-2 win over Seattle. Marta’s magic and a solid defensive unit make the Pride the team to fear in the postseason, and they’re rightfully our number-one ranked squad heading into the playoffs.