The first of four National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Quarterfinal matches takes place Friday night, featuring the Orlando Pride hosting the Seattle Reign.
A week ago, this game could have been played at a different venue. Orlando Pride was near the bottom of the playoff standings, but a 1-1 draw against the Reign last Sunday secured home-field advantage for Orlando.
The defending champion continues their bid to become the first NWSL team to win back-to-back titles since the North Carolina Courage in 2018 and 2019.
Orlando will rely on strong defense and timely goals to push for a deep playoff run. The Seattle Reign, on the other hand, have advanced mainly through solid defensive play. With just 32 goals scored during the regular season, Seattle has the fewest goals among the eight postseason teams.
This marks Seattle’s first playoff appearance since they lost in the championship match two years ago.
Author’s summary: Orlando Pride secured home advantage after a key draw and aims to defend their title, while Seattle seeks playoff success driven by strong defense.