WPS Power Rankings: June 12

June 11, 11:34 PMNY Soccer ExaminerJeff Kassouf

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In a bold move, I am going to permanently etch the Los Angeles Sol into the No. 1 spot of the Examiner Power Rankings for the rest of the season.

Well, maybe that is a bit much, but does anybody really think that Los Angeles can be stopped?

It is possible that the Sol will roll through the regular season and somehow faulter in the final.  Maybe those two weeks off could prove to be a problem.  Maybe another team will get hot at just the right time.  Either way, it seems obvious that the WPS championship is going to go through the Home Depot Center.

1. Los Angeles Sol (7-1-3, 24 pts.; Last Week: 1):  Los Angeles has not reliquished the top spot all season, and it does not seem very likely that it will anytime soon.
   
   The scary part about this team is how deep it is.  Aya Miyama, Han Duan, Marta and Shannon Boxx headline this team's attack, and yet Camille Abily is now the league's leading scorer with six goals.  That's one more than Boston's Kelly Smith.
   
   There really is not much else to say about the Sol.  It is just an absolutely dominant team.
    
2. Washington Freedom (3-3-3, 12 pts.; Last Week: 2): With that said, the Freedom did not perform terribly against Los Angeles.  The score was still unjust for my money, as the penalty kick called against Washington was still a phantom hand ball and a huge question mark.  Unfortunately for the Freedom, it is just tough luck at this point.
   
   "We are getting better defensively but, obviously they are the best team in the league with so many weapons and so hard to stop," head coach Jim Gabarra said.
   
   At least he didn't try to deny it.
    
3. St. Louis Athletica (3-3-2, 11 pts., Last Week: 4):  Has anybody taken notice to the fact that Athletica has just one loss in its last five games?  This team could be a dark horse to host that first playoff game as the third seed in the postseason.
   
   Athletica has also registered four shutouts in its eight games this season.  If St. Louis can start putting more balls in the back of the net, it could even challenge for that second spot.
    
4. Boston Breakers (3-3-2, 11 pts.; Last Week: 3):  I've never believed in punishing teams too much for having a bye week, and the Breakers are still a much better team than those below them.  They are going to be very hungry to avenge a 2-1 loss to Sky Blue FC on May 31.  That is not the type of result a team wants to sit on for two weeks, especially against Sky Blue FC.
    
5. Chicago Red Stars (2-3-4, 10 pts.; Last Week: 7):  The Red Stars seemed to have turned things around with two draws in five days out in California.  Most impressively was the mid-week draw with the seemingly unstoppable Los Angeles Sol.
   
   If the Red Stars could have kept their composure, they could have escaped LA with a win.  Really, they should have, and would have been in much better shape if Cristiane's 88th minute goal held.  Unfortunately for Chicago, Camille Abily struck for the equalizer in stoppage time.
   
   "For us to get a point away from home is a great stepping stone and we know we can play better than that," head coach Emma Hayes said.  "In the end we had chances to win the game as they did."
    
6. FC Gold Pride (3-5-2, 11 pts.; Last Week: 5):  Perhaps it is a bit harsh to put the Pride in sixth place, but the middle of the table is incredibly crowded right now.  Even though Boston and St. Louis are both level with FC Gold Pride, the Californian's have played two more games, meaning they get the bump.
   
   It looks like things are shaping up to have LA at the top, Sky Blue FC at the bottom, and a dog fight in the middle.
    
7. Sky Blue FC (2-5-2, 8 pts.; Last Week: 6):  Unfortunately for Sky Blue FC, they may be singing the blues after Saturday's loss to Athletica.  The game against St. Louis proved to be a step back for a team that was coming off of a huge win over Boston the previous week.
   
   The St. Louis game was critical because now the Blues must host league leaders Los Angeles on Saturday.  The likelihood of getting points out of that game is slim to none, but maybe Yurcak Field will prove to be quite the home field advantage for the Blues.
   
   Kelly Lindsey has injected some life into this team, but it will take a lot to take down the Sol and turn this season around.