Heading into Week 19’s weekend games, the four teams in playoff position are the Courage (already clinched a spot), Thorns, Red Stars and Pride. Though both teams are tied on points, Chicago holds the third spot over Orlando because the first tiebreak in the NWSL is head-to-head and the Red Stars are 2-0-1 vs. the Pride this season.This weekend, the Thorns have a chance to become the second team to clinch a spot in 2017 NWSL Playoffs and the Courage could clinch a home semifinal game. ### This weekend’s playoff scenarios: #### The Thorns can clinch a spot in the 2017 NWSL Playoffs with: -a win vs. the Spirit (Sat, 3:30 p.m. ET, Lifetime) *AND* -a Sky Blue FC loss or tie vs. FC Kansas City * * * #### The Courage can clinch a home semifinal game with: -win vs. Red Stars *OR* -tie vs. Red Stars *AND* -Pride tie vs. Breakers * * * #### FC Kansas City will be eliminated from playoff contention with: -loss vs. Sky Blue FC *AND* -Red Stars win or tie vs. Courage **OR** -draw vs. Sky Blue FC *AND* -Red Stars win vs. Courage *AND* Pride win or tie vs. Breakers * * * Here’s a look at where each team sits in the NWSL standings, their remaining schedule and their magic number to clinch a playoff spot. ### 1. [ NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE](/teams/b4fbmos00gxtk8qnaqsm392p5) 14-5-0, 42 pts** Goal Differential: +13 Games Remaining: 5 Max Points Possible: 57 Clinched a spot in the NWSL Playoffs **Remaining schedule:** * Sun., Sep. 3: at Red Stars * Sat., Sep. 9: vs. Dash * Sun., Sep. 24: at Sky Blue FC * Sat., Sep. 30: vs. Pride * TBD: Postponed game at Dash * * * ### 2. [PORTLAND THORNS FC](/teams/446mp88j1vpk9iwui9fiifrp8) 11-5-4, 37 pts** Goal Differential: +10 Games Remaining: 4 Max Points Possible: 49 Magic Number: 5 Elimination Number: — **Remaining schedule:** * Sat., Sept. 2: vs. Spirit * Sun., Sept. 10: at Breakers * Sat., Sept. 23: at Pride * Sat., Sept. 30: vs. Red Stars * * * ### 3. [CHICAGO RED STARS](/teams/dzxypx8djih58p668surbi4qm) 9-6-5, 32 pts** Goal Differential: +3 Games Remaining: 4 Max Points Possible: 44 Magic Number: 10 Elimination Number: — **Remaining schedule:** * Sun., Sept. 3: vs. Courage * Sat., Sept. 9: at FC Kansas City * Sat., Sept. 23: at Dash * Sat., Sept. 30: at Thorns FC * * * ### 4. [ORLANDO PRIDE](/teams/966pdxhsoxaib9qt5083h8uus) 9-6-5, 32 pts** Goal Differential: +11 Games Remaining: 4 Max Points Possible: 44 Magic Number: 10 Elimination Number: — **Remaining schedule:** * Sat., Sept. 2: vs. Breakers * Sat., Sept. 9: vs. Reign FC * Sat., Sept. 23: vs. Thorns FC * Sat., Sept. 30: at Courage * * * ### 5. [SKY BLUE FC](/teams/bgkfdckqfqnfbmecbtz03n76d) 9-9-2, 29 pts** Goal Differential: -6 Games Remaining: 4 Max Points Possible: 41 Magic Number: — Elimination Number: 10 **Remaining schedule:** * Sun., Sept. 3: at FC Kansas City * Sun., Sept. 10: vs. Spirit * Sun., Sept. 24: vs. Courage * Sat., Sept. 30: at Breakers * * * ### 6. [SEATTLE REIGN FC](/teams/bl53jk6zlfe5f583pil7xzwi5) 7-7-6, 27 pts** Goal Differential: +5 Games Remaining: 4 Max Points Possible: 39 Magic Number: — Elimination Number: 8 **Remaining schedule:** * Sun., Sept. 3: at Dash * Sat., Sept. 9: at Pride * Sun., Sept. 24: vs. FC Kansas City * Sun., Sept. 30: at Spirit * * * ### 7. [FC KANSAS CITY](/teams/84o73tduvg052h5xf8fp1kfpe) 6-9-5, 23 pts** Goal Differential: -6 Games Remaining: 4 Max Points Possible: 35 Magic Number: — Elimination Number: 4 **Remaining schedule:** * Sun., Sept. 3: vs. Sky Blue FC * Sat., Sept. 9: vs. Red Stars * Sun., Sept. 24: at Reign FC * Fri., Sept. 29: vs. Dash * * * ### 8. [HOUSTON DASH](/teams/c3v2ohfuzoqmc8ljm65hi80sj) 7-10-2, 23 pts** Goal Differential: -9 Games Remaining: 5 Max Points Possible: 38 Magic Number: — Elimination Number: 7 **Remaining schedule:** * Sun., Sept. 3: vs. Reign FC * Sat., Sept. 9: at Courage * Sat., Sept. 23: vs. Red Stars * Fri., Sept. 29: at FC Kansas City * TBD: Postponed game vs. Courage * * * ### 9. [BOSTON BREAKERS](/teams/b8b7m094941l37s57ky5qydje) 3-10-7, 16 pts** Goal Differential: -10 Games Remaining: 5 Max Points Possible: 28 Eliminated from playoff contention **Remaining schedule:** * Sat., Sept. 2: at Pride * Sun., Sept. 10: vs. Thorns FC * Sat., Sept. 23: at Spirit * Sat., Sept. 30: vs. Sky Blue FC * * * ### 10. [WASHINGTON SPIRIT](/teams/f1ks82wpiewyqs6h3oz9v4hzj) 4-12-4, 16 pts** Goal Differential: -11 Games Remaining: 4 Max Points Possible: 31 Eliminated from playoff contention **Remaining schedule:** * Sat., Sept. 2: at Thorns FC * Sun., Sept. 10: at Sky Blue FC * Sat., Sept. 23: vs. Breakers * Sat., Sept. 30: vs. Reign FC * * * **Magic Number formula*** The Magic Number for a team to clinch a playoff spot is determined by subtracting that team’s current points total from the maximum number of points possible for the fifth-place team, then adding one. **Elimination Number Formula*** The Elimination Number for a team to confirm their exclusion from the playoffs is determined by subtracting that team’s maximum number of possible points from the current number of points of the fourth-place team, then adding one. * = The Magic Number or Elimination Number for each team does not reflect scenarios that require tiebreakers. Tiebreaker scenarios are required when a team’s Magic Number or Elimination Number is 1. ### **Tiebreaker Procedures** ### **To Break a Tie in the Standings** If two or more teams are tied on points at the end of the regular season, the tie will be broken through the following steps: ### **Two teams** 1.Head-to-head record 2.Overall goal difference 3.Overall goals scored 4.Head-to-head road record 5.Goal difference in all road games 6.Goals scored in all road games 7.Head-to-head home record 8.Goal difference in all home games 9.Goals scored in all home games 10.Coin toss #### **Three teams** 1.Points per game against other two teams 2.Overall goal difference 3. See tiebreaker procedure for two-team scenarios NOTE: If two teams are still tied after the third team has advanced via the tiebreaker, the tie will be broken using the two-team tiebreaker rules.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights