It’s Monday, and another round of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 24 to come up with this week’s order of all 14 teams in the league. Let’s dive in.

Previous ranking: 1
Next match: Saturday Oct. 18 vs. Houston Dash, 7.30 p.m. ET

Kansas City is soaring into the postseason after beating another top-of-the-table team this weekend. Temwa Chawinga and Bia Zaneratto provided the goals as the league-leaders put space between them and 2023 champs Gotham FC in a 2-0 victory at CPKC Stadium. With the goal, Chawinga also added space between herself and Gotham’s Esther González at the top of the Golden Boot race, which she now leads by two goals. The victory also saw the Current set a new NWSL record for points in a season.

Previous ranking: 2
Next match: Saturday Oct. 18 vs. Orlando Pride, 12.30 p.m. ET

Trinity Rodman‘s left-footed strike from inside the box (her fifth goal of the season) set the Spirit ahead in the second half in Cary, but they settled for a 1-1 tie against ninth-place North Carolina. With the draw (plus Gotham’s loss to Kansas City), the Spirit have officially clinched home-field advantage through to the playoff semifinals. After a record-breaking year for total attendance at Audi Field, that’s massive for last year’s runner-up, who seem poised to make a compelling playoff run.

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North Carolina Courage vs. Washington Spirit – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from North Carolina Courage vs. Washington Spirit, 10/12/2025

Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Sunday Oct. 19 vs. Racing Louisville, 3 p.m. ET

2024 NWSL goalkeeper of the year Ann-Katrin Berger missed Gotham’s marquee meeting with Kansas City due to a knee injury, so the Bats debuted 27-year-old goalkeeper Shelby Hogan on the road at CPKC Stadium in a massive test. Hogan’s three-save performance helped limit the Current’s dynamic attack, but Gotham left Missouri with a 2-0 defeat. They outshot their hosts but managed just two on target themselves, while team top-scorer Esther stretched her scoreless run to four games. They finished the weekend fourth in the table but will need to battle to hold on to home-field advantage with final tests in their next two games against teams vying for playoff positions (Racing Louisville, then North Carolina).

Previous ranking: 5
Next match: Saturday Oct. 18 vs. Washington Spirit, 12.30 p.m. ET

In her first match back from a back injury, inimitable club veteran Marta forced a heroic own goal in stoppage time to secure a hugely consequential three points against the Portland Thorns. That’s Orlando’s second win in a three-game undefeated run in the regular season, marking a sorely needed turnaround after a nine-game winless rut. The reigning champs finished the weekend in third place, but play second-place Washington Spirit and fifth-place Seattle Reign in their final games.

Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Sunday Oct. 19 vs. Angel City FC, 5 p.m. ET (Stream LIVE on ESPN+)

In a fairly even contest on the road in Orlando (which saw both sides clock four-total shots on target), the Thorns settled for defeat thanks to Marta’s 93rd minute attempt from a corner that was officially ruled an own goal. A win or draw could have seen Portland clinch a playoff spot pending other results in the table. But after this last-minute defeat, the seventh-place Thorns will look to do so next weekend against Angel City.

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Orlando Pride vs. Portland Thorns FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Orlando Pride vs. Portland Thorns FC, 10/11/2025

Previous ranking: 6
Next match: Friday Oct. 17 vs. Utah Royals, 10 p.m. ET

Seattle’s Welsh veteran that never stops, Jess Fishlock, came to the rescue for the Reign in a 1-1 draw against Bay FC. Fishlocks’s sixth goal of the season earned them a second-straight draw in a three-game undefeated run of results, seeing them to a fifth-place finish ahead of the penultimate weekend. They might regret not securing all three points as they jockey for homefield advantage, but they’re on track for a postseason berth.

Previous ranking: 8
Next match: Saturday Oct. 18 vs. Chicago Stars, 10 p.m. ET

San Diego was one of a few clubs that couldn’t clinch or be eliminated from the playoffs this weekend. But they needed a result against Utah to keep their postseason aims alive. Despite horrible weather and trailing early, they secured a pivotal 3-2 win (ending a seven-game winless run) that has them in sixth place of a congested table ahead of the penultimate weekend. They’ve still got the tools to make a splash in the playoffs but will need to stay focused to secure their spot.

