NWSL quarterfinals: Utah Royals scores first playoff goal, Jess Fishlock plays last game for Seattle Reign

NWSL quarterfinals: Utah Royals scores first playoff goal, Jess Fishlock plays last game for Seattle Reign The NWSL playoffs are heating up and teams have progressed beyond the quarterfinals into the semis after some hard-fought results. Here’s how the action unfolded as the remaining clubs fight for the glory. Utah makes most of chances, holds off San Diego attack to move on The Royals came into the playoffs on the worst run of all the eight sides, with only one win in their last five matches. They had never earned a point against San Diego over six matches in club history. They had just lost star midfielder and top scorer Mina Tanaka. If any side could have been said to be limping into the playoffs, it was Utah. The Wave, meanwhile, was on a seven-match unbeaten streak. They had only dropped two matches in their last 15. They had swept the season series with Utah, outscoring the Royals 6-3 in the two tilts. This side was clicking at the right time, and had the raucous Snapdragon Stadium crowd at their back. And for all that, it was Utah that went through on the strength of a first half tally and stellar goalkeeping. The Wave displayed their vaunted attack immediately. Just five minutes in, Gia Corley sent a service in to Mel Barcenas right in front of goal. Her point-blank attempt was turned aside by Mandy McGlynn, a portent of things to come. Five minutes later, McGlynn made a fingertip save on Lia Godfrey to keep San Diego out. Embed from Getty Images Five minutes after that, Utah had a tremendous chance of their own. Nuria Rabano had the ball on the left side and saw Paige Cronin charging up the middle. Rabano fed her captain in front, and Cronin’s shot had eyes for the back of the net. Sandra Paños got up to it for the Wave and tipped it over. On the very next sequence, Cronin got back to clear a sure goal off her own line when McGlynn got caught up high. The visitors would get the opener in the 30th minute as the culmination of a great build-up. Jameese Joseph had the ball for Utah in midfield and sent wide to Cloé Lacasse. She came into the box on the left and sent a perfect pass to Kiana Palacios in the middle. The Mexican international took one touch, then sent a shot between her defender’s legs and beyond Paños reach into the far corner. Palacios’ goal was the first in Utah playoff history, and it would prove to be huge. The Wave came out in the second desperate for the equalizer. They came at Utah relentlessly, and were in the final third for the greater part of the half. For the match, San Diego earned 10 corners to Utah’s three, and outshot the Royals 16-8 (6-2 on target). The Royals stayed true to their lines though, and most of San Diego’s attacks were out high or blocked at the defense. The home side came tantalizingly close to an equalizer in the 60th minute, when a corner worked just as they had drawn it up. After taking it short, Laila Harbert sent a service to the back post. The ball dropped to Ludmila directly in front, and she sent it straight on. The ball deflected off of a Utah defender and looked to be heading over the line, when McGlynn made a miraculous recovery and swept it aside. Embed from Getty Images San Diego had one more chance in regulation that went wide, then seven minutes of added time were played out. Utah held firm and did not allow the Wave another attempt, and the match ended fittingly enough with the ball in McGlynn’s hands. The Royals will travel to Washington to take on the Spirit this Saturday. The club’s first ever playoff run has started off tremendously, and has all of the Utah faithful saying, “Why not us?” Cooper’s extra time penalty sends Kansas City to semis over Angel City The league’s historic best team at home hosted the league’s current hottest side, and something had to give. Kansas City had only lost once in their previous 33 matches at CPKC Stadium. Angel City was flying high on a 10 match unbeaten streak, and only one loss in their previous 15. In the end, this hard fought match came down to Kansas City’s ability to control play and a late penalty in extra time. Kansas City and Angel City came into this match tied for the league lead in goals scored during the regular season. Kansas City certainly played like it in this match, peppering the Angel City end with a total of 20 shots. The match started off with the home Current on the front foot. Angelina Anderson had to be sharp in the first 15 minutes to keep the home side off of the scoreboard, and it would not be until the 25th minute that Angel City would get a shot of their own. This was the best chance of the half for either side, with Current keeper Lorena tipping Ary Borges’ strong shot over the bar. Kansas City turned up the pressure in the second half, and controlled play for most of the way. Anderson had to make four saves in the frame, her best coming on a low shot from Croix Bethune that had eyes for the bottom corner. Angel City came within inches of getting a late winner six minutes into injury time, but Maiara Niehues saw her effort trickle just past the far post. The sides played through the remaining minutes, and then went into extra time. Embed from Getty Images The drama came early in the first extra period. Just two minutes in, Kansas City earned a corner. Izzy Rodriguez sent in a perfect ball that looked to be going for an Olimpico. Angel City cleared the ball out on a terrific play, but there was some conjecture on whether the ball had gone across the plane of goal. That point was made moot however, because of what happened otherwise. Defending on the line, Borges wrapped up Kayla Sharples and pulled her down while Anderson pushed Sharples from behind, and the referee called an immediate penalty. Much to Angel City’s chagrin, VAR check quickly affirmed the call, and Michelle Cooper stepped to the spot. She approached deliberately and put her shot past Anderson, who had gone the correct way. The Current used the momentum of the goal to continue their press, and prevented Angel City from a single shot on goal. With their season down to 15 minutes, Angel City went full steam ahead in the second extra time. In the opening seconds, Sveindís Jónsdóttir got loose and around Lorena, but she sent her shot wide. 10 minutes into the frame, Niehues again tested Lorena, and Lorena again stopped her. Jónsdóttir had one last chance, but the defense forced her