NWSL Power Rankings presented by Cutter
The 2017 NWSL season got underway with a trio of emphatic 2-0 wins by Portland Thorns FC, FC Kansas City and the Houston Dash, while the North Carolina Courage won their first-ever NWSL game. Houston forward Kealia Ohai, FC Kansas City forward Sydney Leroux and North Carolina midfielder McCall Zerboni got their teams off to […]
The 2017 NWSL season got underway with a trio of emphatic 2-0 wins by Portland Thorns FC, FC Kansas City and the Houston Dash, while the North Carolina Courage won their first-ever NWSL game.Houston forward Kealia Ohai, FC Kansas City forward Sydney Leroux and North Carolina midfielder McCall Zerboni got their teams off to strong starts with early goals. Player of the Week Seattle goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer led a pack of impressive goalkeeping performances in Week 1. Check out where each club ranks after the first weekend: * * * 1**
PORTLAND THORNS FC
1-0-0, 3 pts**
The NWSL Shield holders hit the ground running as Christine Sinclair and Nadia Nadim both scored, while Adrianna Franch made 7 saves to earn a shutout. The Thorns improved to a perfect 5-0-0 in home openers. * * * 2**
NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE
1-0-0, 3 pts**
Abby Dahlkemper led a backline that did not allow a shot on target as the Courage earned an impressive away win against Washington. McCall Zerboni scored the first goal for the Courage, who will open their home campaign against Portland in Week 2. * * * 3**
FC KANSAS CITY
1-0-0, 3 pts**
Sydney Leroux scored in her NWSL return to help lead FC Kansas City to an opening day win for the first time in club history. Amy Rodriguez also scored in her NWSL return, but suffered an ACL tear minutes later and will miss the rest of the season. * * * 4**
HOUSTON DASH
1-0-0, 3 pts**
Kealia Ohai picked up right where she left off last year as she scored the first goal of the 2017 NWSL season and added an assist to extend Houston’s unbeaten run against the Red Stars to four games. Rachel Daly’s brilliant left-footed strike stole the show, earning a top spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays. * * * 5**
SKY BLUE FC
0-0-1, 1 pts**
Sarah Killion converted from the penalty spot to help Sky Blue FC earn a draw against the Reign as the squad came away from a road game in Seattle with at least a point for the fifth time. Rookie defenders Mandy Freeman and Kayla Mills made their debuts on either side of captain Christie Pearce. * * * 6**
SEATTLE REIGN FC
0-0-1, 1 pts**
Megan Rapinoe scored from the penalty spot to match her goal total from the whole of an injury-plagued 2016. Goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer’s 8 save performance in the draw with Sky Blue FC earned her Player of the Week honors. * * * 7**
CHICAGO RED STARS
0-1-0, 0 pts**
The Red Stars lost a season opener to the Dash for the second straight season as Chicago was unable to find a way past Houston goalkeeper Lydia Williams. It doesn’t get any easier in Week 2 as they welcome Nicole Barnhart and FC Kansas City to town. * * * 8**
ORLANDO PRIDE
0-1-0, 0 pts**
Ali Krieger marked her first game with Orlando by registering a game-high 63 passes as the Pride got a taste of the overall impact she can have on a game, but the Pride were unable to find the back of the net in the match. Orlando should get some help on the offensive side of the ball this weekend as Marta is expected to make her NWSL debut. * * * 9**
WASHINGTON SPIRIT
0-1-0, 0 pts**
Stephanie Labbé stopped 8 of 9 shots, but was unable to keep the Spirit, who were unable to manage a shot on goal, from falling in their season opener against the North Carolina Courage. They face Orlando (and, perhaps, Marta) on Saturday. Unfortunately for the Spirit, they also lost Joanna Lohman to an ACL tear in their opening game. * * * 10**
BOSTON BREAKERS
0-1-0, 0 pts**
No. 1 overall draft pick Rose Lavelle made her NWSL debut in a 2-0 loss to FC Kansas City. The rookie was lively throughout with a game-high 81 touches for the Breakers, who also saw league debuts from Margaret Purce, Morgan Andrews, Rosie White and Ifeoma Onumonu.