Apr 14, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Thorns FC midfielder Olivia Moultrie (13) takes a corner kick against the Houston Dash during the second half at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
After a healthy dose of NWSL after-dark chaos, the league standings have shifted again. But everyone has somewhere they can improve, this week we look at the strengths and weaknesses of each team as we head further into the season.
The race for the top of the NWSL table only got closer after the third weekend of action and in lieu of power rankings this week, we’re going to take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of each team heading into the season. We’ll be going through each team in order of the current standings, which feature the Portland Thorns up top at the moment and the Orlando Pride at the bottom.
1. Portland Thorns
Strength: Consistency
The Thorns are a powerhouse, with their results proving their three championship wins are anything but a fluke. They work together incredibly well, building out of the midfield with the likes of Sam Coffey and several Sophia Smith bangers, not to mention a well-placed Crystal Dunn. Even with just a draw this week, the Thorns looked exceptionally dangerous, holding their lead over the league.
Weakness: International duty
At the moment, the Thorns are firing on all cylinders, but it’ll be interesting to see how they adjust when the World Cup comes around. The Thorns will almost certainly be losing several key pieces to their roster, such as Sophia Smith, Crystal Dunn, Becky Sauerbrunn, Christine Sinclair, and Hina Sugita. They won’t be the only team suffering from international players making their exit, but they’ll have a lot of changes to plan for.
