Here's a recap of 2024 NWSL play-off action.
November 8, 2024
No. 1 Orlando Pride beat No. 8 Chicago Red Stars, 4-1, in front of 11,496 fans at Inter&CoStadium in Orlando.
Goals by Haley McCutcheon (from A. Watt, 26'), two by Barbra Banda (from E. Sams, 39', and from A. Watt, 45+6') and a PK by Marta (56') highlighted the attack for the leagues' top seed, while Jameese Joseph tallied an unassisted goal to account for Chicago's only offense (60').
November 9, 2024
It happened fast, as Temwa Chawinga's unassisted goal at the 8' mark was the only scoring the No. 4 seed would need as the Kansas City Current knocked out No. 5 North Carolina Courage in front of a sold-out (11,500) crowd at CPCK Stadium in Kansas City, where the final match will also be played.
Next up for No. 1 Orlando Pride is No. 4 Kansas City Current on Sunday, November 17, and the match will air on ABC at 3 p.m. (ET).
November 10, 2024
It took extra time and an unfortunate own goal (OG) at the 96' mark for No. 2 Washington Spirit to knock out No. 7 Bay FC with a 2-1 win. A goal by Asisat Oshoala (from P. Hocking, 82') had Bay FC ahead for a total of four minutes until an unassisted goal by Tara McKeown (86') equalized to force the extra time.
In the weekend's final match, which nearly needed extra time, No. 3 NJ/NY Gotham FC took down No. 6 Portland Thorns FC, 2-1, in front of 15,540 fans at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. Goals by Tierna Davidson (assist L. Williams, 67') and Rose Lavelle (D. Sheehan, 90+7') sandwiched a Portland goal by Reilyn Turner (O. Moultrie, 75').
No. 2 Washington Spirit will host No. 3 NJ/NY Gotham FC at Audi Field on Saturday, November 16, in the other semi final, which will air on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+ at Noon (ET).
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So, all those table points and all those matches over 25 weeks lead us to No. 1 plays No. 4 and No. 2 plays No. 3 in the semi finals. Sounds like they knew what they were doing when they drew up the tournament.