Why NWSL Playoffs have been so fun: Stars Trinity Rodman, Barbra Banda lead attack-minded approach

The Orlando Pride will face the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Championship on Saturday

Anyone who tuned into the semifinals of the NWSL Playoffs last week were in for a real treat. The Washington Spirit bested NJ/NY Gotham FC in a closely contested game that ended in a penalty shootout, while the Shield-winning Orlando Pride beat the Kansas City Current in a five-goal thriller. The tight margins were not actually the games' defining feature, though – the four teams combined for 74 shots in two matches alone, delivering end-to-end action for essentially every minute of action.

It was ultimately the reason each game was branded a classic, their inherent entertainment value visible for even the casual fan to see. Being labeled a classic, though, comes with the caveat that matches such as those are somewhat rare. A wide variety of tangible and intangible variables mean it can be difficult to recreate such entertainment on a regular basis, even when the best teams in a given league duke it out for a top prize. Soccer's love-hate relationship with big-time games sometimes means the pressure to win comes at the expense of entertainment value.

When the Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit meet at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium for the NWSL Championship on Saturday, though, do not expect them to tamp down the excitement of the occasion.