For the first time since the NWSL regular season began on April 29, we are back with our Just Women’s Sports power rankings.

The first two weeks of the season have been chaotic, and that’s exactly what these rankings reflect. Wonky scheduling has left some teams playing one game while others play three in one week, contributing to tired legs and unexpected results. The expansion clubs’ stadiums have been electric, refereeing has come under fire, and the underdogs are so eager to prove doubters wrong that they’re beating some of the best teams from the Challenge Cup.

Taking into consideration both the Challenge Cup playoffs and regular-season performances, here are the first power rankings of the NWSL season.

12. Kansas City Current (0-2-0)

From the Challenge Cup semifinals to the bottom of the regular-season standings, the Kansas City Current have had a rough couple of weeks with two losses and no goals scored. In their most recent game against the Dash, they managed to keep 60 percent possession and outshoot Houston 15-9 despite losing 2-0. This team has ample potential, but they’ll have to start finishing their chances to live up to it.

11. Orlando Pride (1-1-0)

Finding some rhythm with players in new positions, the Pride claimed their first victory of the year against Angel City on Sunday. Megan Montefusco played in the six and Carrie Lawrence shifted to center back, helping hold down a backline that head coach Amanda Cromwell raved about. Their first regular season game produced a very different outcome, with Orlando falling to Gotham FC despite finishing with 50.5 percent of the possession and a 15-7 shots advantage.

10. NJ/NY Gotham FC (1-1-0)

Going from a 3-0 win over the Pride to a 4-0 loss to San Diego Wave FC is quite the swing for a team that is full of veteran experience. The midfield has been shaky lately, but head coach Scott Parkinson said after the Wave match that its’ the defense and attack that need work. Gotham, first in the league in assists and second in goals, will be put to the test against the Courage on Saturday.

9. Houston Dash (1-1-0)

The Dash had some unexpected adjustments to make after head coach James Clarkson was suspended ahead of the regular season based on initial findings in a joint investigation by the NWSL and NWSL Players’ Association. After a 1-0 loss to San Diego to open their season, the Dash struggled to maintain possession in their second match against the Kansas City Current. In the end, they added more numbers in the midfield and built enough momentum to come away with a 2-0 shutout.

8. Angel City FC (1-1-0)

The 2022 expansion club had an electrifying start to its regular season, defeating the eventual Challenge Cup champion Courage 2-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Banc of California Stadium. In quite a turn of events, Angel City lost to Orlando, the bottom team in the Challenge Cup standings, in their second regular season match. The club boasts individual talent across its lineup with players like Jun Endo, Jasmyne Spencer and Christen Press, but they need more time to build chemistry and dominate consistently in this league.

7. Chicago Red Stars (1-0-0)

Playing just one regular-season match so far due to Challenge Cup scheduling, the Red Stars earned three points at home against Racing Louisville FC. Despite the 2-1 result, the club struggled to respond to Racing’s high pressure and stay in control of the game. The Red Stars were without some key players, including Challenge Cup leading scorer Mallory Pugh and forward Yuki Nagasato, who was ruled out with an illness just before the match.

6. Racing Louisville FC (0-1-1)

Results aside, Racing Louisville FC has not had a bad start to the season. They dominated Chicago with 61 percent of the possession and a 14-8 shots advantage in what turned out to be a 2-1 loss, and then they earned a point in a 2-2 draw with Challenge Cup No. 1 seed OL Reign. They’ve succeeded so far at applying pressure and forcing giveaways. Against Chicago, they broke two league records with 47 total crosses and 43 crosses from open play. Alyssa Naeher and Phallon Tullis Joyce are two of the best goalkeepers in the league, but that will only get them so far if they don’t improve their finishing in front of net.

5. OL Reign (0-1-1)

The Reign have taken the hit for a lot of the problems that have plagued the NWSL lately, from poor scheduling to questionable calls. They then had overcome physical fatigue to play three games in one week while other teams, like Portland and Chicago, had just one. They came close to a win in the Challenge Cup semifinals, but lost after two rounds of penalty kicks and Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury’s heroics. The Reign still have plenty of time to recover and play like the team that earned the top seed out of the Challenge Cup group stage.

