The first-ever Concacaf W Champions Cup tournament continues with the semifinal round, where the remaining four teams will compete for a place in Saturday`s final. Liga MX Femenil clubs Club America and Tigres Femenil are set to face NWSL sides Portland Thorns and Gotham FC, respectively, in this inaugural competition`s final stages.
The knockout round matches are being held at Estadio Universitario (UNAL) in Monterrey, Mexico. Club America recently finished as runners-up in the Liga MX Femenil Gran Final, having lost 2-3 on aggregate. They will now face Gotham FC, who are currently experiencing a two-game losing streak in the NWSL regular season.
Tigres Femenil are returning to action after several weeks off, with their last competitive game being a quarterfinal elimination on April 28. Their 5th-place finish in the clausura season marks the club`s lowest ever. There are also injury concerns, potentially limiting the minutes for player Jacqueline Ovalle. They are up against a very in-form Portland Thorns team. Despite missing Sophia Wilson due to maternity leave, the Thorns appear to be the side with the best recent form returning to the tournament, which last held matches in October 2024.
Below is the schedule, details on how the teams reached this stage, players to watch, and predictions:
Concacaf W Champions Cup Schedule
All times Eastern
- Wednesday, May 21
- Club America vs. Gotham FC, 7:30 p.m. (Available on Paramount+)
- Tigres Femenil vs. Portland Thorns, 10:30 p.m. (Available on Paramount+)
- Saturday, May 24
- Third place match: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. (Available on Paramount+)
- Champions Cup final: TBD vs. TBD, 10 p.m. (Available on Paramount+)
Path to the Semifinals
These final four teams finished at the top of their respective groups following a round-robin group stage involving five teams per group. Tigres dominated Group A, going undefeated with three wins and a draw for a total of ten points. Gotham FC finished second in the same group with two wins and two draws, accumulating eight points.
In Group B, both Club America and Portland Thorns finished with nine points from four games. However, Club America secured the top position based on a superior goal difference (+11 compared to the Thorns` +8).
Players to Watch
- Montserrat Saldívar, Club America: A dynamic left wingback who covers significant ground for both her club and Mexico`s U20 national team. Her role in the match will be crucial. She was a key contributor to Club America`s run to the Gran Final, scoring eight goals during their campaign.
- Midge Purce, Gotham FC: Purce had limited availability during Gotham`s group stage matches last year, but she`s returned this season with strong form. She has been working her way back to her best over the past month, and the semifinal could be an opportune moment for the forward to have a standout performance.
- Ana Dias, Tigres Femenil: This Portuguese forward was Tigres` leading scorer during the group stage with four goals and two assists. Given the injury status of other attackers, manager Pedro Martinez might rely on her to replicate her earlier success by giving her a starting spot.
- Caiya Hanks, Portland Thorns FC: The rookie forward is hitting a scoring stride for the Thorns in the current NWSL season. She has netted two goals and provided one assist during Portland`s recent four-game undefeated run.
Prediction: Club America vs. Gotham FC
Club America possesses significant talent and recently played in their league final just a week ago. However, they suffered injuries during their Liga MX championship run, which could impact their Concacaf campaign. The good news for them is that Gotham FC is also facing challenges with their recent form.
After a strong period that included three wins and seven goals from forward Esther Gonzalez, both the player and the team have gone cold. Gotham enters the Concacaf semifinal on a three-game winless streak, having failed to score in those matches.
This match might start cautiously before becoming more open. Ultimately, squad depth could be the deciding factor, and Gotham FC appears to have a slight edge in this regard.
Pick: Gotham 2, Club America 1
Prediction: Tigres Femenil vs. Portland Thorns
There are considerable uncertainties surrounding Tigres Femenil and how they will perform against a top Portland Thorns side. While Tigres has a roster full of talent, their manager will be asking a lot from players who haven`t had competitive matches in weeks.
In contrast, Portland Thorns manager Rob Gale has numerous options at his disposal, including rookies who are making the most of their playing opportunities.
Pick: Portland Thorns 3, Tigres 1
