Link: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48224238/nwsl-power-rankings-portland-thorns-go-no-1-2026-first-week

With the first matchday of the 2026 season in the books, ESPN ranks all 16 NWSL clubs from first to worst in this week's edition of Power Rankings.

They have the Reign at number 2:

Not to be outdone by any of NWSL's teenage goal scorers, 39-year-old Wales veteran Jess Fishlock scored the first goal for Seattle in a 2-1 victory in Orlando. After a lengthy weather delay, the Reign conceded a goal from former league MVP Barbra Banda, but Brittany Ratcliffe collected a debut marker off the bench to secure the win. Goal scorers tend to get the credit, but U.S. women's national team goalkeeper Claudia Dickey made seven key saves in her 41st consecutive start for Seattle on Sunday.