There was no decision day for the NWSL this year, but seeding for the 2024 quarterfinals still came down to the final day of the season — though not the final game.
All top four-seeded teams — Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, NJ/NY Gotham FC and KC Current — had already clinched home quarterfinals, but all four also ended the regular season with wins this weekend.
The intrigue in the final weekend came down to playoff seeding for the final three spots, with the Portland Thorns, Chicago Red Stars, Bay FC and Racing Louisville in contention when the weekend began. The Thorns won at home Friday night, and Bay FC followed with a win against the Dash in Houston Saturday night after a weather delay, meaning Louisville’s playoff hunt was over before they took the field. They have again finished ninth on the NWSL table.
Kansas City’s defeat of the Red Stars pushed them into the eighth and final spot for the quarterfinals. The loss means Chicago must take a trip to Orlando to face the Shield-winning Pride.
The four quarterfinals are set for next weekend. Semifinals between the four teams that advance will take place the weekend of Nov. 16. Kansas City will host the finalists in the championship on Nov. 23.
After a brief stumble following its Shield-clinching win with back-to-back losses, the Pride came roaring back at home with a 3-2 win over the Seattle Reign this weekend. They also got another vintage Marta goal as the game winner. Expectations for the Pride will be sky high following one of the best — if not the best — regular seasons in the NWSL.
For the Red Stars, while they turned around their last-place finish from last year, Sunday’s loss (plus the results from Portland and Bay) tumbled them to that final spot. Mal Swanson has yet to score since her return from the Olympic break, but she thrives in big moments.
The Washington Spirit is carrying several injuries into the postseason but still offers plenty of threats like Trinity Rodman and Leicy Santos. Of the top four teams, the Spirit may be the most underrated heading into the quarterfinals as it has been quietly consistent all season, but Bay FC won’t be overlooking its opponent as it attempts the upset.
For Bay, Saturday’s playoff-clinching win earned it the new record for most wins by an NWSL expansion team with 11. The addition of center back Abby Dahlkemper has proven to be a key turning point, but Bay fans are probably just watching this clip of Racheal Kundananji all this week to hype themselves up.
Arguably the tastiest quarterfinal of the weekend, Gotham hosts the Thorns while it attempts to defend its 2023 title. Last year, it ran through Portland in the semifinal at Providence Park, and Gotham’s roster has only strengthened in 2024. This one is all about star power for both sides, with Sophia Smith back and scoring for Portland in last Friday’s win.
This time, maybe Portland has the emotional edge, with Portland legend Christine Sinclair calling time on her club career. She had the perfect send-off on Friday at home in the rain, scoring in her 200th NWSL match. The magic might not end there.
The Current’s Temwa Chawinga laid claim to the NWSL Golden Boot for the 2024 season, and she’s not just the frontrunner for the MVP award this year — she could take it home in a unanimous vote at this rate. Kansas City scored the most goals in a season and has one of the strongest home environments in the NWSL, selling out every home game this year. There is a question about Chawinga’s availability for the quarterfinal after the goalscorer missed the regular season finale with an unspecified knee issue.
Mission Accomplished: The only player to score against all 13 teams in a single season… Temwa Chawinga!
Buckle up and watch all 20 goals ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Go5QqlOIus
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 22, 2024
The Courage had the gift of padding in the standings and weren’t in danger of losing their five seed, but limped into the playoffs with a draw against Angel City and back-to-back losses against Bay FC and the Spirit. While the last few results have been rough, the team still has plenty of firepower of its own, with Kerolin (the reigning MVP) finally picking up significant minutes and a best-XI quality season from defender Kaleigh Kurtz.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Portland Thorns, Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, North Carolina Courage, OL Reign, Orlando Pride, Gotham FC, Kansas City Current, Washington Spirit, Angel City, Racing Louisville FC, San Diego Wave, Utah Royals FC, Bay FC, Soccer, NWSL
2024 The Athletic Media Company
