2024 National Women’s Soccer League: Playoff preview, schedule and how to watch
Play-offs begin on Friday (8 November), with NWSL Shield winners Orlando Pride taking on the Chicago Red Stars in the curtain raiser.
Football
Eight of the best sides in North America are readying themselves for the final run of games in this year’s edition of the National Women’s Soccer League.
For two teams it came down to the last matchday of the regular season, both the Portland Thorns and Bay FC securing their place in the play-offs with 3-0 and 3-1 victories, respectively.
Racing Louisville had been in the mix, but with the former two sides winning their games, a 3-1 loss to San Diego Wave did not affect their hopes.
On Friday (8 November), NWSL Shield winners Orlando Pride will host eight-placed Chicago Red Stars in the first quarter-final of the next stage.
One week later, the semi-finals will unfold before the Championship final on Saturday, 23 November.
Here’s how to follow all of the action from the business end of the NWSL season.
Preview: Who are the favourites to lift the NWSL title?
Orlando Pride are undoubtedly among the favourites to go on and win the NWSL Championship this season. Their turnaround has been quite incredible, from missing out on a spot in the play-offs last season based on goal difference to becoming Shield winners and finishing top of the table.
What is more unbelievable, is the fact the Pride were two defeats away from an invincible campaign. Their first defeat came on what was the 24th of 26 matchdays, falling to a 2-0 loss at the hand of Portland Thorns. A second would come a week later, beaten by NJ/NY Gotham 3-1.
The signing of Barbra Banda in the summer paid dividends, with the Zambian forward bagging 19 goal involvements (13 goals, six assists) in 22 games. But their defensive foundations – specifically the core centre-back partnership of Kylie Strom and Emily Sams - gave them a solid platform for success. 20 goals conceded was the lowest of any side in the league, joint with Gotham.
On the topic of Gotham, they are also one of the top contenders as the reigning champions. They’re living proof that league positioning rarely matters going into the knockout stage, finishing sixth last year before being crowned winners.
This time around they’ve built on that by finishing third, setting up a quarter-final clash with three-time Championship victors the Portland Thorns.
Kansas City Current could be a potential surprise in this phase of the competition, three years on from their return to the league, boasting the NWSL's top scorer in their forward line. Temwa Chawinga has been a revelation for the Midwest side, setting a record for the most goals scored in a single season with 20, plus an additional six assists across 25 appearances.
Coached by Vlatko Andonovski, they finished fourth in the table with the second-lowest number of defeats (3), just one behind the Orlando Pride. Such a record could serve them well heading into a knockout phase, where each win counts.
Expansion side Bay FC are also among the sides vying for glory, with a successful first NWSL campaign under their belt. They invested heavily in the summer, particularly by breaking the women’s football transfer record to sign Racheal Kundananji. But it paid off for them, the Zambian netting twice in their must-win clash with the Houston Dash, securing a play-off spot with a tense 3-2 win.
Washington Spirit, North Carolina Courage, Portland Thorns and the Chicago Red Stars make up the top eight, all, excluding the latter, well-versed in what it takes to win the Championship. The Red Stars will be hoping to break the play-off curse that has seen them finish runners-up on four occasions.
2024 NWSL Play-offs: Schedule and how to watch
Quarter-finals
Friday 8 November
- Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars (01:00 GTM/02:00 CET, early Saturday)
Saturday 9 November
- KC Current vs. North Carolina Courage (17:00 GMT/18:00 CET)
Sunday 10 November
- Washington Spirit vs. Bay FC (17:30 GMT/18:30 CET)
- Gotham FC vs. Portland Thorns (20:00 GMT/21:00 CET)
Semi-finals
Saturday 16 November
- TBD vs. TBD (TBD)
- TBD vs. TBD (TBD)
Final
Saturday 23 November
- TBD vs. TBD (01:00 GMT/02:00 CET) – CPKC Stadium, Kansas City
CBS Sports is the home of the NWSL Championship. Fans can watch all of the action unfold across the CBS platforms and on Paramount+.
The final will also be shown live on the NWSL website, which is also the place to be for international supporters to tune in.