NWSL teams are closing in on one month left to solidify a playoff spot. The fight to the finish has already intensified the level of competition, with last-minute goals, snapped unbeaten streaks and unexpected results playing out over the last two weeks.

In the third and final power rankings of August, the top six teams haven’t changed since the beginning of the month. But they’ve shuffled, a lot. Kansas City is making the biggest jump, rising from sixth to second over the course of the month. Meanwhile, the Portland Thorns fall to their lowest ranking of the year.

For the previous installment of JWS’ NWSL power rankings, click here.

12. NJ/NY Gotham FC (4-12-0) –

Five straight losses in August didn’t do Gotham any favors. Neither did the officials in their most recent game, as they failed to award Gotham a clear goal in the 12th minute and were later penalized for it by the Professional Referee Organization. Gotham would have taken a 1-0 early lead over Angel City FC if the goal had counted. Instead, they lost momentum and lost 3-1 on Sunday, a week after falling 2-1 to the Orlando Pride.

Ifeoma Onumonu sends a ball over the line for a Gotham goal BUT the referee calls a corner instead. 😱🤔 pic.twitter.com/U2i0CWaC5B

— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) August 28, 2022

11. Racing Louisville FC (2-7-8) -2

Racing Louisville played just one game since our last power rankings, a 4-0 loss to the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday. Giving up three scores in the first 23 minutes, Louisville conceded the most goals they have all season in their worst loss of the year. They haven’t won a game in three months.

10. Washington Spirit (1-6-10) –

In the last two weeks, the Washington Spirit played just one game, a 2-2 draw with the Houston Dash that brought their number of ties this season to 10. The Spirit didn’t dominate possession or shots on goal like they have in other draws, playing for the first time after the firing of head coach Kris Ward, whose relationships with players had reportedly been deteriorating. Washington capitalized on its strengths for a short, two-minute burst in the second half, when the attacking trio took charge. Ashley Hatch scored first off a Trinity Rodman cross, and again after a free kick from Ashley Sanchez.

9. North Carolina Courage (4-7-4) +2

The Courage were busy but productive in the last two weeks, earning six points across three games to jump from last to ninth place in the NWSL standings. On Aug. 24, they shattered the Thorns’ 11-game unbeaten streak in a 3-1 win. Four days earlier, they shut out the Chicago Red Stars 4-0. In their most recent match, the Kansas City Current took the 3-2 win, but the Courage controlled 51 percent of the possession and delivered 24 crosses.

Kero on a roll 😤@kerolinnicolii | #CourageUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/FlkAAJFjmV

— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) August 29, 2022

8. Orlando Pride (5-6-6) –

Before a 2-1 loss to OL Reign on Friday, the Pride hadn’t lost since the beginning of July. The week prior, they recorded an 84.7 percent passing accuracy and had eight shots on goal in a 2-1 win over Gotham FC. Neither performance was particularly strong, but based on their recent consistency, the playoffs aren’t out of the question for Orlando.

7. Angel City FC (7-5-4) –

Sitting in seventh place in the NWSL standings, Angel City remains in the running for the playoffs. A draw and a win in the last two weeks definitely helped their case. Beyond the results, Angel City would benefit from better passing — their accuracy was below 70 percent in both of those games — and more possession. Against Gotham, they had the ball just 38 percent of the time.

6. Chicago Red Stars (7-5-5) -1

The Red Stars have been a little all over the place lately. A week after losing to the Courage 4-0, they defeated Racing Louisville by the same scoreline on Saturday. The Red Stars had a hard time finding the net against the Courage, with only three of their 19 shots coming on goal. Against Louisville, they improved their possession to 54 percent with an 82 percent passing accuracy.

5. OL Reign (7-4-6) +1

In their only match since our last power rankings, OL Reign gained three points with a 2-1 win that snapped the Pride’s seven-game unbeaten streak. The Reign recorded a passing accuracy of 82 percent and outshot their opponents 15-8.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? 😱@mPinoe with a stoppage time stunner for @OLReign!#ORLvRGN | #BoldTogether pic.twitter.com/cVp1s0CJnd

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 27, 2022

4. Portland Thorns FC (7-3-7) -3

The Thorns failed to keep their 11-game unbeaten streak alive as they fell 3-1 to the Courage last Wednesday and were outperformed in almost every area, including passing accuracy, shots, crosses, blocks and tackles. Against San Diego on Saturday, the Thorns pressed in the second half and forced the Wave to defend, but it wasn’t enough in the 2-0 loss. As a result, Portland came out of the last two weeks with zero points.

