The NWSL playoffs are here. The league’s first eight-team bracket has been set, and the quarterfinals will begin Friday with Shield winner Orlando at Chicago. The semifinals will take place the following weekend, with the final scheduled for November 23 in Kansas City.
Before the pandemonium starts, here’s a peek at this weekend’s matchups:
No. 1 Orlando Pride vs. No. 8 Chicago Red Stars at 8 p.m. ET on Friday (Prime).
No. 4 Kansas City Current vs. No. 5 North Carolina Courage at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday (CBS).
No. 2 Washington Spirit vs. No. 7 Bay FC, 12:30 p.m. ET, Sunday (ABC).
No. 3 NJ/NY Gotham vs. No. 6 Portland Thorns at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday (ABC).
There will be a lot of U.S. women’s national team stars to watch. From Triple Espresso regulars Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman to rising sensations Yazmeen Ryan and Emily Sams. As U.S. manager Emma Hayes begins this new cycle, other players will likely be summoned into training camps, as we saw in October when six players earned their maiden caps. The squad has one final window this year when it travels to Europe to face high-profile opponents England and the Netherlands, and we can expect Hayes to use those games for even more evaluation as she continues to develop and broaden the player pool with an eye toward the 2027 World Cup.
With that in mind, here’s a look at 10 players (in no particular order) who are currently playing in the NWSL playoffs and might potentially play key roles for the USWNT.
Mallory Swanson, Chicago Red Stars
Swanson requires no introduction here. The USWNT standout scored the winning goal against Brazil in the gold medal match this summer and was recently honored for reaching 100 caps. Swanson, Smith, and Rodman combined to score 10 of the USWNT’s 12 goals in the Olympics, as well as five of the nine assists.
Swanson has not scored for the Red Stars since the Olympic break. The 26-year-old attacker has seven goals this season and has established a reputation for making huge plays in crucial occasions. Chicago will need her to accomplish that if it is to upset top-seeded Orlando in the opener this weekend.
Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns
The Thorns are hopeful Smith will be at full strength for a deep postseason run. The 24-year-old star missed a few games while recovering from an ankle issue that plagued her after the Olympics, and she has gradually increased her minutes since then.
Smith came off the bench in all three matches during the USWNT’s most recent camp in October, providing an immediate spark and contagious energy each time she took the field. In fact, she scored 16 minutes after coming on as a substitute in the Americans’ first match against Iceland.
She has 12 goals for the Thorns this season, which ranks third in the league, including one in the club’s final regular season victory over Angel City last week.
Trinity Rodman, Washington Spirit
Rodman skipped the USWNT’s October window to stay with the Spirit while she recovered from a back injury. She developed a back spasm during a match in September and had to be taken off the field in a wheelchair.
Rodman has scored eight goals and provided six assists for the Spirit this season. She scored three goals for the USWNT at the Olympics, including a thrilling extra-time game-winner in a 1-0 quarterfinal victory against Japan. Having her at full strength will be critical for the Spirit, who have lost numerous key players to injury this season.
Ashley Sanchez, NC Courage
Sanchez is relieved to be back with the USWNT following a turbulent year. She was a member of the 2023 World Cup squad, but she did not play and was informed of this ahead of time. Then, in January, she was “shocked and heartbroken” to be transferred from Spirit to Courage.
While the challenge was initially difficult to overcome, Sanchez replied with vengeance. The dynamic midfielder has five goals and four assists for her team this season, and her performance earned her a call-up from Hayes during the most recent United States camp in October.
Emily Sams, Orlando Pride
Sams had a unique accomplishment: she earned a gold medal before ever competing for the USWNT. That’s because the Pride defender was selected an alternate for the United States in this summer’s Olympics, and despite never playing in a game, she earned a medal by making a game-day roster when Tierna Davidson was forced to sit out with an injury.
Sams has been a key member of Orlando’s defense line, helping the club win the Shield this season. She made her first international appearance for the national team in October, starting in the second match against Iceland, and she will likely receive many more caps.
Yazmeen Ryan, NJ/NY Gotham.
Ryan is a youthful, dynamic player who was invited to her first USWNT camp last month. Ryan has played in the NWSL for four years and has won two titles, one with the Thorns in 2022 and the other with Gotham last year.
Ryan, who has started nearly every match for Gotham this season, could be a regular on Hayes’ squads in the future. Especially since she can play several positions in the midfield and forward line, which Hayes highly values when assessing players.
Claire Hutton – Kansas City Current
Hutton is the only player on this list who has yet to earn a national team cap. But that might happen shortly. She was a member of the U-20 squad that placed third in the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in September and is one of a few young stars who appear to be ready for a chance with the senior team.
The young midfielder might be part of Hayes’ “futures camp,” a talent and identification camp that will run alongside the senior team’s January training in Los Angeles. Hutton, a dynamic dribbler in the midfield, has been a regular starter for the Current and has been instrumental in the team’s success this season.
Hal Hershfelt, Washington Spirit
Hershfelt, like Sams, was an alternate for the Olympics this summer. She did not win a medal (unlike Sams, she was not picked to a match-day squad), but she received her first senior team cap during the October timeframe.
The 23-year-old midfielder was selected fifth overall in the 2024 NWSL draft and has started nearly all of the Spirit’s games this season. Hayes respects Hershfelt and has rapidly absorbed her into the national team. Even though she has only made one USWNT appearance, the experience she gained from being on the team at a major tournament may benefit her in the future.
Olivia Moultrie, Portland Thorns
Moultrie, 19, was the youngest player called to the USWNT’s October training camp. She last played for the national team in the Concacaf W Gold Cup in February and March, where she scored two goals and helped the team win the tournament. She was also on the roster for the SheBelieves Cup in the spring, but didn’t participate.
Moultrie did not make the Olympics roster because she was recovering from a knee injury and had missed a few games with the Thorns, but she has recovered to form in time for the playoffs.
Casey Murphy, North Carolina Courage
One of the most important themes that is rarely mentioned is who will succeed Alyssa Naeher as goalkeeper when the time comes. Murphy, with 20 caps and 15 clean sheets for the national team, appears to be the sensible choice right now. Naeher will be 39 years old for the next World Cup. Murphy, who was the backup at the 2023 World Cup and the Paris Olympics, is 28 years old and has vast experience.
She faces a significant battle in Saturday’s NWSL quarterfinal against Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga (20 goals this season) and Kansas City’s high-flying offense. Hayes will undoubtedly be watching.
