NWSL National Women's Soccer League

2013 NWSL Playoff Picture Scenarios

Published on July 19, 2013 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release


CHICAGO - With five weeks left in the inaugural National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season, the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. Six of the league's eight teams have a realistic shot at making the postseason as all four playoff spots remain up for grabs, with a seventh team - Seattle Reign FC - still holding onto an outside shot of making the playoffs. As yet, no team has been eliminated from the playoffs, although the Washington Spirit could confirm their fate this weekend if results go against them. Week 15 Scenarios The Washington Spirit will be eliminated from the 2013 NWSL Playoffs if... ... the Spirit lose at the Red Stars AND the Flash win vs. Sky Blue FC. OR ... the Spirit lose at the Red Stars AND the Flash draw vs. Sky Blue FC.* OR ... the Spirit draw at the Red Stars AND the Flash win vs. Sky Blue FC.* *Washington would be eliminated because the Flash hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Spirit. Tiebreaker scenarios come into play when a team's Magic Number or Elimination Number is 1. Magic Number or Elimination Number for all eight teams: # Team Pts GD GR Max Magic # Elim. #

1 Sky Blue FC 31 10 6 49 11 --

2 Portland Thorns FC 27 5 7 48 15 --

3 FC Kansas City 26 7 6 44 16 --

4 Western New York Flash 24 8 6 42 18 --

5 Boston Breakers 20 1 7 41 -- 18

6 Chicago Red Stars 19 -4 7 40 -- 17

7 Seattle Reign FC 15 -10 6 33 -- 10

8 Washington Spirit 7 -17 7 28 -- 5

Glossary - Pts: Points, GD: Goal Difference, GR: Games Remaining, Max: Maximum points possible

**The Magic Number or Elimination Number for each team does not reflect scenarios that require tiebreakers. Tiebreaker scenarios are required when a team's Magic Number or Elimination Number is 1.

Formulas for Magic and Elimination numbers

Magic Number formula

The Magic Number for a team to clinch a playoff spot is determined by subtracting that team's current points total from the maximum number of points possible for the fifth-place team, then adding one. For example: Team Pl Pts Max

Sky Blue FC 1st 31 49

Boston Breakers 5th 20 41

Then the Magic Number for Sky Blue FC to clinch a playoff spot is: 41 - 31 + 1 = 11

Elimination Number The Elimination Number for a team to confirm their exclusion from the playoffs is determined by subtracting that team's maximum number of possible points from the current number of points of the fourth-place team, then adding one. Examples: Team Pl Pts Max

Western New York Flash 4th 24 42

Washington Spirit 8th 7 28

Then the Elimination Number for the Washington Spirit is: 28 - 24 + 1 = 5 Team Pl Pts Max

Western New York Flash 4th 24 42

Seattle Reign FC 7th 15 33

The the Elimination Number for Seattle Reign FC is: 33 - 24 + 1 = 10

Tiebreaker procedures TO BREAK A TIE IN THE STANDINGS

If two or more teams are tied on points at the end of the regular season, the tie will be broken through the following steps: Two teams

1.Head-to-head record

2.Overall goal difference

3.Overall goals scored

4.Head-to-head road record

5.Goal difference in all road games

6.Goals scored in all road games

7.Head-to-head home record

8.Goal difference in all home games

9.Goals scored in all home games

10.Coin toss Three teams

1.Points per game against other two teams

2.Overall goal difference

3. See tiebreaker procedure for two-team scenarios NOTE: If two teams are still tied after the third team has advanced via the tiebreaker, the tie will be broken using the two-team tiebreaker rules.

Check out the National Women's Soccer League Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



National Women's Soccer League Stories from July 19, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central