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Utah Royals vs. San Diego Wave FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Utah Royals vs. San Diego Wave FC, 10/12/2025

Previous ranking: 7
Next match: Sunday Oct. 19 vs. Gotham FC, 3 p.m. ET

Bethany Balcer‘s 93rd-minute equalizer against the already-eliminated Chicago Stars could prove pivotal in Louisville’s race to make their first playoffs. They finished the weekend in the eighth and final playoff position, ahead of North Carolina Courage by four points. They’ve got two games left — starting with a tough test on the road at Gotham — and will make club history if they stay above that line.

Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Friday Oct. 17 vs. Bay FC, 10 p.m. ET

The Courage joined San Diego as one of two clubs (of those not already eliminated or secure in their playoff spot) that couldn’t clinch or be eliminated this weekend. Playing at home, they fell behind first against the second-placed Spirit, but fought back for a 1-1 draw that saw them finish one spot and four points short of the playoff positions. With two remaining games against Bay FC and then Gotham, they’ll need to find positive results and hope the teams above them stumble.

Previous ranking: 12
Next match: Sunday Oct. 19 vs. Portland Thorns, 5 p.m. ET (Stream LIVE on ESPN+)

If Racing Louisville had won their 1-1 draw against Seattle, there would have been nothing Angel City could do to stay in postseason contention. But they entered Sunday’s contest with fate in their own hands, and secured a compelling 2-0 win against Houston. They displayed a lot of attacking progress in the win, and have two games to break into the playoff positions. They need to win both remaining games to maintain a slim chance. Next up, Portland.

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Angel City FC vs. Houston Dash – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Angel City FC vs. Houston Dash, 10/13/2025

Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Saturday Oct. 18 vs. KC Current, 7.30 p.m. ET

Mathematically, Houston can still make the playoffs. But the odds are very much not in their favor after falling 2-0 to fellow playoff-hopefuls Angel City FC on Sunday. They’re now sitting in 11th place and need to win their remaining games to maintain a slim chance of making the postseason. Unfortunately, they play Kansas City next.

Previous ranking: 11
Next match: Friday Oct. 17 vs. Seattle Reign, 10 p.m. ET

The Utah Royals put in a valiant end-of-season effort. Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to San Diego Wave ends a laudable eight-game unbeaten run (four wins, four draws), and officially eliminates them from the playoffs. They took the initial lead in the ninth minute and equalized later on, but needed a win to stay afloat in their postseason hopes. Regardless, fans can be proud of end-of-year form for the Royals.

Previous ranking: 13
Next match: Friday Oct. 17 vs. NC Courage, 10 p.m. ET

Bay FC were already eliminated from the playoffs ahead of their 1-1 draw with Seattle Reign, but they put in an impressive performance while playing on the road. Jordan Silkowitz contributed three saves to a near victory, which kept Seattle goalless until the 84th minute. At the other end, Bay created as many shots as Seattle in a match they nearly won.

Previous ranking: 14
Next match: Saturday Oct. 18 vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET

Alyssa Naeher refuses to let us forget why she’s one of the GOATs of US Soccer. The World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist made eight saves for the Stars in a 1-1 draw against Racing Louisville, which they looked set to win until Balcer’s stoppage-time equalizer.

A hard-fought win by the Kansas City Chiefs over the Detroit Lions took a wild turn once the final whistle blew on Sunday night as a brawl broke out among players.

Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes was going up to Lions defensive back Brian Branch for a postgame handshake. Branch snubbed Mahomes’ sportsmanship and it appeared wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster took exception to that.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) tries to break up a fight between teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster and Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch following an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Smith-Schuster and Branch exchanged words before the defensive back shoved the wide receiver in the helmet. Smith-Schuster went down on one knee and running back Isiah Pacheco was trying to hold the Lions player back. Smith-Schuster came back at Branch, trying to take him down. 

Despite being held back by Pacheco, Branch still managed to rip Smith-Schuster’s helmet off. Players from both teams got into the mix trying to pull the two counterparts off each other. Another punch was thrown as the skirmish ended.

CHIEFS BOUNCE BACK WITH DOMINANT HOME VICTORY OVER LIONS AS PATRICK MAHOMES CONTRIBUTES 4 TOUCHDOWNS

Once the brouhaha subsided, the players said their final farewell to each other and headed back into the locker room.

The NFL is likely to dole out some punishment over the fracas.

Kansas City won the game, 30-17, bouncing back from a tough loss on Monday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs are now 3-3.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff walks off the field following an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

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The Lions’ streak of scoring at least 30 points ended at four consecutive games. The Lions fell to 4-2.

