NWSL Power Rankings: Gotham FC may be reigning champs, but they aren't No. 1 ahead of new season

With two new clubs in the fold, here is how all 16 teams rank heading into the opening weekend

Opening weekend in the NWSL is finally here, and with it comes the first real look at who's ready, who's untested, and who might be bluffing their way into the new season. 

After months of roster reshuffling, bold signings, and preseason guesswork, the power rankings land at the moment when speculation gives way to evidence. Some teams enter with continuity and confidence, others with high‑ceiling chaos, and a few with more questions than answers. The margins already feel thin, the expectations already heavy, and the league's trademark unpredictability is waiting to pounce the second the whistle blows. Which teams look strongest before kickoff? Here are my power rankings heading into Matchday 1.

The 2025 NWSL Shield winners get the honor of starting off the rankings in the top spot based on their outrageous record-setting season for wins (21), points (65), and clean sheets (16). There were also the records they set in between, like nine consecutive clean sheets while conceding just 13 goals across 26 regular seasons. They made CPKC Stadium a fortress, posting 11 home wins in 2025 and setting the bar for the club. 

All that said, they also went through a wave of changes. Crucial players Temwa Chawinga and Michelle Cooper are starting the season on the SEI list. There's a new head coach, Chris Armas, and the departures of Claire Hutton and Bia Zaneratto are additional blows. They picked up exciting acquisitions in Croix Bethune and Penelope Hocking, but how Armas will utilize them is the biggest question for now.

Gotham FC are no strangers to slower starts in their season, but they've shown enough times that it's all about how you finish the race. NWSL Championship winners in 2023 and 2025, with a semifinal appearance in 2024, and this club is a constant contender for the title, no matter what seed they earn heading into the postseason. But last year's match-loaded schedule may have prepared them for something entirely different in 2026. An elusive NWSL Shield, maybe?