Sat Nov 16 19:20:00 UTC 2024: ## NWSL Semifinals Set: Chawinga’s Record-Breaking Season Highlights Award Contenders
**Orlando, FL –** The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) playoffs are upon us, and the semifinal matchups are brimming with star power and award contenders. The Kansas City Current, led by MVP frontrunner Temwa Chawinga, who shattered the single-season scoring record with 20 goals, will face the Orlando Pride on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
Chawinga’s remarkable season, which included scoring in seven of eight games after the Olympics, puts her in contention for the league’s top individual honor, alongside Orlando’s Barbra Banda (13 goals), Marta, Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman, and Portland Thorns’ Sophia Smith. Banda, also a first-year player, provided stiff competition for the Golden Boot before Chawinga’s late-season surge. Smith, despite injury, finished third in scoring.
The Orlando Pride leads the award nominations with seven across six categories, including Marta’s nods for MVP and the newly created Midfielder of the Year award. Orlando coach Seb Hines is a strong contender for Coach of the Year after leading the Pride to an unbeaten streak of 23 games and a record-breaking 60 points. Washington Spirit’s Croix Bethune is a favorite for Rookie of the Year, despite a season-ending injury. The voting process incorporates input from players, owners/GMs/coaches, media, and fans.
The semifinals showcase a dominant top four, with all four top seeds advancing. The consistent excellence of these teams reflects the competitive balance at the top of the league this season. The match between Kansas City and Orlando promises an exciting clash between two of the league’s best players and teams.
First Piper 