As the NWSL has expanded to 14 teams, the playoff format has expanded as a result. The growth of the league has been incredible to witness. Five years ago, this league only had four playoff teams; by 2021, we had six playoff teams, and for the first time in 2024, we had eight teams in the postseason. Bracket madness has taken over the NWSL with the hope of magical upsets, and Cinderella runs to shock us all. Will there be any first-round upsets in the NWSL Quarterfinals? Let’s preview it and find out.
#1 Orlando Pride vs. #8 Chicago Red Stars: Friday, November 8 at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT, Prime Video
The NWSL Shield curse is well documented, and the Orlando Pride will undoubtedly be reminded of it heading into the team’s first playoff game since 2017. It’s a position this team hasn’t been in often. How will they handle the spotlight of being the top team? Their opponent has been here plenty before, but those teams are marred by a coaching scandal involving the old owner selling the team. Laura Ricketts has set ambitious goals for the club. It shouldn’t be a surprise they made the semifinals in her first year as owner with Lorne Donaldson in charge. They’re a young team with minimal playoff experience, but they are dangerous.
What’s interesting about this matchup is Orlando did not dominate the Red Stars the way they did with other teams. The first matchup was 1-1 in March before Barbra Banda joined the team. The second matchup was a 1-0 win for Orlando, but Chicago kept Banda in check only to lose thanks to a Marta goal in the first half. This game will be much closer than people think on paper. Chicago has every opportunity to pull off this upset for a few reasons. The first is Mallory Swanson, with new additions like Ludmila and Julia Grosso. Both played for high-level European teams, Atletico Madrid and Juventus, respectively, and will help Swanson in attack.
Chicago is most dangerous in a counterattack; they’ll be okay with allowing Orlando to possess the ball and keep Orlando in front of them. Expect the Red Stars to allow long-range shots and play the odds. What’s more likely to score, a long-range screamer or a one-on-one chance with the keeper, because Chicago is playing a high line? Especially when you have Alyssa Naeher in goal, you believe she will make the saves required to keep them in the game. Chicago will do whatever is necessary to keep Banda from having space behind.
The one area that Orlando can exploit in what should be a low-scoring game is set pieces. Banda’s aerial ability and service from Marta could be the difference in this game. As mentioned, the NWSL Shield curse is real, and Chicago will make this a battle, but I still give the edge to Orlando at home to make it to the semifinals.
Prediction: Pride win 1-0
#4 Kansas City Current vs. #5 North Carolina Courage: Saturday, November 9 at 12:00 PM ET/9:00 AM PT, CBS/Paramount+
Kansas City’s turnaround from second to last in 2023 to fourth this season is nothing short of impressive. Temwa Chawinga won the Golden Boot by a country mile, and the Current broke the record for most goals in a single season with 57. Vlatko Andonovski has built a great team in KC, and they were looking like the league’s second-best team behind Orlando for most of the season. Offense is their strength, but they shored up some surprising goalkeeping issues by benching Adrianna Franch and signing Almuth Schult, the German international. This team is a scary proposition, and they will want to play Orlando in the semifinals.
On the flipside, North Carolina is back in the postseason again, with Ashley Sanchez starring in the midfield alongside stalwart and captain Denise O’Sullivan. Casey Murphy is one of the league’s best keepers in the net. This team sorely missed Kerolin for most of the season and didn’t have the same goal-scoring output as other teams, but her presence is key for this game. If Kerolin or Sanchez can work some of their magic, they can pull this off.
Here’s the daunting stat that I cannot get past between both sides. Kansas City lost once at home all season to Orlando for a 9-3-1 home record. North Carolina might’ve been the worst road team in the league, with a 3-10-0 record. The Courage never picked up a draw on the road in 13 games which means they’re likely not going to take this game to extra time, they’ll have to win within the 90 minutes. Considering the atmosphere and what Kansas City has done in front of their home fans this season, I can’t take North Carolina to win in good conscience. If they do, it’d be great for the NWSL Playoffs to see an upset like this that no one saw coming. Casey Murphy has to be at her best because a loaded and ruthless Kansas City attack is coming to end their season.
Prediction: Current win 2-1
#2 Washington Spirit vs. #7 Bay FC: Sunday, November 10 at 12:30 PM ET/9:30 AM PT, ABC
The Washington Spirit went out and got Jonatan Giráldez, the former FC Barcelona manager, and it paid off in a big way. The Spirit finished second thanks to a solid second half of the season, even with injuries to Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune. The Spirit’s ability to develop their younger players has made a huge difference. Hal Hershfelt and Makenna Morris have made a major impact offensively and supported Ashley Hatch up front. The Spirit fixed their goal-scoring issues and showed they can win games without Trinity Rodman, which should work wonders for their team confidence.
Bay FC will tell you they expected to be in the playoffs in year one, and that was clear based on their aggressive approach to the expansion draft and free agency. They didn’t opt for many young players. They went out and signed high-level veterans and stars across the board. Asisat Oshoala and Rachael Kundananji have enough match-winning talent to take over this game. Bay FC’s away record wasn’t bad, they won more road games (6) then they did home games (5) this season. Bay FC is hungry and eager to win now as a new franchise and has a great chance to pull off the upset.
However, Jonatan Giráldez has more than enough big-game experience and knows how to gameplan for Oshoala, having coached her in Barcelona in the past. The NWSL Playoffs won’t faze someone like Giraldez, who has won multiple Champions League titles. When you factor in that the Spirit went 10-1-2 at home this season and swept Bay FC in the regular season, it’s hard to pick against Washington in this game.
Prediction: Spirit win 3-1
#3 Gotham FC vs. #6 Portland Thorns, Sunday, November 10th, 3:00pm EST/12:00pm PST, ABC
Gotham had a slower start to the season with high expectations as the defending champs. The bats were busy in the offseason, signing multiple USWNT stars like Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett, to name a few. Dealing with the Olympics midseason probably hurt them the most of any team. However, since the Olympic break, Gotham are looking like their old selves as a threat to go back-to-back. Gotham’s last loss was on September 1st to Orlando, a loss that they would avenge and end Orlando’s quest for an unbeaten season. Juan Carlos Amoros’ side are 7-1-0 in their last eight games, and everyone is healthy. The Portland Thorns have their work cut out for them.
This is a new situation for the Thorns, who are in a bit of a transition. Normally, they’re a top-three team in the standings as one of the elite teams every year. Now, they’re a squad with an exciting mix of older players and a young core trying to rise to the Portland Thorns standard. The other major question is whether this could be Christine Sinclair’s final pro game. While the Thorns have been good enough to make the postseason, a lot of the goal-scoring has fallen on Sophia Smith, and after she missed a few games due to injury, this team struggled to score consistently. This Portland team is dangerous, with Sophia Smith leading the way, and they have big game players within their team. Sam Coffey and Morgan Weaver will have to impact the game to give Portland the best chance to win.
That said, based on Gotham’s red-hot form, their chemistry, and how strongly they want to win another NWSL title, Gotham should get this done, especially after they beat Portland twice during the regular season.
Prediction: Gotham win 2-1
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