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Thomas Tuchel has already demonstrated throughout his club coaching career with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich that he is not afraid to ruffle feathers or argue with his bosses. That is why his appointments are often short-lived. And that tendency to never avoid confrontation was very evident in his decision to omit England‘s star player, Jude Bellingham, from the squad for this month’s games against Wales and Latvia.

However, you dress this up — and Tuchel denies that he has a problem with Bellingham — it is apparent that the England boss is making a point, and arguably aiming a shot across the bows of his most gifted player. Why? Reading between the lines of many a dispatch from the England camp, it seems there is an issue with how the Real Madrid star’s demeanor has been received by some of his teammates.

– Rogers firmly enters No. 10 debate for Tuchel’s England
– When can England qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
– Why has Bellingham, officially England’s best player, been dropped?

He is a perfectionist whose body language can occasionally seem a little disdainful of less gifted colleagues. Are these accusations fair? Or is Bellingham simply trying to improve those around him to get results for the team? You suspect the player himself has, until now, been unaware of the vibes surrounding him.

Though Bellingham himself has admitted he maintains a “macho image” to deflect from personal vulnerabilities, which suggests he is hearing the current mood music.

“You notice when he is not there,” England teammate Anthony Gordon said. “He is a big presence, such a big player,”

No one is denying Bellingham’s importance to England’s World Cup mission as both creator and scorer. If the squad were to be selected tomorrow, he would certainly be included. And those who know him well, such as his good friend Jordan Henderson, describe him as a “brilliant character.”

But even going back to his Borussia Dortmund days, there were stories that some more senior players took exception to the then-teenager giving them a piece of his mind if things were going wrong.

It is easy to forget how much has happened to Bellingham. He was a fixture in Birmingham City’s team at age 16 and has since played 282 club games and 44 times for England. He has become an A-list global celebrity. So it is somewhat excusable for anyone to get a little giddy on that phenomenal success.

But here is Tuchel sending a message that he should take nothing for granted, that there are other No. 10s — such as Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers or Morgan Gibbs-White — on the radar. In other words: “Fight for your place like everyone else. There are no favorites here.”

The head coach astounded reporters last year by saying that his mother sometimes found Bellingham’s on-pitch behavior “repulsive.” He has since retracted that unfairly incriminating remark and apologized, but the quote did appear to reflect a level of dissatisfaction with how the player conducted himself.

It seems Tuchel wants a slightly modified version; a great tourist as well as a great player.

But is he right to do so? It is reminiscent of England’s only World Cup-winning manager, Sir Alf Ramsey, who liked to keep even his most trusted players guessing back in 1966.

His magnificent goalkeeper Gordon Banks left an England camp in that era with a cheery “See you next time, boss.”

“Will you?” was Ramsey’s icy response.

So what we are witnessing here may be Tuchel’s attempt to mold a World Cup squad free of the tensions that have undermined many a campaign for several teams, notably favorites France with their memorable row in 2010 and Spain (prior to their glut of trophies in more recent tournaments) on the frequent occasions when the rival Barcelona and Real Madrid players simply would not mix.

This week, legendary England midfielder Steven Gerrard said the talented national teams he played in failed because they were “egotistical losers” with petty cliques of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool players barely speaking.

So building a unified squad that pulls in the same direction is paramount for Tuchel, as it was for his predecessor, Sir Gareth Southgate.

It would have been easy for the England boss to explain the cold shoulder for Bellingham as an injury-related issue. He has, after all, been recovering from shoulder surgery, albeit featuring five times for Real Madrid since that operation, including starting the Madrid derby against Atlético.

But, typically, the German made it clear that it was a decision based on form, and said Bellingham had “no rhythm” in his play yet.

Besides, he wanted to reward the players who put in a breakthrough display for him with a 5-0 win in Serbia by naming an unchanged squad, even though he had to replace injured winger Noni Madueke with Bukayo Saka.

Yet it is fair to deduce that there is another agenda at play here, namely, the quest to head to the World Cup next summer with a happy band of brothers bursting with the team spirit that can make the difference in tight games.

Tuchel, like Ramsey 59 years ago, is going to do the job his way, even if it puts some noses out of joint. He does not care about that.

It is not only a brave option, but the right one. Bellingham will return to the team determined to prove a point and, as the world-class player and top character that he is, he will have taken note of what his boss is telling him. It is all just part of the learning curve, and one day, he might reflect that the day England left him out made him realize how he could become an even better contributor to the cause.