4. Washington Spirit (1-0-0)

The Spirit’s 20-game unbeaten streak came to an end Saturday in the Challenge Cup championship game. An emotional 90 minutes of physical play and multiple injuries, the match was not necessarily an accurate representation of what the Spirit are capable of. On any other day, Washington’s creativity on the attack can be lethal, such as in their two wins over OL Reign ahead of the final. When midfielder Ashley Sanchez has the ball, good things usually happen, but it took them a while to find that rhythm on Saturday.

Art from all angles 🎨@kerolinnicolii | #CourageUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/SpfC7DfRNP

— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) May 8, 2022

3. North Carolina Courage (0-1-0)

After an unexpected 2-1 loss to Angel City in their regular season opener, the Courage outlasted the defending NWSL champions in the Challenge Cup final. The attacking duo of Kerolin and Debinha showed why they will give other teams nightmares this season. New to the NWSL, Kerolin has mastered the art of setting up goals and drawing penalty kicks in the box. Days after Kerolin was named Challenge Cup Finals MVP, Debinha earned tournament MVP honors. The veteran leadership of players like Abby Erceg, Meredith Speck and Merritt Mathias has helped establish a winning standard in North Carolina.

2. Portland Thorns FC (1-0-0)

It might seem unfair that the Thorns are in second after playing only one match since April 30, but a 3-0 shutout over the Current, the Challenge Cup semifinalists, shot them up the power rankings. The Thorns dominated in the match, outshooting Kansas City 19-5 and setting a league record for the most shots in the first half of a regular season match (10). They reached that mark even without star forward Sophia Smith on the field until the second half.

1. San Diego Wave FC (2-0-0)

The 2022 expansion team is wasting no time in living up to the NWSL’s #CueTheChaos slogan. The Wave have gone from the second-most losses in the Challenge Cup to the most wins so far in the regular season. Outside of the improvements they need to make in the midfield, they’re getting used to each other’s strengths quickly and showing why they could be serious contenders this year. This week, they dominated preseason favorite Gotham FC as Alex Morgan became just the third player in league history to score four goals in one game.

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

For the first time in the NWSL's 12-year history, fans can now buy their own goalkeeper jerseys. And while replica goalkeeper jerseys representing all 14 NWSL teams hit the market on Wednesday, some didn't stick around for long. 

Fans across women's soccer have long vocalized their discontent over the position's lack of availability on social media, often comparing the shortcoming to the widespread availability of men’s goalkeeper jerseys. And as the NWSL has grown, so has demand — and not just from those in the stands. 

"To have goalkeeper kits available for fans in the women’s game as they have been for so long in the men’s game is not only a long-awaited move in the right direction, it’s just good business," said Washington Spirit goalie Aubrey Kingsbury in an team press release. "I can’t wait to see fans representing me, Barnie [Barnhart], and Lyza in the stands at Audi!"

just went looking at #nwsl goalkeeper kit stock out of curiosity — Alyssa Naeher's $145 kit already sold out S-XL (league announced GK jerseys on sale 3 hours ago)https://t.co/8bYA7tlwcx

— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) April 17, 2024

Business does, in fact, appear to be booming. Alyssa Naeher’s Chicago Red Stars kit sold out less than three hours after the league's announcement. Jerseys for other keepers like DiDi Haračić, Abby Smith, Michelle Betos, Katelyn Rowland, and Bella Bixby aren’t currently available via the Official NWSL Shop, though blank goalkeeper jerseys can be customized through some individual team sites. Jerseys start at $110 each.

"This should be the benchmark," said Spirit Chief Operations Officer Theresa McDonnell. "The expectation is that all players’ jerseys are available to fans. Keepers are inspiring leaders and mentors with their own unique fan base who want to represent them... I can’t wait to see them all over the city."

Decorated gymnast Simone Biles took to the popular Call Her Daddy podcast this week to open up about her experience at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, revealing she thought she was going to be "banned from America" for her performance.

After Biles botched her vault routine due to a bout of the "twisties," she withdrew from the team final as well as the all-around final in order to focus on her mental health. She later reentered the competition to win bronze in the individual balance beam final.

