The 2025 NWSL postseason is off to an outrageous begin. Playoff brackets are already busted after the 2025 NWSL Defend winners and first-place Kansas Metropolis Present had been upset by eighth-place Gotham FC, and issues will solely get extra chaotic as the ultimate 4 groups put together for the semifinal spherical. With only one extra sport to interrupt via into the championship, gamers will step up and present out for his or her respective golf equipment. Which means it is the proper time for Attacking Third’s NWSL Staff of the Week:
After weekly fixtures throughout the 2025 NWSL marketing campaign, Attacking Third analysts chosen a crew of the week, head coach, and honorary captain based mostly on performances throughout the weekend. Now we’re retaining the most popular content material pattern of the 12 months going into the playoffs. In case you’re retaining monitor of who has been on our previous lineups, be certain to look again at our crew choices from week 26.
NWSL semifinal weekend gears up Saturday with Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns FC (Nov. 15, 12 p.m. ET on CBS, Paramount+), whereas 2024 NWSL champions Orlando Satisfaction face 2023 NWSL champions Gotham FC on Sunday.
CBS is the house of the NWSL Championship, and groups will compete for a spot within the last on Nov. 22.
Check out our greatest XI:
Goalkeeper: Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit)
The Washington Spirit are again within the semifinal after a excessive drama penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury delivered a stone-cold efficiency in internet. The veteran keeper made the objective look far too small for Racing Louisville, and after three failed conversions, Kingsbury and the Spirit are nonetheless on the trail to the championship.
Defender: Emily Sams (Orlando Satisfaction)
The Orlando Satisfaction appeared primed as ever to run it again after a quarterfinal win at residence. They’re doing it with loads of dedication to crew efforts in defensive form. Defender Emily Sams was important and led the crew not simply in touches (66) and cross makes an attempt (50), but additionally led the cost on clearances with seven.
Defender: Rebeca Bernal (Washington Spirit)
The Washington Spirit have needed to handle the vast majority of their season rotating gamers out and in resulting from a prolonged harm checklist. In the course of the first half of the season, Rebeca Bernal was an important multi-positional participant, usually pugging out and in as centerback and defensive midfielder. She additionally sustained an harm late into the season, however now she’s again and aiding the Spirit in the course of the playoffs when extra accidents are piling up on the backline.
Defender: Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)
Maybe Gotham FC’s most constant participant, centerback Emily Sonnett supplied loads of protection and the help on Gotham’s objective in regulation. She performed all 120 minutes of the quarterfinal and was second on the squad in aerials (4), clearances (eight), and interceptions (4). Her reliability and connectivity will likely be main attributes to the squad as they attempt to work again to a different championship last.
Defender: Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit)
Having a little bit of formational enjoyable this week, we welcome Washington Spirit’s Rosemonde Kouassi as a wingback. She’s having one other postseason the place the Spirit is counting on her playmaking and creativity. She supplied an help on Present Monday’s objective, however is not shy about taking her personal possibilities on objective.
Midfielder: Haley McCutcheon (Orlando Satisfaction)
Good groups work out tips on how to win, and elite gamers usually cleared the path. Haley McCutcheon embraces doing the quieter, advanced work that goes unnoticed. However that is not the case out of quarterfinals; the defensive midfielder got here up enormous and scored the game-winning objective.
Midfielder: Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC)
If the Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie retains up her kind, she’s gonna stay a menace for opposing defenses. Whether or not scoring on free kicks or organising teammates, she’s doing lots to make sure Portland have a deep playoff run.
Midfielder: Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit)
Croix Bethune’s sophomore season is simply one other reminder of how precious she was even in her rookie season. The second-year participant and 2024 NWSL Midfielder of the 12 months received again into the squad following harm, and her relentless efforts led the crew in recoveries (9), whereas her imaginative and prescient, playmaking aptitude, and backline actions will hold the Spirit as contenders transferring ahead.
Ahead: Katie Stengel (Gotham FC)
To understand the NWSL is to know its lore, and Katie Stengel is amongst its most storied fables. A veteran journeywoman throughout leagues, maybe no different participant has accomplished extra for her groups in playoff moments than Stengel. Solely one in every of two gamers to transform a penalty within the 2016 NWSL championship, scored the game-winner for Gotham FC within the 2023 NWSL semifinals, and now provides a game-winning objective in the course of the 2025 NWSL quarterfinal.
Ahead: Reilyn Turner (Portland Thorns FC)
All of the questions in regards to the Portland Thorns heading into 2025 had been about who was going to step up for the membership within the absence of forwards with Sophia Wilson on maternity depart, Morgan Weaver out with harm, and the retirement of Christine Sinclair. Reilyn Turner was usually the reply and was once more in the course of the quarterfinal spherical.
Ahead: Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC)
Generally it is about matching the best participant with the best membership on the proper time, and there is no higher instance of that for Jaedyn Shaw and Gotham FC. She scored a momentum-shifting objective in opposition to first-place Kansas Metropolis, and that’ll simply be one other attacking weapon for Gotham transferring ahead.
Coach: Rob Gale (Portland Thorns FC)
Ending the season as a top-three crew with out your star striker and different accidents alongside the best way? No drawback for Rob Gale. Even first-year gamers are stepping up when wanted. If he is hyped on the sidelines, then one thing’s going proper for Portland, and he’ll be taking the power all the best way to Washington, D.C. now.
Honorary captain: Luana (Orlando Satisfaction)
Whereas Attacking Third panelists differed on who must be throughout the crew of the week, there was no debate in regards to the honorary captain. Satisfaction midfielder Luana spent the 2024 season battling Hodgkin lymphoma, and received. The 2025 season has been about working again into kind, and after Marta made an out-of-this-world 80-yard sprint and drew a penalty in the course of the quarterfinal, her Brazilian nationwide teammate handed her the ball to place the sport on ice.
“One 12 months in the past, I did not even know if I might be enjoying once more, and at the moment I am right here. Nothing is not possible,” Luana mentioned after the sport.
