National Women’s Soccer League 2023: How are the play-offs shaping up?
What the current table looks like heading into the final round of fixtures, with playoffs on the horizon...
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When it comes to competitive leagues, there are very few that do it like the National Women’s Soccer League.
With just one matchday remaining before the playoffs, it is all to play for ten of 12 teams looking to finish in the top six.
The top two placed teams will go straight into the semi-finals, while the remaining four sides will face off against each other to progress into the SFs.
To crown the winner of the 2023 series, the final will be played on Friday (10 November), or the early hours of 11 November for Europeans.
As the competition heats up, here is the current state of play in the NWSL…
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 23: Makenzy Doniak #15 of the San Diego Wave FC celebrates her goal with her teammates against the Angel City FC during the second half at BMO Stadium on April 23, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
National Women’s Super League 2023: What is the state of play?
Here is what the current table looks like ahead of MD22…
Given there is only one round of regular league fixtures remaining, both Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave cannot be caught on points, meaning they will qualify for the playoffs as the top two and advance automatically to the semi-finals.
Portland Thorns are currently on course to finish top of the league, however, San Diego are hot on their heels just a point behind heading into their final league clash where the former take on Angel City as the latter host Racing Louisville.
***Who is still in with a chance of the top six? ***
Though the top two teams look all but settled, there is still plenty to play for when it comes to securing a place in the top six.
From third through to ninth, any one of those teams can still finish in a playoff place - with Houston Dash (10th) all but guaranteed to miss out while sixth place OL Reign currently sit on 29 points going into MD22.
Orlando Pride, Angel City, and Racing Louisville also sit outside the top six on 28, 28, and 27 points respectively; North Carolina Courage, Gotham FC, and Washington Spirit meanwhile sit on 30 points each.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 19: Angel City FC in the first half of the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup at BMO Stadium on April 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
So, what are the different scenarios for finishing in the top six?
Here’s what each side needs to happen to make it to the playoffs (there is so much up in the air!)...
North Carolina Courage (3rd)
- Win vs Washington Spirit
- Draw vs Washington Spirit
- Lose vs Washington Spirit and Orlando Pride/Angel City lose or draw
Gotham FC (4th)
- Win vs KC Current
- Draw vs KC Current
- Lose vs KC Current and Orlando Pride/Angel City/Racing Louisville lose or draw
Washington Spirit (5th)
- Win vs North Carolina Courage
- Draw vs North Carolina and Orlando Pride/Angel City/Racing Louisville lose or draw
- Lose vs North Carolina Courage and Orlando Pride/Angel City lose or draw
OL Reign (6th)
- Win vs Chicago Red Stars
- Draw vs Chicago Red Stars and Orlando Pride/Angel City lose or draw
- Lose vs Chicago Red Stars and Orlando Pride/Angel City lose or draw and Racing Louisville lose
**Orlando Pride (7th) **
- Win vs Houston Dash and one of OL Reign/Washington Spirit/Gotham/North Carolina Courage lose
- Win vs Houston Dash and OL Reign draw
- Win by +1 and Washington Spirit vs North Carolina Courage ends in a draw
- Draw vs Houston Dash and OL Reign lose by -4
Angel City (8th)
- Win vs Portland Thorns and one of OL Reign/Washington Spirit/Gotham/North Carolina Courage lose
- Win vs Portland Thorns and OL Reign draw
- Win by +1 and Washington Spirit vs North Carolina Courage ends in a draw but needs Orlando Pride/Gotham/Reign to drop points
- Draw vs Portland Thorns and OL Reign lose by -5 and Orlando Pride lose
Racing Louisville (9th)
- Win vs San Diego Wave and OL Reign/Orlando Pride/Angel City all lose or draw
Suffice it to say, everything is up in the air right now for a lot of these teams, and while they will remain focused on their task at hand when it comes to match day, but for teams further down the table, their fate rests in the hands of those above them and how those games unfold.
MD22, with all games kicking off at the same time, could be one of the most dramatic yet!
National Women’s Super League 2023: MD22 and playoff fixtures
Here is how the final few weeks of the NWSL look…
**Sunday 15 October **
Orlando Pride vs Houston Dash – 17:00 ET/22:00 BST/23:00 CET
NJ/Gotham vs KC Current – 17:00 ET/22:00 BST/23:00 CET
Angel City vs Portland Thorns – 17:00 ET/22:00 BST/23:00 CET
San Diego Wave vs Racing Louisville – 17:00 ET/22:00 BST/23:00 CET
Washington Spirit vs North Carolina Courage – 17:00 ET/22:00 BST/23:00 CET
Chicago Red Stars vs OL Reign – 17:00 ET/22:00 BST/23:00 CET
Sunday 22 October - QFs
TBD vs TBD – 17:00 ET/22:00 BST/23:00 CET
TBD vs TBD – TBD
5 November – SFs
TBD vs TBD – 19:00 ET/00:00 BST/01:00 CET
TBD vs TBD – 21:30 ET/02:30 BST/03:30 CET
November 11 – Final
TBD vs TBD – 20:00 ET/01:00 BST/02:00 CET
All games are being broadcast live on CBS Sports across the USA, while fixtures are made available to watch for international fans live on the NWSL website.