The 2026 NWSL regular season is dialing up the line of the postseason and only a few teams are answering the call. There is just one more matchday for all 16 clubs, till Decision Day on November 1, with the postseason waiting behind it. That means there's plenty of time to shake things up on my power rankings.
It feels like every game carries playoff positioning stakes, and the power trends between teams show it. The rankings have shifted all season, so if you're trying to keep track of where your favorite team lands, here are my previous rankings. Washington Spirit kept the NWSL Shield race interesting in their meeting against Gotham FC, while San Diego Wave haven't lost pace for the title either, but their place in the power rankings differs from what the league table tells me.
Those clubs fighting for a title, a playoff seed, or just a lifeline all together is what makes this such a fascinating time of year. Below that trio of shield-contending teams is a gloriously ugly scramble. Only five playoff spots remain, and clubs aren't separated by many points in the league, but in my power rankings, they definitely differentiate by vibes and form, so everybody better watch out for Kansas City Current and Angel City when the playoffs do start.
Gotham's injury woes feel like they're finally catching up to them, Portland's steady slump without Sophia Wilson is no surprise, and North Carolina Courage are on the verge of missing out on the postseason with the league's most lethal forward, proving that not even the hottest goal scorer can do it alone. Joining North Carolina outside the playoff line is Denver Summit, and while they might be mathematically in contention, in the spirit of the rankings, they're crashing out on the power incline.
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