NWSL playoffs

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, deciding the winner of the NWSL Championship.

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
Year	Qualifiers	Rounds	Championship host
Year	Qualifiers	Rounds	Determination	Stadium	City
2013	Top 4	2	Higher seed	Sahlen's Stadium	Rochester, New York
2014			Higher seed	Starfire Sports Stadium	Tukwila, Washington
2015			Predetermined 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
2020	No NWSL season or playoffs; 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and 2020 NWSL Fall Series
2021	Top 6	3 (bye for top 2 seeds)	Predetermined site	Lynn Family Stadium	Louisville, Kentucky
2022				Audi Field	Washington, D.C.
2023				Snapdragon Stadium	San Diego, California
2024	Top 8	3		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

Overall goal difference
Most total wins (regular season only)
Most goals scored (regular season only)
Head-to-head results (total points accumulated)
Head-to-head most goals scored
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.
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

Semifinals			Championship

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

Semifinals			Championship

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

Semifinals			Championship

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

Semifinals			Championship

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

Semifinals			Championship

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

Semifinals			Championship

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

Semifinals			Championship

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 round			Semifinals			Championship

			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 round			Semifinals			Championship

			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

First round			Semifinals			Championship

			1	San Diego Wave FC	0
4	OL Reign^[b]	1	4	OL Reign^[b]	1
5	Angel City FC	0				4	OL Reign^[b]	1
						6	NJ/NY Gotham FC	2
			2	Portland Thorns FC	0
3	North Carolina Courage	0	6	NJ/NY Gotham FC	1
6	NJ/NY Gotham FC	2

2024 season

Quarterfinals		Semifinals	Championship

1	Orlando Pride

8	Chicago Red Stars



4	Kansas City Current

5	North Carolina Courage



2	Washington Spirit

7	Bay FC



3	NJ/NY Gotham FC

6	Portland Thorns FC

Records and statistics

As of November 11, 2023

Italics indicates a defunct team.

Playoff results

Club	Won	Runner-up	Years won	Years 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	1	2021	2016
Western New York Flash	1	1	2016	2013
NJ/NY Gotham FC	1	0	2023
Seattle Reign FC^[b]	0	3		2014, 2015, 2023
Chicago Red Stars	0	2		2019, 2021
Kansas City Current	0	1		2022

Playoff records

Team	GP	W	L	Last	Last title
Portland Thorns FC	13	7	6	2023	2022
Seattle Reign FC^[b]	11	4	7	2023	–
Chicago Red Stars	10	3	7	2022	–
North Carolina Courage	7	5	2	2021	2019
Washington Spirit	7	4	3	2021	2021
FC Kansas City	5	4	1	2015	2015
Western New York Flash	4	3	1	2016	2016
NJ/NY Gotham FC	4	3	1	2023	2023
Kansas City Current	3	2	1	2022	–
San Diego Wave FC	3	1	2	2023	–
Houston Dash	1	0	1	2022	–
Orlando Pride	1	0	1	2017	–
Angel City FC	1	0	1	2023	–

Appearances by team

Team	App.	Last
Portland Thorns FC	9	2023
Chicago Red Stars	7	2022
Seattle Reign FC^[b]	7	2023
North Carolina Courage	4	2021
Washington Spirit	4	2021
FC Kansas City	3	2015
NJ/NY Gotham FC	3	2023
Western New York Flash	2	2016
San Diego Wave FC	2	2023
Houston Dash	1	2022
Kansas City Current	1	2022
Orlando Pride	1	2017
Angel City FC	1	2023
Boston Breakers	No playoff appearances
Racing Louisville FC
Bay FC
Utah Royals

Notes

^ NJ/NY Gotham FC was previously known as Sky Blue FC.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Seattle Reign FC was previously known as Reign FC (2019) and OL Reign (2020–2023).

References

^ ^a ^b "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.
^ ^a ^b "NWSL Announces Innovative 2021 Competition Framework" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Rules & Regulations" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on November 18, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Oshan, Jeremiah (August 14, 2015). "NWSL moving championship game to neutral site". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^ "2013 Competition Rules and Regulations" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^ "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.
^ "2021 Competition Rules & Regulations" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2023.

External links

Official website

[njy-8] NJ/NY Gotham FC was previously known as Sky Blue FC.

[rgn-9] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Seattle Reign FC was previously known as Reign FC (2019) and OL Reign (2020–2023).

[2024-calendar-1] "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.

[expand-2] "NWSL Announces Innovative 2021 Competition Framework" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.

[2019-rules-3] "Rules & Regulations" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on November 18, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2023.

[2015-championship-4] Oshan, Jeremiah (August 14, 2015). "NWSL moving championship game to neutral site". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved July 17, 2023.

[2013-rules-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.

[2022-rules-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.

[2021-rules-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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