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. 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. Coin tosses (2 teams) or draw of lots (at least 3 teams) will be used as the last resort if all other tiebreakers fail.

  • 1. Head-to-head win–loss record between the teams (or points-per-game if more than two teams).
  • 2. Greater goal difference across the entire season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
  • 3. Greatest total number of goals scored (against all teams).
  • 4. Apply #1–3 to games played on the road.
  • 5. Apply #1–3 to games played at home.

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.

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

Playoff series history

2020 season
Further information: 2020 National Women's Soccer League season

Not held

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

Correct as of November 20, 2021

Italics indicates a defunct team.

Playoff results
Club Won Runner-up Years won Years runner-up
North Carolina Courage212018, 20192017
Portland Thorns FC212013, 20172018
FC Kansas City202014, 2015
Western New York Flash1120162013
Washington Spirit1120212016
OL Reign022014, 2015
Chicago Red Stars022019, 2021

Playoff records
Team Games played Wins Losses Most recent appearance Most recent title
Portland Thorns FC115620212017
Chicago Red Stars11562021–
Washington Spirit96320212021
North Carolina Courage85320212019
OL Reign8262021–
FC Kansas City54120152015
Western New York Flash43120162016
NJ/NY Gotham FC3032021–
Orlando Pride1012017–

Appearances by team
Team Appearances Most Recent Appearance
Portland Thorns FC 7 2021
Chicago Red Stars 6 2021
OL Reign 5 2021
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
Orlando Pride 1 2017

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. "2016 Competition Rules and Regulations – National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on April 22, 2016.
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