Predicting lineups, biggest X-factors in NWSL Championship matchup between Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit

A No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup has the potential to deliver maximum thrills in finale of 2024 NWSL playoffs

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  Orlando Pride

  It’s likely that there will be very few surprises out of this Orlando starting lineup. As the old adage goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And there’s nothing about this Pride lineup that is broken. Adriana replaced Summer Yates in the team’s semifinal win over Kansas City, and there really is no reason that the Brazilian forward shouldn’t start once again in the championship.

  Predicted Orlando Pride Starting XI: Anna Moorhouse, Cori Dyke, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, Kerry Abello, Angelina, Haley McCutcheon, Adriana, Marta, Ally Watt, Barbra Banda.

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  Washington Spirit

  The only difference here from the team’s semifinal lineup could be slotting Makenna Morris back into a starting role after she provided the game-winning assist to fellow rookie Hal Hershfelt against Gotham. It’s a different-looking lineup from the one that played the Pride in early October, partly due to the fact that they lost Andi Sullivan to an ACL tear in that game.

  But despite their youth, the team’s rookies have stepped up big this season and are being rewarded for their efforts.

  Predicted Washington Spirit Starting XI: Aubrey Kingsbury, Casey Krueger, Tara McKeown, Esme Morgan, Paige Metayer, Leicy Santos, Hal Hershfelt, Heather Stainbrook, Trinity Rodman, Makenna Morris, Ashley Hatch

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  X-factors

  The Spirit’s X-factor all season long has been its stellar rookie class. Each rookie has at least one goal, with Hershfelt providing a 93rd minute comeback goal to send the team’s semifinal game to penalties. Similarly, Morris had five goals and for Washington, the rookies were led by Croix Bethune, the NWSL Rookie and Midfielder of the Year.

  Bethune is absent, however, after tearing her MCL with 10 games to go in the season. That hasn’t stopped both of these teams boast some of the best players in the NWSL.

  Orlando will count on goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, who was named to the NWSL’s Best XI Second Team and set the NWSL record for clean sheets in a single season with 13. And on Thursday, Emily Sams was named Defender of the Year after a breakout sophomore season with the Pride.

  There’s also Barbra Banda, an MVP finalist who had the second-most goals on the season.

  Washington’s Trinity Rodman was right behind her in third, however. Former Golden Boot winner Ashley Hatch joins Rodman on the front line, and has managed to get on the scoresheet in November for a team that has found goals somewhat hard to come by in recent weeks.

  Perhaps the biggest X-factor is Brazilian legend Marta. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, she has yet to win a championship in the NWSL. While she recently told The Athletic that she wants to play “at least two more years,” her career is winding to a close, evidenced by the fact that she retired from international soccer this year.

  And the motivation to get Marta a championship is more than enough to propel a team to victory. There will be even more motivation for Marta to win, as her mother is present in Kansas City and set to watch her play in the United States for the first time.

  Each of the team’s wins in the playoffs to this point has come by one goal or less. Should they want to get the win over Orlando, the Spirit will have to rely on their defense to try and keep the Pride from finding the back of the net. That’s a tall task, given that they’ve scored seven goals over the last two games. But if you ask Washington, that doesn’t scare them.