And then there were four.
The 2025 NSWL playoff field has been cut in half following a thrilling quarterfinal round that featured a shocking upset by No. 8 seed Gotham FC, which eliminated the top-seeded Kansas City Current, and storybook win by the No. 3 seed Orlando Pride. Only one game separates each team from the NWSL championship game that will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+) at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.
The remaining four teams — the No. 2 Washington Spirit, No. 3 Portland Thorns, No. 3 Pride and No. 8 Gotham — each knows what it takes to win it all because they are the past four NWSL champions.
Here’s everything you need to know about the NWSL semifinals:
2025 NWSL playoff schedule: TV, streaming for semifinals
All times Eastern
Saturday, Nov. 15: No. 2 Washington Spirit vs. No. 3 Portland Thorns FC | Noon ET (CBS)
Sunday, Nov. 16: No. 4 Orlando Pride vs. No. 8 Gotham FC | 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
No. 2 Washington Spirit vs. No. 3 Portland Thorns FC
The regular season series is tied 1-1.
Why Washington Spirit can win
Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury was named the NWSL Player of the Week following her heroics in the Spirit’s quarterfinal win over No. 7 seed Racing Louisville, which went to a penalty shootout. Kingsbury had seven saves and two PK saves to send the Spirit to the semifinals for the second consecutive season. Washington, which hosts the game, has never lost in the playoffs at home (3–0–2). The combination of the Spirit’s defense with Kingsbury and defender of the year finalist Tara McKeown, paired with its high speed offense with forward Gift Monday will be hard to contain.
They’ve been doing it without star froward Trinity Rodman, who has not played since Oct. 15 because of a Grade 1 MCL sprain in her right knee. She was questionable for the quarterfinals and listed as a reserve, but Rodman didn’t play or warmup. Spirit head coach Adrián González, a finalist for Coach of the Year, said Rodman is taking her recovery ‘day-by-day’ and ‘working so hard’ to return to the field. If she’s available for Saturday’s semifinal matchup, the Spirit will get a major boost.
Why Portland Thorns can win
The Thorns are red-hot heading into the semifinals after posting three consecutive shutouts for the first time since 2021, including the Portland’s 1-0 quarterfinal win over the No. 6 seed San Diego Wave FC. The difference was Reilyn Turner’s header in overtime following an assist from Olivia Moultrie to send the Thorns to the semifinals for the 10th time, the most of any club in NWSL history. Moultrie and Turner are a formidable duo and led the Thorns with eight and five goals this season, respectively. Sam Coffey has locked down the midfield and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold has been impenetrable with Portland’s first playoff clean sheet since 2022.
The Thorns will also be extra motivated heading into the semifinal match against the Spirit. The last time the clubs faced each other on Aug. 3, Spirit forward Trinity Rodman scored a game-winning goal in stoppage time in her first game back from injury.
No. 4 Orlando Pride vs. No. 8 Gotham FC
The regular season series is tied 1-1.
Why the Orlando Pride can win
Everyone wrote off the defending champions following the loss of forward Barbra Banda to a season-ending injury, but the Pride showed they are more than capable following their 2-0 shutout quarterfinal win over the No. 5 seed Seattle Reign. Midfielder Haley McCutcheon scored in the 21st minute and Luana iced the game by converting a penalty kick in stoppage time for her first career NWSL goal. The penalty kick was set by Marta, who sprinted 100 yards to the opposite side of the field before being fouled in the penalty area. Marta, 39, shows no signs of slowing down and is dangerous as ever. “I like when people talk so much s— about Pride and don’t give credit because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel like I want to go and play and prove they’re completely wrong. I think we proved (it) tonight,’ Marta said last week following the win.
Why Gotham FC can win
Gotham FC is not your traditional No. 8 seed and proved it by ousting the No. 1 seed Kansas City Current, who entered the postseason as the clear favorite with the winningest regular season in NWSL history. Kansas City hadn’t dropped a match at home all season, until Gotham FC stunned them in the quarterfinals. Gotham midfielder Jaedyn Shaw, 20, got her team on the board with her first career playoff goal in the 68th minute. After the Current scored a stoppage-time equalizer, forward Katie Stengel sealed the win with a game-winning goal in extra time. (Stengel scored a game-winner in the 2023 quarterfinals to upset Portland en route to Gotham winning a championship as the lowest seed.)
The win sends Gotham to the semifinals for the third consecutive season. Forward Esther González, who finished with the second-most goals in the league (13), is listed as questionable due to a hip injury, but Gotham has no shortage of talent. Shaw has five goals on the season and is coming into her own as a budding star at the right, while veterans Rose Lavelle and Midge Purce have experience for the big moments. If you add Esther Gonzales back into the mix, it adds another lethal weapon. Gonzales (hip) didn’t play in the quarterfinal, but could return on Sunday.
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