As we enter the penultimate week of the NWSL regular season, the playoff race is in the home stretch. While Orlando Pride is locked in at the top of the table and Gotham FC, Kansas City, and Washington have secured home playoff matches, the rest of the playoff picture is still taking shape. Six spots have been claimed, and this weekend, two teams could potentially clinch the final two playoff spots.
Portland Thorns clinch a playoff spot with:
- A win or draw
Racing Louisville FC vs. Portland Thorns FC - Saturday, October 19th at 7:30 pm ET (ION)
Bay FC clinches a playoff spot with:
- A win AND Racing Louisville draw or loss OR
- A draw AND Racing Louisville loss AND Angel City draw
Bay FC vs. North Carolina Courage - Saturday, October 19th at 10:00 pm ET (ION)
Elimination Scenarios
Several teams face possible elimination this weekend:
Racing Louisville will be eliminated with:
- A loss AND Bay FC win or draw OR
- A draw AND Bay FC win
Racing Louisville FC vs. Portland Thorns FC - Saturday, October 19th at 7:30 pm ET (ION)
Utah Royals will be eliminated with:
- A loss OR
- Bay FC win OR
- A draw AND Bay FC draw
Angel City FC vs. Utah Royals FC - Sunday, October 20th at 7:30 pm ET (NWSL+ | Paramount+ | Golazo)
Angel City FC will be eliminated with:
- A loss or draw OR
- Bay FC win
Angel City FC vs. Utah Royals FC - Sunday, October 20th at 7:30 pm ET (NWSL+ | Paramount+ | Golazo)
San Diego Wave will be eliminated with:
- A loss or draw OR
- Bay FC win or draw
Kansas City Current vs. San Diego Wave - Saturday, October 19th at 1:00 pm ET (CBS | Paramount+)
Seeding Scenarios
- The #2 and #3 seeds can’t be finalized this weekend.
- Orlando Pride is locked in at #1, and North Carolina Courage is locked at #5.
- If Kansas City Current loses, Washington Spirit wins, and NJ/NY Gotham FC wins, Kansas City will finish as the #4 seed.
- If the Chicago Red Stars win AND Portland loses, Chicago will secure the #6 seed.