2026 NWSL Power Rankings: Seattle, Portland, and San Diego rise to the top to start the season

Teams are still sorting themselves out in the early weeks of the season, including last year's contenders

Sandra Herrera

Apr 1, 2026

1:11 pm ET

•

1 min read

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Don't ever step away from the NWSL for a week because everything you thought you knew about it was a lie.

True or false, the reigning NWSL Shield title holders Kansas City Current is looking like a shell of themselves? Defending NWSL Championship winners Gotham FC have zero goals in three games? Do two-time runners-up and 2025 Challenge Cup champions, Washington Spirit, have zero wins in four games? The answer is all true.

The early phases of the regular season are always an interesting time because, in years past, I would give teams about five games to show whether or not they can make a believer out of me. With this season being the longest ever, with 30 games to manage, I'm giving a bit more grace. Including for teams who maybe aren't quite so used to such hot starts, sorry Houston Dash and Bay FC.

Still, that doesn't mean I'm not concerned by some of the somewhat rusty, outright losing, type of trends I'm seeing by what's supposed to be the league's "elite."

Despite the struggle for those considered top tier, what a thrill it is to feel like we've all been thrown into a time machine back to a place where teams in the Pacific Northwest are ruining results for clubs across the league and each other, so thank you, Portland and Seattle.

With so much unpredictability to start the season, naturally, that means some big swings and shifts in my power rankings. Does that mean I think Angel City is more powerful than Gotham because they've scored more goals against Chicago than Gotham has in three games? Probably not. At least not right now, but I am very impressed with them and plenty of other teams.

If you're keeping track of power trends, here's my previous rankings, now onto the most recent rankings:

Biggest Movers

Denver Summit FC

Kansas City Current

Teams

Chg

Rcrd

Portland Thorns

Olivia Moultrie is slicing through defenders and Jessie Fleming is regulating the midfield to keep the Thons looking consistent game after game. Now, forward Sophia Wilson is back from maternity leave and putting the league on notice

San Diego Wave FC

The Wave are looking like a team that's finally putting it all together in the attack and their U.S. women's national team star, Catarina Macario, hasn't even clocked a single minute yet. They're scoring goals, having fun, and they look like they're just scratching the surface.

Seattle Reign

The Reign are finally scoring goals and have taking down top clubs. They're also doing it with five different goal scorers and that kind of power by committee is what makes a team dangerous.

Washington Spirit

There's a layer of frustration that can come with just earning draws, but the group is still creating chances and at least look like they can produce in the final third. Trinity Rodman and the group are still figuring things out without Croix Bethune, but with Gift Monday increasing her minutes means they're getting closer.

Angel City FC

The most electrifying show in the league right now is Angel City hands down. It's so entertaining that I want to see how it looks outside of the state of California, three times a week on the road, against teams who are not in the western parts of the country.

NJ/NY Gotham FC

The way Gotham FC's defensive shape looks right now, I would trust them with my life were I to face an angry senior varsity dodgeball team. Still, you have to score goals in order to actually win games, and right now I'm not sure who I trust to get that done.

Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride have a bit of a slow burn vibe to them that I am absolutely here for right now. Barbra Banda's comeback season is already on an MVP trajectory, and Jacqueline Ovalle might be on a similar path to end of year awards.

Kansas City Current

You would think that three consecutive losses means it's time the ring the alarm on the 2025 NWSL Shield winners, but I don't think they're quite there yet. That doesn't mean I'm not concerned, because it's the lack of adjustments or ideas that has me looking for where that alarm actually is.

Denver Summit FC

The newest team in the league is making headlines for all the right reasons. Building towards positive results, an emerging goal scorer in Melissa Kossler, goalkeeper Abby Smith racking up cleansheets, and setting attendance records. If they stay consistent, watch out.

Houston Dash

People will be weird about the Dash being this low, but they have to remember, they were even lower to start the season. I'd love to see some of these performances against experienced playoff teams, but as long as Maggie Graham and Kiki Van Zanten come up clutch, they'll be sneaky good.

North Carolina