After which there have been 4.
The subject has been lower in half following an exhilarating quarterfinal spherical that featured a stunning upset by No. 8 seed Gotham FC, which eradicated the top-seeded Kansas Metropolis Present, and . Just one sport separates every group from the NWSL championship sport that can be held on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+) at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.
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The remaining 4 groups — the No. 2 Washington Spirit, No. 3 Portland Thorns, No. 3 Pleasure and No. 8 Gotham — every is aware of what it takes to win all of it as a result of they’re the previous 4 NWSL champions.
Here is every thing it’s worthwhile to know concerning the NWSL semifinals:
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Chicago Stars FC: $70 million.
Proprietor: Laura Ricketts. Income: $5 million.
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Chicago Stars FC: $70 million.
Proprietor: Laura Ricketts. Income: $5 million.
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Houston Sprint: $86 million.
Proprietor: Ted Segal. Income: $8 million.
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12. Racing Louisville FC: $88 million.
Proprietor: John Neace. Income: $8 million.
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11. North Carolina Braveness: $90 million.
Proprietor: Steve Malik. Income: $8 million.
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10. Orlando Pleasure: $92 million.
Proprietor: Mark Wilf. Income: $8 million.
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Utah Royals: $95 million.
Proprietor: Gail Miller. Income: $8 million.
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Seattle Reign FC: $105 million.
House owners: Carlyle, Adrian Hanauer. Income: $10 million.
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7. NJ/NY Gotham FC: $110 million.
Proprietor: Carolyn Tisch Blodgett. Income: $9 million.
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6. Portland Thorns FC: $120 million
House owners: Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. Income: $17 million.
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5. Washington Spirit: $130 million.
Proprietor: Michele Kang. Income: $15 million.
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San Diego Wave FC: $165 million.
Proprietor: Lauren Leichtman. Income: $24 million.
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Bay FC: $170 million.
Proprietor: Sixth Road. Income: $21 million.
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2. Kansas Metropolis Present: $275 million.
House owners: Angie and Chris Lengthy. Income: $36 million.
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1. Angel Metropolis FC: $280 million.
House owners: Willow Bay and Bob Iger. Income: $35 million.
2025 NWSL playoff schedule: TV, streaming for semifinals
All occasions Jap
Saturday, Nov. 15: No. 2 Washington Spirit vs. No. 3 Portland Thorns FC | Midday ET (CBS)
Sunday, Nov. 16: No. 4 Orlando Pleasure vs. No. 8 Gotham FC | 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
No. 2 Washington Spirit vs. No. 3 Portland Thorns FC
The common season collection is tied 1-1.
Why Washington Spirit can win
Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury was named the NWSL Participant of the Week following her heroics within the Spirit’s quarterfinal win over No. 7 seed Racing Louisville, which went to a penalty shootout. Kingsbury had seven saves and two PK saves to ship the Spirit to the semifinals for the second consecutive season. Washington, which hosts the sport, has by no means misplaced within the playoffs at residence (3–0–2). The mix of the Spirit’s protection with Kingsbury and defender of the yr finalist Tara McKeown, paired with its excessive pace offense with ahead Present Monday can be onerous to include.
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They have been doing it with out star froward Trinity Rodman, who has not performed since Oct. 15 due to a Grade 1 MCL sprain in her proper knee. She was questionable for the quarterfinals and listed as a reserve, however Rodman did not play or warmup. Spirit head coach Adrián González, a , mentioned Rodman is taking her restoration “day-by-day” and “working so onerous” to return to the sphere. If she’s out there for Saturday’s semifinal matchup, the Spirit will get a serious enhance.
Nov 8, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Spirit ahead Sofia Cantore (27) battles for management of the ball with Racing Louisville FC defender Ellie Jean (5) within the first half at Audi Discipline. Necessary Credit score: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Photographs
Why Portland Thorns can win
The Thorns are red-hot heading into the semifinals after posting three consecutive shutouts for the primary time since 2021, together with the Portland’s 1-0 quarterfinal win over the No. 6 seed San Diego Wave FC. The distinction was Reilyn Turner’s header in extra time following an help from Olivia Moultrie to ship the Thorns to the semifinals for the tenth time, essentially the most of any membership in NWSL historical past. Moultrie and Turner are a formidable duo and led the Thorns with eight and 5 objectives this season, respectively. Sam Coffey has locked down the midfield and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold has been impenetrable with Portland’s first playoff clear sheet since 2022.
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The Thorns may even be additional motivated heading into the semifinal match towards the Spirit. The final time the golf equipment confronted one another on Aug. 3, Spirit ahead Trinity Rodman scored a game-winning purpose in stoppage time in her first sport again from harm.
No. 4 Orlando Pleasure vs. No. 8 Gotham FC
The common season collection is tied 1-1.
Why the Orlando Pleasure can win
Everybody wrote off the defending champions following the lack of ahead Barbra Banda to a season-ending harm, however the Pleasure confirmed they’re greater than succesful following their 2-0 shutout quarterfinal win over the No. 5 seed Seattle Reign. Midfielder Haley McCutcheon scored within the twenty first minute and Luana iced the sport by changing a penalty kick in stoppage time for her first profession NWSL purpose. The penalty kick was set by Marta, who sprinted 100 yards to the other facet of the sphere earlier than being fouled within the penalty space. Marta, 39, exhibits no indicators of slowing down and is harmful as ever. “I like when folks speak a lot s— about Pleasure and don’t give credit score as a result of it makes me really feel good. It makes me really feel like I wish to go and play and show they’re utterly unsuitable. I believe we proved (it) tonight,” Marta mentioned final week following the win.
Pleasure defender Haley McCutcheon (2) celebrates a primary half purpose.
Why Gotham FC can win
Gotham FC will not be your conventional No. 8 seed and proved it by ousting the No. 1 seed Kansas Metropolis Present, who entered the postseason because the clear favourite with the winningest common season in NWSL historical past. Kansas Metropolis hadn’t dropped a match at residence all season, till Gotham FC surprised them within the quarterfinals. Gotham midfielder Jaedyn Shaw, 20, received her group on the board together with her first profession playoff purpose within the 68th minute. After the Present scored a stoppage-time equalizer, ahead Katie Stengel sealed the win with a game-winning purpose in additional time. (Stengel scored a game-winner within the 2023 quarterfinals to upset Portland en path to Gotham profitable a championship because the lowest seed.)
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The win sends Gotham to the semifinals for the third consecutive season. Ahead Esther González, who completed with the second-most objectives within the league (13), is listed as questionable on account of a hip harm, however Gotham has no scarcity of expertise. Shaw has 5 objectives on the season and is coming into her personal as a budding star on the proper, whereas veterans Rose Lavelle and Midge Purce have expertise for the massive moments. Should you add Esther Gonzales again into the combination, it provides one other deadly weapon. Gonzales (hip) did not play within the quarterfinal, however might return on Sunday.
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