NWSL Playoffs

NWSL 2017 Championship Trophy

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Playoffs are a single elimination tournament among four teams in the National Women's Soccer League, ultimately deciding the winner of the NWSL Championship.

Since playoff games cannot end in ties, those are broken by two straight 15-minute overtime periods, followed by shootouts of best-of-five rounds plus extra rounds as needed if still drawn.

Format

The top four teams in the final standings at the end of the NWSL season qualify for the playoffs and are seeded in order of their record.[1]

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,[2] 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.

Semi-finals NWSL Championship
      
1  
4  
 
 
3  
2  

Playoff series history

2018 season

Semi-finals Championship
      
1 North Carolina Courage 2
4 Chicago Red Stars 0
1 North Carolina Courage 3
2 Portland Thorns FC 0
2 Portland Thorns FC 2
3 Seattle Reign FC 1

2017 season

Semi-finals Championship
      
1 North Carolina Courage 1
4 Chicago Red Stars 0
1 North Carolina Courage 0
2 Portland Thorns FC 1
2 Portland Thorns FC 4
3 Orlando Pride 1

2016 season

Semi-finals Championship
      
1 Portland Thorns FC 3
4 Western New York Flash (a.e.t.) 4
4 Western New York Flash (pen.) 2 (3)
2 Washington Spirit 2 (2)
2 Washington Spirit (a.e.t.) 2
3 Chicago Red Stars 1

2015 season

Semi-finals Championship
      
1 Seattle Reign FC 3
4 Washington Spirit 0
1 Seattle Reign FC 0
3 FC Kansas City 1
2 Chicago Red Stars 0
3 FC Kansas City 3

2014 season

Semi-finals Championship
      
1 Seattle Reign FC 2
4 Washington Spirit 1
1 Seattle Reign FC 1
2 FC Kansas City 2
2 FC Kansas City 2
3 Portland Thorns FC 0

2013 season

Semi-finals Championship
      
1 Western New York Flash 2
4 Sky Blue FC 0
1 Western New York Flash 0
3 Portland Thorns FC 2
2 FC Kansas City 2
3 Portland Thorns FC (a.e.t.) 3

Records and statistics

Correct as of conclusion of 2018 NWSL Playoffs

Playoff results

Club Won Runner-up Years won Years runner-up
Portland Thorns FC212013, 20172018
FC Kansas City202014, 2015
North Carolina Courage (formerly Western New York Flash)222016, 20182013, 2017
Washington Spirit012016
Seattle Reign FC022014, 2015

Playoff Games and Win-Loss Record

TeamGames PlayedWL%Most recent appearanceMost recent title
FC Kansas City541.80020152015
North Carolina Courage431.75020182018
Western New York Flash431.75020162016
Portland Thorns FC853.62520182017
Seattle Reign FC523.4002018Never
Washington Spirit413.2502016Never
Sky Blue FC101.0002013Never
Orlando Pride101.0002017Never
Chicago Red Stars404.0002018Never

Appearances by team

Team Appearances
Portland Thorns FC 5
Chicago Red Stars 4
Seattle Reign FC 3
FC Kansas City 3
Washington Spirit 3
North Carolina Courage 2
Western New York Flash 2
Orlando Pride 1
Sky Blue FC 1

References

  1. ↑ "2014 Competition Rules and Regulations". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  2. ↑ "2016 Competition Rules and Regulations – National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on April 22, 2016.
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