Four Lionesses have reached the semi-finals of the NWSL Playoffs, with one guaranteed to win the championship in the final on November 22nd.
The quarter-finals saw some massive shocks, none more so than the exit of the runaway regular season leaders Kansas City Current.
KC Current were favourites to win the championship after finishing 21 points clear of the next-best team across the regular season.
However, they lost out to Jess Carter’s eighth-seeded Gotham FC.
Below, we look at Carter and all of the Lionesses who have made the semi-finals of the NWSL Playoffs.
Which Lionesses are in the semi-finals of the NWSL Playoffs
Jess Carter (Gotham FC)
Carter, a regular in England’s Euro 2025 team, barely made the NWSL Playoffs with Gotham FC.
Gotham FC finished as the eighth seed, one point above North Carolina Courage, who did not make the Playoffs.
There seemed to be little hope for Gotham FC against KC Current after Carter’s side failed to win their last four games of the regular season.
KC Current were expected to go on and win the game in extra time when Ellie Wheeler scored a stunning equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time, after Jaedyn Shaw had given Gotham FC the lead in the 68th minute.
However, with the game then seemingly heading to penalties, Shaw flicked the ball onto Katie Stengel, who scored a 121st-minute winner.
Carter was excellent in the match, making more passes than any other player on the field with 81. She also made 18 passes into the final third, nine clearances and five recoveries.
It was a return to form for Carter after she scored an own goal and made an error leading to another goal in their previous match against the North Carolina Courage.
Carter recently stated that women’s football “deserves to be on a higher pedestal” in the United States.
Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
Carter’s Gotham FC will play Anna Moorhouse’s Orlando Pride in the semi-finals of the NWSL Playoffs.
Moorhouse was part of the Orlando Pride side that won the championship last season.
This time, they will have to do it without their leading goalscorer, Barbra Banda, who suffered a season-ending injury in August.
The Pride reached the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Seattle Reign, thanks to goals from Haley McCutcheon and Luana.
The main reason they kept a clean sheet was thanks to the performance of England goalkeeper Moorhouse.
Moorhouse was named Player of the Match after making eight saves, preventing an xG of 1.29.
Six of those saves were made from shots from inside the box. If Moorhouse can repeat those performances, the Pride can defend their championship even without Banda.
Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit)
England defender Esme Morgan played a huge part for the Washington Spirit, as they reached the semi-finals of the NWSL Playoffs with a penalty shootout win against Racing Louisville.
After the game finished 1-1 in regular time, the game went to penalties, where Morgan was one of the chosen players to take a spot-kick.
Morgan scored her penalty, as the Spirit took a 3-1 shootout victory.
The England centre-back made a game-high 100 passes, 21 of which were into the final third. She also made three tackles, three clearances and five recoveries in a solid performance.
Morgan also recently played a big part in England’s recent international friendlies in the absence of Leah Williamson.
The centre-back recently spoke about England’s desire to win the World Cup following their two Euros wins.
Laila Harbert (Portland Thorns)
Laila Harbert has yet to make her senior England debut, but the 18-year-old midfielder, who has represented the Lionesses across all youth levels, has also made the semi-finals with the Portland Thorns.
The teenager is on loan to the Thorns from Arsenal until the end of the 2025 NWSL season.
She has made four appearances for Portland, but was an unused sub as the Thorns beat San Diego Wave 1-0 in extra time.
American forward Reilyn Turner scored the decisive goal in the 94th minute of the match. Harbert and the Thorns will meet Morgan’s Washington Spirit in the semi-finals of the NWSL Playoffs.
Which English players have won the NWSL Championship?
England goalkeeper Moorhouse will be looking to win her second consecutive championship with the Orlando Pride this month.
Lianne Sanderson won the NWSL Championship with the Western New York Flash in 2016. However, she had suffered a season-ending ACL tear, which forced her to miss the final.
When do the NWSL Playoffs continue?
The semi-finals of the NWSL Playoffs take place this weekend. Washington Spirit face three-time champions Portland Thorns on Saturday, before Orlando Pride host Gotham FC on Sunday.
The final will then take place on November 22nd at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.
