NOTES TO KNOW

TUNE IN

Viewers tuning in to the NWSL this season can catch more than 120 matches across CBS, ESPN, ION and Prime Video. The remaining matches will be available for free on NWSL+, the league’s first-ever domestic direct-to-consumer streaming platform.

ROAD TO THE PLAYOFFS

Coming out of Week 23, all the top 4 seeds and quarterfinal host spots have been confirmed with NJ/NY Gotham FC clinching with a win and the Washington Spirit Kansas City Current securing a top 4 seed due to the North Carolina Courage draw. The Chicago Red stars clinched the sixth playoff spot after Racing Louisville’s loss to the Washington Spirit meanwhile the Seattle Reign have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Heading into Week 24 of action, there are two teams that can clinch a playoff spot, and four teams can be eliminated.

The Portland Thorns clinch a playoff spot with one of the following

• Portland Thorns Win/Draw vs. Racing Louisville FC

Bay FC clinch a playoff spot with:

• Bay FC Win vs. North Carolina Courage AND Racing Louisville Draw/Loss vs. Portland Thorns

• Bay FC Draw vs. North Carolina Courage AND Racing Louisville Loss vs. Portland Thorns AND Angel City FC Draw vs. Utah Royals FC

Racing Louisville are eliminated with one of the following

• Racing Louisville Loss vs. Portland Thorns AND Bay FC Win/Draw vs. North Carolina Courage

• Racing Louisville Draw vs. Portland Thorns AND Bay FC Win vs. North Carolina Courage

Utah Royals are eliminated with one of the following

• Utah Royals Loss vs. Angel City FC

• Bay FC Win vs. North Carolina Courage

• Utah Royals Draw vs. Angel City FC AND Bay FC Draw vs. North Carolina Courage

Angel City FC are eliminated with one of the following

• Angel City Loss/Draw vs. Utah Royals

• Bay FC Win vs. North Carolina Courage

San Diego Wave FC are eliminated with one of the following

• San Diego Wave Loss/Draw vs. Kansas City Current

• Bay FC Win/Draw vs. North Carolina Courage

Notes about seeding:

• #2 and #3 cannot be finalized this weekend

• The Orlando Pride have secured the #1 seed

• The North Carolina Courage are locked in at the #5 seed

• Kansas City Current Loss AND Washington Spirit Win AND NJ/NY Gotham FC Win means that the Current secure the #4 seed

• Chicago Red Stars Win AND Portland Thorns Loss means the Red Stars lock in the #6 seed

WEEK 23 REVIEW

PUTTING A THORN IN THE PRIDE

The Portland Thorns delivered the Orlando Pride the team’s first loss in 24 matches with a 2-0 home victory at Providence Park last weekend. Forward Morgan Weaver, who recently signed a contract extension with the Thorns through 2028, opened the scoring in the 13th minute with her third goal of the season. Striker Christine Sinclair secured the victory with a tally in the 55th minute, marking her first goal since June 18 at the Chicago Red Stars. The veteran striker, who will retire at the end of the 2024 season, is now tied for second in goals scored across all competitions with 78 tallies.

Thorns goalkeeper Shelby Hogan registered her eighth clean sheet of the season. Only Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse has more shutouts this season with 13.

CHAWINGA MAKES HISTORY

The Kansas City Current defeated Bay FC thanks to a historic goal from the unstoppable forward Temwa Chawinga, whose 19th tally of the season set a new single-season record for regular-season goals in the NWSL, breaking former Chicago striker Sam Kerr’s five-year-old record. The tally also marked her sixth game-winning goal of the season, tying her with Pride forward Barbra Banda in the feat.

Also in the win, Current goalkeeper Almuth Schult recorded her fifth clean sheet in the last seven matches.

PRESSING FOR A GOAL

NWSL after dark action was in full effect as Angel City FC forward Christen Press scored what seemed to be the game-winning goal in the 97th minute of action, her first goal since June 11, 2022, at Racing Louisville, the day of her injury. On the brink of losing their 20-match home unbeaten streak, North Carolina Courage forward Olivia Wingate pulled a tally back in the 100th minute, the latest goal of the season for the Courage to end the match with a 1-1 draw.

HATTRICK FOR ROYALTY

Utah Royals FC forward Cloé Lacasse became the second NWSL player to record a hat trick before halftime, and the first player to achieve the feat this season and in franchise history. With the 3-0 win over the Seattle Reign, the Royals recorded their third victory in a row, marking the first time the team has won three games in a row since the franchise relaunched.

WEEK 24 PREVIEW

KEEPER BATTLE

NJ/NY Gotham FC host the Orlando Pride in the second match between the two clubs on Sunday. The Pride recently suffered their first loss of the season after going on a historic 24-match unbeaten run dating back to October 15, 2023. The first time these two clubs faced off saw Orlando take all three points in a 2-0 victory led by forward Adriana’s brace in the first half of action.

Orlando has not lost any of its last seven away matches against Gotham, with the stretch including three wins and four draws dating back to the start of the 2019 season. Meanwhile Gotham has won eight of its last 10 regular-season home matches.

Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse is first on the leaderboard this season with 13 shutouts and 83 saves in 24 matches played, and recently broke the single season record for clean sheets surpassing goalkeeper AD Franch who set the mark with 12 shutouts in 2017 with the Portland Thorns. Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger sits with eight clean sheets in 20 matches played. The Pride have 15 goals against while Gotham FC sits in second in the goals against standings with 18 this season.

PLAYING FOR PLAYOFFS

Bay FC and the North Carolina Courage play for the second time this season after battling in a hard-fought match on September 13 which saw the two clubs draw 1-1. Forward Ashely Sanchez equalized for the Courage.

Bay FC, in eighth place on the standings are still in playoff contention but all three points are crucial to ensuring a postseason spot.

CHICAGO ON THE ROAD

The Chicago Red Stars head to Audi Field to take on the Washington Spirit, bringing with them a seven-game unbeaten streak on the road against the Spirit dating back to 2017. The Red Stars will meet an embattled Spirit team who has won four-straight home matches, with three of the four victories coming by three-goal margins.

Spirit midfielder Makenna Morris, who recorded a goal and an assist in her first career NWSL start in July, found the scoresheet again on Sunday when she scored twice. She is now the second player in NWSL history, along with Barbra Banda, to record two goal contributions in each of her first two career regular season starts.

TEMWA IN THE HEADLINES

Kansas City returns to CPKC Stadium to host the San Diego Wave FC as forward Temwa Chawinga looks to continue her scoring tear this regular season. San Diego is the only opponent the striker has not scored against this season. A goal in this weekend’s matchup would make her the first player to score against every opponent in an NWSL season in which there were at least 10 teams in the league.

WEEK 24 MATCH SCHEDULE

Friday, October 18

Seattle Reign FC vs. Houston Dash | Lumen Field | 10 p.m. ET |Prime Video

Saturday, October 19

Kansas City Current vs. San Diego Wave FC | CPKC Stadium | 1 p.m. ET | CBS / Paramount+

Racing Louisville FC vs. Portland Thorns FC | Lynn Family Stadium | 7:30 p.m. ET | ION

Bay FC vs. North Carolina Courage | PayPal Park | 10 p.m. ET | ION

Sunday, October 20

Washington Spirit vs. Chicago Red Stars | Audi Field | 5 p.m. ET | NWSL+

NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Orlando Pride | Red Bull Arena | 5 p.m. ET | ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes

Angel City FC vs. Utah Royals FC | BMO Stadium | 7:30 p.m. ET | NWSL+, Paramount+, Golazo