A breakdown of the NWSL playoffs

The NWSL, also known as, National Women’s Soccer League, is the topflight of US Women’s Soccer. The Play-offs this year will include the following teams: Kansas City, Washington Spirit, Orlando Pride, Racing Louisville, Gotham FC, San Diego Wave, Portland Thorns, and Seattle Reign. These teams are seeded 1 – 8 depending on their league position.

📸via espn.co.uk

Unlike the WSL, the top 8 teams at the end of the regular season will enter the playoffs, regardless of their position in the league. For the WSL, typically at the end of each season, the team at the top of the league will win the title. In the US, they have a unique style to their league. Although Kansas City “won the league”, they haven’t won the title yet. For Kansas City to win the title, they have to face other teams in the playoffs.

To start with, 1^st-place, Kansas City will come up against 8^th place, Gotham FC. 2^nd-place Washington Spirit will face 7^th-place, Racing Louisville, and so forth.

After these eight teams face each other in the quarter-finals of knockout soccer, they will enter the semi-finals, just like a tournament. In terms of advantages for the home side, the higher-seeded teams will host the quarter-finals and semi-final matches.

The two teams left in the knockout stages will face each other at PayPal Park, home to Bay FC, on 22 November to determine the league winner.

Whilst sticking to the theme of knockout football, after 90 minutes are played, if the score-line remains a draw, they will use extra-time, and a penalty shoot-out if required.

There are multiple fixtures in the NWSL to keep your eye out for between 7,8, 9 November.

As previously stated, Kansas City will take on Gotham FC on 9 November. Kansas City finished top of the league, ending their regular season on 65 points.

The Spirit are set to take on Racing Louisville, who narrowly clinched the playoff spot. This fixture will kick-off on 8 November.

Portland Thorns will look to make it to the semi-finals as they face San Diego Wave on 9 November. During this season, both teams drew 1-1 to each other home and away. This will be a tight-contested match-up.

Finally, current NWSL Champions, Orlando Pride will face Seattle Reign on 7 November. Orlando Pride will look to retain their title for another year and sign off as back-to-back NWSL Champions.

These next matches in the NWSL are all to play for, as each team look to win the NWSL Championship title to finish off their season.