CARY, NORTH CAROLINA - JULY 04: Ashley Sanchez #2 of North Carolina Courage celebrates with teammate Evelyn Ijeh #10 after scoring the team's first goal during the NWSL match between North Carolina Courage and Seattle Reign at First Horizon Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Cary, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images Matchweek 16 of the NWSL, truly had it all. There were stoppage-time winners, upsets, and superstars rising to the occasion. Which teams made the biggest leaps and who took a detour? Our latest power rankings: 16. Chicago Stars | 0-0 draw vs Bay FC More changes are coming for Chicago Stars as head coach Martin Sjögren and assistant coach Anders Jacobson are parting ways with the club. Karina Báez is set to takeover interim head coach, Nicole Lukic is joining as an assistant coach after serving as head coach of USL Spokane Zephyr FC, and Lorne Donald returns as interim director of coaching.
Karina Báez will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2026 season. Báez has served as an assistant coach for the Stars for three seasons and has extensive experience in various technical roles, including as a head coach abroad. In addition, Lorne Donaldson returns… pic.twitter.com/y0QivNU6Ng — Chicago Stars FC (@theChicagoStars) August 12, 2026
15. Bay FC (-1) | 0-0 draw at Chicago Stars The Jenna Nighswonger move adds to the talented young core that Bay FC is building.
It's official. She's coming back to Cali! Bay FC has acquired defender Jenna Nighswonger from Arsenal WFC. pic.twitter.com/Iv38SyZfrf — Bay Football Club (@wearebayfc) August 10, 2026
Unfortunately, team’s current attack has reached a drought, being shutout for the third time in four matches. 14. Houston Dash (-1) | 1-1 draw vs KC Current Kat Rader continues to make a case for Rookie of the Year. The rookie converted the penalty spot to salvage a 1-1 draw at the fortress of CPKC Stadium. 13. Racing Louisville (+2) | 3-1 win at Orlando Pride That’s now three wins in their last four for Bev Yanez and Racing Louisville. An emphatic 3-1 win in Orlando with a brace from Emma Sears and a first professional goal for Audrey McKeen.
EMMA SEARS BRACE 🤯 Emma Sears is on a roll tonight and makes it 3-0 for Racing! pic.twitter.com/MX7TZGjVWw — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 8, 2026
How much ground can they make up until the end of the season? 12. Boston Legacy | 3-4 loss vs Portland Thorns Outside of the first 10 disastrous minutes, the Boston Legacy dominated this match. Regrettably, they made history in the wrong direction by conceded three goals in the least amount of time… There’s going to be a lot of road bumps for a young expansion side and this was one of those moments.
11. Orlando Pride (-1) | 1-3 loss vs Racing Louisville What just happened? They’ve officially hit rock bottom on the 2026 season. The Orlando Pride have now dropped four of their past five matches. 10. Denver Summit (+1) | 2-1 win vs Utah Royals Janine Sonis is having her career season with 11 goal contributions (eight goals and three assists). In the 2-1 upset win over Utah Royals, she had one goal and assist, including the stoppage-time winner.
A stoppage-time BEAUTY for Janine Sonis' eighth of the season 🤌 pic.twitter.com/YZivKYiLvD — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 9, 2026
Where would this team be without her? Definitely not in the playoff picture. If Sonis isn’t on MVP lists already, she is now. 9. Angel City FC | 2-2 draw at Seattle Reign ACFC have now picked up consecutive road draws at Kansas City Current and Seattle Reign. Additionally, Gisele Thompson continues to unlock a new level to her game.
GISELE THOMPSON FINISHES IT HERSELF 😤 Angel City take the lead against the Seattle Reign on ESPN and the ESPN App 👀 pic.twitter.com/Io4DcClq0r — ESPN (@espn) August 10, 2026
8. Seattle Reign (-1) | 2-2 draw vs ACFC Mia Fishel now has four goal contributions in the last four games. If she has finally arrived and this is the player Seattle Reign will get the rest of the season? Watch out as they could very well climb the table.
SOMEBODY GET THE NET 🎣 MIA FISHEL JUST CAUGHT A BANGER. pic.twitter.com/7qpLpXP1DU — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 10, 2026
Even after going three unbeaten with the 2-2 draw at home vs ACFC, they’ll feel like they left some points after that match. 7. Portland Thorns (+1) | 4-3 win at Boston Legacy The good news? Pietra Tordin has taken over the lead in the NWSL for goal contributions with 15 (7 goals and 8 assists) with her first professional hat trick. Sophia Wilson moved into the top five in the league with her ninth goal. PTFC also ended their five match road losing streak.
The bad news? The defense continues their collapse and have now conceded 14 goals in the last five games. 6. Kansas City Current (-1) | 1-1 draw at Houston Dash KC Current completely dominated the first half before taking their foot of the gas in the second half. They were outplayed by the Dash in the final 45 minutes and stoppage, mustering an xG of just 0.48 compared to 1.42, including the late penalty kick concession. Their superstar, Temwa Chawinga and Malawi continue to make history at WAFCON. Now the entire world will know how truly special the two-time NWSL MVP is on the biggest stage of them all, the World Cup.
FIRST-EVER WAFCON. FIRST-EVER FINAL. 🔥🇲🇼 Temwa & Malawi are in the #WAFCON final in their tournament debut 🤯 (via @CAFwomen) pic.twitter.com/5cGIaFgCG7 — KC Current (@thekccurrent) August 12, 2026
5. San Diego Wave (-1) | 0-1 loss at Gotham FC A brutal back-to-back where they played NWSL favorites Gotham FC and Washington Spirit, both on the road. San Diego Wave could not pull off a second upset. Finding three points in these two games is massive. However, they’ve now been shutout three times in the last five matches, struggling to find consistency in attack without Dudinha. 4. Utah Royals (-1) | 1-2 loss at Denver Summit A late equalizer from defender Tatumn Milazzo in the 89th minute was not enough to secure a road result for Utah Royals. URFC had more xG (2.09-1.01), possession (53%-47%), shots (18-12), and just couldn’t find the back of the net more. 3. Washington Spirit (-1) | 3-4 loss vs NC Courage What will everyone remember? The nightmare of the first 15 minutes, conceding three goals. Although, the Washington Spirit clawed all the way back in the second half, before allowing a late winner. That’s now two straight losses, both coming at home… 2. North Carolina Courage (+4) | 4-3 win at Washington Spirit Ashley Sanchez and Evelyn Ijeh have combined for 20 goals on the season. After dropping three matches, NC Courage have responded with three straight wins – in that span they’ve outscored their opponents 11-3. Although they are only sixth in the NWSL table, North Carolina have a game in hand, having only played 18 games. Also, captain Natalie Jacobs scoring the stoppage-time winner in second half stoppage time? Wow.
🚨 CENTERBACK GOAL 🚨 Captain Natalie Jacobs in the FINAL minutes steals the lead back for the Courage! pic.twitter.com/5ThQezvXRn — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 9, 2026
1. Gotham FC | 1-0 win vs San Diego Wave 12 clean sheet in 19 games. Three consecutive 1-0 wins. The Bats are up to seven games unbeaten. And another Golazo from Jaedyn Shaw.
Jaedyn Shaw had that perfect bend on it 🤌 Jaedyn Shaw puts Gotham FC ahead 1-0! pic.twitter.com/EHvrEechBB — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 8, 2026