Week 21 NWSL Playoff Clinching Scenarios
Published on October 6, 2023 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
Heading into Week 21 of the regular season, 11 NWSL clubs remain in contention for a spot in the 2023 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Bud Light. This week's slate of games features another six matchups with playoff and seed-clinching implications. With the current top half of the table facing off against one another this week, the NWSL standings could see a major shakeup ahead of the final week of the regular season and the league's first-ever Decision Day.
San Diego became the first team to clinch last week, and now looks to lock up the 2023 NWSL Shield, presented by CarMax, as well as home field advantage in the playoffs.
For more information on the NWSL Playoffs, presented by Bud Light, including playoff format, schedule and tiebreakers, click here. For ways to watch, click here.
San Diego Wave FC (33 points, 10-7-3) - Clinched playoff spot
Clinches a top 2 seed/bye with:
A win OR
A draw + WAS/RGN draw + ORL draw/loss + NJ/NY loss
Portland Thorns FC (32 points, 20-9-5)
Clinches a top 2 seed/bye with:
A win + NCC draw/loss + WAS draw/loss
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win/draw OR
A loss + WAS win OR
A loss + WAS draw + NCC draw/loss OR
A loss + ORL loss + HOU draw/loss
NJ/NY Gotham FC (30 points, 8-6-6)
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win OR
A draw + WAS draw/loss + NCC loss + HOU/LA draw OR
A draw + WAS loss + NCC draw/loss + HOU/LA draw
North Carolina Courage (29 points, 8-7-5)
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win + WAS win OR
A win + ORL loss + HOU draw/loss
Washington Spirit (29 points, 7-5-8)
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win
OL Reign (28 points, 8-8-4)
Clinches a playoff spot with
A win + NCC draw/loss + LA draw/loss
Orlando Pride (28 points, 9-10-1)
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win + WAS loss + NCC draw/loss + HOU draw
The 2023 NWSL Championship, presented by Bud Light, will be played at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on Saturday, November 11 as the league's marquee event heads west for the first time since 2018. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET and tickets for the match are available here.
The 2023 Ally NWSL Championship will broadcast in primetime on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+ and will be available internationally on Watch.NWSLSoccer.com.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from October 6, 2023
- Racing Louisville Rallies to Beat Orlando, Keep Playoff Hopes Alive - Racing Louisville FC
- Orlando Pride Falls on the Road to Racing Louisville FC - Orlando Pride
- Match Preview: NJ/NY Gotham FC Looks to Bounce Back and Secure NWSL Playoff Spot against Portland Thorns - NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Houston Dash Return Home for Playoff Push - Houston Dash
- Match Preview: Kansas City Current Closes Out Home Schedule Against The Chicago Red Stars In Front Of Another Record-Setting Crowd - Kansas City Current
- Three Points: Houston Dash and Houston Dynamo FC Host Home Regular Season Finales - Houston Dash
- Match Preview: San Diego Wave FC at NC Courage - San Diego Wave FC
- Courage Host San Diego Saturday - North Carolina Courage
- Week 21 NWSL Playoff Clinching Scenarios - NWSL
- Gotham FC Adds Julian Haigh as High Performance Director - NJ/NY Gotham FC
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