Jeff Kassouf May 8, 2026, 06:12 AM ET Close Jeff Kassouf covers women's soccer for ESPN, focusing on the USWNT and NWSL. In 2009, he founded The Equalizer, a women's soccer news outlet, and he previously won a Sports Emmy at NBC Sports and Olympics. Roughly one-quarter of the 2026 NWSL season is complete, and the stars of the new campaign are beginning to shine. The sample size is large enough now that we can declare with confidence which players have risen above the rest to be the best in their positions, or, across all positions in the league. So, who is the best player in the NWSL right now? And which other players have pulled away from the pack to put in elite campaigns to date? Introducing the first edition of ESPN's NWSL Top 25, a ranking of the best players based on their form so far this season. How we rank NWSL players, and what to expect Firstly, this is not an overall ranking of the best players in the NWSL based on historical performances or the skill we know a player might possess.…