NWSL playoffs

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The National Women's Soccer League playoffs (or NWSL playoffs) are a single-elimination tournament among eight teams in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) of the United States. The final round of the playoffs is the NWSL Championship.

Contents

Since playoff games cannot end in draws, they are broken by two consecutive 15-minute extra time periods, followed by penalty shoot-outs of best-of-five rounds with additional rounds as required.

Format

Since the 2024 season, the top eight teams in the final standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the playoffs and are seeded in order of their record. The top-seed hosts the eighth seed and the fourth hosts the fifth in one arm of the quarterfinals bracket, and the runner-up hosts the seventh seed and the third hosts the sixth in the other arm. In the semifinals, teams are not reseeded and the winners within each quarterfinals arm play each other. [1]

From 2021 to 2023, the top 6 teams qualified for a three-round playoff, and the top two seeds had a first-round bye. [2] From 2013 to 2019, the top 4 teams qualified for a two-round playoff. [3]

In 2013 and 2014, the higher seeded team to reach the championship hosted the match. Since 2015, the championship has been hosted at a predetermined site. [4]

Playoff formats and championship hosts
YearQualifiersRoundsChampionship host
DeterminationStadiumCity
2013Top 42Higher seed Sahlen's Stadium Rochester, New York
2014 Starfire Sports Stadium Tukwila, Washington
2015Predetermined site Providence Park Portland, Oregon
2016 BBVA Compass Stadium Houston, Texas
2017 Orlando City Stadium Orlando, Florida
2018 Providence Park Portland, Oregon
2019 Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Cary, North Carolina
2020No NWSL season or playoffs; 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and 2020 NWSL Fall Series
2021Top 63
(bye for
top 2 seeds)		Predetermined site Lynn Family Stadium Louisville, Kentucky
2022 Audi Field Washington, D.C.
2023 Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, California
2024Top 83 CPKC Stadium Kansas City, Missouri

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Tiebreakers

The initial determining factor for a team's position in the standings is most points earned, with three points earned for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a loss. Since the 2022 season, if at least two teams tie in point total, when determining rank and playoff qualification and seeding, the NWSL uses the following tiebreaker rules, going down the list until all teams are ranked. [6] : 6 

  1. Overall goal difference
  2. Most total wins (regular season only)
  3. Most goals scored (regular season only)
  4. Head-to-head results (total points accumulated)
  5. Head-to-head most goals scored
  6. Fewest disciplinary points accumulated:
    • First yellow card: -1 point
    • Indirect red card (second yellow card): -3 points
    • Direct red card: -4 points
    • Yellow card and direct red card: -5 points
    • Only one of the above point totals shall be applied to a player in a single game.
  7. Coin flip (2 teams)/Drawing of lots (3+ teams)

If two clubs remain tied after another club with the same number of points advances during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format.

Prior to the 2022 season, the first tiebreaker was head-to-head record. [7] : 6 

Playoff series history

2013 season

SemifinalsChampionship
      
1 Western NY Flash 2
4 Sky Blue FC [a] 0
1 Western NY Flash 0
3 Portland Thorns FC 2
2 FC Kansas City 2
3 Portland Thorns FC (a.e.t.)3

2014 season

SemifinalsChampionship
      
1 Seattle Reign FC 2
4 Washington Spirit 1
1 Seattle Reign FC 1
2 FC Kansas City 2
2 FC Kansas City 2
3 Portland Thorns FC 0

2015 season

SemifinalsChampionship
      
1 Seattle Reign FC 3
4 Washington Spirit 0
1 Seattle Reign FC 0
3 FC Kansas City 1
2 Chicago Red Stars 0
3 FC Kansas City 3

2016 season

SemifinalsChampionship
      
1 Portland Thorns FC 3
4 Western NY Flash (a.e.t.)4
4 Western NY Flash (p)2 (3)
2 Washington Spirit 2 (2)
2 Washington Spirit (a.e.t.)2
3 Chicago Red Stars 1

2017 season

SemifinalsChampionship
      
1 NC Courage 1
4 Chicago Red Stars 0
1 NC Courage 0
2 Portland Thorns FC 1
2 Portland Thorns FC 4
3 Orlando Pride 1

2018 season

SemifinalsChampionship
      
1 NC Courage 2
4 Chicago Red Stars 0
1 NC Courage 3
2 Portland Thorns FC 0
2 Portland Thorns FC 2
3 Seattle Reign FC 1

2019 season

SemifinalsChampionship
      
1 NC Courage (a.e.t.)4
4 Reign FC [b] 1
1 NC Courage 4
2 Chicago Red Stars 0
2 Chicago Red Stars 1
3 Portland Thorns FC 0

2020 season

The NWSL canceled its regular season and playoffs in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports.

