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[]

	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[]

Not held

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 November 20, 2021

Italics indicates a defunct team.

Playoff results[]

Club	Won	Runner-up	Years won	Years runner-up
North Carolina Courage	2	1	2018, 2019	2017
Portland Thorns FC	2	1	2013, 2017	2018
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

Playoff records[]

Team	Games played	Wins	Losses	Most recent appearance	Most recent title
Portland Thorns FC	11	5	6	2021	2017
Chicago Red Stars	11	5	6	2021	–
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	–
Orlando Pride	1	0	1	2017	–

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[]

External links[]

• Official website