Team-by-team guide to the 2024 NWSL Playoffs
Get to know the eight teams dreaming of lifting the NWSL Championship in Kansas City on 23 November
The NWSL Playoffs are here! And, as a treat for fans in the UK and Europe, the broadcast times for these highly anticipated knockout games, for most part, are quite social. All matches will be streamed in the UK for free on NWSL+.
8 Nov. Friday: Orlando vs. Chicago | 1:00 a.m. GMT
9 Nov. Saturday: KC vs. NC | 5:00 p.m. GMT
10 Nov. Sunday: Wash. vs. Bay | 5:30 p.m. GMT
10 Nov. Sunday: Gotham vs. Portland | 8:00 p.m GMT
Unlike the previous years, the story of the NWSL in 2024 has been a very dominant top-four, an established operator in North Carolina, and then a trio of imperfect hopefuls finding their way into the playoffs.
But this is still the NWSL. Anything could happen. While all four hosts in the one-legged quarterfinals will be expected to advance, it should promise to be an exhilarating weekend of footy.
Here’s a quick guide to every 2024 NWSL playoff club:
1 - Orlando Pride | 60 pts | GF: 46 GA: 20
Playoff History: 2017 semi-finals.
Head coach: Seb Hines – Originally taking over as a caretaker midway through the 2022 season, he subsequently got the job permanently in December 2022 after stabilising the club. Hines has become an astute tactical mind and dressing room culture builder, with an excellent eye for developing young players and giving veterans responsibility.
Star player: Barbra Banda – The Zambian forward has been sensational in her debut season in the NWSL and is a player of the year candidate with 13 goals and six assists. She has slowed down a bit since the Olympics, with just one league goal since July, but draws a lot of defensive attention, creating space for others.
Lineup (4-2-3-1): Moorehouse; Dyke, Sams, Strom, Abello; McCutcheon, Angelina; Adriana, Marta, Yates; Banda
Style of play: Orlando like to have control when on the ball, keep structure but can press teams very effectively. They’ve only trailed in three matches all season, so there’s an argument that we’ve never seen them forced into many uncomfortable game states. The Pride have also been the best team in the league on set pieces. This is a locked-in defensive unit boasting the most clean sheets and joint-best goals against. Going forward, 47 goals from 47.4 xG means the Pride effectively takes the chances they create. No luck or over performance needed.
Odds: 5/2
2 - Washington Spirit | 56pts | GF: 51 GA: 28
Playoff History: winners 2021, runner-up 2016, semi-finalist 2014, 2015.
Head coach: Jonatan Giraldez – Taking over midway through this season, after winning the Champions League with FC Barcelona, Giraldez hasn’t missed a beat and won eight of 11 matches in the second half of the NWSL season. He has taken an already very good Spirit team and improved their connectivity in the final third, especially at home. He’s done it with star players Croix Bethune and Andi Sullivan being ruled out with knee injuries.
Star player: Trinity Rodman – Question marks remain over whether Rodman can shake off a back injury and be fully fit for the playoffs. Another player of the year contender with eight goals and six assists, the 22-year-old is a box of tricks who also defends relentlessly.
Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kingsbury; Carle, Butel, McKeown, Krueger; Stainbrook, Hershfelt; Rodman, Santos, Morris; Hatch
Style of play: A penchant for quick passing moves and playing through the thirds doesn’t mean Spirit are totally possession focused. An average of 52.5% possession since Giraldez took over ranks fifth in the NWSL. Some of the most impressive elements of the team have been their ability to counter press. They can thrive when attacking in transition or when capitalising on errors.
Odds: 8/3
3 - NJ/NY Gotham FC | 56pts | GF: 41 GA: 20
Playoff History: winners 2023, quarter-finalists 2021, semi-finalists 2013.
