Recent Pitt WSOC stars Sarah Schupansky and Deb Abiodun to meet on NWSL Championship stage

Two of Pitt women’s soccer program’s most prominent players in recent years, Sarah Schupansky and Deborah Abiodun, will be meeting up on the biggest stage in women’s professional soccer on Saturday, when their respective teams, Gotham City FC faces Washington Spirit in the NWSL Championship match in San Jose, CA. (8 p.m. ET Saturday | CBS/Paramount+)

While the match features USWNT stars such as Rose Lavelle and Trinity Rodman, both Schupansky and Abiodun have been key contributors, helping each squad get to the League Final.

Schupansky, who attended and starred at North Allegheny High School, has made 23 appearances, with 16 starts, as she’s scored one goal along with five assists in her rookie campaign, after being drafted last Winter by Gotham.  Playing at this level has also elevated Schupansky into the USWNT player pool, as she’s been called up to the US U-23 squad multiple times this year.

Schupansky, who has played mostly in winger or attacking midfielder role, started in the Gotham’s quarterfinal round upset of Kansas City.

Ironically, Schupansky’s lone goal this season came against Washington.

Sarah Schupansky scores first pro goal in Gotham FC’s rout of Washington

Nigerian international, Abiodun, also a midfielder, has been well-traveled this season, signed a three-year contract with the Spirit to end her collegiate career  Pitt, immediately sent on loan to USL Super League side Dallas Trinity FC.

In July, she was celebrating Nigeria’s triumph at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and making her mark on loan. But by the end of August, the Washington Spirit had recalled her for the final push of their National Women’s Soccer League season.

Her first start came against Seattle Reign on September 7, and within 90 minutes — had an impact.

Altogether, Abiodun has played eight matches with the Spirit, amassing 581 minutes and one assist.

In last week’s semifinal win vs Portland, Abiodun came off the bench in the 73rd minute.

“Pitt’s helped me in ways I could not imagine because you know, in college it was quite fast, a different pace,” Abiodun told Equalizer Soccer this week.

“I feel like the staff, everyone there—academically, soccer wise—everyone was really, really great and the coaches at Pitt were really, really intense coaches that played different types of patterns.”