The NWSL Shield will be claimed by either Gotham FC, San Diego Wave, or Washington Spirit.
At the same time, the last five playoff spots are still available, including the fourth seed and the chance for a home quarterfinal. Six teams have already been ruled out of contention.
NWSL Team Rankings as of October 20
1. San Diego Wave (+1) | 2-1 victory over NC Courage
San Diego Wave has now recorded five consecutive wins under coach Jonas Eidevall.
Following Dudinha’s unfortunate injury, the team has seen contributions from multiple players, notably with Melanie Barcenas delivering a spectacular long-range goal and Trinity Byars netting her 11th goal.
They’ve narrowed the race for the NWSL Shield to just one point.
What makes this team particularly formidable is their completeness—they rank third in expected goals (xG) generated, have conceded the fewest xG, and hold the second-best goal differential in the league.
2. Gotham FC (-1) | 0-1 defeat against Washington Spirit
Gotham FC, after securing their 13th clean sheet on August 23, has since allowed at least one goal in seven consecutive matches, culminating in a recent defeat to Washington Spirit.
What used to be a significant lead for the NWSL Shield is now almost gone.
Can they regain their footing? They possess the highest possession percentage and have generated the fifth-most xG, yet they have only scored 35 goals, which ties them for 13th in the league.
3. Washington Spirit | 1-0 win against Gotham FC
Mélissa Bethi provided a stunning assist, delivering a well-timed chip to Lucia Di Guglielmo for the decisive goal.
It was particularly noteworthy as it marked the first NWSL goal for the Italian defender, happening at a crucial moment.
Despite allowing the second-fewest goals in the league, there are concerns for the Spirit since they rank eighth in goals scored and ninth in xG generated.
Midfielder Leicy Santos made her return after a two-month injury layoff, potentially boosting their postseason prospects.
This victory against Gotham was especially sweet, as it was their first win over them since June 23, 2024.
4. Angel City FC | 3-2 victory at Denver Summit
Despite facing an early challenge with two goals conceded within the first 18 minutes, Angel City FC rallied to score three unanswered goals for a crucial away win.
Defenders Evelyn Shores and Gisele Thompson were instrumental, combining for three assists, while Sveindís Jónsdóttir, Taylor Suarez, and Ally Sentnor each found the net.
Despite the rocky start, ACFC finished with more xG (2.03 to 0.99), more shots (18 to 6), and greater touches in the opposition’s box (20 to 11).
With a solid mix of attack and defense, Angel City FC remains unbeaten in their last eight matches.
5. Kansas City Current | 2-0 win at Utah Royals
I think the only issue with this KC Current team is their inconsistent away form. However, their latest victory over Utah could signal a turning point.
In that match against the Royals, they really stepped up, claiming their third consecutive win and becoming only the second team to hit 50 goals this season.
Haley Hopkins has been working seamlessly with Temwa Chawinga during counterattacks, which has proven quite effective. She’s reached a career-best 11 goals this season.
Can any team really counter those two on breakaways?
6. Utah Royals | 0-2 defeat against KC Current
Despite still being in playoff contention, the Utah Royals have had a tough time maintaining consistency as their last consecutive wins came way back on July 25.
Compounding their struggles, their record against playoff teams stands at a disappointing 3-7-2.
7. Seattle Reign (+2) | 3-1 win at Chicago Stars
The Seattle Reign, led by Laura Harvey, have won two of their last three games, which has pushed them above the playoff line.
After losing young star Maddie Dahlien, they bounced back impressively with a 3-1 win over Chicago Stars.
Maddie Mercado stood out in this game, scoring her first brace of the season. Reaching 10 goals this season, she’s the first player since Megan Rapinoe in 2017 to achieve the milestone.
8. Portland Thorns (-1) | 2-2 draw at Bay FC
Portland has now managed just one win in their last seven games, which is quite disappointing for a team that had a relatively manageable schedule following the summer international break.
In the draw against Bay FC, they handed away two goals due to errors, having been the less dominant side in possession.
If they manage to secure a playoff spot, they will be the only team with a negative goal differential.
9. North Carolina Courage (-2) | 1-2 defeat against San Diego Wave
With their season in jeopardy, North Carolina has unfortunately lost four of their last five matches.
Their woes against top-tier teams are evident, with a record of 4-7-2 against playoff contenders this season and only one victory over a top-four team.
Could it be that the highest-scoring team in NWSL, with 51 goals, risks missing out on the playoffs? They’re facing Portland Thorns next.
10. Boston Legacy (+1) | 2-1 win against Racing Louisville
Boston Legacy celebrated a solid follow-up to their surprising upset of Portland with a 2-1 victory over Racing Louisville in their final home game.
The outlook appears promising for head coach Filipa Patão and her NWSL expansion team. If general manager Domè Guasch can make the right moves in the offseason, they might be a playoff contender by 2027.
11. Orlando Pride (+1) | 2-1 victory at Houston Dash
Imagine scoring your first professional goal with an assist from none other than Marta—Solai Washington did just that.
Interim coach Yolanda Thomas has now led Orlando Pride to two wins in their last three matches.
All eyes will be on Caitlin Carducci, the Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager, as she heads the search for the team’s next head coach.
12. Denver Summit FC (-2) | 2-3 loss against ACFC
Denver Summit faced another tough defeat, this time after blowing a two-goal lead early in the game, conceding three goals without a response.
They’ll need to focus on defense this winter, having given up the sixth-most xG and ninth most goals in the season.
13. Houston Dash | 1-2 defeat against Orlando Pride
The Houston Dash have managed only one win in their last eight games.
14. Bay FC | 2-2 draw against Portland Thorns
Bay FC proved to be a strong contender against Portland Thorns, managing to generate higher xG (2.03-1.53) despite finishing the game in a draw.
Looking forward, Chief Football Officer Paul Green has reason for optimism as Karlie Lema showcased her skills with two assists and Kennedy Fuller scored a standout goal.
15. Racing Louisville | 1-2 loss at Boston Legacy
Racing Louisville has not seen a win since August 19, encountering an eight-game winless streak.
With likely changes in the offseason, could we see more players depart the club?
16. Chicago Stars | 1-3 defeat against Seattle Reign
The Chicago Stars have struggled, suffering their last six defeats by two or more goals and managing just one draw in their past seven matches.
