Match info
USL W League Playoffs
Central Conference Semifinals
#4 Riveters (6-1-3) vs. #1 Minnesota Aurora FC (10-0-2)
Date: Friday, July 4
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Highmark Stadium
Tickets: Ticketmaster
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh+
Streaming: SportsEngine Play
Live updates: @RivetersSC on X/Twitter
Match hashtags: #PITvMIN and #RivetersRise
PITTSBURGH (July 3, 2025) — A division title and playoff berth in hand, the Riveters now have a chance to add more to the story of the team’s first season when they open the USL W League Playoffs by hosting top-seeded Minnesota Aurora FC in the second of two Central Conference Semifinals on Friday at Highmark Stadium.
The Riveters, champions of the Great Forest Division, will have the benefit of home field behind them. In five regular-season matches at Highmark Stadium, the team was an unbeaten 4-0-1 and conceded only one goal — a penalty kick last Friday in their title-clinching 2-1 win over Steel City FC.
The hosts will have to shuffle their lineup with some players away due to college and other commitments, but the Riveters do receive a boost with two of their youngest standouts back in the fold. Natalia DiSora is back from her time in camp for the U.S. Under-18 National Team and should retake her spot in the center of defense, while Anna Korney, the youngest goal-scorer in the Riveters’ short history, has also rejoined the team after playing with her Riverhounds Development Academy 2009 Girls team at the ECNL Playoffs in San Diego.
One of the Riveters’ strengths in recent matches has been an ability to still find scoring with a wide variety of players. The team’s last three goals were all scored by players who came off the bench — Minah Syam at Buffalo and Sydney Lindeman and Gina Proviano vs. Steel City — and the assist on all three goals also came from substitutes.
Minnesota comes into the match as champions of the Heartland Division for the fourth consecutive year, and the Aurora have yet to lose a divisional match in that time. However, that has only translated to mixed playoff results for the Aurora, who reached the W League final in 2022 but were bounced in the first round a year ago by Indy Eleven.
Natalie Tavana leads the Aurora with six goals on the season, but their strength has been a shut-down defense anchored by Camber Hayes that has give up just four goals all season. The team also features a set of triplets, the Rapp sisters, one of whom — midfielder Catherine — was named to the W League Team of the Month in May.
The winner of the match will advance to the conference final at 7 p.m Sunday, where they will face the winner between No. 2 Kings Hammer and No. 3 Detroit City FC, who won the Central Conference a year ago as the host team.
Tickets for Saturday’s semifinals are available through Ticketmaster and at the Highmark Stadium Box Office; one ticket is good for both games of the semifinal round. The Riveters’ match will air live on SportsNet Pittsburgh+, and the stream will be available on SportsEngine Play.
Downloadable Game Notes
