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 19 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 Sept. 13 vs. Washington Spirit, 7.30 p.m. ET

After becoming the first team to clinch a playoff spot, Kansas City continues to crush the competition this season and are poised to run away with the Shield race. After beating Bay FC 2-0 this weekend, the Current are an incredible 14-games undefeated and lead the table by a 14-point gap. It’s hard to imagine anyone stopping them in their pursuit of at least one trophy in 2025.

Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. KC Current, 7.30 p.m. ET

The Spirit have withstood a number of changes and injuries throughout the past calendar year, but they’re once again heading into the final stretch of the season as one of the undisputed best teams in the league. They beat a solid Seattle Reign squad 2-0 in Washington D.C. thanks to a brace of goals from Trinity Rodman and are undefeated in their last seven regular season games. Next up? A fascinating test with the top-ranked Kansas City Current.

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Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign FC, 09/08/2025

Previous ranking: 2
Next match: Friday Sept. 12 vs. Gotham FC, 10 p.m. ET

On Sunday evening in San Diego, the Wave retired USWNT icon and club treasure Alex Morgan‘s jersey, then proceeded to get dismantled by the mid-table Houston Dash. San Diego has frequently looked like one of the most formidable teams in the NWSL this season. But this wasn’t one of those nights. They held more of the ball and outshot the Dash 19 to nine, but the two squads managed five each on target while Houston’s chances proved much more lethal on the night.

Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Bay FC, 5 p.m. ET

Things are going from bad to worse for Orlando. The reigning champs are now winless in seven regular season games (three draws, four defeats). Sunday’s 5-2 collapse against the Chicago Stars saw one of 2024’s best defensive sides concede five goals in the second half alone, marking their worst loss of the season and third straight defeat. Silver lining? Mexico forward Lizbeth Ovalle (who briefly held the women’s world transfer record when she signed for the Pride this August) made her debut for the club. Fans will be hoping for Ovalle’s smooth transition to help turn this ship around.

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Chicago Stars vs. Orlando Pride – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Chicago Stars vs. Orlando Pride, 09/07/2025

Previous ranking: 5
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Seattle Reign, 8 p.m. ET

Louisville suffered their first loss in five games with a 2-1 defeat at home to Portland on Friday. Win, loss, or draw, all of Louisville’s games tend to be closely contested. Stretching back to April 27 all but three of their games (two defeats to Kansas City and a win against Orlando) have been draws or decided by the odd goal. They finished the weekend one spot inside the playoff positions and face a pivotal test against Seattle Reign next weekend, who sit just one spot above them as they seek their first-ever postseason berth.

Previous ranking: 7
Next match: Friday Sept. 12 vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET

Gotham have oscillated around the standings this season but earned an important win at home on Sunday, beating Angel City 3-1 despite falling behind in the second minute. With that, they finished the weekend a few places higher in the standings, now sitting sixth behind a struggling Orlando Pride. Inimitable United States midfielder Rose Lavelle scored the second of three second-half goals for the Bats, which marks her first goal of 2025 as the midfield maestro seeks another level after returning from injury earlier in the year.

Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Utah Royals, 6 p.m. ET

The Dash made quite the statement Sunday evening, as they showed up to San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium on the night of Morgan’s jersey retirement and handed the third-place home side a 3-0 defeat. There are no easy games in NWSL, but the Dash are now six games undefeated and sitting just short of the playoff positions before a pair of surmountable tests against the bottom-ranked Chicago Stars and Utah Royals the next two weekends.

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San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash, 09/08/2025

Previous ranking: 8
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Chicago Stars, 3 p.m. ET

After losing 2-1 at home last weekend, Portland recovered with a 2-1 win on the road, this time against Racing Louisville. They’re a bit temperamental but they’re still in fourth place, and will look to keep the momentum apace with a second road test next weekend against 13th-place (but six games undefeated) Chicago Stars.

Previous ranking: 6
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Racing Louisville, 8 p.m. ET

It’s not time to panic. But Seattle is winless in their last five games after losing 2-0 to Washington Spirit at Audi Field. Rodman on a mission is hard to contain, but the Reign need some results as they finish the weekend in seventh place, before facing a tough-to-play Racing Louisville next weekend in Seattle.

Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. NC Courage, 12.30 p.m. ET

A few days after losing 20-year-old USWNT winger Alyssa Thompson to Chelsea, Angel City were hoping for a statement win against Gotham, who entered the weekend just one spot above them in the NWSL table. The night looked bright for them in New Jersey after Kennedy Fuller‘s second-minute goal, but Gotham came back with three of their own in the second half. With that, Angel City finished the weekend still sitting just short of the playoff positions and looking for that final piece to break through.

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NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Angel City FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Angel City FC, 09/08/2025

Previous ranking: 11
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Angel City FC, 12.30 p.m. ET

After Jaedyn Shaw took the lead from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, the Courage were seconds away from a sorely needed victory at home when Paige Monaghan drew level for the Royals, handing North Carolina a 1-1 draw in the dying moments. North Carolina have now gone winless in six straight games (four draws, two defeats), and are still searching for their first win since letting go of former manager Sean Nahas.

Previous ranking: 14
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Portland Thorns, 3 p.m. ET

Ludmila can’t stop scoring for the Stars. The Brazilian forward notched her sixth goal in four games in the 89th minute of a 5-2 demolition of the Orlando Pride. The reigning champs are struggling (no wins in seven games) but Chicago handed them their worst loss of the year, putting five goals past them, all in the second half. They’re still sitting at the bottom of the table, but they’re undefeated in their last six games (five draws, one big win) and gaining momentum.

Previous ranking: 12
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Orlando Pride, 5 p.m. ET

It’s hard to break a rut while playing the top team in the league. But Bay FC’s 2-0 loss to Kansas City marks their fourth straight defeat, and brings them to eight games without a win. They’ve been unlucky at times, and their matches have often been closer than the result would show at face value, but that’s some dire form for the Cali-squad trying to make a second-straight playoff appearance.

Previous ranking: 13
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Houston Dash, 6 p.m. ET

The Royals put in a valiant effort against the North Carolina Courage in Cary this weekend. They fell behind briefly following a penalty, but fought back for the equalizer in stoppage time to claim a 1-1 draw. It’s hard to crawl out from the bottom of the table, but the Royals deserve credit for some solid form, despite recently losing one of their key players in Ally Sentnor. They’re undefeated in their last three games, and have only lost one game in their last six matches.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday praised the national team for their dominant victory over Afghanistan in the final of the tri-nation T20I series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Naqvi reserved special mention for left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, commending his match-winning all-round performance, which included a hat-trick, fearless batting, and decisive contributions that turned the match in Pakistan’s favour.

“Despite posting a modest total, the team’s excellent teamwork ensured a convincing win against Afghanistan,” Naqvi said.

He also congratulated Head Coach Mike Hesson, Captain Salman Ali Agha, and the entire squad on the achievement, calling it a morale booster for future tournaments.

Taking to social media platform X, the PCB chief highlighted Pakistan’s recent consistency, winning 10 out of 14 T20 matches under Hesson’s guidance.

He urged fans and critics alike to rally behind the team ahead of the Asia Cup.

“Congratulations to Team Pakistan on winning the Tri-Series! This is a young, talented side playing fearless cricket.

Full support to the boys, coaches, and selectors for the Asia Cup—criticism and analysis can wait until after the tournament,” Naqvi wrote.

In the final, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 75 runs. Defending 142, Pakistan’s bowlers dismantled Afghanistan for just 66.

Shaheen Afridi struck early, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for five, before Abrar Ahmed dismissed Sediqullah Atal for 13.

Mohammad Nawaz then stole the spotlight, striking twice in one over, before completing his hat-trick by removing Ibrahim Zadran.

He went on to claim a fourth wicket, dismissing Karim Janat, reducing Afghanistan to 32-6 and sealing Pakistan’s commanding victory.

Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem also claimed two wickets each.

Pakistan’s innings saw early wickets, with Sahibzada Farhan dismissed for a duck. Saim Ayub (17) and Fakhar Zaman (27) offered resistance before falling to spinners.

Skipper Salman Ali Agha and Nawaz added 40 runs to stabilize the innings, with Nawaz contributing 25. Pakistan set a target of 141-8.

Rashid Khan took 3/38, while Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and AM Ghazanfar claimed the remaining wickets.

Another fantastic matchup between AFC heavyweights ended in thrilling fashion on Sunday night, as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Baltimore Ravens, 41-40, thanks to a walk-off field goal. 

The Bills outscored the Ravens, 22-6, in the fourth quarter, and everything started turning the home team’s way at Highmark Stadium when Derrick Henry, who had a stellar night otherwise, fumbled with 3:10 left in the fourth quarter while Baltimore held a 40-32 lead.

