Week 22 NWSL Playoff Clinching Scenarios
October 13, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
Heading into the final week of the regular season, eight NWSL clubs remain in contention for the last four spots 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 only two spots in the playoffs secured, the NWSL standings could see a major shakeup in the league's first-ever Decision Day, featuring all 12 clubs in action at once.
San Diego Wave FC and Portland Thorns FC have already clinched home-field advantage and a first-round bye to the semifinals, and now look to lock up the 2023 NWSL Shield, presented by CarMax.
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.
Portland Thorns FC (35 points, 10-6-5) - Clinched top 2 seed/bye
Clinches NWSL Shield with:
A win OR
SD loss OR
A draw + SD draw OR
A loss + SD draw + favorable GD (any loss by 7 goals or less)
San Diego Wave FC (34 points, 10-7-4) - Clinched top 2 seed/bye
Clinches NWSL Shield with:
A win + POR draw/loss OR
A draw + POR loss by 8+ goals
North Carolina Courage (30 points, 8-7-6)
Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:
A win OR
A draw + NJY draw/loss + RGN draw/loss + favorable GD (over LA/ORL if either win) OR
A loss + NJY loss + RGN draw/loss + ORL draw/loss + LA draw/loss + favorable GD
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win OR
A draw + NJY draw/loss OR RGN draw/loss OR ORL draw/loss OR LA draw/loss OR
A draw + favorable GD (over LA/ORL) OR
A loss + no more than 3 of NJY, RGN, ORL, LA reach 31+ points + favorable GD (over LOU)
NJ/NY Gotham FC (30 points, 8-7-6)
Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:
A win OR
A draw + RGN draw/loss + favorable GD (over LA/ORL if either win) OR
A loss + WAS/NCC win + RGN loss + ORL draw/loss + LA draw/loss + favorable GD OR
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win OR
A draw + RGN draw/loss OR ORL draw/loss OR LA draw/loss OR
A draw + favorable GD (over LA/ORL if both win)
A loss + no more than 3 of NCC, WAS, RGN, ORL, LA reach 31+ points + favorable GD (over LOU)
Washington Spirit (30 points, 7-5-9)
Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:
A win OR
A draw + NJY loss + RGN draw/loss + favorable GD (over LA/ORL if either win) OR
A loss + NJY loss + RGN loss + ORL draw/loss + LA draw/loss + favorable GD
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win OR
A draw + NJY loss OR RGN draw/loss OR ORL draw/loss OR LA draw/loss OR
A draw + favorable GD (over LA/ORL if both win) OR
A loss + No more than 3 of NJY, RGN, ORL, LA reach 31+ points + favorable GD (over LOU)
OL Reign (29 points, 8-8-5)
Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:
A win + WAS/NCC draw OR
A win + NJY draw/loss OR
A draw + ORL draw/loss + NJY loss + WAS win/loss + LA draw/loss + favorable GD
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win OR
A draw + No more than 3 of NCC, NJY, WAS, ORL, LA, reach 31+ pts + favorable GD OR
A loss + ORL draw/loss + LA draw/loss + LOU draw/loss + favorable GD
Orlando Pride (28 points, 9-11-1)
Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:
A win + (2 of following 3 results: RGN draw/loss + NJY draw/loss + WAS draw) + favorable GD OR
A win + NJY loss + RGN draw/loss + LA draw/loss
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win + favorable GD OR
A win + NJY loss OR RGN draw/loss OR LA draw/loss OR
A draw + RGN loss + LA draw/loss + LOU draw/loss + favorable GD
Angel City FC (28 points, 7-7-7)
Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:
A win + NJY draw/loss + RGN draw/loss + favorable GD (with anyone on 31 points)
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win + WAS win/loss + ORL loss/draw OR RGN draw/loss OR NJY loss OR
A win + favorable GD
Racing Louisville FC (27 points, 6-6-9)
Clinches a top 4 seed/home match with:
A win + NJY loss + RGN draw/loss + ORL draw/loss + LA draw/loss + WAS/NC win + favorable GD
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win + No more than 3 of NCC, NJY, WAS, RGN, ORL, LA reach 31+ points + favorable GD
Houston Dash (26 points, 6-7-8)
Clinches a playoff spot with:
A win + RGN loss + LOU draw/loss + LA draw/loss + favorable GD
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 13, 2023
- Match Preview: San Diego Wave FC vs. Racing Louisville FC - San Diego Wave FC
- Kansas City Current Looking to Finish 2023 Campaign on High Note on the Road against NJ/NY Gotham FC - Kansas City Current
- Week 22: NWSL Pitch Notes - NWSL
- Week 22 NWSL Playoff Clinching Scenarios - NWSL
- Kerolin Nicoli Featured on EA Sports FC24 Trailblazers Ultimate Team - North Carolina Courage
- Chicago Red Stars Forward Cheyna Matthews to Retire Following October 15 Match - Chicago Stars FC
- NC Courage Playoff Tickets on Sale Now - North Carolina Courage
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