With just six games to play, the currently unbeaten Orlando Pride could become the first club in NWSL history to finish regular-season play without a single loss.
Having already clinched an NWSL playoff spot — the Pride’s first since 2017 — Orlando extended their record-breaking unbeaten run to 21 with Friday’s 0-0 draw with third-place Kansas City. The weekend’s result was also the club’s fourth-straight clean sheet, setting a new club record.
However, the path to NWSL glory won’t be easy: Orlando will face four top teams before the regular season’s early November finale.
Portland Thorns continue late-season NWSL losing streak
Elsewhere on Friday, USWNT stars Sophia Smith and Sam Coffey’s Portland Thorns dropped their fourth-straight match — the longest regular-season losing streak in club history.
After a historically slow start to 2024, Portland reassigned head coach Mike Norris and promoted assistant coach Rob Gale. The team quickly responded, rattling off result after result to climb the NWSL table and insert themselves into Shield contention. Momentum, however, has waned since the Olympic break.
With Friday’s 1-0 loss to Chicago on Friday, Portland is still sixth in the standings, but a slim two points over Bay FC is all that separates them from the eighth and final playoff spot.
With the playoff race heating up, the four-time league champs must rally around standouts like Smith. Otherwise, the Thorns are in danger of putting up the worst regular-season finish in club history.
Washington Spirit win books ticket to NWSL postseason
In other postseason news, the Spirit became the second club to clinch a playoff berth this weekend, downing Houston 3-0 on Sunday.
Striker Ashley Hatch led Washington’s scoring with a first-half brace, while forward Trinity Rodman notched an assist before netting the team’s third goal.
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