NWSL Power Rankings: 2025 season nears as Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit eye title game return

1.

Orlando Proud

Under the leadership of manager Seb Hines, Orlando 2025 arrives as a reigning NWSL Shield winners and NWSL Championship winners, and general director Haley Carter made sure they were still stacked as last season. Marta and Ally Watt return with Barbra Banda in attack, and even with a number of turnover out of season, the pride is depth. Adriana will be missed, but a healthy Morgan Gautrat, Rafaelle and Grace Chanda in the mix can again mean a strong season.

2.

Washington Spirit

Fresh from a 2025 Challenge Cup Championship, head coach Jonatan Giraldez has his first NWSL trophy after he arrived at the sidelines last summer. General manager Mark Kirkorian was just as busy building a selection without a university design and brought promising first -year pros in combination with experienced international players Rebeca Bernal and Kyssa Sylla.

3.

Kansas City Current

Head coach and sports director Vlatko Andonovski and General Manager Caitlin Carducci held the majority of the schedule together before 2025. MVP and Golden Boot -winner Temwa Chawinga will be the star of the show, but the return of Bia Zaneratto’s STETENTOUR would even be more open.

4.

NJ./ny Gotham FC

The party had an eventful outdoor season that saw the departure of several players and sent a little online panic for the state of the NWSL champions of 2023. But the truth is that the selection still has the inputs of a play -off candidate. USWNT players Emily Sonnett and Tierna Davidson will probably lead the team on the field if Rose Lavelle recovers from an injury. The franchise has re -signed Midge Purce to a one -year -old deal and added Brazilian international Gabi Portilho who can stimulate the attack next to Ella Stevens and Esther Gonzalez.

5.

North Carolina courage

The courage has made back-to-back playoff performances, but did not succeed in going beyond the quarterfinals. Their movements outside the season can indicate that 2025 will be different. They lost Brazil International Kerolin and Japan International Narumi Miura, but when they waved, they took over uswnt midfielder Jaedyn Shaw. They also expanded Manaka Matsukubo and added her U20 teammate Shinomi Koyama. If Shaw can quickly develop chemistry with Ashley Sanchez, things will be clear to North Carolina.

6.

Seattle Reign FC

The 2024 season is located in the rearview mirror after a sale. Head coach Laura Harvey and general director Leslie Galimore want to ensure that the reign comes back to their competition-rusting days. After missing the play -offs for the first time since 2018, management made a large trade with Gotham FC for USWNT attacker Lynn Biyendolo (formerly Williams) and goalkeeper Cassie Miller. If the veterans in the team can help the first and second-year players in development, they will return to the play-offs.

7.

Utah Royals FC

The royals had an impressive second half of the season in 2024 and jumped three places in the competition table after fighting for the last place after the majority of the year. Rookie Ally Sentnor had a Breakout season and international Mina Tanaka and Ana Tejada were stable additions. Now head coach Jimmy Coenraets has a full season with the team for him, with new signing sessions Aisha Solórzano, Nuria Rábano and Alex Loera in the mix for 2025.

8.

Houston Dash

Houston is high on its own and they should be. The club made large movements in the low season and signed USWNT Vooruit Yazmeen Ryan, Delanie Sheehan, Messias Bright and Danielle Colaprico. If the new head coach Fabrice Gautrat Diana Ordonez can help return to the form of a shoulder injury, the dashboard will be a problem this year.

9.

Racing Louisville FC

Head Coach Bev Yanez will have many attacking options in year two as a manager. Forwards Bethany Balcer and Janine Sonis will have a full season ahead of making an impact after the end of the mid -season in 2024 and Emma Sears will be an important player after several camp experiences with the USWNT. Will this be racing the year, finally come from ninth place?

10.

Bay FC

Fresh from an inaugural season with a postseas appearing, the Bay Area side also rings in the new year with newspaper heads with a study by coaching staff into a “poisonous culture and communication problems”. As far as talent on the Roster is concerned, there is plenty back in Racheal Kundanji and Asisat Oshoala, and Bay FC signed Topcollege -Voorzijken Hannah Beberbar and Taylor Huff. Adding veteran defender Kelli Hble to the mix can give the team more to work with this season.

11.

Portland Thorns FC

Difficult to count every team with Sophia Wilson (formerly Smith), but the USSWNT attacker recently announced her pregnancy and misses the season when she steps into motherhood. You add significant seasonal injuries to several players and hope and dreams fall on second -year players and newly acquired addition to the first year. Head coach Rob Gale will have to get the best from Olivia Moultrie from an injury and a breakout year from other attackers to keep things competitive.

12.

Angel City FC

I cannot be in the rebuilding mode if you were not completely built in the beginning, but Angel City seems to be at the least some blueprints. They hired a sports director and title-winning machine in former NWSL head coach Mark Parsons who takes the time to get the right coaching. For now, Sam Laity Interim is and will be given the task of managing veterans minutes while helping young players in development. Many of the team from 2024 return and missing play -offs last year (partly because of points that have been moored) the team can continue to motivate this year.

13.

Chicago Stars FC

Things look pretty grim on the defensive side of things for Chicago with only three completely healthy defenders. A lack of heather defenders gives head coach Lorne Donaldson a difficult scenario, because his tactic depends on organized form and fast counters. There is currently no update, but it is possible to manage the 2025 season without Mal Swanson will place the stars exactly where many expected them to be last year – near the bottom.

14.

San Diego Wave FC

The Golf has not been removed from their early steps to rebuild the reconstruction after negotiating the sale of USWNT defender Naomi Girma and a course for Shaw during the low season. New head coach Jonas Eidevall will have several young pieces to build, although that can take time. Trinity Armstrong and Trinity Byars are exciting new faces for NWSL, and veteran internationals Adriana Leon and Kenza Dali can help with any gaps in experience.