NWSL Playoff Preview: Watch, Key Matchups, and Bold Predictions

After a thrilling 26 weeks of regular-season action, the 2025 NWSL playoffs have arrived! Out of the 14 teams in the league, eight have punched their tickets to the postseason in the second year of expanded playoffs. This time around, nobody gets a bye week.

Looking ahead, next year will see even more excitement as the NWSL welcomes the Boston Legacy and Denver Summit to the league, with further expansion on the horizon. But for now, let’s focus on the present.

Despite facing a tough blow with a season-ending injury to last year’s championship MVP, Barbra Banda, the reigning NWSL champions, Orlando Pride, have secured a spot in the postseason. The Kansas City Current, their fierce competitor from last year, showed their dominance by clinching the 2025 NWSL Shield in a record number of games. And after breaking their ninth-place curse, Racing Louisville is set to face off against the 2024 runners-up, Washington Spirit, in an exciting postseason matchup on Saturday.

In the midst of the inevitable chaos that comes with NWSL action, the top two teams, the Current and Spirit, locked in their home field advantage weeks ago. However, both teams will be missing key players in their attack, with Kansas City forward Temwa Chawinga and Spirit forward Trinity Rodman facing injury uncertainties.

As we gear up for the intense competition ahead, with the champion set to be crowned on Nov. 22 in San Jose, Calif., let’s dive into what you need to know for the postseason.

To catch all the action, the quarterfinals will play out over the weekend. The Orlando Pride will take on Seattle Reign FC to kick things off on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video. Then, the Washington Spirit will host Racing Louisville FC on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on CBS, followed by a doubleheader on ABC on Sunday to determine the semifinalists.

Our experts have weighed in on their predictions for the playoffs. Meg Linehan is putting her money on the Kansas City Current, Melanie Anzidei is favoring the Washington Spirit, and Asli Pelit is rooting for the Portland Thorns to come out on top. Each has their own unique insights and reasons for their picks, so keep an eye on these teams as the competition heats up.

The road to the 2025 NWSL Championship will be filled with excitement, drama, and unforgettable moments. Get ready to witness the best of women’s soccer as these elite teams battle it out for ultimate glory.