Head coach: Juan Carlos Amoros – Like Hines, it’s been up and up since Amoros arrived in New Jersey in November 2022. Gotham went from bottom of the league in 2022, to sixth in the table and playoff champions in 2023. This season has seen even more growth with a club-record points total of 56.
Star player: Yazmeen Ryan – Gotham are such a deep team with an eclectic mix of talent contributing in different ways that it can be hard to find a star. But with five goals and five assists, Ryan has had the best year of her career. Coming off winning the playoffs in 2022 with the Portland Thorns and 2023 with Gotham, she also shines this time of year.
Lineup (4-3-3): Berger; Nighswonger, Hiatt, Sonnet, Carter; Martin, Sheehan, Lavelle; Stevens, Gonzalez, Ryan
Style of play: A very jazzy approach to positions and lineup selection, Gotham love to mix their build out with full-backs getting high on one side, and inverting on the other side. Expect midfield lynchpin Nealy Martin to drop into the backline to help the two centre-backs build. Stevens and Ryan have the freedom to get central from wide areas. Positions are fluid. They press more than any other team in the league with 8.11 passes per defensive action (Wyscout).
Odds: 8/3
4 - Kansas City Current | 55pts | GF: 57 GA: 31
Playoff History: runner-up 2022.
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski – After a crushing end to his time with the USWNT at the 2023 World Cup, Andonovski assumed the role as Current head coach in January 2024. He has been thriving back in his adopted hometown of Kansas City.
Star player: Temwa Chawinga – The best goalscorer in world football at the moment, her 20 goals in 25 matches during the league season speaks for itself. Her speed combined with her knowledge of when to instigate movement is exceptional. Whether that is short jolts into the six-yard box, or 80 yard sprints from the halfway line. The diverse shot selection that Chawinga offers, particularly her penchant for dinking the ball over the goalkeeper, has made her a truly elite striker.
Lineup (4-3-3): Schult; Rodriguez, Cook, Sharples, Mace; Hutton, LaBonta, DiBernardo; Chawinga, Debinha, Cooper
Style of play: The Current are another team that thrive in transition. Often absorbing pressure and making the most of quick breaks. The Current’s bread and butter has been exposing a high line. Keep an eye on how defensive midfielder Claire Hutton wins the ball quickly and then feeds Lo LaBonta, who can then play an incisive through ball to the forward line. Initially porous at the back, the Current finished the season with the best xGA (the number of goals a team is expected to concede based on their opponent’s quality of chances) of any team in the league (24.2) and have worked hard on their rest defence.
Odds: 7/2
5 - North Carolina Courage | 39pts | GF: 34 GA: 28
Playoff History: winners 2018, 2019, quarter-finals 2021, 2023.
Head coach: Sean Nahas – The longest-tenured head coach in the 2024 NWSL playoffs, he has been leading the club since 2021. Nahas is very well thought of and has many admirers for his process-driven possession game that has been developed over many years with a core group of players.
Star player: Ashley Sanchez — While the Courage’s system relies on metronomic movements to pass and move as a unit, Sanchez is the player who has a bit of license to improvise. A blockbuster signing last offseason for $275,000 and a first-round draft pick, she has delivered on the price tag with five goals and four assists.
Lineup (4-2-3-1): Murphy; Rauch, Berkeley, Kurtz, Williams; O’Sullivan, Miura; Sanchez; Kerolin, Vine; Matsukubo
Style of play: For the past three years no team in the NWSL has enjoyed the ball more than the Courage. This season was no different, with North Carolina top in both stats (464 passes p90, and 57.2% possession). Death by a thousand cuts. The Courage’s back five has been consistent all season, with Kaleigh Kurtz completing her third successive season where she played every single minute. This is a team of strong bonds and well-rehearsed patterns of play.
Odds: 12/1
6 - Portland Thorns | 34pts | GF: 37 GA: 35
Playoff History: winners 2013, 2017, 2022. runner-up 2018, semi-finals 2014, 2016, 2019, 2023.
