The NWSL playoffs officially kicked off Friday with the Orlando Pride advancing with a 4-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars. Forward Barbra Banda’s return to the score sheet helped Orlando as it looks to add the NWSL championship trophy next to its 2024 NWSL Shield.
The narrative of the playoffs has largely centered around the top four seeded teams and the expectations that all four will advance as the 2024 regular season showed a clear divide between the best-performing teams and the rest of the league. While Friday night didn’t provide an upset, more opportunities await as the rest of the weekend unfolds.
Orlando Pride 4-1 Chicago Red Stars
Orlando came into the game hot to go. Banda’s own goalkeeper, Anna Moorhouse, has spoken this season about how little time you have when Banda is closing down on you. It was precisely that pressure that put Chicago on notice, particularly throughout the first half.
Though Banda didn’t open the scoring — that was reserved for a header from Haley McCutcheon in the 26th minute — she had a brace by the halftime whistle, both times racing into space and selecting the right shot on Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Her second goal was an example of her ability to quickly select an unexpected shot, to know when to pick placement and…
