The National Women's Soccer League playoffs kick off tonight with a matchup between No. 1 Orlando Pride and No. 8 Chicago Red Stars, followed by more quarterfinal round matches on Saturday and Sunday. 

But both on and off the pitch, the NWSL has arrived in a new era. Jeff Kassouf, lead women’s soccer writer at ESPN, is here to discuss the league’s recent seismic shifts, including the players’ new collective bargaining agreement – both the unprecedented power it gives players and the ripple effect it’s creating for management. 

Plus, a preview of the game action itself, including a primer for the less-initiated into the league’s most exciting players like Temwa Chawinga and Barbra Banda, and what to watch for in the most-anticipated matchups.

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