Canadians set to play feature role in NWSL's expanded playoff format

It's been a year like no other for the National Women's Soccer League.

As its playoff season is set to begin, the league is still reeling from the aftershocks of sexual and verbal abuse scandals involving several NWSL teams, coaches and management.

The players have soldiered on, turning their focus to rebuilding the professional soccer landscape in North America, including eight demands around player safety, which the league has agreed to meet.

While that plays out off the pitch, on the field it's the first year for the NWSL's expanded playoff format, which sees six teams qualifying to the post-season instead of four like in years past.

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It's single-elimination with the top two seeds (Christine Sinclair's Portland Thorns and Quinn's OL Reign) earning a bye straight to the semifinals.

The first round of the playoffs will begin Sunday, Nov. 7 with No. 3 Washington Spirit hosting No. 6 North Carolina Courage and No. 4 Chicago Red Stars taking on No. 5 Gotham City FC for a spot in the semifinal round.

Here's a look at what to expect from each quarter-final, the top two teams waiting in the wings, and of course, the Canadian content:

No. 4 Chicago Red Stars (11-5-8) vs. No. 5 Gotham City FC (8-11-5)

Notable internationals:

Chicago: GK Alyssa Naeher (U.S.) — injured, D Tierna Davidson (U.S.), D Julie Ertz (U.S.) — injured, D Casey (Short) Krueger (U.S.), MF Morgan (Brian) Gautrat (U.S.), F Mallory Pugh (U.S.)

Gotham City: F Carli Lloyd (U.S.), F Midge Purce (U.S.), D Estelle Johnson (Cameroon), MF Naho Kawasumi (Japan), F Ifeoma Onumonu (Nigeria)

Canadian content: Chicago D Bianca St Georges (St-Charles-Borommée, Que.); Gotham City GK Kailen Sheridan (Whitby, ON), F Evelyn Viens (L'ancienne-Lorette, Que.)

Despite major injuries to stalwart defender Julie Ertz and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, the Red Stars are off to a sixth-straight playoff appearance and enter on a roll.