It may still be early days, but there was a considerable shakeup in the National Power Rankings after Weeks 1 & 2 of the 2024 season. The Rhode Island Rogues leaped 12 spots to the No. 1 spot, followed by the PA Classics moving into No. 2 from 16th in preseason. Expansion side Arlington Soccer is riding a two-game winning streak to jump from unranked to the No. 3 spot, along with the Utah Surf at No. 5. The top two teams at preseason, Ambassadors Cleveland and Charlotte Eagles, now ranked seventh and eighth respectively, have a chance to regain positions with wins this weekend.  

 

Here are the updated Power Rankings heading into Week 3

 

1.    RHODE ISLAND ROGUES (1-0-0)
     Northeastern Conference

    Preseason Rank: 13th 

    
The 2023 WPSL Championships semifinalists jumped an impressive 12 spots to claim the No. 1 position for the first time in club history. Hannah McNulty tallied a brace in the Rogues’ 5-1 win at the New York Shockers to open Northeastern Conference play. Victoria Sousa, Ashton Armstrong, and Jaydah Bedoya also scored in the win. The Rogues face expansion side Merrimack Valley Hawks FC (0-0-0) in its home opener on Saturday.

 

2.    PA CLASSICS (1-0-0)

     Mid-Atlantic Conference — Commonwealth Division
  Preseason Rank: 16th

A flurry of goals in the final half hour of its season opener propelled the PA Classics from 16th to the No. 2 spot. After going down 1-0 on the road, the Classics tallied four times in the last half hour of the match to pull out the win over Keystone FC. Jailene DeJesus, Lindsey Husic, Aubrey Strohecker, and Liza Suydam all scored to put the Classics at the top of the Commonwealth Division table. The club is in action again Wednesday, May 29 hosting Hershey FC. 

 

3.    ARLINGTON SOCCER (2-0-0)

    Atlantic Conference — The District Division

     Preseason Rank: unranked

The only expansion club in this week’s Top 10, Arlington Soccer is this year’s surprise team from the South Region, bounding into the No. 3 spot thanks to a pair of road wins. After opening the season with a 2-1 win at UK F.C. in Week 1, Arlington topped Alexandria Reds 3-0 last Saturday to move to the top of The District Division. Avery Hallam opened scoring for Arlington and Alyssa Kenealy tallied two second-half goals in the win over Alexandria. Arlington won’t play this week but returns to action in Week 4 traveling to face Washington Dutch Lions FC for a third straight road match Sunday, June 2. 

 

4.    NASHVILLE RHYTHM F.C. (1-0-0)

    Southeast Conference

     Preseason Rank: 7th 

 

Nashville Rhythm F.C. jumped three spots thanks to a resounding 4-0 win versus Atlanta Fire United to open the season last Saturday. Liberian international Angeline Kieh recorded a hat trick, and Emma Brown added a goal for Nashville, which has not lost a Southeast Conference game since the 2022 season. Nashville takes to the road against Chattanooga FC (0-0-0) Friday, May 24. 

5.    UTAH SURF (1-0-0)
  Mountain Conference — Wasatch Division
   Preseason Rank: unranked

The Utah Surf bounced all the way up to No. 5 thanks to an impressive 2-0 road win at the preseason No. 12 Utah Avalanche last Saturday. The Surf is now the only Wasatch Division team to ever beat the Avalanche in regular season play. Danika Serassio and Makinna Winterton scored for the Surf in the win. The Surf next travel to face division leading (by goal differential) La Roca FC (1-0-0) on Saturday, May 25. 

 

6.    SC del SOL (1-0-0)

     Desert Conference

    Preseason Rank: 21st 

West Region Champions in 2023, SC del Sol jumped 15 spots and into the Top 10 after a comeback win on the road to open its season. After going down 1-0 to hosts El Paso Surf, goals by Kristen Puels and Courtney Lively put the reigning Desert Conference champs in the lead before an El Paso own goal sealed the 3-1 victory. Del Sol travels to face Royals AZ (0-0-0) Saturday, May 25 before opening its home schedule Friday, May 31 in the return match with El Paso. 

