WSL Power Rankings: Man City stay on top, Chelsea bounce back and United drop
After each game week, teams will be ranked based on their overall performance or mediocre efforts. Perhaps Chelsea FC are exactly who we thought they were, a team more than capable of dropping a quintet on the opposition, and in Manchester United In this case, perhaps they have a much larger gap between themselves and their contenders than ever before.
The latest rankings offer the opportunity to comment on results, highlights and questions ahead of week three. Be sure to check back as the season progresses and stay up to date with all the games on CBS Sports platforms. If you want to stay up to date with all the changes, be sure to check out my previous power rankings.
CBS Sports is the home of the Barclays Women’s Super League and fans can watch the latest games. Paramount+ will live stream all 183 matches each season, the most matches ever available in the competition’s newly expanded format. CBS Sports Network will also broadcast one match per week, and select matches will also air on the CBS Sports Golazo Network.
Let’s now move on to the latest rankings:
1. city of manchester (–)
As if Manchester City didn’t already look like an unstoppable defending champion, the attacking duo of Mary Fowler and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
2. Chelsea FC (+1)
Lucy Bronze is an absolute threat in case you didn’t get the memo. A great comeback performance engineered by the veteran, who led the team in touches (120) and got on the scoreboard in the blowout victory.
3. Arsenal (-1)
Gunners coach Renee Slegers said it best: “One point is not enough for us,” after a goalless game at the Emirates Stadium. He is right, given Arsenal’s 30 shots and three dismal attempts on goal despite the flurry in front of goal.
4. Tottenham (+1)
You have to create even if you don’t get the credit for it and fortunately, the Spurs have Signe Gaupset to do it right now. Put in the effort on and off the ball and it will be the type of game the team needs to keep up for a long season.
5. Liverpool (+2)
Fuka Nagano could be among the first to be Liverpool’s most underrated player this season. Intelligent with the ball and with vision to supervise sequences one or two actions ahead, with the ability to generate and disrupt attacks.
6. Lionesses of the City of London (-2)
Danielle Van de Donk has quickly become the most important player on a star-studded roster. Maybe the City of London are under too much pressure to produce such a high performance so early in the season, but no, not really. You can’t have that much talent on the roster and let opposing teams outplay you.
7. Everton (+2)
Get your first victory of the season without registering a single shot on goal? That’s what I call football. It takes a special or strange moment, and Holly McNamara’s forced own goal created just that.
8. Manchester United (-2)
There are tough losses and downright bad losses, and Manchester United will have to make some adjustments quickly to recover from the downward rollercoaster they’re on to start the season.
9. Brighton & Hove Albion (-1)
We hope to see more good things from Kiko Seike for Brighton, but the group will have to manage games better against newly promoted sides.
10. Crystal Palace (+1)
Who doesn’t love an underdog who punches above his weight? Crystal Palace are doing exactly that to start the season, and even when they are not a threat in front of goal, they are a threat in position and are already a team pest.
11. West Ham United (+1)
Momentum and an end to difficult results are important, and Viviane Asseyi turned that into the winning goal. A solid performance from coach Rita Guarino and the team to put last week behind us.
12. Villa Aston (-2)
Power rankings are all about change, and Aston Villa is a prime example of how quickly the ups and downs come to you. Amalie Vangsgaard made an honorable effort over the weekend, but things are only going to get tougher from here.
13. City of Birmingham (–)
Another weekend of Oceane Hurtre showing off his offensive talents in the league, but it’s also another rude welcome to the league. There’s no clearer example of how quickly a lead can evaporate in the big leagues when you’re initially two goals up but can’t close it in stoppage time.
14. Charlton Athletic (–)
If you can’t score goals, why not go out and collect some red cards? Congratulations to Charlton Athletic for losing not one, but two players for next week.
