2014 NWSL Playoff Picture: Spirit and Thorns FC Enter the Weekend with a Chance to Clinch Playoff Sp
Published on August 7, 2014 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
CHICAGO (Aug. 7, 2014) - The race for the 2014 NWSL Playoffs continues to heat up with just two playoff spots remaining. With a win on Wednesday, FC Kansas City locked up home field advantage in the semifinals.
This leaves only the third and fourth place spots up for grabs. The Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns FC are both in a position to at least clinch one of those spots this weekend, but will need some help from around the league to do so.
The Chicago Red Stars will need a win to keep pace with the Spirit and Thorns FC or their playoff hopes will be in serious danger. If the results this weekend go against Chicago, the Red Stars could potentially be eliminated from playoff contention.
The Western New York Flash and Sky Blue FC are hanging on to their playoff dreams by a thread. Both teams face elimination this weekend, with their fates largely in the hands of Washington and Portland.
Week 18 Scenarios
The Washington Spirit will clinch a spot in the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...The Spirit win at Reign FC*
OR
...The Spirit draw at Reign FC AND the Red Stars lose OR draw vs. FCKC*
OR
... the Red Stars lose vs. FCKC* AND Sky Blue FC lose OR draw at the Dash
*= The Spirit would clinch because it would hold the head-to-head tie breaker over the Red Stars (3-0-0).
Portland Thorns FC will clinch a spot in the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...Thorns FC win at the Breakers AND the Red Stars lose OR draw vs. FCKC
The Chicago Red Stars will be eliminated from the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...the Red Stars draw OR lose vs. FCKC AND Thorns FC win at the Breakers
AND
the Spirit win OR draw at Reign FC**
**= The Red Stars would be eliminated because the Spirit (3-0-0) would hold the head-to-head to breaker over the Red Stars.
The Western New York Flash will be eliminated from the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...Thorns FC win OR draw at the Breakers
Sky Blue FC will be eliminated from the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...SBFC lose OR draw at the Dash
OR
...the Spirit win OR draw at Reign FC AND Thorns FC win at the Breakers
Magic Number or Elimination Number for all nine teams:
# Team Pts. GD GR Max Pts. Magic No. Elimination No.
1 Seattle Reign FC - z 53 31 2 59 Clinched --
2 FC Kansas City-z 41 8 1 44 Clinched --
3 Washington Spirit 34 -6 2 40 4 --
4 Portland Thorns FC 33 5 2 39 5 --
5 Chicago Red Stars 28 3 3 37 -- 5
6 Western New York Flash 27 5 2 33 -- 1
7 Sky Blue FC 22 -12 4 34 -- 2
8 Houston Dash 18 -17 3 27 -- Eliminated
9 Boston Breakers 14 -17 3 23 -- Eliminated
Glossary - Pts: Points, GD: Goal Difference, GR: Games Remaining, Max: Maximum points possible
z- clinched playoff spot and home field in semifinals
**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
Washington Spirit 3rd 34 40
Chicago Red Stars 5th 28 37
Then the magic number for Washington Sprit to clinch a playoff spot is 37 - 34 + 1 = 4
Elimination Number Formula
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.
Team Pl Pts Max
Portland Thorns FC 4th 33 39
Sky Blue FC 7th 22 34
Then the elimination number for the Sky Blue FC is 34 - 33 + 1 = 2
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.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 7, 2014
- 2014 NWSL Playoff Picture: Spirit and Thorns FC Enter the Weekend with a Chance to Clinch Playoff Sp - NWSL
- Breakers Lose to Lightning at FC Kansas City - Boston Breakers
- Reign FC Finishes Sweep of Dash with 4-1 Victory - Seattle Reign FC
- FC Kansas City Clinches Home Field for Semifinals - FC Kansas City
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