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NWSL playoffs

{{short description|U.S. women's professional soccer championships}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}

{{Use American English|date=July 2024}}

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.

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.{{Cite press release |title=National Women's Soccer League Announces 2024 Schedule Footprint, Competition Calendar |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-2024-schedule-footprint-competition-calendar |access-date=October 12, 2024 |date=December 7, 2023 |publisher=National Women's Soccer League}}

From 2021 to 2023, the top 6 teams qualified for a three-round playoff, and the top two seeds had a first-round bye.{{cite press release |title=NWSL Announces Innovative 2021 Competition Framework |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/nwsl-announces-innovative-2021-competition-framework |access-date=November 18, 2020 |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |date=November 18, 2020}} From 2013 to 2019, the top 4 teams qualified for a two-round playoff.

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.{{cite news |url=https://www.sounderatheart.com/2015/8/14/9156827/nwsl-moving-championship-game-to-neutral-site |title=NWSL moving championship game to neutral site |date=August 14, 2015 |access-date=July 17, 2023 |work=Sounder at Heart |first=Jeremiah |last=Oshan}}

class="wikitable"

|+Playoff formats and championship hosts

! scope="col" rowspan="2" |Year

! scope="col" rowspan="2" |Qualifiers

! scope="col" rowspan="2" |Rounds

! scope="col" colspan="3" |Championship host

scope="col" |Determination

! scope="col" |Stadium

! scope="col" |City

scope="row" |2013

| rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |Top 4

| rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" |2

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Higher seed

|Sahlen's Stadium

|Rochester, New York

scope="row" |2014

|Starfire Sports Stadium

|Tukwila, Washington

scope="row" |2015

| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" |Predetermined site

|Providence Park

|Portland, Oregon

scope="row" |2016

|BBVA Compass Stadium

|Houston, Texas

scope="row" |2017

|Orlando City Stadium

|Orlando, Florida

scope="row" |2018

|Providence Park

|Portland, Oregon

scope="row" |2019

|Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

|Cary, North Carolina

scope="row" |2020

| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;" |No NWSL season or playoffs; 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and 2020 NWSL Fall Series

scope="row" |2021

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Top 6

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |3
(bye for
top 2 seeds)

| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |Predetermined site

|Lynn Family Stadium

|Louisville, Kentucky

scope="row" |2022

|Audi Field

|Washington, D.C.

scope="row" |2023

|Snapdragon Stadium

|San Diego, California

scope="row" |2024

| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;" |Top 8

| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;" |3

|CPKC Stadium

|Kansas City, Missouri

Sources:

=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.{{rp|page=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:
  7. * First yellow card: -1 point
  8. * Indirect red card (second yellow card): -3 points
  9. * Direct red card: -4 points
  10. * Yellow card and direct red card: -5 points
  11. * Only one of the above point totals shall be applied to a player in a single game.
  12. 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.{{rp|page=6}}

Playoff series history

=2013 season=

{{further|2013 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1 = Semifinals

| RD2 = Championship

| score-width = 35px

| boldwinner = yes

| RD1-seed1 = 1

| RD1-team1 = Western NY Flash

| RD1-score1 = 2

| RD1-seed2 = 4

| RD1-team2 = Sky Blue FC{{efn|name="njy"}}

| RD1-score2 = 0

| RD1-seed3 = 2

| RD1-team3 = FC Kansas City

| RD1-score3 = 2

| RD1-seed4 = 3

| RD1-team4 = Portland Thorns FC {{aet}}

| RD1-score4 = 3

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = Western NY Flash

| RD2-score1 = 0

| RD2-seed2 = 3

| RD2-team2 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD2-score2 = 2

}}

=2014 season=

{{further|2014 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1 = Semifinals

| RD2 = Championship

| score-width = 35px

| boldwinner = yes

| RD1-seed1 = 1

| RD1-team1 = Seattle Reign FC

| RD1-score1 = 2

| RD1-seed2 = 4

| RD1-team2 = Washington Spirit

| RD1-score2 = 1

| RD1-seed3 = 2

| RD1-team3 = FC Kansas City

| RD1-score3 = 2

| RD1-seed4 = 3

| RD1-team4 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD1-score4 = 0

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = Seattle Reign FC

| RD2-score1 = 1

| RD2-seed2 = 2

| RD2-team2 = FC Kansas City

| RD2-score2 = 2

}}

=2015 season=

{{further|2015 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1 = Semifinals

| RD2 = Championship

| score-width = 35px

| boldwinner = yes

| RD1-seed1 = 1

| RD1-team1 = Seattle Reign FC

| RD1-score1 = 3

| RD1-seed2 = 4

| RD1-team2 = Washington Spirit

| RD1-score2 = 0

| RD1-seed3 = 2

| RD1-team3 = Chicago Red Stars

| RD1-score3 = 0

| RD1-seed4 = 3

| RD1-team4 = FC Kansas City

| RD1-score4 = 3

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = Seattle Reign FC

| RD2-score1 = 0

| RD2-seed2 = 3

| RD2-team2 = FC Kansas City

| RD2-score2 = 1

}}

=2016 season=

{{further|2016 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1 = Semifinals