3. Houston Dash (8-5-5) -1

A loss and a draw have Houston moving down a spot in this week’s power rankings. Despite scoring just seven minutes into their match against San Diego last week and creating chances in a scrappy performance, the Dash couldn’t hold onto their lead in the 3-1 loss. A week later against the Washington Spirit, the Dash narrowly managed a 2-2 draw, scoring their second goal in stoppage time.

2. Kansas City Current (8-4-5) +1

The Current refused to let the Courage snap their 12-game unbeaten streak, now tied for the second-longest in the league. They outshot North Carolina 12-8 with nine shots on goal in the 3-2 win. In their game before that, Kansas City took control, managing 53 percent of the possession and doubling up Angel City with 16 total shots in a 1-1 draw.

1. San Diego Wave FC (9-5-4) +3

The Wave closed out their last game at Torero Stadium on Aug. 20 in front of a sold-out crowd with a 3-1 over the Dash. They proceeded to defeat the Thorns 2-0 and showcase their improved possession and defending. The two victories served as redemption from two losses at the beginning of the month and launched the team back into first place, where they’ve been for most of the season.

Jessa Braun is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports covering the NWSL and USWNT. Follow her on Twitter @jessabraun.

Former Stanford leading-scorer Kiki Iriafen is set to join star rising sophomore JuJu Watkins at USC next year, reported ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday. 

The 6-foot-3 forward is coming off a breakout season with the Cardinal, where the then-junior led Stanford to the Sweet 16 with an average of 19.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Walking away with the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player award and a spot on the All-Pac-12 team, Iriafen entered the portal at the close of last season and was subsequently ranked second on ESPN’s 2024-2025 transfer ranking list.

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At USC, Iriafen will play out her senior year alongside the Women's Basketball Coaches Association’s 2024 National Freshman of the Year JuJu Watkins, forming what could be an explosive partnership for the Trojans as they look to build momentum going into next season. The Southern California side advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994 this year, ultimately falling to UConn in a heated 80-73 battle.

Iriafen wasn’t the only one making choices this past week. LSU guard Hailey Van Lith officially announced her own transfer to TCU on Friday, while Princeton standout Kaitlyn Chen committed to UConn for her final year of college eligibility. Other big names still weighing their options are Oregon State's Talia Von Oelhoffen and Raegan Beers, as well as UNC's Deja Kelly.

With conference realignment on the horizon and team fit a contending factor, the NCAA women's basketball transfer portal has been busier than ever. And while transfers can bolster many types of college programs, this particular offseason has seen talent-rich programs growing even richer.

Legendary WNBA superstar Candace Parker announced her retirement from professional basketball on Sunday, effective immediately.

"I promised I'd never cheat the game & that I'd leave it in a better place than I came into it," she wrote in an Instagram post. "The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it's time. My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it."

The Las Vegas Aces forward was in the midst of rehabbing a right ankle injury and a left foot fracture after missing part of the 2023 season.

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One of women's basketball's most prominent trailblazers, Parker popularized the play of a "big guard." A back-to-back NCAA National Championship winner with Tennessee, she was drafted No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008. She was named both WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year in her debut season with the league. 

Parker exits the pros a three-time WNBA champion, a two-time league MVP, seven-time WNBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and two-time NCAA champion, in addition to many more individual accolades. Throughout her 16-year career, she averaged 16 points, 8.5 rebounds, and four assists per game. She remains the only player in WNBA history to earn three WNBA titles with three different teams: LA in 2016, Chicago in 2021, and Las Vegas in 2023. 

In her announcement, the 38-year-old implied the physical toll of league play was a driving factor in her ultimate decision to walk away from the game, despite recently signing a one-year deal with Las Vegas.

