The National Women's Soccer League playoffs (or NWSL playoffs) are a single-elimination tournament among eight teams in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) of the United States. The final round of the playoffs is the NWSL Championship.
Since playoff games cannot end in draws, they are broken by two consecutive 15-minute extra time periods, followed by penalty shoot-outs of best-of-five rounds with additional rounds as required.
Format Since the 2024 season, the top eight teams in the final standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the playoffs and are seeded in order of their record. The top-seed hosts the eighth seed and the fourth hosts the fifth in one arm of the quarterfinals bracket, and the runner-up hosts the seventh seed and the third hosts the sixth in the other arm. In the semifinals, teams are not reseeded and the winners within each quarterfinals arm play each other.
From 2021 to 2023, the top 6 teams qualified for a three-round playoff, and the top two seeds had a first-round bye. From 2013 to 2019, the top 4 teams qualified for a two-round playoff.
In 2013 and 2014, the higher seeded team to reach the championship hosted the match. Since 2015, the championship has been hosted at a predetermined site.
+Playoff formats and championship hostsYearQualifiersRoundsChampionship hostDeterminationStadiumCity2013Top 42Higher seedSahlen's StadiumRochester, New York2014Starfire Sports StadiumTukwila, Washington2015Predetermined siteProvidence ParkPortland, Oregon2016BBVA Compass StadiumHouston, Texas2017Orlando City StadiumOrlando, Florida2018Providence ParkPortland, Oregon2019Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer ParkCary, North Carolina2020No NWSL season or playoffs; 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and 2020 NWSL Fall Series2021Top 63(bye fortop 2 seeds)Predetermined siteLynn Family StadiumLouisville, Kentucky2022Audi FieldWashington, D.C.2023Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, California2024Top 83CPKC StadiumKansas City, Missouri Sources:
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 none for a loss. Since the 2022 season, if at least two teams tie in point total, when determining rank and playoff qualification and seeding, the NWSL uses the following tiebreaker rules, going down the list until all teams are ranked.
Overall goal difference Most total wins (regular season only) Most goals scored (regular season only) Head-to-head results (total points accumulated) Head-to-head most goals scored Fewest disciplinary points accumulated: First yellow card: -1 point Indirect red card (second yellow card): -3 points Direct red card: -4 points Yellow card and direct red card: -5 points Only one of the above point totals shall be applied to a player in a single game. Coin flip (2 teams)/Drawing of lots (3+ teams)
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.
Prior to the 2022 season, the first tiebreaker was head-to-head record.
Playoff series history 2013 season
2014 season
2015 season
2016 season
2017 season
2018 season
2019 season
2020 season
The NWSL canceled its regular season and playoffs in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports.
2021 season
2022 season
2023 season
2024 season
2025 season
Records and statistics
Italics indicates a defunct team.
Playoff results
Club Won Runner-up Years won Years runner-up Portland Thorns FC 2013, 2017, 2022 2018 North Carolina Courage 2018, 2019 2017 FC Kansas City 2014, 2015 Gotham FC 2023, 2025 Washington Spirit 2021 2016, 2024, 2025 Western New York Flash 2016 2013 Orlando Pride 2024 Seattle Reign FC 2014, 2015, 2023 Chicago Red Stars 2019, 2021 Kansas City Current 2022
Playoff records
Team Portland Thorns FC 14 7 7 2024 2022 Seattle Reign FC 11 4 7 2023 – Chicago Red Stars 11 3 8 2024 - Washington Spirit 9 6 3 2024 2021 North Carolina Courage 9 5 4 2024 2019 Gotham FC 7 4 3 2024 2023 FC Kansas City 5 4 1 2015 2015 Kansas City Current 5 3 2 2024 – Western New York Flash 4 3 1 2016 2016 Orlando Pride 4 3 1 2024 2024 San Diego Wave FC 3 1 2 2023 – Houston Dash 1 0 1 2022 – Angel City FC 1 0 1 2023 – Bay FC 1 0 1 2024 – Racing Louisville FC 0 0 0 - – Utah Royals 0 0 0 - –
Appearances by team
Team Portland Thorns FC 11 2025 Chicago Red Stars 8 2024 Seattle Reign FC 8 2025 North Carolina Courage 6 2024 Washington Spirit 5 2025 Gotham FC 5 2025 FC Kansas City 3 2015 San Diego Wave FC 3 2025 Kansas City Current 3 2025 Orlando Pride 3 2025 Western New York Flash 2 2016 Houston Dash 1 2022 Angel City FC 1 2023 Bay FC 1 2024 Racing Louisville FC 1 2025 Boston Breakers No playoff appearances Utah Royals
Notes
References
External links