Watch NWSL Semifinals 2025: Washington vs. Portland, Orlando vs. Gotham

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) semifinals are here, and you can feel the buzz. After a wild opening playoff round—upsets, penalty shootouts, last-gasp goals—just four teams are left chasing the championship.

Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit, Gotham FC, and Orlando Pride are about to square off. If you’re hoping for drama, this weekend’s matches should deliver. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s coming up, plus how to tune in.

Portland Thorns vs. Washington Spirit

The first semifinal brings Portland Thorns and Washington Spirit head-to-head. Both teams squeaked through their quarterfinals in nail-biting fashion.

Portland’s path was packed with drama. Olivia Moultrie whipped in a perfect pass to Reilyn Turner, who buried the winner in the 94th minute against San Diego Wave. Over 19,000 fans at Providence Park went absolutely wild.

Portland Thorns’ Road to the Semifinals

Portland’s playoff run has been all about grit and clutch moments. They finished the regular season fifth in goals and tied for fourth in goal differential. Moultrie and Turner have stepped up when it matters, while Jessie Fleming and Sam Coffey keep chipping in with key assists.

Now, the Thorns have to take their show on the road and face the Spirit. That’s a tall order.

Washington Spirit’s Narrow Escape

Washington Spirit’s quarterfinal was just as tense. They had a first-half goal ruled out by VAR, but Gift Monday broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute. Racing Louisville’s Kayla Fischer leveled it in stoppage time, forcing extra time and then penalties.

Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury came up huge with two saves in the shootout. Washington closed the regular season with the league’s second-best attack and third-best goal differential. Monday, Ashley Hatch, and Trinity Rodman have been their main threats up front.

Gotham FC vs. Orlando Pride

On the other side, Gotham FC faces Orlando Pride. Gotham stunned everyone by knocking out top-seeded Kansas City Current in extra time. Katie Stengel’s decisive goal snapped Kansas City’s unbeaten home streak and turned heads across the league.

Now, Gotham gets a shot at the defending champs, Orlando Pride. Should be spicy.

Gotham FC’s Improbable Victory

Gotham’s run has been, honestly, kind of wild. MVP finalist Esther González leads the way, and Ann-Katrin Berger—up for Goalkeeper of the Year—anchors a stingy defense. They only tied for sixth in goals scored but were second-best in goals conceded during the regular season.

Can they keep it up against the champs? We’ll see.

Orlando Pride’s Steady Performance

Orlando Pride, meanwhile, had a more straightforward quarterfinal. They beat Seattle Reign 2-0, with goals from Haley McCutcheon and Luana. Luana’s comeback from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, by the way, is nothing short of inspiring.

Orlando finished eighth in scoring, but their defense—anchored by English keeper Anna Moorhouse—ranked third in goals conceded. Brazilian icon Marta, still going strong at 39, leads this group.

How to Watch the Semifinals

You can catch the semifinals on CBS and ABC—both are free over the air. CBS streams on Paramount+, while ABC is available on Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited.

If you’d rather see it live, tickets are up for grabs on StubHub. Should be a heck of a weekend.

Schedule and Broadcast Information

• Portland Thorns vs. Washington Spirit: Saturday, noon on CBS
• Gotham FC vs. Orlando Pride: Sunday, 3 p.m. on ABC

The winners of these two matches will meet in the NWSL Championship at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 22.

CBS will air the final, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET.

Each of this year’s semifinalists has lifted the championship trophy at least once in the past four years.