The NWSL Semifinals: A Showdown of Champions
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) semifinals are heating up as the four most recent champions set the stage for an exciting showdown in 2025. In an intriguing twist, the defending champions NJ/NY Gotham FC, seeded eighth, are set to take on the Orlando Pride, the reigning champions, in the first semifinal match at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday (available on ABC, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+).
“Just last week, Gotham made headlines by pulling off a stunning upset against the top-seeded Kansas City Current, overcoming a 21-point gap in the standings to secure a 2-1 victory in extra time, thereby bringing the Current’s record-breaking season to a close.”
Kansas City had dominated the league, finishing with 65 points and 21 wins, but Gotham’s gritty performance changed the narrative.
Semifinal Matchups
In the other semifinal, the Washington Spirit – the 2021 champions who fell to Orlando in last year’s final – will face off against the Portland Thorns at noon ET on Saturday. The Thorns have set the standard in the league since its inception in 2013, with three NWSL titles and two NWSL Shields to their name. However, this year’s Thorns squad is unexpected; only team captain Sam Coffey remains a starting player from their 2022 championship team.
Injury woes have plagued the Thorns this season, and they are also missing their star 2022 MVP Sophia Wilson, who recently became a mother.
Team Performances and Challenges
Looking ahead to the semifinals, the Orlando Pride enter with impressive accolades from the previous season, having captured both the regular-season and playoff championships, and embarking on a formidable 23-game unbeaten streak to start the 2024 season. Nevertheless, their fortunes have shifted this year; after a promising start, they experienced a nine-game winless run before reclaiming their spark with a 2-1 win against the San Diego Wave in late September.
Players like six-time world player of the year Marta, alongside fellow forward Barbra Banda, have been critical to their past successes. Yet, with Banda sidelined due to injury and Marta’s diminished performance, the Pride must fiercely defend their title.
Gotham, rising from its underdog status as the lowest-seeded team in the playoffs last year, enters this matchup with a chip on their shoulder. They not only won the 2023 title but also claimed the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup in May, marking a historic achievement for the club. Key to their recent success is the arrival of star playmaker Jaedyn Shaw, who has quickly formed a strong partnership with fellow USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle. However, concerns linger over the fitness of striker Esther González, a key contributor with 13 goals this season, who has been recovering from a hip injury.
For the Washington Spirit, the specter of injuries looms large, with the notable absence of fan-favorite forward Trinity Rodman, whose journey has been punctuated by setbacks over the past year, including a sprained MCL that sidelined her last week. This season has also seen the Spirit deal with injuries to vital defenders like Tara McKeown and Gabby Carle, complicating their defensive strategies ahead of the semifinal.
As for the Thorns, they are searching for a triumphant narrative amidst adversity. With key injuries eroding their roster before the season began, the team has relied on rising stars like Coffey and Olivia Moultrie to anchor their midfield. Although Portland finds itself in a rebuilding phase after the departures of veterans Christine Sinclair and Becky Sauerbrunn, they aim for a record fourth championship by leveraging their youthful talent and tenacity.
Conclusion
As the semifinals unfold, all eyes will be on how each team navigates their challenges and whether the champions of the past can assert their dominance once again or if fresh stories of triumph will emerge from this year’s competition.
