By OkayGoal 
Credit: Chadd Cady | Imagn Images
This week’s Talking Points tackle the drama of the National Women’s Soccer League‘s quarterfinals and look ahead to this weekend’s semifinals.
McGlynn and Del Fava reprise roles as postseason heroes
Mandy McGlynn and Kate Del Fava were key figures in the Utah Royals’ shock quarterfinal upset of #2 seed San Diego Wave last Friday night. Utah made the most of its debut playoff appearance by beating San Diego for the first time in club history. The Royals will take the show on the road again in this weekend’s semifinal match-up against Washington.
McGlynn had arguably the best single performance of her career in the 1-0 victory. She now ties the NWSL record for playoff shutouts with three and is the only active NWSL goalkeeper on the list (Nicole Barnhart and AD Franch are the others).
McGlynn later spoke of how she tapped into the “muscle memory” of winning the 2023 NWSL Championship at that very stadium for Gotham FC. Though she received a red card in that game, McGlynn’s outstanding playoff run helped guide Gotham FC to their first-ever championship.
“Emma [Hayes], are you watching?” Royals head coach Jimmy Coenraets inquired post-match about his goalkeeper.
McGlynn’s Royals teammate Kate Del Fava has seemingly already made a positive impression on Hayes. Her distribution out of the back helped create a goal in her USWNT debut against Spain last month. Del Fava was again solid last Friday night in the backline. The three-time Iron Woman is also a first-time 2026 Defender of the Year nominee.
Del Fava can also lean on clutch playoff experience — as a goalscorer. It was her stoppage time goal for her former Kansas City Current side that knocked out the Houston Dash in the 2022 quarterfinal in Houston’s first and only playoff game in front of a record crowd at Shell Energy Stadium.
That goal was the first of Del Fava’s NWSL career and secured the Current’s first playoff victory. The Current advanced to the 2022 NWSL Championship that season, eventually losing 1-0 to the Portland Thorns.
Spirit find form and goals at the right time
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