"This offseason hasn’t been fun on a foot that isn’t cooperating," she wrote. "It’s no fun playing in pain (10 surgeries in my career) it’s no fun knowing what you could do, if only…it’s no fun hearing 'she isn’t the same' when I know why, it’s no fun accepting the fact you need surgery AGAIN.

"I’m grateful that for 16 years I PLAYED A GAME for a living & DESPITE all the injuries, I hooped," she continued. "I’m grateful for family, friends, teammates, coaches, doctors, trainers & fans who made this journey so special."

Fans weren’t the only ones shocked by Parker’s surprise retirement. In a reaction captured on video, Liberty forward Breanna Stewart responded to the news with a jaw-dropped, eyebrow-raised "What? Wow." 

Yet while the Naperville, Illinois native’s time on the court might be over, Parker says she isn't leaving the world of basketball anytime soon.

"This is the beginning," she wrote. "I’m attacking business, private equity, ownership (I will own both a NBA & WNBA team), broadcasting, production, boardrooms, beach volleyball, dominoes (sorry babe it’s going to get more real) with the same intensity & focus I did basketball."

USWNT stalwart Alex Morgan will miss at least one week of NWSL action after suffering a left ankle knock in her last club appearance, Wave manager Casey Stoney said on Thursday.

Morgan was helped off the field after rolling her ankle in the later stages of the Wave’s 1-0 loss to the Orlando Pride last weekend, despite the San Diego side being out of available substitutes.

“She's got an ankle injury and she's out for this weekend, and then it'll be week by week from there,” Stoney said, confirming that Morgan’s been ruled out for Saturday’s showdown with NWSL newcomer Bay FC.

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Depending on its severity, Morgan’s ankle issue might have larger ramifications than missing a few weeks of NSWL play. Morgan was added to the team's Gold Cup roster after an ACL injury sidelined young striker Mia Fishel, and she's since made a number of USWNT starts in the team's Gold Cup and SheBelieves wins. A long-term injury could potentially derail the center forward’s Olympic plans.

With her return timeline uncertain, it's possible the injury could also impact Morgan's ability to participate in new head coach Emma Hayes' first U.S. friendlies in June and July.

Morgan's injury concerns aren't uncommon in the U.S. player pool, but add a sense of urgency as Hayes eyes the NWSL for top-performing players in the upcoming weeks. Gotham's Tierna Davidson and Rose Lavelle have also been dealing with injuries: Lavelle has yet to appear for Gotham, while Davidson exited last weekend's match early with a hamstring injury.

Gotham has yet to issue an update concerning Davidson's status.

This week, legendary Brazilian superstar Marta announced that she’ll retire from the national team at the end of 2024.

In an interview with CNN Esportes published Thursday, the iconic footballer confirmed that she would be hanging up her boots regardless of whether or not she ends up making Brazil's 18-player roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

“If I go to the Olympics, I will enjoy every moment, because regardless of whether I go to the Olympics or not, this is my last year with the national team,” she said. “There is no longer Marta in the national team as an athlete from 2025 onwards.”

Marta will retire as a giant of the women's game, having appeared in five Olympics and multiple World Cups. When discussing her retirement, she stressed confidence in the rising generation of Brazilian players, noting that she was, “very calm about this, because I see with great optimism this development that we are having in relation to young athletes." 

The statement echoes back to a plea she made during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup after Brazil lost to France 2-1 in the Round of 16. “It's wanting more. It's training more. It's taking care of yourself more. It's being ready to play 90 plus 30 minutes. This is what I ask of the girls,” she said then, addressing the young players following in her footsteps. 

In 2023, she signaled a farewell to World Cup competition with the same sentiment, telling media, “We ask the new generation to continue where we left off.”

If selected for the 2024 Olympic team, Marta has a shot at extending her own consecutive-scoring record with the ability to score in an unbelievable sixth-straight Olympic Games. She currently stands as Brazil’s top goalscorer, racking up 116 career goals in 175 matches, as well as the leading goalscorer in any World Cup, women’s or men’s, with 17 to her name. 

Marta will continue to play for the NWSL’s Orlando Pride through at least the end of 2024. The longtime forward and club captain has already contributed to multiple goals this season.