USWNT REWIND: Top Seeds Advance to NWSL Semfinals

The 2024 NWSL postseason kicked off with an entertaining quarterfinal slate that ultimately saw the top four seeds prevail and book their spots in the semifinals.

The action got underway on Friday night in Orlando with the top-seeded Orlando Pride downing the eight seed Chicago Red Stars 4-1 for the club’s first-ever playoff victory. The Red Stars defended bravely in the early going, but the Pride broke the match open in the 26th minute with a header goal from Haley McCutcheon and Zambian star Barbra Banda tallied twice in the span of 13 minutes to give Orlando an insurmountable 3-0 lead at the half. Brazilian legend Marta converted a penalty kick in the 57th minute to push the Pride’s lead to four before Jameese Joseph pulled one back for Chicago in the 60th minute. Defender Emily Sams went the distance for Orlando while Mallory Swanson and Alyssa Naeher played the full 90 for Chicago in the defeat.

The Pride now turn their preparations to Sunday’s semifinal matchup in Orlando against the four seed Kansas City Current (3 p.m. ET on ABC). The Current edged the fifth-seeded North Carolina Courage 1-0 in their quarterfinal matchup on Saturday afternoon at CPKC Stadium. NWSL Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga scored the game’s only goal in the eighth minute as the Current prevailed in a hard-fought and back-and-forth affair. Casey Murphy made three saves for the Courage while Ashley Sanchez logged 64 minutes for the Courage following her recent call-up to the USWNT for the October international window. Hailie Mace, who also returned to action for the USWNT this fall after a prolonged absence, went the distance for Kansas City in the victory.

On the other side of the bracket, 2021 NWSL Champions and two seed Washington Spirit staged a late comeback to top seven seed Bay FC 2-1 in overtime on Sunday at Audi Field. Playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,215 fans, the two sides were locked in a scoreless deadlock until the 82nd minute when Bay, just the second expansion team to qualify for the playoffs in its first season, took the lead off a goal from Nigerian international Asisat Oshoala. With time running out in regulation, the Spirit equalized in the 86th minute on a strike from distance by defender Tara McKeown, sending the match into overtime.

With momentum and the home crowd on its side, the Spirit came up with the game-winner in the 96th minute as Trinity Rodman served in a cross from the right flank to the top of the six-yard box. Bay FC defender Caprice Dydasco inadvertently directed the ball into her own net for the own goal, giving the Spirit their first lead of the night. Washington saw out the win to advance to its fifth semifinal in club history. Along with Rodman, 2024 Olympic Team members Hal Hershfelt and Casey Krueger also featured for the Spirit while defender Alyssa Malonson, who tallied an assist in her USWNT debut on Oct. 30, went the distance for Bay FC.

The Spirit host three seed and defending NWSL Champions NJ/NY Gotham FC in Saturday’s semifinal showdown (12 p.m. ET on CBS & Paramount+). Gotham were also 2-1 winners on the weekend, defeating Portland Thorns FC in dramatic fashion on Sunday at Red Bull Arena in front of a club record 15,540 fans. After a scoreless first half, defender Tierna Davidson put Gotham in front in the 67th minute as she scored her first goal for the club. After Gotham was awarded a free kick 40 yards from goal, Rose Lavelle served in a bending ball to the top of the box. Lynn Williams got her head to it and flicked it along to the back post where Davidson calmly finished a half-volley for her first career playoff goal.

WATCH: DAVIDSON GIVES GOTHAM EARLY LEAD

Portland equalized less than 10 minutes later, also scoring off a set piece as Olivia Moultrie served in a bending ball from the left flank and forward Reilyn Turner connected on the header at the back post to level the match at 1-1. Still tied deep into second-half stoppage time, the match seemed destined for overtime until Lavelle came up with the dramatic game-winner, scoring one-touch finish at the penalty spot off a low cross from Delanie Sheehan. It marked Lavelle’s second ever playoff goal – the other coming against Gotham in the 2023 NWSL Final while playing for OL Reign – and the latest playoff goal scored in regulation in league history.

WATCH: LAVELLE SCORES LATE GAME WINNER FOR GOTHAM

In Europe, Arsenal put together a comprehensive performance with a 5-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday evening in Women’s Super League action. With big games on the horizon for the club, defender Emily Fox was subbed out just before the hour mark, but did help the Gunners to their fourth clean sheet in league play.

Chelsea continued its perfect start to the 2024-25 Super League season, making it six wins in six games with a 3-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday. Catarina Macario came on for the Blues late in the victory for her first match action in nearly a month.

In France, Paris Saint-Germain bounced back from last week’s loss to Olympique Lyon with a 4-0 win on Saturday over RC Strasbourg. Korbin Albert went the distance and tallied an assist in the victory while Eva Gaetino also started the match for the Parisians.

Information on more upcoming matches for U.S. Women’s National Team players can be found below. All times listed are ET.