NWSL Power Rankings: Utah keeps spot at the top as...

It's Monday and the 2026 NWSL regular season is well underway, which means it's time for ESPN's Power Rankings. Who's set for a climb up the table? Who's in danger of a free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 10 to come up with this week's order of all 16 teams in the league. Let's dive in. Previous ranking: 1 Next match: at at Chicago Stars, July 5, 5 p.m. ET After controlling much of the attacking momentum and leading for nearly the entire second half, the Royals ultimately drew Portland 2-2 at Providence Park. Kiana Palacios notched an equalizer after Utah went down early, and a Mina Tanaka-Cloé Lacasse connection put them ahead in the 49th minute, effectively ending Portland's seven-game home shutout streak. Despite extending their unbeaten streak to 10, the Royals likely walked away from this one with mixed feelings. They conceded a penalty kick in stoppage time to drop points after goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn was called for an eight-second violation, the Thorns were awarded a corner, and Alexa Spaanstra committed a foul in the box. Previous ranking: 2 Next match: vs. Houston Dash, July 3, 8 p.m. ET Coming off last weekend's 2025-26 Concacaf W Champions Cup final loss, the Spirit secured a 2-1 win against Seattle at home to notch their sixth win in seven regular-season games. Leicy Santos put away a free kick from distance in the 18th minute to give her team the lead, but a Lucia Di Guglielmo own-goal had the visitors on the board just before the break. The second half was mostly back and forth, with Washington finally breaking through after Hal Hershfelt received the ball in the middle of the pitch, ate up the mile of space the Reign afforded her, and slotted a shot from distance past goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. It was an impressive defensive performance from the Spirit, who held Seattle to 0.53 expected goals and just two shots on target. Previous ranking: 3 Next match: at San Diego Wave, July 4, 8:45 p.m. ET Gotham beat Houston 1-0 at home thanks to a Jordynn Dudley stunner. Center back Tierna Davidson played a lofted ball over the top of the Dashn defense, and Dudley juked out her defender before sailing a strike past goalkeeper Jane Campbell. Although Gotham commanded 60% possession, registered 32 touches in the Houston 18-yard box and managed 15 shots, many of those chances were low quality. That is, Gotham only managed to post 0.89 expected goals. Still, the NJ/NY defense held the Dash to only six shots all game and seven touches in the box. And as long as the other team doesn't score, it's hard to lose games. Case in point: Gotham haven't lost in six games and have only conceded one goal in that stretch. Previous ranking: 5 Next match: vs. Gotham FC, July 4, 8:45 p.m. ET The Wave dominated Chicago 2-0 to secure the top spot in the standings heading into the World Cup break. San Diego came out hot, needing just three minutes to find the back of the net. Rookie Lia Godfrey found Dudinha all alone on the left flank, and Dudinha needed just one touch to slot home the Wave's first goal. Despite being held to a single goal until late in second-half stoppage time, San Diego overran Chicago in nearly every category. It recorded 47 touches in the Stars' 18-yard box and generated 2.58 expected goals off of 17 shots. After a Chicago equalizer was called back thanks to VAR in stoppage time, Trinity Byars added an insurance goal to seal the Wave's fourth win against Chicago in as many matches. Previous ranking: 6 Next match: at Denver Summit, July 3, 9:30 p.m. ET Kansas City's impressive run of form continued in Week 10 as it eked out a win against Boston 1-0 at home. The breakthrough goal was scored in the 68th minute by none other than Temwa Chawinga, who notched her seventh goal in her past five games. Chawinga's score ultimately helped KC extend their home unbeaten run to a league-record 23 games. To make this even more impressive, the Current managed their 10th consecutive home win -- and third shutout of the season -- despite the loss of starting center back Kayla Sharples to injury shortly after the game started. Previous ranking: 7 Next match: Seattle Reign, July 4, 6:30 p.m. ET The Courage beat Angel City at BMO Stadium by a 2-1 scoreline to close out the weekend. After a back-and-forth first half, midfielder Ashley Sanchez ignited the North Carolina attack in the second period. Driving up the field, she played Manaka Matsukubo centrally, who threaded the needle through the hosts' defense, teeing up Evelyn Ijeh for her third goal in as many games. Sanchez was also directly involved in the Courage's go-ahead goal, when she drove into space and played Riley Jackson, who ultimately pinged the ball through to Manaka before the Japan international slotted it home. When Sanchez is on fire, North Carolina's attack looks unstoppable. Ali Krieger, Cristina Alexander and Jeff Kassouf debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights from women's soccer in the A

NWSL Power Rankings: Utah keeps spot at the top as...

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