Seattle Reign Claim Final Playoff Spot as NWSL Race Tightens

Seattle Reign FC moved into the final NWSL playoff position with a 3-1 victory over Chicago Stars, while Washington Spirit confirmed their own place in the postseason by defeating Gotham FC. With the regular season nearing its conclusion after the international break, the race for the Shield and the remaining playoff places remains unsettled.

Seattle take eighth as Courage fall below the line

The Reign produced the result they needed against already-eliminated Chicago, climbing into eighth place as North Carolina Courage slipped to ninth after a 2-1 loss at San Diego Wave.

Maddie Mercado scored twice for Seattle and Nérilia Mondésir added the other goal in the 3-1 win. Chicago did have a positive moment through Simone Charley, who registered her first goal for the Stars, but the defeat offered little consolation for a side long out of the playoff race.

North Carolina had entered the weekend on the edge of the top eight, having beaten Seattle 1-0 in their previous outing. However, despite having Golden Boot leader Ashley Sanchez, the Courage could not hold their place. San Diego’s Melanie Barcenas and Trinity Byars scored in the Wave’s 2-1 victory.

Byars now has 11 goals this season, the highest single-season total for a San Diego player since Alex Morgan in 2022. The Wave have also extended their winning run to four matches.

• Seattle Reign: eighth place after beating Chicago 3-1.
• North Carolina Courage: ninth place following a 2-1 defeat to San Diego.
• San Diego Wave: four consecutive wins.
• Trinity Byars: 11 league goals this season.

Spirit clinch as Gotham’s Shield wait continues

Washington Spirit secured postseason qualification with a 1-0 win over Gotham FC, a result that also delayed Gotham’s chance to claim the NWSL Shield.

Lucia Di Guglielmo scored her first NWSL goal to settle the match. Gotham’s playoff position is already assured, but a costly turnover on the road prevented them from taking the point they needed to wrap up the Shield.

The title race is therefore still open, even as four clubs have now been formally eliminated from postseason contention: Racing Louisville, Houston Dash, Bay FC and Chicago Stars.

Current and Angel City strengthen their positions

Kansas City Current rose to fourth with 47 points after a 2-0 win over Utah Royals. Haley Hopkins scored both goals as Kansas City continued to find form at a decisive stage of the campaign.

Utah remain in the playoff places despite the loss, sitting sixth on 46 points. Angel City FC, meanwhile, climbed to fifth by edging Denver Summit 3-2.

Denver had led 1-0, and later received goals from Melissa Kössler and Lindsey Heaps, but Angel City struck three times in an 11-minute spell through Sveindís Jónsdóttir, Taylor Suarez and Ally Sentnor. The Los Angeles club’s surge has put them firmly among the leading playoff contenders.

Points shared and eliminated clubs finish strongly

Portland Thorns and Bay FC drew 2-2 in a lively contest. Morgan Weaver gave Portland an early lead, but Caroline Conti and Kennedy Fuller turned the match around for Bay before Caiya Hanks recovered a point for the Thorns.

Bay had been eliminated in Week 23, yet competed with urgency in front of a full crowd. Portland’s point maintained their position in the playoff picture.

Elsewhere, Boston Legacy came from behind to beat Racing Louisville 2-1. Kayla Fischer put Louisville ahead in the 22nd minute, but Amanda Gutierres and Deja Davis scored after the interval to give Boston the win.

Orlando Pride also won 2-1 against Houston Dash, although the result was not enough to revive Orlando’s playoff hopes. Luana converted a penalty and Solai Washington scored her first NWSL goal, while Danielle Colaprico found the net for Houston.

With the Shield yet to be awarded and the final qualifying place now held by Seattle, the closing fixtures will decide whether the Reign can stay above North Carolina and which contenders carry momentum into the playoffs.