There wasn’t a ton of movement in the Power Rankings this week. The poles stayed the same and a few teams shifted between them, with the Courage winning twice this week, Racing Louisville nabbing their second win of the season, and OL Reign (after a rocky start) getting a decisive win over Chicago.

Get the popcorn ready for Saturday, because we’re wrapping up the week with all 10 of the league’s teams in action.

10. Kansas City (–)

Things aren’t getting any better for Kansas and they still don’t have a win. They’ll continue to be the underdogs in every game they play, and they’ll probably need a few signings to get things on track.

9. Chicago Red Stars (-1) 

Chicago conceded in the first minute to OL Reign on Tuesday, and the game was pretty much over after that. Something culturally seems to be off in Chicago because the individual talent is certainly there.

8. Houston Dash (-1)

The Dash have not started the season the way they wanted to (or the way anyone expected them to). They have a prime opportunity against the Orlando Pride this weekend to try and right the ship and prove they’re still contenders. 

7. Racing Louisville (+2)

Racing Louisville are by no means the best team in the league, but they come out every week and compete. They can also feel optimistic that they’re making good signings as Ebony Salmon made her NWSL debut and scored (in the same minute) in their 1-0 win over the Dash last weekend.

6. OL Reign (–)

The Reign came out to prove all the doubters wrong on Tuesday with a dominant performance in their win over Chicago. I’m not sure that warrants us forgetting their early season woes yet, but they do have a favorable stretch of games coming up

5. Gotham FC (-1)

Caprice Dydasco got the first goal of her NWSL career and Gotham tied league-leading Orlando last weekend. While they had the better of the possession, it didn’t amount to many chances, and the Orlando press got them into some dicey moments early on.

4. North Carolina Courage (+1)

With two straight wins this week, the Courage finally found a small bit of consistency to complement the firepower we all know is there. Lynn Williams scored two and assisted another in that stretch. If they can beat the Thorns this weekend, the Courage are no doubt a top-two team.

3. Washington Spirit (–)

A 93’ penalty doomed the Spirit from joining the Pride at the top of the points table last weekend. They still have plenty of reasons to be happy however, and Trinity Rodman’s upside and star power are two of them.

2. Portland Thorns (–)

Portland did not have a midweek game, but they did take down a struggling Kansas City side last weekend. While the scoreline was only 1-0, it would have been much worse if not for some worldly saves from Abby Smith.

1. Orlando Pride (–)

Sydney Leroux is playing some of the best soccer of her career. A draw and a win keeps Orlando at the top of the power rankings and top of the table as the only unbeaten team in the league. 

The NWSL is changing up its athlete acquisition process, with the league announcing on Wednesday that it will replace the CBA-eliminated draft with a pair of player combines starting this December.

Dividing prospects into two groups — adults and college-aged (U18-23) and youth (U13-17) — the three-day programs will showcase player talent and allow clubs to sign standouts as free agents.  

To maintain competitive balance across the NWSL and set incoming 2026 expansion teams Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC up for success, the league already revised several roster-building mechanisms, including adopting a new allocation money structure as well as intra-league loans.

Like the abolishment of the draft and the new mechanism requiring athletes to acquiesce to their own trades, the new NWSL combines will give players more freedom over their careers while also better aligning the growing US league with global soccer standards.

"As the women's soccer landscape continues to rapidly evolve, a Combine is a strategic platform that will allow us to support NWSL clubs in early talent evaluation and provide players with exposure to a professional environment," said league director of youth development Karla Thompson in Wednesday's statement.

"This initiative is about widening the lens...and ensuring that talent, wherever it resides, has a continued pathway to our league."

Despite falling from the playoffs on Wednesday night, Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase is still ending her season on a win, with the WNBA naming the first-year expansion team sideline boss the 2025 Coach of the Year this week.

Nakase picked up 53 out of the sports media panel's 72 votes to take the title, with fellow sideline rookie Karl Smesko (Atlanta Dream) trailing with 15 votes while veteran leaders Becky Hammon (Las Vegas Aces) and Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) tied for third place with two votes apiece.

"What this does, is it reflects on [our] whole organization," said Nakase, sharing credit with her team and staff. "Without [the players], we wouldn't have had a winning season and we wouldn't be where I am today now."

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Golden State made WNBA expansion history under Nakase

In leading Golden State to a 23-21 regular season — a league record for wins by an expansion team in their first campaign — Nakase also minted the Valkyries as the first-ever expansion franchise to make the WNBA Playoffs in their debut season.

That success came from the team's strong defense, as the Valkyries held opponents to a league-wide low in both points per game (76.3) and field goal percentage (40.5%) on the year.

Before joining the Valkyries, Nakase served as an assistant coach in Las Vegas, helping guide the Aces to back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.

"Natalie has been a fierce leader from the very moment she was announced as head coach," said Golden State GM Ohemaa Nyanin. "Her core philosophy of connectivity and emphasis on high character has created an environment where everyone can thrive. Her unique approach to leadership and ability to hold players accountable with care while staying true to her values has been remarkable."

"I love playing for a fiery coach who always wants to win and believes in her players so much," said Valkyries — and former Aces — guard Kate Martin.

The new WNBA home-away-home first-round format has upped the dramatics in the 2025 Playoffs, as multiple home-court upsets have forced Game 3 deciders this week.

The No. 6 Indiana Fever's Game 2 win over No. 3 Atlanta set up Thursday's elimination game, with the injury-riddled Fever taking down the Dream 77-60 on Tuesday to keep their playoff dreams alive.

The No. 7 Seattle Storm also earned themselves a Game 3, facing No. 2 Las Vegas in Thursday's nightcap after snapping the Aces' 17-game winning streak in Tuesday's 86-83 Game 2 shocker.

Indiana and Seattle remain the series' underdogs, ceding home-court advantage as Atlanta aims to build on their first playoff win since 2016 while Las Vegas shoots for a third title in four years.

"Our backs were definitely against the wall in this, and we know that we've just been through so much this season," Fever center Aliyah Boston said postgame. "Coming out with this win and then giving ourselves another chance in Game 3, emotions are high."

How to watch Game 3 action in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs

The first round's Game 3 finales begin with two winner-take-all matchups on Thursday night, beginning when the No. 6 Indiana Fever tackles the No. 3 Atlanta Dream at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2.

Shortly afterward, the No. 6 Seattle Storm will take on the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces, also airing live on ESPN2.

The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx became the first WNBA team to punch their ticket to the 2025 semifinals with a dramatic come-from-behind win on Wednesday night, fighting back from a 17-point deficit to sneak past the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries 75-74 and sweep their first-round playoffs series.

Bolstered by a strong crowd traveling down to San Jose for the relocated home matchup, the Valkyries broke out into an early lead, but the 2025 expansion side couldn't hang on in the final seconds as the top-seeded Lynx rallied.

"I am just so proud of our effort," Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier said postgame. "I think it shows the grit and the resilience that this team has and what we've been talking about for two years."

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The Lynx secured the only sweep in this year's best-of-three opening postseason round, with every other series moving to a Game 3 decider.

"The games that we've watched demonstrate that level of desperation for teams in elimination games," Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve reflected.

How to watch the Minnesota Lynx in the 2025 WNBA semifinals

The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx will next face the lowest seed to advance past this week's first round, with Thursday and Friday Game 3 action determining their opponent.

The 2025 WNBA semifinals will then tip off on Sunday, with live coverage airing on ESPN platforms.