Where each team falls in the power rankings after Week 21 in the NWSL:   1 NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE 16-1-5, 53 pts Change: — Last week: 1 The Courage earned their 16th win of the season on Sunday morning, topping the Pride 3-0. The Courage are 16-1-5 with 53 points with two games remaining. With one […]

Where each team falls in the power rankings after Week 21 in the NWSL:1**

NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE

16-1-5, 53 pts**

Change: — Last week: 1 The Courage earned their 16th win of the season on Sunday morning, topping the Pride 3-0. The Courage are 16-1-5 with 53 points with two games remaining. With one win and two points, the Courage can break the NWSL regular season wins and points record. The Courage have already clinched the 2018 NWSL Shield, but will look to close out strong against the second-place Seattle Reign FC on Saturday and then the season finale against the Dash on September 8. * * * 2**

SEATTLE REIGN FC

10-4-7, 37 pts**

Change: — Last week: 2 Seattle’s draw at home vs. Chicago on Wednesday delayed them from clinching a playoff spot. If the Reign had beaten the Red Stars, they would’ve been the second team to punch a ticket to the playoffs. Tuesday will be an important match for the Reign – a win or draw against the Dash will earn them a playoff spot. The Reign can also break the record for shutouts in a season – the current record is 12 and they have recorded 11 this year. The Reign have three games left this season – two this week. * * * 3**

PORTLAND THORNS FC

9-6-6, 33 pts**

Change: — Last week: 3 Portland came from down two goals to earn a 2-2 result against Chicago on Saturday. The Thorns are now 9-6-6 with 33 points in third place. With two games this week, the Thorns have a chance to pull away from the fourth-place Chicago Red Stars, who sit just two points behind them. The Thorns will play last-place Sky Blue FC midweek and then eighth-place Washington on Saturday. * * * 4**

CHICAGO RED STARS

7-4-10, 31 pts**

Change: — Last week: 4 The Red Stars sit at fourth place in the league standings after playing the Thorns to a 2-2 draw, moving their unbeaten streak to four games. Sam Kerr moved back into the Golden Boot race lead with a brace in the match. The Red Stars are 7-4-10 with 31 points and have a crucial meeting with the fifth-place Pride on Saturday night in Orlando. Two of their four losses this season have come vs. the Pride. * * * 5**

HOUSTON DASH

8-8-5, 29 pts**

Change: ? 1 Last week: 6 Houston moved even closer in the playoff race in Week 21, defeating the Spirit 4-0 on Friday night. The Dash are now in sixth place in the standings. They have an 8-8-5 overall record with 29 points — improving on the new franchise marks for wins and points they’ve set this season. The Dash have a chance to bump up to fourth place on Tuesday night if they beat the Reign. The Dash will then face Sky Blue on Saturday before closing out their season against North Carolina in September. * * * 6**

UTAH ROYALS FC

7-7-8, 29 pts**

Change: ? 1 Last week: 7 Utah Royals FC played Sky Blue FC to a 2-2 result after forward Amy Rodriguez scored a stoppage time stunner to spoil the New Jersey club from their first win of the season. The point keeps Utah close in the playoff race with two games remaining. They are now 7-7-8 with 29 points, just two points behind the fourth place Chicago Red Stars. * * * 7**

ORLANDO PRIDE

8-8-6, 30 pts**

Change: ? 2 Last week: 5 The Courage and the weather didn’t help the Pride in their quest for a playoff spot on Sunday morning. The Pride fell to the Courage 3-0 and dropped to 8-8-6 overall (30 points). The Pride will host the Red Stars on Saturday for a crucial fourth vs. fifth place match up. After Saturday, the Pride will have just one more chance to vie for a playoff spot when they travel to New Jersey to play Sky Blue on the final day of the regular season. * * * 8**

SKY BLUE FC

0-14-5, 5 pts**

Change: — Last week: 8 Sky Blue FC suffered another loss on Saturday – this time particularly cruel as Utah Royals FC tied the game at 2-2 in stoppage time, denying Sky Blue from their first win of the season. Sky Blue held a 2-0 advantage in the match – only the second game this season in which they have held a lead. Sky Blue remain in last place in the standings with an 0-14-5 overall record and five points. Sky Blue have five games left this season to pick up their first win. * * * 9**

WASHINGTON SPIRIT

2-15-4, 10 pts**

Change: — Last week: 9 The Spirit dropped their eighth-straight game on Friday night, falling to the Dash 4-0. The Spirit remain in eighth place in the standings with a 2-15-4 overall record and 10 points. The Spirit are out of playoff contention, but have three games left this season to snap their losing streak and look to build for next season.