The National Women’s Soccer League has entered playoff season. The top four teams are now whittled down to two; the Portland Thorns and the North Carolina Courage will meet in Orlando next weekend to duke it out after two polar opposite semifinal games: one an early thriller that nevertheless gave way to a lopsided score, and the other a tedious, faintly humid deadlock that looked like it was headed to penalties until very late. Meanwhile the Orlando Pride did a remarkable job jumping up to playoff position this season after finishing ninth last season, and poor always-a-bridesmaid Chicago got knocked out in cruel fashion on a very late goal.
USWNT players in NWSL: playoffs
