.png)
National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Final Preview
Washington Spirit (18-2-6) vs. Orlando Pride (18-6-2)
Nuts & Bolts
Date: November 23, 2024
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: CPKC Stadium - Kansas City, MO
Competition: NWSL Playoffs
How to Watch: CBS / Paramount+
Matchup History: Washington leads all-time series 9-7-8 (wins-draws-losses)
Last Meeting: Orlando def. Washington 2-0 on 10/6/24
Weather at Kickoff: 51 degrees (feels like 49), winds SSE 7mph, 2% chance of rain
Betting Lines: Via FanDuel
Spread: Washington +210
Spread: Orlando +120
Prediction: Washington 1, Orlando 1 - Washington wins on penalties
Follow Along on Twitter
Zach Penrice - DMV Sports: https://twitter.com/Zach_DMVSports
Head Coach: Jonatan Giraldez (1st season)
Record: 18-2-6 in NWSL Regular Season
NWSL Playoff Appearances: 5
NWSL Championships: 1 (2021)
Last Time Out: Won vs. Gotham on penalties in NWSL Playoff Semifinals on 11/16
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Trinity Rodman
For the third time in franchise history and first time since 2021, the Washington Spirit will play in the NWSL Championship Match.
The Spirit defeated Gotham FC in last weekend’s semifinal match at Audi Field in-front of nearly 20,000 spectators to clinch a spot in the final, coming back to win in a penalty shootout (3-0) after scoring the game-tying goal in the 93rd minute of regulation.
The Spirit first reached the final in 2016, where the Spirit fell on penalties 3-2 and were mere seconds away from a title before a game-tying goal for New York in the 124th minute to send the game to PK’s.
From 2016-2021, the Spirit did not play in a postseason match. When the club finally returned to the playoffs in 2021, it did not miss the opportunity, securing the organization’s first and only title in a 2-1 win over Chicago thanks to an extra time goal from Kelley O’Hara.
This year, the Spirit have played a season filled with ups and down, fighting through adversity to consistently stay near the top of the NWSL table.
The team suffered back-to-back losses just once all season and won 18 of 26 games in the regular season.
Over the past two months plus, they’ve maintained success without NWSL Rookie of the Year Croix Bethune in the midfield, who suffered a season-ending meniscus injury in August.
Spirit Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury celebrates with her teammates after saving the third of three penalties in the semifinal win over Gotham
Besides Bethune, the club lost Midfielder Andi Sullivan to a torn ACL and the team’s leading goal scorer (at the time) Ouleymata Sarr to a back injury.
Even without three of its best players, the Spirit have hung in and clung to 2nd place in the NWSL regular season, securing back-to-back home playoff games, defeating Bay FC in the quarterfinals in extra time before last Saturday’s dramatic semifinal win over Gotham FC.
Yes, there are a lot of obstacles the Spirit have overcome this season. However, there is one hurdle, even at full strength, that has yet to be jumped.
The Orlando Pride.
The Pride are the best team in the league and consistently stayed just ahead of the Spirit in the NWSL regular season standings all year long.
In the regular season, Orlando beat Washington twice, first winning 3-2 in Washington on April 26 when the Spirit had full health, and then again 2-0 in Orlando on October 6.
Orlando has lost just twice all season, but one of those losses came about a month ago against Gotham FC, the team the Spirit beat to get to the final.
When it comes to a final, throw away the tape. The Spirit have won two games to get to this point where it felt like they were outplayed for much of the match, giving a ‘team of destiny’ vibe. The only team remaining in front of them is the one they’ve yet to vanquish.
It’s a golden opportunity to claim a second title in four years.
Head Coach: Seb Hines (3rd season)
Record: 18-6-2 in NWSL Regular Season
NWSL Playoff Appearances: 2
NWSL Championships: 0
Last Time Out: Won vs. Kansas City 3-2 in NWSL Playoff Semifinals on 11/17
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Barbra Banda
The Orlando Pride have never won a championship.
The club was formed in 2016 and has only made the postseason once prior to this record-setting season for the club. The appearance came in 2017, when the Pride reached the semifinal, falling short of making the team’s first championship match.
The 2024 team has already gone farther than any in club history, winning more games and losing fewer than any team in the past.
The 18-6-2 mark was enough to turn Orlando into the mainstay at the top of the NWSL table, winning the league regular season title by four points over Washington and Gotham FC.
Previously, the Pride had consistently been one of the worst teams in the league, finishing over .500 just once in the previous eight seasons of its existence (2017, its last playoff appearance).
Thanks to star striker Barbara Banda’s 16 goals (2nd in NWSL) and the leadership under third-year Head Coach Seb Hines, Orlando put together a season for the history books, starting the year on a 26 match unbeaten streak that lasted all the way until an October 11 loss in Portland, with just three regular season games to go.
Despite losing back-to-back games in late October, the Pride won its final regular season game before defeating Chicago 4-1 in the quarterfinals and outpacing Kansas City 3-2 in Sunday’s semifinal, in a match where Orlando trailed in the first half before taking a 3-1 lead and holding on for the win.
All season long, Orlando has been the league’s best team. They’ve been at the top of the table wire to wire and now are just a win away from securing the club’s first ever NWSL Championship.
All that stands in their way is a depleted Spirit team that they’ve already beaten twice.
Comments