The 2022 NWSL common season is nearing the house stretch as groups start to enter the ultimate third of the schedule. Meaning the playoff image is beginning to take form because the 12 months winds down. Some groups have climbed into the higher half of the desk, whereas others are eyeing a playoff push. The league desk can shift as soon as extra as NWSL motion continues this weekend. Followers can watch NWSL video games on Paramount+.
Need extra protection of ladies’s soccer? Pay attention beneath and ensure to observe Attacking Third, A CBS Soccer Podcast dedicated to bringing you every little thing you could know from the NWSL and across the globe.
The highest six groups will head to the playoffs, with the primary and second seeds incomes a first-round bye to the semifinals as hosts. The third and fourth seeds will host the fifth and sixth seed in a quarterfinal spherical, the place the winners will compete within the semifinals for a spot within the 2022 NWSL Championship remaining.
Let’s check out the standings after the most recent weekend of motion, potential playoff situations, and which groups are on the point of elimination:
League standings
1. San Diego Wave FC (31 pts) — Playoff standing
2. Houston Sprint (29 pts) — Playoff standing
3. Kansas Metropolis Present (29 pts) — Playoff standing
4. Portland Thorns FC (28 pts) — Playoff standing
5. OL Reign (27 pts) — Playoff standing
6. Chicago Purple Stars (26 pts) — Playoff standing
7. Angel Metropolis FC (25 pts) — Outdoors wanting in
8. Orlando Delight (21 pts) — Outdoors wanting in
9. North Carolina Braveness (16 pts) — Lengthy shot
10. Racing Louisville FC (14 pts) — Lifeline
11. Washington Spirit (13 pts) — Lifeline
12. NJ/NY Gotham FC (12 pts) — Lifeline
Playoff tiebreakers
Tiebreakers are determined first by higher aim distinction throughout common season, then most whole wins, then most objectives scored. There are a potential seven tiebreaker situations for groups, and as listed so as
- Larger aim distinction throughout your entire common season (towards all groups, not simply tied groups).
- Most whole wins throughout your entire common season (towards all groups, not simply tied groups).
- Most objectives scored throughout your entire common season (towards all groups, not simply tied groups).
- Head-to-head outcomes (whole factors) between the tied groups.
- Head-to-head most objectives scored between the tied groups.
- Least disciplinary factors amassed throughout your entire common season (towards all groups, not simply tied groups).
- Coin flip (if two groups are tied) or drawing of heaps (if three or extra groups are tied).
Viewing information
The common season may have a quick break in play through the worldwide window, with NJ/NY Gotham FC and North Carolina Braveness set to play a make up recreation.
Let’s check out the outcomes from the weekend and the place to observe the midweek match:
Wednesday, August 24
- North Carolina Braveness 3, Portland Thorns FC 1
Friday, August 26
- Orlando Delight 1, OL Reign 2
Saturday, August 27
- Racing Louisville FC 0, Chicago Purple Stars 4
- Houston Sprint 2, Washington Spirit 2
- Portland Thorns FC 0, San Diego Wave FC 2
Sunday, August 28
- NJ/NY Gotham FC 1, Angel Metropolis FC 3
- Kansas Metropolis Present 3, North Carolina Braveness 2
Sunday, September 4
- NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. North Carolina Braveness, 5 p.m. ET (Paramount+)
Potential playoff matchups
This is a remaining take a look at the playoff image because the season continues this weekend:
- No. 1 San Diego Wave FC – bye to semifinal
- No. 2 Houston Sprint vs. bye to semifinal
- No. 3 Kansas Metropolis Present vs. No. 6 Chicago Purple Stars
- No. 4 Portland Thorns FC vs. No. 5 OL Reign
San Diego claims first place as soon as once more
1. San Diego (31 factors: 9-5-4)
- Potential first-round matchup: Would earn a bye to semifinal and host quarterfinal winner at Snapdragon Stadium
The Wave had a blended month of outcomes with two wins and two losses and the staff was briefly bumped out of first place. The membership closed out the month of August with a convincing 2-0 win towards Portland the place Alex Morgan scored her thirteenth aim this season.
