NWSL playoffs scenarios, schedule: Three teams for two spots ahead of final day of NWSL regular season

Three teams remain in the hunt for two playoff berths in the NWSL, setting up for an entertaining final weekend of regular season action.

The Portland Thorns and Bay FC are in control of their own destiny this weekend, with a draw enough for either side to book a spot in the postseason. Bay could also make history by becoming only the second NWSL expansion team to make the playoffs, and with a win would also set the record for wins by a league newcomer with 11 victories. Racing Louisville, though, are still in the race to make the postseason, though need a handful of results to go their way in order to clinch a playoff berth for the first time in the team’s history.

Seeding is still up for grabs for most teams in the playoff picture. While the Shield-winning Orlando Pride are locked into first place and the North Carolina Courage are staying fifth, specific matchups in the postseason are still up in the air with one more weekend of regular season action to go.

Ahead of this weekend’s NWSL action, here’s a look at the playoff scenarios.

NWSL table

Orlando Pride*	17	2	6	43	18	+25	57
Washington Spirit*	17	6	2	50	28	+22	53
NJ/NY Gotham FC*	16	4	5	37	19	+18	53
Kansas City Current*	15	2	7	54	30	+24	52
North Carolina Courage*	12	10	3	34	27	+7	39
Chicago Red Stars*	10	13	2	30	35	-5	32
Portland Thorns	9	12	4	34	35	-1	31
Bay FC	10	14	1	28	39	-11	31
Racing Louisville	7	11	7	32	36	-4	28
Utah Royals**	7	14	4	21	36	-15	25
Angel City**	7	12	6	29	39	-10	24
Seattle Reign**	6	14	5	25	41	-16	23
San Diego Wave**	5	13	7	21	34	-13	22
Houston Dash**	5	15	5	18	39	-21	20

*qualified for the playoffs
**eliminated from playoff contention

Playoff qualification scenarios

Portland Thorns (31 points, 9-12-4)

Can clinch a playoff berth with

• Win or draw against Angel City OR
• Loss to Angel City AND Racing Louisville draw or loss to San Diego Wave OR
• Loss to Angel City AND Bay FC win or draw against Houston Dash AND Racing Louisville win over San Diego Wave AND better goal differential than Racing Louisville OR
• Loss to Angel City AND Bay FC  loss to Houston Dash AND Racing Louisville win over San Diego Wave AND better goal differential than Racing Louisville OR Bay FC

Bay FC (31 points, 10-14-1)

Can clinch a playoff berth with

• Win or draw against Houston Dash OR
• Loss to Houston Dash AND Racing Louisville draw or loss to San Diego Wave OR
• Loss to Angel City AND Racing Louisville win over San Diego Wave AND Portland Thorns loss to Angel City AND better goal differential than Portland Thorns

Racing Louisville (28 points, 7-11-7)

Can clinch a playoff berth with

• Win over San Diego Wave AND Bay FC loss to Houston Dash OR
• Win over San Diego Wave AND Portland Thorns loss to Angel City AND better goal differential than Portland Thorns

Seeding scenarios

Washington Spirit (53 points, 17-6-2)

Can clinch second place with

• Win over North Carolina Courage AND Gotham draw or loss to Utah Royals OR
• Win over North Carolina Courage AND Gotham win over Utah Royals AND better goal differential than Gotham OR
• Draw against North Carolina Courage AND Gotham draw against Utah Royals AND Kansas City Current draw or loss to Chicago Red Stars AND better goal differential than Gotham OR
• Draw against North Carolina Courage AND Gotham loss to Utah Royals AND Kansas City Current draw or loss to Chicago Red Stars OR
• Loss to North Carolina Courage AND Gotham loss to Utah Royals AND Kansas City Current loss to Chicago Red Stars AND better goal differential than Gotham

NJ/NY Gotham FC (53 points, 16-4-5)

Can clinch second place with

• Win over Utah Royals AND Washington Spirit draw or loss to North Carolina Courage OR
• Win over Utah Royals AND Washington Spirit win over North Carolina Courage AND better goal differential than Washington Spirit OR
• Draw against Utah Royals AND Washington Spirit loss to North Carolina Courage AND Kansas City Current draw or loss to Chicago Red Stars OR
• Loss to Utah Royals AND Washington Spirit loss to North Carolina Courage AND Kansas City Current loss to Chicago Red Stars AND better goal differential than Washington Spirit

Kansas City Current (52 points, 15-3-7 )

Can clinch second place with

• Win over Chicago Red Stars AND Washington Spirit draw or loss to North Carolina Courage AND Gotham draw or loss to Utah Royals OR
• Draw against Chicago Red Stars AND Washington Spirit loss to North Carolina Courage AND Gotham loss to Utah Royals

Final weekend schedule

Friday, November 1, 2024

Home	Away	Time	Streaming/TV	Venue
Utah Royals	NJ/NY	9:30 p.m.	NWSL+	America First Field
Portland	Angel City FC	10:00 p.m.	AMZN	Providence Park

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Home	Away	Time	Streaming/TV	Venue
Orlando	Seattle Reign	5:00 p.m.	ION	Inter&Co Stadium
North Carolina	Washington	7:30 p.m.	ION	WakeMed Soccer Park
Houston	Bay FC	9:30 p.m.	ION	Shell Energy Stadium

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Home	Away	Time	Streaming/TV	Venue
Chicago	Kansas City	3:00 p.m.	ESPN	SeatGeek Stadium
San Diego	Racing Louisville FC	5:30 p.m.	ESPN	Snapdragon Stadium