| RD2 = Championship

| score-width = 35px

| boldwinner = yes

| RD1-seed1 = 1

| RD1-team1 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD1-score1 = 3

| RD1-seed2 = 4

| RD1-team2 = Western NY Flash {{aet}}

| RD1-score2 = 4

| RD1-seed3 = 2

| RD1-team3 = Washington Spirit {{aet}}

| RD1-score3 = 2

| RD1-seed4 = 3

| RD1-team4 = Chicago Red Stars

| RD1-score4 = 1

| RD2-seed1 = 4

| RD2-team1 = Western NY Flash {{pso}}

| RD2-score1 = 2 (3)

| RD2-seed2 = 2

| RD2-team2 = Washington Spirit

| RD2-score2 = 2 (2)

}}

=2017 season=

{{further|2017 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1 = Semifinals

| RD2 = Championship

| score-width = 35px

| boldwinner = yes

| RD1-seed1 = 1

| RD1-team1 = NC Courage

| RD1-score1 = 1

| RD1-seed2 = 4

| RD1-team2 = Chicago Red Stars

| RD1-score2 = 0

| RD1-seed3 = 2

| RD1-team3 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD1-score3 = 4

| RD1-seed4 = 3

| RD1-team4 = Orlando Pride

| RD1-score4 = 1

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = NC Courage

| RD2-score1 = 0

| RD2-seed2 = 2

| RD2-team2 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD2-score2 = 1

}}

=2018 season=

{{further|2018 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1 = Semifinals

| RD2 = Championship

| score-width = 35px

| boldwinner = yes

| RD1-seed1 = 1

| RD1-team1 = NC Courage

| RD1-score1 = 2

| RD1-seed2 = 4

| RD1-team2 = Chicago Red Stars

| RD1-score2 = 0

| RD1-seed3 = 2

| RD1-team3 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD1-score3 = 2

| RD1-seed4 = 3

| RD1-team4 = Seattle Reign FC

| RD1-score4 = 1

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = NC Courage

| RD2-score1 = 3

| RD2-seed2 = 2

| RD2-team2 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD2-score2 = 0

}}

=2019 season=

{{further|2019 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1 = Semifinals

| RD2 = Championship

| score-width = 35px

| boldwinner = yes

| RD1-seed1 = 1

| RD1-team1 = NC Courage {{aet}}

| RD1-score1 = 4

| RD1-seed2 = 4

| RD1-team2 = Reign FC{{efn|name="rgn"}}

| RD1-score2 = 1

| RD1-seed3 = 2

| RD1-team3 = Chicago Red Stars

| RD1-score3 = 1

| RD1-seed4 = 3

| RD1-team4 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD1-score4 = 0

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = NC Courage

| RD2-score1 = 4

| RD2-seed2 = 2

| RD2-team2 = Chicago Red Stars

| RD2-score2 = 0

}}

=2020 season=

{{further|2020 National Women's Soccer League season}}

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

=2021 season=

{{further|2021 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{6TeamBracket

| RD1 = First round

| RD2 = Semifinals

| RD3 = Championship

| score-width = 35px

| boldwinner = yes

| RD1-seed1 = 4

| RD1-team1 = Chicago Red Stars

| RD1-score1 = 1

| RD1-seed2 = 5

| RD1-team2 = NJ/NY Gotham FC{{efn|name="njy"}}

| RD1-score2 = 0

| RD1-seed3 = 3

| RD1-team3 = Washington Spirit {{aet}}

| RD1-score3 = 1

| RD1-seed4 = 6

| RD1-team4 = NC Courage

| RD1-score4 = 0

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD2-score1 = 0

| RD2-seed2 = 4

| RD2-team2 = Chicago Red Stars

| RD2-score2 = 2

| RD2-seed3 = 2

| RD2-team3 = OL Reign{{efn|name="rgn"}}

| RD2-score3 = 1

| RD2-seed4 = 3

| RD2-team4 = Washington Spirit

| RD2-score4 = 2

| RD3-seed1 = 4

| RD3-team1 = Chicago Red Stars

| RD3-score1 = 1

| RD3-seed2 = 3

| RD3-team2 = Washington Spirit {{aet}}

| RD3-score2 = 2

}}

=2022 season=

{{further|2022 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{6TeamBracket

| RD1 = First round

| RD2 = Semifinals

| RD3 = Championship

| score-width = 35px

| boldwinner = yes

| compact = y

| seeds = {{{seeds|y}}}

| byes = {{{byes|}}}

| RD1-omit = 1/2/5/6

| RD1-group1 = {{{group1|{{{RD1-group1|}}}}}}

| RD1-group2 = {{{group2|{{{RD1-group2|}}}}}}

| RD2-group1 = {{{group3|{{{RD2-group1|}}}}}}

| RD1-seed1 = 4

| RD1-team1 = Houston Dash

| RD1-score1 = 1

| RD1-seed2 = 5

| RD1-team2 = Kansas City Current

| RD1-score2 = 2

| RD1-seed3 = 3

| RD1-team3 = San Diego Wave FC

| RD1-score3 = 2

| RD1-seed4 = 6

| RD1-team4 = Chicago Red Stars

| RD1-score4 = 1

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = OL Reign{{efn|name="rgn"}}

