Below is a selection of moments to watch for and notes to know entering the quarterfinals of NWSL playoff action. Quarterfinal match coverage begins Friday, November 8 as the Orlando Pride host the Chicago Red Stars at Inter&Co Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
NOTES TO KNOW
WELCOME TO THE PLAYOFFS
The bracket for the 2024 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel, kicking off this weekend, is officially set. The expanded eight-team quarterfinal round begins Friday, November 8, on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET as the No. 1 seed Orlando Pride, who clinched the NWSL Shield, presented by CarMax,at the beginning of the month, hosts the No. 8 seed Chicago Red Stars at Inter&Co Stadium.
The fourth-seeded Kansas City Current hosts the No. 5 seed North Carolina Courage in the lone quarterfinal match on Saturday, November 9, at CPKC Stadium, kicking off at 12 p.m. ET. The match will air live on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+.
The No. 2 seed Washington Spirit opens ABC’s doubleheader coverage on Sunday, November 10, with a 12:30 p.m. ET match against No. 7 Bay FC at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
ABC’s Sunday doubleheader coverage continues at 3 p.m. ET as No. 3 NJ/NY Gotham FC, the defending NWSL Champion, rounds out quarterfinal round action at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey against No. 6 Portland Thorns FC.
The 2024 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel, will air across a variety of platforms for viewers tuning in outside the United States, including NWSL+. Further information regarding international distribution will be available in the coming weeks.
The 2024 NWSL Championship is set to air on Saturday, November 23 at 8 p.m. ET live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
PLAYOFF FORMAT
Eight clubs have reached the 2024 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel, featuring a single elimination tournament with a fixed bracket hosted by the higher seed in the quarterfinals and semifinals. The winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8 will face the winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5, while the winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 will take on the winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 in the final round ahead of the championship.
The 2024 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, will be held at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 23, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET.
PLAYOFF PRIDE
The 2024 NWSL Shield Winners, the top-seeded Orlando Pride, look to extend their 17-game unbeaten home streak as they host the Chicago Red Stars in the quarterfinals. Orlando’s Barbra Banda and Marta both had standout seasons, with Banda tying the club’s single-season records for goals and assists and Marta hitting her 40-goal mark last weekend.
Chicago’s Mallory Swanson, one goal away from reaching 30 goals with the Red Stars, aims to make her mark in the team’s 11th playoff appearance. Despite a 28-point gap between the teams, both sides bring notable strengths into this postseason matchup.
THE CURRENT DILEMMA
Kansas City Current hosts the North Carolina Courage in their first-ever home playoff game in Saturday’s quarterfinal matchup. Kansas City’s potent offense set an NWSL record with 57 goals this season, including a league-high 37 at home, making CPKC Stadium one of the toughest places to play. North Carolina, meanwhile, brings their league-leading passing precision, led by Iron Woman Kaleigh Kurtz, but they’ll face a passionate away crowd in Kansas City. This will be the fourth knockout match between these two teams since 2022, marking one of the league's most frequent playoff pairings.
SPIRIT STAY HOME
Washington Spirit hosts expansion team Bay FC in a quarterfinal showdown as they look to build on a record-setting season. The Spirit had 18 wins this season along with 51 goals, finishing strong with five consecutive home victories. Meanwhile, Bay FC’s dynamic duo, Racheal Kundananji and Asisat Oshoala, played crucial roles in 16 of the club’s 29 regular-season goals, keeping their attack sharp heading into the playoffs. Despite a solid away record, Bay FC faces a Spirit team that won both regular-season meetings, adding extra weight to this first-ever playoff matchup between the two clubs.
REPEAT IN NEW JERSEY
Defending champions Gotham FC take on Portland Thorns FC in a high-stakes quarterfinal with plenty of storylines. Gotham’s offense has been electric all season, led by Esther's 9 regular season goals in 2024. Portland, the league’s only team to make the playoffs 10 times, brings a wealth of postseason experience, headlined by veteran Christine Sinclair, who is retiring after this season and holds the record for most playoff appearances with 13. This matchup is a rematch of last year’s semifinals, where Gotham defeated the Thorns 1-0 in Portland, setting them on the path to lifting the 2023 NWSL Championship trophy.
QUARTERFINAL MATCH SCHEDULE
Friday, November 8
Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars | Inter&Co Stadium | 8 p.m. ET | Prime Video
Saturday, November 9
Kansas City Current vs. North Carolina Courage | CPKC Stadium | 12 p.m. ET | CBS, Paramount+
Sunday, November 10
Washington Spirit vs. Bay FC | Audi Field | 12:30 p.m. | ABC
NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Portland Thorns FC | 3 p.m. ET | ABC