After Buffalo’s fumble recovery, Allen found Jackson Hawes to set up the Bills on the goal line, and he leaped over his offensive line to make it a two-point game. The Bills, trying its third two-point conversion of the game, were unsuccessful for the third straight time as Keon Coleman couldn’t haul in the back-shoulder fade. 

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The Ravens, who couldn’t be stopped on offense in the first three quarters of this game, still controlled their own destiny if Lamar Jackson & Co. could get a first down. But the Bills, riding all their momentum, forced a three-and-out and Allen took advantage. 

Allen was dissecting the Ravens’ defense, with the biggest play being a 32-yard strike to new receiver Josh Palmer to get into field goal range. On the very next play, Coleman made up for the drop in the end zone with a 25-yard catch-and-run to Baltimore’s nine-yard line with 46 seconds left to play. 

The Bills were able to walk the clock down, and Matt Prater buried the 32-yard attempt to complete a miraculous comeback to begin the new season. 

RAVENS’ LAMAR JACKSON SHOVES FAN AFTER GETTING SMACKED IN HELMET FOLLOWING TD STRIKE

Allen, the reigning league MVP, racked up 394 passing yards and 30 rushing yards with four total touchdowns – two passing and two rushing – to start his season on the right foot. But this game appeared to be a story for Jackson and Henry after what they did against a Bills defense that didn’t have an answer until the very end. 

Henry, who had almost 2,000 rushing yards in his first Ravens season in 2024, leads the NFL thus far in Week 1 after totaling 169 yards on 18 carries with two long touchdown runs. It was clear from the start of this game that Henry was going to pick up where he left off in 2024. The Ravens’ offensive line was making clear lanes at the line of scrimmage, and the bruising back didn’t waste them. 

Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 7, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

But Jackson was doing it all for the Ravens, too, as he scored once on the ground and was dishing out touchdown passes to Zay Flowers and DeAndre Hopkins, the latter of which being a highlight-reel snag. He finished the game with 210 passing yards with just five incompletions on his 19 attempts, while rushing for 70 yards and a score on six carries.

The Ravens scored on each of its first five possessions in this game, and it began after Allen and the Bills opening their 2025 season with a perfectly executed touchdown drive, where Dalton Kincaid hauled in a strike from Allen to make it 7-0 after the extra point. Baltimore was able to get in field goal range for new kicker Tyler Loop to bury a 52-yard field goal to notch the first of his career. 

Once Baltimore forced a three-and-out, Henry ripped off a 30-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to give the Ravens its first lead of the new season. Then, on the team’s next possession, Henry almost took it to the house yet again, this time being stopped after a 49-yard gain on just the second play from scrimmage.

Two plays later, Jackson took the ball on a designed run to the left and was virtually untouched to make it 17-7 in favor of the road team. Buffalo would tally two more field goals in the first half to stay within a score, but Baltimore wasted no time when they got the ball back to start the second half. 

This was the Flowers drive, as the leading Ravens receiver with 143 yards got 62 of those on back-to-back plays. First, a 39-yard catch-and-run set the Ravens up in Buffalo territory just outside the red zone. Then, Jackson wasted no time finding him for a 23-yard connection that blew the ball open, 27-13. 

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Allen, knowing the Bills needed to answer at home, dug deep and managed to go 60 yards on nine plays where James Cook, the league’s leader in rushing touchdowns a season ago, got his first of the new campaign from two yards out. The team’s two-point conversion failed, leaving the score 27-19. 

Baltimore would continue putting pressure on the Bills, and perhaps the biggest score of the night was Hopkins, the newest Ravens receiver, showing off catching ability with a one-handed snag for a 29-yard touchdown on his first target with his new team. 

Allen and the Bills responded yet again when they needed a touchdown, as the quarterback scampered into the colored paint from two yards out. But Buffalo was unable to convert their two-point try, leaving it a two-score game for Baltimore. 

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) looks to pass  during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 7, 2025. (Mark Konezny/Imagn Images)

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Henry, though, didn’t care for the “Bills Mafia” getting rowdy in the fourth quarter. The running back busted out a 46-yard touchdown run after Jackson’s 19-yard run, where he was about the same distance behind the line of scrimmage before making multiple defenders miss to keep the drive alive on third-and-10 with a first down. 

But it was all Buffalo after that Henry score. They put together 16 unanswered points to shock Baltimore and start the 2025 season in grand fashion.

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