NWSL Power Rankings: Can anyone stop Kansas City Current?

It’s Monday and another week of NWSL action is on the horizon, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Our rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal differential, expected goal differential), recent performances, Opta computer ratings and observations from our editors.

Who’s on the rise? Who’s in free fall? Our editors and statistical models have ranked the league’s 14 clubs after matchday 15. Let’s get to it.

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Previous ranking: 1

Next match: Saturday vs. Orlando Pride, 7:30 p.m. ET

They left it until the end, but Kansas City Current made history Friday night at CPKC Stadium. Temwa Chawinga scored twice to clinch a 2-0 win over the Houston Dash, making it 17 games unbeaten for Kansas City — an NWSL record. Chawinga moved to the top of the Golden Boot race (where she is now tied with Barbra Banda) with 11 goals after scoring six in her last four games.

Previous ranking: 2

Next match: Saturday on Kansas City Current, 7:30 p.m. ET

Orlando’s formidable group of attacking talents combined for several goals Sunday night in Los Angeles, ensuring the Pride also remain unbeaten as they prepare to face Kansas City next weekend. Marta set up Adriana for the first and scored the second to make it a brace before Zambian phenom Banda made it 3-0 in added time. Banda’s 11 goals in 11 games are tied with Chawinga for the league lead, but top of the goals per 90 charts.

Previous ranking: 3

Next match: Saturday at Bay FC, 10 p.m. ET

The Washington Spirit slipped up against the Courage this weekend, falling 1-0 thanks to a stunning, game-winning strike from former Spirit midfielder Ashley Sanchez. The moment was storybook (the Spirit traded Sanchez on Draft Night in a shock move), though it doesn’t bode well for lasting damage to a formidable Spirit side. It was, however, their first loss since May 4.

Previous ranking: 4

Next match: Saturday at Angel City FC, 10 p.m. ET

Gotham had a win in the bag but conceded a goal in the 99th minute of stoppage time to come away with a draw in Seattle. Better to focus on Rose Lavelle – who scored her fourth goal of the season against her former club – and let that last-minute fumble fade into the past.

Previous ranking: 5

Next match: Friday vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET

Portland’s draw against the last-place Utah Royals wasn’t the most impressive. The draw also marks their third game without a win, with the Thorns dating back to their last memorable 1-0 win over the North Carolina Courage on June 8, in which Sophia Smith was penalized for wasting time in the one of the most memorable moments of the season. Despite this slight slump, the statistics please the Thorns almost as much as the best teams above them. They will be hungry for points to get back on their feet before facing the Wave next weekend.

Previous ranking: 6

Next match: Sunday vs. Racing Louisville, 4:30 p.m. ET

Courage builds decent form. The two-time NWSL champions picked up their second straight victory this weekend, marking three straight unbeaten matches against teams in the top half of the standings. This weekend’s victory came against a surging Spirit side, and Sanchez scored a stirring goal against his former club in the 19th minute. With Kerolin on the way back, there’s plenty to be excited about for Courage fans as we look toward the second half of the season.

Previous ranking: 9

Next match: Saturday vs. Houston Dash, 1 p.m. ET

Mallory Swanson was at her best in a 3-0 win over the San Diego Wave on Friday night, scoring her third goal in three games. Swanson’s form is great news for the Red Stars as well as the U.S. women’s national team, which will soon be counting on the forward Emma Hayes called “world class” when she announced the Olympic rosters on Wednesday. The win is Chicago’s first since May 12. Alyssa Naeher earned her second shutout of the season to help secure the victory.

Previous ranking: ten

Next match: Saturday vs. Washington Spirit, 10 p.m. ET

Bay FC earned its third win in four games with a 1-0 win over Racing Louisville on Saturday night. Asisat Oshoala clinched the victory from the penalty spot, making the difference in a balanced match to score his third goal of the season. The penalty is historic: Oshoala now wins the first ever penalty scored for the expansion team (she also scored the club’s first ever goal from open play earlier this year). The Bay’s general manager, Lucy Rushton, resigned from the club last Monday (one of several significant changes within the NWSL last week), although the Bay’s relatively average form has remained stable during the shake-up.

Previous ranking: 8

Next match: Sunday at North Carolina Courage, 4:30 p.m. ET

Racing know how to fight and score more draws than any other team in the league for good reason. They did enough to earn another draw at home to their visitors on Saturday (both teams recorded just one shot on target), and might have got a goal had it not been for Oshoala’s penalty which the difference.

Previous ranking: 7

Next match: Friday at Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET

Alex Morgan’s missed penalty in the 74th minute in a 3-0 loss to Chicago (which she sent over the crossbar) was an opportunity to get her first goal of the season. Rather, it was a continuation of total bad luck. Days after missing out on her first USWNT selection for a major tournament since 2008, Morgan’s confidence could use a little more boost. The Wave have not won since May 8 (five draws, two defeats between them) and have just fired their former coach of the year, Casey Stoney.

Previous ranking: 12

Next match: Saturday at Chicago Red Stars, 1 p.m. ET

Houston traveled to CPKC Stadium and held off first-ranked Current for most of the game. Ultimately, Chawinga and Current’s attack was too inevitable to stop and they made history in Kansas City. A respectable performance, overall, considering the strength gap between the two teams and the dynamics behind the event.

Previous ranking: 11

Next match: Saturday vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 10 p.m. ET

Angel City has never beaten Orlando. That streak remained intact in Los Angeles on Sunday night thanks to two goals from Brazilian dynamo Adriana and a stoppage-time goal from Banda. It’s hard to find positives for this Angel City team, whose fire is intermittent and offensive power is lacking.

Previous ranking: 13

Next match: Sunday vs. Utah Royals, 6 p.m. ET

Seattle salvaged a point against Gotham with a 99th-minute free kick goal. This will do the trick, and thanks to Quinn for the setup. That said, this isn’t a definitive sign of recovery for Seattle’s stagnant season. With three straight draws, they will still be winless since May 3, although they will face the beatable Utah Royals next weekend.

Previous ranking: 14

Next match: Sunday at Seattle Reign FC, 6 p.m. ET

Utah drew 0-0 with the fifth-place Portland Thorns this weekend. By all accounts, it was far from their weakest performance of the year. Yet for some reason, it was seen as the final straw for the owners, who pulled the plug on the first expansion team’s signing, Amy Rodriguez. The decision is strange, and the timing even stranger. The expansion club had focused on youth and building instead of big-name signings in its first season. Rodriguez didn’t have much room to maneuver.