shot high. Shortly thereafter, the whistle went and Kansas City had held serve in their impenetrable fortress. They move on to the semi-finals to face Gotham on the road this Sunday, pitting the last two Shield winners against each other for the right to go to the final. Gotham gets early goal, withstands furious Seattle attack for semi-final berth Much as in the Utah vs. San Diego matchup, the battle between Gotham and Seattle was very lopsided on paper. Gotham had been top of the table since midway through the season, and had claimed their first Shield. The were dynamite at home, having dropped only one match all season. They boasted the league’s stingiest defense, allowing less than one goal per match. The match started off a nightmare for visiting Seattle. In just the fourth minute, Gotham earned a corner. Jaedyn Shaw sent in a low offering, and it came right to defender Jordyn Bugg. Bugg attempted to clear, but the ball skipped off of her leg and underneath a surprised Claudia Dickey to put the Bats ahead. To their credit, Seattle responded immediately. They played forward and tested the vaunted Gotham defense throughout the half. That defense did stand tall, as did Seattle’s. Both sides combined for a total of one shot on target, that being a Jess Fishlock try from just over the halfway line. The legend saw Ann-Katrin Berger off her line and tried to go over her, but Berger got back to make an easy save. Fishlock missed by inches late in the half, and the sides went in with the early marker being the only goal. Embed from Getty Images Seattle came out in the second half even hungrier than the first, and Gotham was uncharacteristically dominated. Five minutes in, Mia Fishel sent a great shot toward the top bins, and Berger had to be at her best to tip it over the bar. Fishlock sent another ball whistling just outside the post, and Berger made her most important save in the 71st minute. After a turnover, Maddie Mercado had the ball in the box and sent it toward the far post. Berger dove to knock it down, then smothered the rebound just before Brittany Ratcliffe could poke it home. Seattle’s last great chance came in the 83rd minute. Mercado sent forward to Sally Menti, and her shot missed the near post by a hairsbreadth. The Reign had two late free kicks from just outside the box, but could not convert. Gotham would take the win without having attempted a single shot on target, the first time that has happened in NWSL playoff history. They will host Kansas City on Sunday as they continue on their title defense. On the other side of the pitch, this match was the last of Jess Fishlock’s amazing Seattle career. As the last remaining original player in the league, Fishlock has spent 14 seasons with the Reign, winning three Shields and making the Final three times. The Welsh legend retires as Seattle’s most prolific goal scorer, and champion of all in The Emerald City. Hwyl fawr, Jess. Embed from Getty Images Washington jumps on Portland early, routs Thorns to advance The only match of the quarters to not end in a 1-0 scoreline, this was also the only match that was never in doubt. A match that on paper looked as it could be a high-scoring affair was indeed so, but only for one side. Visiting Portland looked lost on their backline, and the Spirit made them pay early. By the time the Thorns had their wits about them, they were already down 3-0 and could not mount the comeback. This match also featured an early goal, as Washington tallied just six minutes in. Trinity Rodman stole the ball on the left side and drove to the end line. She looked up and saw Mélissa Bethi completely unmarked in front of goal and sent a centering pass to her. All Bethi had to do was tap in, and the Spirit had the lead. Portland had their only good chance of the half 25 minutes in, but Sandy MacIver stopped Caiya Hanks at point blank range. And, then, the wheels fell off for the Thorns. In the 34th minute, Portland’s Isabella Obaze passed back to keeper Mackenzie Arnold, and Arnold turned to make a play. Arnold somehow did not see Clara Luvanga pressing for the Spirit, and turned the ball over to the striker who easily pushed it over the line. Portland had literally no time to compose themselves, as Washington got another just 90 seconds later. This time, Luvanga came down the right side and spotted Rodman in the middle of the box, again unmarked. She easily put it past Arnold, and the rout was in full swing. The half mercifully ended without Washington scoring again, though they had two great chances that did not miss by much. Embed from Getty Images Portland came out in the second knowing that their season would end in 45 minutes if they did not put forth a better effort, and they played like it. The Thorns were the aggressors in the half, and pulled one back early. Six minutes into the frame, Portland earned a corner. The Spirit cleared it as far as Jessie Fleming, who sent the ball right back into the box to Pietra Tordin. She brought the ball down, then poked it over MacIver to put the visitors on the board. Portland’s brief joy would be quickly quashed by the dynamic duo of Luvanga and Rodman. Just seven minutes after Tordin’s goal, Luvanga came down the wing, and again sent a delicious ball across to Rodman. While not unmarked, she was not marked tightly enough and tapped in to the far post to re-establish the three goal lead. Portland kept pressing, and MacIver had to make big saves on Tordin, Sophia Wilson, and Morgan Weaver. In the end, the early onslaught proved to much for Portland to overcome, and their postseason ends on the Audi Field pitch for the second straight year. Washington will host Utah on Saturday, with the chance to host the final. Audi had been chosen as the final site prior to the regular season, so the Spirit have it all to play for. Washington is so hungry for this, having lost the final in the last two seasons. NWSL Playoff Results in full San Diego Wave 0-1 Utah Royals Kansas City Current 1-0 Angel City FC Gotham FC 1-0 Seattle Reign Washington Spirit 4-1 Portland Thorns Semi-Final Weekend Gotham FC (1) vs Kansas City Current (4) – Sunday, 15 November Washington Spirit (3) vs Utah Royals (7) – Saturday, 14 November Related articles from Her Football Hub: NSL 2026 Playoffs: Toronto takes 4-2 lead over Ottawa while Montréal piles pressure on Vancouver Why are more athletes now walking the Victoria’s Secret Runway? Women’s football finances: Who protects teams when funding stops?