10. Kansas City — 

Kansas City now has two wins under their belt and are as close as they’ve ever been to escaping the bottom of the table. Kristen Hamilton has been a fantastic addition and has completely energized this team.

9. Racing Louisville — 

Every week it feels like there’s a new NWSL controversy and this week, Louisville is providing the drama. Christy Holly is out as coach, and the momentum the team had after winning the Women’s Cup feels all but gone. How they will respond is anyone’s guess.

8. Gotham FC (-4)

Four losses and a tie in their last five matches. Add that to the premature departure of head coach Freya Coombe, and this team will have to hope a new staff and fresh energy will reignite a squad that for a while looked like a playoff lock. 

7. Houston Dash (+1)

The Dash look great one game and then falter the next. Their inconsistency is keeping them just outside the playoff picture, but with a few tweaks, and they’ll be back in the conversation. Kristie Mewis, Rachel Daly and Shea Groom are still looking for that steady spark they had in last year’s Challenge Cup.

6. Chicago Red Stars — 

The Red Stars are settling in to a comfortable role in the middle of the table. They aren’t the best team in the league, but they also aren’t the worst. “Own Goal” hasn’t gotten on the scoresheet in a few games, so the team will hope that Kealia Watt and Mallory Pugh can continue to find the back of the net. 

5. Washington Spirit — 

The Spirit have two tough games coming up against OL Reign and the Thorns. If they can get results in either of those, they’ll move up this list. The defense and goalkeeping has been fairly sound, and Ashley Sanchez has had an impressive run. She still needs some production help up top, however.

Ashley Sanchez hit the late winner for @WashSpirit in style 🚀

(via @NWSL)pic.twitter.com/s9lGJhuc2J

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 23, 2021

4. Orlando Pride (-1)

The Pride seem to be back on the up under Becky Burleigh. They’re finding goals from lots of different players and the Jodie Taylor signing has paid off quickly. Ashlyn Harris also broke the NWSL save record on a 3-point preserving block on Carli Lloyd, continuing her fantastic form on the season. 

3. NC Courage (-1)

A-ROD seems to have finally settled in, and the defense has cleaned up its act. They’ll no doubt miss Sam Mewis as she recovers from surgery, especially as the midfield still feels a bit shaky, but the team is in good form heading into their game against KC WoSo.

2. Portland Thorns (-1)

A bit harsh to drop the Thorns down a notch considering they still top the table and have only lost one match in their last five. And they won the ICC Cup. But they’ve now lost twice to OL Reign this season. And they can’t afford to let their latest stepback derail them. 

1. OL Reign (+6)

These are power rankings for a reason, and no team is hotter right now than OL Reign. They set the NWSL attendance record all while beating their rivals at home. Then they went on the road three days later and beat the Dash. Could all that star power finally be clicking? And more importantly, can it last? 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

The NWSL is expanding its footprint across ESPN, with the broadcaster signing on to carry 16 additional regular-season games in both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, upping the platform's total to 33 matches per year.

ESPN will also introduce a season-long "Match of the Week" centerpiece series, as well as live coverage of NWSL Decision Day, when eight concurrent matches will close out the season on the same day. 

"The NWSL showcases some of the best athletes in the world," ESPN EVP of programming and acquisitions Rosalyn Durant said in a press release. "We are proud to increase our commitment on ABC and ESPN, and to further elevate women's sports and the athlete stories."

This media rights extension builds on the league's ongoing blockbuster four-year, $240 million TV deal with ESPN, adding inventory for the final two seasons of the November 2023 agreement.

The deal expansion comes in light of the league's significant growth this season, with the NWSL seeing gains across both attendance and viewership, including a 72% year-over-year ratings rise on ESPN.

"This supplemental agreement underscores the growing demand for women's soccer and ensures our players and clubs receive the visibility they deserve on some of the most prominent sports platforms," said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman in a statement.

