The 2024 NWSL Championship: Preview and Prediction
The 2024 NWSL season was historic on many levels. League expansion, a new CBA agreement, the Olympics, league records, and the most goals ever in NWSL history. The league’s top two teams from the regular season, Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit survived the NWSL Playoff gauntlet and made it to the 2024 NWSL Championship at CPKC Stadium. The Spirit are going for their second NWSL title as a franchise, while Orlando could win the first title in club history. It’s all on the line in what will be an epic showdown between two incredibly talented teams. Here’s our preview of the 2024 NWSL Championship.
#1 Orlando Pride vs. #2 Washington Spirit: Saturday, November 23 at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT, CBS.
Looking back on the regular season, Orlando may have won both matchups against the Spirit but both games were tightly contested. The Pride bested the Spirit in the first game 3-2 but it’s the second game that was even closer. The game ended 2-0 but it was tied for much of the game, with Marta scoring a penalty along with an own goal from Tara McKeown.
Giving Jonatan Giraldez and his staff an extra game to prepare for Orlando is huge for Washington. The Spirit are sure to have something special planned tactically for the final having seen them twice already. Hal Hershfelt has been incredible this postseason. Plus, it looks like she’s going to be a consistent national team player in the future.
On top of that, the Spirit didn’t have Trinity Rodman in the lineup but Orlando had Barbara Banda and Marta starting in that game. With Rodman back, this Spirit attack is going to be tough for Orlando to deal with.
That’s where the 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year, Emily Sams, comes in. Marta and Barbara Banda get most of the recognition but it’s time for everyone to start giving Sams the credit she deserves. Sams and Kylie Strom have held it down centrally while Kerry Abello and Cori Dyke have been great at defending the wings. Plus, Anna Moorhouse has been a revelation between the sticks for Orlando. This defense was great last year but the Pride simply didn’t score enough. The addition of Barbara Banda has taken this team to the next level. Now, the team has the ability to attack and defend.
The key to the game comes down to the Washington Spirit’s ability to strike first in this game. In both the quarterfinal and semifinal they saved their season with very late equalizers. They can’t afford to have the same slow start against this Orlando team.
The Pride can keep the lead or come from behind. In addition, they scored first in the previous matches against Washington this season. If the Spirit score the first goal I think they go on to win the game. But, they haven’t shown the cutting edge in the final third that they’ve needed in these playoffs. Orlando has set the standard for everyone else to chase this season. Outside of the small slip up to end the regular season, the Pride have been locked in all year with one goal in mind. They’re not going to let it slip now. The Pride will break the NWSL Shield curse and win it all.
Prediction: Pride win 2-1
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