The journey to the 2025 NWSL Championship is intense as only four teams remain in contention. The Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns are set to clash this Saturday at Audi Field, vying for the coveted spot in the finals against other semifinalists, Orlando Pride and Gotham FC.

Both teams have storied postseason histories, and the Thorns will be entering this match without some of their key players from their successful past, including Becky Sauerbrunn, Meghann Klingenburg, and Christine Sinclair.

• When to Watch:
  Saturday, Nov. 15
  (No. 2) Washington Spirit vs. (No. 3) Portland Thorns at 12 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+.

• Sunday, Nov. 16
  (No. 4) Orlando Pride vs. (No. 8) Gotham FC at 3 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+)

Recent matches have shown the Thorns’ resilience, as they strive for victory, buoyed by various players stepping up when needed. Jessie Fleming emphasized, “Different players have stepped up in different games, which I think is a special part of this team. Everybody’s kind of showed up when we needed them to.”

The Washington Spirit stands as the leading seed left, aiming to break their past records against the Thorns in this high-stakes matchup.

Prediction: In the face of close games expected in NWSL playoffs, this encounter is sure to present a competitive edge. Expect a close match with the prediction of Spirit 2, Thorns 1.