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. Overall goal difference
  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:
    • first yellow card: minus 1 point
    • indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points
    • direct red card: minus 4 points
    • yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points
    • 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
Further information: 2022 National Women's Soccer League 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
Further information: 2021 National Women's Soccer League 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
Further information: 2020 National Women's Soccer League season

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

2019 season
Further information: 2019 National Women's Soccer League 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
Further information: 2018 National Women's Soccer League 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
Further information: 2017 National Women's Soccer League 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
Further information: 2016 National Women's Soccer League 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
Further information: 2015 National Women's Soccer League 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
Further information: 2014 National Women's Soccer League 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
Further information: 2013 National Women's Soccer League 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
Further information: NWSL records and statistics
As of October 30, 2022

Italics indicates a defunct team.

Playoff results
Club Won Runner-up Years won Years runner-up
Portland Thorns FC312013, 2017, 20222018
North Carolina Courage212018, 20192017
FC Kansas City202014, 2015
Washington Spirit1120212016
Western New York Flash1120162013
Chicago Red Stars022019, 2021
OL Reign022014, 2015
Kansas City Current012022

Playoff records
Team Games played Wins Losses Most recent appearance Most recent title
Portland Thorns FC127520222022
Chicago Red Stars10372022–
OL Reign8262022–
North Carolina Courage75220212019
Washington Spirit74320212021
FC Kansas City54120152015
Western New York Flash43120162016
Kansas City Current3212022–
San Diego Wave FC2112022–
Houston Dash1012022
NJ/NY Gotham FC1012021–
Orlando Pride1012017–

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
  1. "NWSL Announces Innovative 2021 Competition Framework". NWSL. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  2. "2014 Competition Rules and Regulations". National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  3. "NWSL 2022 Competition Rules" (PDF). NWSLSoccer.com. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
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