 

7.    AMBASSADORS CLEVELAND (0-0-0)

    Great Lakes Conference — Great River Division

    Preseason Rank: 1st

Ambassadors look to reclaim its spot at No. 1 when it kicks off its 2024 season Friday, May 24 hosting Corktown WFC (0-1-1). In six WPSL seasons, Ambassadors has yet to lose a regular season match. The club went a perfect 8-0-0 in 2023 outscoring opponents 51-3. 

 

8.    CHARLOTTE EAGLES (0-0-0)

    Atlantic Conference — Carolinas Division

     Preseason Rank: 2nd 

After the postponement of last Saturday’s match at Trinity Fire, the reigning WPSL Champions will now kick off its season at home this Friday, May 24 versus Port City FC (0-0-0). The surprise team out of the South Region in 2023, Charlotte knocked off Nashville Rhythm F.C., Rhode Island Rogues, and Slavo FC enroute to its first league championship. 

 

9.    KC COURAGE (1-0-0)

    Heartland Conference

    Preseason Rank: 10th 

Heartland Conference winners in 2023, KC Courage moved up one spot since the preseason after a 3-1 win to open its season over Sunflower State FC. After going down a goal early, Kansas City tallied three straight. Aya Saiki, Kaira Houser, and Rosa Urista-Chico scored in the win. The Courage is home again Wednesday, May 22 to face FC Wichita (0-0-0) then travels to Wichita for the return match June 1. 

 

10.    CALIFORNIA STORM (0-0-0)

     Pac North Conference

    Preseason Rank: 3rd

One of the league’s founding clubs, the California Storm kicks off its 26thWPSL season Thursday, May 30 hosting Lamorinda United (0-0-0). The Storm went 8-1-0 in the intensely competitive Pac North Conference in 2023, falling in the West Region Playoffs Final to SC del Sol. 

 

11.    SALVO FC (0-0-0)

     Northern Conference

    Preseason Rank: 4th
     Season Opener: May 24

 

12.    FC DAYTON (1-0-0)

     Midwest Conference — Gateway Division

    Preseason Rank 17th 

 

13.    MINNESOTA THUNDER (0-0-0)

     Sunshine Conference

     Preseason Rank: 5th

     Season Opener: May 23

 

14.    WEST FLORIDA FLAMES (1-0-0)

     Northern Conference

     Preseason Rank: 20th 

 

15.    McLEAN SOCCER (1-0-0)

     Atlantic Conference — The District Division

     Preseason Rank: unranked

 

16.    JACKSONVILLE ARMADA FC (1-0-0)

     Sunshine Conference

     Preseason Rank: unranked

 

17.    FC MILWAUKEE TORRENT (0-0-0)

     Midwest Conference — Lake Michigan Division

     Preseason Rank: 6th 
  Season Opener: June 2

 

18.    CLARKSTOWN SOCCER CLUB (0-0-0)

     Northeastern Conference

     Preseason Rank: 8th

     Season Opener: May 22

 

19.    SJEB FC (0-0-0)

     Mid-Atlantic Conference — Colonial Division

    Preseason Rank: 9th

     Season Opener: May 28

 

20.    HOUSTON ACES (1-0-0)

     Lone Star Conference

     Preseason Rank: unranked

 

21.    LA ROCA FC (1-0-0)

     Mountain Conference — Wasatch Division

     Preseason Rank: unranked

 

22.    DOWNTOWN UNITED SOCCER CLUB (0-0-0)

     Metropolitan Conference

     Preseason Rank: 11th

     Season Opener: June 8

 

23.    PENN FUSION SA (0-0-0)

     Mid-Atlantic Conference — Colonial Division

     Preseason Rank: 14th

     Season Opener: May 22

 

24.    SAN DIEGO SURF (0-0-0)

     So Cal Conference — Plymouth Division

    Preseason Rank: 15th

     Season Opener: May 26

 

25.    UTAH AVALANCHE (1-1-0)

     Mountain Conference — Wasatch Division

     Preseason Rank: 12th

 

 

 

National Power Rankings come out every Wednesday at 11 AM CDT.