Houston Sprint narrowly in second place
2. Houston Sprint (29 factors: 8-5-5)
- Potential first-round matchup: Would earn bye to semifinal and host quarterfinal winner at PNC Stadium
The Sprint picked up eight factors throughout August and now enter the ultimate stretch of the season in second place on the desk. The staff is on tempo to have their finest common season document thus far, and ahead Ebony Salmon was key to the staff’s success as she scored 4 objectives this month.
Kansas Metropolis breakthrough into third place
3. Kansas Metropolis Present (29 factors: 8-4-5)
- Potential first-round matchup: vs. 6 Chicago Purple Stars
- Tiebreakers: Kansas Metropolis is degree with Houston on whole factors, however the first tiebreaker of higher aim distinction throughout your entire common season (towards all groups, not simply tied groups) retains them in third.
The Present are on a outstanding undefeated streak spanning 12 video games and the staff lastly cracked the highest three of the standings with a 3-2 win over North Carolina Braveness to shut out the month. CeCe Kizer continues to be among the best midseason pickups this 12 months. The ahead has scored six objectives for the staff since her arrival in June.
Portland Thorns FC slip into fourth place
4. Portland Thorns FC (26 factors: 7-3-7)
- Potential first-round matchup: vs. No. 5 OL Reign
The Thorns slipped within the standings after closing out the month with back-to-back losses. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson has made some formation changes to the staff that might maintain them unpredictable and profit them down the ultimate stretch of the season, particularly if ahead Sophia Smith returns from USWNT camps scoring objectives once more.
OL Reign keep the course
5. OL Reign (24 factors: 7-4-6)
- Potential first-round matchup: vs. No. 4 Portland Thorns FC
OL Reign shut out the month with two consecutive wins however are nonetheless in fifth place on the standings. Although there is no such thing as a change within the desk for them from July, particular person performances have stood out for the staff, as Megan Rapinoe has scored 4 objectives for the membership of their final three matches.
Purple Stars hanging onto remaining playoff spot
6. Chicago Purple Stars (26 factors: 7-5-5)
- Potential first-round matchup: vs. No. 3 Kansas Metropolis Present
The Purple Stars closed out their month with an enormous 4-0 towards Racing Louisville FC, reminding the league that their roster is younger — and at moments skinny as a result of harm — however able to choosing up essential outcomes.
Angel Metropolis FC, Orlando Delight stay on the surface
7. Angel Metropolis FC (25 factors: 7-5-4)
- Playoff perspective: one spot away from a remaining playoff slot, one level out of sixth place, with the Purple Stars holding the primary tie breaker for aim differential throughout the common season.
The staff is undefeated of their final 4 recreation and are nonetheless on the hunt for a playoff spot. The membership closed out their month with an enormous 3-1 win on the highway towards Gotham FC due to midfielder Cari Roccaro who has scored three objectives within the final 4 video games.
8. Orlando Delight (21 factors: 5-6-6)
- Playoff perspective: two spots away from a remaining playoff spot, 5 factors out from a potential sixth place standing with Angel Metropolis and Chicago Purple Stars holding first tie breakers for aim differential.
After happening a seven-game undefeated streak below interim head coach Seb Hines, the staff had their streak snapped in a 2-1 loss towards OL Reign to shut out the month.
Brink of elimination
9. North Carolina Braveness (16 factors: 4-7-4)
The membership picked up two extra wins over this month to climb three locations within the standings. Rookie Diana Ordoñez has been huge for the membership this 12 months and scored six objectives in 5 matches in August.
10. Racing Louisville FC (14 factors: 2-7-8)
The staff has not gained a match since Might 22 and closed out their August with a blowout loss towards Chicago. The membership made a very good decide up in Chinese language worldwide Wang Shuang, however the staff is shortly going nowhere quick.
11. Washington Spirit (13 factors: 1-6-10)
The Spirit haven’t had a win since Might and closed out their August with their tenth draw of the season. The gamers additionally launched a assertion on the termination of former head coach Kris Ward and are centered on closing out the ultimate 5 video games of their season.
12. NJ/NY Gotham FC (12 factors: 4-12-0)
The membership suffered their twelfth lack of the season and got no favors as PRO referees made a horrendous name on a aim. PRO have issued a press release concerning the error.