Top teams faltering – Equalizer Soccer

Photo Copyright: Troy Wayrynen for Imagn Images

We’re going rogue this week. With the top teams all off form, the Cream of the Crop category has been shelved, at least for this week. Let’s see if the Pride, Current, or anyone else can persuade us to reinstate it soon. Meanwhile, an unlikely team has jumped into the top category.

Here’s how they stack up after Week 7 in the National Women’s Soccer League.

The best of the bunch

Orlando Pride (5-2-0, 15 pts; @ Thorns, 0-1):  The easy explanation would be that Portland is a tough place to play, they are 1-9-0 there all-time, etc. In reality, there is no more hiding that Barbra Banda and Marta are not playing up to their 2024 levels. Neither is Anna Moorhouse, who also took an injury in this game. If she has to miss time, it will leave Seb Hines with very little keeper experience to pull from. Imagine having all of these issues and still being tied atop the table?

Kansas City Current (5-2-0, 15 pts; @ Reign, 0-1):  Just like last year, the Current lost for the first time—and then lost again. There has been some squad rotation with Temwa Chawinga and Debinha taking turns starting on the bench. It is also apparent that Vlatko Andonovski hasn’t quite settled on his preferred defensive personnel, despite the recent 450+ minute shutout streak. The biggest concern coming out of Seattle is allowing a goal on the second phase of a set piece.

San Diego Wave FC (4-2-1, 13 pts; vs Bay, 2-1):  Yup, we’re doing it. Nope, I don’t think they’re as good as the Pride or Current (results bare this out). But the Wave are for real. They are the most enjoyable team to watch building an attack, moving the ball quickly and decisively. They have taken to starting three 17-year-olds, one of whom scored the winner in stoppage time on a day the Wave created so many more chances than Bay.

The second level

Washington Spirit (4-3-0, 12 pts; vs Angel City, 3-4):  Do we praise the comebacks or criticize the result? Obviously both, but this is one of two teams it is impossible to get a full read on because of how few healthy players they have to choose from. Croix Bethune increased her minutes but is far from being back to her old self. The Spirit even rotated at keeper with Aubrey Kingsbury dressing as backup for the first time in the regular season since 2018. Sandy MacIver did not make any glaring errors, but we can’t account for defensive organization.

NJ/NY Gotham FC (3-2-3, 12 pts, vs Stars, 0-0):  There wasn’t a lot happening Sunday against the Stars, and the final score indicated as much. Gotham now own the distinction of being the most up-and-down team in the league right now. Sunday almost had a memorable ending when 14-year-old McKenna Whitham nearly scored the winner in stoppage time. For a little perspective, Alyssa Naeher saved the shot. Whitham was four when Naeher backed up Hope Solo at the 2015 World Cup.

Lurking beneath the surface

Seattle Reign FC (3-2-2, 11 pts, vs Current, 1-0):  Big win for the Reign as they smothered the Current and gave coach Laura Harvey just her fifth career win over old rival Andonovski. On the NWSL+ broadcast, Jordan Angeli said Harvey’s tactics were the best of the season around the league. And how about the Lynn Biyendolo finish for her first Reign goal? It wasn’t spectacular, but it sure was a goal scorer’s finish.

Angel City FC (3-2-2, 11 pts; @ Spirit, 4-3):  So much to celebrate off of what has to be considered the landmark victory in the young history of the franchise. The Sister Act goal, where Gisele Thompson finished a pass from her sister Alyssa, felt inevitable but was still cool to see as a reality. The stoppage-time winner came from a rookie, Riley Tiernan, with some help (but no assist) from a clever flick off the head of Christen Press. Unfortunately, the other thing that felt inevitable was being unable to hold on to the lead—twice. If they can clean that up, they can contend for the top category here.

Portland Thorns FC (3-2-3, 12 pts; vs Pride, 1-0): No way to keep them out of this group anymore with the results they have been getting. And even though the Pride are not sharp, it is still a solid accomplishment to keep a clean sheet and mostly keep them from being dangerous across all 90 minutes. An intriguing trip to San Diego looms on Saturday night.

The Sphere of Mediocrity

Bay FC (2-3-2, 8 pts; @ Wave, 1-2):  Lost late in San Diego, but in fairness, could have been down multiple goals at halftime and were on the back foot much of the second half. One of the reasons they were level at the half was Jordan Silkowitz’s penalty save on Maria Sanchez. Most of the time, a penalty save is the product of a poor shot, but this was a pure save of a well-hit PK. Silkowitz has been one of the pleasant surprises of 2025. The Asisat Oshoala DNP is a story worth keeping an eye on.

North Carolina Courage (2-3-2, 8 pts; @ Royals, 2-0):  Bumped them up off two straight wins and maybe some pedigree based on last week’s results. But with all due respect to Utah, they’re an easy mark these days. Orlando is next. Will Jaedyn Shaw get back in the starting lineup? I expect to learn a lot about this team over the next few weeks.

Racing Louisville FC (2-3-2, 8 pts; @ Dash, 2-1):  Don’t underestimate the degree of difficulty of being on the road, waiting out a weather delay, then a second weather delay after falling behind, and basically playing in front of an empty stadium. That said, doesn’t everyone win in Houston besides the Dash? Arrow pointing north on Kayla Fischer. If she can find the right balance of playing her game without silly fouls and cards and not losing her edge, watch out. Good thing they won without Ary Borges because she’s been suspended three extra games for maklng contact with the referee in Portland.

Swimming upstream

Houston Dash (2-4-1, 7 pts; vs Louisville, 1-2):  Are the Dash on their way to becoming irrelevant? Not just because they are struggling on the table, but they don’t really have a marketable player on the roster, play most of their games opposite more enticing matchups, and have rarely been factors across more than a decade in the league. Not sure what their ceiling is, but they are more talented than seven points in seven games.

Chicago Stars FC (1-5-1, 4 pts, @ Gotham, 0-0):  It’s always fascinating when a team makes a coaching change and the interim boss runs out the identical lineup the next week. That said they were a bit sharper, a bit more committed in possession, and in my opinion, should have won a penalty before it was overturned by a way-too-long VAR review.  That said, the stats show they didn’t really create anything.

Utah Royals FC (1-5-1, 4 pts; vs Courage, 0-2):  The second half against the Courage wasn’t all bad, but it just takes so much work for this team to get the ball into the midfield and attacking third. Ally Sentnor has quietly been one of the more disappointing players in the league this season, and could have changed the trajectory of this game had she finished a golden opportunity in the first half, or even put Casey Murphy to a save. Mina Tanaka’s return was immediately noticeable, but even with eight teams qualifying for the playoffs, this is a season that feels perilously close to being off the rails.