After winning the NWSL Shield the previous year, OL Reign placed fourth in the 2023 regular-season standings, one point above the playoff line.[3] In the first round of the playoffs, an 87th-minute goal scored by Veronica Latsko was the difference in the 1–0 win over fifth seed Angel City at Lumen Field, the Reign's first playoff win since 2015.[4] In the semifinals, Latsko scored again in the 47th minute against the NWSL Shield champion San Diego Wave FC as the Reign won 1–0 to reach their third NWSL final.[5]