In her interview with podcast host Alex Cooper, Biles admitted to feeling like she let the entire country down by failing her vault attempt.

"As soon as I landed I was like 'Oh, America hates me. The world is going to hate me. I can only see what they’re saying on Twitter right now,'" she recalled thinking. "I was like, ‘Holy s---, what are they gonna say about me?'"

"I thought I was going to be banned from America," she continued. "That’s what they tell you: Don’t come back if not gold. Gold or bust. Don’t come back."

Widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, Biles has hinted at a desire to join her third Olympic team in Paris, though her participation won't be confirmed until after the gymnastics trials in late June. She holds over 30 medals from the Olympic Games and World Artistic Gymnastics Championships combined, and if qualified, would be a sure favorite heading into this summer’s games.

Caitlin Clark is reportedly close to cementing a hefty endorsement deal with Nike.

The Athletic was the first to break the news Wednesday evening, commenting that the deal would be worth "eight figures" and include her own signature shoe. On Thursday afternoon, the publication tweeted that the deal would top $20 million, according to lead NBA Insider Shams Charania. Both Under Armour and Adidas are said to have also made sizable offers to the college phenom and expected future WNBA star.

The new agreement comes after Clark's previous Nike partnership ended with the conclusion of the college basketball season. She was one of five NCAA athletes to sign an NIL deal with the brand back in October, 2022. 

Considering Clark's overwhelming popularity and Nike's deep pockets, the signing's purported value doesn't exactly come as a shock. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu’s deal with the brand is reportedly worth $24 million, while NBA rookie and No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama’s deal is rumored to weigh in at $100 million. And in 2003, LeBron James famously earned $90 million off his own Nike deal. 

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Clark’s star power continues to skyrocket, with the NCAA championship averaging 18.9 million viewers and the 2024 WNBA Draft more than doubling its previous viewership record. Following the draft, Fanatics stated that Clark's Indiana Fever jersey — which sold out within an hour — was the top seller for any draft night pick in the company’s history, with droves of unlucky fans now being forced to wait until August to get their hands on some official No. 22 gear.

In Wednesday's Indiana Fever introductory press conference, the unfailingly cool, calm, and collected Clark said that turning pro hasn’t made a huge impact on how she’s conducting her deals.

"If I’m being completely honest, I feel like it doesn’t change a ton from how I lived my life over the course of the last year," she said. "Sponsorships stay the same. The people around me, agents and whatnot, have been able to help me and guide me through the course of the last year. I don’t know if I would be in this moment if it wasn’t for a lot of them."

Former Oklahoma slugger Jocelyn Alo has signed on with Athletes Unlimited and will compete in the AU Pro Softball AUX this June.

The NCAA record holder in career home runs (122), total bases (761), and slugging percentage (.987), Alo was originally drafted by the league in 2022 but opted instead to join the newly debuted Women’s Professional Fastpitch. 

Alo currently plays for independent pro softball team Oklahoma City Spark, with team owner Tina Floyd reportedly on board with her recent AUX signing. AUX games are scheduled for June 10-25, while the Spark's season will kick off June 19th. Alo will play for both. 

Among those joining Alo on the AUX roster are former James Madison ace pitcher Odicci Alexander and former Wichita State standout middle infielder Sydney McKinney.

According to Alo, the decision to play in the Athletes Unlimited league was fueled by her desire to propel women's sports forward as well as provide more exposure to a sport that's given her "so many opportunities."

"Not only to challenge myself more, but just for the growth of the game," Alo said, explaining her reasoning to The Oklahoman. "I genuinely believe that professional softball can be a career for girls."

Joining AUX is also one more step in her plan toward representing Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I’m constantly thinking about how can I do these little things right in these four years to prepare me for the biggest stage of softball," she told The Oklahoman. "I definitely want to play in the Olympics, for sure."

Alo further expressed enthusiasm in the hope that the rise of other women’s sports, like women’s basketball and the NWSL, will push softball’s professional viability even higher.

"We’re seeing the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) get their stuff going, I see the WNBA starting to get hot," she continued. "I feel like the softball community is like, 'All right, it’s our turn and it’s our turn to just demand more.'"