The have formally arrived.
Quarterfinal motion kicks off Friday with a match between the defending champion Orlando Satisfaction and the Seattle Reign FC, 5 days after the common season wrapped up on Resolution Day on Nov. 2. It took the ultimate day of the common season to find out the official postseason seeding and matchups.
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Racing Louisville FC is ready to make its first playoff look, whereas Gotham FC is making its third consecutive. Each groups should undergo the Kansas Metropolis Present, who has dominated all season lengthy.
This is 5 questions heading into the 2025 NWSL postseason:
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2025: Washington Spirit (Problem Cup winner)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2025: Washington Spirit (Problem Cup winner)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2024: Orlando Satisfaction (defeated Washington Spirit within the 2024 NWSL Championship recreation)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2023: NJ/NY Gotham FC (defeated OL Reign within the championship recreation)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2023: North Carolina Braveness (Problem Cup winner)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2022: Portland Thorns FC (defeated Kansas Metropolis Present within the championship recreation)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2022: North Carolina Braveness (Problem Cup winner)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2021: Washington Spirit (defeated Chicago Purple Stars within the championship recreation)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2021; Portland Thorns FC (Problem Cup winner)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2020: Houston Sprint (Problem Cup winner)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2019: North Carolina Braveness (defeated Chicago Purple Stars within the championship recreation)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2018: North Carolina Braveness (defeated Portland Thorns FC within the championship recreation)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2016: Western New York Flash (defeated Washington Spirit within the championship recreation)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2015: FC Kansas Metropolis (defeated Seattle Reign FC within the championship recreation)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2014: FC Kansas Metropolis (defeated Seattle Reign FC within the championship recreation)
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NWSL champions by way of the years
2013: Portland Thorns FC (defeated Western New York Flash within the championship recreation)
2025 NWSL PLAYOFFS:
Can anybody catch the Kansas Metropolis Present?
The Kansas Metropolis Present have been the runaway favourite this season. The Present set NWSL information for essentially the most wins (21), factors scored in a single season (65), clear sheets (16), consecutive wins (9), consecutive shutouts (9) and consecutive shutout minutes (869). Kansas Metropolis claimed the NWSL Protect quicker than another crew in league historical past, with 5 matches left.
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The Present are the No. 1 total seed and earned the correct to host their quarterfinal match in opposition to No. 8 seed Gotham FC at CPKC Stadium in Kansas Metropolis, the place the Present are undefeated (11-0-2).
If that weren’t sufficient, the Present are led by back-to-back Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga, who completed the common season with a league-leading 15 targets. Chawinga is the primary participant to attain at the least 15 targets and win the Golden Boot in consecutive seasons since Sam Kerr did it for 3 straight seasons (2017-19).
A NWSL Protect, nevertheless, would not equate to a NWSL Championship. Because the league started play in 2013, solely three groups have gained the defend and championship in the identical season, most not too long ago the Satisfaction in 2024.
Sep 28, 2024; Kansas Metropolis, Missouri; NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) and defender Jess Carter (27) attempt to gradual Kansas Metropolis Present ahead Temwa Chawinga (6) through the second half at CPKC Stadium.
Will Trinity Rodman play for the Washington Spirit?
Olympic gold medalist Trinity Rodman was restricted matches this season due to accidents, and it stays to be seen if she’ll be able to go for the playoffs.
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Rodman appeared in 4 video games earlier than she was sidelined for 4 months with a power again harm that left her “in ache on a regular basis,” she stated. Rodman returned to the lineup on Aug. 3. and her presence was immediately felt — she scored a game-winning purpose in stoppage time to defeat the Portland Thorns 2-1 in her first recreation again. Nonetheless, Rodman suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain in her proper knee after making an attempt a deal with through the Spirit’s 4-0 victory over Monterrey within the Concacaf W Champions Cup on Oct. 15. She hasn’t performed since.
There is not any timetable for Rodman’s return, however Spirit head coach Adrián González referred to as the analysis the “finest state of affairs,” including her harm is “not as dangerous because it may very well be.”
Rodman, who led the Spirit to a NWSL championship in 2021, scored 5 targets this season.
Washington Spirit ahead Trinity Rodman (2) dribbles the ball within the second half in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Present at CPKC Stadium.
Will Orlando Satisfaction repeat as champions?
The Orlando Satisfaction need to grow to be the third crew in NWSL historical past to repeat as champions, becoming a member of now-defunct FC Kansas Metropolis (2014-15) and the North Carolina Braveness (2018-19). The Satisfaction have momentum on their facet and enter the postseason on a five-game unbeaten streak, however Orlando will likely be with out their celebrity striker Barbra Banda. Banda was dominated out for the rest of the season after struggling a of her proper adductor longus tendon in August. Banda was named the NWSL Championship MVP final season and had scored eight targets earlier than her harm this 12 months.
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Can Gotham FC recreate 2023 magic?
Gotham FC is in pursuit of their second main title of the season after successful the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup in Might. Gotham certified for the playoffs for the third consecutive season, however slipped to the eighth seed within the postseason following a 3-2 loss to the North Carolina Braveness on Resolution Day. It is a place they have been in earlier than. In 2023, Gotham equally held the ultimate playoff place earlier than happening a run to win the franchise’s first NWSL title. Will historical past repeat itself? Gotham has no scarcity of star energy, together with Esther González (13 targets) and Rose Lavelle (5 targets). González is coping with a hip harm so her availability stays to be seen.
Gotham should undergo the Kansas Metropolis Present for the third consecutive season. It will not be simple. Gotham misplaced each matchups in opposition to the Present this season.
Racing Louisville makes playoff debut: Can they go on a run?
Racing Louisville FC punched its ticket to the playoffs for the primary time in franchise historical past on Resolution Day on Nov. 2, the ultimate day of the common season, with a 1-0 win over Bay FC following Ella Hase’s first profession purpose. Louisville could have been the ultimate crew to enter the playoffs, however they should not be counted out. The crew went undefeated in October and turned in its finest season in franchise historical past with a report 10 wins and 37 factors.
Racing Louisville ahead Emma Sears (13) dribbles the ball through the second half in opposition to Kansas Metropolis Present at Lynn Household Stadium on Aug. 1, 2025.
Head coach Bev Yanez stated Louisville is embracing historical past, however will not “let the event be larger than the rhythm we’ve set right here.” Louisville enters the postseason on a five-game unbeaten streak. Ahead Emma Sears leads Louisville with 10 targets this season, the fourth most within the league, and is red-hot after scoring her first profession hat trick in USWNT’s exhibition match in opposition to New Zealand on Oct. 29.
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