The 2025 WNBA season is over for Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, but the 23-year-old star is still making headlines, with Reebok set to drop her signature Angel Reese 1 sneakers on Thursday.

The Angel Reese 1 is a cornerstone of Reebok's re-entry into the basketball market, with the sportswear giant engineering the signature shoe for on-court performance by including features like responsive cushioning and added upper support.

Inspired by the brand's classic Mobius line, the shoes will hit the shelves in three colorways — an iridescent white "Diamond Dust," a bold pink "Mebounds," and a black and white "Receipts Ready" — with Reese's personal logo incorporated into the design.

Reese first signed with Reebok as an NIL athlete at LSU in 2023, a little over six months after winning the NCAA championship with the Tigers.

This week's rollout follows the July sneak peek of the signature sneakers worn by Reese on the cover of NBA 2K26's WNBA Edition.

"This isn't just a shoe, it's my style, my story, and my stamp on the game," Reese said in Reebok's press release. "I wanted to design a basketball shoe that elevates performance, innovation, style, and creative expression, all at once."

"Reebok and I built something that's true to who I am, and I hope it pushes others to stand in their power too."

How to buy the Angel Reese 1 Reebok sneakers

All three colorways of the Angel Reese 1 sneakers will be available for a retail price of $120 beginning at 10 AM ET on Thursday at Reebok.com as well as in select stores.

No. 5 New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart isn't letting Sunday's left knee knock take her off the 2025 WNBA Playoffs court, with the forward planning to compete in Game 2 against the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday night.

An emotional Stewart finished Game 1 on the bench, going down with a knee injury in overtime of the Liberty's 76-69 upset win over the Mercury on Sunday.

"What I felt in that moment scared me more than anything," Stewart told reporters on Wednesday morning.

A Monday MRI revealed a sprained MCL, and though the two-time WNBA MVP did not practice on Tuesday, she participated in the team's Wednesday shootaround and said her pain had diminished to a three out of 10.

"[As long as] I don't wake up from my nap and feel like s—t," said Stewart, "I'm willing to take that [chance of re-injury] because I want to be out with my team, and they told me that structurally everything looks OK."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Even when the game-day status for Stewart was still unknown, New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello promised that the defending champions would give their star "as much time as we can."

"We know what's at stake," Brondello told reporters on Tuesday. "We don't want to go back to Phoenix [for Game 3], but they're going to come in hungry."

Stewart echoed that sentiment on Wednesday morning, saying "We want to finish it here. Not having to go back to Phoenix is our main priority."

How to watch the Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty in Game 2

No. 5 New York will look to oust No. 4 Phoenix from the 2025 WNBA Playoffs with a first-round sweep on Wednesday night, when the Liberty host the Mercury for Game 2 at 8 PM ET.

The matchup will air live on ESPN.

Star sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is reaching new heights, setting a new US record for the 400-meter race in the event's Tuesday semifinals at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist finished the flat event in 48.29 seconds, shaving more than 0.40 seconds off the previous US record of 48.70 seconds set by track legend Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006.

Both her personal best and the fastest time in the world for that event this year, McLaughlin-Levrone's performance also makes her the seventh-fastest woman of all time in the 400-meter dash — elevating expectations that she could challenge the long-standing world record of 47.60 seconds, set by then-East German sprinter Marita Koch in 1985.

Known for her dominance in the 400-meter hurdles, the 26-year-old made the decision to focus on the flat 400-meter event ahead of this year's competition. 

"I definitely wasn't expecting that time," she said afterwards. "It just shows the fitness is there. I'm excited for the finals and grateful to have taken down a record by an amazing woman."

How to watch McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400-meter final

McLaughlin-Levrone will take aim at the 2025 World Athletics Championships' 400-meter podium — and, perhaps, another record time — during the event's final on Thursday.

The US star will race against 2024 Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino and silver medalist Salwa Eid Naser when the final begins at 9:24 AM ET.

Live coverage will air on USA Network.