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.

WEEK 23 PREVIEW

ROAD TO THE PLAYOFFS

Through this weekend’s slate of matches there is one team that can clinch a playoff spot, three teams that can clinch a top 4 seed and host a quarterfinal game, and four teams that can be eliminated.

Washington Spirit clinches a top 4 Seed and quarterfinal home match with one of the following:

• Washington Spirit Win/Draw vs. Racing Louisville FC

• North Carolina Courage Draw/Loss vs. Angel City FC

NJ/NY Gotham FC secures a top 4 seed and a quarterfinal home match with one of the following:

• Gotham FC Win/Draw vs. Chicago Red Stars

• North Carolina Courage Draw/Loss vs. Angel City FC

Kansas City Current clinches a top 4 seed and host a quarterfinal match with one of the following:

• Kansas City Current Win vs. Bay FC

• North Carolina Courage Draw/Loss vs. Angel City FC

The Chicago Red Stars secure a playoff spot with one of the following:

• Chicago Red Stars Win vs. Gotham FC

• Racing Louisville Loss vs. Washington Spirit

• Chicago Red Stars Draw vs. Gotham FC AND Portland Thorns Draw/Loss vs. Orlando Pride

• Chicago Red Stars Draw vs. Gotham FC AND Racing Louisville Draw vs. Washington Spirit

• Portland Thorns Loss vs. Orlando Pride AND Racing Louisville Draw vs. Washington Spirit

Seattle Reign are eliminated with one of the following:

• Seattle Reign Draw/Loss vs. Utah Royals

• Portland Thorns Win vs. Orlando Pride AND Bay FC Win vs. Kansas City Current

• Portland Thorns Draw vs. Orlando Pride AND Bay FC Win vs. Kansas City Current AND Racing Louisville Win vs. Washington Spirit

Utah Royals are eliminated with one of the following:

• Utah Royals Loss vs. Seattle Reign FC

• Portland Thorns Win vs. Orlando Pride AND Bay FC Win vs. Kansas City Current

• Utah Royals Draw vs. Seattle Reign FC AND Portland Thorns Win/Draw vs. Orlando Pride AND Bay FC win/draw vs. Kansas City Current

• Utah Royals Draw vs. Seattle Reign FC AND Racing Louisville Win/Draw vs. Washington Spirit AND Bay FC win/draw vs. Kansas City Current

Angel City FC are eliminated with one of the following:

• Angel City FC Loss vs. North Carolina Courage AND Portland Thorns win/draw vs. Orlando Pride AND Bay FC win/draw vs. Kansas City Current

• Angel City Loss vs. North Carolina Courage AND Racing Louisville Win/Draw vs. Washington Spirit AND Bay FC win/draw vs. Kansas City Current

• Angel City Draw vs. North Carolina Courage AND Portland Thorns win vs. Orlando Pride AND Bay FC win vs. Kansas City Current

• Angel City Draw vs. North Carolina Courage AND Portland Thorns Draw vs. Orlando Pride AND Bay FC win vs. Kansas City Current AND Racing Louisville win vs. Washington Spirit

San Diego Wave FC are eliminated with one of the following:

• San Diego Wave Loss vs. Houston Dash AND Portland Thorns win/draw vs. Orlando Pride AND Bay FC win/draw vs. Kansas City Current

• San Diego Wave Loss vs. Houston Dash AND Racing Louisville win/draw vs. Washington Spirit AND Bay FC win/draw vs. Kansas City Current

• San Diego Wave Draw vs. Houston Dash AND Portland Thorns win vs. Orlando Pride AND Bay FC win vs. Kansas City Current

• San Diego Wave draw vs. Houston Dash AND Portland Thorns draw vs. Orlando Pride AND Bay FC win vs. Kansas City Current AND Racing Louisville Win vs. Washington Spirit

LAND OF THE GREATS

The Orlando Pride, fresh off winning the club’s first ever Shield, presented by CarMax, are taking on the Portland Thorns at Providence Park in the second meeting between these clubs this season. The Pride won the first match on May 24, with forward Barbra Banda scoring her third brace of the season in the first half. Portland forward Izzy D’Aquila scored her first professional goal to make the final score 2-1 for the home team.

Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse is on track to become the first ironwoman for the Pride since former defender Ali Krieger appeared in every minute of regular season action in 2017. As the Pride look to finish a perfect undefeated season, the Thorns need all three points with the season winding down and heading into playoffs.

WINDY CITY VS. BIG APPLE

The Chicago Red Stars welcome NJ/NY Gotham FC to the midwest for the first meeting between the two teams since May. The previous matchup saw Gotham FC leave with all three points in a 2-1 victory, with forward Ella Stevens netting the game-winner in the 90th minute of the contest.

Arriving to the squad following the Olympic tournament, new Red Stars forward Ludmila has scored in three-straight matches as she looks to pressure the Gotham FC backline and German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

Last Saturday, Gotham FC forward Esther González became the second player in NWSL history to record three goal contributions as a substitute, joining Chicago forward Mallory Swanson, who completed the feat for Chicago in 2022. Esther’s three goal contributions came in a span of 4 minutes, 20 seconds, the fastest any player has been involved in three goals in a regular season match in NWSL history.

CURRENTLY SCORING A LOT

Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga shares the pitch with Bay FC forwards Racheal Kundananji and club leading scorer Asisat Oshoala on Saturday night, marking the second battle between the two clubs. The first match ended in a 5-2 victory for the Current.

The next brace for Chawinga will tie the league’s single-season record of four two-goal games. Extending her lead in the Golden Boot Race, Chawinga looks to add more tallies to an already impressive season ledger. Defensively, Current goalkeeper Anna Schult currently sits with four shutouts in six matches played.

Kansas City is one goal away from becoming the fourth team in NWSL history to score 50 goals in a single regular season, joining the Courage in 2018 (53) and 2019 (54) and the Reign in 2014 (50).

ANGELS ON THE ROAD

The North Carolina Courage head home to defend WakeMed Soccer Park and the club’s 20-match home winning streak against Angel City FC. The league record for consecutive regular-season home games without a loss is 22, set by Seattle in 2015.

Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson has contributed to seven goals in her last seven matches, more than any other player in the NWSL since the league returned from its summer break in late August.

SPIRIT SEVEN UNBEATEN

The Washington Spirit return home to host Racing Louisville FC, a team that forward Ashley Hatch has notched six career goals against in the regular season, the most league goals scored by any player against Racing. Washington is on a seven-game unbeaten run against Louisville with three wins and four draws, including a 2-1 road win earlier this season. The Spirit have scored in every match during the run, marking the second time in team history they’ve scored in seven-straight NWSL matches against a single opponent without losing.

Racing remains in playoff contention with all three points crucial to securing their first ever postseason berth, while the Spirit are playing for a top 4 seed and to host a quarterfinal home match during the playoffs.

WEEK 23 MATCH SCHEDULE

Friday, October 11

Portland Thorns vs. Orlando Pride | Providence Park | 10 p.m. ET |Prime Video

Saturday, October 12

Chicago Red Stars vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC | SeatGeek Stadium | 4 p.m. ET | NWSL+, Paramount+, Golazo

North Carolina Courage vs. Angel City FC | WakeMed Soccer Park | 7:30 p.m. ET | ION

Bay FC vs. Kansas City Current | PayPal Park | 10 p.m. ET | ION

Sunday, October 13

Washington Spirit vs. Racing Louisville FC | Audi Field | 5 p.m. ET | NWSL+

Utah Royals FC vs. Seattle Reign FC | America First Field | 5 p.m. ET | ESPN2

San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash | Snapdragon Stadium | 8 p.m. ET | NWSL+, Paramount+, Golazo