2026 NWSL season
16 teams · 135 regular-season matches played.
Gotham FC lead on points. But San Diego Wave carry the widest gap in the top half between goal difference (+4) and expected goal difference (+5.8°) — running behind what the chances were worth by 1.8.
Expected goal difference is modeled. A gap of two or three goals over a half-season is well inside the noise.
Shield: Gotham FC (37 pts) · Challenge Cup: Gotham FC · Golden Boot: Barbra Banda (12)
| 1 | Gotham FC | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 37 | 2.06 | 27.4 | 11.9 |
| 2 | Washington Spirit | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 12 | 14 | 36 | 2.12 | 29.3 | 14.6 |
| 3 | Utah Royals | 17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 18 | 8 | 30 | 1.76 | 29.4 | 7.6 |
| 4 | Kansas City Current | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 29 | 25 | 4 | 29 | 1.61 | 32.5 | 3.8 |
| 5 | San Diego Wave | 17 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 23 | 19 | 4 | 29 | 1.71 | 27.6 | 5.8 |
| 6 | Portland Thorns | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 28 | 1.65 | 31.8 | 6.6 |
| 7 | North Carolina Courage | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 24 | 1.50 | 31.1 | 3.9 |
| 8 | Angel City | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 23 | 1.44 | 28.5 | 7.7 |
| 9 | Seattle Reign | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 21 | -1 | 23 | 1.44 | 23.2 | -3.0 |
| 10 | Orlando Pride | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 22 | 26 | -4 | 23 | 1.28 | 26.9 | -3.3 |
| 11 | Denver Summit | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 19 | 1.27 | 24.5 | 1.7 |
| 12 | Boston Legacy | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 19 | 1.12 | 22.1 | -4.8 |
| 13 | Houston Dash | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 25 | -6 | 19 | 1.12 | 22.3 | -7.2 |
| 14 | Bay FC | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 24 | -6 | 18 | 1.06 | 22.4 | -4.7 |
| 15 | Racing Louisville | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 21 | 34 | -13 | 14 | 0.82 | 25.3 | -13.2 |
| 16 | Chicago Stars | 17 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 33 | -24 | 12 | 0.71 | 11.9 | -27.5 |