Head coach: Rob Gale – The Englishman started life with a new manager bounce for the ages. He won his first six matches after taking over from Mike Norris four matches into 2024. But things have stalled, with the Thorns winning just two of their final 10 down the stretch.
Star player: Sophia Smith – Even though the USA forward has struggled with ankle injuries in 2024, (19 appearances, 1,548 minutes) she still managed to finish third in the goalscoring charts with 12 goals and also had six assists. Smith had a hand in 49% of the Thorns goals this year and at times it has felt like the team could not win without her.
Lineup (4-3-3): Hogan; Reyes, Sauerbrunn, Hubly, Muller; Hugita, Coffey, Fleming; Weaver, Sinclair, Smith
Style of play: The Thorns have had an interesting mix of very young players and very experienced players. They also tried to change goalkeepers midseason, signing MacKenzie Arnold from West Ham, but have appeared to move back to Shelby Hogan after Arnold struggled. Portland wanted to play it out from the back but errors have cost them. Expect wingers to cut in and make central runs with Christine Sinclair operating as a deeper connective forward.
Odds: 40/1
7 - Bay FC | 34pts | GF: 31 GA: 41
Playoff History: debut (inaugural season).
Head coach: Albertin Montoya – The 49-year-old wears his heart for northern California on his sleeve and has been in the area coaching youth soccer and women’s professional soccer for over two decades. Briefly a caretaker manager with the Washington Spirit in 2022, his first proper year in the NWSL should be deemed a success.
Star player: Abby Dahlkemper – Another northern Californian, Bay’s defensive fortunes seemed to almost immediately turn around with the arrival of the World Cup-winning centre-back from San Diego Wave for $50,000 in August. Bay’s goals conceded p90 was 1.83 prior to Dalkemper’s arrival, that figure reduced to 1.11 over the final nine matches with Dahlkemper.
Lineup (4-2-3-1): Rowland; Malonson, Menges, Dahlkemper, Dydasco; Bailey, Pickett; Kundananji, Boade, Hill; Oshoala.
Style of play: It has been a year of growth and tweaks for Montoya and Bay, who began the season with grand ideas of being “Barcelona on the Bay”. Montoya has since made some adjustments to become much more pragmatic and defensively sound. Statistically Bay is still one of the highest-pressing teams in the league, but I would expect them to be much more cautious and conserve energy for portions of the playoffs.
Odds: 40/1
8 - Chicago Red Stars | 32pts | GF: 31 GA: 38
Playoff History: runner-up 2019, 2021, semi-finalist 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, quarter-finalist 2022.
Head coach: Lorne Donaldson – Donaldson has taken his defensive approach, which won him plaudits with the Jamaican women’s national team, and applied it to Chicago. It should be noted that the Red Stars finished bottom of the NWSL in 2023, so Donaldson making them hard to beat and clawing them back up the table should be applauded. He also coached youth soccer in Colorado for many years, where he helped develop USA superstars Mal Swanson and Sophia Smith.
Star player: Natalia Kuikka – Yes, Swanson may be this team’s true star in the attack. But Finnish defender Kuikka is the all-action player who puts everything on the line to claw out results for the Red Stars. Signed as a free agent last offseason, she lost defensive partner Sam Staab to an Achilles injury. Since then, Kuikka has been used centrally and also as a full-back to fill gaps.
Lineup (4-2-3-1): Naeher; Malham, Rocarro, Anderson, Kuikka; Grosso, Franklin; Swanson, Groom, Joseph; Schlegel
Style of play: Organised banks, minimise gaps, stay rigid, score first, and grind it out. Yes, Chicago will concede possession (41% average in 2024) and invite pressure by dropping into the lowest block in the league. But this also means its midfielders will need to be vigilant on the edge of the box to block what could be a flurry of shots. Taylor Malham can hit big vertical out balls to try and spring Swanson or Joseph.
Odds: 50/1
*all data taken from FBref unless specified.