NWSL Playoffs

The National Women's Soccer League Playoffs (or NWSL Playoffs) are a single elimination tournament among six teams in the National Women's Soccer League of the United States, deciding the winner of the NWSL Championship.

Since playoff games cannot end in ties, those are broken by two straight 15-minute extra time periods, followed by shootouts of best-of-five rounds plus extra rounds as required.

Format

The top six teams in the final standings at the end of the NWSL season qualify for the playoffs and are seeded in order of their record; the top two teams receive a first-round bye.^[1] Prior to 2021, only the top four teams qualified for the playoffs.^[2]

Tiebreakers

The initial determining factor for a team's position in the standings is most points earned, with three points earned for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. As of 2022, if at least two teams tie in point total, when determining rank and playoff qualification and seeding, the NWSL uses the following tiebreaker rules,^[3] going down the list until all teams are ranked.

1. Goal differential

2. Most total wins (Regular Season only)

3. Most goals scored (Regular Season only)

4. Head-to-head results (total points accumulated)

5. Head-to-head most goals scored

6. Least Disciplinary Points Accumulated:

a. Yellow card: 1 point

b. Indirect red card (as a result of two (2) yellow cards): 3 points

c. Direct red card: 4 points

d. Yellow card and direct red card: 5 points

i. Only one of the above point totals shall be applied to a Player in a single Game.

7. Coin Flip (2 teams)/Drawing of lots (3+ teams)

NOTE: If two clubs remain tied after another club with the same number of points advances during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format.

Playoff series history

2022 season

First round			Semi-finals			Championship

			1	OL Reign	0
4	Houston Dash	1	5	Kansas City Current	2
5	Kansas City Current	2				5	Kansas City Current	0
						2	Portland Thorns FC	2
			2	Portland Thorns FC	2
3	San Diego Wave FC	2	3	San Diego Wave FC	1
6	Chicago Red Stars	1

2021 season

First round			Semi-finals			Championship

			1	Portland Thorns FC	0
4	Chicago Red Stars	1	4	Chicago Red Stars	2
5	NJ/NY Gotham FC	0				4	Chicago Red Stars	1
						3	Washington Spirit (a.e.t.)	2
			2	OL Reign	1
3	Washington Spirit (a.e.t.)	1	3	Washington Spirit	2
6	North Carolina Courage	0

2020 season

The NWSL canceled regular season and playoff in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

2019 season

Semi-finals			Championship

1	North Carolina (a.e.t.)	4

4	Reign FC	1
			1	North Carolina	4

			2	Chicago	0
2	Chicago	1

3	Portland	0

2018 season

Semi-finals			Championship

1	North Carolina	2

4	Chicago	0
			1	North Carolina	3

			2	Portland	0
2	Portland	2

3	Seattle	1

2017 season

Semi-finals			Championship

1	North Carolina	1

4	Chicago	0
			1	North Carolina	0

			2	Portland	1
2	Portland	4

3	Orlando	1

2016 season

Semi-finals			Championship

1	Portland	3

4	Western New York (a.e.t.)	4
			4	Western New York (pen.)	2 (3)

			2	Washington	2 (2)
2	Washington (a.e.t.)	2

3	Chicago	1

2015 season

Semi-finals			Championship

1	Seattle	3

4	Washington	0
			1	Seattle	0

			3	Kansas City	1
2	Chicago	0

3	Kansas City	3

2014 season

Semi-finals			Championship

1	Seattle	2

4	Washington	1
			1	Seattle	1

			2	Kansas City	2
2	Kansas City	2

3	Portland	0

2013 season

Semi-finals			Championship

1	Western New York	2

4	Sky Blue	0
			1	Western New York	0

			3	Portland	2
2	Kansas City	2

3	Portland (a.e.t.)	3

Records and statistics

Correct as of October 17, 2022

Italics indicates a defunct team.

Playoff results

Club	Won	Runner-up	Years won	Years runner-up
Portland Thorns FC	3	1	2013, 2017, 2022	2018
North Carolina Courage	2	1	2018, 2019	2017
FC Kansas City	2	0	2014, 2015
Western New York Flash	1	1	2016	2013
Washington Spirit	1	1	2021	2016
OL Reign	0	2		2014, 2015
Chicago Red Stars	0	2		2019, 2021
Kansas City Current	0	1		2022

Playoff records

Team	Games played	Wins	Losses	Most recent appearance	Most recent title
Chicago Red Stars	12	5	7	2022	–
Portland Thorns FC	11	5	6	2021	2017
Washington Spirit	9	6	3	2021	2021
North Carolina Courage	8	5	3	2021	2019
OL Reign	8	2	6	2021	–
FC Kansas City	5	4	1	2015	2015
Western New York Flash	4	3	1	2016	2016
NJ/NY Gotham FC	3	0	3	2021	–
San Diego Wave FC	1	1	0	2022	–
Orlando Pride	1	0	1	2017	–
Houston Dash	1	0	1	2022	–

Appearances by team

Team	Appearances	Most Recent Appearance
Portland Thorns FC	8	2022
Chicago Red Stars	7	2022
OL Reign	6	2022
North Carolina Courage	4	2021
Washington Spirit	4	2021
FC Kansas City	3	2015
NJ/NY Gotham FC	2	2021
Western New York Flash	2	2016
Houston Dash	1	2022
Kansas City Current	1	2022
Orlando Pride	1	2017
San Diego Wave FC	1	2022

References

^ "NWSL Announces Innovative 2021 Competition Framework". NWSL. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
^ "2014 Competition Rules and Regulations". National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
^ "NWSL 2022 Competition Rules" (PDF). NWSLSoccer.com. Retrieved September 22, 2022.

External links

Official website

[expand-1] "NWSL Announces Innovative 2021 Competition Framework". NWSL. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.

[2014NWSLRegs-2] "2014 Competition Rules and Regulations". National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.

[NWSL-3] "NWSL 2022 Competition Rules" (PDF). NWSLSoccer.com. Retrieved September 22, 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e National Women's Soccer League
Records and statistics Players Association U.S. Soccer
Current teams	Angel City FC Chicago Red Stars Houston Dash Kansas City Current NJ/NY Gotham FC North Carolina Courage OL Reign Orlando Pride Portland Thorns FC Racing Louisville FC San Diego Wave FC Washington Spirit
Former teams	Western New York Flash (2013–16) Boston Breakers (2013–17) FC Kansas City (2013–17) Utah Royals FC (2018–20)
Seasons	2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Competition	NWSL Shield Playoffs Challenge Cup Stadiums Attendance Expansion Broadcasters
Associated competitions	The Women's Cup Women's International Champions Cup
Personnel	Players Association Draftees Drafts Foreign players Owners Federation players (2013–21)
Awards	League awards Player of the Month Rookie of the Month Team of the Month Player of the Week Players' awards
Related articles	2021 abuse scandal Yates Report
Category Portal Multimedia