NWSL playoffs begin: Gotham FC the favorite

The NWSL playoffs begin this weekend. The league's top eight teams will compete for the championship trophy, which many of them have never won. The title match will be played in Washington D.C.

Three previous champions are taking part in the playoffs. Gotham FC is entering as the favorite after winning the Shield for the first time. The club aims to become the first team since Orlando Pride in 2024 to win both the Shield and the championship, and the first to win back-to-back titles since North Carolina Courage in 2018 and 2019. Gotham will face Seattle Reign on Sunday.

Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns will play each other in Sunday's quarterfinal. San Diego Wave carried the Shield race to the final day and is considered one of the teams that could win the title for the first time. Wave will face Utah Royals, who are making their first playoff appearance, on Friday.

On Saturday, Kansas City Current will host Angel City. Los Angeles-based Angel City rose late in the season, and United States women's national team hopeful Ally Sentnor has played a major part in that rise.

Looking at CBS Sports' predictions, four of the six experts had picked Kansas City Current to win the title at the start of the season, while two had picked Washington Spirit. As the playoffs begin, many analysts think San Diego Wave will be champions. Others say Gotham FC could lift the trophy after winning the Shield. One analyst sees Kansas City Current as the champion.