Only eight teams make it to the NWSL playoffs, and six are already in: The Orlando Pride, Kansas City FC, Washington Spirit, NY/NJ Gotham, North Carolina Courage, and the Chicago Red Stars.
The Portland Thorns, Racing Louisville, and Bay FC are competing for those final two spots.
Portland and Bay are favorites to make that final push, with both only needing one point to make it. If Louisville wants to make it, they must win their next game and they need Portland or Bay to lose.
When the playoffs begin, the Orlando Pride are favorites to win because of their undefeated stretch this season, which lasted until their last two games. After they were guaranteed a number one spot in the playoffs, they started losing games, eliminating their undefeated streak.
Fans wonder if Kansas City can catch up to the Pride and knock them out if they both make it to the second round. KCFC was Orlando’s biggest competitor this season, with them both starting the season by going undefeated for 17 weeks. KCFC was defeated after week 17, but Orlando went 23 weeks without a loss.
With KCFC’s Temwa Chawinga, the league’s top goal scorer, and Orlando’s poor defensive skills the last few weeks, it seems likely that Kansas City could come out on top. Although Chawinga is a strong force for KCFC, the Orlando Pride has Barbra Banda, the league’s second-highest goal scorer, who could cause problems for Kansas City’s defense.
Kansas City, Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, and NJ/NY Gotham have clinched home quarterfinal games along with their playoff spots.
The quarterfinal matches will be played Nov. 8 to 10. The playoffs are single elimination, so the teams that lose are going home. The semifinals will then be played Nov. 16 to 17.
The final two teams will then compete on Nov. 23 at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.
Fans can watch the playoff games on ABC, CBS, Amazon Prime Video, and NWSL+.
