The four best teams in the USL W League's Central Conference are convening on Pittsburgh, PA this weekend to determine the Conference Champion and National Semi-Finalist. It starts on Friday afternoon with unbeaten Minnesota Aurora facing two loss Union FC Macomb (Michigan) in the first of the semi-finals. The winner heads to Sunday's final while for the losing side, their season is over.
In the second Semi-Final unbeaten hosts Pittsburgh Riveters face the W League side of Racing Louisville. The Rivs are looking for their first ever playoff victory after last season was ended in the first round at home by Minnesota Aurora. For Racing Lou the goal is to do one better than fellow NWSL side NC Courage's team did last year and win a national title.
Conference Semi-Finals
Minnesota Aurora (12-0-0) vs Union FC Macomb (7-1-2)
2:30 PM CT at FNB Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA
Streaming on SportsEngine Play & Fox Local
The opening match in Pittsburgh features the only team in the entire W League to not drop a point during the regular season in Minnesota Aurora taking on a two loss Union Macomb side. Heavy on youth, with plenty of college commits Union FC Macomb is basically the opposite way to structure a roster compared to Aurora. Many of the players have come out of the Detroit-area Nationals SC youth club and are the focus of this young, but talented squad. Allowing just eight goals in ten matches Macomb has a solid defence, but not an otherworldly one.
On the other hand Aurora has plenty of veteran talent, with most players being outgoing college seniors. That has resulted in one of the most dominant teams in the W League with Aurora having notched 37 goals in 12 matches and allowing only one. In 2025 under manager Jen Larrick, her Aurora side won the Central Conference in Pittsburgh. But this 2026 team may be even better than last seasons.
Pittsburgh Riveters (9-1-0) vs Racing Louisville (6-2-1)
6:00 PM CT at FNB Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA
Streaming on SportsEngine Play
One loss in 2025 turned into no losses in 2026 for the Riveters. After an incredible inaugural campaign in 2025 the Rivs are back in and hosting the playoffs in 2026. Pittsburgh ran away with the Great Forest Division title, being the only club to win more than five games on the season. The Rivs averaged 3.2 goals scored per match during their regular season campaign and only gave up five across the whole season.
On the other side of the pitch is a team who didn't run away with their division, but rather won a narrowly contested one. Coming out just a single point over Indy Eleven in the four team Valley Division, Racing Lou makes their W League playoff debut. Statistically Louisville has one of the weakest defenses in the Conference playoffs, allowing 10 goals in nine matches, the only team with an average higher than one. Offensively Louisville netted 18 goals across nine games, with four players having scored multile goals during the regular season.
Central Conference Final
Sunday, 5 July at 6:00pm CT at FNB Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA
Streaming on SportsEngine Play
