A new champion will be crowned this weekend as NC Courage U23 and Colorado Storm compete in the 2024 USL W League Final. Both teams have impressed all season, but only one can walk away with the title. 

Here’s everything you need to know before kickoff: 

Venue: WRAL Soccer Park, Raleigh, NC 

Kickoff: Saturday, July 20, 6 p.m. ET  

Tickets: Free entry 

Stream: SportsEngine Play 

Weather: 84 degrees, 60% chance of rain 

Western Conference champion Colorado Storm will take on Eastern Conference champion NC Courage U23 in a clash between two of the best teams in the League. 

Colorado Storm (13-1-1) has come in and absolutely dominated in its first season in the W League. Since winning the Mountain Division title, the team has looked strong in all three playoff matches, all of which on the road. The Storm clinched the Western Conference title after two wins against veteran sides of California Storm and FC Olympia, then advanced to the Final after taking down Detroit City FC. All three opponents were undefeated prior to facing Colorado Storm. 

The defensive unit of Caley Swierenga, Avery Vander Ven, Hannah Gallegos and goalkeeper Addie Todd has been nearly perfect. The Storm has allowed only two goals, including regular and postseason, when all four of them are on the field. Not to mention Gallegos can be dangerous on the offensive end as well, and she nearly gave the Storm its first goal against Detroit, but her header bounced just over the crossbar. 

Other goal-scoring threats for the Storm include Reese McDermott, Sydney Cheesman and Jadyn Goodrich, who have all scored this postseason. McDermott recorded both goals in the 2-1 win over Detroit, while Cheesman and Goodrich contributed to the first two playoff wins, and both were shots from outside of the box. The variety of ways the Storm can score and the number of offensive standouts will require the Courage’s defensive to stay locked in for the entire match. 

Just like last year, the Courage are heading to the Final with a record of 14-0-1 following an impressive postseason run. The team outscored its opponents 9-1 in the first three playoff matches, with the most impressive win coming in the last round. After Tennessee SC scored a penalty kick to tie the game and send it into extra time, 17-year-old Syrianna Davis smashed the game-winner from outside of the box to keep the team’s hopes of a championship alive. 

The key to the Courage coming out with the win on Saturday will be the leadership from the returning players. Starters like Mackenzie Geigle, Hannah Jibril, Taylor Chism and Phoebe Goldthwaite all experienced the tough, extra time loss in last year’s final. This season, the Courage have a shot at redemption at home in front of its own fans and can cap off an amazing season with a trophy. 

Tune in to the match live on SportsEngine Play, and follow the W League on Instagram and Twitter for playoff updates.