NWSL Playoffs

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 none for a loss. If two or more 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.[1][2][3]

If two teams tie:

  1. Head to Head win/loss record between the 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.
  6. If teams are still equal, ranking will be determined by a coin toss.

If at least three teams tie, the following rules apply until only two teams remain tied, at which point the two-team tiebreakers listed above are used:

  1. Points per game against all other tied teams (total all points earned in games against tied teams and divide by games played against tied teams).
  2. Greater goal difference across the entire season (against all teams, not just tied teams).
Semi-finals NWSL Championship
      
1  
4  
 
 
3  
2  

Playoff series history

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 (AET) 3

Records and statistics

Correct as of conclusion of 2015 NWSL Playoffs

Playoff results

Club Won Runner-up Years won Years runner-up
FC Kansas City202014, 2015
Portland Thorns FC102013
Seattle Reign FC02 2014, 2015
Western New York Flash01 2013

Playoff Games and Win-Loss Record

TeamGames PlayedWL%Most recent appearanceMost recent title
FC Kansas City541.80020152015
Portland Thorns FC321.66720142013
Seattle Reign FC422.5002015Never
Western New York Flash211.5002013Never
Sky Blue FC101.0002013Never
Chicago Red Stars101.0002015Never
Washington Spirit202.0002015Never

Appearances by team

Team Appearances
FC Kansas City 3
Portland Thorns FC 2
Seattle Reign FC 2
Washington Spirit 2
Sky Blue FC 1
Chicago Red Stars 1
Western New York Flash 1

References

  1. 1 2 "2014 Competition Rules and Regulations". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  2. ↑ Lauletta, Dan (February 26, 2013). "The Lowdown: A Look at NWSL Rules and Tiebreakers". The Equalizer. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  3. ↑ "NWSL 2013 Playoffs Outlook". Pitchside Report. August 10, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2015.

External links

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