playoff-scenarios
By: NWSL Editor
Week 22 NWSL Playoff Clinching Scenarios

Heading into the final week of the regular season, eight NWSL clubs remain in contention for the last four spots in the 2023 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Bud Light. This week’sslate of games features another six matchups with playoff and seed-clinching implications. With only two spots in the playoffs secured, the NWSL standings could see a major shakeup in the league’s first-ever Decision Day , featuring all 12 clubs in action at once.

Heading into the final week of the regular season, eight NWSL clubs remain in contention for the last four spots in the 2023 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Bud Light. This week’s slate of games features another six matchups with playoff and seed-clinching implications. With only two spots in the playoffs secured, the NWSL standings could see a major shakeup in the league’s first-ever Decision Day, featuring all 12 clubs in action at once.San Diego Wave FC and Portland Thorns FC have already clinched home-field advantage and a first-round bye to the semifinals, and now look to lock up the 2023 NWSL Shield, presented by CarMax. For more information on the NWSL Playoffs, presented by Bud Light, including playoff format, schedule and tiebreakers, click here. For ways to watch, click here.

Portland Thorns FC (35 points, 10-6-5) - Clinched top 2 seed/bye

Clinches NWSL Shield with:

  • A win OR
  • SD loss OR
  • A draw + SD draw OR
  • A loss + SD draw + favorable GD (any loss by 7 goals or less)

San Diego Wave FC (34 points, 10-7-4) - Clinched top 2 seed/bye

Clinches NWSL Shield with:

  • A win + POR draw/loss OR
  • A draw + POR loss by 8+ goals

North Carolina Courage (30 points, 8-7-6)

Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:

  • A win OR
  • A draw + NJY draw/loss + RGN draw/loss + favorable GD (over LA/ORL if either win) OR
  • A loss + NJY loss + RGN draw/loss + ORL draw/loss + LA draw/loss + favorable GD

Clinches a playoff spot with:

  • A win OR
  • A draw + NJY draw/loss OR RGN draw/loss OR ORL draw/loss OR LA draw/loss OR
  • A draw + favorable GD (over LA/ORL) OR
  • A loss + no more than 3 of NJY, RGN, ORL, LA reach 31+ points + favorable GD (over LOU)

NJ/NY Gotham FC (30 points, 8-7-6)

Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:

  • A win OR
  • A draw + RGN draw/loss + favorable GD (over LA/ORL if either win) OR
  • A loss + WAS/NCC win + RGN loss + ORL draw/loss + LA draw/loss + favorable GD OR

Clinches a playoff spot with:

  • A win OR
  • A draw + RGN draw/loss OR ORL draw/loss OR LA draw/loss OR
  • A draw + favorable GD (over LA/ORL if both win)
  • A loss + no more than 3 of NCC, WAS, RGN, ORL, LA reach 31+ points + favorable GD (over LOU)

Washington Spirit (30 points, 7-5-9)

Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:

  • A win OR
  • A draw + NJY loss + RGN draw/loss + favorable GD (over LA/ORL if either win) OR
  • A loss + NJY loss + RGN loss + ORL draw/loss + LA draw/loss + favorable GD

Clinches a playoff spot with:

  • A win OR
  • A draw + NJY loss OR RGN draw/loss OR ORL draw/loss OR LA draw/loss OR
  • A draw + favorable GD (over LA/ORL if both win) OR
  • A loss + No more than 3 of NJY, RGN, ORL, LA reach 31+ points + favorable GD (over LOU)

OL Reign (29 points, 8-8-5)

Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:

  • A win + WAS/NCC draw OR
  • A win + NJY draw/loss OR
  • A draw + ORL draw/loss + NJY loss + WAS win/loss + LA draw/loss + favorable GD

Clinches a playoff spot with:

  • A win OR
  • A draw + No more than 3 of NCC, NJY, WAS, ORL, LA, reach 31+ pts + favorable GD OR
  • A loss + ORL draw/loss + LA draw/loss + LOU draw/loss + favorable GD

Orlando Pride (28 points, 9-11-1)

Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:

  • A win + (2 of following 3 results: RGN draw/loss + NJY draw/loss + WAS draw) + favorable GD OR
  • A win + NJY loss + RGN draw/loss + LA draw/loss

Clinches a playoff spot with:

  • A win + favorable GD OR
  • A win + NJY loss OR RGN draw/loss OR LA draw/loss OR
  • A draw + RGN loss + LA draw/loss + LOU draw/loss + favorable GD

Angel City FC (28 points, 7-7-7)

Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:

  • A win + NJY draw/loss + RGN draw/loss + favorable GD (with anyone on 31 points)

Clinches a playoff spot with:

  • A win + WAS win/loss + ORL loss/draw OR RGN draw/loss OR NJY loss OR
  • A win + favorable GD

Racing Louisville FC (27 points, 6-6-9)

Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:

  • A win + NJY loss + RGN draw/loss + ORL draw/loss + LA draw/loss + WAS/NC win + favorable GD

Clinches a playoff spot with:

  • A win + No more than 3 of NCC, NJY, WAS, RGN, ORL, LA reach 31+ points + favorable GD

Houston Dash (26 points, 6-7-8)

Clinches a playoff spot with:

  • A win + RGN loss + LOU draw/loss + LA draw/loss + favorable GD

The 2023 NWSL Championship, presented by Bud Light, will be played at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on Saturday, November 11 as the league’s marquee event heads west for the first time since 2018. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET and tickets for the match are available here. The 2023 Ally NWSL Championship will broadcast in primetime on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+ and will be available internationally on Watch.NWSLSoccer.com.