2023 National Women's Soccer League NWSL Playoffs preview: Full schedule and how to watch live
San Diego Wave secure their inaugural NWSL Shield as the season nears its finale and the play-off schedule firms up.
Football
The pinnacle of women’s club football in North America is set for a dramatic showdown as the NWSL Championship edges closer to its finale.
The NWSL Decision Day came down to the wire, with the smallest of margins determining play-off qualification or elimination.
Angel City’s 5-1 win over Portland Thorns on Decision Day clinched them a top-six finish. Luckily for 2022 Champions Thorns, they had already done enough throughout the season to secure a second-place finish.
Orlando Pride narrowly missed out on a play-off spot despite their 1-0 win over Houston Dash, but wins for OL Reign and North Carolina Courage helped them secure an all-important top-six place.
San Diego Wave’s 2-0 win over Racing Louisville helped them secure their first-ever NWSL Shield with the league’s best record - the expansion team’s first piece of silverware since they were founded in June 2021.
Their historic win gives them, as well as second place Portland Thorns, a bye into the semi-final round of the playoffs.
How do the NWSL playoffs work?
Six teams will compete in the 2023 NWSL playoffs, with their seeding place determined by their league performance throughout the season
The two top seeded teams, San Diego Wave and Portland Thorns, receive an automatic advance to the semifinal round on 5 November. San Diego Wave finished the league season with 37 points, and Portland Thorns did so with 35 points.
The next four seeded teams - North Carolina Courage, OL Reign, Angel City FC and Gotham FC - face off in the quarter-finals.
There are six teams left that have already been eliminated from the playoffs according to their league form - Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, Racing Louisville, Houston Dash, Kansas City Current and Chicago Red Stars.
When teams finish on joint points, much like Angel City, Gotham and Orlando Pride, their seeding place is determined by their win, loss and draw ratio as well as goal difference.
This is how the seeding was determined for this year’s play-offs, with places 1-6 qualifying for play-offs and places 7-12 being eliminated:
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 06: Megan Rapinoe #15 of OL Reign shoots against the Washington Spirit on during her last home regular-season NWSL match at Lumen Field on October 06, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Full NWSL Championship 2023 play-off schedule and preview
Quarter-finals
OL Reign v Angel City FC
Friday 20 October, 2023 | 22:00 ET, 03:00+1 GMT, 04:00+1 CET
OL Reign and Angel City first came face to face this season in May when OL Reign secured a 4-1 win over the LA-based side, but Angel City had the last laugh in August when they managed a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture. The two sides finished within one point of one another, suggesting that this will be a tight fixture. The game holds even more weight as NWSL legend Megan Rapinoe steps up for what could possibly be the last competitive game of her career.
North Carolina Courage v Gotham FC
Sunday 22 October, 2023 | 19:00 ET, 00:00+1 GMT, 01:00+1 CET
A late goal from Lynn Williams was enough to secure Gotham a 1-0 win over North Carolina Courage back in April, but it was goals galore in the reverse fixture when the sides were drawn at 3-3. Gotham only just snuck into the play-off places on goal difference, whereas North Carolina Courage managed a comfortable third place finish.
Semifinals
Portland Thorns v North Carolina Courage OR Gotham FC
Sunday 5 November, 2023 | 19:00 ET, 00:00+1 GMT, 01:00+1 CET
Portland Thorns have a good record over North Carolina Courage this season, having beat them 2-1 in August following a 3-3 draw earlier in the season. They did, however, lose to Gotham in July only to right their wrongs in October with a 1-0 win.
San Diego Wave v OL Reign OR Angel City FC
Sunday 5 November, 2023 | 21:30 ET, 02:30+1 GMT, 03:30+1 CET
Despite winning the NWSL Shield, San Diego Wave are yet to beat OL Reign in the league or the Challenge Cup this season. They did, however, manage a win over Angel City earlier in the season in, but lost 2-1 in the reverse fixture in June. Either side will prove a tough match for the debutant NWSL Shield Champions.
NWSL Championship
Following the quarter and semi-final rounds, the NWSL Championship final will take place on Saturday 11 November, 2023 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego with a kick off time of 20:00 ET (01:00+ GMT, 02:00+1 CET).
How to watch the NWSL Championship 2023 play-offs
CBS Sports Network will be broadcasting the majority of the NWSL Championship 2023 play-off fixtures, with the exception of the quarter-final between OL Reign and Angel City which will be broadcast on Paramount Plus.