2021 season

First roundSemifinalsChampionship
1 Portland Thorns FC 0
4 Chicago Red Stars 1 4 Chicago Red Stars 2
5 NJ/NY Gotham FC 0 4 Chicago Red Stars 1
3 Washington Spirit (a.e.t.)2
2 OL Reign [b] 1
3 Washington Spirit (a.e.t.)1 3 Washington Spirit 2
6 NC Courage 0

2022 season

First roundSemifinalsChampionship
1 OL Reign [b] 0
4 Houston Dash 1 5 Kansas City Current 2
5 Kansas City Current 2 5 Kansas City Current 0
2 Portland Thorns FC 2
2 Portland Thorns FC 2
3 San Diego Wave FC 2 3 San Diego Wave FC 1
6 Chicago Red Stars 1

2023 season

Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship
1 San Diego Wave FC 0
4 OL Reign 1 4 OL Reign 1
5 Angel City FC 0 4 OL Reign 1
6 NJ/NY Gotham FC 2
2 Portland Thorns FC 0
3 North Carolina Courage 0 6 NJ/NY Gotham FC (a.e.t.)1
6 NJ/NY Gotham FC 2

2024 season

QuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship
         
1 Orlando Pride 4
8 Chicago Red Stars 1
1 Orlando Pride 3
4 Kansas City Current 2
4 Kansas City Current 1
5 North Carolina Courage 0
1 Orlando Pride 1
2 Washington Spirit 0
2 Washington Spirit 2
7 Bay FC 1
2 Washington Spirit (p)1 (3)
3 NJ/NY Gotham FC 1 (0)
3 NJ/NY Gotham FC 2
6 Portland Thorns FC 1

Records and statistics

As of November 11, 2023

Italics indicates a defunct team.

Playoff results

ClubWonRunner-upYears wonYears runner-up
Portland Thorns FC
3
1
 2013, 2017, 2022 2018
North Carolina Courage
2
1
 2018, 2019 2017
FC Kansas City
2
0
 2014, 2015
Washington Spirit
1
2
 2021 2016, 2024
Western New York Flash
1
1
 2016 2013
NJ/NY Gotham FC
1
0
 2023
Orlando Pride
1
0
 2024
Seattle Reign FC [b]
0
3
 2014, 2015, 2023
Chicago Red Stars
0
2
 2019, 2021
Kansas City Current
0
1
 2022

Playoff records

TeamGPWLLastLast title
Portland Thorns FC 137620232022
Seattle Reign FC [b] 11472023–
Washington Spirit 106420242021
Chicago Red Stars 10372022–
North Carolina Courage 75220212019
FC Kansas City 54120152015
Western New York Flash 43120162016
NJ/NY Gotham FC 43120232023
Orlando Pride 43120242024
Kansas City Current 3212022–
San Diego Wave FC 3122023–
Houston Dash 1012022–
Angel City FC 1012023–

Appearances by team

TeamApp.Last
Portland Thorns FC 92023
Chicago Red Stars 72022
Seattle Reign FC [b] 72023
North Carolina Courage 42021
Washington Spirit 52024
FC Kansas City 32015
NJ/NY Gotham FC 32023
Western New York Flash 22016
San Diego Wave FC 22023
Houston Dash 12022
Kansas City Current 12022
Orlando Pride 22024
Angel City FC 12023
Boston Breakers No playoff appearances
Racing Louisville FC
Bay FC
Utah Royals

Notes

  1. ↑ NJ/NY Gotham FC was previously known as Sky Blue FC.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Seattle Reign FC was previously known as Reign FC (2019) and OL Reign (2020–2023).

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The 2019 National Women's Soccer League season was the seventh season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it was the thirteenth overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States.

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The 2021 National Women's Soccer League season was the ninth season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it is the 15th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States.

The 2022 National Women's Soccer League season was the tenth season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it was the 16th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. Twelve teams competed in the league, including two expansion teams, San Diego Wave FC and Angel City FC.

The 2022 Chicago Red Stars season was the team's fourteenth season as a professional women's soccer team, and ninth in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

The 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship, the final match of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, was contested by North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit.

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The 2024 National Women's Soccer League season was the twelfth season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it was the 18th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. The league had 14 teams following the addition of expansion teams Bay FC and Utah Royals—the latter being the revival of a team that had played in the league from 2018 to 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Women's Soccer League Announces 2024 Schedule Footprint, Competition Calendar" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. December 7, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "NWSL Announces Innovative 2021 Competition Framework" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Rules & Regulations" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on November 18, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Oshan, Jeremiah (August 14, 2015). "NWSL moving championship game to neutral site". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  5. ↑ "2013 Competition Rules and Regulations" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  6. ↑ "2022 Competition Rules & Regulations" (PDF) (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. May 19, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  7. ↑ "2021 Competition Rules & Regulations" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
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