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And then there were four. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) semifinals are set for this weekend, packed with compelling storylines and drama as all four clubs fight to secure their place in the championship match at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 21.
First up, on Saturday, Nov. 15, the Washington Spirit will host the Utah Royals at 12 p.m. ET on CBS. Then, on Sunday, Gotham FC will welcome the KC Current to Icahn Stadium at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
Let's dive into the key storylines and narratives that will fuel the drama this weekend and beyond.
Will we see a repeat of the 2025 final?
Ever since the playoff bracket was set, NWSL fans have been eagerly anticipating a potential rematch of the 2025 final, in which Gotham FC edged the Washington Spirit 1–0. Both clubs hold the higher seeds and enjoy home-field advantage in their respective semifinal matchups this weekend, meaning the odds favor both advancing to set up a 2025 final repeat.
With the final taking place in D.C. at Audi Field, the atmosphere would be markedly different from last year's decider in San Jose — and one that would likely benefit the Spirit, who defeated Gotham at Audi Field just a month ago during the regular season.
Nearly all of the key figures from last year's final will also be ready to go head-to-head once more — from USWNT stars Rose Lavelle and Trinity Rodman, to Spanish head coaches Juan Carlos Amóros and Adrián González.
Trinity Rodman's MVP charge
Speaking of Rodman, the Spirit forward has enjoyed the finest season of her career. Having put her injury woes from the previous two campaigns behind her, she has featured in every single match for the Spirit in 2026, tallying 14 goals and nine assists. That haul includes a brace and an assist in last week's commanding 4–1 victory over the Portland Thorns in the playoff quarterfinals.
Rodman's impact was limited as the Spirit made deep playoff runs in 2024 and 2025, ultimately falling short in both finals without their star player fully healthy. Now, however, she is producing some of the best soccer of her career — excelling in her off-ball pressing, technical ability, and decision-making in front of goal.
Everything appears to be aligning for Rodman to claim her first NWSL MVP award. Her electrifying display in the opening round of the playoffs sent shockwaves through the league and likely moved her to the front of the pack ahead of fellow shortlist candidates: Temwa Chawinga, Ashley Sanchez, Janine Sonis, and Sophia Wilson.
Could the Utah Royals do the unthinkable?
In their very first playoff appearance in franchise history, the Utah Royals traveled as a seven-seed and stunned the No. 2 San Diego Wave 1–0. It was precisely the kind of upset that longtime NWSL fans have come to expect from a league renowned for its unpredictability.
History is littered with underdog tales. After all, Gotham claimed the title last year as the eight-seed, and again in 2023 as the six-seed, when only six teams made the playoffs. The KC Current also reached the final in 2022 as a five-seed, before falling to the Portland Thorns.
Can Utah pull it off again and reach its first-ever final? The Royals would need to win a playoff match at Audi Field — something no visiting team has ever managed in NWSL history. The odds will be firmly against them, yet after the resilience they displayed last week, writing them off would be a mistake.
The encouraging news for Utah supporters could be the potential return of Mina Tanaka. The Japanese international has been sidelined for the past several weeks, including the playoff victory over San Diego, but is reportedly nearing a comeback. She wrapped up the regular season as Utah's leading scorer with nine goals, while also contributing five assists.
Does defense win championships?
Sunday's semifinal between Gotham and the Current is perfectly set up. It pits the NWSL's stingiest defense — Gotham, with just 23 goals allowed — against the league's most prolific attack — the Current, with 55 goals scored.
In many American sports, the old saying goes that defense wins championships. The NWSL may be no exception. The league's top-scoring team has not lifted the trophy since 2022, when the Thorns — led by MVP Sophia Wilson — netted 56 goals across 25 matches.
Despite finishing eighth in the standings in 2025, Gotham still conceded the second-fewest goals (25) on their way to winning the championship. Similarly, in 2024, the Orlando Pride triumphed with the tightest defense in the league (20 goals conceded). Worth noting, too, is that both of those title-winning sides claimed the final by a 1–0 scoreline.
Revenge on Randall's Island
Another major subplot heading into the semifinals is the controversy surrounding Gotham's unplayable surface at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The poor condition of the pitch has forced the reigning NWSL champions to relocate their semifinal to the 5,000-capacity Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island in Manhattan.
Understandably, this could diminish Gotham's home advantage as the higher seed. Gotham have lost just one match at Sports Illustrated Stadium in 2026, and even defeated the Current 2–1 there back in August. Gotham have played only one NWSL match at Icahn Stadium, a 3–2 win over the Seattle Reign in July.
What will give the Current added motivation to pull off the upset is the opportunity for revenge after being eliminated as the top seed in 2025. At CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, the top-ranked Current fell 2–1 in extra time to eight-seed Gotham in one of the most stunning upsets in NWSL history.
Looking back on that playoff classic a year on, the Current were without Chawinga and Michelle Cooper through injury, while midfield maestro Vanessa DiBernardo was unavailable due to maternity leave. All three of those key players are expected to feature for KC on Sunday, and the prospect of revenge on Randall's Island feels very much within reach. What a turnaround from a year ago that would be.