| RD2-score1 = 0

| RD2-seed2 = 5

| RD2-team2 = Kansas City Current

| RD2-score2 = 2

| RD2-seed3 = 2

| RD2-team3 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD2-score3 = 2

| RD2-seed4 = 3

| RD2-team4 = San Diego Wave FC

| RD2-score4 = 1

| RD3-seed1 = 5

| RD3-team1 = Kansas City Current

| RD3-score1 = 0

| RD3-seed2 = 2

| RD3-team2 = Portland Thorns FC

| RD3-score2 = 2

}}

=2023 season=

{{further|2023 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{#section-h:2023 National Women's Soccer League season|Bracket}}

=2024 season=

{{further|2024 National Women's Soccer League season}}

{{#section-h:2024 National Women's Soccer League season|Bracket}}

Records and statistics

{{further|NWSL records and statistics}}

{{updated|November 11, 2023}}

Italics indicates a defunct team.

= Playoff results=

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col" | Club

! scope="col" | Won

! scope="col" | Runner-up

! scope="col" | Years won

! scope="col" | Years runner-up

Portland Thorns FC{{center|3}}{{center|1}}2013, 2017, 20222018
North Carolina Courage{{center|2}}{{center|1}}2018, 20192017
FC Kansas City{{center|2}}{{center|0}}2014, 2015
Washington Spirit{{center|1}}{{center|2}}20212016, 2024
Western New York Flash{{center|1}}{{center|1}}20162013
Gotham FC{{efn|name="njy"}}

|{{center|1}}

|{{center|0}}

|2023

|

Orlando Pride

|{{center|1}}

|{{center|0}}

|2024

|

Seattle Reign FC{{efn|name="rgn"}}{{center|0}}{{center|3}}2014, 2015, 2023
Chicago Red Stars{{center|0}}{{center|2}}2019, 2021
Kansas City Current{{center|0}}{{center|1}}2022

=Playoff records=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
Team

! {{Abbr|GP|Games played}}

! {{Abbr|W|Wins}}

! {{Abbr|L|Losses}}

! {{Abbr|Last|Most recent appearance}}

! {{Abbr|Last title|Most recent title}}

{{left}}Portland Thorns FC137620232022
{{left}}Seattle Reign FC{{efn|name="rgn"}}11472023–
{{left}}Washington Spirit106420242021
{{left}}Chicago Red Stars10372022–
{{left}}North Carolina Courage75220212019
{{left}}FC Kansas City54120152015
{{left}}Western New York Flash43120162016
{{left}}Gotham FC{{efn|name="njy"}}43120232023
{{left}}Orlando Pride43120242024
{{left}}Kansas City Current3212022–
{{left}}San Diego Wave FC3122023–
{{left}}Houston Dash1012022–
{{left}}Angel City FC1012023–

= Appearances by team =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" | Team

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|App.|Appearances}}

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Last|Most recent appearance}}

{{left}}Portland Thorns FC102024
{{left}}Chicago Red Stars82024
{{left}}Seattle Reign FC{{efn|name="rgn"}}72023
{{left}}North Carolina Courage62024
{{left}}Washington Spirit52024
{{left}}Gotham FC{{efn|name="njy"}}42024
{{left}}FC Kansas City32015
{{left}}Western New York Flash22016
{{left}}San Diego Wave FC22023
{{left}}Kansas City Current22024
{{left}}Orlando Pride22024
{{left}}Houston Dash12022
{{left}}Angel City FC12023
{{left}}Bay FC12024
{{left}}Boston Breakers

| rowspan=3 colspan=2 | No playoff appearances

{{left}}Racing Louisville FC
{{left}}Utah Royals

Notes

{{Notelist|refs=

{{efn|name="njy"|Known as Sky Blue FC until 2020, NJ/NY Gotham FC 2021–2024.}}

{{efn|name="rgn"|Seattle Reign FC was previously known as Reign FC (2019) and OL Reign (2020–2023).}}

}}

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite press release |title=2013 Competition Rules and Regulations |url=http://www.nwslsoccer.com/home/about/732759.html |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |access-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102070230/http://nwslsoccer.com/home/about/732759.html |archive-date=November 2, 2013 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite press release |title=Rules & Regulations |url=http://nwslsoccer.com/rules-regulations |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |access-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118144945/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/rules-regulations |archive-date=November 18, 2019 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite press release |title=2021 Competition Rules & Regulations |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/2021-competition-rules |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |access-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019040005/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/2021-competition-rules |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}

{{cite press release |title=2022 Competition Rules & Regulations |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/documents/2022/5/19/2022_Competition_Rules.pdf |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |access-date=September 22, 2022 |date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921064012/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/documents/2022/5/19/2022_Competition_Rules.pdf |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |url-status=live}}

}}

External links

  • {{Official website|https://www.nwslsoccer.com}}

{{National Women's Soccer League}}

{{Soccer in the United States}}

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2013

Playoffs